Chapter 2
(Ashborn POV)
I was a monarch in my former life. Powerful existence with an immense amount of mana that can destroy worlds. But right now I'm pleased about the sole single thing.
I can crawl.
My brother also learned how to crawl. I could enhance my body with mana but I want to do it without the help of mana. To this day I could only move... no I was carried by my mother or my father.
When my brother and I were sitting on our father's lap, he was always telling us some stories about his old days.
It turned out that my father Raynolds Leywin was an adventurer earlier. Also, he seems to have a lot of experience before. To explain the profession of adventurers, I would say that they are similar to hunters.
He was a part of various parties that went on expeditions to search for treasure and carry out missions they acquired from the Adventurer Guild. He in the end settled down when he met my mother at the Kingdom's border in a city called Valden.
He proudly told us how our mother fell head over heels for him at first sight, when he visited the town's Adventurer Guildhall that she had been working at that time.
I knew he was lying because I could sense it, but after our mother slapped his back and told him to stop lying, I was 100% sure.
By the way, I'm now Ashborn Leywin. Ash for short just like my brother's Art. For a former Shadow Monarch who could control the dead this name was too childish.
But it doesn't matter to me. I wanted to live as a human, and since for humans, giving nicknames is okay, I will bear with it. Well, I kinda also like that they call me Ash, it feels like I'm part of their family.
I and my brother both have the same appearances. We got our mother's radiant auburn hair while our eyes were a bright azure color, inherited from our father. I don't know much about the preferences of this world, but in the former one, a lot of female's would fall for it.
Well, our crawling sessions together with my brother will be concluded soon, due to the fact that our mother is coming for us.
"I swear, you're going to become as hard to manage as your father."
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
For a time I observed my brother. I can surely say that he isn't an ordinary child, possibly he is like me. He is already reading books...
Unlike me, he reads books and did not just observe our surroundings. Cunning move, I myself never considered this.
I as well started to read books, and I learned quite a lot. Currently, we are in a human kingdom called Sapin.
There are three nations in total.
"The Continent of Dicathen comprises three major Kingdoms: The Forest Kingdom of Elenoir in the North, The Underground Kingdom of Darv nearing the southern border, and The Kingdom of Sapin, located on the eastern border of the continent. There also exists the Beast Glades, of which a large percentile remains a mystery. Not much of the Beast Glades have been traversed due to the abundance of beasts hostile to travelers as well as each other. Yet, every year, countless expeditions have been made due to the tempting riches one could reap...."
"flip"
"....The Kingdom of Elenoir is the homeland of the Elf race, located deep in the Forest of Elshire where thick mist naturally forms deterring all but the elves, who, with their acute senses, can navigate freely..."
"flip"
"...The Kingdom of Darv is a network of underground passages and enormous caves that can span up to several kilometers, whereupon the Dwarvin race reside."
"flip"
"....The Kingdom of Sapin is easily the largest and most populated region on the continent. While this Kingdom is primarily composed of humans, there are also many merchants from the Dwarvin race, trading commodities of many..."
"flip"
"...While the Beast Glades house countless monsters and creatures, they also contain wondrous treasures with long-forgotten origins, obtainable by those who dare to seek them. There are records, written by adventurers and mercenaries, about dungeons and lairs of powerful entities that can make even the most generous priest into a greedy..."
"flip"
"....Between the Forest of Elshire and the Kingdom of Sapin lies the Grand Mountain range which spans across roughly 90% of the continent, separating the North and East from the West and South ..."
"flip"
"While the Kingdom of Darv and Sapin hold a symbiotic relationship for resources, the Elves seclude themselves and act aggressively towards every other..."
Everything that I read in this book was useful. But right now I want to learn about the place where I live right now.
There probably are laws that we have to abide by and who knows what other things there can be?
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Magic in this world seems to be limited. Unlike me, other people can't sense and control mana without the core. I by now sighted Arthur trying to sense mana and we are only 7 months old...
As long as he is okay, I will close my eyes on this. In a book that he is at the moment reading. I read that there are two types of magicians. Augmenters and Conjurers. (Emitters are a whole different thing.)
Augmenters are most commonly seen amongst warriors who utilize mana, channeling it through their bodies to strengthen themselves and their attacks.
The practice of conjuring is seen in Mages, who, after utilizing their mana, can cast spells to give off a certain effect on the surrounding area or directly at a target.
In my opinion... All that I learned in the book is a waste of time.
I may not have my black heart right now. But I can constantly absorb mana from my surroundings. Mana is everywhere and it even follows the flow of wind.
All those people that think, with the brighter core they have more mana. They are entirely wrong, they just control and feel mana better. There is a small difference in reserves. (That's in his standards. He is comparing this to the growth of Sung Jin-Woo.)
Nevertheless, I'll have to form this core. Since all mages in this world possess them, I need it to. I also can't fall behind my small brother in front of my parents.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
By now, two years have passed since I learned about the magic of this world. It seems that my brother is close to forming the core, I'll hold on for him to finish forming the core.
"Arthur, what are you doing? " I asked nicely... I sought. Well, what can I say? I was Monarch before, it's just that monarch is one who commands ferociously and does not ask.
(Arthur Leywin's POV)
"Arthur, what are you doing?" My twin brother questioned me when I was meditating, trying to form my core.
But it felt like it was an order. I can't make clear why I'm feeling like this, but my mind is screaming for me to tell him it all. It's like somebody brilliant is footing in front of me.
"I'm trying to form my core... " Damn, I just told him everything...
"All right, but you shall do it outside. It is stated in the manual that forming a core has been unsafe since after forming, a lot of mana explosively is unleashed from it. " My brother informed me and I widened my eyes at my stupidity.
Does he know how to read? Is it normal for a 3-year-old child to know how to read? And also his voice, his eyes... How come it looks like he is already a grown-up man? I was already interested in this matter before but,
Somehow I always shrugged it off...
"Oh, I forgot... If I formed it here... then the house would blow up... " I mumbled looking down at the floor.
"It will be good if we will tell par... mom and dad. " He said, but there was some hesitation while telling mom and dad.
Is he someone like me? I mean reincarnated. Why would he hesitate otherwise?
I looked at my brother with a curious gaze. Trying to dig up more details, but he looked at me with a deadpan face.
"Brother... You look weird by all means stop staring at me like that. " He said but still maintaining his usual expressionless face.
I looked away with embarrassment.
"Let's forget about that and go outside. "
I stood up and followed my brother. It's undeniable that he is also reincarnated but... I think he, like me, wants this to be a secret. Even from each other.
We went outside and I sat on the ground quite far from the house. My brother looked after me with crossed arms. He is observing with narrowed eyes, and they give me chills...
It's time for me to form my core, I almost gathered all mana particles in my solar plexus, and then...
*BOOM*
(Ashborn POV)
I was observing how my brother was forming his core. He almost gathered almost all the mana that he had in the body, soon he will complete the formation of the core.
I wonder isn't that too much for a 3-year-old child? If all this mana that he posses, will be unleashed we won't have a garden.
Yes, as I thought. We won't have a garden...
*BOOM*
I quickly shielded myself with all mana that I had. I can say that this is outstanding... for human beings.
The explosion was big. The impact made a big crater in our garden, our pretty flowers are no more.
Mother and Father looked terrified, but when they saw us in one piece, they only sighed. But shortly something snapped in their minds.
"You've got to be fooling me... He's not even three... But he's already... " My father said not believing what has occurred.
Arthur, meanwhile, looked pleased. He had a happy expression on his face and looked at the world with new colors.
"Congrats, Art honey. You awakened Champ. " Mother and father congratulated Arthur.
Arthur looked around and eventually discovered the mess he made. He let such an amount of mana pass in the air... what a waste.
"I'm sorry Mom, Dad. Am I in trouble?"
"Ha-ha... No Art honey, you're not in trouble. We were just worried about you. I'm glad you're alright." mother managed to giggle through half-teary eyes.
Guess, they are very happy for Arthur. Surely it's good to have a real family, I'm glad for this opportunity.
Now is the time for me to form this core right? Let's get to it right away.