His dad looked shocked, a bit more reluctant. "Well i was hoping you would grow up to become a scholar, when you are older, But it wouldn't hurt.. But Avrin chimed in again. "Scholar? You’re my dad, it would be odd if I didn't learn How to use a sword or bow, even if I became a scholar, I still need to defend and feed myself. When can we start? The earlier, the better. If I start now, then when I'm older, you can take it easy while I go hunt with the others. We can get more and earn more!" working his father's mind with his honest take.
His father, listening, did indeed see the benefits. "Ok, how about this: sword training and how to use a bow. As for hunting, let's leave that off the table for a while. I doubt your mum would agree anyway. If I took you hunting without her permission, she would hunt me!" They both laughed at the quip.
Later that day, Avrin went outside and helped his mom with the washing and some gardening before heading back inside to do further cleaning. He did his best for her. Sometimes, he even forgot that he used to be an adult and completely fell into the role of a child. "Maybe this reincarnation thing isn't so bad," he mumbled to himself. When he was younger, he read an old story from a time where humans were stuck on their home planet and fighting each other.
It was about a boy hit and killed by a truck, being sent to a magical world with a silly power to level up, eventually becoming a hero and having a harem of women. "So unrealistic, why does someone need so many women in the first place? I mean 3 is ok, but 20? Is he scared that someone will question him as a man?" Avrin mumbled to himself, sweeping the floor and clicking his tongue.
"Avrin, did you say something?" his mother, who was cooking over a pot, spoke up, which he replied to. "I said that smells really good mum. your cooking is really the best!" Hearing her son's words, his mum smiled widely, clearly flattered.
Later that day, they were having lunch while sitting at the table speaking. "You know, old May's granddaughter has been arranged to marry that boy Martin from the village over. I think they're going to make a good couple," Audrene spoke to Himon, who looked curious. "The boy who went off to join the army? Well, I wish them luck. Hopefully, he comes back safe. These days things have been rowdy. more mages are turning into bandits, and even the barbarians have gotten braver in the eastern mountains."
"He will be fine. his older brother's a mage in the army. He will get some comfy position," Audrene gave her answer. Avrin would always listen to these conversations. As a child, it wasn't as if he could go to an adult and ask them what's the latest news or war report, more so with them being a village. The news they got would be a few days old, sometimes even a week or two.
With the conversation continuing, Avrin's father and mother suddenly nodded at each other and smiled. His mother walked over towards the cabinet and pulled out a pastry cake. She walked back and smiled. "Happy 10th birthday, son," his parents spoke up. Avrin's heart tensed. This was always something that he was conflicted about, between whether he should keep his rough state of mind or play the gentle son for a few years. "Screw it, I'll ease up," he thought before smiling at his parents. "Mum, dad, thank you!" He stood up, walking over and hugging them both tightly. His father then reached under the table and pulled out a present, wrapped in beast skin before sliding it to Avrin.
Avrin was curious. He looked at it, then reached over, unwrapping it, then giving a pleased look. It was a thick book; despite being aged, it no doubt would contain a lot of information. "I got it last week when I went with the others to the village over, they had a caravan buying supplies. I'm not good at reading all too much, but i think it's a traveler's journal about his travels. It's pretty old, but it should be fun for you to read about his life," his father spoke.
Avrin looked happily at his father, hugging him again, then looking at his mum who seemed jealous, giving her a hug too. "You guys are the best. One day, I'll make it so you can both just relax and enjoy the best of life," he spoke seriously, fully intending to keep his word.
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It was early in the afternoon. They finished up lunch. Avrin was going to take the book upstairs to read, but the three heard a knock at the door. His father stood up and walked over before answering it. Some soft chatter followed before his father called out. "Avrin, can you come here for a second."
Avrin's ears twitched slightly. He stopped from helping his mum clean up the dishes and headed to the door. When he was there, he saw three adults and three girls who were either a year younger or older than him.
The girls eyed Avrin a little shyly. Avrin was confused as he stood by his father's side, gazing quietly at the adults. "Well, don't be afraid, here he is," his father spoke to the girls who were nudged by their grinning parents. Finally, the one in the middle quickly stepped forward and shoved a small beast skin wrapped object in Avrin's hand before rushing behind her mother, followed quickly by the other two girls who repeated the same thing.
The adults laughed and spoke to Avrin. "Happy birthday, Avrin." After some more pleasantries, the parents and their children began to walk off. His father gave Avrin a gentle pat on the back. "That's my son, a real lady killer like his father was." His father was clearly proud. After he finished, his mother in the back scoffed, causing his father to look back at her with feigned ignorance, heading back inside with a soft laugh.
Avrin then felt as if he were being watched. He turned his head slightly and noticed a group of the village boys were looking at him, clearly angry with jealousy in their eyes evident. Avrin smirked before waving at them with the gifts in hand and entering his home and closing the door.
He wouldn't miss a chance to be petty to some rowdy kids if he was to play the role of kid for a little bit. He just considered it a perk of the role where no one would know. Later that night, Avrin was upstairs, lighting up a candle and gazing outside the window. No matter how much he looked outside, he couldn't get used to the night sky here, it was akin to living in a nebula where a torrents of mana flowed like an ocean, planets and stars in the distance, glittering like gems, it was a unique sight for sure, unmatched even during his time as a fleet general, he had never seen such a lovely sight. Sighing in admiration, he sat down on his bed and began to read from the book he's father had given him, knowing he wouldn't have too long before the candle he had lit up plenty of times in the past, would die out.
The information in the book detailed the journey of a young man named Rumi Vermillion, detailing whatever thoughts he seemed to have. “He sure is eccentric.” Avrin could immediately tell this man unique thoughts, even with his limited knowledge of this world. This Rumi seemed to open up with a statement, declaring mana was unnatural,
Avrin with interest read a passage from the book. “Why is it that mana, despite natural in occurrence, can be used through artificial means to cast spells and why is it that spirit veins' only use is to be used in artificial means to learn spells and grow stronger. Why do runes have an effect? No matter how much I've researched and read, I find that there is a lack of explanation, other than their creation, there is no deeper study!. Mana is life but it’s also more! Natural forces are simply straight forward! Wind moves the fans of a windmill, fire burns and heats, water moves and sustains, earth holds and remains. Why is it that mana has so many practical uses but also so many unnatural causes?”
Avrin's' brows furrowed, there were many terms he didn't understand, but from the point of view of a human who had lived in his own world, this Rumi person, had the heart of a scientist. it made Avrin wonder if the laws of his own home also applied here-wherever here even was.
Avrin assumed the book being the ramblings of a crazy person was a reason why his father was able to purchase it. one look at it, and anyone would think this Rumi had lost their mind. However, Avrin continued to read. it wasn't until an hour later, when his candle finally died did he snap back to reality.
Closing the book, he put it away; he had to admit: this new world made reading fun. In the younger days of his prior life, it was all Strategic theory, military history, tactical adjustment of interstellar battle formations to compensate for the loss of specific ships and inadequate power supplies, and other subjects deemed necessary for the predesignated vocational training.
In any case, Avrin put the journal aside before heading to bed. Tomorrow was another day for him, and he had much to do.