Siegfried Fors
"Now this is problematic." The words left my mouth with a sigh as I looked at the broken wand in my hand.
"That's the fourth one in a row..." James said, holding the other three snapped remains like they were trophies of failure.
I frowned at the pieces. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. I had come out to the training field first thing in the morning to try a simple force spell, nothing elaborate, but I hadn't expected this. Before, my wands could survive at least three or four casts before giving way. Now they cracked in the middle of the very first spell, as if they couldn't bear the weight of my mana anymore.
James tilted his head, looking at me with worry. "Sieg, what will you do?"
"I guess... we go ask Granny," I said, slipping the broken wands into my pouch. There was no point in pretending I could figure this out alone.
We were about to leave when a few soldiers walked toward us, their steps careful, as though afraid of overstepping.
"Young lord..." one of them called out.
I straightened a little. "What is it?"
The man's gaze flickered, and with a respectful bow, he asked, "Forgive our intrusion, but we wished to inquire—may we confirm if it is true that Lord Erik has returned?"
My heart skipped for a moment. So the whispers had already reached them. Granny's warning from early morning rang clearly in my head: Do not say a word to anyone, not yet.
I lowered my eyes, trying to look as harmless and innocent as possible. "I am not sure. I didn't see anyone," I said softly.
The soldiers exchanged brief glances, then bowed deeply. "We understand. Please forgive us if we appeared discourteous."
With that, they turned and left, their armor clinking faintly as their figures retreated.
I let out a small breath I hadn't realized I was holding and turned to James. "Let's go."
He nodded, and together we made our way back into the mansion, the quiet corridors leading us toward the study where Granny and the others would surely be.
I knocked lightly at the door.
"Come in," Mother's voice called from inside.
The door opened on its own, Silas standing there with his usual composed expression. My eyes moved past him to see Granny seated in the high chair, Grandpa standing close by, and Mother lounging on the sofa with her arms crossed. The air was thick, serious in a way that made me hesitate at the threshold.
"Are you busy? Should we come later?" I asked carefully, feeling the weight of their silence.
"Nah, come here, you two," Mother said, gesturing beside her.
I glanced at Granny. She gave me a small nod, so I stepped forward and settled beside Mother, while James shuffled to the single sofa across from us.
Curiosity tugged at me. "May I ask what you are discussing?"
"Don't know," Mother replied with a shrug. Her eyes slid toward Granny. "I just got here myself."
Granny's gaze shifted to us. "Remember the cart you two found? The one where the fatty was?"
The gruesome image surfaced in my mind and...
Seriously, are we naming the bird Fatty?
"It belonged to Aurich, didn't it?" Mother asked.
Granny nodded once.
"We received a reply from them yesterday," she said, her tone measured. "With everything going on, I hadn't had a chance to bring it up. As we expected, they will be sending an investigation unit. Judging from the tone of the letter, they intend to lay blame on us, on our supposed lack of security along the roads. And now, we don't even have a magic beast to use as cause."
Her words sank into me. She was right. The 'beast' had turned out to be Uncle Erik. There was no body to show them and no easy excuse. Caravans being attacked wasn't unheard of, but Aurich would not let it pass so lightly.
"But didn't you say it should be fine, as long as we cooperate with the investigation?" Grandpa asked, scratching his head, his brows knit in thought.
Granny's gaze hardened. "That was before. The problem is, the supposed magic beast turned out to be our son. If they find out the truth, they will pin everything on us."
"But Erik had no control," Grandpa said quickly.
Granny shook her head faintly. "I don't think it will matter to them." Her voice held a tired finality.
The room fell quiet again. Even James shifted uncomfortably on his seat, as if the weight of it pressed on him too.
"You don't need to worry, I have Aurich handled." Mother said it casually, as though the matter was already decided.
Granny pressed her fingers to her temple and sighed. "Valka... they are one of the three biggest corporations in the west. We cannot strong-arm them."
"That's not what I was planning to do," Mother answered lightly. "All we need to do is tell Aurich the beast is dealt with, and everything will go smoothly."
"There is no way Aurich will let it go so easily."
"But that is what the head of Aurich said to me," Mother replied.
"Huh?" Granny's eyes widened in surprise.
"You met with the Head of Aurich?" Grandpa asked.
Mother nodded. "He was also at the funeral. He approached me after it ended. He was speaking about an investigation unit, about getting to the bottom of things. Quite arrogant, really. Before I could answer, Edmund cut into the conversation—"
"Wait. Edmund, as in Duke Edmund Montclair?" Granny asked, her voice sharp with surprise.
"Right. After that, Rowan also joined us. Then Soraya came along—"
"The second queen too!?" Granny shot up from her chair, her eyes nearly popping.
It was hard to believe she knew one of the Queens. She really knows some big names. For me, the only name I recognized was Rowan Merlinus, the Prime Minister. From what I remembered, his daughter was called the 'Greatest Genius of the Century,' and she had awakened even before I did.
Mother continued as if it were nothing. "Then Edmund and Rowan took the Head of Aurich to the corner. When they returned, his face was pale, as if the life had been squeezed out of him. He muttered something about sending a letter, telling them what happened, and returning the goods. I told him I would keep the bird. He looked ready to protest, but Rowan cut him down with a smile, saying, 'It is understandable, seeing how much work Fors Barony is willing to put in for you.' At that, the man simply nodded and left. So, I really don't think we need to worry about Aurich anymore."
The room fell into silence. Nobody said a word. I couldn't blame them. The poor guy got threatened by a Duke, a Prime Minister, and a Queen. Mother has friends—terrifying friends.
"Uh, so..." Granny finally asked, her voice carrying a weight of careful thought. "If we just send a letter along with the other goods we recovered, this whole mess will be over."
"That's right," Mother answered without hesitation.
"Guess that's one problem out of the way," Grandpa said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Looks that way." Granny gave a slow nod. "I will prepare the letter later."
I tilted my head. "Is there another problem?"
Granny's gaze turned serious. "Yes. A major one. We need to decide what to tell the people of the barony about Erik's return."
I frowned. "Is that something we need to bother with?"
"Yes," Granny replied firmly. "They are people of the barony who also lost their children eleven years ago. But our returned. We must choose carefully how to break it to them."
"Can't we just tell them the truth?" James asked.
Granny shook her head. "We cannot, James. You heard what was said about Aurich, didn't you? If the truth spread and reached them, they would have grounds to turn it against us."
"O-okay..." James lowered his head, shoulders sagging.
I could see what Granny meant. It never took long for people to twist a story into something it wasn't. If the people in barony started thinking Uncle was alive but had been hidden by Granny and Grandpa somewhere far away, enjoying his life, they might end up holding a grudge against my grandparents.
As tangled as the problem seemed, the solution was simple enough.
"So how about we tell a half-truth?" I suggested.
Mother tilted her head, eyes curious. "Half-truth?"
I nodded, straightening. "Yes. Let's spin the story like this: Eleven years ago, Uncle Erik fell into the Time Dungeon while fighting the 'armored magic beast.' Both of them traveled through time and reached here, and the 'armored magic beast' came out first and started killing..." I paused dramatically, holding the room's attention. I continued, my voice gaining flair, "But Uncle didn't give up. He climbed out of the Time Dungeon and joined us in battle last night, killing the beast and ending the struggle from eleven years ago." I spread my arms and finished with a flourish.
"OOOOOHHHH! That sounds so cool!" Mother exclaimed, clapping her hands with sparkling eyes.
I crossed my arms with pride. "I know, right?" My eyes flicked toward Granny and Grandpa, waiting for their verdict.
Granny pressed her lips together. "Well... leaving aside how he put it, we can use this story."
Grandpa's expression remained troubled. "But is lying the right thing to do?"
I know Grandpa is a good person, but everyone lies in daily life, especially if you are trying to navigate through corporate life, where it is common to twist the truth. Memories from a previous life invaded my mind, but I shook my head, throwing the recollections aside.
Granny closed her eyes, as if weighing every angle in her mind. Silence stretched before she finally opened them again.
"...Silas, what do you think?" she asked.
Including me, everyone's eyes moved to Silas, who had stood silently near the door until now. He was someone deeply involved in this matter, both professionally and personally. I wondered what his answer would be.
"I am of the opinion that we should adhere to the young lord's story. It would provide a reassuring conclusion for the people of the Barony and prevent the truth from reaching Aurich." Silas said directly, his face calm.
"Are you certain of this?" Grandpa asked, his tone heavy.
Silas drew in a slow breath. "My lord, if you are asking for my personal opinion... then I must say this. Lord Erik has already avenged my son. And Alan would never wish for harm to befall the Barony on his account. I beg you, do not question my son's loyalty." His voice trembled slightly at the end, weighed with sorrow and pride both.
"Silas..." Grandpa said, his eyes softening.
I looked at him quietly. Silas wasn't just loyal. He was the kind of man who stood firm no matter the pain he carried. In my old world, people like that were rare, almost impossible to find.
And I was glad. Glad that someone like him stood beside Grandpa.
"Then... we should spread the story to the barony," Mother said with certainty.
"How should we proceed to do it?" Granny asked, her tone careful as if weighing every possible misstep.
"Hmm. I believe we should let the three knights and Silas spread it among the soldiers. Since they were at the scene, the tale will naturally ripple out. Soon enough, the whole barony will know."
That sounded right. People loved to gossip, it was faster than any rider and harder to stop than wildfire.
"Are those three still at the church?" Grandpa asked.
"Yes, they are resting in the church's patient ward," Silas answered promptly.
"Then, Silas, can I leave it to you to pass on the message?" Granny said.
"Yes, my lady." He bowed deeply, then turned and left the room without another word.
The door closed behind him, and Granny slumped into her chair, shoulders loosening at last. "That should deal with all the annoying things."
I glanced around the room before asking the question that had been on my mind since entering the room. "By the way, where is Uncle Erik?"
Grandpa's gaze softened, his deep voice carrying a trace of warmth. "He is still sleeping. I think all the exhaustion finally caught up to him."
So that was it. I leaned back slightly, letting the thought settle. Being bound to a strange weapon for two years... It couldn't have been easy.
"So why did you two come here? I believe Ma didn't call for you two?" Mother asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
Ah, right. In all this talk about Aurich and Uncle Erik, I had completely forgotten why we were actually here.
"Actually..." I reached into my pouch and pulled out the broken wands, laying them on the table. Then I explained everything that happened at the training field.
"So the wands don't even last one time?" Grandpa picked up one of the splintered pieces, turning it over in his large hand.
"It's not like he can always rely on practice wands," Mother said, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"So, we need to get a wand and an eyepatch," Granny said, her gaze settling on me. "Are you seeing things again? Those colorful silhouettes you mentioned before?"
I placed a hand on my eyepatch. "Not now, but at that time, I was enhancing my whole body with mana, including my vision... If I try again..." I looked at Granny for approval, but she shook her head firmly.
"No need. Valka, Can you get a new eyepatch?"
Mother folded her arms. "Not sure. It was made by The Sage because he knew the situation. But he went into exile six years ago... I don't know where he is now."
The Sage? That's a cool title.
"That's problematic," Granny murmured, rubbing her forehead as if the thought alone weighed on her.
Truthfully, I wanted to ask why it was problematic. For two years, I've avoided asking questions like this. I didn't want to put them in a position where they'd have to lie just to protect me. Especially Grandpa. He's too kind for that.
"Um..." James raised his hand timidly. "Why is it problematic?"
Oh, James to the rescue. Never thought the day would come when you'd actually be useful.
"S-Sieg's eye is different from others, but it's not a bad thing. I-I have read about it before. They are called Mysteral Eyes, right?" James let out, looking down. I stifled the urge to applaud him.
"That's..." Grandpa's voice trailed off as he looked to Granny for help.
Mother sighed. "Let's tell him the reason. It's no longer possible to hide it." Her eyes met Granny's, and something silent passed between them.
Granny nodded. "You're right." Then she turned to James. "You are correct, James. It is a Mysteral Eye. But you see, normally such eyes only activate when the user wills it. Sieg's eye, however, is partially always active." Her gaze softened as it shifted to me. "Sieg, take off your eyepatch."
That was a surprise. She usually forbade me from taking it off, but I wasn't about to miss this chance. I did as she said.
"See the color difference? And the white pupil? That means it's constantly active to a degree. There's always a risk it could lose control and go wild. If that happens, he might lose his vision permanently. That's why he wears the eyepatch with sealing power to keep the eye in check."
"I-I see... I'm sorry," James said apologetically, as if he had said something wrong.
"It's alright," Grandpa placed a hand on James's shoulder and reassured him.
They didn't say anything more about it. No deeper truths, no hints. Zayn said this eye was a blood trait that I most probably inherited from my father's side. I thought I'd finally learn more about it today... but all I got was an explanation I had already figured out on my own.
Mother cleared her throat softly, shifting the mood. "Back to the topic..." Her eyes moved to Granny. "I'll look for any information I can find about The Sage."
Granny nodded. "I leave it to you. Now, we need to think about the wand."
Mother leaned forward slightly, as if recalling something. "Actually, Rowan mentioned something when I met him. When I told him my Sieg is already awakened, he said I should bring Sieg to the Festival of Wands."
"Festival of Wands?" Grandpa asked, his brow arching in confusion, the same thought crossed my mind.
Granny tilted her head slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, it's a wand choosing ceremony that takes place in the west of the Merlinus Dukedom?"
"Yes," Mother said, smiling faintly. "It takes place at the Zodiacra Astrological Tower."
"What exactly is this ceremony?" I asked, curiosity sparking instantly.
"Like the name says," she explained, "it's a ceremony where citizens of the Empire may choose a wand from among many stored within the tower or rather, where the wand chooses you."
"What does that mean?"
"Stronger wands and weapons have a will of their own. Only those they recognize can bring out their real power. For example..." She raised her hand and a moment later, her double-headed polearm shimmered into existence, humming faintly in the air.
"Once bonded, you can summon your weapon whenever you wish."
"That's amazing!" I said, unable to hold back the excitement bubbling in me. "So I'll get to pick an amazing wand like that?"
Mother's smile deepened. "If the wand deems you worthy, then yes. You might even find one that truly matches you, Sieg."
I looked at the broken wands lying on the table and then at her weapon gleaming faintly in her hand. The thought of finding my own filled me with a quiet thrill, anticipation rising in my chest. Maybe soon, I'd finally hold a wand that was truly mine, one that would never break.
"And to be deemed worthy, you need to be strong enough." Before I could even process her words, my body lifted off the sofa. The next thing I knew, I was floating midair.
"M-Mother?" My voice wavered as I spun gently, legs kicking helplessly.
She stood up with that familiar grin curving her lips. "We don't know what other elements you have yet, but we do know you possess Force element. So it's time you learn to use it."
"Oh, I'm coming too!" Grandpa's eager tone broke in immediately.
"Ahem." Granny's gentle but firm tone cut through his excitement. "Pretty sure you have work to do, dear."
He turned to her with a pleading look, almost like a child asking for sweets. "Please, please, I've been waiting eight years for this. Please."
Granny stared at him for a moment before a soft laugh escaped her. "You never change, dear. You were just as excited when Valka and Erik awakened. Go on then, enjoy yourself."
Grandpa's eyes lit up like a child's. "Yes!" He pumped his fist triumphantly, then pointed at me with a grin. "Let's go, Sieg!"
"To the arena," Mother declared, punching the air.
And just like that, without so much as a warning, they were on the move, Grandpa looping James under his arm, Mother guiding my floating self out the door.
Somehow, being hauled through the house midair by my own family felt… oddly fitting.
A few minutes later, we stood in the arena. On the other side, a few soldiers were setting up human-shaped dummies strapped to wooden poles, while others arranged wooden boxes beside them. The air smelled faintly of dust, sunlight glinting off the arena's stone walls.
"So, Sieg," Mother began, putting on a professional tone that fooled absolutely no one. "Do you know what Force magic does?"
"Control over gravity?" I answered cautiously.
"That's correct," Grandpa said as he lifted his hand. One of the boxes on the far side began to rise, floating lazily before gliding toward us. "We can manipulate gravity, lift objects or slam them into the ground."
I already have the basic idea. Force Magic allowed one to influence a field born from gravity, basically to control how mass affects its surroundings. But there was something that didn't sit right with me.
"If it controls gravity," I asked, "then why is it called Force and not Gravity?"
"That… I…" Grandpa hesitated, scratching his chin.
"Let me answer that," Mother said, stepping in smoothly. "In ancient times, it was called Gravity. But the Founding Emperor renamed it to Force. It's true we can control gravity, but that's not all, Force magic governs two other aspects as well: Attraction and Repulsion."
She lifted her hand. A wooden box came flying toward her as if pulled by an invisible string. "This is an attraction spell called Attract." She tossed the box into the air and thrust her palm forward. A ripple in the air followed, and the box shattered mid-flight. "And that was a repulsion spell called Repel, the same type you used in your room yesterday."
"So… gravity is one aspect, and attraction and repulsion are another?" I asked, still trying to piece it together.
Mother smiled, but there was something off about it, as if she was hiding something. I recognized that kind of smile; I had worn it many times myself.
"…Attraction and Repulsion are two separate forces," she said quietly.
That didn't sound right. Back in my old world, attraction and repulsion were both expressions of the same fundamental force. Yet here, she spoke as if they were distinct, governed by different principles entirely. My eyes drifted to the shattered pieces of the box. It wasn't metal, so magnetism couldn't explain it. Maybe this world's concept of 'force' was broader, something beyond physics as I knew it.
"Something you don't understand?" Mother asked, tilting her head.
I hesitated, trying to frame the thought in words. "How… did you pull that box? I mean, the principle behind it?"
She hummed in thought, her eyes closing for a moment. "I create a field of attraction, a center point where everything is drawn toward. Just now, that point was my hand, and the box flew into it. When I destroyed it, I did the opposite. I made the field repulsive instead of attractive. I sent the center point flying this time, and it destroyed the box. Controlling repulsion is harder; it requires more precision. Do you understand now?"
"Sort of," I admitted. But honestly, the way she described it was clear. Simple, even.
A soft scribbling sound came from behind. James was taking notes in a small notebook, his face scrunched in focus.
"So that's how it works…" Grandpa muttered, half to himself.
I turned to him. "You can't do it that way?"
"I can," he said, raising his hand as a box floated neatly into it. "But I don't really think about any center point. I just focus on the box and use the spell, it comes right over."
"Pa unconsciously creates a center point in his hand and pulls it," Mother explained with a knowing smile.
"Is that so?" Grandpa scratched his head, staring at his hand as if it had just betrayed him.
Still, to think both of them could use the spell so effortlessly without even touching a wand... It was absurd. Normally, casting without a wand required both control and familiarity with the spell. The more one practiced, the more your proficiency increased, until one no longer needed a catalyst to channel it.
Right now, I could only manage something as simple as Mana Missile without a wand, and even that was barely half as strong.
"Now, Sieg, why don't you try?" Mother said, her tone bright but far too casual for what she was asking.
"Without a wand?" I asked, uncertain.
"Nothing wrong with trying," she replied smoothly.
"She's right," Grandpa chimed in, grinning. "Try your hand at it."
I gave them both a look. They did see what happened to my room last night, didn't they? It was still half-covered in splinters. Yet they wanted me to try this.
"Alright," I sighed. Seeing no other choice, I stepped forward.
Mother told me the incantation and repeated the basic principles again, but I already understood the idea: create a center point in my hand, let it form a field of attraction, and let mana flow into it. Easy in theory, terrifying in practice.
I closed my eyes for a brief moment, taking a slow breath before exhaling the nervousness away.
When I opened them again, I noticed something odd. Everyone had taken a few steps back, Grandpa and James standing a little farther from me on the left, and Mother standing even farther on my right.
"Why did you move away?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"You know…" Mother smiled faintly. "To give you space."
"Good luck, Sieg!" James said enthusiastically, notebook still in hand.
…That did not help my confidence.
Still, I turned toward the boxes and raised my right arm, palm open. My left hand steadied it, fingers trembling slightly as I pulled mana from my soul crucible.
"O unseen threads that bind the world, draw forth that which I call to me. Bend the air, compel the flow, grasp and return to my reach, Attract!"
For a moment, nothing. Just silence, as if the world were waiting. Then, a faint tug in the air, followed by a low hum that built up too fast.
Before I could react, every single box on the other end of the arena shot toward me like a storm of flying wood.
"Wait, wait, wait!"
I ducked just in time. The sound of crashing echoed behind me.
I slowly straightened up and turned around. The entire pile of boxes lay scattered in pieces near the other side of the arena's wall, one still rolling in circles from the impact.
I heard Mother let out a low whistle. "Well… that went hard."
Grandpa chuckled softly, "Still, he did better than you. From what I remember, you took a box straight to the face."
Mother shot him a glare sharp enough to silence a troll. "No need to bring that up."
James hurried over to me, his eyes wide with curiosity. "S-Sieg, how did it feel to use elements?"
"Like it did last night," I answered, still catching my breath. "Thrilling… and a little too hot to handle."
Mother glanced at the soldiers picking up shattered wood across the arena. "Looks like it'll be difficult to practice without a wand."
"So, are we stopping already?" Grandpa asked, the disappointment in his voice almost comical.
"Looks like there's no other choice." Mother's hand went into her magic pouch. "Where is it? Where is it?" She kept rummaging inside. "Ah, here it is."
She pulled out a rectangular wooden box.
It looked elegant and old, the kind of craftsmanship that whispered of time and care. The polished surface caught the light in warm shades of brown, and the carved designs along its edges made it look more like something you'd find in a noble's study than a battlefield. It resembled one of the aesthetic wine boxes I saw in one of my previous world's targets' offices.
When she opened it, a quiet gasp escaped me.
Resting on soft layers of pale cloth was a wand, long, slender, and exquisite. Its body faded from deep cobalt blue at the tip to silvery steel near the middle, with faint, vein-like lines running along its surface. Near the center, a gem of faceted blue sat framed in a diamond clasp, catching the light like a piece of the sky trapped in crystal. The handle curved in lavender tones, smooth and shaped for a perfect grip, ending in a rounded pommel that shimmered faintly.
"Wow… it's beautiful." The words left before I even realized I'd spoken them. My eyes stayed fixed on it. "Is this yours?"
"Obviously," Mother said, her tone proud but soft. "Though I rarely used it."
"But this isn't the one we got you, right?" Grandpa leaned in, curiosity glinting in his eyes.
"I still have that one, carefully kept." She tapped her magic pouch. "This one was a gift… it's special."
There was something different about her smile then, not the confident, teasing one I was used to. This one was quieter, warmer. It made her seem... almost gentle.
She lifted the wand from the box and turned the handle toward me. "Here."
"Eh? Really?" My voice cracked slightly, the excitement impossible to hide.
"Just to practice," she said. "It's important to me, so use it carefully."
I nodded quickly, taking it from her hands like it was made of glass. The weight was light, perfectly balanced, the cool texture humming faintly against my palm as if the wand itself was breathing. I turned it over slowly, admiring every curve and line, while beside me James stared at it with his mouth half open, awe written all over his face.
I could tell right away it was different from any practice wand I had ever used. There was something alive within it, mana, dense and steady, humming through the wood. It pulsed faintly under my fingers, and I couldn't tell if the source was the blue gem or the wand itself. Either way, I could feel its strength.
"Now, Sieg," Mother said, her tone bright with excitement. "Now we struggle once again." She pointed at the line of boxes waiting on the far side of the arena.
"Right," I said, unable to hide the eagerness in my voice.
In moments, everyone was back in position. Mother, Grandpa, and James stood a short distance away, watching closely as I raised the wand, the faint hum of mana brushing against my skin.
"O unseen threads that bind the world, draw forth that which I call to me. Bend the air, compel the flow, grasp and return to my reach, Attract!"
The spell responded instantly this time. Three boxes shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow, racing toward me with wild speed.
"Stop! Stop!"
I threw out my hand, catching one of the boxes midair, my fingers digging into the wood as the others crashed behind me with heavy thuds.
"Another failure," I said, staring at the wreckage scattered across the ground.
"Sieg, you're pulling too hard," Grandpa said, walking over. "Think of it like you're tugging a rope. If you yank it too quickly, the box will come flying at you. Ease into it, slow and steady."
"Pa's right," Mother added, stepping closer. "You're too tense. Focus on one box, not all of them. Feel the pull, don't force it."
James raised his fist in the air. "You can do it, Sieg!"
Mother smiled faintly. "He's right. You're not leaving until you can."
"Got it," I said, nodding, determination hardening inside me.
Then began what felt like hours of practice. Spell after spell, success after failure. Sometimes I pulled too many boxes at once and barely managed to dodge them. Other times, I accidentally dragged one of the wooden training dummies instead. My mana flow wavered, my arms ached, and my concentration thinned, but little by little, I started to feel the rhythm. After several rounds, I started being able to focus on a single box, but the speed always increased too much, forcing me to use both hands to stop it before it hit me.
I let out a heavy breath and wiped the sweat from my forehead. I looked up as the sky was starting to turn orange, then looked back toward the line of boxes again.
Sixty-third attempt. This time, I steadied my breathing, loosened my shoulders, and poured only a small amount of mana into the wand.
The box trembled, then began to roll forward in the air. Slowly, gently, it reached me, and I caught it cleanly in my hand.
For a second, I couldn't believe it. Then my heart leapt. "I-I did it!!!"
"Finally!!" / "You did it!" / "Yay!!"
Mother, Grandpa, and James shouted all at once, voices overlapping in laughter and joy. The sound filled the arena, light and warm.
And as I looked down at the box in my hand, my chest felt lighter than it had all day.
Grandpa swooped me up in his arms, spinning me around as laughter burst from him, rich and proud.
"The young lord did it!" a soldier called out.
"You are truly remarkable, young lord,"
"I couldn't have done a single spell when I was at his age!" another exclaimed. The soldiers around me laughed and celebrated, their cheers rippled through the air, light and warm, a reward for their own hard work picking up and replacing the scattered boxes. For a moment, the field that had been filled with strain and failure felt alive with joy.
Mother walked toward me, her steps calm but her smile bright. "Great work for today. From tomorrow, we'll begin with the repulsion spell, Push."
"Eh? What? I have to do all this again tomorrow?" I asked, half groaning.
"Obviously," she said sweetly, her tone betraying amusement. "And remember, repulsion is even more difficult than attraction."
I sighed, shoulders slumping, as Grandpa laughed beside me. So much for the wonders of magic. Turns out, it wasn't just glowing lights and awe, it was sweat, sore arms, and exhaustion. Still... as the fading sunlight caught the wand in my hand, a faint smile tugged at my lips. Tiring as it was, I wanted to do it again tomorrow.