The Beginning After The End (Early Years Book 1) (18 page)

“G-g’morning Brother. Mama told me to w-wake
you up.” She mutters, her head still down.

“Haha I see! Thank you very much little
sister.” I say while patting her head.  This seemed to get a good response
out of her and she started giggling.

“Can you take me down to the kitchen?” I ask,
holding out my hand.

“En!” She nods excitedly and while she
hesitates for a second, she grabs my hand pulls me along.

Sylvie follows behind us, trotting while taking
a look around her surroundings.

I’m met with a pleasant smell of something
similar to bacon as we enter the kitchen.  Inside, I spot Tabitha and
Alice cooking something while they were chatting.  Lilia was sitting down
at the table already, her legs swinging, obviously waiting for breakfast.

“Good morning Mom, Ma’am, Lilia!” I announce.

“G’morning!” “Kyu!” Both Ellie and Sylvie echo.

“Ah! Ellie managed to wake you up! I remember
having the hardest time waking you up Art.  I swear you sleep like a log.”
 My mother chuckles as she places the eggs she was cooking into a big
plate.

“Did you sleep well?” Smiles Tabitha as she
mixes the bowl of greens she had in her hands.

I nod, “I slept great Ma’am.”

“Hi Ellie! G-good morning Arthur.” I see Lilia
softly speak as she shies away from my gaze.

I smile and return the greeting.

Breakfast was great! Mother mentioned that
usually the maids are the ones to cook but she wanted to cook today for me.
 It’s been a while since I tried mother’s cooking and I dearly missed it.
 I made sure to give some of the meat to Sylvie who didn’t hesitate to
gobble whatever entered her mouth, including my finger.  Eventually, Ellie
and Lilia both wanted to try feeding her so I told them to go ahead.  Needless
to say, Sylvie warmed up to both of them a bit more after being fed by them.

“The carriage is waiting out front so just
leave the dishes in the sink and let’s head out!” Announces Tabitha.

Xyrus was an amazing city.  I couldn’t
help but gawk at the different sights as we travelled down the main road.
 I could see magic shops, armories, spell books, and even beast core
shops! There was everything mages could ask for.  Adults all dressed
extravagantly while luxurious carriages drove on by.
 
Some buildings were several stories
making this city seem a lot bigger than Ashber.
 
I could also see children a couple years
older than me all wearing similar uniforms, some black while some grey and red.
 I assume that they’re students at Xyrus.  Uniforms seemed to be a
tradition even at the noble geniuses’ academy, so that there were no
discrimination based on how rich and affluent your family was.

We eventually reached a section of the city
where they sold clothes.

I have to say, shopping for clothes with
females takes a harder toll on my body than training with Grandpa Virion, and even
at the thought of his training regimen left me in cold sweat.

I was used as a mannequin for each of the
girl’s own preferences in style.  My mother wanted to dress me in simple
clothes, while Tabitha wanted to transform me into some sort of prince.
 Even Lilia and Ellie made me try on some clothes.

“You need to look good since you’re my
brother!” She announces, her hands on her hips.

Sylvie feels the exhaustion from me and coos
comfortingly while perched on my head.

I ended up with 10 different sets of clothes,
half from Mother and the other half from Tabitha.  Both Mother and I tried
to stop Tabitha from buying me anything but she scolded us, playfully saying,
“It’s an investment.
 
Besides, I’ve
always wanted a son.” while winking.

We looked around more after towing the bags of
clothes into the carriage.  I was excited to see the armory.  I
really wanted a decent sword to start practicing swordsmanship again; I was
really getting rusty.  The girls didn’t want that though and I was forced
to go into different jewelry and gem stores instead.  I guess I’ll have to
visit the armory with Father next time.

Eventually, we got back home, my physical and
mental strength depleted and father came in soon after.

“How was your day son?”  He chuckled,
noticing my exhausted face.

“I never thought shopping could be so utterly
tiring.”  I reply.

Vincent and Tabitha arrive to the kitchen table
at this time with Lilia following behind.

“HAHA! I heard you got beat up by a bunch of
women today Arthur!” Vincent exclaims.

I just feebly nod while Tabitha just smirks at
looks at Mother, “The little prodigy of yours isn’t as big of a deal as I
though he was.”  Lilia and Ellie giggle at this.

“I swear.  A woman’s endurance can’t be
matched when they’re out shopping.” I just wryly refute.

My father and Vincent laugh harder at this and
nod their head in agreement.

*Ding*

I hear a bell followed by a couple of knocks.

“Ah! Looks like she’s here!” Vincent perks up.

The look on everyone else’s face notified me
that only Vincent knew what was going on.

Vincent comes back, leading an elderly woman
into the table we were at.

“Rey, Alice, Arthur, I know you guys said that
you want to put off school for later but I just couldn’t hold it in.
 Everyone.  Meet Cynthia Goodsky! She’s the Director of Xyrus
Academy.”

Noticing the slight twinge of annoyance on my
face, Vincent immediately says, “Don’t worry, I didn’t bring her here to make
you go to school right away.  I just wanted her to meet you.”

The Director gives me a smile that I can’t
quite comprehend and holds out her hand.  “Nice to finally meet you
Arthur.”

Xyrus Academy, an Academy hailed as the most
exalted Sanctuary for any of the would-be-mages privileged enough to have both
the background and talent to enter.  There are a couple more academies
scattered throughout the Kingdom of Sapin, but needless to say, the level
between those second-rate schools and Xyrus is insurmountable.

That was the kind of titan Xyrus Academy was.
 Those who qualify to graduate from this academy were guaranteed a
prosperous future and life.  It was rumored that the top graduates can
even become honored guards, instructors or military leaders for the Royal
Family, for the King of the entire race of humans on this continent.  Of
course, some chose to go the more humble route and may focus on research by
joining one of the mage guilds.  However, it is an understatement to say
that students of Xyrus Academy are hailed as the true elites, even among
nobles.

Now, here I am, standing in front of said
Academy’s Director.  Normally, any eight-year-old, hell, any person would
be ecstatic to be in the presence of someone so affluent, but I just scratch my
head in annoyance at the unexpected guest.

She was a very tall lady, standing around 1.7
meters, well above the average for the females here.  She held herself in
a very upright, noble manner.  She wore a simple, yet elegant robe that
was navy blue, laced with gold threading.  She sported a conjurer’s hat,
an accessory that looked like an over-sized witch hat that amplified the
absorption rate of the surrounding mana but oftentimes came with other
functions.  Strapped to the side of her robe was a wand that was a
crystalline white color with a fluorescent gem attached.  Even my ignorant
eyes could tell that this wand was extremely valuable.  Surprisingly, her
face had very soft features that reminded me more of a friendly grandmother
next door than an all-important figure of power but the aura she had around her
made her seem fairy-like.
 
Her
wrinkles couldn’t mask the attractive face that she had.  The crow’s feet
etched on the outer ends of her brown eyes actually amplified the
attractiveness of her smile when she introduced herself.

“Nice to finally meet you Arthur.” She said,
with her hand held out.

What was I supposed to do in this situation? Do
I just shake it or is someone of power like her expecting me to kiss her hand
or something?

I just go with the safe route and shake it.

“Err… Nice to meet you too Director.”

The Director seemed a little surprised at my
introduction.

“Arthur! You’re being rude! I’m so sorry for my
son Director Goodsky.  He just returned home and is ignorant about formal
customs.”  My mother pushes my head down with her hand while bowing
herself, getting on one knee.

Apparently, when meeting someone of high
standing, it is customary to get on one knee and shake the hand, while bowing.

How stupid.

“Kukuku, no it is quite all right.  No
offense taken at all.  And please, Arthur, call me Cynthia.”  She
just laughs with her free hand covering her mouth.

“I’m sorry to intrude on you at such a late
time but unfortunately, the only free time I could make was after my meeting
tonight.  I hope you don’t mind.”  She said, looking at my parents.

“Nonono~ we’re thankful that you’d be willing
to take the time out just to visit our son.”  My father is the one to speak
this time.

By the amount of complimenting I start
wondering if this granny can compare to Grandpa Virion.

Director Cynthia nods at this.  “True, it
isn’t very often that I take a house trip to visit a potential student.
 Otherwise, even with a hundred bodies, I wouldn’t be able to fit the time
hoho.”

“However, Vincent is a good friend and a very
reliable business partner that I couldn’t refuse when he excitedly came up to
me about a prodigy that is living in his home.  I must say that my
curiosity got the best of me.
 
Do
you mind leading me to an open space so I can see a demonstration?”  She
continues on, her gaze fixed at me in an assessing manner.

“Can I at least eat din…Ouch!” My mother slaps
me in the butt before I could finish my sentence.

“Of course! Please follow us Director Cynthia.”
 My mother ushers me, leading Director Cynthia while the rest followed.

My dinner…

Sylvie, who was hiding underneath the dinner
table from the unfamiliar human, trots behind me causing Director Cynthia to
raise an eyebrow.

“Oh my… What a lovely mana beast.  I
assume it is your contracted beast right Arthur?” She asks me inquisitively
while kneeling down to get a closer view at Sylvie.

“Yeah, she hatched a couple of months ago.
 Her name is Sylvie.” I just respond, with my mother’s hand still grabbing
onto the back of my shirt to keep me from escaping.

“I have to say, while it is common for nobles
to buy beasts to contract, I have never seen a mana beast like yours.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I just respond, “I’m
not exactly sure what she is either.  Her mother seemed to be some sort of
scaled wolf like creature.  She was already gravely wounded when I
stumbled into her nest.  She was protecting her egg.”

She reaches to pet Sylvie but she scampers away
and climbs unto the top of my head.

“Sorry, she’s a bit shy around strangers.”

“I see.  Well enough about her.
 
Let us see if what Vincent wasn’t just exaggeration.
 He didn’t tell me much except that you’re an Augmenter, saying it was a
surprise.” She just shakes her head.

We arrived at the backyard and everyone was
seated a couple meters away, Sylvie struggling to escape the grasp of my little
sister, whom I entrusted her with.

“You’re not going to use your wand?” I start
stretching.

“It isn’t very fair of me to be using a weapon
when you yourself are empty handed as well, right?” She gives me a wink.

I guess she’s right.

I stomp my right foot into the ground and a
piece of the ground, the size of my body thrusts up.  My hands are lazily
in my pocket so I kick the rock at Director Cynthia’s direction.

A wind wall that appeared instantly in front of
her knocked up the rock I just kicked.

*Whistle* Oh. Insta-casting.

I guess she’s not the Director for nothing.

I see her face visibly shocked by the sudden
attack I threw at her.  She wasn’t expecting an elemental attack from a
child, even if she knew was an Augmenter.

I wonder who’s better at controlling wind.

I will a gust of wind underneath my feet and
propel myself to her.

“D-dual Elemental…” Before she even had the
chance to finish her sentence, I jump up three meters into the air with the
help of my wind attribute skill and focus a condensed whirlwind into my right
fist that starts glowing a faint silver color.  Using the piece of earth
that was knocked up by the Director, I use it as a foothold to lunge myself
into her.

*FWISH*

The collision of her wind wall and my whirlwind
fist creates chaotic streams of wind that forces the audience to cover their
faces.

The collision blows me back as she also takes a
few steps to steady herself.  Before I get the chance to balance myself, I
see four twisters the size of small trees form around her and she wills it
towards my direction.

I gather the wind element around my body as
well, making a small cyclone form around me spinning the opposite direction of
Director Goodsky’s.  Using the centrifugal force generated by my cyclone,
I start spinning along with it, using my hands to create blades of wind.

The clash between the four twisters and my
cyclone creates a small crater but otherwise doesn’t do me any harm besides me
being a bit dizzy.

*PANG*

Instantly I’m knocked back, my ears ringing and
my vision unsteady.

A Sound user! She was a deviant!

I steady myself, taking a glance at my opponent
and she’s staring at me with an awestruck face that makes her seem like a tacky
tourist in a foreign country, her right arm still raised from the last attack.

I sit back down.  Damn.  Couldn’t
win.

“That should be enough for a demonstration
right Director?” I rub my temples.

“Y-yes… That is quite sufficient.”  Her
voice doesn’t sound like the voice of the winner’s but someone who was
thoroughly beaten.

She regains her composure and starts walking
towards me when I hear my father’s voice.

“A-Arthur… You know how to use Earth and Wind
attribute skills as well?”

“What do you mean, ‘as well’” Director
Cynthia’s composed look turns into a look of confusion.

My mother continues on for my baffled father.

“H-he, my son, we thought he was a Fire
Elemental.  He’s a deviant as well that can use Lightning!”

I can hear Director Cynthia’s breath turn short
as she’s still trying to take in what my mother has told her.

“S-surely you jest… you can not mean to say
that he is capable of controlling three elements…”

“Four actually.  I can control all four.”
 I interrupt.  Everyone was going to find out anyway.  This
wasn’t something that I could, nor wanted to hide.

“Earth and Wind are my weakest elements.
 I’m a lot more adept in controlling Fire and Water.  I also happen
to be deviants in both those elements, although I just started training in
them.”  I get up now, recovering from the previous attack.  I wasn’t
expecting a Sound user so I didn’t bother to enhance my ears.

No one responded back to what I said and the
only thing I hear are the clichéd sounds of crickets chirping.  I hope
that this is the last time that they get surprised like this.

The noble figure that controls the most
prominent school in the continent falls to her behind in a less than elegant
fashion, and she’s just muttering something to herself.

Finally, facing me, she says, “Arthur, you mean
to tell me that you are a Quadra Elemental capable of controlling two higher
elements?”

I’m also a Dragon Tamer, but that’s about it.
 I wonder how they would react if I told them that.

“Correct.  This is probably all a big
surprise to everyone because this is the first time I’m revealing this fact,
but yeah.” I scratch my head.

“Please demonstrate.”
 
Director Cynthia’s eyes grew menacing
and the once friendly grandmother now had the look of a veteran killer as she
raised her hand, the mana around her fluctuating.

Suddenly, a vacuum of wind sucked me in towards
her as her other hand was preparing a visible ball of wind.

This woman…

I will water into my right palm and a condensed
ball of fire in my left palm.
 
She
wanted to see so badly; I’ll just have to show her.

I combine the two opposing skills together and
a massive cloud of steam was produced, completely enshrouding the both of us
from everyone else’s sight.