《Assault The World》
Into The Storm
Pragmatism is a very valuable trait for one to have but when it is paired with the detached Gabriel August it is a very unnerving combination. Fitted with his young age of only nine years old and the strict militaristic way he was raised, the end result is the sharp tongued and cold child that is Gabriel August. Gabe, stood like a giant amongst his age group with a staggering 5¡¯3¡± compared to the average 4¡¯5¡± - 4¡¯9¡±. Due to his harsh training and education provided by his uncle Derrick and grandfather Seamus, Gabe had the muscles of a young adult and the reflexes to put one to shame. Despite seemingly being the epitome of male masculinity, Gabe was ostracized by his peers to the point where even his subtly handsome traits were marred with criticism.
Due to the August family lineage being responsible for guarding the southern border of the Thorns Empire, they have always produced excellent heirs. In the case of Seamus August, the current August family patriarch as well as Gabe¡¯s grandfather, he has commanded the 6000 mile stretch of border for the past 63 years. Taking up the mantle of Southern Protectorate from his father at the age of 45, he became the youngest to hold the post of Great General for any of the four Protectorates. Thus the family members held themselves with the utmost regard for their status and their responsibility. One can''t deny that some of the 300 year lineage would become arrogant because of their lofty prestige but it was always quelled with ease by the older generations. Although it was never needed with Gabe and his cousins, the old patriarch still ruled over them with an iron fist sparing none of them from the rigours of diligent training and academics, as well as a healthy dose of logistical theory and role play (Chinese Chess).
Thus since Gabe was first able to read and speak he had been put through the veritable gauntlet of studies the old man created for the young genius. Speaking coherently at age 2 and reading by 3, arithmetic followed at the age of 5. So to say that by the time he could fully control his body he had surpassed most 8 year olds in knowledge and comprehension. This all happened by the time he was 6 years old. For the remaining 3 years of his life his uncle Derrick would train him in the martial way, in the hopes of laying an impenetrable groundwork for his future.
Year of the Crow; 12978, Lupus Majora Cycle.
Just after sunrise on the twelfth day of the Lupus Majora Cycle, the rhythmic clash of steel roused the 12000 square foot single storey complex that housed the August family.
Two figures clashed with long broadswords in the middle of the training field, one short with the other being a near giant in comparison. Both donned tight fitting leather armour as they wielded their broadswords with incredible dexterity despite the sword¡¯s weight and length. Regardless of the smaller figure¡¯s speed or frightening strength it was at an impasse against the giant''s immovable defence. The two figures were Gabriel want his uncle Derrick going through their morning routine of sparring after a solid hour of weight training beforehand. Completely disregarding the strain and stress that the weight training put their bodies under, the duo would always spar with everything they had. Luckily the August family had an amazing healer to keep the duo from sustaining any hidden injuries in the form of Gabriel''s grandmother, Gwenyth Delmore August. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
Recovering from an intense clash that resulted in Gabriel being thrown ten feet away, the young boy landed deftly on the balls of his feet. Steadying himself with his free hand, he launched himself perpendicular to the ground straight towards his uncle. Seeming to have completely disregarded safety in his new assault, the boy slammed his palm against the flat ground a couple feet away from his stalwart uncle. An imperceptible ripple spread from the point of contact between Gabriel''s hand and the ground, though Derrick wouldn''t be able to see it that did not mean that that battle hardened veteran would not sense it. Ignoring the sneaking suspicion the older man had of what his nephew was doing, the man merely readied himself for what he thought was going to be a vicious attack.
With a powerful push, Gabriel propelled himself into the air and curled into a frontflip before swinging down his broadsword in a two handed slash towards his uncle''s head. But that wasn''t all that was happening in these microseconds, the ripple from before had in a strange sense spread to an area just about three meters wide before it dissipated into the ground. Within the time it took Gabriel to complete his spinning slash and his uncle to block it, the spell Gabriel used earlier had finally sparked into life as hundreds of earthen spikes pierced towards his uncle.
A snort was the only thing that happened, at least in Gabriel''s eyes, before his entire world went black. Instead of fear or shock at the odd situation only satisfaction covered Gabriel''s consciousness. He had finally pushed his uncle to the point where he used his essence to defend against an attack. A point that proved key to achieving victory over the veteran that was his uncle. Knowing full well that he had won his first duel against his uncle, Gabriel let unconsciousness take hold of him without any regrets.
¡°Fucking crazy ass brat. You probably taught him that spell eh?¡± The deep baritone voice of his uncle Derrick rang out as another of the August family walked into the training field.
¡°Nope, only gave him his father''s notes on mana manipulation before he went off into the fields to ¡®practice as he does¡± answered the newcomer, a petite platinum blonde wearing dark purple robes with silver accents. ¡°Haven''t you been slacking off, little brother? How could he have won so easily if not for your slackness?¡±
¡°Oi! Don''t accuse me of shite Anika, that little bastard also enhancedhis last strike with a weightspell as he began the slash. Either way he passes the test. A little upset though, the bastard was good at reminding me of somethings¡¡± Derrick spoke with light words for someone as crass as himself, even indulging in reminiscence about the three years of sparring he shared with his now unconscious nephew.
¡°Aw, is the big oaf feeling sad that it''s not his turn anymore?¡± Anika chided while she threw her nephew over to her giant of a brother.
¡°Oh shut it you old hag!¡± Came a roar from the ¡®big oaf¡¯ as he effortlessly hoisted his nephew over his shoulder, before chasing after his cackling elder sister.
No Rest For The Wicked
The complex that housed this great family could be called immense by normal standards but when paired with the sheer strength this single family possessed it was somewhat lacking. There was no fancy gold trimmings or jeweled accents throughout the entire property. Only obsidian, darkiron with the occasional bronze decorated the interior of the family¡¯s main hall. Obsidian was mainly there in honour of their founding ancestor, the Obsidian Behemoth, Leonel August. The darkiron for the late founder''s wife, Blacksteel Diva, Victoria Sommer. And bronze for its tenacity and usefulness in the rise of the family.
Sitting in the main hall was the rest of the August family. Patriarch Seamus and his wife Gwenyth sat at the head of the long table awaiting the late comers to arrive for breakfast. Along the left side of the table sat Seamus¡¯ youngest son and his family. The family of five sat in order of eldest to youngest, with Gregory sitting closest to his father followed by his wife, Qin Xin Er, then their twin boys Frederick and Wutian, lastly their daughter Yuyan. Along the right side of the table were places for Anika, Derrick though they came after the eldest son of the August family, Elijah and his daughter Amellia. And last but not least there was on spot remaining for the youngest member of the family, Gabriel.
With the trio arriving in a commotion the eyes of everyone locked onto the giant Derrick and the tiny Anika, only Seamus seemed to notice the unconscious Gabe draped over Derrick¡¯s shoulder.
¡°Sit down already Auntie and Uncle! Everyone is starving!¡± Whined Yuyan as she pouted cutely. Though her antics would be useless against her grandfather and father the rest of the family was not so resistant to the blossoming beauty.
Seamus cast a glance toward his left as he took note of how Yuyan and the others from that side of the table ignored Gabe¡¯s body that was blatantly displayed. Inwardly muttering to himself that the grudge between Gregory and Marcel, Gabe¡¯s father, had been carried over to the next generation. And the cause of it was sitting right next to Gregory. The old patriarch may be getting old in his years but his mind only became sharper as he slowly started stepping out of the military and into the intrigue of the ¡°nobilities".
Qin Xin Er, a daughter of the old Qin clan that took root in the Republic was never one to take any slight lying down. From the moment that she married into the August family she had taken it upon herself to become the future matriarch of the family. Too ambitious and too calculating was she for the vigorous morals that were the foundation for the age old family. She made sure that her children got as much as possible when it came to training resources and many times tried a little too hard to promote her husband over his brothers and sister towards her father-in-law.
¡°Oi lass did your mother never teach you manners? It''s not your place to tell me to sit before my own father, eh?¡± Derrick snapped unhappily as he too felt the way that Qin Xin Er had influenced her children. It wasn''t a big surprise between the adults of the family but the third generation still didn''t quite understand it.
¡°Your uncle is right, Yuyan, apologize.¡± Seamus spoke up as he felt the slightest flare of anger from his daughter-in-law.
The hesitation and unwillingness that etched itself across the pretty little face of Yuyan was blatant enough that even her father felt some shame. But eventually the spoiled brat had finally given in under the stares of the entire table. Mumbling a barely intelligent ¡®sorry uncle Derrick¡¯ she grumpily played with the long french braid that fell over her right shoulder.
Grunting in response Derrick brought his nephew to the resident healer, his mother. Laughing lightly, Gwenyth began to play her fingers across an invisible harp as soft ripples spread through the air and to her grandson.
¡°Just simple mana¡¡± the old matriarch began explaining only to catch herself as she realised what it was she was saying. Mana Overdraft. Something that only happens when you deplete your reserves of mana and push your physical state past it''s limit before recovering. Which should be impossible given that even the most talented human children usually take about twelve years to learn how to control the mana inside them. Yet Gabriel was obviously a lunar cycle away from his tenth birthday, none of it made sense to this Medical Saint!
¡°Mana what?¡± probed her husband as he reached for his grandson¡¯s wrist.
¡°Overdraft¡ Seven Hells Derrick what did you do to the boy! Why in bloody blazes is he this overworked?¡± Roared the still shocked Gwenyth as she showcased exactly where Derrick got his crass tongue.
¡°Nothing outside usual ma¡¯am! Only adhering to the training schedule that you approved last week!¡± Derrick snapped into full military salute in the face of his outraged mother. Before an idea hit the giant man child. ¡°Anika knows more about why he is in this condition than I ma¡¯am, ask her what''s going on.¡±
Anika visibly paled as she realised that she couldn''t get out of this one even if she ran like a bat out of hell. If her outraged mother didn''t catcher her, the dangerous glint in her eldest brother¡¯s eyes told her that he would. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
¡°A-ni-ka, you had better start talking!¡± snapped the momma bear as she constantly applied various different spells to Gabriel.
¡°He-he the thing is mom I really didn''t do anything towards nor taught him any spells yet as per the agreement. But I did lend him Marcel¡¯s old theory notes and some of my own, but only for for his prep work into magic. I genuinely had no idea he would create a perfect spell matrix for two different spells, one at the first circle and the other at second¡¡±
¡°Enough!¡± Bellowed Seamus as he instantly shut down the entire conversation. Hearing of his youngest grandson¡¯s talent did little to make him feel better at the moment. It only created another headache for the old patriarch. ¡®How do I optimize Gabriel''s growth without breaking him or letting that wench twist my family even more?¡¯
¡°Gwenyth take Gabriel to the infirmary, now. The rest of us shall eat breakfast before it gets cold, or has wasting food been something my family started doing?¡±
Gwenyth left in a hurry carrying her grandson to the infirmary not too far from the main hall. While silence blanketed the main hall, only the near rhythmic clangs of cutlery brought some sense of normalcy. After about a half hour of eating Ophellia, the daughter of Elijah August, asked to be excused from the table before she quietly left in search of her grandmother and little cousin. While the three children of Gregory were spoiled rotten by their mother, the other two members of this generation were completely different. Ophellia opting for a healing route in her studies as she pursued her grandmother''s title of Medical Saint. Whereas Gabriel fell into the same path as his grandfather had when the old man was young. Studying the different aspects of war daily gave Gabriel a very clear headed mentality, while the martial aspects of his training made his body near perfect for a young soldier.
¡°Grandma, what did you mean when you said little Gabe has Mana Exhaustion?¡± Ophellia asked directly as she found her grandmother running various tests on her cousin''s body.
Three different IVs were attached to Gabriel''s arms while a soft halo of mana carefully allowed his grandmother to inspect the internal state of his body.
Sighing gently Gwenyth only glanced at Ophellia before returning her focus towards Gabriel. It was an awkward situation when the old grandmother noticed that Ophellia didn''t necessarily care for her cousin, but rather wanted to know more of her own medical knowledge.
¡°Your cousin has utilized all the mana in his body while pushing his body to the limit.¡± Explained grandmother August as she ran over the data that she had been collecting from her grandson. ¡°As you know most humans only gain partial access to their mana around age twelve to fifteen. Gabe has done what should be impossible by using any mana and done the inconceivable by using all of the potential mana in his body.¡±
Ophellia felt a chill run down her back as she listened to her grandmother explain the situation. It seemed like her baby cousin is a true blue genius. Which would ruin her own plans for the future. Being the eldest of the younger generation held some advantages to her. Currently she was the only one to enter the second tier after only a year of being able to access mana at all. Now however her spot as number one was in question by this little cousin of hers.
¡°Will he be able to recover from this at all?¡± Ophellia asked while trying her best to hide the hope that it was impossible for him to recover at all.
¡°Pffft. Even if he was in a common household he would still be fine, with his body and foundations it wouldn''t be a problem even if he went into Overdraft everyday.¡± Snickered Gwenyth as she began changing the spell matrix that she used to examine Gabriel.
With impossible speed the entirety of the matrix began to change into something completely new. With subtle finger flicks that only appeared as a blur to the untrained eye, Gwenyth created an entirely new spell from the old one. One that would be able to speed Gabriel''s natural recovery by putting his body in a sensation of drowning. This subconscious feeling would make the body absorb any stray mana around it and kick start his passive refinement of said mana. Now it wasn''t that she was physically drowning him, a more apt description would be she was drowning his mind, so that his body would wake up and fix itself faster than normal.
A short couple of minutes later, Gabriel''s eyelids were already fluttering as his eyes moved erratically under them. In all, it only took five minutes before he was fully conscious and ready to get up. But grandma August had other plans. She kept his mind locked while she urged the body to repair itself completely before she allowed him to ¡°wake¡± up.
¡°Thank you, grandmother.¡± Gabriel quickly answered as he got up and into a bow before his loving grandmother. Upon noticing Ophellia behind her, he also spread his thanks to her lest he be considered rude. ¡°Thank you as well cousin for whatever help you gave.¡± Though as cordial and polite as he was it only made the feelings of Ophellia worse.
¡°It was nothing.¡± She said before leaving in a slight rush.
Shooting a glance towards his grandmother, who helplessly shrugged her shoulders with a shake of her head. Gabriel realised that he probably insulted his cousin, though that was something inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.
¡°Grandmother, I beat uncle Derrick in our sparring match this morning. Is it possible to move onto the next section of the training routine grandfather made?¡± Exhaled Gabriel as he shifted his thoughts onto something much more pertinent in his mind.
Giving her grandson a wry smile before she chided him gently, ¡°Gabe, even if you defeated your uncle you did it through a loophole. How is your uncle supposed to defend against a tier one spell without any kind of protection? No, you won''t be moving on yet. But you will be given access to some of the things your father let you instead.¡±
¡°Father?¡± Shock quickly covered the previous disappointment on Gabriel''s face, ¡®What could he have left that makes up for not being able to move farther along with training?¡¯ he thought.
What Would You Do?
Gabriel''s shock couldn''t be any more valid. When he was first able to think for himself he had always asked about his father and mother only to be told that he wasn''t ready to know about them. When he was six, his grandfather took him out to the desert for some reason that the him from back then could not understand.
¡°Child,¡± his grandfather began with a sombre voice that seemed to hold all the vicissitudes of time within it. ¡°Before you can even learn about your father you must first be able to defend yourself.¡± As the 103 year old Great General finished speaking, a huge tremor shook the whole area around the two.
And as if to answer the Great General''s words, a giant beast pierced through the sands and into the air before them. A beast so large that it seemed that it could squash the entire August estate just by laying down on it. Pale yellow scales covered the entirety of the giant beast while emerald green reptilian eyes glared at the old general. Six powerful limbs supported the giant lizard as it''s large serpentine body began to circle around the terrified Gabriel and the impassive Seamus.
¡°Child,¡± Seamus began once again. ¡°Fear is normal when faced with a being stronger than you. But what if this beast had the answer to where your mother and father are, what would you do?¡±
Gabriel could do little more the draw shaky breaths as the enormous pressure emitted by the giant lizard fell upon him.
¡°Would you fight or would you run?¡± Seamus said with gusto and strength as he waved his hand causing the unbearable pressure on Gabriel to dissipate. ¡°Answer me boy!¡±
Still short of breath, Gabriel gasped two words that moment. ¡°K-kill it!¡± And when though he was short of breath he still was forceful and full of determination.
¡°Good!¡± Seamus laughed as lifted his hand towards the giant lizard before them. ¡°You can learn about your parents when you can do this as well!¡±
With his outstretched hand aimed at the lizard he slowly began to clench his fingers to make a fist. Sensing a dangerous aura from the old man before it, the Sand Dragon began to thrash and writhe in agony. Five giant craters appeared in the pale scales of the Sand Dragon. No matter how it thrashed it made little difference under the magical grasp it was in.
Seamus snorted a lightly as his aura flared briefly before his hand closed into a fist at last. The result of his fist was a mangled corpse of a giant lesser dragon. Leaving little time for Gabriel to comprehend what he just witnessed, Seamus snapped his fingers and a bolt of yellow flashed from the corpse and into his hand. It was a large crystal about the size of a human torso, though Seamus held like it was nothing but a small pearl.
¡°This will be for you once you can wield mana like I did.¡± Chuckled the old man as he patted his grandson¡¯s shoulders and led him back to the August estate. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Coming back from the flashback of his sixth year, Gabriel smiled as he realised something important. If his grandfather could crush a lesser dragon like a bug, what could his father do? And if he could absorb the mana inside that Sand Dragon''s pearl, what would happen to his mana reserves? Then another thought came to mind, maybe father''s gift is just as good if not better than the pearl.
¡°Please help me grandmother, I want to see what father has left me!¡± Gabriel asked with a determination that had not resurfaced since his encounter with the lesser dragon.
A smile danced across the eyes of his grandmother as she ushered him back to the main hall to eat some food. Youth even in the most level headed child was irresistible. By the time the grandchild and grandparent duo arrived the servants were already finished clearing the table from breakfast. Thus the kitchen staff quickly whipped up a light meal for them.
After they finished eating, Gwenyth brought Gabriel to the office of his grandfather. Without any announcement she pushed open the twin doors of the office. Seamus sat with his head in what could only be called a mess of papers, at his desk.
¡°Oi! Ya old fart, give your grandson his father''s stuff already, you wouldn''t even let me see what that unfilial son of mine left behind.¡± Gwenyth demanded as she saw her husband working on what she deemed to be military or official nonsense.
¡°Aiyah, what did I ever do to be stuck with you after all these years?¡± Complained Seamus only to be answered with a sandal coming flying at his face. ¡°Gods be damned woman! I swear would it kill you to act your damn age?¡±
Even with the progress Gabriel made in his training, he still couldn''t figure out how his invincible grandfather suddenly became a feeble old man in the hands of his grandmother. He could see that his grandfather''s ears had been wrenched 180¡ã by his grandmother''s vice grip.
¡°Dearest husband why don''t you give little Gabriel what he deserves before we finish our little talk here?¡±
¡°Ow ow ow ow ow! Fine take it! It''s in the liquor room!¡± Howled the Great General of the Southern Protectorate.
¡°Thanks grandfather!¡± Gabriel yelled as he took off as fast as his body could take him. Tearing down the halls towards the place where his eldest uncle and grandfather spent the most time.
After Gabriel left, the mood in the office instantly became as heavy as mercury.
¡°You know his body is nearly at the second stage?¡± Gwenyth quietly asked.
¡°How would I know that It only took him three years to develop this much? Plus why are you still twisting my GOD DAMN EAR!¡± Roared Seamus as he suffered the excruciating pain of having his ear wrenched. Despite what many would like to think, even with Seamus¡¯ vast strength his wife was in no way inferior to him.
¡°Will what Marcel left be of any use to him at the rate he is growing?¡± Gwenyth asked as she ignored the later part of what Seamus said.
¡°I''ll be damned if it isn''t useful for him. There was enough in there to make me jealous.¡±
Gwenyth seemingly took solace in her husband''s words as she released him. Before Seamus could attempt to rub his ear, his wife had thrown herself into his arms. Feeling her shivers and hearing the muffled sobs coming from her, he sighed before holding her tightly.
¡°Marcel isn''t weak enough to be done in by those old monsters from little Lily¡¯s clan. And I''m sure she is fine even more so than him. Do you really think the son you raised would let his wife ever suffer a loss?¡± Consoled Seamus as he tried to comfort his wife.
Into The Box
Elsewhere in the giant estate Gabriel had just entered the great liquor room when he spotted his eldest uncle standing by a large chest. Elijah August was a man of few words and little machinations unlike his daughter.
Smiling gently to his nephew, Elijah hauled the large chest towards his nephew. Gabriel who assumed correctly the chest was what he was looking for, smiled happily.
Rarely did Gabriel need to speak words with this uncle of his. Maybe it was because of the fact that Marcel and Elijah were the closest of the August siblings. But Elijah paid extra attention to Gabriel especially when it came to his safety.
¡°Thanks a lot uncle Eli!¡± Gabriel laughed as he swept towards the large chest in his uncle''s hands. Surprisingly however Elijah shook his head and proceeded to lead Gaberiel towards an isolated part of the estate. A part that Gabriel had never been to. Though that could have been because of the numerous magical wards placed around it. Elijah held a token which granted the two passage through the gauntlet of arrays.
Gabriel held back all the questions that were popping up within his mind as he followed his stoic uncle. Ever since he could remember Elijah was the closest one to a father figure he could ask for. Despite rarely ever talking, Elijah¡¯s actions just spoke volumes of his own love towards Gabriel. A true bond had formed between the two that allowed Gabriel to trust in his uncle unconditionally.
After walking for about a minute past the gauntlet of arrays the pair came to a small courtyard with a great arch in the middle of it.
¡°Cut your finger.¡± Elijah spoke as he himself did the same after shifting the chest over his left shoulder. Finished biting into his finger, Elijah placed it on the right pillar of the arch. Following which he walked into the seemingly normal arch. What Gabriel was not expecting was the fact his uncle disappeared! Reacting quickly, he did the same as his uncle and rushed inside of the mystical archway.
A dimly lit room was what greeted Gabriel as his eyes adjusted to the change in environment rather quickly.
¡°Guess this is your second time here. You were actually born here.¡± Elijah spoke a surprising amount, ¡°this is also where your mother named you and your parents sealed you.¡±
Gabriel was too startled by the news that he had received at that moment to even catch what his uncle said last. But his own shock would not bring pause to Elijah¡¯s rare moment of speech.
¡°To open the chest, all that is needed is your blood and a little bit magic. Though seeing as you''re able to Overdraft it should be inconsequential to you. Here this is the spell matrix you''ll need.¡± Elijah then proceeded to demonstrate the intricacies of the spell needed for Gabriel to unlock the chest. After a couple minutes of practice the man of few words took his leave from the magically isolated room.
Countless thoughts ran through the young Gabriel''s mind as he began to unlock the chest with the blood ritual. Biting into his two thumbs he instantly tasted the iron of his blood. With half inch long incisions the blood began to pour out fast and without missing a beat, he began to form the matrix of the spell. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Using his blood as the mold and the spell as the metal, he forged a figurative key for the chest. And that it did as soon as the spell was complete and brought into contact with the chest. As soon as the chest was unlocked, a dark golden radiance burst from the depths of the chest as it swallowed Gabriel inside of it!
Outside the magical room stood Anika, Derrick, Gregory and the most recent addition of Elijah joining them. They all looked exceptionally serious as they let their auras run rampant and used everything in them to keep supplying the arrays with energy to contain whatever was locked inside of that chest. Each one of them felt the moment Gabriel unlocked the chest, they also felt the spatial distortion as it sucked Gabriel inside of it. But they could do nothing but guard the vault; the room which hosted Gabriel before he entered the chest, the spells their second brother could unleash were far beyond what they could do and even Seamus would be at a loss in front of such complex spatial and temporal magic.
Before Marcel August made a name for himself he had always been an extremely gifted arcanist, a creator of magic. He developed countless arrays, many of which were now being used to help keep the vault so secure. Among his many talents Marcel dealt the most with spatial manipulation before he began to dabble in other areas.
Gabriel on the other hand seemed much more like a typical August, warrior blood flowed especially strong within him. This fact was made all the more apparent in his declaration to Seamus on his sixth birthday.
While worry was present in the rest of the family the only one unaffected by all of these happenings would of course be Gabriel. Currently he was immersing in an overwhelming sense of comfort and warmth. And although he couldn''t see anything besides a blinding light, he was enveloped in what could only be described as a loving embrace.
No sound came from this warm light filled dimension. Not that any was needed for Gabriel to feel and understand what was happening. Maybe understanding is too much of a word for his current mind state. Because all the young Gabriel felt right now was the overwhelming and unadulterated love of his parents.
Magic is a strange thing, it fuels itself on mana but yet mana is within everything. Thus everything can be said to be magic, even emotions such as love. This single complex thought has never truly been proven by anyone in this entire world of Avalon. But right here in this locked dimension, there exists a magic that could express just that emotion. Love. A love Gabriel never knew growing up till now, something he once thought was not permitted to him. It¡¯s a completely different thing to be raised like a son to someone, than to be raised by your parents. The pain and hurt he felt every day he woke up without a loving mother''s warm embrace, without the strong back of a father to lean on. That pain was banished from the depths of his heart by this one endlessly complicated spell filled with all of his parents love and affection for him.
While this spell surrounded his conscience, Gabriel¡¯s body experienced subtle changes to his body that were gently administered without him being any wiser. His muscles were torn and then gently stitched back together repeatedly at a speed so fast that his mind couldn¡¯t even register it happening. His bone marrow was drained and then replaced by a golden ichor that gradually turned crimson as it filled out his bones. As his internal body was being remodeled; including all of his organs, his skin and nails where being shed at a terrifying rate. While completely logical seeing as how all the tissue underneath his skin was being refined and overhauled, if anyone could see Gabriel at the moment they would see a writhing hunk of flesh moving at incredible speeds. It took the span of a breath for each layer of skin and nail to be shed and have the fresh layer takes it place. It took eight entire breaths for completely new and freshly created skin to appear around Gabriel, skin that was made under the combined efforts of his entirely new body.
While the new Gabriel had no real idea on what had happened to him over those eight breaths of pure bliss for him, he knew that something miraculous had happened to him. His body was completely different yet not at all unfamiliar to him even though he technically had no real muscle memory of this body.
Lost In The Blood
Completely reborn, Gabriel felt more alive and for lack of a better word complete than he had ever felt growing up. Gone was the hole in his heart that his parents created when they left him in the August household. The spell that covered him in that sweet and intoxicating feeling of love proved how much his parents loved him and how much they wished to be with him. On the other hand whatever change occurred with his body was neglected in the face of that huge revelation.
The bloodline of his mother¡¯s lineage was thoroughly woken up by whatever spell was hidden beneath the overflowing love Gabriel felt from this locked dimension. Besides being a mystery, his maternal bloodline was really domineering as it forced his entire body to change to accommodate it. Having a low tier human bloodline wasn¡¯t the worst thing when you looked at the whole situation. Without the adaptability and flexibility of his human side, Gabriel would never have survived the whole ordeal of having his body restructured.
While he was still lost in the feeling of love, Gabriel felt something change in his mana. It was no longer as small and dismal as before but it was growing rapidly inside of himself. If his body was likened to barrel before he entered the chest, then now he was a dry and barren lake thirsting for water. And the chest dimension held an unbelievable amount of mana for his body to absorb.
¡®Might as well gather up all this mana that father and mother left in here¡¡¯ Gabriel thought as he proceeded to sit down and meditate like never before.
Drawing in every single iota of stray mana he could feel, Gabriel brought the mana through his acupoint and towards his meridians. Unlike normal his body seemed to not only not reject the ambient mana it seemed to lust for it like a ravenous beast. Creating a veritable vortex with himself as the epicentre he drew in as much as his acupoints and meridians could handle. Which was a terrifying amount compared to what he used to be able to handle.
Even drawing the excess mana in his body to his bones and organs for them to be forcibly refined by the powerful energy was doing little to help him cope with such a torrent of mana. While his initial change to his body was painless, this forced refinement brought about endless waves of pain that would put grown men to their knees. Yet the pain seemed to be nothing to Gabriel as he just reminisced about the love he felt seconds prior. This pain was deemed a necessary evil for him to connect with the ones who were capable of loving him the way that spell made him feel.
After his skeleton was finished refinement and his organs were almost complete, Gabriel finally broke through the hurdle known as the First Stage. Or what is better known as the Initiate Stage. The growth of a warrior in Avalon was solely depicted in their mana and the purity of said mana. While the first stage for a melee combatant like Gabriel would be the Initiate stage, it was further broken down into nine subrealms. Currently Gabriel was at the 1st realm of the Initiate Stage and he was not slowing down in his refinement of the ambient mana surrounding him, he possessed an unquenchable thirst for the pure mana and damn anything that stood between him and it. His body continuously absorbed the mana before further refining it into the flesh and tissue that made up his new and improved body. The 1st realm was nowhere near enough to satisfy his craving, and regardless of how many refinements he forced his body through it wasn¡¯t enough. So he hunkered down and proceeded to break through to the next realm, the 2nd. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
By using this brute force approach Gabriel was able to keep his solid foundations instead of risking himself to too little mana for too big a vessel. With every cycle the mana made through his body it was making that barren lake grow bit by bit, by destroying the edges of the lake just to push the ¡®water¡¯ further.
Hours passed by as this torturous ordeal took place but Gabriel was immune to the pain his body endured. His strength grew by leaps and bounds, his mana was at the most pure state after the thousands if not hundred thousands of refinement that he subjected it to. If before he entered the chest dimension he was capable of lifting 50kg, now he was sure he could lift at least six or seven times that.
As he gradually came out of his intense meditation he felt the folds of the chest dimension start to collapse in on themselves as there was no longer any mana left to support the sealed space. Lost and befuddled as he was, he knew that he shouldn¡¯t be in any danger considering how much thought and effort his parents put into making this whole thing. With calm and deep breaths he waited for the space to fall apart and with it grant him his freedom to return to the August residence.
Outside in that very residence stood four weary and exhausted individuals. Their mana and essence on the verge of collapse as they kept any leakage of energy from escaping into the world. It had been a solid sixteen hours since any of Gabriel¡¯s relatives rested with their silent vigil over the boy and the chest he was in and their task was almost complete as they too felt the tell tale signs of space tearing inside of the barrier they held together.
¡°Alright, home stretch boys. I bet he¡¯s reached at least the 2nd realm of Initiate¡ who¡¯s in for a little gamble?¡± Anika goaded her brothers as they each started to make wild guesses about the growth Gabriel experienced inside of the space his father made.
Derrick not being one to back down scoffed and placed his bet down: ¡°Hmph, I doubt it is anything that extreme. Though knowing Marcel it is likely a runic weapon that Gabe has been binding with.¡±
Surprisingly joining in was Elijah who dropped his own bombshell: ¡°Five lesser realms¡¡±
Last but not least Gregory added in his piece with something much more lowkey: ¡°It¡¯s definitely a spatial treasure giving Marcel¡¯s accomplishments. Either way we won¡¯t know till the boy is out, losers owe five kilos of mana stones to the winner?¡±
¡°Agreed¡± The rest of the siblings called out as they braced for the final collapse of the space inside their barrier.
Start From Scratch
It was just after dinner time when the four siblings finally saw Gabriel walking out of the vault and towards them with a bright smile on his face. As they watched him inquisitively they picked up on subtle but distinct changes in his entire demeanor. Gone was the ice in his ash grey eyes, replaced by something much more¡ intense¡ the only term they could think of to describe that piercing sensation they each got from those eyes of his. With his hair growing longer than the short buzzcut it had been in, it now touched his tailbone as it hung loosely in an almost feral style. While these changes were different they were not entirely unexpected given that each of the siblings had a profound impression of Gabriel¡¯s father Marcel and the extent of his prowess.
¡°Thank you uncles and auntie.¡± Gabriel greeted his uncles and aunt with cordiality that seemed somewhat unnatural for almost anyone else. But for him this was something they had already grown used to.
Ever since he first began to speak, no one had truly been allowed into his heart regardless of what they did to endear themselves to him. Cruel or heartless it may be it was how the boy coped with the loss of his parents. Shutting off his heart in the hopes to not feel anything at all, to save himself from the pain that ate away at him.
¡°Well kiddo what did your pops leave for you?¡± Crass as always Derrick disregarded everything to ask what the siblings really wanted to know. The thoughts on Gabriel¡¯s ¡®change¡¯ were almost completely forgotten.
¡°To be honest uncle I myself am not too sure. Besides feeling different and having troubles controlling my body, I don¡¯t recall being ¡®given¡¯ anything.¡± Slowly and somewhat confused Gabriel explained what happened when he entered the chest space, ¡°After that warmth left me, I sat down proceeded to meditate till all the ambient mana was gone. That¡¯s when the space started to collapse and I returned to the vault.¡±
Gregory spoke up after thinking about it for a couple seconds, ¡°Maybe it wasn¡¯t something you were given per say but shown. I myself also follow Mana Arts like your father, and I have heard of many theories relating to conveying emotion through spells. Never has anyone proven it or done too in depth of study relating to it, but if anyone would it definitely had to be Marcel.¡±
¡°Seems like my father is truly quite the character to do something like that,¡± Gabriel smiled a genuine smile as he thought of the effort his father must have put into making a spell just to tell him that he loves his son. ¡°Though it feels odd that I am having difficulties with my body seeing as I just got checked up by grandmother¡¡±
Derrick and Gregory shared a knowing look as they came to the conclusion that Anika or ELijah must have won the bet.
¡°Well we can just have you checked out again. It comes as a benefit to living with a Medical Saint like mother haha!¡± Anika cheered as she shot a sideways glance towards Elijah.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Back in the infirmary, a place that Gabriel was becoming more and more familiar with as the day went on, Elijah and the rest of siblings were unceremoniously thrown out before Gwenyth began her check up.
¡°Sheesh you know I¡¯d almost say that mom cares more for the pipsqueak then us¡¡± Derrick¡¯s deep voice grumbled as he rubbed his sore tailbone. Yet before he could even continue that sentence he was smashed in the face with a small fireball courtesy of Anika. Followed up with two punches from both Gregory and Elijah as they all stared daggers at their dense as rock brother.
Some things were really better left unsaid. Especially when their mother was still suffering from the pain of Marcel having to live a life on the run because of the August¡¯s apparent weakness.
While the hallway outside the infirmary soon descended into chaos as Derrick suffered a humiliating beat down from his elder siblings, inside the medical room was filled with a palpable amount of tension.
¡°You know they both love you right?¡±
¡°Of course I do grandma, if what uncle Gregory said is true then that is even more so after feeling exactly what that space held for me!¡± Exclaimed Gabriel in a rare bout of emotion.
¡°While I won¡¯t question anything else seeing as you understand that, there are somethings that I can tell you with just a look at you.¡± Gwenyth explained gently ¡°you should know that your mother is not a human like the rest of us and yourself by default is not entirely human either. This created a few issues during your time in utero.¡±
¡°You know that medicine isn¡¯t my speciality Grandma haha, just tell me the important stuff.¡±
¡°Alright, alright, alright. Anyways your parents dealt with any issue relating to your maternal bloodline by sealing and pacifying it. Little Lily, your mother, comes from a very powerful clan of beings that live on the other side of the world. Before you ask, I am not telling you what kind of race they are, all you have to know is it is a double-edged sword to be related to them.¡±
Gabriel nodded mutely as he took in the information one sentence at a time and processed everything into his compartmentalised brain.
¡°While you get some amazing increases related to your physical quality it also dampens your mana related gifts. That race passively uses mana to make themselves stronger than even the oldest of draconians can however it is at the cost of being able to use mana externally. So your little spell from this morning? Not happening again if what should happen does, now that that bloodline has been activated.¡±
¡°So I no longer have a chance at following father¡¯s path as an arcanist?¡± Questioned Gabriel intensely.
¡°Child you really don¡¯t but you should retain your exceptional control of mana, albeit internally.¡± Dispirited and forlorn Gabriel grudgingly continued to listen to his grandmother. ¡°Maybe following the path of the arcane warriors of old is an option though finding a teacher will be difficult if not impossible even with our connections.¡±
As this world shaking conversation happened, on the opposite side of the residence the rest of the young generation of the August family gathered. Yuyan sat with her brothers on either side of her, Frederick on the right and Wutian on her left. Before the trio stood Amellia who was quietly discussing something with her cousins.
¡°I told you everything I know so tell me where you all will stand¡¡±
What Is Family?
Sitting around the animated Amellia were the three children of Gregory August and Qin Xin Er. They each tried to digest the shocking news that their cousin had just given them, while Frederick was the most indifferent he was surprisingly serious after listening to all of what Amellia had to say.
¡°Even if we try and remove him from going to the academy how will that stop him from growing at the rate he is? He got to where he is with sheer effort as you all know that the old man wouldn¡¯t allow him to be taking elixirs of any kind to boost his strength. Talent, real talent isn¡¯t something that can stifled because you are threatened by it Amellia.¡± Frederick¡¯s words dropped a bucket full of cold water onto his siblings and cousin.
Each of them sat and pondered over what he had said. While it was true that they all felt threatened by Gabriel¡¯s talent and speed of his growth, it still wasn¡¯t to the point where it would seriously change anything. Maybe it was lucky for Gabriel that his cousins had no clue about his sudden transformation, only time would tell.
Finally after a few minutes of silence it was Wutian who spoke up with relative ease.
¡°Whatever we try and do it will not stop Gabriel from growing up. Regardless of how threatening he is to our positions at the top of the younger generation it will still take him a few years to catch up to you, Amellia and brother Frederick. That being said I find it really sad that we have to resort to dirty tricks against one of our own like this.¡± Having said his piece Wutian got up and left the room without another word. The rest of them felt a pang go off in their hearts as they thought things through a little deeper.
Yes, Gabriel is incredibly talented but that was purely in martial aspects. He was silent throughout all of their military training and showed no skill in the logistic aspect of things either. Both things being incredibly important for the position that each of them wanted, Great General of the Southern Protectorate.
Yes, Gabriel was talented in academics but he had absolutely horrendous interpersonal skills. Another crucial aspect of greater nobility that even a military officer had to be proficient in.
Though the true issue of the matter was the greed each of them faced at the moment. While they all had some idea of Gabriel¡¯s non human heritage they never were told what kind of being his mother really was. They had all met aunt Lily and she seemed about as human as the others if not for her absurd physical strength that even Elijah August could do nothing against. She was a beautiful woman with long raven black hair just like her son, though that black hair stood out from the August blonde that they all had. Even Qin Xin Er had a rich auburn hair colour that wasn¡¯t passed on to her kids. But the deep abyssal black that Gabriel and his mother had made them stand out too much in the August family.
It might seem odd that one¡¯s hair colour can determine how much they are ostracised but it is something that people have to deal with all the time.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
¡°I refuse to allow a half breed like him to tarnish our family name!¡± Amellia finally shouted after the room began to settle after Wutian¡¯s comment. ¡°We are the August Clan! We are human and damn proud of it! It doesn¡¯t matter if it is against the various demon tribes that plague the Xan Desert, we have never faltered! So fuck Gabriel and his nonhuman heritage, we don¡¯t need them to prove how powerful we are!¡±
With her words said, Amellia left the startled brother and sister dumbfounded as they thought about her words. Amellia hadn¡¯t lied in any way. The August family was strictly responsible for keeping the Empire¡¯s southern border safe from any demon incursions. And they had for the last 300 years of the clan, they never needed to request help from any of the other Protectorates or even the capital.
As they watched Amellia storm out of the room, Yuyan and Frederick turned to look at each other.
¡°So big brother, what do we do?¡± Surprisingly differing to her brother at the most bewildering of times, Yuyan sought his stance on the matter.
¡°Wutian is right, it is pathetic for us to start infighting just because of little Gabe¡¯s talent¡¡±
¡°Buuuuuut?¡±
¡°Amellia has a very valid point however. We are a human clan and it is improper for any of mixed blood to represent it. I don¡¯t for one second agree with how aggressive she is about it but it is still something that needs our attention.¡± Frederick explained gently to his sister.
¡°Well we can always just talk to Gabe, right? He is cold but not an idiot. Just tell him our circumstances and maybe he might even deal with the issue himself.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a possibility but there is a better way¡¡±
¡°What''s that big bro?¡± Yuyan became increasingly interested in what he brother had planned. Frederick might be an introvert but he was definitely not afraid of people, if anything he just despised most others for their lacking intelligence.
¡°Gabe only cares about strength right? Let¡¯s send him to the best place for that!¡±
Walking out of the infirmary left Gabriel feeling out of sorts but not entirely lost. Sure he had gained a tremendous amount of strength but it felt that he had also lost something irreplaceable. Doesn¡¯t every child wish to follow in the footsteps of their father? Just because of his cold demeanor and lack of any social graces did nothing to dissuade the boy from wanting to be an incredibly arcanist just like his father. So what if was also a warrior, Gabriel was hellbent on making himself one of the few dual specialized beings in the world. Normally only those extremely long lived races could manage something like that given that they had decades and decades to perfect both aspects of themselves.
Heading towards his room in silence Gabriel did nothing to talk to whoever might have passed be them maids or even other family members. He was in a complete daze and nothing could snap him out of it.
From a distance Elijah looked on worried about his nephew but doing nothing to try and aid the child in what he was going through. It would only hamper the boy if someone always had to help him through his troubles. Sighing heavily Elijah left the boy to his own devices after watching him enter his room.
¡°How is he?¡± asked a whisper from behind the stalwart guardian of the family.
¡°How is he supposed to be after getting his dreams crushed?¡± Snapped Elijah without caring for the other party¡¯s face at all. ¡°What was the result mother came to?¡±
¡°Initiate, Sixth Realm¡¡± Answered the person behind Elijah with a sigh.
¡°Well that makes me the winner, but it seems you have more to say.¡±
¡°His physical quality however seems to be bordering along the edge of Squire though. Seems his body has been remodeled after ¡®that¡¯ bloodline was unsealed.¡± Stated Gregory as he came forward to stand with his elder brother. ¡°Also it seems our children are not as accepting as we are of the little one¡¯s heritage. Your daughter in particular is extremely vehement about the fact that the little one cannot represent our family in the Academy.¡±
Snorting Elijah walked off in search of whomever was going to receive the brunt of his growing ire.
¡°Elder brother¡¡± Murmured Gregory as he looked at the lonely and desolate back of his childhood hero and goal in life.
Learning Curve
A few days of relentlessly training the soldiers of the Protectorate left Elijah feeling a bit better from what he was prior. With the anger that was overflowing taken out on the poor soldiers under his command, he was no longer suffering from a troubled mind.
¡®Why is she so headstrong about humans¡¡¯
Thinking back to everything that happened in his young daughters 17 years of life the only thing that could possibly relate to that is how her mother passed away. The event had shaken both father and daughter but a young girl of only 5 years old would obviously take the trauma at a much higher degree.
¡®Doesn¡¯t she know that just because of one tribe¡¯s actions that she can¡¯t blame any who are not human? Hell most conflicts are between humans anyways.¡¯
The reality of it though was something completely different. While Elijah turned to his family and his work, what little Amellia turned to was religion. And the only human religion that stuck out to her was that of the so called Holy Church of Light. A human supremacy group that controlled the other two human countries from the shadows.
Humans as a race are significantly weaker than their contemporaries. Lacking any innate talents or skills, humans only had their insane reproductive rate going for them which was also a huge burden as well.
While other races have strong innate bodies or greater aptitude for mana, there has always been a disconnect between humans and them. The human race has always felt oppressed for lack of a better word. Taking up only a small percentage of the world¡¯s habitable lands even with their superior numbers, they felt cramped and constrained by the other races that surrounded them.
Many races such as the elves and dwarves even preferred having to deal with the volatile demonkin then the humans. This was mostly due to the humans themselves but one cannot always see when they are the issue or cause of an issue. Demons won¡¯t lie or break treaties so while they are overtly destructive it was just in their nature, something which the demonkin accepted wholeheartedly.
¡°Daddy!¡±
¡®Oh god¡ Here we go again¡¡¯ Bitter thoughts started to take hold of his mind yet again as he heard the voice of his daughter calling out to him as he returned from training. ¡°Amellia.¡±
¡°Dad, why won¡¯t you accept my proposal? It is completely justified and even a positive for our family!¡± The fire in her eyes startled Elijah and reminded him of the anger that he felt when he watched his wife die.
¡°Because it is idiotic and a complete disgrace to the August name. I did not think you would be so adamant about something so disgusting, Amellia I am really disappointed in you!¡± The timber and force in his voice became down right threatening to the teenage Amellia. ¡°He is your cousin! Your own flesh and blood! You don¡¯t even know what race your own aunt is yet you are willing to throw away everything she did for you when you were little! I am done with your nonsense and if I hear any talk of it again, you will be removed from this family!¡±
Storming off in a whole new pique of rage Elijah August stomped his way straight into the Xan and started looking for something that could relieve some of his anger. Be it beast, demon or some other monster he did not care.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Gabriel sat amidst his grandmother¡¯s garden as he meditated and tried to clear his mind of all the things plaguing him. The actions of the rest of his family had faded from his perception entirely. He no longer tried to be civil with them nor did he show any undue affection to them either. It was like he had become a single moth in the midst of countless butterflies.
He kept to himself to the point where he only ate when food was brought to him. Seamus was angered to the heavens at his grandson¡¯s recent behaviour but the rest of the family sympathized with the pain the boy was experiencing. Left with no recourse, the old patriarch sent Gabriel some food via a maid whenever the family ate.
¡®The mana is still coming towards me but my skin won¡¯t let it escape once it enters.¡¯
Constant thoughts swirled around little gabriel¡¯s head as he tried to find solutions for his current conundrum. Just how in hell was he supposed to bring the powerful mana surging beneath his skin out to affect the physical world around him.
The words of his grandmother sounded out within his mind as he once again thought of the profession that could do something about his predicament. Arcane Warrior. An apt name for the group that he had recently began to research with a nigh obsessive amount of zeal.
What he found was disconcerting to say the very least. The arcane warriors as a group were collectively known for one thing, wonton acts of slaughter. The warriors would enter into any battle that challenged their beliefs and ideals, this lead to them being seen as more of an Order then anything else. Similar to the Knights Templar or the Shaolin, The arcane warriors stood aloof from political affairs on paper. But in reality their shadow extended extremely far in many different history books.
While the history of the group was sketchy to say the least, their style and methods however were truly something to behold. Capable of completely disregarding the majority of magics, the warriors gained the moniker of mage-killers. This was only the tip of the iceberg in Gabriel¡¯s research. He found that records stated that each warrior would be in possession of countless tattoos that seemed to be the source of their monstrous power. With nothing to say otherwise the boy started making connections between all the available information he had.
Arcane warriors had everything going for them: speed, strength, skill, even the ability to cast magic was within their grasp. Albeit there was no mention of them casting any high tier magic, it would be next to impossible for them to achieve some of their ¡°outrageous feats¡± without spells. Even the strongest warrior in recorded history wouldn¡¯t be able to just rend mountains and split the seas. There had to be some way in which the arcane warriors used spells internally or in extremely small scales.
Now all the boy had to do was find out how. Was the key in further refinement of mana? Was it in the power of the physical body that had been boosted with mana? Could their strange tattoos be the key or was it something else entirely?
¡®Might as well try using enchantments on my body, it was easy to guide the mana into a sword. So changing the medium for the matrix shouldn¡¯t affect the end product¡¡¯
With a goal finally in mind, Gabriel braced himself for any possible issues that might arise. Trying out new magic never went without some accidents happening just because he was a genius didn¡¯t make him immune to this.
Bringing the loose mana within his body he began to form the spell matrix that he was most familiar with: the weight enchantment. Something that took him days of self study to understand after he saw it in his father¡¯s notes.
Instead of inputting the weapon to be enchanted, he set the parameters to alter the weight of his left hand. At first glance the spell matrix accepted the new input information all that was left was the completion of the matrix and the activation of the spell.
With all signs coming back positive Gabriel brought the mana he had been gathering into the completed matrix, triggering the spell to activate. The result: a sudden increase in weight of his left hand!
However the problems started popping up instantly not giving him any time to enjoy his success. His hand had indeed gained ¡°weight¡± but that was it. Suddenly doubling the weight of one single point of any structure would lead to serious problems, the body was no different even Gabriel¡¯s improved one was not exempt from the laws of physics.