My name is Zenith Greyrat.
It all began the day before the tutor arrived.
Or was it two days ago? No, I am sure it was the day before because that night Paul and I...
Anyway.
There are things and details that must remain engraved in memory.
I was kneeling in front of some plants when I felt something tugging at my apron.
"Mother?" Daiki said. I recognized him instantly.
"Dai, honey, do not just appear out of nowhere." I smiled at him.
"I am sorry. I just wanted to ask you something. May I?"
"Of course, Dai. What is it?"
No, wait. Was my son, the same quiet boy who sometimes ignored me when I spoke to him, actually asking me for something?
No, silence.
This is an important milestone in the life of a mother.
Relax.
"Could you," Daiki began, "teach me healing magic?"
"Healing magic? Did I hear that right?"
"I would like to be able to help you." Daiki looked up. "Not just rely on the sword. Besides, the weak point of a swordsman is usually a direct hit to the arm. If I get hurt, how do I recover quickly in combat? That is where..."
"Quiet, Dai," I said. "Are you telling me the truth?"
"Yes, Mother. Why would I not? With Father, I will learn the sword, but... what about you? What could I learn?"
I hugged him.
At what moment did I move?
I do not know, but I was already crying.
He wants something from me.
"Kyaaah! I would love to teach you!" I screamed without thinking.
"Mother? Are you crying? I apologize if I said something that..."
"Dai, stop. These are happy tears. You did something incredible and that is why I am crying. Okay?"
Daiki nodded.
His face calmed down again.
I felt a little silly for having to clarify it, but seeing his expression soften, I could not help but smile.
What if he learns fast and tomorrow he does not need me anymore?
A part of me wanted him to fail, to need more time with me.
I know it sounds terrible, but it is not normal to see my quiet son calmly asking me to teach him healing magic to help others.
I plucked a leaf and began to recite the basic incantation toward the plant.
The plant recovered its lost leaf.
I turned to look at my son.
What I saw was a boy entertained by the simple fact of seeing the regeneration of a plant with a basic spell. Well, I cannot blame him. I always felt good about my ability.
Daiki repeated the spell with the same attention I had used.
That voice of his.
A part of me was proud.
Another part, the one I did not want to admit, hoped he would stumble a little. But he said it naturally as if he had practiced my words before.
The leaf regenerated and I could see a little emotion in those red eyes.
Although he was frowning now.
"Can I...? No, I used too much mana. The sensation is..."
"Dai," I called him.
"If I channel..." Daiki continued talking.
"Daiki!"
He jumped, dropping the leaf.
"Yes, Mother?" he asked.
"Relax. Do not overthink it. Guide the spell with the incantation."
"Understood, Mother."
After that incident with Rudeus and the intermediate level spell, I realized that Daiki always disassembled every incantation, seeking to understand the reason for everything.
That is my Daiki.
We practiced for the rest of the time.
Two hours? I think three passed. The sun moved. That much I remember.
My left foot fell asleep and I had to move it without being noticed.
Daiki did not stop with the questions.
"Mother, do you know why the mana flows this way?"
"What if I modify the intention?"
I told him he did not need to understand everything, that the incantation was a guide, but I saw in his eyes that it was not enough for him.
At some point, we left the magic aside.
I pointed out plants to him. I explained which ones were useful for ointments and which were poisonous.
And Daiki...
Daiki was excited.
This is what I wanted.
That night I could not sleep.
Paul asked me what was wrong and I told him everything.
"Really? Our Dai? Are you sure?"
"Yes, dear, I am not crazy. I saw it! A slight smile. Small, but it was there!"
I told him about his process.
The questions he asked.
The slight emotion.
"I feel like he carries something we cannot see. Is he afraid to be happy? I do not know. He is a child. As a baby, he was always quiet," I said thoughtfully, perhaps too much.
"My love, calm down," Paul tried to reassure me.
"But, dear..." I insisted.
"He will be fine," he concluded.
And he hugged me tight. Then he kissed me and we moved on to... well, what we always do whenever something good or bad happens. And tonight, after seeing our son excited, giving myself to the man I loved was the best way to end the day.
◇
Daiki Greyrat
It was night.
I was looking at my hands.
Today I channeled mana to heal. I had touched the power of life, one that felt different in my hands.
Offensive magic without incantations is easy because the elements are, in essence, simple.
Water is water.
Fire is fire.
Their properties are direct and we could replicate them based on a clear mental image.
But there is something about healing magic that was a total enigma.
It was not necessary to understand anatomy. Of that I am sure. I mean, if you think about it, the healing intention should suffice. Right?
The incantation knows. Your only job is to guide it with good intention.
If that was true, maybe it was not a biological instruction manual. Or maybe it was. However, in my past life, I had dedicated myself to studying the human body since it was an important area to develop if I wanted to be involved in fighting situations.
Now, that would be a useful skill to perfect the use of healing magic, but I cannot do it because this is different in essence.
Think.
The incantation is just a catalyst.
If offensive magic can be done without a voice, this should not be different.
Concentrate the abstract concept of healing into a single concrete action.
The image of healing is not a wound closing.
That was the result.
"That is it. The image of perfection is the state prior to the injury," I muttered to myself.
I walked over to the plant by the window and plucked a leaf.
With my finger, I touched the cut stem and concentrated.
Perfect. Whole. Green and full of life.
Exactly as it was before I broke it.
I held that image in my mind, perfecting its shape and feeling the mana running through my entire body toward my hand.
Heal.
When I opened my eyes, I noticed the plant had recovered its leaf.
Daiki, you did it! You managed it on your own!
Did I do it right?
I went back to my bed with the leaf I had plucked earlier.
Protect, heal, fix.
Now, those were not just words.
They were skills I could start perfecting from today.
I closed my eyes.
Perhaps, if I worked hard enough, if I used this understanding not just to be strong but to help... I could become someone.
With that last thought, I let go of the leaf and went to rest.
◇◇◇
The tutor arrived the next day.
"I am Roxy. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Since she was a tutor, my parents imagined she would be someone with a certain age and accumulated experience in her appearance. However, she turned out to be a very young girl.
"S-so you are, um... the tutor, right?"
"Uhm, y-you... you look quite..."
Paul and Zenith did not know how to approach her, so Rudeus decided to say something.
"You are quite small."
"You are hardly one to talk," she shot back without hesitation.
Did he hit a nerve?
Roxy let out a sigh.
"Haa... so, who are the students I must teach?"
"Ah, they are these two here." Zenith introduced us both.
Rudeus was in Paul's arms and I was on the floor holding my mother's hand.
I leaned forward a little, observing her closely.
She just said:
"Haa... there are those from time to time, you know?" said Roxy. "That type of foolish parent who thinks their children have talent just because they developed a tiny bit faster..."
"Is there a problem?" Zenith gave her a fake smile that made Roxy nervous.
"No, although I honestly do not believe children of that age can comprehend magical theory."
"Do not worry. Our children are incredibly smart!" Zenith affirmed.
Roxy sighed again.
"Haa... very well. I will do what is within my reach."
Paul intervened.
"By the way, Roxy. Rudeus will be your main student. Daiki will train with me on the sword in the mornings, so you will only be able to give him magic lessons in the afternoons," said Paul, unable to hide his enthusiasm and pride.
"Only one in the mornings and the other in the afternoons?" asked Roxy.
"Daiki is more interested in swords... but Zenith insisted that he also learn some magic. Do not worry. It will not have the same duration as Rudeus's lessons."
Roxy looked at Rudeus.
He seemed excited. He was almost bouncing.
I, on the other hand, remained still, observing her.
"I see... in that case, this will be... interesting. I suppose."
Apparently, she concluded that arguing would be useless.
And so, in the mornings Rudeus would have magic lessons with Roxy while Daiki trained with the sword with Paul.
...
I watched Rudeus's first magic class from the window.
Roxy showed him a water spell and ended up destroying one of the trees in the garden. Rudeus also cast his own spell without an incantation, although he seemed to be holding back. Roxy was impressed.
When my mother appeared and scolded Roxy, I went down and said I was just watching how she taught before my own lesson.
"Dai, honey, your turn will be later, okay? For now, let your brother finish his lesson," Zenith had said at that moment.
...
After lunch, I headed toward the garden.
Roxy was visibly shaken by the morning incident. She sat on the ground, right under that tree that had been split twice, with an expression of defeat. She seemed about to start writing spirals of despair in the dirt.
"Hello."
Roxy looked up slowly.
She looked at me, did not answer, and returned to her task of writing spirals.
"The class. It is my turn now," I insisted.
"Ah, you are absolutely right," she said, standing up. "Well, then... I suppose we will start the same as with your brother. First, let me see if you can..."
"I can."
I extended my hand toward the sky and a ball of water shot out. This time I was not going to make Mom angry.
"Sure, yes, you can too... This is a..." She stammered, on the verge of collapse.
"Roxy?" I asked.
"Tell me, is that all you can do?" she asked, recovering a little, although I felt her composure would not last long.
"Well, I can also do healing magic."
"What?!" shouted Roxy.
I extended my hand and visualized the image.
"Yes, I learned it..." I paused, "yesterday. It is still basic. Beginner level, but it works."
"No, wait. Wait, wait a moment." Roxy waved her hands. "You learned it yesterday, you say? Are you telling me you learned healing magic yesterday and you can already cast it without an incantation today?"
"Yes, that is what I said," I replied.
Roxy opened her mouth trying to say something, but the words died in her throat. She raised a finger. It fell limp, and finally she gave up, falling seated onto the ground.
"I cannot believe it... this is... what? Since... since when can you do magic without an incantation? I am not talking about healing."
"Months ago," I replied.
Roxy straightened her back on the ground.
"Two brothers. Absolute prodigies. Both with voiceless magic. One of them with voiceless healing after a single day... What kind of family is this?"
"Sensei, are you feeling well? You look pale."
"Sensei? What is that word?"
I sighed.
What an idiot. I unintentionally used Japanese to refer to her.
"Uh... it is a word I invented with Rudeus. It means Great Master, but with an even deeper level of respect. I felt you deserved it because, despite everything, you decided to stay, right?"
I could see something strange in her eyes.
A gleam not seen before?
"In that case... you can keep it. I like how it sounds," said Roxy, smiling for the first time in this place.
"Understood, Sensei."
Roxy covered her face with both hands, taking several deep breaths to process everything.
Then she lowered them and looked at me.
She stood up.
"Good. If both you and your brother can use magic without an incantation at this level, then my work here is completely different from what I anticipated." She looked at me firmly. "I am not going to teach you the basics you already master. That would be insulting your intelligence and wasting valuable time. I am going to teach you advanced control. Precision."
"Understood. I appreciate the appropriate approach."
"But first..." she added with professional seriousness. "I need to know one thing. Why do you want to learn magic if your father already decided you will be a swordsman?"
I considered that question more than I thought.
Why do I want to?
"The sword can have inherent limits. If the enemy is far away, I cannot reach him unless I am faster. Magic also has them. But if I join them... they can cover both weaknesses and not be just a motionless cannon or a spear that cannot reach the enemy."
"I see. You are... very different from your brother. Rudeus is enthusiastic and expressive. You are... how to say it? Methodical. Thoughtful. Quiet and quite polite."
"Paul says I think too much. Maybe he is right."
"No." Roxy shook her head. "For magic, thinking too much is what you need. Theory requires deep thought. I think you will be an excellent student, Daiki."
"Thank you, Sensei."
"You are welcome."
Roxy adjusted her robe.
And the class began.
◇◇◇
That night.
Rudeus and I stayed awake.
"So... how did it go with Roxy?" he asked.
"I showed her voiceless magic immediately. She was surprised, just like with you. But since I also showed her healing, let's say she was doubly surprised."
Rudeus sat up abruptly.
"Wait... you showed her...?"
I sighed.
"Yes, I got too excited. It was as if a part of me controlled me for a moment, so I did it," I said.
"I understand, brother. Something similar happened to me, although mine was not really on purpose," said Rudeus, going back to his bed.
"Rudeus, you should be more careful," I warned.
"What are you talking about? You did the same thing," he defended himself.
"Hide your observations a little, understand?" I said.
"Daiki? What do you mean by that?"
"You looked under Roxy's robe. I saw it."
I saw him blush suddenly in the dim light.
"That was... the wind. I was in the perfect position to..."
"Look, just hide it a little, okay? We are children."
"Yes... I will try."
There was a moment so silent that only the crackling of the candle could be heard.
"Now that I think about it... we proved to be prodigies," commented Rudeus.
"Aren't we? Maybe having memories of our past life helps us, but something tells me it is not just that. I do not believe that in centuries of civilization no one has discovered that mana can increase if trained from a young age... but who knows," I said.
"Yes, I suppose so. That said, voiceless magic is rare. Not even Roxy knows it, and our mana grew quite a bit," said Rudeus. Then he put his hands behind his head and looked at the ceiling.
"Yes, it is true. Although I must admit that you already surpassed me in that. My water bullets come out more precise. Yours come out bigger and more effective," I concluded.
Total silence.
I stayed thinking about what that meant.
I also put my hands behind my head and looked at the ceiling, as if the wood could give me some answer.
Of course there was nothing.
But I did not stop thinking about it.
Suddenly, I heard Rudeus trying to say something. He was babbling.
"Rudeus? Are you okay?" I asked.
"Ah, yes... I was going to ask you something. If I was a good brother. I mean... did I make you feel alive? Is it worth it for you?"
"If it is worth it? I would not know what to tell you. Regarding your first question... yes, you make me feel alive. I still do not understand it entirely, but this desire to keep growing now exists. The desire to die, not so much," I replied.
"Okay... I understand," said Rudeus.
Silence.
"Rudeus."
"What is it, brother?" he asked.
I threw a pillow at him with precision.
"What was that for?!" he shouted.
"It is my answer to those kinds of questions, when I find myself cornered and..."
I received the pillow back.
"Well, it is best to sleep. Okay? You have an early start tomorrow," I said, ignoring the hit while adjusting the pillow.
"Fine, Daiki. But tomorrow you will see another, more precise pillow hit." He tried to sound threatening, but he could barely be seen in the darkness of the room.
"I hope so, Rudeus. I hope so."
Rudeus extinguished the candles with a gust of wind.
"Good night, Rudeus."
"Good night, brother."
And we let ourselves be carried away by sleep.