To Protect Me

The count had a shocked expression at first but when he saw that it was me, his expression softened and he smiled, "Oh, Alan, do you need anything? You shouldn't move so much after all you're still heali-" he stopped talking and his face turned to one of worry upon realizing that I had just woken up from a coma and yet I was already running around the estate. "Alan! Quickly lie down on the sofa." He said with a worried expression, I lay down and noticed that the sofa was made of gold except for the cushion parts, actually this whole office is decorated with gold and gems! Is this what they call being born with a golden spoon!? Count Ben sat on the sofa across me, "What did you need?" he asked, "Can you hire someone to teach me swordsmanship?" I asked. The count looked at me with disbelief, I can tell that he was happy about it though. "I thought you'd never ask!"

 You might think that it was idiotic to challenge someone to a duel when you literally have no experience wielding a sword but that was what Alan was, an idiot. He challenged Amon to a sword fight even though he doesn't know how to use a sword. Meanwhile, Amon is literally the genius of the Emilton Barony! "How about you try to learn magic as well?" my father, the count suggested. My eyes gleamed and I was about to say yes when the door burst open and a familiar girl with white hair and blue eyes opened the door. "Brother would just give up after a few days so he really shouldn't bother learning magic!" I recognize this girl, she is my little sister, Ethea Spades. The genius of the Spades County. Having learned intermediate magic at the age of eight she was expected to be someone who will become the youngest archwizard in history. Not only that, she is part of Amon's harem! She was the bratty genius tsundere in the harem, always jealous and in pain, she was my second favorite character! She may seem annoying but her serious moments were the most impactful to me. She cares for her brother, for me but since I was so idiotic she thought she should be stricter and sterner, creating her tsundere character. Even though she is literally looking at me like I'm a bum right now, I still care for her deeply. "I'll take this seriously Thea, I won't give up after just a few days." I said in the sincerest tone as possible. She looked at me worryingly "Are you sick? You must be sick! That is the only explanation for your current behavior!" she was surprised.

 Its normal for her act that way because if I were the original Alan I would have argued with her and acted childish but not anymore. I will not let her fall for Amon or any noble scumbag that won't be loyal to her! Yes… my brotherly instincts are coming up. I smirked creepily which gave my father and sister a shiver. I immediately composed myself "I'm not sick, I just had a realization… I want get stronger." She looked at me curiously and asked "For what purpose?" I answered "To protect you, to protect the county, to protect everyone." 'To protect me' I thought. She seemed proud of me for a minute but she immediately composed herself and spoke "If that's the case then I can teach you the basics. If I think you're good enough then I'll recommend you to someone from the magic tower." My eyes gleamed, and I was overjoyed, I get to learn magic from my second favorite character and my precious little sister! Seeing our sibling interaction made my father tear up a bit. "Thanks Thea, I appreciate it." "Don't be so excited yet, I'll have you know, my training will be hard! We start tomorrow so rest up for now." We both said our goodbyes to father and immediately headed out to our rooms.

 The next day, I woke up early and ate my breakfast, I hurriedly went to Thea's room and knocked on her door. "Thea! Wake up! I'm ready! Let's go!" I shouted but only her maid went out of her room, "My lady is still dressing up, she says she will meet you at the training grounds in an hour" I looked at her suspiciously "She's still sleeping, isn't she?" The maid avoided my gaze. I sighed "Tell her to take her time." The maid nodded and went back to the room. I went to the library first before going to the training grounds to pick up a book about the basics of magic. I quietly read it while waiting for Thea. Apparently magic is most powerful the more you visualize it. While mana is the source of it, from what I read its like mana is a pen and magic is the drawing. "You seem to be working hard." Thea appeared in front of me using a portal she conjured. I was so surprised that the book I was holding dropped to the floor. "Woah" I was amazed. So, this is the power of magic. Thea looked like she was proud of herself and said boastingly "This is intermediate magic so you won't learn this yet but don't worry basic magic is fun too!" I looked at her with amazement. "Anyways, let's get started!" she said proudly. Since I read the book she told me she'd start with teaching me simple spells like 'ignite' which makes a small flame appear in my hand. Its basically a hand torch which might be useful in a non-combative way. I was able to use ignite after about 2 hours of visualizing. The hard part was how I would let mana out of my hand, she didn't teach me that, when I asked, she'd tell me it was instinctual and if I couldn't get that then I should just give up. "Good job, here." She gave me a book about basic magic spells. "It's homework, tomorrow you better be able to conjure these spells" She smiled and went out the same way she went in via portal.

 After she left I continued learning the spells, everything was easier now that I knew how to let my mana out. Visualizing was easier because I was always reading books and stuff in my past life. I learned 'ignite', 'levitation' and 'sandstorm', all are non-combative according to the book but I'm sure I can use them for battle. It was late in the evening when I finished practicing the spells, still I wanted to try something so I chanted "Portal!" heh nothing happened. I didn't feel disappointed at all, I'm no genius, of course it won't work, is what I would like to think but I'm really disappointed. I was about to leave when miraculously a portal opened up. I observed it for a while but no one came out so I decided to enter it. When I stepped in I was immediately teleported to a dark place. I was spooked but I calmly chanted "Ignite". Upon closer inspection I seem to be in a cave. I continued on the path, a bit worried and a bit excited, I'd cast portal again but my mana is really depleted leaving me a bit worried if I encounter an enemy. I continued on the path and I arrived to a beautiful marbled door. I tried to open it but it was locked, guess my luck ran out.

 I inspected the door while waiting for my mana to restore, there seemed to be a writing on a pedestal beside the door on the left. 'The key is what dwells within' It was quite vague but I kind of knew what to try. The only thing that dwells within is either my organs, thoughts or mana. I poured a bit of my mana onto the door and it actually opened! What lied within was a giant statue of a robed man holding a book. I searched the room but only this man and a book were found. I took the book from the man, then the room started rumbling, no the whole cave is falling apart! "PORTAL! PORTAL! PORTAL!" I kept chanting but nothing seems to happen, I desperately avoided the debris falling but the statue itself was about to fall on me. I closed my eyes and visualized the door to my room, just then I felt a surge of mana and knew it was time to cast it "Portal!" I hurriedly went inside just in the nick of time before the statue fell on me. I breathed a sigh of relief but was quickly interrupted when my butler Chris Avern approached me "Young Master, have you just arrived?" I tidied myself up and responded "Ah, yes. Please tell my family that I will be dining on my own tonight, I'm a bit tired." He looked at me worryingly "Ok young master, also there is a letter for you." I was a bit shocked by that part but still took the letter from him and quickly resigned to my room. I read its content while having dinner.

'Dear young master Alan, the Emilton Barony is sincerely sorry for the pain you have been through. As an apology, we will hold a banquet for your recovery.' 

Huh???