Chapter 7: The Evening before awakening!

Reincarnation of the magicless!

"No magic?, No problem!"

Chapter 7: The Evening before awakening!

Rolien grinned, his heart racing from the thrill of the match. "Thanks! But I think you're just going easy on me because I'm your little brother," he teased, dodging another swing from Elian's sword.

Elian chuckled, his brow glistening with sweat. "Not a chance! You've improved a lot since we started training together. I can barely keep up!" He lunged forward, trying to catch Rolien off guard, but Rolien sidestepped, countering with a quick jab that Elian barely managed to block.

Sir Marcellus, standing nearby with his arms crossed, nodded in approval. "Good footwork, Rolien. Keep your stance low and your movements fluid. You're getting the hang of it."

Grand Duke Edric watched with a proud smile, his eyes gleaming with admiration for both of his sons. "You both have come a long way. I remember when Rolien could barely lift a sword," he said, chuckling at the memory.

Lady Lerien, standing beside him, clapped her hands together. "Just be careful, you two! I don't want to see anyone getting hurt." Her voice was light, but there was a hint of concern in her eyes as she watched the sparring match.

Elara, sitting on a nearby bench, leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Come on, Rolien! Show him what you've got!" she cheered, her enthusiasm infectious.

Rolien felt a surge of confidence at his sister's encouragement. He took a deep breath, focusing on his brother. "Alright, Elian, let's see what you've really got!" He charged forward, swinging his sword with determination.

Elian parried the blow, their swords clashing with a metallic ring. "You're getting bold, little Roa!" he exclaimed, pushing back against Rolien's attack. The two exchanged blows, their movements becoming a blur as they danced around each other. But Elien uses his body augmentation.

Rolien grumbled, rubbing his sore spot. "Man, that's cheating!" he exclaimed, glaring at Elian. Elian chuckled, offering his brother a hand up. "All's fair in training, little bro," he said with a grin.

Sir Marcellus stepped forward, his eyes serious. "Actually, Elian's use of body augmentation gave him a significant advantage. As a mage, he's able to infuse his body with magical energy, enhancing his strength and speed."

Grand Duke Edric nodded in agreement. "Yes, and Rolien, you need to learn how to tap into your Kigen. It's a unique energy source that flows through non-magical individuals, amplifying their physical abilities."

Rolien shook his head. "Hah, I wish I could. I didn't have any idea how to do that. I'm guessing my Kigen is dormant or something."

Sir Marcellus's expression turned thoughtful. "Kigen is powered by life force energy, Rolien. It's a latent potential that requires specific techniques and training to harness. As a non-magical individual, you have the capacity to tap into your Kigen, but it takes practice and dedication."

Elian added, "Yeah, and it's not like magic, Rolien. Kigen is more... primal. You need to learn how to channel your life energy to enhance your physical abilities."

Rolien's eyes widened in understanding. "So, that's why you can use body augmentation, and I need to learn Kigen?"

Sir Marcellus nodded. "Exactly. As a mage, Elian's body is attuned to magical energy. Your body, on the other hand, responds to your life force. You need to learn how to tap into that energy to unlock your full potential."

Lady Lerien's concern was evident in her voice. "Perhaps we should focus on teaching Rolien the basics of Kigen before he gets too battered up in these sparring matches."

Grand Duke Edric smiled. "Agreed. Let's get Rolien started on his Kigen training. I have a feeling he'll be a natural."

Elara cheered, "Yeah! Rolien's going to be a Kigen master!"

Rolien grinned, feeling a surge of determination. "You bet I will. Let's get started, Sir Marcellus, yay!" He pretended to cheer.

Rolien's thoughts wandered as he watched Elian and Sir Marcellus discuss training strategies. "Master, my ass," he muttered to himself, recalling the texts he'd read. "It's natural for people in this world to access magic and Kigen, even without a mana core or awakened abilities. Your body's response to intense training can grant you access to something similar... but what if I'm not a mage or a knight? What if I'm just a non-user?"

The thought sent a shiver down his spine. "What would Mom and Dad think? Would they disown me like other Isekai MCs?" He sighed, frustration and uncertainty swirling in his mind.

Elian noticed Rolien's distant expression and nudged him. "Hey, little bro, you okay? You've been staring off into space for a while."

Rolien shook his head, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about... stuff."

Sir Marcellus observed the exchange, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Rolien, let's focus on your Kigen training. We can discuss your concerns later."

Rolien nodded, pushing aside his doubts for now. "Right, let's get started."

As they began training, Rolien couldn't shake off the feeling that he might not be like his siblings, that he might not fit into the world he found himself in. He wondered if he'd ever discover his true potential or if he'd be stuck as an ordinary human, forever bound to the sidelines.

Few weeks later his awakening ceremony is near, in two days he'll have his awakening ceremony. As Rolien and lyra visit mr.yohan to see how's the water pump doing.

Mr. Yohan looked up from the water pump's mechanism, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What makes you think that, Rolien? You're a talented young man, and your awakening ceremony is just around the corner."

Rolien's voice remained low, his words laced with uncertainty. "I've been reading about how people's bodies respond to intense training and magic. It seems like everyone develops some kind of ability, but what if I'm different? What if I'm just... ordinary?"

Mr. Yohan's expression turned thoughtful as he wiped his hands on a rag. "Ah, I see. You're worried about not living up to expectations, perhaps?"

Rolien nodded, his eyes fixed on the pump's components. "Yeah, something like that. My family's full of powerful people, and I'm... I don't know if I'll fit in."

Mr. Yohan chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Rolien, your worth isn't defined by your magical abilities or lack thereof. You're a brilliant inventor, and that's something to be proud of. Besides, the awakening ceremony will reveal your path, and you'll discover your true potential."

Rolien smiled weakly, feeling a mix of hope and trepidation. "I guess you're right. It's just... two days left until the ceremony. I'll know soon enough, I suppose."

Mr. Yohan patted Rolien's shoulder. "Whatever the outcome, you'll always have a place here, working on your inventions and ideas. Now, let's get back to this water pump. I think we're close to a breakthrough."

Rolien's eyes widened as he took the box from Mr. Yohan. "Thanks, Mr. Yohan! You didn't have to—"

Just then, Lyra appeared out of nowhere, her eyes shining with excitement. "Ooh, Mr. Yohan is giving Rolien a gift? This is historic! The infamous Black Yohan, known for his gruff demeanor, is showing his soft side!"

Mr. Yohan's expression turned stern, but a hint of amusement danced in his eyes. "Shut up, Lyra. That's not funny. He's my friend, aka my pupil, so it's normal for me to be nice to him."

Lyra giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, Mr. Yohan's got a soft spot for Rolien! I'm going to tell everyone about this!"

Rolien chuckled, feeling a bit self-conscious about the attention. "Lyra, stop teasing Mr. Yohan. And thanks again, Mr. Yohan. I promise to treasure your gift."

Mr. Yohan grumbled, but a small smile played on his lips. "Just open the gift, kid. Let's see if you like it."

Rolien's eyes widened as he opened the box, revealing a sleek, black replica of the Beretta 92FS. He gasped in awe, his hands trembling slightly as he reached for the firearm.

"Man, you really did it, Mr. Yohan! You pulled it off!" Rolien exclaimed.

As he picked up the replica, Rolien thought to himself, "This is the first of its kind to be made in this realm... a firearm from a completely different world, crafted with precision and care. Mr. Yohan's genius knows no bounds."

Lyra's eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa, Mr. Yohan, you're full of surprises!"

Mr. Yohan chuckled, his eyes shining with a hint of mischief. "Well, that one who's full of surprises is your young master, Rolien. He's the one who gave me the blueprint. And I just followed his blueprint. So you should be praising him instead of me."

Lyra's gaze turned to Rolien, her expression filled with newfound admiration. "Wait, young master!, you're the one who designed this? You're a genius!"

Rolien grinned, puffing out his chest. "Yeah, I'm a genius! I mean, who else could come up with a design like this? I'm basically the Da Vinci of this realm!"

Lyra chuckled, shaking her head. "You're something, all right."

Mr. Yohan's expression turned serious. "Yeah, to your age, you're even smarter than the smartest mage who's ever lived. But don't get it into your head, kid."

Rolien's grin faltered for a moment before he laughed. "Hey, I'm just confident in my abilities. And who knows, maybe I'll revolutionize this world's technology!"

Mr. Yohan's warning gaze lingered, but Rolien just winked, feeling proud of his accomplishment. Little did he know, his awakening ceremony tomorrow would bring its own set of surprises.

Mr. Yohan's expression turned practical. "Alright, kid, let's talk about the propulsion system. How do you plan on firing this without a compressed air cylinder or CO2 cartridges?"

Rolien grinned mischievously. "Well, it won't be using that, Mr. Yohan. It's got an entirely new kind of way to propel the bullets. It'll use gunpowder."

Mr. Yohan's expression turned puzzled. "Gunpowder? What's that? Some kind of magical propellant?"

Rolien chuckled. "No, it's not magic. Gunpowder is a mixture of certain ingredients that, when ignited, produces a rapid expansion of gases that can propel a projectile at high speeds."

Mr. Yohan's confusion deepened. "A mixture of ingredients? What kind of ingredients?"

Rolien leaned forward, excited to share his knowledge. "It's a combination of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. When mixed in the right proportions and ignited, it creates a powerful explosion that can be harnessed to propel a bullet."

Mr. Yohan's eyes widened in surprise. "You expect me to believe that a mixture of ordinary ingredients can create such a powerful reaction?"

Rolien nodded enthusiastically. "Trust me, Mr. Yohan. I've studied the recipe and process. We can make gunpowder and use it to propel the bullets in this firearm."

Mr. Yohan's expression turned skeptical, but Rolien could see the curiosity sparking in his eyes. "Alright, kid. Tell me more about this gunpowder and how to make it."

Rolien began to explain in detail, "Okay, so we'll need to collect saltpeter, which can be found in certain types of soil or extracted from bat guano. Then we'll need to mix it with sulfur and charcoal in the right proportions. The key is to get the mixture just right, or it won't ignite properly."

Mr. Yohan listened intently, his eyes narrowing as he tried to understand the concept. "And what happens when this... gunpowder ignites?"

Rolien's eyes sparkled with excitement. "It creates a rapid expansion of gases, which builds up pressure and propels the bullet out of the barrel. It's a chemical reaction that releases a lot of energy in a short amount of time."

Mr. Yohan's expression turned thoughtful. "I see. So it's a chemical reaction that creates the propulsion. That's fascinating. But how do we ignite the gunpowder?"

Rolien grinned. "That's the next step. We'll need to design a mechanism to ignite the gunpowder reliably. I've got some ideas on how to do it, but we'll need to experiment and refine the design."

Lyra, who had been watching the conversation, spoke up. "This sounds like a lot of work and experimentation. Are you sure it's worth it, Rolien?"

Rolien nodded confidently. "Absolutely. Imagine the possibilities. With gunpowder, we could create firearms that are more powerful and reliable than anything we've seen before. It could change the course of our world's history."

Mr. Yohan's expression turned serious. "Alright, kid. Let's give it a try. But we'll need to be careful. We don't know what kind of risks we're dealing with here."

Rolien and Lyra bid farewell to Mr. Yohan and hopped into their carriage. "Let's continue our project the day after tomorrow," Rolien said, excitement still buzzing in his voice.

"Yeah, you should rest too, kid," Mr. Yohan reminded him. "You have your awakening ceremony tomorrow."

Rolien nodded, though he was eager to get started on the gunpowder project. "Right, I'll make sure to get some rest."

As they said their goodbyes, Lyra chimed in, "See you later, Mr. Yohan!"

The carriage door closed, and the horses began to move. Rolien and Lyra waved goodbye to Mr. Yohan as they rode off towards their home.

As they arrived at the mansion, they were greeted by the warm glow of lanterns and the sound of laughter. But as they stepped inside, they were surprised to see a crowd of people, all smiling and cheering.

"Surprise!" someone shouted, and Rolien's eyes widened as he took in the scene.

The grand duke and duchess stepped forward, beaming with joy. "Happy birthday, Rolien! We didn't want you to forget your special day."

Lyra's eyes sparkled with delight. "A surprise party! I had no idea!"

Rolien's face lit up with a smile as he hugged his parents. "Thank you, Grand Duke, Grand Duchess. This is amazing!"

The party was in full swing, with food, drinks, and music filling the air. Rolien couldn't help but feel grateful for the love and support of his family and friends. Little did he know, the real celebration was only just beginning – his awakening ceremony tomorrow would change everything.

The night wore on, with laughter and music filling the air. Rolien danced with Lyra, and they twirled around the ballroom, grinning from ear to ear. The grand duke and duchess watched with warm smiles, happy to see their son so carefree.

As the party wound down, Rolien slipped outside, escaping the noise and chaos. He walked out into the gardens, looking up at the starry sky. The moon was full, casting a silver glow over the landscape.

Rolien took a deep breath, feeling the cool night air fill his lungs. He closed his eyes, letting the peacefulness of the moment wash over him. Tomorrow was a big day – his awakening ceremony.

He thought about what lay ahead, the possibilities and uncertainties. He felt a mix of emotions – excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. What would his awakening bring? Would he discover a powerful magic, or something else entirely?

As he stood there, lost in thought, the stars twinkling above him, Rolien felt a sense of resolve. Whatever tomorrow brought, he was ready. He would face it head-on, with courage and determination.

With a newfound sense of calm, Rolien opened his eyes and gazed up at the stars once more. He smiled, feeling a sense of connection to the universe and its mysteries. Tomorrow would be a new chapter in his life, and he was eager to begin.

To be continued....