I was confident in my ability to detect and maneuver mana considering yesterday's feat. I'm not that prideful to call it a feat, it's obvious with my over seven decades of experience I'd out pace my siblings. It's simply not very fair to compare us.

Walking a little closer to the target my father indicated, I began visualizing my next move. I would grab the water sphere from a pinched tail and quickly extend it until only a sizable tip that generated high velocity cracked in the air and struck the face of the dummy. A water whip.

The overhead gesture of cracking a whip was just a guide for me to more easily control the way in which the whip moved, it wasn't necessary to get the water to strike in that way and add no real force to the swing.

Water tore at the burlap covering the wooden interior of the dummy, I retracted the snake-like liquid back into the original shape I conjured.

"You continue to impress, eh Freddy? You didn't even need the chant. I guess explaining things properly leads to this."

My father began theorizing how I came to be this way. Sorry dad, I've actually got an entire lifetime worth of wiki searches in my head.

"Oh! But I guess you still need something to do. Normally, I'd wait until you're a little older but I guess if you've already got the aptitude, we're gonna work on your mana pool."

"How does that work?"

"Well it's pretty simple, you see that drain over there? See how much water you can poor into it before you start to feel tired. Take this warning seriously Fred, don't go over what makes you tired, what lies beyond that feeling is not good."

"Okay. Um, Father could I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"When do I get to learn the rest of the set?"

"I think you're capable of casting the other magics already, but thanks for reminding me. Here's another word of caution, don't try to do what you just did with any of the rest of the set, it could be very dangerous to you and your siblings. I'm lucky you knew right away not to let the fire touch you yesterday, but lightning can get out of hand faster than you can react if you don't know what you're doing. And I don't know what your limit is so asking you to do wind and earth are out of the question."

"Why?"

"Well because they have a greater cost to conjure up like you did with the water and fire, and those magics don't exactly like to be made flexible."

"I understand."

I did as my dad asked and started dropping globs of water into the drain. He was paying close attention. I tried making the orbs of water larger but after they reached around my height they wouldn't get any bigger. Does it have to do with my mana pool?

I dropped the massive orb and then got to work making yet another one, similarly the mass of water only reached a size equal to myself. I managed another seven before I finally started to feel the faint fatigue my father warned me about.

"Done already?"

"Yeah."

"That's about the capacity I estimated you'd be capable of given your age. Still it's impressive considering you didn't even have to learn the chant first or even see what's supposed to look like."

"Ahaha, you're just a great teacher father."

My father's face immediately turned to a stern and serious look.

"Freddy, you read more often than any of your siblings and more than I would ever ask you to. You express yourself how I'd expect your older brother to do so. Don't think everything in your life is determined by others, you're special because of yourself and your own efforts, okay? Be proud, you exceed even my hopes and expectations of you."

I remember hearing something similar from my old parents, but I won't disappoint like last time. I can do so much better now, I know I can. I truly believed those thoughts.

Waking with bated breaths, I ended up getting up earlier than I usually do. Ugh. A nightmare was the cause. It seemed there was something about getting into a whole mindset of being afraid that doesn't make for the most restful sleep.

It didn't bother me too much. At least this time I made sure to head to the kitchen first to eat a hearty breakfast. The maid, Carmin, was happy to serve me eggs, a soft piece of bread, and a small piece of chicken.

"Thank you Carmin!"

"There's no need young master, it's my pleasure."

I handed her my clean plate and headed off to the dojo.

I felt a little sore, whether it was the swings with the wooden baton or the over exertion of my mana, I couldn't tell. Does using magic extensively even make you sore?

So many questions, I still can't answer.

Although, this soreness didn't even come close to the creaking and aching bones my old body had.

I put more time into mastering the first technique before I dared to move on. Switching from the baton to the heavier but longer sized wooden sword, I was able to start practicing on the dummy. I discovered something special after the first swing, the dummy would restore itself after a period since the last received hit.

I noticed when after a brief moment where I had left a dent from my strike it suddenly expanded back into place and even covered itself back in the burlap cloth.

After several good swings I felt comfortable enough to look at the manual again for the next technique.

For a second I was left dumbfounded, the technique I was presented seemed like a ridiculous feat of pure athleticism. There were of course variations on how it could look when performed correctly. However, it's a technique for running away. This was made obvious by the name given on the pages of the manual.

"Coward's Fleeting Escape."

The only illustration that made sense to me was a picture of a man stepping back suddenly and using his hand to better direct himself and compensate the change of the center of gravity. Rather than embarrass myself, I made sure to get into that feeling again. I thought back to the nightmare from this morning, I was being sought by a grotesque demon that looked like a tree had organs springing out of it.

I shuddered as I projected the image of the nightmare onto the dummy. I jumped back and right before my ass would hit the ground I managed to grip the firm ground with my fingertips and slide myself even further back.

Then like a nightmare made into reality the dummy followed me at an impossible speed. I freaked out and did the technique again, the dummy continued its pursuit. I recalled the other illustration that utilized a sword rather than my hand. I flung myself once more with my legs and used my sword like a vaulting pole by thrusting it into the ground, this allowed me to cover an even greater distance.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

The dummy was relentless. This cycle continued for a good while until I couldn't bear it anymore. I gave the dummy a strike using the first technique I learned. As if pacified the terrifying dummy returned back to where it had been when I first saw it.

The mark I left on it was clear to see for a brief instant before the dummy quickly restored itself. I was able to leave a deep gash in spite of only using this wholly dull and slightly weighted practice sword made of wood.

"That's something, I guess this dojo's got more than a couple tricks made for this style."

If my ancestors were willing to construct several chambers for the collection of massive novels of fiction, history, and magic, then it's not surprising one or several of them interested in a sword style would go this extra mile to accommodate learning it.

I have to savor these kinds of precious tools and creative efforts by them, they really wanted the best for those that came after. I almost felt moved enough to shed a few tears. Maybe this is from being a child too.

For father's lesson today I listened on as he explained the water cycle to me and my siblings. What followed was the same monotonous exercise as yesterday, only this time I felt I could make another sphere of water than last time. It was minimal but I see what my father meant by 'simple'. Raising my mana pool is a repetitive process that forced me to use as much magic as I could before getting tired like lifting to the point right before failure. The consequences might've been similar a whole day of being incapable of using the muscle in a meaningful way and the another day of intense soreness.

Dad did warn it's worse that just feeling tired so I'm not going to tempt fate by straining myself anymore than necessary.

"Done already?"

"Yep."

"Good, you can go ahead and head to dinner early if you wish, your mother wanted to share something with you today anyway."

"Alright."

Before I ran off I gave the old man a hug. It's awkward in my head sometimes to act like a child, but then I remember it's not an act. I am a child, and I should appreciate my parents while I still have them around.

When I was still the old man I wished I could go back to those days, I missed them awfully.

I entered the family dining room. My mother was feeding Ibis and Cassie. Cassie despite being old enough can't stand to be too far from her.

"Oh? Freddy, you're here early, did you already finish practice with your father?"

"Yes, I finished early. Dad said you had something to tell me?"

I approached and took the seat right after Cassie's. The dining table had only two plates, Cassie's and Ibis's, they aren't allowed to eat with the rest of us yet considering Cassie still throws food around if she's excited enough and Ibis is prone to throwing up if she doesn't like the scent of a particular food.

"It's about our trip tomorrow, we're going to the market."

"Oh, is everyone going?"

"You're father didn't seem all that interested. I guess being the ruler of this region has the sort of popularity that might make you embarrassed to show up and not have something important to say to the commoners."

"He's staying then?"

"I'm afraid so, but those diligent three will still keep him busy for the morning regardless. Kraimer goes to the city whenever he wishes anyway and Darvy doesn't want to miss a single day of practice. That boy rarely gives his mother any kisses anymore."

"Heh, I guess he'd rather you share them with the rest of us."

"Come here you. Teasing me with such sweet words."

My mother lunged at me, she picked me up and started blowing kisses on my tummy. I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

Mom went to take the girls to sleep while the maid started setting out the plates for the rest of us. Slowly, my older siblings trickled into the room.

"So it's not just the hair, huh?"

"What?"

Another of my older siblings spoke out to me, Logan. I've had very minor interactions with him in the past, he used to cling to mother as well around two years ago. Sometimes my memory astounds me, I've managed to retain far more than the average child but luckily none of it to do with my potty-training.

My sister punched him in the shoulder.

"Hey, what's that for?"

"Why'd you go and tease him, then?"

"I thought it was clever, he's got mom's hair so he sticks out, and now he turns out to be the better spellcaster. I doubt he even gets that."

"I do."

I interrupted their squabbling. It didn't occur to me that my siblings had any sort of notion about me. I knew Kraimer had something to say the other night when I cast my first spell, I didn't think anyone else really cared.

"I don't think you really do."

"Then tell him about it, stop being so cryptic."

"Ah, ok don't step on my foot, it's not very ladylike."

"What would you know about that?"

"Are you going to let me explain it to him or rag on me more?"

Logan turned serious, it reminded me of our father's stern look.

"Fred, you know about the rankings for magic right?"

I nodded in agreement.

"Has father told you them by name?"

I shook my head.

"But you're aware that there's seven right?"

"Yes."

"Alright. There's the first rank, acolyte. It means someone who's just learning a magic, it can also mean you have a teacher that's getting you through the basics. At that level you can cast the spell but it won't always do what you tell it to do. You understand what I just said?"

"Yeah, it's basically the beginner's rank."

"Right. It's a little more than just what you're capable of, it's also about acknowledging where you stand. The next rank is disciple, that's where most people stay if they even have the capacity in their body to use magic. This is the point where you can easily call on the magic, and it usually listens to you and follows along with how you want to shape it, but it's still missing the strength to really do what you want with it."

"That's where I am."

I wasn't really sure but it sounded like that's where Logan was logically headed for.

"Sort of."

"What does that mean? Does it have something to do with the Saint factor?"

"You're getting a little ahead of yourself. I'm getting there. After disciple, there is vicar, the third rank. That's the point when you can start teaching someone else, more importantly your spells and mana usage are way more efficient. More efficient means more potent."

"Ok."

"Then comes cardinal, nothing major changes about the spells you use but the range of them is now properly around the edge of your vision. There's obviously the indication that you've even got the mana pool to pull stuff off from that far away. It might be around here too that you start to get impact."

"Impact? Like more potency."

"Yes, but more importantly, impact has to do with how your spell is affected by the world itself. With more impact the effect you want your spell to have starts to endure the nature of the world and become a real part of it."

"But I thought spells that are cast still have their own 'existence'."

"They do remain but it's like a river-"

Page nudged Logan and shook her head.

"Yeah, it is a pretty bad analogy."

"What is? Something about the river?"

Logan turned to Page instead.

"It still makes sense, it doesn't matter I'll just tell him about both."

"Fine but don't confuse him."

"Alright, Fred listen. It's a bit complicated but imagine a river flowing towards the ocean, with enough impact you could force the ocean to start going back to where the river starts."

"So it's kind of like overwriting the nature of a phenomena."

"Don't get too hung up on that, the torch example will clear it up a lot more. Say you cast a light spell. If you're new to the magic the best you'll get is a flash. With some training you can get it to change color and maintain its radiance in your palm. But, ultimately the spell disperses as soon as you release it."

"And then?"

"Then you add a little impact to your spell, with it the spell even once released out of your control and grasp maintains its space in the world before slowly fading away. Add in even more impact and you could attach it to a torch that never fades. Although it would be quite inefficient but that's a whole other tome of information that dad'll teach you in time."

"What comes beyond the torch being everlasting?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is there some other powerful effect of impact, what else can it do?"

"Well, still going with the torch example. You could imagine someone with an absurd amount of impact applied to their spell could even make a place where the light of day shines permanently. Basically impact morphs the world more to the liking or will of the caster."

"I get it now."

"Good. So, going back to the rankings of magic users, after cardinal is the saint rank. Getting to it is a life long achievement for anyone serious in the academics of the arcane. In simple terms people at this point live and breath the spells they know. Specifically, a saint can use magic without even speaking. No incantation, abbreviated or otherwise. Someone with a saint factor is either someone who can cast magic without the incantation but having a low mana pool, or having a humungous reserve of mana in spite of little formal training."

"I fit in the former then?"

"Yep. There's two other ranks though. 'Prophet and God.' They're a lot more symbolic. A prophet is beneath a god, obviously, but it's used to describe someone that embodies the art of their magic and leads others towards that enlightenment. A god on the other hand has overwhelming impact with the magic they wield, probably enough to take on a whole army of soldiers and definitely wipes the floor with any saint that tries to get in their way. Power like that ends up being worshipped no matter what kind of person that god really is."

"Thank you, Logan, for teaching me about it."

"Don't sweat it. We're brothers after all."

Heh, he's quite bashful when he's looked up to. Page smiled at me and patted Logan on the back for doing as she asked. This was my family in a nutshell, even though we don't all look alike or act alike we have a bond between us.

Dinner was uneventful, after finishing up I headed straight to bed. I was quite exhausted from all the excitement I felt with learning a new technique and getting that mythical ranking system crash course.

I was in a nightmare again.