*clatter* The sound of the teacup hitting against the saucer rang in his ears as he looked around the salon. Many children of nobility were interacting with each other. Children usually start socializing with other nobility their age when they reach the age of nine or ten. Arthur had only just started having an interest in socialising as he needed standing and connections if he was going to aim for the duke's title.

Arthur was currently at a salon hosted by the crown prince. Arthur wore a simple black suit with silver decor lining it, he had a long sleeve white shirt to contrast his suit which also coupled with his pale eyes. At the ends of his sleeves were a pair of vermilion red cufflinks that emphasized the ducal family’s colour.

The guests of the venue were alerted when Arthur arrived which cause some chatter between the guests. This was because other than the annual hunting competition last year, Arthur had not made a single public appearance.

But, when he entered that wasn't the only reason for the chatter. Arthur wasn't aware of this himself but he was in fact quite handsome, some of the young ladies in attendance became smitten with him. Though none approached because of Arthur’s cold but dignified aura that made him hard to approach.

Because Arthur's popularity among the young ladies rose so did the jealousy of the other young men in attendance. This was a problem for Arthur’s plan to make connections, he never took into consideration his inability to socialise.

**

“Is this seat taken?” Arthur looked at the boy who walked up to his table, he had hair as dark as the night sky accompanied by azure blue eyes. Arthur had never seen the imperial family and didn't realise this was the crown prince, so he simply responded. “No, it seems I’m not very popular.” “Pff.” The crown prince couldn't hold his laugh at Arthur's response as he sat down.

“Nice to make your acquaintance, my name is Augustus but my friends call me August. May I know yours?” The crown prince purposely left out his last name when he politely greeted Arthur.

“Arthur. Arthur Vermilion.” Arthur replied curtly as he believed August was lower in social rank because he didn't give a last name. “Ooo, Arthur… a strong name, just like King Arthur!”

‘King Arthur..? I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before. Where was it?’

Arthur looks at Augustus and mumbles “But King Arthur was from Earth…” Augustus stares at Arthur and Arthur stares back, and then its clicks for the two. “W-Wait you too?” Augustus dumbfoundedly asks.

——————————————

“AAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!” I groaned loudly as I lazied around on brother's bed. Big Brother left for the capital in the morning because he was invited to the crown prince's salon. “How could he leave me behind?!” I ask the crow clutched in my hands to which it responded, “Caw!”

“Hey, Blacky! I remember brother mentioning he could see what you see when he wanted to, right? So does that mean he could be watching right now?” I look at Blacky intently but he just replies with “Caw!”

“Hmm, ok! ‘Caw’ once if no and ‘Caw’ twice if yes. Is Big Brother watching right now?” Blacky looks at me as if he's deciding what to answer with. Finally, after a while of waiting Blacky responds with “Caw! Caw!”

“Eh, really? Hmm, hey Big Brother can you hear me? Are you making any friends? Right, you’re not very good at that;; Remember, if you want people to like you. You need to at least act as if you can stand them! But it's fine if you can’t make any! All you need is me! Hehe!” I grin at Big Brother through Blacky but Blacky looks at me as if I’m pathetic and pitiful.

——————————————

‘But it's fine if you can’t make any! All you need is me! Hehe!’

“Pff!” I almost spat my tea after not being able to completely hold my laughter in.

“What’s so funny?” August asked me, “Nothing, just had an amusing thought.”

He was sceptical but carried on with what he was saying earlier. “I can’t believe I found someone else who was just like me!” By pure chance, I discovered that Augustus was reincarnated like me. “So, how did you die Arthur?” He asked eagerly. His question made me remember that night, I don't particularly feel bad about what I did nor do I have regrets. But, some things are best unsaid.

“You first. When and how?” I countered, I could always avoid answering if he tells.

“Well, it isn't particularly interesting. It was a dark, gloomy, and rainy night. I was walking home when suddenly out of nowhere I was struck by lightning. I thought I was dead until I found myself in a pure white room and a woman who called herself a goddess said my death was a mistake. So, she reincarnated me here as a recompense”

I instantly thought about what he said, ‘A goddess..? I don't remember experiencing something like that.’

“Right, I died when I was 20. 18th July 2005 is when I was born.”

“Wait you were born in the year 2005?” I asked because I assumed we would have died around the same time.

“Yeah, why?”

“Well, that would mean you died around 200 years before me.”

“What!?” His surprised outburst caught the attention of the other guests at the salon. He immediately quieted himself again and began talking. “That's crazy! What's the future like? Did you colonise mars? Is full-dive VR a thing? Were you able to easily explore space? Did Ai try and exterminate humans?” He bombarded me with questions which I answered.

“Yes, yes, kind of, and yes”

“The last one was a joke but that actually happened? Did we win?”

“No.” He went quiet at my answer and awkwardly sipped on his tea.

“Well, it was partly the fault of humans that the war started. As I like to quote ‘Play stupid games win stupid prizes.’ Don't be too sad about it, the population was already low and only beginning to reestablish itself after they outlawed immortality through genetic editing. Birth rates were at an all-time low because there wasn't any need to reproduce.”

“Immortality..? The future is… was? More advanced than I thought.” His face had disbelief written all over it. “I kind of feel a kin-ship here because we are both reincarnators. So, let's be friends! You can call me August from now on.” He proposed with a wide smile that had no hint that he thought I might reject his offer.

“...I guess that's fine.” I hesitantly agreed to his offer.

At my agreement, his already beaming smile grew brighter almost blinding me.

Are all people from the 21st century like this..? I could already tell he was going to tire me out.

“Ah!” He alarmingly shouted which once again attracted the attention of the guests.

“I almost forgot, it’s about time for me to send all my guests off. I’ll see you another time! If you want to visit just send a letter to the palace or just show up!” He exclaimed excitingly as he ran off. ‘My guests..? palace..?’

“Augustus… Augustus Elroyard, as in the crown prince..! haha…” I laughed at myself for not realising, black hair! Eyes like an azure sky! They were the characteristics of the Imperial family!

I sipped my tea and slipped out of the salon feeling exhausted and stupid for not realising.

As I made my way to the carriage I looked at the rising moon and realised how late it had gotten. I sit comfortably and ponder my thoughts. The distance between the capital and the dukedom was about 4 hours so I had a lot of time to waste.

**

I began playing around with my mana, I had recently come up with a theory that I wanted to test out. If I were to describe magic it would be like this. Mana is a fuel source and this fuel powers what we call magic. Alone mana can’t do much that is where arrays or spells come in, this also includes augmentation but that's a little different. Arrays are like moulds, and these moulds form what we call magic, an example would be the spell fireball. These moulds form a specific thing. An analogy would be mana being molten iron and the array being the mould for… let's say an axe head. When the iron is poured into the mould it creates the axe which can be used to cut down trees, the mana is the iron and the magic language is the mould.

But, my theory works like this. A mould isn't the only way to make the axe head! My theory would eliminate the need for arrays by replacing the mould. Instead of flowing mana into something else to shape the outcome I want, I will instead directly form the mana into the form I want. Think of it as similar to using clay to form a plate.

Let's start with something simple, and there is nothing more simple than a basic fireball. I close my eyes to concentrate and I begin to direct my mana towards my palm. It begins to heat as my mana begins to flow freely, think about the shape, think about the process, how the atoms interact, and how they react. Think about the hydrogen in the air colliding with my mana, think about the friction causing the ignition. I begin to feel heat above my palm, I open my eyes with hopefulness… but, nothing happened.

Well, I knew it wasn't going to be easy, this theoretical method I created would need astronomically precise mana control.

I would spend the next thirty minutes wasting mana in an attempt to prove my theory could work.

**

‘Okay, one last try..!’

I close my eyes and concentrate. Feel the mana circulating through your veins… feel it move from your heart, feel it flow through your wrists, concentrating and condensing at the centre of your palm. Circulating the mana and condensing the hydrogen. Feel the hydrogen and mana swirling into a vortex. Make them collide at the centre until the resulting friction causes ignition!

I open my eyes and… it worked! Kind of; it wasn't technically a fireball.

Floating just above my palm, was a small sapphire blue flame. Small, it was only the size of a lighter but nonetheless magic. This means my theory works. Now I won't be tied down my casting time or forced to use arrays. But the amount of practice I’ll need to perfect this technique already hurts to think about.

“Haaaa!” I let out a long sigh and slump into the carriage seat. “I wonder what Rose did all day…”

‘Noire, you’re still with Rose right?’ I enquire Noire about Rose.

‘I didn't leave her side for a single moment just like you ordered, Master’

I direct mana into my eyes and focus on Noire. At first, it's blurry but almost immediately does my vision come into focus. I see my room, the place is dark with the only source of light being the minuscule flame atop the candle on my desk. Noire looks around and then focuses on the sleeping Rose. ‘Of course, she's asleep with it being late at night’

Before I knew it I’d dozed off whilst watching the rhythmic movements caused by Rose’s breathing…

——————————————

I could faintly hear the opening and closing of a door as I was dozing off once again, but before I fully fell asleep I saw big brother sweetly smiling at me. ‘He’s finely back…’

**

I groggily opened my eyes and I was greeted by brother soundlessly sleeping next to me.

I was surprised until I remembered I fell asleep in his bedchamber before going back to my own.

Still tired I reached out my hands and caressed brother's long yet soft hair, as I kneaded my fingers through his hair I imagined this was what it was like to touch a cloud. Clouds are soft, right?

“Hehe..!” I quietly but excitedly giggled to myself, I felt happy. Because of my legs, it was very rare for me to be at eye level with big brother let alone combing through his hair. I leaned into brother and placed my head against his bosom, his body heat emanating a comforting feeling. *ba-dump* *ba-dump* As I listened I could hear the slow melodic beat of brother's heart; the sound was strangely calming and I slowly began to doze off…

To Be Continued.