[1st POV - Arthur Leywin]
I stared at him in disbelief, my mind struggling to comprehend his words.
Was this old man serious?
"What? You can't be serious, right?" I managed to blurt out.
He tilted his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Why not?"
"Firstly, I'm a human! Are humans even allowed in this kingdom? And besides, I need to make sure my family is okay and let them know I'm alive," I argued.
The grandpa fell silent, deep in thought. After a moment, he spoke again.
"Living here won't be a problem as long as you bear my name. And as for your parents and brother... brat, is it absolutely necessary to meet them in person?"
I pondered his question for a moment before responding, "Well, I suppose it's not strictly necessary to meet them face to face. Though I miss them dearly, what truly matters is knowing their well-being and assuring them of my safety if they're doing fine."
"Then come with me tomorrow morning. Be outside the manor by six sharp," he commanded before turning to leave.
I quickly stopped him, desperate for answers. "Wait! I don't understand why you want me as your disciple. And why the rush? Can't I go back home to spend some time with my family before returning here to train under you?"
"I want you as my disciple because I see your potential, kid. Countless people have asked me to take them under my wing, from the wealthy to the destitute, from the young to the old. But you know how many I've accepted? None! The new generation of brats bores me. Just because some wealthy noble thinks their child is special, they believe they're entitled to be mentored by me."
Confusion furrowed my brow as I tried to grasp where Tessia's grandpa was heading with his words.
"But you're different. I can sense your exceptional talent in mana manipulation, and somehow, you possess better technique than even I do. But that's not why I've chosen to teach you. Brat... I need to ask you, how did you become a beast tamer?" The playful expression on his face vanished, replaced by a piercing gaze.
"A beast tamer? What do you mean?" I was utterly perplexed. Despite the late hour and Tessia already being sent off to sleep, it seemed this conversation was far from over.
"Let's go back inside and talk," he suggested, leading me to a cozy living room with plush couches and a crackling fireplace.
We settled ourselves on a couch, and he continued, his tone serious. "Let's start from the beginning. I assume you're aware that mana beasts, like humans, elves, and dwarves, possess mana cores, correct?"
I nodded in understanding.
"Right. Just like mana beasts, humans, elves, and dwarves possess distinct qualities in their mana cores based on their race."
He picked up a piece of paper and began sketching a chart.
Water → Ice
(Elves: Water + Earth → Plant)
Earth → Gravity
(Dwarves: Magma / Metal)
Fire → Lightning
Wind → Sound
"These are the four basic elements and their higher forms. The higher forms-Ice, Metal, Lightning, Sound-can only be controlled by mages who are exceptionally skilled in a particular basic element, known as deviants. This is where the unique racial qualities come into play..." He wrote a brief description for each race.
{Humans}
Human mages possess the ability to manipulate all four basic elements and are the only race capable of producing deviants who can control the higher form of their adept element. They also have deviants who can transcend the four basic elements, such as healers (emitters), making their mana cores the most diverse.
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TBATE: Shadows Of The Past
ספרות חובביםA soul finds itself in a new world, reincarnated in the body of a new born. He soon finds out that his world isn't as simple as it is. With the help of magic, will he be able to grow to overcome any and all his challenges? Or will he ultimately end...
