Chapter 19

The Boy Loved by Mana

“Stop! Stop!” Arthur exclaimed through telepathy, his eyes suddenly flaring with excitement. “I want to read that part myself. Let’s stop that for now. Wait for me until I return to my room.”

“I understand,” Hula replied, audibly fascinated with his lord’s enthusiasm.

Arthur stared at his bowl, his heart beginning to race. His hand moved in reflex and filled his mouth with vegetable broth. He chewed a few times, his teeth crunching the food faster than it should.

Gulp.

Another spoonful of food made its way to his mouth as he swallowed greedily. Then, he took one after another until his cheeks ballooned like a bullfrog during rainy seasons. He was about to grab his cup to help him swallow the food easier when someone slammed the table, so hard that their bowls rattled. His head snapped to his grandmother. Even Vlanca who remained looking down on the table as she ate followed his gaze.

Katarina darted a severe stare at him, raising her right brow. “Arthur, is this how you should behave in the dining table? Is this how I teach you?”

Arthur lowered down as he shook his head. His mouth barely containing the food inside his mouth.

“Look at me!” she ordered.

Arthur hesitantly met her gaze as he covered his mouth.

“Look at yourself, Arthur. You’re barely nibbling your food a while ago, but now… You’re chomping like a gluttonous pig.” She heaved a sigh as her expression softened. “Drink first, Arthur.” She half-smiled. “Please, eat properly, darling. Enjoy your food. Let’s be grateful, not everyone is fortunate enough to have something to eat.”

He nodded and snatched the cup from the table. He drank until his mouth ran empty. “Sorry, granny.” He then lifted his arm, making a right angle. “I promise, I wouldn’t eat like this again.”

Katarina beamed another smile. “Anyway, do you have something in your mind, honey? You seemed troubled.”

“No!” Arthur desperately shook his head. His voice came out higher than usual.

Katarina shot him a doubtful stare. “Are you sure?”

“Actually…” Arthur timidly looked at Vlanca, his fingers pressing the table alternately. “I heard that you’re training Vlanca-azeah’s magic.” He glanced back at Katarina, his eyes turning smaller than usual as though a lost puppy. “Can I watch, please?”

[Azeah- informal honorific for older sister]

“Honey…”

“Pretty please? I promise I’ll be a good boy.”

“I’m sorry, Arthur. Just play with Hans or Duliri, okay?”

“Okay…” He pouted, then began to dig in his food again.

The old woman tried to open small talks from time to time, but Arthur was more often than not dozing off. He smiled and nodded, not saying anything.

Several more minutes and all of them finished their meal. Arthur was about to race out of the dining table when he noticed a drop of blood beside Vlanca’s lips. “Azeah,” he called out, brushing the side of his lips as though he was wiping something.

The girl got the signal and wiped her mouth, her cheeks turning red. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s fine.” He smiled as Katarina busied herself in the sink. “Just keep my awakening a secret, okay?” He whispered, his voice barely above a whisper.

She arched down and whispered, “Don’t worry. I already promised that to Master Hula?”

Arthur almost choked. “Master Hula?”

“Yeah–”

“What are you kids talking about?” Katarina suddenly asked, her waist spun a few degrees. She gave Arthur a curious glance, while Vlanca rotated nervously.

“Nothing.” Arthur smiled innocently. “I was asking just azeah that we should play sometime.”

Katarina wiped her hands on her apron and walked in front of Arthur. She arched down. Her lips curved into an amused smile while her finger tapped his nose repeatedly. “Wanna play with me too? This afternoon? We can play with Alberta…”

Arthur wagged his head, his mouth agape and his eyes open-wide. “Then we can have a race! I can ride Duliri. Vlanca-azeah can ride Alberta!”

“Alright…” She nodded. “After your azeah’s training, we’ll do a race then.”

“Yey!” Arthur raised his arms as he raced out of the dining room.

***

“You seemed very spirited…” Hula commented as soon as Arthur entered his room. “Anything good happened?”

“Yes!” He lowered his arms a little, showing his small biceps. “You need to bath in the sun today, Hula. Duliri and I will have a race with Alberta and azeah later this afternoon.”

“A race with who?” Duliri asked, his face in Arthur’s head wore a grimace.

“Alberta! She’s one of granny’s Hazu. She’s very fast so we need you to have as much mana as possible.”

“And how about your magical studies?” Duliri rolled his eyes. “I told you, you can’t study magic without me on your side.”

“He can come with us, Duliri,” Hula said as a matter-of-fact. “The staff only needed to be under the sun to accumulate mana.”

“And the book?”

“Take it outside.”

“Are you serious? If you want to die, Hula. I don’t care, but I certainly don’t want to die yet.”

“You’re still as pessimistic as ever.” Arthur slowly shook his head, his lips pressed together. “Such a waste… I was actually thinking of granting you one wish if we win…”

Duliri didn’t react for a moment, his eyes getting wider. “Is this for real?” His face lit up. A wicked grin crept on his lips. “Hula, go outside the window al– No! You too, Arthur! Grab the book and mount the staff already. Let’s go outside!”

Arthur laughed. “Slow down a little, buddy.”

“How can I? That one wish can finally get my body back!”

Hula was about to say something, but Arthur sent him a knowing stare.

“Alright… Alright…” Arthur placed a hand on his mouth to hide an evil grin. Then he grabbed the book and rode Hula who glided through the window.

“Arthur, if you want to win the race, you have to learn how to perceive and control mana today. It’ll be useful. Even if I ran out of energy, you can just give me some more.”

The boy shrugged as he got off the staff. “Well, that’s only if I learn it today.”

“Oh, c’mon, Arthur! You’re the boy loved by mana. That would–”

Arthur groaned, even stomping a foot in disbelief. “Duliri! Stop saying that!”

“Stop saying what?”

“The words you just said!”

“You mean…” Duliri thought for a moment. “You being a boy loved by mana?”

Arthur facepalmed using both hands. “Don’t you ever feel embarrassed saying that?”

“No… I hate to admit it, but even Hula agrees with me.”

His head bobbed to the staff. All this time, he looked like a mad man talking to himself and sometimes raising his gaze as he spoke. Now, he looked like a crazy kid staring at a flying staff. “He’s kidding, right?”

“I’m afraid that my answer may disappoint you.”

Arthur sighed in defeat. “Fine… If you want to believe that, then fine. Just don’t say it to my face, it’s embarrassing.”

The boy didn’t wait for their answers. He stomped his feet as he walked a few meters away from the staff and sat on the grass. After placing the book on the ground, he took a massive breath. “Perceiving the Flow of Mana,” he read, his heart pounding in his chest.

This is it! I’m finally learning magic! He told himself as a salty air blew from the east.