“So… you mastered that language? Did you learn a new language in… three days? And I have no choice but to believe, that?”
Dad looked at me with bewildered eyes. He couldn’t clearly say what he wanted.
He was shocked, but after some time he calmed down and believed me.
‘Oh well, I would be the same as him if some normal kid told me that. It’s a good thing that he knows that I am a bit special.’
The speed he recovered was fast considering the arrow piercing him was a bit sharp this time.
He looked at me and asked with a serious tone.
“Ok. So you wanna know how this spell (Enhance Speed) works… right?”
His voice had a doubt in them. He was thinking that I would be easily able to understand the mechanics of the spell.
But, I shook my head and replied with a serious tone.
“I know how it works but, why can’t I use it ?”
I slowly asked with a disappointed look.
I was trying to use the enhancement magic of the lowest mana consumption but can’t use any of them. That’s why I asked dad to enlighten me about my flows.
“Hmm. You can’t use them…wait! That means you learned this spell already!?”
The most basic of the (tier-0) spell is made of 3 or 4 lines and at least one circle in theoretical value.
To understand the mana distribution and the theory of enhancement for the ground spell of enhancement series, one has to at least study it for a month.
‘He is as good in magic as he is at other things. He may already surpass me in near future.
I know that he won’t say it but, I’m sure that he must have learned other, similar ones too.’
“A genius…”
He mumbled in a very quiet voice but I barely heard it.
In the response to that, a helpless sigh escaped my mouth.
‘I guess I could be called a genius from the point of view of this world.’
As the concept wasn’t that difficult and I already had some idea about the enhancement spells, I was able to UNDERSTAND the whole series.
Enhancement, being the main series in magic, has vast verity and range. The essence of it is to strengthen the existing state of something.
To (Understand) anything, means to grasp the very thing from the core. From the output of mana to its structure in the spell.
‘I (understand) things very quickly. It could be considered one of my ‘traits’ so it’s easy for me.’
I am just lucky to have my one and only skill, [Energy Circulation].
I was able to conclude many things from my experiments these past few days.
Not only it’s a passive skill that is activated all the time after ‘awakening’, but it also increases brain activity, accelerates mana gathering, and increases the natural healing ability.
‘It’s definitely a broken skill. And I don’t know why but sometimes my [Origin Skill] resonates with it. ．
It really feels weird when that happens. It’s a… tingling feeling, so I just avoid it.’
Looking back at my father, I asked once again.
“So? Why can’t I use any magic?”
It was very strange. I was confident that I had done everything right. It was like something just canceling the spell on its activations.
“Well, you see Eon… there is a barrier around the house that cancel any unauthorized use of magic or skill.”
He replied with a helpless tone. A faint trace of anger was visible in his eyes.
I noticed that and understood that it was definitely related to mom.
But there was a question that suddenly came to my mind.
“A barrier? Then why can dad use magic and I can use my skills?”
A really unexpected reply from me stunned him.
‘Did he understand the situation? Wow… Just, how smart is he?’
He thought for a moment before answering.
“One has to first register the <Mana signature> in the magic system to get permission.
As for your skills, one is an [Origin Skill] so it can’t be blocked by this ‘small’ barrier. And the other one is just an <Auxiliary Skill> which isn’t attacking or defense type so it can be used.”
He carefully explained. He was still a little shocked to not get any normal child-like reaction from me.
‘So~ it’s like that. No wonder I felt so weird when using magic.’
Nodding my head I understood the situation completely.
‘From this, I could say that mom isn’t in that big of danger or something like that. Most likely she is in hiding or something.’
If the situation was to be something more dangerous or concerning, dad would have put more effort into his work.
“So, dad, when will I get to use magic. I have to sign my mana signature with the core… or something like that, right?”
I asked with a calm voice and looked at him with shining eyes.
But… his expression saddened as he looked back at me.
“Sorry… Eon. You will have to wait for a month at the very least. I will have to make some preparations for it to register another person’s signature.”
My heart sank at those words.
It was much longer than I expected.
A sigh escaped my mouth, in my head.
‘I think I will have to make do with what I have. I should use that time to increase my physical state. I should also try making an enchanted arrow in the meantime.’
I thought it through and comforted dad who was clenching his fists.
“Dad, it’s ok. I can do other things in the meantime.”
Hugging him for a moment and I started reading the magic tome after he left the room.
He was disappointed in himself as he exited the room. I could feel it.
***
“Hm? Brian? what happened? Why do you look so… down?”
I asked him confusingly as he was sitting on the stairs with his head down.
‘Did something happen? It looks like he did something… wrong?’
I thought about the reason as I also sat beside him.
“He learned a language in 3 days…”
He quietly said as if to tell himself.
I understood what he was talking about. There has something unexpected happened in my sweet house. Again.
“Isn’t he amazing? Just having him as my baby is the best thing ever. But, why are you so sad?”
Maybe we were the luckiest ones to have such an extraordinary son. He is very amazing. He should be happy about that.
“He learned spells that would take someone a month at the very least.
He wants to use that but he can’t because of the barrier. Now I can’t do anything about it since I’m not good enough…”
He explained with a grim expression as he smiled bitterly.
‘Hmm… that’s how it has always been for me.’
I know how he was feeling right now. Helpless.
Feeling of not being good enough. Feeling of not being able to do things that you want but the limits are suppressing you. But…
“I know that feeling very well, Brian. And I think he does too.
He is like someone who has lived through this helplessness and understands us too well. And you know this too, don’t you?
He hasn’t complained or demanded anything like other normal kids, I hope he did but, that’s how it has always been.”
I was the most helpless person in this house.
Even if I wanted to, I can’t do anything for him right now.
“But remember this Brian; we are his parents and that fact can’t change. Even if lacking, we have to do our best. For him.”
I could not be the best mom out there but, I was the BEST for him, at least.
“I… understand. Thanks, Nolen.”
He was looking a bit good now. That was enough.
“So… this should be enough to cheer you up…”
Kissing him on the neck, I stood up and left.
Sitting there alone, he was petrified after that sudden soft touch.
***
There were a total of 36 (tier-0) spells in the book. Some of them were useful while some were not that interesting.
(Heat), (Water), (Small-Wind)… were some of the spells that were a bit useful.
Mainly, in (the tier-0) section, spells with only basic mana control were counted.
To first improve the efficiency to control <Mana>, the (tier-0) spells are like practice papers.
‘Well, it is… not that interesting. I might as well go and ask dad for the materials to make the magic arrows.’
I stood up and left the library.
As soon as I started climbing the stairs, I saw dad on the top, with a surprised expression.
Not minding him I passed by him and entered my room.
‘Mom must have done something, again.’
This type of situation where rare but common when mom played pranks. I sometimes don’t understand why would he act like that.
‘I don’t know how it is to be in love but, this might be… normal? Maybe?’
A person who had lived in solitude for almost 40 years like me, well…
‘I don’t even want to think about those days.’
I entered my room and tried to not think about the past.
Sitting down on a chair beside my bed, I took out a pointed wooden arrow from under my bed.
A smooth, straight body and the fins at the end of it. And sharply pointed arrowhead.
I could make the enchanted arrows with something like this but to do that, I need some things to engrave a magic circle on it.
‘Though I can’t use spells in-house, the magic circle engraving and the [Enchanting] process will be more interesting than the (tier-0) spells.’
It was interesting because I can even put something like a (tier-1) spell on it with my current limits.
But…
‘Learning it for the first time will be a bit difficult for sure.’
[Enchantment] was special and the process was still a bit unknown to me so, I was nervous.
‘But, well, at the end of the day, it will be fun.’
I thought and put the arrow back.