Early Years

by TurtleMe

  “You are now Elder Virion’s first disciple. This gives you more than enough reason for all of us to accept you. Even if that fact didn’t exist, you still saved our daughter. Please consider this place your home. I know you miss your parents dearly but if I can be of any consolation, don’t hesitate and treat me as you would your own mother.” She says, giving me a sincere smile.

  “Papa! Mama! …” Tess says with her hands covering her mouth.

  She then runs up to them and hugs them both.

  I smile back and I thank them as well. They were good people. They were simply looking out for their kingdom.

  Smiling behind us, Grandpa Virion nods in approval before exclaiming, “Brat! Training starts tomorrow so sleep early!

  _________________________________________________________________

  I wake up from an immense pain covering my body. I wake up in cold sweat as the feeling of my body burning intensifies.

  “AARGH!” I clutch my body tight and just simply try to endure, when Grandpa Virion suddenly appears next to me.

  “I didn’t think it would this fast…”

  He places both hands on my sternum, where my mana core is located, and starts emitting his own mana into me.

  Slowly, the pain subsides and I’m left panting and clothes drenched in sweat.

  “T-thank you.” I manage to wheeze out.

  He nods before saying, “It’s a bit early, but lets start training now.”

  Looking out the window, I notice that the sun has yet to come out. I probably wasn’t going to be able to fall asleep again so I nod and follow him out into the courtyard.

  Sitting cross-legged, he looks at me before explaining, “Until now, you’ve been purifying your mana core and manipulating your mana using your mana channels. While for normal mages, this method is efficient, for Beast Tamers, we can’t rely on this approach. Instead, we do something called assimilation.”

  I sit down facing him, blank eyed, an eyebrow raised.

  “Haha! Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it soon enough. What it essentially is, is integrating the mana from your core directly into your body’s bones and muscles, hence the method, assimilation. Brat, throughout the period of assimilating, your mana core won’t develop at all, but that isn’t the point of this. Once the mana from your new core is absorbed throughout your body, you’ll be able to start utilizing whatever power your beast’s will had.”

  So this is what Sylvia meant! Throughout this whole journey through the Forest of Elshire and meeting the royal family and Grandpa Virion, I can’t help but think that Sylvia planned out all of this. I quickly shake my head in dismissal though and pay attention to gramps.

  “Will your mana out of your core and don’t be tempted to use your mana channels. Instead, let it seep out into your body and slowly have all of your muscles and bones absorb the mana. This will take time and effort but throughout this process, your mana core should reject your body less and less.” He says.

  There isn’t much I can help you with for the first part of your training except making sure your mana is distributed evenly throughout your body and relieving you when your body spasms like earlier.

  Training continued on with me just meditating, dispersing the mana out of my core and into my body. I got the hang of it after a few days but I realized how long of a journey this would be. Directing my mana to form a core when I was an infant took a couple of years but this was doing the exact opposite except with more mana and an extra step further of assimilating the mana directly into the muscles and bones.

  I didn’t leave the castle during this time because I wouldn’t know when my body would act up again. I was really grateful for Grandpa Virion for sticking by me throughout this time. Unfortunately for Tess, this left her very little time to play with me. The times I wasn’t meditating, I was resting in my room, where she would just barge in at this point and chatter on about her day.

  After a couple of weeks of assimilation, my body acted up less frequently and I was allowed to go out into the city. So after promising Tess that I’d go touring around the city of Zestier, I went to sleep.

  ___________________________________________

  Waiting outside my room was an adorably dressed Tess. She was wearing a white sleeveless sundress and a white see-through cardigan over it. The light pink colored sun hat she wore over her head was decorated with a white flower, giving her a very fresh and innocent look.

  “Took you long enough! Hurry, let’s hurry!” She takes my hand, half dragging me as I fight to keep up with her pace.

  I’m astounded by the view of the city again as we make our way to the heart of Zestier. We get off the carriage and start walking, visiting the numerous stalls and stores that the city has to offer. We’re met with a lot stares from the fact that a human child is holding hands with their kingdom’s only princess. While most of these gazes only hold curiosity in them, some stares are filled with hostility.

  Coming out of the armor shop, I’m bumped by an elf child that seems to be a little over 7 years old.

  “Hmph! Well if it isn’t the human brat that Elder Virion has taken under. I’ve heard all about you. Gross, I got human germs on my clothes.” He snidely says with a pompous look on his face.

  It is fairly obvious by the clothes and attendants behind him and his little group of friends that he’s a noble.

  Wow. So this is how a spoiled 7-year-old child acts. I almost forgot how immature children are after only spending time with Tess.

  He then flashes a smile at the princess and takes out his hand, palm up.

  “Princess, it is below your level to be with this human brat. Allow me to escort you around.” He urged, expecting Tess to receive his hand.

  Not even looking in his direction, Tess just links my arm with hers and coldly says, “Art, let’s go. There seems to be a bug that I don’t want to accidentally step on.”

  Ouch! Even I feel the burn. Tess can be awfully cruel. I think her words are a more effective weapon than mana to be honest.

  I glance back to see the noble boy’s forehead crease in anger and veins pop out.

  “Hold it brat! I’m not done with you!” He shouts, gripping my shoulder.

  “I heard you’re pretty talented for a human mage. Around here, I happen to be a pretty well known genius myself. My mana core has already reached red stage and aside from water AND earth manipulation, I've been begun showing signs of being able to manipulate plants!”

  His ego must be inflating ‘cause I swear his nose is getting longer.

  I just put on a nice surprised expression and innocently exclaim, “Oh my word! Princess Tessia! It seems we are in the presence of pure genius here. I am not worthy!”

  No point in getting angry with a 7-year-old.

  Tess just giggles at my sarcasm, trying to hide her face under her sunhat.

  “I’ll be sure to give you proper respect Lord Genius of the Elves. So if you’ll excuse me…”

  I lead Tess out back into the main road while I see the attendants and his little posse trying to control their giggles. Mr. Lord Genius of the Elves himself turning bright red.

  I wasn’t going to fight him like he wanted. I may win, but this isn’t my kingdom and it’s not right of me to do anything excessive. I was representing Grandpa Virion as his disciple.

  The days that followed consisted of training with Grandpa Virion in the morning, spending time with Tessia in the afternoon and training by myself at night. During this time, I’ve sent messages to my parents every once in a while to let them know I’m still alive and that I miss them dearly. I tried keeping out of trouble from the elves and they did the same.

  Like this, 3 years has come to pass.

  Chapter 14.5: The Other Side

  Reynolds POV

  I couldn’t believe it.

  My son. My son was gone.

  “NOOOO!” “NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.”

  Durden had to hold me back before I jumped off the cliff myself to
save my son.

  I knew it was too late. I knew what could’ve happened had already happened but I couldn’t just stand still and not do anything.

  “Let me go! My son! He could still be alive. Let me save my son! Please.”

  Durden wasn’t budging and Adam came to hold me back too.

  “Please Rey. You have to hold it together. There’s no easy way to tell you this but it’s not possible for him to survive that fall.” The always playful and lax Adam had a solemn look on his face and couldn’t even meet my eyes.

  “Adam is right. Pull yourself together. Your wife needs you Rey.” Durden also mutters.

  They’re right. They’re absolutely right. Yet. Why is my body not listening to me? Why can’t I go comfort my wife.

  “AAAAHHHHHHH!!!” I break down before everything goes black.

  I wake up to see Helen holding a wet towel over my head.

  “You’re finally awake.” She says, with a sympathetic smile that lacks emotion.

  I just get up and bury my face in my hands.

  “This isn’t a dream is it? Please tell me I’m going to wake up to see my boy playing with Jasmine and Adam.”

  “…”

  “I’m sorry…” is the only thing she manages to say before she starts sniffling as well.

  Durden comes into the tent and faces me.

  “Reynolds. I can’t begin to imagine how much it must hurt for you, but right now, your wife needs you. She’s blaming herself Rey. She thinks you hate her for losing your child.” He says, his red eyes evident that he himself was having a hard time.

  “…”

  *SMACK*

  “Reynolds! We had to stop Alice from killing herself! This isn’t the time to be fucking moping! Get off your sorry ass and take care of the one that’s alive!” He growls.

  This is the first time I’ve seen the composed Durden this angry.

  I nod, a little stunned, and go to the tent my wife is.

  I see my wife curled up under a blanket with Angela by her side, patting her gently.

  I give a meaningful gaze at Angela. She just nods, excusing herself out of the tent.

  “…Alice”

  “…”

  “Honey. Can I see my wife’s beautiful face?”

  “…child” I faintly hear her mumble.

  “What was that honey?” I say, patting her back.

  “I killed our child!” She bolts up and turns to face me.

  “I killed our son Reynolds. It was my fault! I-if I wasn’t there, he could’ve dodged that. He could’ve lived. He sacrificed himself to save me *sniff* it was my fault.”

  I grab my wife and hold her tight, softly kissing the top of her head over and over.

  I shut my eyes tighter, keeping myself from crying as she continues sobbing in my chest.

  We just sat like this for a while until her sobs turned into whimpers.

  *Hic*

  “You don’t hate me?” I barely hear her whisper.

  “How could I ever hate you? Alice. I love you and I always will.”

  *Hic* *Hic*

  “…I miss him so much Rey.” She sobs again at this point.

  I clench my jaws, willing myself to stay strong in front of my wife.

  “I-I know honey. I miss him too.”

  The rest of the journey was a slow and arduous one. Not physically. No. I feel like even the wild animals knew of our emotional torment as they steered clear of us. Our group just went on in silence. Any of Adam’s attempts at trying to lighten up the mood all but failed. Even the cheerful Angela kept a solemn face throughout the rest of the journey.

  Alice and I fell asleep together last night together in each other’s arms. I managed to console her and it helped me as well. I needed an excuse. I was the one that sent Arthur to protect Alice. I keep trying to find people to blame but the ones that are actually at fault are already dead. Revenge was already taken. Now all I’m left with is this feeling of emptiness and regret. The only thing keeping me going is our unborn child. For that child, my child, I had to endure. I won’t make the same mistake I did with Arthur. He was only a child but I sent him off to protect my wife against fighters and even a mage. I had no one to blame but myself.

  We arrived in Xyrus through the teleportation gate with no further complications; as though God was mocking us by saying we’ve been through enough. The Twin Horns were supposed to separate from my wife and I from here.

  “You guys sure you’ll be okay?” Adam gives a helpless look.

  Durden adds in, saying, “We don’t mind staying with you guys for a couple more days. I know you originally came to this city for Arthur but…” He never finished the sentence.

  “It’s okay. You guys have your agenda. Alice and I have all of our basic necessities and money too live off of for a couple of weeks. Keep your guys’ positions updated in Guild Hall.” I wave them off.

  “Will do. Take care guys. We’ll see each other soon.” Durden replies.

  The girls all give Alice a warm hug before saying their goodbyes to her. After they leave, I turn to my wife and give her a serious look.

  “Alice, what do you say about living here from now on?”

  Giving me a confused look, she replies, “What about our home in Ashber? We just got it all fixed up. A lot of our stuff is still there.”

  I shake my head at this. “I think it’ll be better for us to have a fresh new surrounding. Our home in Ashber has too many memories of Art. I don’t think we’ll be able to get over it if we stay there. We’ll hire some merchants to deliver some of our stuff from Ashber here to us.”

  She looks down and thinks for a little bit before nodding. Then she adds, “What about a job? How will we afford to live here? This is a very expensive neighborhood Rey.”

  I throw in a smile that just seems so rare these days. “I know an old friend that lives here. He’s asked me to be his guard a couple of times a few years back and we still keep in touch. He’s a fairly renown noble in this area and his manor is huge. I’m sure he’ll have a place for us to stay. They’re good people Alice.”

  She looks a little doubtful at first but after getting a ride to the manor and hugging my old friend, her uncertainty vanishes.

  “Rey! My old pal! What brings you to this little city?” A thin bespectacled man in a suit exclaims as he lets go of me.

  Vincent Helstea. Around 1.7 meters in height with a thin frame for a body, he was a man of brains, not brawn. Vincent was a normal human but a very successful one at that. The Helstea House had been in the trading business for centuries. While their family was on the decline for a few generations, Vincent single-handedly brought his family’s asset to its new high after building the first Helstea Auction House in Xyrus and later building several auction houses within neighboring cities. We met when he was on one of his trips to a more remote city to build an Auction House when he ran into trouble with bandits. I was there with him at that time, fulfilling the escort mission that the Guild assigned me. After saving him, we hit it off pretty well.

  The maid that answered the door left after she saw Vincent hugging me. Soon after, his wife and daughter came out as well, curious as to what all the commotion is about.

  “Tabitha! Meet my dear friend Reynolds and his wife Alice! Alice, Reynolds, this is my wife Tabitha and this here is my lovely daughter, Lilia.” Vincent exclaims while picking up her daughter. She seems to be the around the same age as Art was, with lovely hazel eyes that remind me of a kitten and long brown hair, braided. She’ll grow up to be a beautiful young lady.

  I greet myself, “Tabitha! It’s great to finally meet you. Vince has told me so many great things about you during our trip together to Eksire City. What a cute daughter you guys have.”

  After my wife introduced herself and exchanged pleasantries with Tabitha, Vincent urged us into the living room to get comfortable.

  “So what brings you here Rey. Last time you sent me a letter, you said you got yourself settled all the way up in Ash
ber.” He says, handing Alice and me a glass of wine.

  I took a deep breath out and told them the story.

  *Clank*

  “I had no idea. I’m so sorry for your loss.” Vincent manages to mutter. His wife has her mouth covered with her hands. “I wouldn’t know what to do if I lost Lilia. Is there anything I can do for you?”

  I scratch my cheek and ask, “You asked me a couple times to teach your Auction House’s guards a thing or two about magic. Is that offer still up in the air? I don’t want to stay here for free Vince, but I don’t my wife to go back to the old house in Ashber where Arthur was born and raised in.”