The Beginning After The End (Early Years Book 1)

by TurtleMe

  I impatiently wait as Elder Virion gulps down a glass of water.

  “…However! When a mana beast reaches A class or higher, they have the ability to pass on their ‘will’, or ability to be more precise, to one person. I called you a Beast Tamer earlier because you have a mana beast’s will in your mana core and from my estimation, not just any will but an S class mana beast’s will if not an SS class will. I’m only able to sense this because I’m a Beast Tamer as well, although the beast’s will that I tamed was the Shadow Panther, an AA class beast.”

  So that’s how he was able to be so fucking fast earlier.

  Noticing the look of revelation on my face, Elder Virion just chuckles. “Yes brat, I was able to bully you that badly by utilizing my Shadow Panther’s will. But I only used around 50% of my speed.” He gives me wink.

  He can go even faster?

  Everything was beginning to make sense; the strange, faint markings that appeared on my mana core after Sylvia gouged through it and how she said my future progress would depend on understanding her power.

  My eyes welled up with tears and I couldn’t help but quietly cry.

  “You must have been through a lot child. I’m not going to push you for an answer, but the reason why it is urgent for me to guide you is because you don’t have much time.” He says in a warm but stern voice.

  “Sniff.” “What do you mean?” I look up at him.

  “The power from your mana core is too strong for your immature body to handle. It hasn’t been that long so you may not feel it, but if you don’t learn to control your new mana core, it’ll destroy your body.” His eyes looking straight at me, dissolving any doubt I may have once had.

  “…”

  “I understand. It seems I have no choice but to be under your guidance. However, I don’t think I can just train without making sure that my family is all right and they know I’m safe too. You mentioned something about that earlier?” I say, trying to put my emotions under control.

  “Haha! Just call me Grandpa from now on. My first disciple should at least be able to call me that. And who knows, maybe I’ll become your grandpa-in-law.” He throws me a wink.

  UGH! Bringing up Tessia into this isn’t right!

  Continuing, he says, “We’ll go see an old friend of mine tomorrow that’ll take care of your worries. What I need from you starting now is your upmost diligence. Even I’m not sure how long it’ll take for you to master the basics of your beast’s will. In my two hundred years of living, I’ve never seen such a young mage, let alone a beast tamer at that. You’re going to bring big changes into this world brat. I just know it.”

  I just scratch my cheek, a little red from embarrassment.

  “Go to sleep now brat! Tomorrow is going to be a long day. You’ll need the rest.”

  I get up and bow before wishing him goodnight. “Goodnight…Grandpa.”

  He chuckles and waves me off and I plop into my bed, too tired to even get under the covers.

  ____________________________________

  I rouse from my sleep, grunting, feeling a heavy sensation weighing down on my body.

  Is it my worries? My burdens? The expectations placed on me? Are these weighing down on me even as I sleep?

  “G’ morning Art! Wake up!”

  I open my eyes and see that my burdens have taken the form of a lovely young lady very similar in appearance to my friend Tess.

  “Come on sleepyhead! You need to meet grandpa soon! H-hey! Don’t go back to sleep!” She jumps up and down while still straddled on top of me.

  Does she know how indecent this may look to others? Haa…the innocence of youth.

  “I get it! I’m up Tess! Please get down from my stomach so I can get up.” I mumble out, still half asleep.

  “Hehe~ Art, your hair looks funny. Hey hey, is it true you’re going to be staying here for a while? Grandpa told me this morning! I’m so happy! You’re really staying right? Right?” Tess exclaims with a wide smile pasted on her cute face.

  How the hell is she so energetic this early in the morning?

  Trying to tame my bed hair, I respond, “We’ll know for sure after my trip with Elder Virion, but most likely, it seems I’ll be bothering you for a bit longer princess.”

  She stabs my side with her hand, “Not princess! Tess! T.E.S.S.! I’m going to get upset if you don’t treat me better.”

  Dammit, she looks so cute with her pouting face.

  “All right all right! I have to shower and get ready so unless you want to see me naked, I think you should leave the room Tess.” I waggle my eyebrows lewdly.

  “Eek! I’m leaving you pervert!” I can see her ears turn bright scarlet as she runs out of the room.

  I didn’t think that’d work so well. My 4-year-old body hasn’t even matured any of its “manly parts” anyhow.

  I just shrug and hop into the shower and get ready, making sure to keep the feather-wrapped stone in my robe.

  The butler opens the front door for me and I see a small carriage with Grandpa Virion and Tess inside.

  “Father! It is not appropriate for a human to be residing within this kingdom!”

  “Alduin is right Elder Virion. Although saving Tessia is something I will be grateful for, having a human stay here goes against all traditions.”

  I hear The King and Queen talking to Grandpa Virion as he is lazily leaning back in the carriage.

  “BAH! Screw traditions! I’ve taken a liking to that brat and so has Tessia, haven’t you child.” He says.

  “G-grandpa! It’s not like that! He’s just…” She mumbles at the end, face red.

  “Hahaha! Anyways! He’s going to be under my direct guidance from now on so make sure to let everyone know that he is not to be trifled with!”

  “F-father...”

  “ENOUGH! This is not a discussion! Oh brat! You’re here! Come! We should hurry!” His expression changes into a smile upon seeing me.

  I nod and hop into the carriage, avoiding the frowns that the King and Queen are giving me.

  ______________________________________

  A little into the journey, I ask Grandpa Virion. “Hey Gramps, where are we headed anyhow. You said we were meeting a friend of yours right?”

  “Haha! Gramps eh? Well aren’t you awfully comfortable with me now. Good good! As for where we’re going, it’s a surprise.” He throws in a wink.

  Tessia has fallen asleep and her head is leaning against my shoulder. She must have been tired from waking up so early.

  “Take good care of her Art. She grew up in a very lonely environment.” He suddenly says, a look of compassion in his eyes as he looks at his sleeping granddaughter.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Growing up as the only princess of an entire kingdom is very stressful, too much for a child to handle. Growing up with no close friends, it was hard on her. She has gotten hurt too many times by people pretending to befriend her, only to be using her for their personal gains. This has made Tessia into someone cold and distant to those around her. Imagine how surprised we all were when we saw you two holding hands.” He continues.

  “Yeah, I noticed when I heard her talk to the guards.” I add.

  “Arthur. Tessia has shown more expression, more smiles now than she ever has growing up, around you, she finally seems more like a child. For that, I thank you.” He pats my shoulder.

  This was the first time Grandpa Virion ever patted me, catching me by surprise.

  The carriage stops before the driver opens our carriage door and says we’ve arrived.

  “Hey Tess, we’re here.” I gently nudge her.

  “Mmm…” She eventually stirs awake and we get out of the carriage, arriving at what seems like a small hut.

  “Hey you old witch! Come out!” Grandpa Virion suddenly yells while knocking on the door.

  Suddenly the door swishes open and what we see is a hunched elder lady with grey hair that seems like it was struck by lightning and wrinkled eyes that wa
s strangely a mixture of multiple colors, all blending together. Dressed in a simple brown robe, she looks at me with a studying eye.

  “Took you long enough to get here!” She scowls!

  “Hahaha! Arthur! Let me introduce you to Rinia Darcassan. She’s a very special deviant amongst us elves.” Grandpa Virion announces.

  “It’s good seeing you again Virion. Charming as always little Tessia.” She says patting Tess’s head.

  Looking at me, she smiles, “We finally meet young Arthur. I am Rinia. A Diviner.”

  Chapter 14: What’s To Come

  Grandpa Virion, Tessia, the Diviner Rinia and I were currently all situated around a circular table with a jar of water in the middle.

  “Umm… Elder Rinia? You said that you were a diviner correct? I’m a little lost as to what it is you can do. Gramps said that I’d be able to find out if my parents are okay by seeing you.” I ask, staring curiously at the jar of water.

  “Kekeke! Gramps huh? Virion, you’ve really let yourself go if you’re letting youngsters like him call you that.” She snickers.

  “Bah! He’s an exception! An exception! If any other brat dares to call me Gramps, I’ll have them hung upside down and beaten with a cactus!” He grins back, looking at me.

  Ouch. How descriptive.

  Glaring at me, she shoots, “Brat! You don’t even know where your parents are but you want to travel all over Sapin, find them and then come back to train? You’d be already dead by the time you make yourself back here.”

  I look at Grandpa Virion. Did he tell her? Almost as if he knew what I was thinking, he chuckles and says, “I didn’t tell Rinia any of this. There isn’t much you can hide from her, but usually she doesn’t bother looking into a person. What made you so nosy Rinia?” Directing his gaze towards the elderly lady.

  “You and I both know he’s special. So special, in fact, that there are parts of his life that even I can’t see. Arthur, whatever the beast that passed its will unto you is, it’s not an ordinary beast. Limiting it to an SS class wouldn’t give it justice.” She ponders for a bit before continuing.

  “Enough about that though. Arthur, you’re here to see your parents so that’s what I’ll do. Close your eyes for a moment and picture your parents. Focus on their appearance and their mana. I’ll take care of the rest.”

  I close my eyes and imagine the last scene I had of them both together. My father badly wounded and my mother healing him.

  “Okay, you can open your eyes now.”

  I look at her to see the color of her eyes swirling. The water was floating out of the jar and was swirling around, forming a spiraling disk. Suddenly, I see my parents in the water.

  *Thud*

  The chair I was sitting on is flipped back as I stand up and leaning closer into the table. I see my mother and father together, sitting around a dining table. It doesn’t seem to be our home in Ashber. My mother’s face is a bit paler and she’s saying something to my father. I can see she’s lost a bit of weight but otherwise looks pretty healthy. Her stomach! It’s pretty evident now that she’s pregnant by the fairly noticeable bulge on her belly. My father looks the same! He’s wearing some kind of uniform now though and has grown a beard!

  Tears stream uncontrollably down my face at this point, as I don’t dare to peel my eyes off of the image of my parents.

  They’re alive! They’re doing okay! They’re fine.

  “Sniff.” “T-thank you Elder Rinia. Thank you truly for showing me this.” I stammered.

  She looks a little uncomfortable at my sincerity and just waves it off.

  “Ahem! Let me see where they are now.”

  The image zooms out and I can see the outside of where they’re living and it is definitely not our home in Ashber. Zooming out even more, I can see the layout of the city that they’re staying in.

  “It seems like they’ve made their home in Xyrus. That makes things simpler for us.” She says, a content look on her face.

  Tess, obviously worried about me crying, is patting my back but her eyes don’t leave the swirling water.

  “Art’s parents…” I faintly hear her mumble.

  Grandpa Virion claps his hands together and stands up.

  “Okay! Arthur! Let’s let your parents know that you’re alive!”

  According to Grandpa Virion, strict regulations controlled communications between the Kingdom of Elenoir and Sapin. However, Rinia, being a Diviner not discovered by the Kingdom of Sapin, allows us a certain bit of unregulated freedom in a sense.

  “How this process will work is that I will pour some of my innate mana into you, establishing a temporary link. When I give you the signal, start speaking as if you’re talking to your parents. It’s important to know that they will hear your voice inside their heads so they may not believe what you’re saying at first. Make sure to get them to believe that it really is you that’s speaking to them and that they’re not going crazy. Remember, we’re just doing this to let them know you’re still alive. I’m going to emit your voice directly into both your parents’ minds. I can’t keep the connection up for long so say what you need to within 2 minutes.” She asserted, a serious gaze from her eyes.

  I nod at this, my face turning serious as well.

  “Begin… NOW!”

  Her whole body starts glowing the same color as her eyes and I see the same glow spreading unto me as well.

  I breathe a deep breath and start.

  Hi Mom, hi Dad. It’s me, your son Arthur. You’re probably really surprised that you’re hearing my voice inside your head huh? Well there’s a reason for that. Before that though, I want you to know that I’m alive and safe. Again, I’m alive and well mom, dad. I managed to survive the fall off the cliff and I’m currently living in the Kingdom of Elenoir with the elves. Please don’t tell anyone else this. I don’t have much time so I’ll only say the things most crucial. A friend of mine is a deviant like you mom, except she’s a diviner so I was able to see how you guys are doing just now too. She is also the one that is allowing you guys to be able to hear my voice. I want to go back to you guys as soon as possible but I can’t right now. No, I’m safe and alive right now but I have a sort of er… illness inside my body that I need to get rid of before I am able to go back. Don’t worry, as long as I stay here and have the elves treat me, I’m 100% okay. So please, don’t worry. I don’t know when I’ll be able to talk to you guys like this again but what’s important is that I’m alive and I know you guys are as well. Dad, Mom, both of you guys should be hearing my voice right now so confirm it with each other if you still can’t believe this. Remember; don’t tell anyone where I am right now. Better yet, just keep it as if I was still dead to make things simpler. It may take a couple of months or even years for me to be able to go back but just be sure that I WILL be going back home. I love you guys *sniff* so much and I miss you. Stay safe, and dad, make sure to keep mom and my baby sibling safe. Mom *sniff*, please make sure dad doesn’t get into trouble. Your son, Art."

  I have trouble keeping my eyes open from the tears and I just keep rubbing my eyes, staying silent, holding it in. The glow fades around both of us and Elder Rinia looks visibly worn out. She’s sweating and her face pale.

  “Elder Rinia, I don’t know how to thank you for this.” I manage to croak out.

  “Train well and continue to cherish those close to your brat. That’s how you’ll thank me. Also! Don’t forget to drop in once in a while. This grandma here gets lonely kekeke~!” She says with a weak smile.

  I give her a tight hug, which makes her almost jump, and she scratches her cheek before shooing all of us away.

  While we’re walking out, I notice Tess pouting a little, looking at my chest.

  Was she jealous?

  ______________________________________

  By the time we arrived back at the castle, it was already dark. A maid greeted us on arrival, but before I had the chance to go back into my room, I see the King and Queen.

  The King co
mes up to me first.

  “Arthur, I know you overheard what we were saying earlier today and I apologize for that. Years of being a King has made me a bit old fashioned and I was unreasonably stubborn on you not belonging here.”