Chapter 15: Return
On the way back to Seynhold, Ember decided to traverse half of the path on foot. His father wasn’t against it, even going as far as leaving all the horses with his attendants, as the father, son, and daughter embarked on the path together.
Rain was the only one peeved about the whole thing. The last few days hadn’t been easy for her, leaving her with little energy to complain. Meanwhile, Ember ran ahead of them freely. With each stride, his figure launched over three metres forward as he trained his new running skill, Sprint Burst.
The system had given him three paths of evolution for Running: March, Enhanced Running, and Sprint Burst. For Ember, it was a relatively easy decision after his discussion with Cliff and Lady Evelyn.
The most common choice for everyone here was Enhanced Running, as very few seemed to get the Sprint Burst option. Well, Rain hadn’t gotten it, and she could be called an elite. Anyhow, Enhanced Running, as the name suggested, improved speed, efficiency, and balance while moving at high velocity. On the other hand, March allowed for a prolonged, measured tread and reduced stamina drain, the complete opposite of Sprint Burst.
Sprint Burst allowed his body to shift at its very limit in a short burst. For now, his limit was merely four metres, but he had only gained the evolution yesterday. Thankfully, there was no cooldown like in a video game. He could lurch forward in Sprint Burst as long as his stamina and mana allowed him.
Ember had only spent about an hour on the skill, and he was already seeing improvement. Finally, he had a skill to spend his hard-cultivated mana on. The skill didn’t even burn much mana at all. It was his stamina that limited him, leaving him exhausted within a few minutes. But what else could he expect from the body of a five-year-old?
At this rate, the journey home would take all day. But then he got a notification.
[Sprint Burst (Copper) +1 → 2]
[+20 EPs.]
The first couple of levels were supposed to come quickly, but Ember hadn’t expected it to happen this fast. Then again, his father had said the skill would come easier to him since he was more efficient with mana. Now he wondered how much improvement he could make by sprinting all day. He surely wouldn’t have sufficient endurance for it, unless...
"Why'd you stop?" Rain asked, pacing towards him. "Finally run out of energy, have you?"
"No," Ember grinned at her. “I just gotten Sprint burst to +2.”
Rain made a disgusted face and ignored him completely.
In all honesty, Ember had always been good at running. Perhaps it had transmigrated with him into this life as well, along with his autism. Or it could just be his delusion. Of course, his current speed eclipsed his past self by more than double.
After exhausting himself, he finally stopped for a breather, panting like a dog in the summer heat.
"Thank Heaven," Rain said, looking up at the sky with her palms clasped in prayer, “for giving him low endurance."
Ember snorted and went over to his father, who opened one of the bags to bring out a water container and the sandwiches they had brought from the inn. He sat down for a moment. His father and sister joined him as well, having their lunch early.
After much discussion with his father and Lady Evelyn, Ember decided against saving his skill slots, because there was a good possibility he’d gain an Iron skill without spending any more slots, and much more quickly as well.
As it turned out, the criteria for evolving Mana Sense involved advancing the other two mana skills to maximum mastery as well. Only then would the three mana skills merge into one Iron skill called Mana Shaping. As it was based upon the three Copper skills collectively, it didn’t require any extra skill slots either.
Additionally, Mana Shaping was a foundational skill for the mage path. Although Ember was a little unsure about his talent, Lady Evelyn’s words managed to persuade him.
She had only asked him one question, “Is mana fun?”
As Ember answered positively, she said he didn’t have to worry about talent, because he did have talent. And as long as he spent some good points on Insight, he wouldn’t have to worry about obscure elements like talent.
Of course, Ember didn’t explain his situation of reincarnation to her, though he agreed with the thought of talent being trainable. As Will was necessary for spellcasting and utilising skills, Insight did play a huge role in one’s ability to learn.
“Many people see it as an insignificant attribute,” Lady Evelyn had said, “but what is life if not to learn things.”
That phrase had resonated with him deeply. It allowed him to break through his constraints and dream a little higher.
"Dad," Rain asked, sneaking a glance towards him, "isn't Ember about the age to learn swordsmanship?"
Ember began to sweat profusely. He glared at her. Haven’t you suffered enough? Why are you pulling me into your suffering?
Even though Ember would like to try his hand at the sword, he did not believe he would enjoy being trained by a slave driver.
"I am considering it," Cliff said. "Even if he does not want to master swordsmanship, it is still a good self-defence skill to learn."
Looking at his earnest expression, Ember chewed on his lower lip. "I want to learn swordsmanship," he said slowly and carefully. "But more than that, I want to learn your breathing art."
Cliff cocked an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Although it's a good skill, it's for the martial class in comparison to the mage path."
Ember nodded heavily. Considering it involved mana, there were likely variants for the mage path as well. Even judging by its name, Ember wouldn’t be surprised if it became something like Mana Breathing at a higher rank.
"So will you teach me?"
His father nodded, sparing a glance towards Rain. "At least one of my children is eager to learn from his old man."
Ember could not help but give a snarky glance towards his elder sister, who sniffed at him.
"Now, it won't be the exact knight's breathing art you’d be learning," Cliff explained, "but a Copper variant of it. But make no mistake, it is still beneficial. Even at Copper rank, it will greatly improve your endurance and help your body recover quicker."
Which meant he could train Sprint Burst all the more.
While saying all that, Cliff let Rain impart the skill to him. The girl grumbled, though she didn’t go against their father’s wishes.
“There are two facets to the knight's breathing art,” Rain said. “One is the breathing itself. The other is circulating mana in tandem with the breath to ease the heart and body. You have to train both to the point that they become second nature to your body.”
Under their father’s watchful gaze, Rain demonstrated the technique. She even went as far as to show him where to draw his breath of mana and how to channel it. Cliff didn’t disturb her and only added a couple of words if she forgot to mention something important.
“Do you want me to explain any part?” Rain asked. “Or demonstrate it all again?”
Ember held up a hand, drawing his breath long and heavy as she demonstrated. The mana circulation wasn’t difficult either, though he wasn’t sure how he’d manage to make it second nature. His father seemed to have already reached that point, as his breathing, despite being silent, always seemed rhythmic and harmonious.
Either way, he accepted the skill prompt that came his way after about eight minutes. With that, he had only a single skill slot open.
[Skill acquired: Breathing Art (Copper) +1]
[+10 EPs.]
“Why are you silent?”
“Nothing, I was just accepting the skill prompt.”
“You got the skill already?” Rain asked, incredulous.
Ember nodded and showed her by performing it. He was obviously not as proficient as her, but the nuances were easily visible to trained eyes.
"I hate you so much," Rain cried, gulping down her sandwich in anger, while their father hid a smile.
“No need to throw a fit,” Cliff said, patting Rain on the head. “You did an excellent job instructing Ember. I barely had to say a line.”
“It took me a week to grasp it,” Rain cried. “You even praised me for it. Where is he...” She pointed at Ember, unable to utter any more words.
“As I said, Ember’s mastery over the foundational mana skills will give him many shortcuts into any skill related to mana.” He wiped his daughter’s face with a napkin. “Whereas you barely had a grasp over Mana Sense and Circulation when I taught you the skill.” His gaze turned towards Ember. "But make no mistake, it will be much more difficult to master it. You have to train the breathing art until it becomes second nature to your body, something you do unconsciously, akin to your regular breathing."
“How do I go about that?” Ember asked.
Cliff smiled. “As with any of your skills. Practice.”
Once again, with his stamina rejuvenated, Ember jumped to his feet and burst into sprints while maintaining the breathing art in tandem.
With barely any grasp of it, he could keep up the breathing art if he concentrated actively, but combining it with another Copper skill took a toll on his mind. Whenever his concentration lapsed, he would begin to pant like a dog in the scorching summer heat.
Every now and then, his father would remind him that his breathing was faltering. It was somewhat annoying, but Ember understood it was necessary to master the skill. It wasn’t something like Mana Sense, which he could train wherever he liked. No, the Breathing Art needed to be maintained constantly for it to become second nature.
If only it didn’t require his constant attention from the outset. Of course, its effects were remarkable, already halving the time he needed to recover.
By afternoon, Ember managed to bring his Sprint Burst to the third level and the Breathing Art to the second.
Rain made a disgusted face, as if she were about to vomit, whenever he came to rub it in her face.
After all, that’s what siblings were for, no?
Of course, the first few steps in any skill were easier, and his sister had overtaken him with both skills as they raced home.
As the sky darkened and shadows stretched across the surroundings, Ember devoured his third lunch of the day. After eating so many of these sandwiches in the last couple of days, their taste had become bland.
"I miss mom," Ember said, gulping down water, "and her cooking."
It was the first time he had not seen her for such a long time. Ember had been feeling homesick for more than a week now. He wondered how his father managed to spend months and years away on the northern plains.
"When we return to the city," Cliff said, "we should get her something."
Ember wondered what she would like. Clothes and jewellery seemed too common. She would probably love some household appliances, but that didn’t feel like a proper gift for her. On that note, Ember had enough savings to get her something good. His father used to give him an iron crown whenever he gained a skill, which soon changed to a coin whenever he advanced in a skill.
In the last couple of years, he had already saved up a pouch full of coins. Unfortunately, he had only brought a few of those coins with him.
As his mind wandered over the gift, Ember suddenly heard a yell, and something flashed before him. His eyes could barely track it before he found himself abruptly in his father's embrace. The tall figure of his father shielded him completely, a luminescent aura enveloping him protectively.
Only when he was released did Ember see an arrow lodged in his father’s back. Was that shooting towards me? His heart pounded, and before he knew it, a shrill cry escaped his lips.
“I’m here,” Cliff said, still shielding him as more arrows shot their way. But now none of them managed to penetrate the radiant shield he had conjured. “You’ll be fine.”
He didn’t even flinch as he pulled out the arrow. Thankfully, his tough exterior had prevented it from penetrating more than an inch.
"Rain," his father shouted, "protect your brother."
His elder sister moved at once, pulling him into her embrace as her protective amulet flared to life once Cliff’s ward receded.
In the next moment, his father's figure disappeared in the direction from which the arrows had come.
"What's happening?" Ember asked, his heart lurching in unrest.
"Bandits," Rain answered, holding him tightly. Her heart raced at an identical pace. "Don't worry, father will take care of them."
Over her shoulder, Ember could make out some blurry figures moving to intercept his father. They were still shooting arrows at them. Thankfully, none of them managed to breach Rain's protective amulet.
A couple of figures dashed towards them, perhaps with the intention of taking them hostage. But before they could manage it, mana buzzed to life in the surroundings, and though blood sprayed into the air, his father’s sword cleaved through their bodies like mere vegetables.
Some of the scarlet blood splattered towards them, only to be obstructed by the tangible shield around them.
But the scene alone was visceral enough that his stomach lurched in unrest, the sandwiches he had devoured trying to find their way back up his throat.
More incoherent cries echoed throughout the dark wilderness. A couple of the bandits chose to flee, realising they were no match for his father.
Cliff let them go, quickly coming to check on his children. "You two alright?" Before an answer even came, he examined their bodies and let out a breath of relief.
There was a smear of blood on his right sleeve, and some had even splattered across his face. He wiped it away as Rain deactivated her artefact.
"I'm fine," Rain answered, while Ember nodded heavily, his heart still racing.
"We are more than halfway to Seynhold. I didn't think it would already be this lawless."
At his words, Ember's eyes darted to where the bodies had fallen. Even in the dark, he could make out the severed heads, lifeless eyes wide open in shock and utter dread. There were at least five of them, now mangled together in a horrendous sight.
“Don’t look,” Cliff said.
Ember swiftly averted his gaze, but it was already too late. His stomach twisted, and he couldn’t resist anymore. Everything he had eaten minutes ago came rushing out in a violent heave. As if on cue, Rain joined him at his side, her face pale and ashen.
Cliff clasping their shoulders reassuringly, providing water and a wet towel.
"It's my fault," he sighed. "I should have worn a few pieces of armament. At least that would have warned them before trying something stupid. Thankfully, only two of them were at Iron rank. The rest were hardly even trained."