Warm air engulfed my body. Sitting in the middle of my extravagant room, I was entirely focused on one thing: Cultivating Mana.
Slowly but surely, I was growing my potency.
With the rate I'm cultivating at, I would complete the initial phase soon.
The warm air around me had now become much clearer to me. It wasn't just warm invisible air now, but a glowing essence present in the atmosphere. It was Raw Mana.
This ability to see Mana around ourselves is referred to as 'Essence Insight'. The more familiar you become with the mysteries of the Arcane, the stronger your insight gets.
I've developed my Essence insight significantly than last year, when I first obtained it.
Whew, that's enough for today.
I thought as I got up
"My capacity to hold Mana has increased quite a lot compared to last month." I spoke to myself.
I woke up earlier than usual today.
Mainly due to nightmares about my past life. I swear it's not supposed to be like this. Well, that's at least what I've read in light novels.
I did a four hour cultivation session instead of the usual three hours. I was quite tired.
I should call for Violet..
Suddenly I stopped myself.
Wait, wouldn't she be sleeping right now? I mean from the early dawn outside, I assume it might be around 5:30 am. But, knowing her, she might be pacing around my room already.
I was dressed in a very childish sleep attire; a pastel green robe and pajamas made of expensive silk materials, or so it felt.
Making my way towards my door, I pondered for a moment.
I wonder if my parents are early birds. Oh wait, Father left yesterday for a mission in the Capital. So its only Mother.
Then, I opened my door to a young girl pacing around my room.
Was my guess really spot on? I thought, dumbfounded.
"Ah! Young Master! Good morning! Why are you awake so early?" A frantic Violet splurred out. She clearly did not plan to get caught walking in front of my room like some fangirl stalker.
My lips curled up in a smile. I intentionally ignored the fact that she was pacing around my room for God knows hot long, considering she's dressed properly in her maid attire.
"Ah, I couldn't sleep so I woke up a bit early, I wanted to roam around the Manor with you!" I spoke in a yet again intentional childish tone.
Violet's face was red with overwhelming emotions, mainly consisting of her unending affection for me.
"Gosh! You're such a good, good Young Master! Waking up early on his own, I'm sure you'll grow up to become the greatest human ever!!" She squealed, bringing her hands together and slightly jumping on her small feet.
She is turning twelve this year.
Now that I look at it, Violet is growing up to be a real beauty. She has started growing her hair out ever since I complimented how her vibrant yellow hair always captures my sight.
I remember she was so ecstatic that day.
Her body has been gaining weight in all the right places too.
Don't be a weirdo!
I internally scolded myself.
I got my head out of the gutter, speaking again in a warm tone:
"You're giving me more credit than I deserve."
I chuckled.
Violet slightly pouted.
"No, I'm sure you'll become the greatest individual in all that you do! You're so humble, kind, talented, you've learnt two languages in the past year, your physical and mental capabilities are beyond your age, you mannerisms are so noble and grand! I've seen you meditate in your room too! Wait, not that I'm s-spying or anything!"
"Anyways, I'm sure you'll conquer this world!" She continued with a dreamy look in her eyes. She was practically watering at the corners of her mouth.
Wow, she watches me that much? I thought with a worrying expression on my face for just a second, before smiling again.
*Well, thank you for the compliments, you really are kind, Vi."
She suddenly blushed with a hypnotic look in her eyes. She loves it whenever I call her by that nickname. Only I say it.
"W-well, Young Master, where would you like to go?" She spoke enthusiastically, still blushing.
I wanted to explore the garden a bit. Plus, I haven't really gone out of this labyrinth of a building that much.
"Let's go outside! I want to see the gardens!" I spoke with the same fervour as her.
"Alright! Leave it to me, Young Master!" She replied.
Walking beside her, I've noticed my height growth. I come up till Violet's waist now. Up until her solar plexus. That's an achievement for me!
"I've noticed you've been very happy lately, Young Master!" She stated.
"Ah, I have been very well recently, so all is good!" I replied with a childish excitement gleaming in big, round eyes.
"Well, that is very good to hear!" She grinned happily at me.
—
After a while, we went down the stairs, crossing my highly desired library.
I've heard that the librarian is an old friend of my grandfather– Mother's father. He's a moody, grumpy old soul, or so I have heard from some servants and my Mother herself.
He hates children. That's the reason I haven't entered the library once in my five years living in this world.
There are many servants who wake up as early as 3 am here. Mostly the handmaidens.
As we walked down the hallway, several maids were walking past me.
"Good morning, Young Master Artorius!"
"Good morning!"
They all either greet me or slightly bow their heads with a smile on their face towards me.
I have noticed some maids have lessened.
I see the familiar faces disappear and new ones appear. It seems they quit jobs quite frequently… or at least that's the most sensible reason I've come up with for the disappearances.
A young blonde man wearing the sophisticated white dress of a chef was walking by.
"Good morning Young Master Artorius. And Miss Violet." He spoke with a gentle, lovely voice.
"Good morning!" We both greeted in unison.
As he walked by, he glanced at Violet with a complex expression and licked his lips.
Weird.. is he into little girls or something..?
Moving on, we reached the large backdoor of the West wing of the Manor. Going outside, we walked on a granite pathway connecting to the flower gardens and the small patch of apple trees.
Taking a stroll of the garden, Violet introduced me to the various types of vegetation of this world. It was interesting, especially the 'Breather flowers'. Strange large flowers–the size of my head–that have a huge hole in them and can directly absorb Raw Mana. They are commonly used for alchemy experiments.
The main reason for my visit in the garden was to pluck small varients of these Breather flowers. I wanted to experiment with them in my next Cultivation session.
Science in this world is not as primitive or non-existent as I thought. Not that I'd know anything about it.. considering I was more of a dragons and fairies type of fantasy lover. I did enjoy dark fantasy too.
Then, after a while, we left the gardens and headed back inside. There, I met my sister.
"Tori! You're up so early!" Illa exclaimed, looking at me with her big, affectionate eyes and attacking me with a heartwarming hug.
Her hands were wrapped around me like a vice. I did like being hugged by her though, it was warm, flowery and full of love. Exactly what I involuntarily desired back then as Leiter.
"Good morning.. You're r-really squeezing me hard.." I let out a little squeak.
Then, she let go.
"You better get used to it, I'll shower my cute little brother with tight hugs forever and ever!" She spoke, there was a hint of pride in her tone.
She stood there with both her hands in her hips.
She's turning 8 this year.
Her short white hair now smoothly flows down till her collar bone. There are many stray bangs on her forehead– and she doesn't seem to be swiping them away any time soon.
She has grown a lot in the past two years. I remember the day she turned 6, father called for a Core Doctor, who are popularly and commonly called 'Appraisal Specialists'.
As the name suggests, they basically measure your Core Capacity and put you in a rank among the Sparks.
Sparks are beings with a dormant core who haven't had their first reformation yet.
Grey had his after he turned 7, the one year delay because he was struck with a fever two weeks before the appraisal and diseases can affect the Capacity measuring results significantly.
They both landed in the fifth-highest rank of Sparks; Dragonic. That's a very big achievement for the first appraisal. (A person can normally get appraised five times.)
The ranks of the Sparks are based around terms which they call 'Titles of the Celestial Divines'.
The ranks of the Sparks are; Kindling, Flare, Bestial, Dragonic, Supernova, Galactic, Nebulae and lastly, Celestes. There have only been six people known to have the last rank, ever.
Keep in mind, these rankings are only for Core Capacities. They only determine a person's Mana reserve size.
Let's snap back to reality.
"Well well, let him grow up, will you? If you keep spoiling him like this he'll mess up his rankings next year." A voice spoke from behind Illa, it was a young, prideful voice of a boy who thought big of himself.
It was Grey.
"Isn't that right, Tori?" He smiled at me. He was the tallest one out of all three of us.
The shortest was me, of course, then Illa and then Grey.
"The only thing that is being spoiled is the mood! Who called you here, Grey?" Illa spoke with a tone of annoyance, pouting towards Grey with narrowing eyes.
"Can't I even meet my little brother?" He scoffed.
Then, he approached me and ran his hand through my black hair that grew long till my neck.
"Good morning, Big brother!" I greeted with the energetic voice of an innocent child.
"Good morning, Tori! Today's day is bright and dazzling! I want you to grow up and become strong! Just like me!" He flexed his barely visible muscles.
"Let's start your training too, shall we?" He added.
"Woah woah! Wait up there! Dad said nothing about this! He'll spend his time with me!" Illa interrupted. She looked a little angry.
In the past year, they have grown quite a lot, I'll say.
Illa has been growing to become a calm, mannerful girl who loves learning about various creatures. She is the brains of the lot in most situations.
Grey, on the other hand, had grown to be quite a salty kid. Ever since his talent for Swordsmanship started revealing itself, he has been nothing but prideful about it. Illa seems to hate that about him.
"Hey hey, we shouldn't fight, I'm sure we can do both!" I spoke in-between their little sibling quarrel.
They both stopped and looked at me.
I gave them a bright, adorable smile.
Suddenly, my beam of cuteness overwhelmed them and they both fell victim to my tactics.
"Aww!! Tori is the cutest, most perfect little brother ever!" Illa bragged.
Grey tried to act nonchalant, but failed.
"Y-yeah, sure, Tori is a little cute… quite cute.. adorable, very adorable I'll say.." Grey spoke, trying to hide his blush.
Illa looked at him with a teasing grin while feeding me her affection.
"Not such a warrior now, are you?" She teased.
"T-that's not it! I swear!" He frantically dismissed any claims of being affected by my cuteness.
Being the favourite youngest sibling is so hard…
"You two create quite a commotion right in the morning." A mature, firm yet gentle voice spoke.
I looked up.
A woman with long white hair that seemed to glow blindingly bright in the sunlight of the early morning approached us three. Standing near us in a breathtaking blue dress that screamed nobility and royal-like status.
"Mom! Good morning!" Illa and Grey spoke in unison.
"G-Good morning, Mom!" I spoke in my cute, high pitched voice.
It was Mother.