At least none of the bad ends as Velloa end up with me getting killed... Was my random thought as I carefully observed Virgil using water magic.

I stared in wonder as he skilfully controlled a ball of water around him. His movements were similar to that of Tai Chi forms from my previous life memories. Virgil's movements started off slow, but then he swiftly switched to quick, whip-like movements, all the while being able to maintain focused and pronounced stances.

Elemental magic manifests through the martial arts that correspond to the element, apparently, once one has reached a good enough skill then the martial arts movements won't be necessary. In other words, once you have gotten the grasp of the mana then you could control your element without the need to expend physical energy (to a certain degree).

But I'm a long way from that kind of level of expertise, of course.

I turned my attention back to the head of water currently hovering a few centimetres above my palms. Slowly, I moved my hands up and down in order to move said water. The feeling of controlling mana is unlike any other. I can only say that it feels like some kind of force that you control without a seemingly physical appearance (other than the resulting control of the element, of course). Currently, I am doing the basics of learning how to 'hold' the water. So far, not a drop of water has been lost during my practice.

"You're doing a great job, Young Miss."

I beamed towards the voice. It was me and my brother's Magic Instructor, Cain Alvar, who's also currently completing his second year in Yohso Academy, which made him ten years older than me. While he comes from a Beorn-titled noble family (due to his mother and father's devout service as being part of the Ministry of Foreign and Internal Affairs, respectively), he is currently the best Water Elementalist in his year (and perhaps within the entire Academy, at present). Oh, and did I forget to mention that he has got quite the bishounen looks? With his navy blue hair, deep sapphire eyes, fit body and tall height... He ticks all the boxes in the bishounen looks category. As to why he's currently me and my brother's Magic Instructor, it was apparently under our father's instruction. Cain currently aims to work as one of Father's men in the future, in other words, as a spy, and with father himself already being impressed by his skill – Cain is currently under probation.

"Now, why don't you change the shape of that ball of water." He instructed.

Tilting my head in thought I ask, "Into what?"

With a gentle smile he gave a suggestion. "How about 'stretching' the water, as if you were pulling it apart."

That doesn't seem so hard... And so, as if I was trying to stretch a ball of dough, I proceeded to move my hands in a similar fashion. Then, seeing the water do what I had in thought, I beamed once more. A few drops of water were lost in the process, but with Cain's satisfied nod, it was further solidified that what I did was correct.

"Good. For the time being I want you to practice changing the water into different shapes." Was Cain's next instruction.

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However, a childish thought crossed my mind and I acted on it. "Cain... You can call me Vell too, you know. It's not fair that you call brother by name, but you call me 'Young Miss'." I pouted.

Cain looked slightly startled by my words at first, but he simply chuckled and patted my head, causing me to lose a few more drops of water as well as make a small cry of protest. "Then I will call you Velloa from now on." He smiled before going back to check on Virgil's progress on the new techniques.

Good enough... I immaturely thought to myself as I proceeded to 'stretch' the water into different lengths and angles. Within a few minutes, however, I was bored. What would anyone suspect? The activity got boring after a while and, at the end of the day, I was a six-year-old child (of course completely disregarding the eighteen years or so from my previous life); I know that this is meant to teach me mana control, but being the six year old that I am, I really couldn't help it. So, I continued to observe Virgil's training.

Currently, Cain seemed to be teaching Virgil how to change the temperature of the water, more specifically turning water into ice. I watched as Cain effortlessly controlled a dozen water orbs with smooth and swift movements. Forming them into a circle in front of him he breathed out, and as he did so, a cold mist emerged from his lips and the water orbs before him turned into ice orbs. I gaped.

Wow! I want to be able to do that! Maybe I should try it...

Once again turning my attention back to the head of water in my control, I realized that I haven't tried changing the water's form into 'proper' shapes. Imagining a regular five-pointed star, I moved my hands to the 'feeling' of the force(mana) accordingly. Satisfied with the shape, I looked back to Virgil and saw him succeed in turning a single water orb into ice. When it comes to changing the state of water to ice, I remember that when water is in its solid form (ice), kinetic energy is significantly lessened, therefore slowing particle motion. Now, if I had paid more attention during my science classes in my previous life, I probably would have known more... I may live in a world of magic now but that shouldn't make all laws/theories of science incorrect.

I shook my head as I realized that I was procrastinating. Giving the star-shaped water a determined look, I took a deep breath... Then blew. It should be fine if this doesn't work. I've only just begun my magic training after all. Is what I thought, but then I felt the mist come out between my lips and gawked at the sight of the water turning into ice. Before I knew it, there was a cleanly shaped ice star right in front of me.

"Brother! Cain! Look! I made an ice star!" I rushed to their sides and proudly showed off the product of my efforts.

Both males made astonished faces.

"That... Vell, did you just learn how to do that?" Virgil leaned to take a closer look.

I nodded enthusiastically.

Cain ran a hand through his hair as a look of contemplation crossed his face. "Velloa, those techniques... Forming proper shapes with water, as a beginner, can usually take weeks. As for changing water into ice, that's a technique that you don't learn until at least three years of training, which can take either weeks or months to fully master."

Wait. What...?

Cain continued, "While I'm not too surprised over your fast learning in the case of mana control, it is certainly more surprising that you were able to learn how to turn water into ice by simply observing your Brother and I."

Uh... Did- did I just do the thing where I show 'potential', but then me and the people around me will find out years later that I am actually, indeed, average...? Because if I did, I think I might cry. And with those thoughts I couldn't help but think that with my current age, I can get away with randomly bursting out crying.

Letting the tears freely flow, I couldn't help but bitterly reprimand myself. Why did I have to raise the 'genius' flag?! Stupid! Now people will expect too much from me!

----------CHAPTER END----------