The one thing that I learned in my short time since arriving in this world. Mana is the key resource in this world. Mana is everything. Every organism. Everything. Is mana. The Magical City of Kubridge and all the Magical cities are made of Mana.
When mages turn the ripe age of 5 they must be selected in the Chalice of Paths to either be one of two mages.
"Spellcaster Mage" uses magic. They either apply the magic to themselves or to a target(s).
Spellcasters can fall into many subcategories. There are multiple affinities. Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Thunder, Light, Darkness, Chaos, and the list goes on.
"Weapon Enhance Mage" These mages use their Mana to enhance the weapons they use. All mages can use little magic such as healing and such. "Armor Enhance" is an ability that a Weapon Enhancer should know as well as a level-up for them. There is also "Dyad Mage" a rare mage who can both be a Spellcaster and Weapon Enhancer Mage.
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"My father Marko Marina is a skilled weapon enhance mage he imbued his magic into a scythe. That can generate powerful blasts to blow away his opponents. My mother Lila Marina is a spellcaster mage who specializes in water creation magic. Marko, if not tending to me, would be training in the courtyard. Placed in the back of the mansion surrounding what used to be a beautiful flower garden. Cutting and slashing through all the dummies and hitting markers with Vincent by his side. Lila would make me watch from the second-floor balcony overlooking all this. But I would say most of the time something gets-"
SMASH
"OH," Lila gasps as she shields her body around me.
Through the gaping hole in the kitchen Marko smiles as he chuckles. Vincent looks down while grabbing at his neck.
"Slightly off sir," Vincent says.
"Oops" Marko smiles. "S-sorry honey"
"Marko! What have you done to the kitchen! What if Valerus was there when you made that?!" Lila yells.
"It's fine honey. He's way over there by you" Marko responds back waving his hands and gesturing a thumbs up.
"His definition of "way over there" is completely off as we were a mere 5 feet away from the rubble from the blast. It was one of the few moments where I saw Lila mad.
"F-fear not Lady Lila the maids shall get to it!" Vincent reassures Lila.
CLAP CLAP
Two maids arrive on the scene, both by the left and right of the giant hole placing their hands on the wall.
RESTRUCTURE MAGIC
I watched on as the maids materialized the wall too what it was before.
Marko again smiles at Lila.
"Hmph" Lila gives a pout and walks away as she picks me up and carries me upstairs "Geez he can be so clumsy sometimes" speaking to herself.
That is a true statement. Remember when I said there was a beautiful field of flowers in the courtyard? Well, Marko practiced a new move that scorched half the flowers. Lila was not happy about that.
"I told you not to do it," Vincent adds.
Marko shrugs his shoulders. "Shall we continue?"
"Alright"
BZTT
"The Federation?" Vincent asks.
"Yup on the dot, " Marko says.
"Again? Am surprised they don't put you on maternity leave. How many has it been within a span of these couple weeks?" Vincent asks.
"A handful. What's crazy is that I call for this leave but things have gotten to the point where the Captains need to be involved."
"Is that group again?"
"Yeah it's them. Just giving us headaches."
"I could provide my assist-"
"No you must stay here and watch over them for me. While I am gone."
"If that's what you wish sir"
Marko gets summoned from time to time going on missions. It turns out Marko is a part of this elite group of mages called "The Federation."
"Off to the mission I go," Marko says with a smile on his face as he was kissing Lila goodbye.
"Please take care, dear," Lila said accompanied by a warm embrace of the two. Of course including me in the middle. He wore a long black coat that had the Roman numeral 10 enscripted on there.
"We wish for your safe return Sir Marko" Vincent says bowing with a gentlemanly gesture.
"Thank you Vincent and I wish you the best. Watch over the family for me. "
I saw the way Marko treats Vincent; it's not in some other media where the butler is treated as a servant or lower. Here both treat each other with the same respect.
Throughout the early years of my life, I spent observing how the household runs and its inhabitants.
Of course, there is me, Marko, Lila, and Vincent. However, there are also a dozen maids. The main maid is Elise Vincent's wife. A woman with long black hair that is tied up, bangs that cover her forehead, and the usual maid outfit. Their last names were Agnello. I mostly spent time with Lila, Vincent, and Elise as they cared and watched over me. Crawling all over the household. Seeing all the maids, being scolded by Elise and Vincent.
With Eriko who is growing at the same speed I am.
One afternoon Marko was lucky enough to see me take my first steps. PS these weren't my first steps.
"Dear, shouldn't you be on with your mission?"
"And miss my child's first steps of course not. Valerus is our pride and joy." Markos and Lilas's faces both light up as he says those words.
"Young master Valerus would do fine. He's progressing fast."
"He is right dear," Lila thinks to herself putting her hands into a thinking motion.
"I wonder what type of mage he will be?" Marko thinks as well. "Well no matter what he will be a great one."
"Alright I'll be back," Marko says as he teleports away.
ZIP
I would often read books that were left in the little library within our house, surprisingly I could read what was written down on them. The creation of this world, the inhabitants and beings that once ruled. The one thing that piqued my interest was about the Overlords. From my knowledge, as their names suggest they are above all the mages in this world. The strongest mages in this world hold godly power at their disposal. The full power of one of the Seven can change the whole world. There are Seven Overlords.
Overlord of Weapons
Overlord of Curses
Overlord of Time
Overlord of Death
Overlord of Understanding
Overlord of Illusion
Overlord of Love
As I grew older he would tell me all about his missions. His team, the fierce enemies he faced, the leader of The Federation, and The Overlords of this world. From what I learned the Federation has Captains number 1-10. Marko is the Captain of Squad 10. Am surprised that those types of symbols were used in this world. He fought alongside one of the Overlords when he first started in The Federation. The Overlord of Weapons. "It was a spectacle I watched as all our enemies got demolished by a one-man crew. I witnessed him use weapons I had seen but used in a different way and weapons I had never seen before. The way he used the scythe in that battle inspired me to hone my crafts in mine" Marko said proudly.
He sounded so excited. I wish to meet them one day. "Father, can I meet them one day?" I asked. "Oh Valerus meeting one of them is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They are all scattered across the world."
"So it's pretty rare to see one like a tree growing on another tree," I thought to myself.
Hearing him talk about The Overlord's made me wonder."Father, why isn't there an Overlord of Magic?"
Marko took a minute to respond "Good question you see in the beginning there were these twelve-"
Creek
"Dear I think it's time for Valerus to head to bed," Lila says as she peaks through the door.
"Aughg" I express loudly.
Marko pats my head "Don't worry I'll save that story for another time. Goodnight son"
They both wish me good night.
"What was he about to say to a twelve star- Ah it's fine I'll head to sleep."
Sooner than I realized I was at the age of five, the time drew closer. I finally started to see my features. I have blonde hair like my mom but it's shaped like my father's, I have my father's eye color. Am like a combination of both. Well, I should because I am their kid.
Every day it seemed like a routine. Get up, get my clothes ready, greet the maids, head over to the dining hall, and sit and eat with Marko,Lila, Vincent, Elise, and Eriko. We all ate together like one big family. The maids take shifts to eat breakfast after we have eaten. The first 6 eat first then the 2nd half after.
I then head over to my studies and prepare for the Chalice of Paths. I felt as if I was on a tutorial mission for a video game.
Eriko and I have gone over training to prepare to be one of the two mages. My preferred weapon was a sword but I also practiced and trained with my father with a scythe. On the other hand, Eriko's choice of weapon was a rapier. It was the weapon I often saw Vincent carrying. After a few hours of training, we both would learn simple healing spells that are a default skill for all mages.
Both me and Eriko then get to play in the yard of course being supervised by my mother and Vincent or Elise sometimes both. When Marko is either training or gone on a mission.
Me and Eriko lay in the flower fields as we both laughed and smiled. Eriko now has long black hair, a respectful girl, with bangs, and a cute face. She reminded me of someone back in my previous life but that is something I want to leave behind. Her soft and delicate voice speaks. "Val are you scared for the Chalice of Powers"
"No, I am sure we'll both be fine. It's not something to be worried about." I am gesturing with a thumbs up and smile.
"But-"
"It's going to be cool. It's just going to tell us what we're going to enlist in at the academy, that's all" I told her.
"You're right Val thank you," Eriko says with a smile of relief.
When the time came we arrived at the church in Kubridge. Marko and Lila by my side. Vincent and Elise by Eriko's side. With the church bell at the top, a stained glass painting in the back over the church, with many rows of benches.
DONG DONG DONG
The bells of the church resonated in my soul as I felt each gong from the bell send soundwave throughout my body. It felt oddly ominous and mysterious on how the bell would toll.
As we drew closer there was a Stained Glass Painting I realized was very vibrant with multiple colors, red, green, blue, black, purple, white, yellow, basically all the primary colors. For what it depicted I couldn't really tell it looks to be the creation of this world with 12 stars. Constellations I thought to myself. As I was about to examine it more a Pastor emerged dressed in all all-white .An older gentleman with more wrinkles than a sharp puppy. Myself and Eriko walked up to the podium as the pastor presented us with a golden chalice. The chalice appears to be filled with water. But I can sense that it's partially filled with mana.
The pastor speaks with a raspy and grainy voice "Welcome Marina Family and Agnello Family. This is the time to see what kind of future holds for the heir of the Marina family. It is that time."
My heart starts to race a little bit. This is a little nerve-racking. Am I sweating? Why should I be nervous? I am efficient in both currently. Is it because of the excitement and anticipation of what kind of mage will be or is it something else?
"Young mages step forward as the Chalice shall reveal your Paths. Blue for Spellcaster and Red for Weapon Enhancer or Purple for Dyad. Now who shall step first? "
My palms get sweaty and my breathing begins to get staggered. I take a quick glance over at Eriko who looks calm and ready.
"I will," Eriko says with confidence as she takes a deep breath and steps forward.
"Very well Ms Agnello." the priest says.
Using a needle Eriko poked her pointer finger as she let a drop of blood in the Chalice of Paths.
The Chalice begins to change color as it lights up the room with Red and blue.
"Ah here it comes," The pastor says.
Everyone waits in anticipation.
A pause.
The Chalice glows a Purple Hue.
"Ah yes, a birth of a new Dya-"
Suddenly I watched as the Chalice began to shine brightly, blinding everyone in its vicinity.
"Can it be?" I heard Vincent's voice as the bright light subsided.
"Wha- What is this?" Eriko says in confusion as she looks at her left hand.
"You have been bestowed a great power by the birth of another Twelve Star Mage" the pastor speaks in amazement.
"The 6th star. The maiden. Virgo" the pastor says with a shocked and excited voice,
I was shocked I never heard of a Twelve Star Mage up until now. Marko and Lila were as shocked as me. Both Vincent and Elise were overjoyed. Both my parents were supportive. Looking at the Glass painting more I saw the symbol that was on Eriko's hand on the Painting. "Twelve Star. This is what Marko was about to talk to me about. Then that means Eriko will be connected to the Overlord of Magic?"
"My word Eriko Excellent" Elise says, clapping with tears.
"Good job," Vincent says.
"Wow," I said aloud.
"Haha thanks, Val. You'll get something too"
"Pastor, did you just say another was chosen today?" Marko asked respectfully.
"Yes from the Agnes family, he was bestowed the 5th star Leo. To bear witness to two today is amazing. " the pastor says.
"Now it is your turn, Valerus Marina. Step forward" The pastor says.
After hearing all this the pressure is on me. I have to be one of those. I am the heir. Am the son of Marko Marina a member of "The Federation" I have to get at least Dyad please?"
"Dont worry son. We will be proud of you no matter what" Marko says.
"We love Valerus," Lila says.
I feel a bit better now after hearing these supportive words from my parents.
I gulp down as I begin to feel more anxious about my path. I drop my blood. The Chalice spins. "Purple Purple" I kept saying to myself. The anticipation is killing me; it feels like an eternity.
Everyone looks on in shock.
My heart drops.
I cannot believe what I am seeing.
The Chalice of Paths
Didn't change color.
"Eh."