Chapter 6 – The Measuring Orb
As usual, Yuki stood beside me while I skimmed through another book.
I rarely read them from start to finish anymore. A glance at the title.
A scan of the category. A few chapters to grasp the structure. From there, the ending was predictable. Most stories followed patterns once you understood the author's intent.
I would summarize them aloud, explaining the themes and likely conclusions while Yuki listened quietly beside me.
He always praised me.
"Remarkable, Young Master. To understand a story so quickly at your age…"
I would simply smile.
If only he knew.
My days passed in repetition.
Morning — mana refinement.
Afternoon — theory and history of mana.
Night — experimentation.
In the silence of darkness, I adjusted formulas, altered casting sequences, and refined control down to microscopic precision. Magic was not about talent.
It was about efficiency.
Optimization.
Control.
And so the cycle continued—
Until Father called for me.
He stood in his study, holding a translucent glass sphere.
A measuring orb.
I already knew its purpose.
Father — Erick — looked at me with an unusually serious expression.
"Boy," he began firmly, "our world is not as peaceful as it seems. I intend to teach you how to protect yourself."
He raised the orb slightly.
"You may choose between Magic… or Swordsmanship."
His tone carried weight. Not ambition.
Concern.
I widened my eyes slightly, playing the role expected of me.
"Swordsmanship? Like the knights in fairy tales? And magic… the kind that slays dragons?"
Father chuckled at my childish excitement and ruffled my hair.
"Yes. Something like that."
Then his expression sharpened.
"Enough playing. Place your hand on the orb."
For a brief second, I froze.
If I allowed the full extent of my mana to flow, both attributes would be exposed.
Fire… and Darkness.
That would complicate everything.
I lowered my gaze, pretending hesitation, while my mind worked rapidly.
This was not a high-ranking orb.
The mana density was uneven. The core crystal slightly unstable.
Cheap.
Functional for children.
And exploitable.
These orbs did not measure total mana reserves.
They measured what was actively channeled into them.
Meaning…
I could lie.
Father raised a brow. "Is something wrong?"
I shook my head quickly. "I'm just excited."
I placed my hand on the surface.
Carefully.
I restricted the dark mana completely, sealing it beneath layers of controlled fire affinity. Then I released only a modest stream of mana into the sphere.
The orb glowed red.
Not brilliant.
Not dull.
Just… slightly above average.
Promising, but not extraordinary.
Father's stern expression softened into satisfaction.
"Fire attribute," he murmured. "And a decent output for your age."
Perfect.
Strong enough to justify proper training.
Weak enough to avoid attention.
He dismissed me with visible excitement, likely already planning which instructor to hire.
Interesting.
Formal training would accelerate my growth.
New frameworks. New structures. New weaknesses to analyze.
I allowed a faint smirk once I was out of sight.
Progress.
As I turned the corner, Yuki approached.
"Shall we head to the library, Young Master?"
Of course.
The library.
The section filled with harmless fairy tales.
He knew I "loved" them.
I smiled brightly. "Yes, Yuki. Let's go."
He chuckled warmly and walked beside me.
"Since I've finished my duties early today, I will accompany you."
…Unfortunate.
That meant I wouldn't be able to access the restricted historical archives.
I suppressed a sigh.
Externally, I maintained my cheerful demeanor.
"It's fine," I told myself quietly. "Spending time with him isn't inefficient."
Yuki had been by my side since I was very young.
Loyal.
Observant.
And far kinder than most nobles.
For a brief moment, I wondered—
If someone like him could ever be chosen by the Divine.
I quickly dismissed the thought.
That world was not mine to touch.
As we walked toward the library, I lifted my gaze toward the distant academy towers visible beyond the estate walls.
Seila Academy.
Soon.
And when that day comes…
I will no longer need to pretend to be slightly above average.
Author's Note: Hi and if currently you're enjoying the story so far may i kindly ask for a star that will help me a lot Thanks and see you Tomorrow.