Originally uploaded Dec 22, 2022

Art Pov

"How dare you, a lesser. You should know your place!" The man shrieked as he slowly backed away from me.

In my hands hummed an amethyst blade subtle changing hues with a liquid like consistency.

I looked him dead in the eyes. He could feel the lack of empathy emanating from them.

"You never deserved your title, your power. You don't even deserve to live after your transgressions." I spat with venom.

But he seemed almost insulted by my statement.

"My transgressions?! I was only doing my noble duty. I was the one that oversaw your entire civilization you ignorant child. Without my you would have never even existed in this world"

"Name calling are we? You old worms never change do you? Yes I will admit you did have a hand in my reincarnation. And in doing so you have brought your own undoing upon yourself." I replied as I approached closer.

He was now backed against a wall with nowhere to run. He willed the mana to obey him, but it was trivial at this point.

With a simple flick of my wrist his power dissipated. He only stared wide-eyed in shock and terror as the very power he abused was taken away from him in an instant.

"Wait, pleas-" Before the words could escape his mouth I plunged my left hand into his chest. He coughed up blood, helplessly grasping at my arm. But he knew it was too late for him. That death would soon come.

He raised his head and matched my eyes. His pupils no longer a deep lavender, now just a dull yellow in comparison. "You will have no one, they are all dead. You'll be alone for all eternity." He croaked out with a slight smirk.

I had no more words to spare him. Yanking my hand that was planted in his torso I pull out a blindingly bright sphere.

His body now powerless, slumped to the ground with a thud. Without his core his body will kill itself if left alone. But I couldn't give him that.

I couldn't just let him get away that easily. Reaching down I grab him by his long hair that was caked with blood.

He was still alive, just barely. He weakly scowled at me.

"Can't leave me to die with some respect?"

"You and I both know you don't deserve that." I heartlessly replied.

I woke up from my dream screaming. Well, more of a nightmare than a dream. Or terrible memory in this case?

Looking around and grasping at my bed I make sure of my surroundings. It has been a couple of years since I had returned and things were going smoothly.

Well, explaining my lack of mana signature was a pain and getting old but I could make do with influencing ambient mana to disguise it as my own. Everything has gone according to the original timeline for own.

I was currently staying with my family at the Helstea family's home.

'I wonder what Tess is doing?'

Thanks to me not possessing a mana core and beast will my training with Virion was minimal. Well I say that but that old gramps was still persistent in beating- I mean training me and Tess after he forced me to showcase some of my strengths.

But it wasn't all bad though. Having Virion aware of me and working with him in the war will be a key part in my plans.

Well there is another important piece that will arrive soon today....

My thoughts were interrupted by a small knock on the door.

Jumping out of bed I open to greet my visitor.

"Hello there, Ellie." Opening the door I am met by my younger sister. Not the strong and confident warrior conflict and trauma would mold her to be. But an innocent young girl.

I had considered not training her but elected against it. She became a very important pillar for our mother in her darkest times. Though it was heartbreaking to see such a pleasant little child and knowing what she will grow up to be.

While Realmheart allowed me to utilize mana I don't yet know the effect it might have on her core development.

"G'morning, brother. Mama said to wake you up." She replied in a meek little voice.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"I see... then can you take us down to see her?" I said back, flashing her a smile.

'Ugh, I'd rather spend a entire day in Relictombs than spend another hour out shopping.' I sighed as I plopped myself on the couch in the living room.

"Ah! you guys are finally here! Arthur there is someone I'd like you to meet!" Uncle Vincent called out to me.

"You must be Arthur. Vincent has told me much about you. My name is Cynthia Goodsky, founder and director of Xyrus Academy."

'And there is the important chess piece.' I though as I bowed to her in respect.

While I possessed no mana I could get by by concealing the fact using aether as a control medium for ambient mana. To any regular mage it would appear as if I was just another mana wielder.

"Nice to finally meet you, Arthur Leywin. Apologizes for intruding at such hours. But I couldn't refuse a favor from Vincent. This kind of occurrence is rare but Vincent piqued my interest when he insisted that a prodigy of the highest caliber was currently living in this home."

'The things that will happen soon will pique your interest even more.' I though as I awkwardly smiled and laughed her comment off.

Cynthia Pov

"Here we are!" Vincent announced as we reached his spacious stone paved backyard.

"Well, let's see if Vincent was exaggerating. He mention you were an augmenter, but refused to indulge me any further information."

The young blonde boy only continued to stare at me with his striking gold eyes. No emotions were etched onto his face. It almost seemed as if he was contemplating something. Even the smiles and laughs from him seemed planned. Almost rehearsed. And behind that friendly mask of his hid something else. I must say it wasn't a expression I would have expected from such a young child.

'Is it confidence or arrogance that leaves him so emotionless?'

"Do you not wish to arm yourself with a weapon at the very least?"

"Seeing as you have no intentions of using your wand decorating your waist, I will go unarmed as well." He curtly replied as he began stretching his body.

'Add perceptive to the list as well.' I noted as a slight smirk appeared on my face.

"Very well, shall we begin?"

We stood at opposing ends of the stone-paved section of Vincent's backyard. Arthur stood carefree with his hands buried into his pants' pockets.

Suddenly the ground at his feet erupted into action. As large stone spikes were birthed from the ground by his feet as raced towards me at incredible speeds.

'Good mana control with no wasted energy, quick casting time as well.' I noted as a barricade of wind mana blocked his attack, causing the stone spikes to break into smaller pieces.

As the dust and dirt settled I realized Arthur was no longer in sight. The wind mana around me alerted me to his presence in the nick of time as he was now behind me.

His fist glowed a visible green as the mana coalesced around him. He shot his fist forward, aiming for my back midsection.

Directing the wind I let it carry me away from his attack. If he was a bit older and had better reach I would have been in trouble.

With a wave of my hand a small hurricane appeared, causing the audience to reel back.

Yet Arthur simply stood their as if he was waiting for my spell.

He reached out with his hand and I could have sworn I saw the tiniest purple spark from it but I had not time to think.

The spell I had created was now hurtling towards me. My little time to react I conjured two more spirals of wind to try to counter my own rogue spell.

With my focus on my own spells I couldn't have noticed Arthur dashing towards me from the sides. How strange, he was clearly using mana to boost his movements. Yet their was no mana nor intent leaking from him. Was his mana control just that good?

He ran towards me with the speed of a flying arrow. With the wind mana assisting me again he only grazed my robes with his fist.

He landed, cracking to stone floor with considerable force. I'd imagine any regular individual would be in two pieces if struck with such energy.

"Impressive. Your display of magical and combat prowess was exceptional. As well as your flawless mana control. This will be your last test. An extra credit of sorts."

With that I placed a sound barrier around the boy. As it would deafen any regular manaless human.

Yet Arthur did not react. I had expected him to keel over covering his ears but he just stood there. Taking the full brunt of my sound spell.

Casting away my spell I slowly approach the young child. But before I could say anything his father spoke up.

"Arthur when did you learn to use earth and wind magic as well?"

"As well?" I questioned his father's wording.

"He- he used fire magic just yesterday and lighting magic!" Vincent shouted in dismay.

"You are telling me this little child has affinity for at least three elements, and one to its deviant level?" I hurriedly asked. This was unheard of. Being a dual elemental was too be celebrated. Being a tri-elemental was nearly unheard of.

Four, actually. I can wield all four elements." Arthur spoke up as a ball of water appeared in his palm.

A quadra-elemental.... right in front of my eyes. This could very possibly be the first person to wield such talent in the entire history of this continent. He could grow up to be a very important player in the future.

Drawing closer to Arthur I place a sound barrier around the both of us.

"They can't hear us while this spell is active. Please speak your mind."

Arthur lighthearted tone and feel almost vanished instantly. Replaced by a cold and calculating presence.

"Cynthia Goodsky of Xyrus Academy. Or should I say Cynthia Goodsky of Alacrya?" He said coldly.

With his last words a chill went up my spine. Mana flared up within me as I weighed my options.

"I can see that you are considering ending me right here and now. I don't blame you. Who wouldn't when their biggest secret they were guarding with their lives was spoken so nonchalantly by a little boy? But Cynthia I will tell you this."

The boy drew closer, staring me into my eyes. His gold eyes seemed to glow with intelligence and power.

"There is no being, whether lesser or beast that can oppose me on this continent." It would have sounded arrogant if it weren't for the absolute confidence in which he spoke.

"What are you? Are you from Alacrya as well?" I asked.

'Did they spend a member of a highblood to monitor my progress? Have they realized my betrayal?'

"Worry not Cynthia. I was born and raised on Dicathen. And I will do anything within my powers to safeguard it and its people."

"Then why?-"

The boy began speaking again. Every word out of his mouth commanded all of my attention and respect. It felt as if he was in total control. I haven't even felt this talking to a sovereign.

"War is stirring Director. You see it more clearly than others. Agrona is readying for conflict. And you and I have common core's. Neither of us desires to see this world ripped asunder by so called deities. Attempt to silence me as you wish. But you will accomplish nothing without my assistance."