Chapter 7 - The Story Commences

Running through the hallway corridor, a familiar maid with long, wavy brown hair and brown eyes can be seen opening one room after the other, looking for something desperately as her life depended on.

After countless minutes of continuous searching in the big mansion, she finally opened the door to the library to the Duke Estate. It was a room so big and wide that there seemed to be two or three floors, all filled with nothing but endless bookshelves, each organized with different sections of books at their disposal. They all spiral into a circle composed of different layers, each getting smaller and smaller until the middle consists only of tables.

She ran along the red carpet that guided the people, so they didn't get lost. She soon reached the center of the room. Consisting of tables made of brown wood, all of them having a red tablecloth on top of them with unlight candles. Chairs with a comfortable padding in the seat, and a long red carpet following from both ends

She looked around and finally saw a young boy with short wavy hair, wearing a vintage light grey vest with white long-sleeve button down underneath, black leather shorts with white sock reaching over his ankle and formal black shoes with a blue bow in his collar. sitting on top of piled books in the chair and reading a thick book that titled: Medical Theory's and Practices

The maid quickly walks towards where he was seating.

"Young Master!"

The little boy flinched and put down his book on the table and looked up where the maid is at. His left iris being light hazel, while his right iris being white, expressing a surprised emotion.

The maid pants out of breath and sighs as he finally found who she was looking for. She closes her eyes and swipes the sweat from her forehead before looking at the boy with a worried expression.

"Young Master! You should've told me where you were! I'm under obligation to always be at your side and watch over you!"

The boy looks away with a guilty expression while slightly scratching his cheek.

"Ah... I'm sorry. I just wanted to continue reading the books here..."

The maid closed her eyes while she facepalmed her forehead and sighed. She opened one of her eyes and looked at the young boy trying to avoid her gaze.

She folded her arms on top of each other, not being able to get mad at the young boy for not telling her where she was.

"It's fine. But make sure to not do something similar again, Young Master."

The little boy nodded as he heard those words, still showing a guilty expression.

"But I'm surprised."

She looked around her area and could only see bookshelves filled with countless types of books, with different languages, and occasionally sees some desks and chairs.

"I still can't believe how big this library is..."

The boy sheepishly looks in front of him and faces the maid. The maid quickly turned her head around and looked at him, making the boy flinch.

"I know how much you like to read, but please refrain from going deep into the library. It is easy to get lost. Also..."

She side-eyed to the end of the room in the middle. A large library counter that reaches from both edges of the freed area. All sorts of books lie on top of the counter, near the edge, on the floor, or close to the window that is behind the counter. In the middle lies a throne-like chair with golden edges and black cloth, there seating a pale woman who was the librarian. Her long wavy blonde hair reaching her thighs and tied up only where it reaches her lower back. She wears black eyeshadow and bright red lipstick. Her dress consisted of a dark red cape, with a red long sleeve button down and black pants and heels, while having a black glove that covered her entire forearm underneath the long sleeve, the glove having some metal parts on the knuckle and finger area.

She was reading a book and balancing it with one hand, until she turned her gaze towards the maid that looked at her. She closed the book, and her legs that were once crossed while seating in the chair stood up, she put down the book she was reading and picked up another book that was near the counter and began walking towards the people.

She crossed one of her arms while her other hand lays near her chin. She continues to look right at the maid.

"Mia, there is no need to worry. The Young Master is safe with me in this library."

Mia glares at her with cat-like eyes. While the librarian closes them and smiles.

She faced away and crossed her arm.

"I know that! But what if the young master gets lost?"

The librarian chuckles.

"Like I said no need to worry about such trivial things when I'm here."

She looked towards the boy and smiled while closing her eyes.

"Isn't that right, young master?"

The boy looked up and stared at her for a bit before looking at the maid.

"She's been taking good care of me, so you don't have to worry about me, Mia."

Mia looked towards the boy.

"I see..."

The librarian leaned over a bit and handed over the book that she had with her and put it on the desk near the boy, having a relaxed expression.

"Here is the book that you requested earlier; I apologize if it took a while. I got sidetracked."

The boy shakes her head.

"You don't have to worry about it. It's not of urgent need. Thank you for bringing me this book."

The lady smiles.

"No need to be so formal, young master. You can just call me Veda."

Veda leaned back and steady her posture. The boy closes his eyes and faces in front of him before looking right back at her.

"Ok, Veda, thank you for bringing this book to me."

"It' my pleasure. I'll return to my post. If you need further assistance, you can always ask for my aid."

The boy nodded his head. Veda smiled and waved at the boy, and then waved at Mia who was still glaring at her for unknown reason before walking back towards the counter and reading her book.

The boy looked at the book in front of him titled: The Theory of Mana.

Mia looked at the title of the book and was surprised.

"Y-young Master. Aren't you too young to learn how to use Mana...?"

The boy tilted his head in confusion.

"Is best to at least understand the concept beforehand, no?"

"That is true... but..."

Mia scratches her cheek in dismay, before realizing who the Young Master is.

"Well, I'll be by your side in case you require anything. That reminds me..."

She looked at the pocket watch she had in one of the pockets in her dress to check the time.

"Is almost time for your meal with Her Grace. Shall I carry you to where Her Grace is at?"

"No. That's not necessary. I'll walk there by myself."

The boy moves his body to the left side of the chair while holding the book in front of him and jumps down from the stack of books that he sat on.

The maid looked at the boy unable to balance the heavy book he had and gently picked him up.

The boy, surprised from being lifted, squirmed in her arms.

"There's no need to be shy. In any case, Her Grace is waiting for us, so it is better if we quickly go there and not make her wait."

"I-I see."

The boy stopped squirming in her arms and relaxed but had a perplexed expression on his face.

As soon as they left the library, the door automatically closed and Mia began walking down the corridor, up to the dining hall. The boy looked at the window and saw the green trees lighted up by the sun, showing his reflection across the window.

'It's been two years, huh'

The child looks away from the window and stares at the book in front of him, he closes his eyes, and soon recalls the memories he had when he was still an infant, laying down in his crib and staring at the ceiling with all the decorations, and in front of him lays the flame that said to be his guide.

"So? Any questions you want to ask me, lost one?"

Questions... There are so many things that I want to ask about. But I feel like I won't get the answers to them...

All I care about is my siblings, yet I can't even ask about them. But one idea did pop up into my head. If this is truly the same world as the book I read before I died, does that mean I have to follow the same path as the original Lysander?

Do I have to be miserable once again?

I thought about asking this question to the flame, what if I had to follow the same path that Lysander once took?

'... Do I have to follow the same path that Lysander followed?'

The green flame turned blue and shrunk at the mention of that question and stood in silence for a moment, after a while his flame grew bigger and returned to his original red color.

"... I've been informed that you know this world in a story-based knowledge where everything is the setting of a book. Quite ironic... But to answer your question... No, you don't have to follow this "path" that you talk about."

'... I see. Then... is it possible for me to live a normal life then?'

"If that is what you wish to do, then yes. This world... This body... is all yours to receive from the pity of the God from above..."

'God...?'

"I said too much. Just know that you can live as you wish."

'I see... But why do I still have the same mindset and memories as before?'

The flame lingers in the air once again. As if thinking on how to answer that question.

"... It is true that you're in a new body, but your mental being is still the same. We do not want to forcefully meddle in someone's mind for no reason. So, though it is cruel, you still have the same mindset as before..."

The flame turns into a dark shade of blue.

"You will still be unable to feel any sentiment of emotions you don't know at the moment as from your previous life."

What?

I still can't live normally even in a new world? Why? Why can't I just be normal just like my parents said? Can I even call this a new life? Can't I just die just like everyone told me to?

What's the point of suffering?

The child's eyes narrowed with anger and his pupil dilated, clenching his tiny hands to form a fist as his thoughts jumbled up.

The blue-flamed entity stayed afloat in the air as they saw the anger fill the eyes of the child.

Soon the child calmed down and breath for a moment before letting go of the fist that he made.

"Are you done? It seems there are some clarifications to be done."

The flame turned green once again and suddenly surprised me as he floated close to my face.

"I said any emotions you don't know. Not the ones you already know. I know this might be burdensome. But in this new body that you've been given. If you wish to, you can learn all the emotions that you never experienced and make them yours, without the facade."

My eyes widened at what he said.

'Are you telling the truth?'

"For what other reason would I lie? Even if you can't believe it now, you'll soon realize that what I said is true."

The flame soon started dispersing just like last time.

"Just remember, this life is yours to decide. If you have any major questions to ask of me, you can always call me."

The flame disappeared, a green flame filling my view and falling with burning anything.

Once again, I reached out for the falling flames, trying to see if what I saw was real.

'This life is for me to decide... huh?'

I closed my eyes tight and opened them once again to see my current mother sitting down in a chair, drinking tea while a selection of dessert stands fill the table in front of her. I looked around the area. It seems that we're in my mother's green house.

Mia seated me in a chair, with a seat higher than most normal chairs, next to my mother, wearing a light pink lace up midi dress with long sleeves, her white hair straightened out in her back, and wearing just a necklace and earring for accessories.

Her eyes glimmered with glee as Mia put me down on the chair next to her. Mia then stood near us silently, and professionally. Mother carefully patted my hair before smiling once again.

Seeing my mother smile at me made me blush with embarrassment, but also joy, since I had never had someone do something like this to me before.

She looked at the book that I had in my arms.

"Were you perhaps in the library again, Lysander?"

I put the book down on the table.

"Yes, I was just reading some of the books that I haven't read yet."

She stared at the book, as if she was familiar with the type of book it is and sighed slightly. She turned her gaze from the book and faced me with a bitter smile.

"I see... Just make sure to not overexert yourself with the readings. You're still a child after all."

She gently placed her hand on top of my hand and patted me. I couldn't help but smile and blush at the warmth of this person's hand.

The warmth of someone I can call my mother.

"Is okay, after this book I'll probably stop reading for a while."

Her confused face questioned the intent of my words.

"But don't you like reading books?"

I shook my head. I looked down upon the book that I placed on the table.

"... Reading is just something I use to gain new knowledge... not something I wish to enjoy."

I looked up at her and smiled at her truthfully.

"I prefer to be with you and do things I have never tried before and play around just like any other children."

She smiled once again and closed her eyes cheerfully.

"I see. You sound quite mature despite saying you want to act like a child."

She opened her eyes and looked down at the floor.

"But still, you can enjoy and spoil yourself whatever you want."

She closed her eyes and put her hands near her heart.

"No matter what anyone says, this is a life where you can make your own decisions."

I couldn't help but stare at her with awe.

Shortly after being born in this world, I thought to myself that being someone else will only lead to the same situation I had with my sibling. Just a relationship filled with guilt. So, I thought that by showing my true self, I won't have to worry about feeling guilty, even if they were to hate me like my previous parents.

But unexpectedly, no such hostility emerged from them.

The flame told me that the only reason I could understand these people was because he translated their language into something I can understand but advised me to learn it in case any situation where the magic won't be available occurred.

I started walking and spoke my first words way earlier than a normal child can do, around the eight- or nine-month period.

When I was a year and a half, I learned how to talk the complete language of this world and learn how to read.

Well... not entirely by myself... but with the help of my parents and the people in this mansion.

Even when the things I did were peculiar or strange, they showed no hostility. Even when I learned how to speak natively, they still treated me like a normal child.

And even now, when I'm reading such an advanced book, this person only cares about my wellbeing.

I couldn't help but gently hug her when she said those words, something that I'm not accustomed to.

"... Thank you, mother.

She smiled, gently stroked my back, and soon we continued eating the snacks at the table.

We discussed many things, but unexpectedly, she told me something I almost forgot about.

"Lysander, I have some great news for you."

Drinking the tea carefully in front of me, I then placed it down when she called my name and looked at her with a confused expression of what the surprise could be.

She placed one of her hands in her heart and smiled warmly at me.

"In a few days, something joyous will come to this world..."

I felt a thump in my heart, it couldn't be...

"You will soon have a little sister. Your father and I wanted to keep this a secret until today. We came up with a lot of names, and decided..."

A moment of pause to create suspense for the name of the baby became a moment crisis for me, how could I forget about this?!

Her face filled with happiness couldn't contain her excitement any longer.

"Seraphina."

I forgot that I'm in a different world than before.

I even read about this in the books in the library, how could I forget?

I closed my eyes and began to remember the book that I read in the library.

Page 78 in the book Human Anatomy and Physiology. Subtitle: Human Reproduction

"Despite the old -fashioned way humans have reproduced in the past. A new method has arisen, a method that completely negates any fatalities during childbirth, decreases tensional pain, and shortens the time of pregnancy without any side-effects on both the caregiver's body and child. A method called Bond of Mana."

Bond of Mana decreases the overall pregnancy duration from nine months to two and allows any gender to bear the child not in their reproductive areas but in the ring of mana surrounding the heart. Giving birth via a mana method, you can't tell if someone is pregnant due to their outer appearance like you can with regular pregnancy.

A ring of mana surrounds the heart, indicating the strength of magic or aura power they possess, from one ring to ten, leveling from weakest to strongest, a person can bear a child in their heart without any negative side effects, but in return it drains a significant amount of mana that a person has during the pregnancy period.

What day is it today? I tried to remember exactly.

Today is imperial year 764, the second month in the nineteen days.

If I recall, Seraphina birthday is the twenty-eight of the second month of the year.

That means that in nine days, Seraphina will be born.

A hand is placed on my face and soon lifts me up from looking down the floor, to the view of my mother worried face.

"Lysander, are you feeling unwell?"

I'm guessing my face is pale now.

I can't help but stare at her sorrowfully.

The day Seraphina is born is when the person in front of me dies.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

I lay down on my bed, staring at decorations stuck in the wall for children.

I reach out my hand, trying to reach for an answer to this dilemma.

"... Azar, are you there?"

The same flame I saw ever since I came to this world appeared as I called the name I gave him, saying that I could call him whatever name best suits him.

"Is there something that worries you?"

I put my hand down and continued staring at the wall.

"My mother is going to die in nine days, isn't she?"

"That is the foreseen future."

I gritted my teeth. I put my arm over my eyes and stayed silent for a bit.

"Can I somehow save her?"

The flame stayed silent for a bit, turning from red to blue.

"... It's possible."

I immediately stood up and faced the flame.

"How can I save her?!"

The flame stood there without saying anything. After a while, he turned to his usual red color.

"With your current power, you're unable to do something now. But if you can use magic, your chances of saving The Duchess will increase. Of course, it depends on how far you increase your magic that will reflect the increased chances of her survival."

I put my hand on my chin and contemplate for a bit, magic is a foreign knowledge that I barely just started to learn today.

"... Can I learn how to cast magic during these nine days?"

"It is certainly possible with your reading speed and comprehension."

I see... The warmth that both my parents gave to me, I don't want to lose it. The death of her will surely make the plotline continue as just like in the novel, were nothing but misery would happen.

But I will surely change the storyline and save her.

"I see. I guess I'm going to be busy for a while then."

"Well, no need to push yourself. Your presence has already changed the way fate will move. But I hope for your everlasting happiness that you wish for.

Azar soon disappeared, leaving me with moments of doubts about how surefire this plan would proceed.

But I will make sure to learn all the concepts of magic and learn how to wield it during these few days and save my mother.