Battle Prowess

ZSHING!

Instead of sending a spatial slash forward, Elijah opted to conserve his mana, get in close, and split the space where the blazing lions were grazing. 

At the moment, only sixty percent of his mana remained, which was quite frightening to think he would eventually be fighting beasts officially. 

Elijah's motivations were nowhere else.

These fearsome beasts with blood and saliva dripping from their mouths did not have intelligence per say, but an animalistic instinct…

Elijah's next spatial split did nothing to the beasts, as they expected another attack and were already coursing mana through their bodies. 

Thereafter, a premonition of death came upon Elijah, but did not faze him. A trump card that he had up his sleeve to counter anything was being cooked up in the background.

A crackling breath of fire would have halted Elijah from escaping, but had already been prepared for at the sight of a brightening maw.

Dropping his mana capacity greatly, a large human sized portal appeared directly in front of Elijah's body. Almost every part of the wide and ever-expanding flame breath was swallowed and sent through a separate portal.

Within the midst of the massive area-of-effect flame attack, Elijah heard the screams and cries of lions. The exit portal he created 10 feet to the right of his body had redirected the flames into the pack of blazing lions. 

However, Elijah still felt every drop of sweat tickle his skin as the excess passed right by his body. Faltering, Elijah subconsciously began to lose control over his flight ability in the midst of an annoying pain.

Elijah was only 8 years old!

How could a kid stand off against an event of this magnitude?

The only option was to step through the pearlescent portal in front of him. Elijah flew out the opposite side of the portal that sent the flame breath back at the beasts, and instantly sent what was almost the rest of his mana into a horizontal space slash that slew the rest of the beasts relishing in their own creation.

They thought Elijah was dead, and lowered their guard as a result. Without mana coursing through their bodies, they were left as easy targets who could do nothing but accept their fate.

The flared black cloak Elijah equipped was now riddled with holes from the burning flames. Underneath that cloak were minor burns scattered across his arms and legs, filling him with worried thoughts related to his mother.

"How am I going to explain this one…"

Elijah touched down on the grassy flatlands scattered with different sized rocks, and laid comfortably on his back.

Huff… Huff…

Ecstasy was coursing through his unoxidized veins, and appearing in his mind through fits of blurry vision.

The sky was full of stars, and the only action on his mind was indulging in a juicy ribeye steak from a cow.

'If only they weren't so damn expensive…'

"Wait! Is that the Big Dipper?!" 

Just barely, Elijah was able to piece together a dim pattern of stars. The thought didn't come immediately, but only after a few minutes of staring into the sky.

All the animals grazing the pastures were exactly the same. Cows, chickens, sheep, and goats. Although they looked slightly different, the similarities could not be ignored.

Prices for these animals depended on the cuts. It seemed nobles loved their juicy steaks, and always bought everything up, naturally raising the prices.

Over the past three years Elijah saw not a single wild and tameable animal roaming outside the wall. These animals could easily be coming from somewhere safe. Somewhere in the unknown.

Livestock animals were heavily breeded, and required a minimum number of animals to be living at any given time by the Agriculture Guild.

But still, something about the animals origins didn't quite add up.

Maybe the world was different 6,000 years ago?

…

-{3rd Band, Weltor Estate}-

Within a tall split-logged office filled with magical artifacts and books sits two men staring at a dead crystal.

"Congratulations Novius, you are now a dark red core mage Your siblings may not have followed in my footsteps, but you have… Now with this affinity, you will reach heights even greater than the best magitech engineer's in Astraea!"

A small white spark protruded out of Novius' index finger and slowly arched its way to the candle sitting in the corner of the office. 

The display and immediate performance of Novius' new affinity illuminated his white eyes glimmering with small hints of a blue hue. 

"Why does this feel so natural, father? It has only been ten minutes and I can already use it."

With a small chuckle and smile on his face, George explained the reason why. "When we absorb an affinity, we become connected to every part of that element. You were immediately able to use it because one, you knew what it was, and two, because it became part of your soul. The lightning… is now within you."

George sat up from his sheepskin chair and walked out with a smile to attend to his oldest son.

Novius on the other hand had thoughts racing through his head about what he could do. The question was, did he want power, riches from magitech inventions, or both…

…

-{West Wall}-

Elijah's body was burning on fumes. The only reason he hadn't run out of it sooner was due to manipulating the environmental mana which only required a small amount for every spell.

However, it was time to return. Without being worried about falling out of the sky, Elijah flew slowly toward the wall of which he was over 300 feet away from.

Although, just as usual, a short gaze panned across the unknown horizon.

"I'll find out eventually…"

The window behind Elijah's bed easily opened just like he left it.

Monotone-like, Julian pushed his chest up to a sitting position and began his questioning. "Where were you brother?"

Elijah kept wrapping himself in the sheets of his bed to cover his burned clothes and body.

"I like exploring at night…"

"Okay, I do too" 

No more words were minced, but Julian felt suspicion coming from Elijah.

Julian was simple: future farmer, desires and earth affinity, and doesn't question anything, but only lives his life.

The thought of abandoning his family has passed through his mind many times. However due to the mystery of the outside, the only choice was to stay here until he was strong enough, or at least had an idea of the outside world. 

Elijah had this burning desire to explore everywhere outside the walls. This desire grew even greater after every dull conversation with the people around him. 

He was known as a lunatic.

A child asking for death.

…

The morning shot into action with Phloria opening the door to the bedroom, and bidding good morning. "Good Morning ahhhHHH!! What happened to you Elijah?!"

Elijah had a frown on his face. He truly was in pain, and needed his mothers healing magic.

"I-I went for a walk last night after everyone went to bed, and was bullied by older kids who used magic…"

Fake tears were dripping from his eyes, and all that Phloria could see was a child in pain. A soothing lukewarm touch caressed his arms and legs, and shortly after, resulted in his skin returning to the silky smooth material. 

Phloria had used water magic to heal the minor burns across his face, legs, and arms. Moaning sounds could be heard from Elijah's body. The feeling of his wounds being healed was ecstasy!

After explaining to his parents that these kids were wearing hoods, they dismissed their idea of investigation and barred Elijah from leaving the house during the night.

In the midst of folding his washed clothes, he couldn't help but think of his success and feelings that were still stirring within him. Not only did Elijah test his battle prowess, but he found many hints to this world being earth.

Unfortunately, knowing would not have any benefit to him. The idea of being in the past or future of his past life was sickening as it brought up mysterious hints that could point to the reason for his reincarnation, or rather, a connection that could not yet be made.