Jarrid’s POV:

  I barely revealed the tip of the iceberg, expecting some excited reaction. Children usually get thrilled when they hear about the three pillars of strength in our world.

  I started scanning my son’s reaction—there was no visible excitement or distress at the silence. His face showed pure concentration, and I could see his eyes drifting off, likely trying to guess or figure out something about the three pillars. He’s always been a curious boy.

  “Son, as you know, magic begins the day of your first ritual.” His gaze had been lost in thought, but upon hearing my voice, he refocused all his attention on me. “This is common knowledge among children from around the age of five. Though as nobles we tend to share more information with our children, the difference is insignificant.”

  I glanced at my wife, silently asking for her help. Her way of explaining magic is simpler and more effective. She understood my intentions and stepped in,

  “The first ritual usually takes place between the ages of ten and eleven, and the second one a month later. During that waiting time, your body absorbs ambient mana and takes in various types. In the second ritual, your affinities are revealed, and you decide which to pursue.”

  Watching Maki’s concentration, I can say: this child is absorbing all the information. It fills me with joy to see my son take these matters so seriously.

  “Of course, there’s a science behind each ritual, but that’s not something you need to worry about just yet.” Celes has always excelled in situations like these—she summarizes efficiently and goes straight to the point. I would’ve probably gotten tangled and given unnecessary details.

  For the first time, Maki spoke. “Mother, why between the ages of ten and eleven?”

  “There are two main reasons: a trained body and a resilient will are needed for the ceremony.”

  Maki’s POV:

  A strong body and a resilient will? I couldn’t help but ponder that as my mother gathered her thoughts to give me a summarized explanation without skipping key points or overloading me with details.

  “I need to explain a few things about willpower before going back to magic and its reasoning. You need a proper introduction to avoid getting lost and understand the background.”

  It seemed my father couldn’t hold back any longer. “Can you feel a cube forming on the right side of your chest?”

  A cube in the right side of my chest? I closed my eyes and focused on the indicated spot—and I could feel it. I don’t know how, but even without seeing or touching anything inside me, I knew it was there, forming. It felt like it was on another spiritual plane.

  “Yes, I can feel something forming, although it doesn’t feel like a cube.” It really didn’t. I wasn’t focused on the shape—I was more surprised by the sensation itself.

  “How many horizontal lines do you feel?” This time, it was my mother who asked. I could hear both curiosity and astonishment in her voice.

  I focused again on the sensation within. “I feel a base of four straight horizontal lines connected, and three vertical lines. The fourth vertical one is too small to determine a percentage.”

  “WHAT? ARE YOU COMPLETELY SURE?” My father slammed his hands on the table and stood up. “DON’T JOKE AROUND MAKI, THIS IS SERIOUS!”

  I glanced at my mother—her eyes were wide open, and her mouth opened and closed as if searching for the right words and failing to find them.

  The one who finally spoke was my grandmother. She hadn’t said a word since the beginning. “Maki, this is very important. If you already have seven out of twelve columns formed at seven years old, you might have an exceptional talent for willpower. Children your age usually only have one or two.”

  My mother managed to collect herself and spoke after Grandma. “Maki, if you have strong willpower, you’ll be able to endure more mana during your first ritual. The amount can vary between twenty and forty percent. It might sound small or insignificant, but it’s not—you’ll be ahead of 97% of the children in the world.”

  I was in shock. I understood all the information and processed it, but I couldn’t tell if this was Maki’s natural talent, the fusion of our souls, or something else entirely. I could spend my whole life wondering and never find the answer. “I’m completely serious. I can clearly feel seven ‘columns’ formed and one very small one.” I tried to sound calm and clear, hoping to ease the atmosphere—it had the opposite effect.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “SON, YOU MIGHT BE A GENIUS!” my father shouted after I confirmed it.

  “Jarrid, don’t raise your voice,” my mother said, and although her tone sounded calm, her eyes told a different story. There was a hint of anger in them.

  “Don’t place a heavy burden on a seven-year-old child,” my grandmother added, although her smile and hopeful gaze completely contradicted her words.

  My father sat back down and stayed quiet after being scolded by both women.

  “Let’s return to the main topic. Maki, as I mentioned, the stronger your willpower or cube is, the more mana you can hold during your first ritual. But that’s not its main function. It can also be used to attack, defend, intimidate, etc.”

  Grandmother continued after my mother’s explanation. “Maki, magic and willpower go hand in hand—they may seem close, but at the same time, they’re distant and in conflict. You’ll understand once you manifest both.”

  “Son, another clear benefit is timing. If your cube forms early, you’ll awaken your magic earlier than other children and can start practicing sooner. That creates a small but significant gap between you and the rest.” Were my mother and grandmother taking turns? They explained in perfect sequence without interrupting each other.

  “Maki, are you understanding everything? Do you have any questions?” I wasn’t sure what expression I had, but it probably showed how overwhelmed I was.

  “I’ve understood everything clearly. I’m just trying to memorize every detail.” I paused to formulate my first question.

  “Is there a way to train willpower?” If I can train magic and my body, surely willpower can be trained too, right?

  “Yes, there are several ways. The most common are regular fighting and incorporating it into your combat style,” Grandma answered. She seemed unusually chatty today—I could see the excitement in her eyes.

  “It’s easier with an example. Even though willpower is intangible, it can be used tangibly. You can overpower weaker individuals and force them into submission. In extreme cases, the difference can be so great that it kills them instantly.” Her tone grew serious when she mentioned killing. It’s common in this world, according to Maki’s memories—people tend to die young due to countless dangers.

  “I add my willpower to a specialized ice-type attack, and your father uses his in his greatsword to make his strikes more forceful. We both use it differently, but the purpose is the same—enhancing physical attacks.”

  “I, on the other hand, used it to move more efficiently and quickly. I would infuse it into my legs to make better use of my rapid movement ability,” my grandmother added, giving me an even better perspective.

  “I get it—it’s still a bit confusing, but I have a general idea.” I’d be lying if I said I fully understood. “Don’t worry about fully grasping it. We’ve lived many more years than you and still haven’t figured out all its uses. Only those who dedicate their lives to willpower truly understand it. Reading some books could help,” my mother said, always so understanding—offering both encouragement and advice.

  “Your mother is right, son. You’ll discover the best way to use your willpower the more you use it,” my father added, finally speaking again after a long silence.

  “You now have a basic understanding of magic and willpower. We’ll continue talking over time. If we dump too much information in one day, you’ll start forgetting parts of it,” my mother said. That made me think. I didn’t know the retention or learning capacity of children in this world, but this much information must be a lot to process for a seven-year-old.

  “Lastly, let me tell you a bit about laws. They’re the third pillar in our foundation for becoming stronger. Laws manifest when you have enough knowledge of your abilities and a clear focus. They’re the hardest part to solidify. Thousands upon thousands of people never manifest one, and in rare cases, some people do it with ease. It all depends on your self-understanding.”

  “Son, I understood my first law at the basic sapphire rank—it was related to lightning. Your mother took a bit longer—hers came at the mid-sapphire rank. That doesn’t mean I’m better or more talented—she actually understood her second law before I did.” He looked at my grandmother, silently asking for her input, and I saw her smile grow.

  “In my case, it was different. My first law had nothing to do with my magical affinity—it was based on my traits and fighting style. My first law was speed. Laws are different for each person who manages to acquire one.”

  We kept talking for a while longer before they decided to wrap up the conversation. I thought maybe twenty minutes had passed—it had actually been over an hour. I asked more questions, and they gave thoughtful, easy-to-understand answers.

  I didn’t object to ending the talk. They’re busy people. Even if our family is insignificant compared to the empire’s powerful figures, we’re still a noble family in charge of managing two small cities. The three of them are the pillars holding everything together.

  I didn’t want to waste the day, so I started practicing the routine from my past life—a perfect balance of physical training and dual swordsmanship.

  This routine is engraved in my mind and has always been effective. Today, I couldn’t finish it. I need to gradually strengthen this body until I reach my peak.

  From the next day, I started training with my father. When he was busy, he sent two guards to help me—one wielded dual swords, the other fought with bare fists.

  My parents thought it would be a good idea to learn unarmed combat too. After all, in unexpected situations, I might not have my swords and would need to fight with my fists.

  And just like that, almost a full year passed—until the day of my eighth birthday.