Tbate: Kal-El

Part 2: Rey the Builder, can he do it? Rey the builder...

Jasmine Flamesworth POV:

...bang....bang...

The distant sounds of construction rouse me from my impromptu nap. My vision, still blurry, begin to settle in on my surroundings. I'm sitting comfortably on grass, with my legs criss crossed and my back leaning against a thick log. 

A tiny hand nudges my knee, informing me of the silent plea of the one I'm supposed to be supervising. 

My gaze focuses, onto the big, curious blue eyes of the Leywins' adorable toddler, Arthur. 

Fulfilling my duties as temporary guardian, I push the toy ball at my feet, to a few meters away. 

Arthur waves his chubby little fists in thanks, and chases after the ball while emitting gurgles of excitement. 

My lips form into a small smirk. "Fetch," I whisper to myself, as a feeling of light-heartedness washes over me, as a result of Arthur's typical baby-like behaviour. 

Following Arthur's trajectory toward the ball, my eyes end up tracing over the other side of the yard we are in, where the rest of my adventuring teammates, the Twin Horns, are helping out with repairs.  

Most of the yard, especially the fencing, seems to have been burned down after some sort of explosion occurred. Observing the rest of the Twin Horns' attitudes without a single word of inquiry, has led me to infer that this was all Reynolds' doing. Doesn't seem like this is the first time he has blown something up while experimenting with magic. Although, the bits of scrap metal lying around the damaged areas make me wonder what Reynolds was working on. 

Arthur's father, Reynolds Leywin, is the former leader of the Twin Horns. Before I ran away from home, I had already heard about him, the orange core commoner known for his exploits as an adventurer. A part of me expected him to be prideful, but I am glad he is humble and nice. No wonder he was able to create the Twin Horns and convince Helen and the others to follow him. 

And then there's Arthur's mother, Alice Leywin, a skilled emitter who participated a bit in the Twin Horns' adventures, before settling down with Reynolds after she became pregnant with Arthur. She must have been effective, considering how Adam constantly brings up the utility of Alice's area-of-effect healing spells. 

I don't exactly have experience with renovations, or have earth magic like Durden, so I'm glad I can still help out by watching over Arthur for now. I'm guessing Alice isn't much for exciting, frontline action, but I'm sure she must have found it tedious, having to take care of Arthur 24/7 during all these months. I can see Alice is lit up, as she converses with Angela and Helen. 

My thoughts are interrupted by Arthur bringing the ball back. Looks like he is tired now. 

I grab Arthur under his shoulder, and lift him up to my eye level. 

"Tired?"

Arthur sighs back in response. 

Sharp contrast to the adults that are still hard at work on the other side of the yard...

As I start to put Arthur down, I end up looking at the area where his mana core would be, after he awakens in the future. Well, both his parents are mages after all. 

By reflex, I do the same as if I were to try reading an adult mage's core level. There should be nothing, since there's no way Arthur could have awakened already...

But...

Instead of feeling nothing, or even noticing a mana core, I get this weird sensation. Feels a bit tingly, like the sound of a giant, rushing waterfall, or the many leaves of a forest rustling in the wind. (A/n: this is static, white noise from radiation mana)

As if my sensory magic is being blocked purposefully.

I'm probably thinking too much, I am probably still half awake...

Here, I'll just conjure a small wind sphere to wake myself up,...huh?

No wind came out. I used mana for sure, but all I feel is...my hand heating up. 

I push out using a bit more mana this time, and with my palm lightly grazing the surface of the grass. 

The grass starts smoking, and tears well up in my eyes. 

Reynolds Leywin POV:

The door shuts closed behind me. 

"Alice, I'm back", I say to my wife. 

"You saw them off near the old birch tree right?" she responds.

"Yeah", I confirm. 

I take a seat at the dinner table, and start digging in to Alice's cooking. I smile as I notice Arthur snoozing on top of the other side of the table, near Alice. 

Alice narrows her eyes at me. 

"Rey, did they ask?"

"About what?"

"About, you know..."

"...Arthur's mana core right? No, they didn't."

"But how? Did they really not notice that Arthur awakened already? Helen's a yellow core mage already, and Jasmine was close to Arthur for most of the day!" 

"I don't know...maybe we just got lucky that they never bothered sensing for mana around Arthur? But that seems unlikely..."

"True..."

"Well Alice, another reason for us to head to Xyrus and get Arthur's mana channels tested!"

Alice leaps up. 

"No, Reynolds!!" Alice yells at me. "Arthur only just turned 1! He can't talk, or walk, or do anything! He's just a baby!" 

"I didn't mean that! I didn't say we should leave now, I still agree with you about waiting for Arthur to grow older, and actually be able to understand what we're saying."

"Ok, good." Alice says as she glares at me, while picking up and comforting Arthur, who started crying. 

I guess I won't be bringing up this topic for quite a while.