Chapter 33: Ellie's Awakening

ARTHUR LEYWIN'S POV:

As I arrived at the Helstea Mansion and stepped through the grand entrance, the maid who greeted me informed me that my mother, along with Ellie and Aunt Tabitha, had gone out shopping and would be back before lunch. While Dad and Uncle Vincent are outside busy with work.

I nodded, understanding that they'd likely be busy for a while. Given that I had some time to myself, I decided to head to my room to settle in.

Before heading upstairs, I asked the maid, "Could you please bring something to eat to my room? And also if you could also arrange some meat for Sylvie?"

The maid smiled warmly and assured me she'd take care of it. With that, I made my way to my room, looking forward to the quiet time and the chance to unwind before the rest of the family returned.

It was almost noon and I had already settled into my room, changing into more comfortable clothes and letting the quiet of the mansion envelop me.

Suddenly, I was interrupted by the sound of voices coming from below. The familiar tones told me that my mother, Alice, Ellie, and Aunt Tabitha had returned from their shopping trip.

I could hear their laughter and chatter growing louder, and a smile tugged at my lips. It had been far too long since I had heard these voices in person. I quickly tidied up a bit and decided to head downstairs to greet them.

As I descended the grand staircase, their conversation became more distinct, filled with warmth and familiarity. When I reached the bottom, I saw them—the sight of my mother, Ellie, and Aunt Tabitha laughing together brought a rush of warmth.

Ellie was the first to spot me. Her eyes lit up, and she broke into a sprint toward me, her small feet pattering against the floor. "Brother!" she exclaimed, launching herself into my arms.

I caught her easily, lifting her into a hug. "Hey, El," I greeted, ruffling her hair.

Mom and Aunt Tabitha smiled at the sight, their arms laden with shopping bags. "Arthur, you're here!" Mom said, her voice full of warmth.

"Yeah, I decided to surprise you all," I replied, still holding Ellie close.

"Well, it's a welcome surprise," Aunt Tabitha added, setting her bags down. "Is Lilia here too?"

I shook my head, "She's busy with student council work, but she said she'll come next week."

Aunt Tabitha's expression faltered slightly upon hearing that Lilia wouldn't be coming, but Mom quickly reassured her, reminding her that Lilia would visit next week.

Suddenly, I felt a strong pulse of mana being drawn in from somewhere close by. My senses sharpened, and I quickly realized it was coming from Ellie. The energy was unmistakable—

"Ellie," I said, my voice steady but urgent, "come with me to the backyard right now."

She looked up at me with wide eyes, sensing the seriousness in my tone. "Is something wrong, Brother?"

"Nothing's wrong," I assured her, "but we need to get outside immediately."

Mom and Aunt Tabitha exchanged concerned glances but didn't ask any questions because of the urgency in my tone. I gently set Ellie down, took her hand, and led her out to the backyard, feeling the pulse of mana growing stronger with each step.

As we stepped into the backyard, the mana pulse around Ellie grew even more intense, almost palpable. I could see the concentration on her face as she tried to make sense of what was happening.

"Ellie, just focus on your sternum," I said gently, kneeling to her level. "Don't fight it, let it flow naturally."

Ellie nodded, her small hands clenched into fists as she tried to concentrate. I kept a close watch, ready to step in if needed. The air around us seemed to hum with energy, and I could see the faint glow of mana beginning to envelop her.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a loud explosion occurred. The explosion of Ellie's mana core was more powerful than I had anticipated, nearly twenty percent bigger than mine had been. The entire backyard was obliterated in an instant, but I had been ready. The mana shield I had cast around Mom and Aunt Tabitha held strong, keeping them safe from the shockwave.

As the dust settled, I could see Ellie floating above the ground, her small form glowing with newly awakened power. The intensity of her mana was beyond anything I had expected, and it was clear that her potential was immense.

Mom and Aunt Tabitha, still shielded by the mana barrier, looked on with a mix of awe and concern. I could see the questions in their eyes, but for now, they held back, letting Ellie have her moment.

As Ellie slowly descended, the glow around her began to fade, and she landed softly on the ground, her eyes wide with wonder. I rushed to her side, catching her in my arms before she could stumble.

"Ellie, are you okay?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.

She nodded, her face still flushed with the excitement of what had just happened. "I feel... amazing, Brother," she whispered, her voice filled with awe.

I chuckled, ruffling her hair again. "You sure do. That was your mana core awakening. You did great, El."

Mom and Aunt Tabitha, though shaken, rushed over to Ellie, their concern quickly turning into relief. The backyard was in ruins, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that Ellie had successfully awakened her mana core.

~~

As I lay in bed, exhaustion washing over me, I couldn't help but replay the events of the day in my mind. Ellie had finally awakened her mana core at the age of eight, this most likely made her the youngest mage in the history of Dicathen after me. And the explosion that accompanied it was proof of her incredible potential. The sheer force of it had obliterated the backyard, leaving nothing but a field of debris.

I could still picture Dad and Uncle Vincent's faces when they found out. Their shock at the sight of the backyard was almost comical, but the pride and amazement in Dad's eyes when he realized what had happened were unforgettable.

Dad was eager to rush to the auction house to get the elemental stones to test her elements, but Mom managed to calm him down, saying that could wait until tomorrow as it was getting late. Uncle Vincent also mentioned that he would have the manager of the auction house deliver the stones first thing in the morning.

Thinking about it all, I felt a sense of pride and relief. Ellie had taken her first step into a new world, and I knew she would grow stronger from here. With those thoughts, I drifted off to sleep.

_________________________________________________________________________________

The next day, after a hearty breakfast, everyone gathered in the hall. Uncle Vincent had already prepared the elemental stones, their various colors reflecting the morning light. Ellie had been buzzing with excitement ever since she woke up, barely able to sit still as she eagerly awaited the moment she could test her elements.

I watched her with a smile, her enthusiasm contagious. Mom, Dad, and Aunt Tabitha looked on with a mix of anticipation and pride. Even Sylvie, perched on my shoulder, seemed intrigued by the proceedings.

Uncle Vincent stepped forward, holding out the first elemental stone. "Ready, Ellie?" he asked with a grin.

Ellie nodded vigorously, her eyes wide with excitement. "I'm ready!"

"Just like we talked about yesterday," I reminded her gently. "Focus on the stone and let your mana flow into it."

Ellie took the stone in her small hands, her expression turning serious as she concentrated. The room fell silent as we all watched her intently, waiting for the first sign of her elemental affinity.

She tested for Earth first, but the stone remained unchanged. Then she tried for Wind, Water, and Fire, each time hoping for a response. But as each attempt failed, the stone stayed inert.

Ellie's shoulders drooped, and she barely held back tears, though her sadness was clearly visible. The excitement that had filled the room earlier seemed to drain away, leaving a heavy silence. 

I approached Ellie, kneeling down to her level, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, Ellie, don't get sad. Some people awaken their elemental affinity later. It doesn't mean you're not special or capable."

She looked up at me, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. "But... I really wanted to have an element, like you and Dad."

I gave her a reassuring smile. "I know, Ellie. And I know it's disappointing right now, but this doesn't define your potential or who you are. Sometimes, it takes time for things to reveal themselves. What's important is that you keep believing in yourself and keep working hard."

Mom and Aunt Tabitha nodded in agreement, their expressions filled with encouragement. "Arthur's right, Honey. Your strength isn't just in your elements. And who knows? Maybe you will be a deviant like your mother," Mom said proudly.

Ellie seemed to take comfort in our words, her tears slowly subsiding. "Okay, I'll keep trying."

I pulled her into a gentle hug. "That's the spirit. And no matter what, we'll be here to support you every step of the way."

Mom smiled at us, her pride and warmth evident. "That's my girl. And remember, we're all here to support you. Your potential is vast, and this is just the beginning of your journey."

Aunt Tabitha added, "And don't forget, even if you don't have an element now, there are many other ways to be amazing."

"Alright, come on," I said, taking Ellie's hand and guiding her toward the training area. "Let's go and train on how to reinforce your body. Based on the fact that your explosion was so repulsive, it means you might have a natural talent for augmentation."

Ellie looked up at me with renewed hope and determination. "Okay."

With that, we headed to the ruined backyard, where I began teaching Ellie how to reinforce her body with mana. It was the start of her journey as an augmenter, and I could already see her determination to succeed.

~~