Chapter - 6 Let's Get Training!

Abyss's Point Of View

My training session with Uncle Harhrold began in earnest. I was escorted outside to a large training ground that we apparently had. I had never been in our backyard before today, so I couldn't help but look around excited.

When I noticed the servants setting up tables and chairs off to the side in the shade, I whipped my head around in surprise.

"Uhm... you all are going to watch?" I asked, nervously.

"Of course. If you succeed, I will give my backing to have you enrolled into the Magic Academy as soon as you wish. You won't even need to test in, if you wish." Uncle Tihtus said, eagerly.

I heaved a tired sigh, and approached Uncle Harhrold at the center of the grounds. He seemed absurdly happy as well.

"Alright! First up is mana sensing. You need to know what the mana inside you feels like, to properly utilize it." He said, excitedly.

"Okay...?" I replied, confused.

I hadn't needed to know that information to summon fire magic, but I was willing to take his advice... for the sake of training.

"First, take a deep breath and focus your mind inward. Try to get a good feeling of what the mana coursing through your body feels like." He said.

I did as he said, and began to search for the mana. I had assumed it was akin to blood flow, so I immediately honed in on the warmth that pooled in my chest, and spread to my extremities. It felt like a small furnace inside my body, and unlike my initial thoughts, it seemed wild and not contained properly.

I imagined a box, and began to stuff it all inside. I felt the heat calm down immensely, and sighed.

"I got it. What's next?" I asked, expectantly.

I had actually learned something useful, so I wouldn't disregard my uncle just yet. Everyone else seemed stunned for some reason.

"Um... did I do something wrong?" I asked, nervously.

"Uhm... Nephew? Did you already learn how to conceal your magic?" Uncle asked.

I was floored. I certainly didn't think I had.

"No, sir? Why do you ask?" I replied.

"I can barely detect your mana at all anymore... Hmm? Try this, try to sense the mana in the things and people around you. All living things in this world have mana. Even if only a little. Some non-living things have mana too, if they were made from things with mana. Like parchment, or cloth. Try to sense other mana now." He said, approaching me.

I did as he said, but I couldn't sense a thing. Not even his mana, and he was right in front of me.

"I cannot do it..." I said, solemnly.

"Ha! Loser!" Sigghfreid yelled from his seat.

"It's fine. Try this. Try to push your mana out very thinly. Almost imperceptibly so. Once it meets other mana, you will feel the push back of other mana." He said.

I nodded, and began to try in earnest. I invisioned my mana thin like mist and pushed it from my body. I hit a wall first with my uncle. He shivered, and then his eyes began to gleam.

"That's it! Man, your mana is intense!" He said, happily.

I next invisioned my mana like a thin dome and pushed outward. I could sense everyone, in a matter of moments. I could even sense the animals in the nearby forest. It was amazing. Then a shiver ran down my spine.

'Very good, little one. Keep growing...'

I heard a deep voice reverberate through my mind. I looked up at my uncle, confused.

"Did you just say something uncle?" I asked.

"No? What did you hear?" He replied.

I shook my head. I didn't want to freak anyone out. Or be regarded as crazy.

'Maybe it was the Gods?'

"Well, anyway, let's try concealment magic next. Pull up your status window." Uncle said.

I did as he said and everyone gasped again. I fearfully looked up at the screen, and frowned.

[Status Screen Info ]

[Name: Abyss Marhxist]

[Age: 7]

[Level: 1]

[Title: The Chosen One]

[Blessings: Light, Darkness, Fire, Wind, Water, Earth, Death, Rebirth.]

[MP: 500/500]

[HP: 700/700]

[Passive Abilities: Longevity. Jack of All Trades, But A Master of None. Absorption.

Active Skills: Stealth]

[Base Stats: (Can Be Increased Daily.) ]

[Intelligence: 10]

[Perception: 15]

[Stamina: 10]

[Power: 10]

[Speed: 10]

[Agility: 10]

Not only had my perception stat gone up, but I had learned a new skill without even trying.

"I was right. How the hell did you learn Stealth? That is a top tier skill that only a few people can learn." Uncle asked.

"I'm not sure... I just thought my mana was all over the place, so I put it in a box?" I said, unsure.

I hadn't done anything else, so I honestly didn't know what else it could have been. Uncle Harhrold closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them abruptly. He opened his status window, and I was floored. It was all blurred out. I couldn't see anything but his name.

"Haha! Incredible! Well, it would appear that the student can become the teacher as well!" He laughed, joyously.

"Uhm..."

"Oh, sorry. My stats are concealed. But in any case, I too, have learned the Stealth skill. In turn, I will teach you the concealment magic skill. I want you to look at your stats, and invision them just like mine. If you Master it well enough you can even redact the information, but let's start out small for now."

I looked at my stats, and pondered what he said. I didn't want to blur them out, it would be so obvious to onlookers that I was trying to hide something. So I wanted to try to change them instead.

After staring and deliberating on the screen, I finally made up my mind.

[Status Screen Info ]

[Name: Abyss Marhxist]

[Age: 7]

[Level: 1]

[Title: The Hunter]

[Blessings: Death.]

[MP: 50/50]

[HP: 70/70]

[Passive Abilities: Longevity.]

[Base Stats: (Can Be Increased Daily.) ]

[Intelligence: 10]

[Perception: 15]

[Stamina: 10]

[Power: 10]

[Speed: 10]

[Agility: 10]

"Gods above! Is he a fucking prodigy or what!?" Uncle Tihtus exclaimed.

"I just thought that blurring them out would be too obvious..." I shrugged.

"Few people have the God of Death's blessing, little one. You may still draw unwanted attention..." Uncle Harhrold said.

"It's fine, maybe the fact that it's the God of Death, will deter them from pestering me." I chuckled.

Everyone looked at me like I was crazy. I couldn't help but laugh harder. The God of Death's powers seemed pretty self explanatory. So, I hoped people would look at it and keep their distance.

"I have one more thing to teach you all..." I said, finally realizing that they wouldn't judge me like Sigghfreid had.

"Oho? Do tell, wise master." Uncle chuckled.

"No! Don't do it, idiot!" Sigghfreid yelled, jumping from his chair.

I rolled my eyes and faced our entire family.

'Why not Level up together?'