Attainments In The Sword
My 'mother' was yelling from shock, causing my 'father' who had just arrived to leave raging winds in his track as he dashed through the mansion to my room.
"What's wrong, Evelyn? Cassian?"
My 'father' leaped up, grabbed me from the air, and landed gently back on the ground.
"I got you! but why were you up there?"
"Father, your mouth," Blood was flowing out of his mouth slowly. Clearly, he had overexerted his injured body.
"Nevermind that, what happened?!"
My 'mother' breathed out and hugged me.
"What happened to you, Cassian?!"
"Uh, I don't know what exactly happened but after I made my first circle, my mana went out of control and floated me up there!" I explained innocently.
My parents' faces went stone solid for a second and then turned to disappointment.
"*Sigh* I didn't think my own son could lie with such a straight face." my mother said.
"This father of yours did not raise you this way." My father sighed.
I had no choice but to show them.
"I'll show you guys, Sparnum!"
I opened my hand and a small flame appeared.
"See."
Instantly, their faces turned to shock.
"But I just gave you the Mage's Guidebook a week ago!" my 'mother' nearly shouted.
Unlike my 'mother' who was confused and shocked, my 'father' laughed in joy as he picked me up.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! My son is a genius! I told you he'd do great things, Julius!"
A black-haired man in black clothes suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Yes, my lord. He's most definitely a genius! My son has just begun his learning."
"Father, who is that?" I asked. The man I had seen on the day of my birth was still unknown.
"This is your uncle, Julius, he's my shado-."my father was replying.
"My lord, he's too young for such things." the man named Julius cut in.
"I guess you're right. I'll tell you later, my son." my 'father' replied.
My 'mother' was worried.
"Even if he's a genius this is too much, talent like this will cause others to envy him!"
"You just saw him use that magic, there's no choice but to come to terms with this, and who cares for their envy! He'll surpass all of them!" my 'father' laughed.
"We have to get him a mage to teach him!" my 'mother' added.
"No no no, a normal mage can't teach him anything, he needs an 8th-Circled mage at least!"
My 'mother' came up with an idea.
"My older brother is an 8th-Circled mage, he'll make a great teacher for him! We can depart tomorrow!"
"No, he has to learn the family sword arts first!" my 'father' retorted.
"No, he clearly has talent for magic he has to learn magic from my brother!" my 'mother' struck back.
I was caught in the middle so I countered with a different idea. The black-haired man disappeared without me noticing.
"Wait wait WAIT!" I said.
"Evelyn, we haven't considered his feelings, let's hear what he has to say."
"What is it, my genius son?" my mother said.
"I still have years before I have to attend the Royal Academy, right?"
"Yes."
"That's right. Granted to us by the first emperor." my 'father' added.
"Then we can just split the time, I'll learn the sword arts until I master them and then I can go visit Mother's family and learn magic from my uncle."
"That works!" my 'mother' agreed.
"That's a great idea! We'll go with that then!" my 'father' also agreed.
After that, we talked about my mother's family and other things, but the important thing was that I managed to delay having to meet the main character.
LATER THAT NIGHT.
After I had dinner it was time for my favorite time of day, my dance with death's sibling, lady slumber.
However just as I was about to lay down, a notification panel appeared.
[You have saved the plot from derailment. A skill choice will be granted.]
"Oh!"
[Processing choices…]
[Passive [Sword Heart]: An amazing talent for the sword.]
[Passive [Agile Physique]: your body is one made for agile movements and fast attacks.]
[Passive [Heavy Strikes]: All of your attacks will carry double the weight.]
"It's becoming increasingly obvious that the system wants to steer me in a certain direction… I'll play along for now. Choose the first option."
[Passive [Sword Heart] is in effect.]
"I'll get to try it out soon enough. I wonder what sort of an ending I'll see…"
THE NEXT MORNING.
Instead of waking up after a good rest in the morning like usual, I woke up at dawn to a knock on my door.
"Wha.. What is it?" I asked.
Suddenly, my 'father' opened the door and tossed me a wooden sword.
"Get up, my son, I might be injured but there are not many better sword instructors outside of the royal academy in this kingdom! Training starts now!" my 'father' said with obvious joy on his face.
I was annoyed at first but upon noticing the excitement and joy on his face, I picked up the wooden sword. After all, he must have almost lost his passion for the sword when he was injured in the war. There was no way I'd tear him down, even if I wasn't his son.
"I'm ready, Father! I replied.
"That's my son!" he said with pride.
I followed my 'father' out into the area where the guards and soldiers trained.
A SHORT WALK LATER.
We reached a circular area of hay with several wooden weapon racks and straw puppets for practice.
My 'father' stood outside of the hay circle and instructed me to stand in front of them.
"I want you to do one thing for me. Attack the puppet. You can use any method of attack but it has to be with the sword." he said seriously.
"Alright, Father," I replied.
I did not know much about their sword but I remembered the time the main character of the novel fought…
..