Chapter 6

Time had swiftly slipped away, and nearly two years had elapsed since Klaus embarked on his transformative journey to master the elusive Ten Eyes Mantra.

Each day had evolved into a well-orchestrated rhythm. Mornings bloomed with enchanting playtime, the room echoing with the laughter of Klaus and his ever-attentive companions, Elisabeth and Lina. After the noonday meal, when the elixir's warmth coursed through his veins, Klaus would skillfully stage an afternoon nap charade, covertly reserving this precious time for honing his Ten Eyes Mantra.

Evenings, like clockwork, heralded dinner's arrival, with each dish meticulously prepared to nurture young Klaus's growing body. After the final meal, he would bid farewell to the world, retreating to his sleeping chamber at an early hour. Midnight, shrouded in silence, was his secret haven—a sanctuary where he could embark on his second round of ardent practice, the world around him shrouded in tranquil slumber.

Amidst the stillness, Klaus marveled at the depth of experiences he had amassed in his relatively short journey. In less than two years, he had ventured into realms of self-discovery and mastery that few children his age on the continent could fathom.

'If all proceeds as planned, today might be the day I open the first eye of the Ten Eyes Mantra.'

The elixir had proven itself a loyal ally, enabling Klaus to make substantial headway in his training despite its brevity.

He had come to understand that timing and unwavering focus were the keys to unlocking the full potential of the Ten Eyes Mantra.

"Klaus, call me 'Mommy'!"

As Klaus contemplated his future, Elisabeth, with an air of playfulness, lifted him into her arms, her eyes glittering with anticipation.

"Maam!"

"Aww, just once more!"

"Mama!"

With a faint smile that warmed her heart, Klaus uttered the cherished word 'Mama,' and Elisabeth's face illuminated with pure delight.

"Klaus, just one more time!"

"Mama!"

"Milady, I've brought the medicine."

Their playful interaction came to a gentle pause as Lina, looking slightly fatigued, made her entrance, bearing a steaming bowl of the customary elixir.

"Oh, thank you."

Elisabeth's gratitude was genuine as she received the bowl from Lina, her hands adeptly preparing to administer it to Klaus.

"Here you go, Klaus."

Elisabeth ensured the elixir's temperature was suitable before guiding the spoon toward Klaus's eager lips.

"Ah-mmf!"

Klaus received the elixir with gusto, the familiarity of this ritual having persisted for one and a half years.

"Look at you!"

Elisabeth and Lina shared a tender moment as they observed Klaus sip the elixir, their hearts brimming with affection.

"Feeling sleepy, are we?"

With the elixir's effects settling in, Klaus blinked his eyes, heavy with feigned drowsiness.

"Now that we're done with the medicine, how about a little nap?"

"Mhm."

"Very well, off to dreamland, then."

Elisabeth cradled Klaus gently, positioning him to face the window. A soothing pat on his tummy accompanied her comforting gesture.

"Mmmm…"

Klaus closed his eyes, his breathing mirroring that of a slumbering child. He listened as Elisabeth and Lina exited the room, convinced that he had succumbed to sleep's tender embrace. In this tranquil interlude, Klaus readied himself for his clandestine practice.

'Now's the time.'

With closed eyes and a heart full of determination, Klaus began to chant the Ten Eyes Mantra, each word resonating with power and purpose. He took a slow, deep breath, drawing in mana from the natural world, which coursed through his body like a harmonious melody.

'The mana flow is unwavering.'

Despite the rhythmic consistency of his breath, the mana flowed with newfound grace and precision, engendering an eager sense of anticipation within Klaus.

'Stay unwavering, stay focused.'

With each deliberate exhalation, Klaus masterfully connected the intricate currents of mana within his mana circuit. Although his tender lungs sometimes left him breathless, his resolve remained unshaken.

Empowered by the elixir's comforting warmth and the benevolence of nature's mana, Klaus embarked on his inner journey, methodically dispersing the darkness that had long resided within his mana circuit, allowing it to course through his entire being.

* * *

The room crackled with latent energy, a volatile fusion of elixir and mana that surged through Klaus's being, saturating every fiber of his existence. It seeped into his bones, coursed through his muscles, and danced across his skin, igniting a symphony of sensations.

His unwavering focus, honed to a razor's edge through countless hours of practice, now found its purpose in the cultivation of the elusive 'Ten Eyes Mantra'.

As the stillness enveloped the room, time seemed to hold its breath, brimming with anticipation.

Then, in an electrifying flash:

A searing sensation, akin to a fireball streaking across the canvas of his mind, ignited a blazing inferno within his head. It was a surge of power like no other, a tempestuous whirlwind of warm energy that swirled within the confines of his mental realm.

Klaus had achieved what he yearned for—an uncharted awakening of the first eye within the Ten Eyes Mantra.

'It's finally open...'

Before him lay the first eye, a resplendent orb radiating with potent power. Its brilliance was otherworldly, as if it possessed the ability to scrutinize every minuscule cell within his very being.

Yet, just as he teetered on the precipice of jubilant exclamation, an unexpected azure flash pierced through his elation.

Ding!

[The first eye of the Ten Eyes Mantra has been opened.]

[The first accomplishment has been achieved.]

[Ten Eyes Mantra (One-Eye) has been unlocked.]

'Wh-What's this?'

Like the manifestation of a mage's magic circle during incantations, an ethereal light hovered before his eyes, casting an iridescent glow.

[Your body has been mildly strengthened by the effects of Ten Eyes Mantra (One-Eye).]

[Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Willpower have all improved under the influence of Ten Eyes Mantra (One-Eye).]

Further revelations followed the initial message, signifying the transformative impact of his newly awakened eye within the Ten Eyes Mantra.

'Huh?'

Klaus's brow furrowed, his curiosity piqued.

'What's with this newfound information...?'

With the emergence of these messages, he detected a subtle shift within himself—a metamorphosis, however slight, had taken root.

While the changes may not have been earth-shattering, particularly within his child-sized physique, they were undeniable, stirring an undeniable transformation.

'Does the Ten Eyes Mantra truly harbor such capabilities?'

The Ten Eyes Mantra, renowned as it was, typically concealed its remarkable effects until the unveiling of the second eye, with its true potency manifesting at the attainment of the third eye. In his previous life, the mere opening of a single eye had not produced such tangible results.

'Is it the elixir, the inherent nature of my youthful body, or perhaps these enigmatic messages?'

Klaus's mind mulled over various theories, yet none seemed capable of comprehensively explaining this phenomenon.

'Or could it be linked to these messages...?'

He scrutinized the message suspended before him once more.

"Young master! Are you awake?"

Lina's voice pierced the contemplative silence, her presence now firmly within the room.

"Lina, can you see this?"

Klaus gestured toward the message, a design reminiscent of a mage's magic circle.

"Yes, the mirror?"

However, Lina's perplexed response indicated her inability to perceive the message—it appeared to be a phenomenon privy to Klaus alone.

[Please consult the Status Window to verify changes.]

'Status Window? What's that?'

Klaus mentally echoed the unfamiliar term, prompting the appearance of a window bearing a luminance akin to the earlier message.

STATUS WINDOW

Name: Klaus Lionhart

Title: Gluttony Apostle

Condition: Decline in Athletic Ability, Decline in Mana Affinity.

*Additional Abilities have not been unlocked

Klaus delved into the contents of the 'Status Window', poring over the revelations it offered.

'Decline in Athletic Ability and Decline in Mana Affinity...'

These phrases seemed to illuminate his present physical state.

'Ah, I see. My physique harbors numerous imperfections.'

'But what about this title? Gluttony Apostle?'

'In the grander scheme of things, its significance is likely trivial.'

Klaus chose not to dwell on these facets, for he harbored no apprehensions, even in the face of an imperfect constitution.

Having earned the distinction of being the youngest mage to attain six circles before the age of thirty in his previous life, he wielded the knowledge and experience to surmount such inherent shortcomings. The mastery of the Ten Eyes Mantra, guided by the wisdom of his past life, rendered these physical imperfections inconsequential.

'Furthermore, I am a member of House Lionhart—a lineage of swordsmen. Embarking on the path of a mage, marked by the formation of a magic circle within my heart, would jeopardize my pursuit of swordsmanship techniques.'

Klaus ruminated on the intricate journey ahead. To exact vengeance upon Damien Zagerfield, a colossus in the realm of power, he needed to ascend the pinnacles of both magic and swordsmanship. A singular focus on either discipline would prove woefully inadequate.

'And yet, I am but a two-year-old.'

With unwavering determination, Klaus clenched his tiny fists, silently reaffirming his commitment. Once again,

  he cast his gaze upon the enigmatic 'Status Window'.

'So, what exactly is this message?'

The sudden appearance of these messages, coupled with his unique title and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his reincarnation, left Klaus with the unmistakable sense of an intricate puzzle, its pieces awaiting patient assembly. 'Impatience won't serve me. I must tread this path with utmost care.'