As far as I remember, this world is based on two types of mana: darkness and light, with darkness being the most common. From what I had read in the novel, all Shisui possess darkness mana — which probably applies to me as well.
"Arven!! You have a visitor!!"
Her sharp voice echoed throughout the house.
'My mother of this world really yells loud. So the boy in this body is named Arven? Better than expected. But I don't remember any visitor… actually, the memories of this body just disappeared!!'
After hearing my current mother's shout, I opened my bedroom door and went down the stairs. What truly surprised me was the figure of a woman not much shorter than me — maybe around 1.70 meters tall. Long, straight hair the color of cherry blossoms, and large ears poking through her silky strands. Her skin was pale like porcelain. She was really beautiful.
'Who the hell is she?'
Her beauty froze me. I stood a step above the floor, staring at her figure.
"What's wrong with you? You're acting strange today. Don't tell me you forgot what I told you yesterday? By the gods… I'm sorry, Miss Emma, I truly apologize for my irresponsible son."
"Don't worry, I come willingly. I owe your clan a debt of gratitude and will help as much as I can. Is this the boy who said he would go to the academy?"
The woman scanned me from head to toe. Her pink eyes paused on mine, analyzing me, and her indifferent expression made me tense.
"He has potential… Will he be a diamond like his sister? Only time will tell, but I can feel how dense his mana is. Maybe he's already level D… though I won't know for sure until I touch his soul."
Her words struck me like lightning.
'I have a sister?'
At the start of the novel, it was said that all living beings were born with this "mana," the essence of their soul. Yet, only two types of mana exist: light and darkness, with darkness being predominant. The novel also mentioned that our souls could materialize into objects, like combat weapons. That idea would have seemed absurd in my old world, but here?
'I wonder what my soul looks like…'
"Why do you keep staring at me like a ghost? Come outside so I can test you."
With that, the woman simply turned toward the door and walked outside. I followed closely. Once outside, she sat on the grass in front of me and crossed her legs.
"Sit."
Her eyes studied me, her tone sharp yet calm at the same time.
'Who is this woman?'
I stepped closer and asked,
"I know I might seem rude, but… who are you?"
Emma sighed deeply and said,
"Emma Abraham, vice-principal of Eldara Academy and one of its founders. And obviously a busy person. Please, sit and let me touch your torso."
'Emma Abraham? The novel mentioned the director a lot, but the vice-principal was a mystery.'
The novel said Emma participated in the fall of the empire and had fought in the war against the Hunter Association, which had abandoned its primary duty: protecting the world.
'How old is this woman? She looks so young…'
As I sat down, I noticed her eyes following me. We were face to face, and her hands reached out to my chest. The moment they touched me, I felt a warmth entering my body.
'This sensation is comforting…'
I was almost thinking about falling asleep, but it didn't last long before she spoke again.
"Your constitution isn't bad, and the core of your mana… I can say it's level D or slightly lower."
'Is that good?'
According to the novel, most freshmen at the academy had levels between F and E, but some exceptional ones reached D at age fifteen.
Emma's lips moved again.
"Now, summon your soul."
"Excuse me… can you teach me how?"
'Ahhhh… sorry, I have neither memory nor experience from the previous owner; I have no idea.'
Emma looked at me, incredulous. I could clearly see her frown.
"Did your parents at least train you in the basics? How is it possible that you're that girl's brother?"
She grabbed my hands firmly and said,
"You need to feel your inner mana. For all of us, it's as natural as breathing. Some even say a word to emphasize the action. To me it's a bit childish, but it might work for you."
"It's not possible that I can say something like 'come' and it will actually work."
To my astonishment, it really worked. My expression remained a blank poker face.
'I was just enjoying the moment… but how is this possible?'
Emma now wore a big smile; moments ago, she had been so serious, but now she seemed like a completely different person.
"I told you, didn't I say it would work?"
'You said?'
A large, single-edged blade, as dark as the pitch-black night sky, hovered in my hands.
'I really didn't think it would work… but thank goodness it did.'
Emma touched the blade in my hands, closed her eyes for a few minutes, and said,
"This confirms it. Your mana level is D. Congratulations. But you will still need to take the entrance exam. I hope you studied — it can be really tough. And there's one thing I must warn you, just as I told your sister: you will have to hide your eyes."
I had been excited just moments ago, until Emma said those words. Filled with concern, I immediately asked,
"What's wrong with my eyes?"
Emma's expression hardened, and her voice became sharp as before.
"If anyone discovers remnants of your clan, it will cause widespread chaos. In the last great war, when the empire was dissolved and replaced by the Council of Great Clans, the Queen of the Shisui — Nora, Third of Her Name — dissolved your clan's empire on the continent of Ynadril and literally left the last survivors to their own fate."
I made sure to memorize her words. From what I had read in the novel, it only mentioned that the clan was extinct, but knowing there could be others really made me wonder.
'Where did they all go?'
Emma continued,
"This island, in a way, belongs to me. It's isolated from everyone, among a cluster of islands called the Southern Isles. After everything, it's the least I could do for you."
"What do you mean?"
"I was married to one of the heroes of your clan in the past. I even had children. His name was Zenoir. There's a statue of him on Zero Island, where the academy is located."
'Zenoir was briefly mentioned in the novel, as the last adventurer of the hunters at that time, but that must have been around 800 years ago.'
I was intrigued by the information. Judging by her youthful appearance, I would have guessed she was around twenty. But Emma continued:
"It was many years ago. Even being a half-elf, I haven't reached half of my expected lifespan. Anyway… you must train blindfolded. I will need you to enroll as a commoner, just like your sister. If she can do it, you can too, right?"
I had been in this new world for only a few hours, and I was already being thrown into the plot. They had thrown me into this world without a purpose, not even a god appeared for me.
Then I'll live as I see fit — to hell with the future, or whoever is in it. But I truly want to save that girl from her miserable fate. The protagonist doesn't deserve her.
'I will save you… wait for me.'