Chapter 4: The Shock

I came down from my room in the morning, greeted by my mother and father:

"Good morning, Ed."

"Good morning, Dad. Mom."

"Happy birthday, son."

Even now, I still can't believe that seven years have passed since that strange incident that brought me to this world. A world that seems completely opposite to my previous one—filled with magic and mystery. And that's what caught my attention. But despite the presence of magic... I still can't use it. Not yet.

After I woke up, and just before heading down to the dining room, my body began to glow and shine. I had no idea why or how, but I noticed changes happening to me. Suddenly, a screen appeared in front of me. I decided to show it to them.

"Dad, Mom, what does this mean?"

I showed them the screen, which read:

Level: ???

Class: ???

Rank: ???

Elements: ???

High Elements: ???

Experience Points: ???

Mana: ???

HP: ???

Physical Stats: ???

Attack Power: ???

Endurance: ???

Agility: ???

Speed: ???

Skill Points: ???

Skills: ???

"It's the status screen. Congratulations, but…"

"We can't see the details the first time it appears. We'll need to go to the guild to read it properly."

It seems the time has finally come. After waiting so long in this small body… I'll finally be able to use magic.

Magic—whether to fly or do anything else—was a dream for everyone in my old world. Some even tried to mimic it with sleight of hand and called it "magic," but it was just visual trickery meant to distract the audience—pulling out cards or hidden animals, etc. So yes, it was—and still is—one of the most desired abilities among humans.

And now… it's finally my turn to use it.

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After we finished breakfast, my parents took me to the guild. It wasn't my first time there—I'd visited a few times before, so I knew everyone. You could describe the place as a two-story building with a triangular roof. Nothing special from the outside, but once you step inside, it feels completely different.

Inside, there's a large hall with a high ceiling that reaches halfway up the building. Above, there's a balcony for the guild master, and his office is located directly above the main entrance.

I'd met the guild master several times when I was younger. My father used to take me with him. Of course I remember. I may have the body of a child, but I've got the mind of an adult.

This time, however, Master Gale Rufus wasn't present—apparently he had business in the capital. That's a relief. It wouldn't be pleasant for someone as overly enthusiastic as him to witness something like this, especially when it involves his friend's son.

"Good morning, Sally. How are you today?"

"Well, well... Rick, Evelyn, and little Ed! And this early in the morning? Now that's something you don't see every day."

This is Sally Brent. She works at the guild's reception. Her desk sits between two others. Her hair is shoulder-length, wavy, and brown—making you wonder if it's natural or dyed. Don't be fooled by her looks though—she can hit like a grown man!

Back to what she said—she's right. Since I was born here, I've never seen both my parents come to the guild together. I don't know why, but I found out because I have excellent hearing.

"Wait a second..."

Her smile appeared. That can't be good. What's with everyone in this guild? Can't they just be quiet for once? Or keep their hands from flailing around like that?

"Is it the big day?"

A proud smile spread across my father's face.

"It's the big day."

"Congratulations, little Ed!"

Suddenly, without warning, Sally began smacking me on the back!

Stop hitting me! I can't breathe like this! And what's with the 'little Ed'?! I may be small, but don't call me that just because of my size!

After she finished her barrage of slaps and congratulated my parents, we entered a room to the left of the reception desk. In the center was a simple desk with a small square on it.

"Alright, Ed. Place your hand here."

She pointed to the square, so I placed my hand on it. A shiver ran through my body—just like the one I felt when I heard that voice before coming here.

My body glowed again, and the screen appeared once more. But it looked exactly like before—I couldn't understand anything. So I asked Sally, who seemed surprised:

"What does this mean?"

I showed them the screen again—it was an exact copy of the one I'd seen earlier. Their expressions turned serious.

"What do you think, Sally?" my father asked.

"Umm… Ah… Well, this has never happened before… But sometimes, the development of warriors is delayed due to their physical growth."

"You mean Ed's class is a warrior?"

"I'm not saying that. But I've heard it can happen to some warriors."

"Ed, can you wait in the main hall for a bit?"

"Sure."

Time to play the obedient child. I left the room and walked toward the main hall. That's when I overheard them talking:

"Umm… Sally, could that incident have caused any harm to Ed?"

My mother said that in a quiet, sad tone, lowering her head. Something must've happened, and she clearly feels guilty about it. Sally stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder:

"I don't know if that incident had any effect on Ed, but like I said, it might just be due to slow physical development."

Then my father stepped in to comfort her, pulling her into a hug.

"Don't worry, dear. There's nothing to be sad about. I'm sure Ed will be able to use mana soon—and he'll be stronger than me. Just wait a little. And as Sally said, this could all be perfectly normal."

I need to get out of here fast before I catch this emotional contagion. It's making me feel sick. I don't get them—if something happened in the past, it's over. Talking about it won't change it.

That's how my former self would've thought before being reborn into this world. But now, having been given a second chance, I see relationships differently. The Avalon family has shown me a love I never had in my previous life.

My previous family was always busy. We only got together during forced family gatherings and traditional holidays.

After I left them and headed into the main hall, I walked over to the bulletin board in the western section. Wow—it's unusually full! Normally, you'd just see posters for tracking creatures like "Biron" or hunting an Orb Fox. But now, there are plenty of tasks that don't even need weapons—like clearing snow off the roads or fixing the city's fences. Basically, things any regular person could do.

This must be part of Gale's plan—the guild master. It's obvious he wants to increase the number of adventurers. First he lures them in with easy tasks, then gradually pulls them into the real work. Clever plan.

"Hey, Edward! How are you today?"

"Oh, good morning, Mr. Dred."

Dred Hilton, part of the "Red Knight" party. Huge build, stands at 200 cm tall, bald, dark-skinned, and ranked as a "Tank." According to my father, he has the strongest shield in the city. At first glance, he seems stern—but once you talk to him, you realize how kind he really is. He always brings me souvenirs from his travels.

"Looks like you bagged a giant fox today."

"You're right—look! Look!"

"You really caught it?"

That wasn't me who said that. When I turned, I saw my mom, dad, and Sally returning from their meeting. My dad looked unconvinced, and though my mom tried to hide it, I could still see traces of sadness on her face. As for Sally, she burst out laughing at Dred's reaction—just like she always does.

"Ah, Rick, good morning. You too, Evelyn. Glad to see you're doing well. And Sally?"

"Dred! You finally caught the fox?!"

"He was slippery. When we cornered him, he attacked. Sam got injured—his hand was cut. Evelyn, could you treat him?"

"I will. Where is he now?"

"He went to the clinic with the others."

"In that case, I'll go right away."

"Thanks, and sorry for the trouble."

"No need for that."

"Hey, Dred, don't forget to register that fox."

Dred walked past me, the fox draped over his shoulder. But… what is this feeling?! As he passed by, I felt like the fox—which should've been dead—was still alive! As if it were staring straight at me! I can't quite describe it, but…

"Dad, are you free today?"

"Yes, why?"

"Can you train me?"

This was the first time I'd ever asked my dad for anything. I usually never asked for favors, but the fastest way to learn something is from someone who's already mastered it. And who better than my father—one of the strongest warriors in the city? When he heard my request, he smiled and said:

"Alright, no problem. But before that, you'll need to do some basic training first."

"I'll do whatever it takes."