Chapter 8 — First Spell
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Kael Grenfort:
I slowly opened my eyes.
My body felt incredibly light. I felt better than usual — as if my entire being had been renewed, every cell awakened.
And something was different.
At first, I didn't understand. Everything just felt... slightly changed. Then gradually, I began to realize.
My senses.
They had sharpened considerably.
I looked around in wonder. The light coming through the window — I could see every ray, every speck of dust floating in it. The tiny crack on the far wall — I'd seen it before, but now it was clearer, more vivid.
Then — sounds.
My ears could hear several times better and farther than before. Birds singing in the distance, leaves rustling on trees, even the soft sound of Mother's footsteps downstairs — everything was distinct, clear, as if right beside me.
How amazing...
And at that moment —
"Grrrrrrrrrr..."
Oh.
I was hungry.
"Magical," I said, looking at my stomach as my head spun slightly. "Truly magical."
I felt dizzy. Even though I'd slept all night, my body was full of energy — but apparently, even this energy couldn't prevent hunger.
---
Julianna:
The door slowly opened.
"Hello, my dear," I said, looking at him. He was sitting on the bed, his eyes shining brightly. I could feel something had changed inside him — the transformation that happens in children who have created a mana core.
"Here's your food," I said, showing him the tray in my hands. "Don't get up. Rest at least one more day."
He looked at me and smiled. "Okay, Mother."
I sat beside him, watching as he ate. Kael had been strange since birth — the intelligence in his eyes, the thoughtfulness in his movements, the depth in his questions. This was no ordinary child.
And now — a mana core.
I needed to examine it.
When he finished eating, I looked at him.
"Kael, come on, take off your clothes."
His eyes widened.
"What?!" he exclaimed. "No! I'm a grown-up! Aren't you embarrassed?!"
He turned his face away — playfully, but with genuine shyness too.
I laughed. "Hey, not your bottoms! Just the top. I need to check your mana core."
He thought for a moment, then said "Hmmph..." and slowly removed his shirt.
"You could have said that earlier," he grumbled.
"Oh, stop it, child," I said with a smile. "Come on, let's begin."
---
I sat in front of him. He was on the bed, and I was beside him.
"Relax yourself," I said softly. "Don't think about anything. Just relax."
"Okay, Mother," he said and closed his eyes.
I closed mine too.
And began to send my mana.
It wasn't always easy — entering someone else's body with mana. It required trust, required care. But Kael — he was my son. His body wasn't unfamiliar to me.
Slowly, I began to feel the mana inside him.
First — the general flow throughout his body. It was normal, stable, good.
Then — the core.
I approached it. Tried to sense it.
And suddenly —
My eyes opened in shock.
This... this is enormous.
It was the largest mana core I had ever seen. For a newly formed, just-created core, this... this wasn't possible.
Its size was at least three times larger than normal. And the amount of mana inside it — difficult to measure.
How could this be?
A feeling mixed with fear and wonder arose inside me. But I didn't show it.
I slowly withdrew my mana and opened my eyes.
"Okay, that's enough. You can cover up," I said, keeping my voice as calm as possible.
Kael opened his eyes and looked at me. There was a slight fear in his gaze.
"Mother... is something wrong? The look on your face earlier was strange," he said.
Had he sensed something? Had his senses sharpened too?
I needed to calm him.
"No, everything is fine," I said with a smile. "Actually, everything is great. Your mana core is very good."
It wasn't a lie. It was very good — even too good. But whether this was good or dangerous, I didn't know.
"Okay, now rest. I'll bring you food soon," I said and stood up.
He smiled. "Thank you, Mother."
As I left the room, I looked back at him. He had already closed his eyes.
Kael, who are you, my son? — I thought to myself. And what awaits you?
---
Kael Grenfort:
"Okay," I said with a smile and lay back down.
Mother quickly brought food — hot, delicious soup. I ate it slowly, savoring every spoonful. My body was so hungry, as if I hadn't eaten for days.
After finishing the meal, my eyes began to close. My body was tired — in a good way, like the pleasant fatigue after hard work.
I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
---
The next day
Dim sunlight was streaming through the window.
I got up with a yawn. My body felt light again, but not like yesterday — this time it was ordinary, like someone who'd just slept well.
I went downstairs and entered the washroom.
Bathing in the warm water felt pleasant against my skin.
"Ohhh..." I said to myself. "Bathing is the best thing in this world. Being clean feels so good, doesn't it?"
I didn't answer myself, just chuckled. In my previous life, I'd also enjoyed cleanliness, but here — these simple things felt even more precious.
I finished washing, dressed, and went downstairs. As always, I had tea with my parents.
Father smiled at me. "Did you sleep well, son?"
"Yes, Father, very well."
Mother was quiet, but I could feel her gaze watching me. She was thinking about something, but not saying it.
After tea, Father left for work. Mother and I saw him off together. At the door, she looked at me, seemed about to say something, but just patted my head.
"Play in your room, child," she said.
I nodded and went upstairs.
---
I entered my room and closed the door.
"Okay," I said aloud. "Now let's test it."
I sat on the bed and closed my eyes.
Mana... mana... there's the mana core.
I felt it. In the center of my chest, warm and steady — it was pulsing, like a second heart.
Well...
I thought for a moment.
But isn't this a bit big?
Mother's expression yesterday — she'd been surprised by something. I'd noticed it.
Well... what difference does it make?
I shrugged.
Probably doesn't matter much. Everything's probably fine.
I picked up the spellbook.
So, now I'm — a one-star mage. One-star spells are the easiest, the safest.
I flipped through the pages. Wind, water, fire, earth — basic spells for each element.
Should I try wind magic?
It seemed interesting. Wind — light, free, boundless.
Hmm, let's try.
I closed my eyes.
First, I need to gather mana.
I focused my attention. Pulled a thread from the mana core — slowly, carefully. Directed it to my finger.
I opened my eyes and looked at my fingertip.
A small vacuum had formed at my fingertip. Air was spinning — a tiny, almost invisible whirlpool.
Yes... so this is what mana looks like physically.
I smiled. It was working!
Now...
I looked at the book. The formula for wind magic was simple — the shape of the mana, a few words.
I slowly shaped the mana. Gave it a spinning motion, strengthened it.
And released it.
"Ventus," I spoke the spell.
At that moment —
A small whirlwind appeared.
At first it was small, fist-sized. Then it began to grow.
And grow.
And grow further.
"Oh-oh..." I said.
The whirlwind was now circling the entire room. Books flew off the shelf. The bedsheet floated in the air. Curtains flapped wildly. Papers on a table — they scattered everywhere around the room.
"Ohhh... I don't think I should do this indoors," I said to myself, chuckling slightly. "Hehehe..."
But laughter wouldn't stop it. The whirlwind kept intensifying. I didn't know how to stop it. The book hadn't covered this!
The room was in complete chaos. I sat on the bed, holding on tightly so I wouldn't get swept away myself.
And at that moment —
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked at the door.
"Yes?!" I shouted, barely audible over the wind.
The door slowly opened.
Mother.
She looked at the room — at the completely wrecked room. The whirlwind was still spinning around.
"Kael..." she said in a strange tone — serious, but at the same time, as if she was trying not to laugh.
Then she raised her hand.
The whirlwind stopped instantly. Everything in the room — books, papers, bedsheet — slowly began to settle down.
I stared at Mother in amazement.
She... she just raised her hand. And the wind stopped. No spell, no words, nothing?
Mother looked at me. Her face was serious, but there was a small smile at the corner of her lips.
"Okay," she said slowly. "This will be the first and last time."
She glanced around the room — at the wreckage. Then looked back at me.
"And remember this: no playing with magic indoors."
Her voice was sarcastic, but there was humor in it too. The smile on her lips widened.
I looked at her, laughing sheepishly. "Sorry, Mother..."
She shook her head. "It's alright, child. But next time, try it outside."
She closed the door.
I looked around the room — books, papers, bedsheet — everything scattered on the floor.
I took a deep sigh.
Okay... at least I learned two things today.
First: don't test magic indoors.
Second: Mother is even more powerful than I thought.
I smiled and started cleaning up.
It took a long time.