Chapter 3 - Warmth

As the seasons passed like a blur I gained more control of my body. My five years of living plus my additional past life I gained a sudden understanding of how to form the start of my mana aura came to mind. As in my previous life the type of power we used was a version of using the body's muscles and core to super heat our body through our blood.

These blood arts reminded me to strengthen my core. As if something clicked in my body I closed my eyes and saw flickers of light some far some closer. I focused and willed the lights to hit each other and mash together.

By the time I was tired out I had a small, rough, and jagged sphere. It wasn't finished but it was enough for now. My body released a fine smoke filled with mana and defects. The way my body purged impurities could have alerted my father in the other room.

I decided to practice again in a bit once everyone is out. As for now I need food this practice really takes a lot out of me. I could also use a drink.

I checked myself in the mirror and removed any smoke from my dark blonde hair. After throughly cleaning myself I went to the kitchen to get food. I walked down the stairs and turned to my maid.

"May I have something to eat please?" I said to Isabella in a pleading voice.

"Only a small snack I am about to start making lunch." She patted my head and started peeling a apple.

While waiting I sat down and watched my mom practice with a sword outside, and despite having a child she can easily put any guard I knew in my past life to shame.

A plate was sat down in front of me with a part of bread and apples. I gave Isabella a smile and ate a apple slice. This life is something I need to protect the only way I can is to get stronger.

Once I was done with my food I hopped down and went outside. Watching my mom has inspired me to be strong and fast.

"Mommy, may I try?" My voice came out squeaky reminding me to think about how I speak right now.

"Against me? Rin you know you ca-" My mothers protest was cut off by my father who gestured to a small wooden sword that he had made.

"Alright but I will only block you, I would rather not hurt you." My mom got into a stance that was rather unique. It wasn't like any stance that was traditional on where I came from.

As I picked up the small wooden sword I was given a smile and thumbs up from Isabella. As I approached my mom I got into a basic sword stance with my hips towards my opponent, sword firmly grasped in front of me. I made my feet turn to look like I was just copying my mother.

I took a breath in and relaxed. I took one step in and then dashed in hitting the side of my moms sword. I jumped back and observed her for a point to attack, but as I dashed in again I tripped as this body was not built enough for the style I was trying to do.

My mom rushed over and picked me up thinking I was gonna start crying. Well she wasn't wrong it hurt like hell tripping over yourself onto grass. Not enough to make me cry though all I did was rub my head with a strained face.

My mother must have used magic as my wound hurt less, it was enveloped in a green glow. Soon there was no pain at all just a mark. I was sat down and as I went to grab the sword again I was stopped.

"I think we are done for today maybe tomorrow Rin." I looked up at my Mom as her very soft voice said not matching her body at all.

"Okay." I said in a more pouty tone than I had wanted to. I was pretty bummed out but I guess it has its ups as I learned a lot.

The thirst for strength lead me to try building up my inner core of mana. Its better that it gets done sooner rather than later I guess.

I sat in my room and focused again. The lights were here again and my core was also here it looked like a dark half sphere. I pulled more lights together and at some point everything clicked together and I could feel the outside air and mana fill my once empty core.

It hurt a lot, like thousands of needles stabbing me in specific areas of my body as to ready my body for the mana. The mana stabilized and my body released the power in my body. As I opened my eyes I see that I basically leveled my house and I was surrounded by concerned villagers and my parents frozen from shock.

As my family rushed to me they were checking my body for any injuries, and through tears my mom hugged me.

"Dear god Rin what did you do?" My father spoke through a choked voice.

"You awakened your core at such a young age, and so violently." A medical mage said looking like he saw a ghost.

"Looks like we are making a trip to the Inn sooner than expected." My father let out a chuckle as he turned to our maid to get anything salvageable out of the house and bring it to a free carriage.

Isabella nodded and went through the house picking up bits and pieces. While she was doing this my mother had been moved away to deal with the shock.

"Once your mother calms down we will go to a Inn, as I dont think I can fix our house in one day." My father keeping calm enough to hide his obvious happiness.

While the villagers helped go through the remains of my house my dad had sat me down in front of him.

"Rin I'm going to have you focus on this little shiny rock okay?" My father held out a rock that reminded me of a mana core.

I held my hand out and had the warm stone pressed onto my hand. My father then poured his mana into the stone, which somehow for a second connected to me. My father let out a sigh and tried again. He shook his head and looked again.

"Rin I'm going to have you test a few things with me." My father was different now, he wanted results like I was a lab rat.

He handed me a book that he had carried on him. He flipped the page to a basic aptitude test.

"Now Rin I'm going to need you to repeat the words on this paper." My father held the book up and pointed to the lines.

As I repeated the spell four colors spun around me each one of them burned bright. My fathers jaw dropped and fell back a bit. This being a measure of aptitude must mean that I can control the four basic types. Proud of myself I smirked.

The next page explained the two types of mana users, and how to test it. The two types show how one controls their mana, one pushes mana through their body to augment themselves and another through the air snd to certain parts if their body.

I learned through pushing mana around me and getting throughly exhausted that I am Augmenter. Its difficult to wrap my head around this as there is some creative freedom but also laws and theories.

My headache didn't get better as my father explained how bloodline abilities work. As through the blood of our ancestors we can access a power that is unique to their family. Most families have one but some noble families have the base ability then awaken it further through your mana cores expansion.

"Whats ours Daddy?" I asked eager to learn more about the power.

"You will know soon there is a trial that you must overcome soon then you will know. I feel like my teaching will help. Stay strong bud." My fathers words worried me but he also looked like he was mad at himself.

My father taught me a bit more about the types of magic control and the stages of your mana. Your mana core goes through 6 stages and 3 stages within one of the major stages. The stages going from lowest to highest were Black, Orange, Yellow, Red, Silver, and White. In these stages there are three minor stages to pass Cloudy, Pure, Lightened.

Hearing him so serious was a bit scary but he tried to lighten me up by making a few jokes. He then ended his sentence by saying one last thing.

"There is more to tell but that will be later so for now just rest." He smiled then went to help others clean up.

I was moved along to the Inn where we would stay until the house was fixed. I went up to my room in the in and sat on the bed. I don't know if it was stress on my little body but I fell asleep.