Chapter II - Surprise Greeting.

Yaaawn~

"Alright."

Man, this house has had quite the uplift while I've been here. It looks so much cleaner than it used to.

On another note, I wonder if this world has things like magic or skills. Usually, in reincarnation novels, there is some form of at least one of these. But the question is, how do I use it? Do I have to say some kind of incantation? Honestly, leading up to this point it did cross my mind a few times but I never really put much thought into it.

Tap tap tap

Well, pacing back and forth in my room won't solve anything.

"Huu..."

"Fireball!"

"Uhh."

Badump..

"Ugh, my head."

Whump

Bam!

"Haru, what was that noise!?"

"Gasp, gasp..."

"Oh no, what happened!"

She holds my head with her left hand and places her free hand a few inches from my face.

"By the power of light and the loving embrace of nature, let this injured child's wounds heal, and his pain be satiated, nature's touch."

"Haa"

My breathing calms, and I fall unconscious, my mother being the last thing I see.

Thank goddess, he's okay.

"But what happened?"

Crackle

"Hm? What's that sound?"

A small fire appears from the tip of the pointer finger of my unconscious body.

"Wait, did he? No, he couldn't have, right?"

Blorp

A small ball of water forms on her finger and drips on the fire, putting it out.

Fshh

"I'll have to ask him about that later. For now, let's get you to bed."

Chirp chirp

"Ugh, my head. What time is it?"

Rustle~

The bed rustles as I hop off it and walk to the window.

Click, creak

The window opens to reveal a bright and warm early morning sun.

What happened last night? It feels like I have a hangover...

"Oh right, I tried using magic, didn't I?"

Well, if it didn't work the first time, I doubt it'd work if I tried it a second time. And to be honest, I would rather not get knocked out again.

Knock knock

"Harue, are you awake?"

"Yes, mother!"

She opens the door, walks to me, and picks me up.

"Breakfast is ready, my little genius."

Genius? I know I'm pretty smart for a kid.. But I've tried to hide the whole reincarnation thing, and I think I've done a pretty good job, all things considered.

Burp

"Ahhhh~"

"Okay, it's certified. Mom is the best cook eve–"

Awoooo

Boom!

"Huh?"

"Harue, go to your room now!"

"Um, okay, Mom.."

Step step step

I take a few steps toward my room before hearing two more explosions, these ones much, much closer than the one before.

Boom, booom!

While still walking to my room, though faster now, I look over my shoulder.

"What's going on?"

"Don't worry, Haru, it's just a visitor."

Tap tap tap

Close

I close my door as I see Mom running towards the door.

A visitor? Whoever or whatever it is doesn't sound very friendly.

A few minutes later, the curiosity overwhelms me, and I crawl out my window for a good view of what is happening.

Creak

"Hup"

I doubt it's very safe down here. I should get on the roof.

"But how?"

"Hmm.. Oh, wait, I know how to get up!"

I sprint to the back of the house and quickly look around.

"Where is it? Where is it!"

"There it is!"

Tap tap tap tap

I run up to the old carriage sitting a few feet away from the wall that Mom left here after the horse ran away and Hiroshi got captured.

"Hnn."

Thank god they left this here and didn't dump it in a hole somewhere.

I climb up the front of the carriage and up to the top.

"Okay, now just up there."

Uh, was it always that high?

Can I even make it from here to all the way up there?

"No. I can, and I will."

I slowly step to the far back of the carriage in preparation.

"Huu~"

Here goes nothing.

"Haaaaa!"

Tap tap tap

Woosh!

I sprint forward and jump as high and far as my short legs let me just before reaching the end.

"Whoaaah!"

Bang!

"Oww, my legs."

Swish,

Thwump!

Whimper...

"What was that!? I need to hurry before I miss it!"

Step step

"Whooah."

I better be careful. I don't think this is safe to walk on.

Tap, tap, tap

"Alright, what's going on?"

Grrr.

"Are those... Wolves!?!"

The pack of three wolves circles Mom while one wolf lays lifelessly in a pool of blood behind them with a burning arrow in its neck.

Mom, in the center, is holding the fiery bow, except now the fire is much larger and brighter.

Huff, huff

I thought it would be easy when I got the first one, but they're way too fast for their size. I hope Haru listened to me and hid in his room.

Snarl

The wolf in the middle growls and lowers itself as it prepares to lunge forward.

"Come at me, asshole."

Grrr

Boom!

It's too fast! I can't dodge this!

The wolf immediately lunges forward in a flash. A small bolt of electricity can be seen on the back of its paw the moment it moves.

Roar!

It attempts to lunge for her shoulder, but she quickly realizes its intent and raises her arm, causing the wolf to sink its teeth into her forearm.

Crunch

"Agh!"

The speed knocks her off her feet and onto the ground.

Ssh

Shunk!

She swiftly responds by pulling out a dagger and stabbing it into the beast's head, killing it instantly.

Ugh, it must've broken a bone.

Thud.

She then forcefully pries open the wolf's maw and pushes it off of her onto the ground. However, her arm is now bleeding profusely from the bite.

"Your leader is dead. Feel like joining him?"

Whimper

Tap tap tap

"Ugh"

"Whoa, did she just beat all of those!?"

But her arm, will Mom be okay?

"Oh, crap, she's going back inside!"

Step step step

Bang!

I jump off the roof and onto the carriage, causing it to make a loud crashing sound.

Tap tap tap

Click

"Hup!"

Slam!

After running from the carriage and jumping into the window, I slam the window behind me.

Huff, huff.

"You can come out now, Haru."

"Mom, your arm... are you okay?"

"Yes, baby, I'm all right. Can you go grab me that box?"

"Okay."

I walk up to the box on the short round table next to the door. Beside the box are the strange knife and some coins of varying sizes and materials spilling from a small pouch.

"Hnng"

Tap tap tap

"Here. you. go!"

Slam!

The heavy box slams on the table next to where Mom is sitting. She opens up the box and grabs something from it.

"Thank you."

"O ancient spirits of healing, I beseech thine aid. Let this injury feel your warm touch to block the blood flow and allow for healing. Blood control!"

The blood that was previously flowing freely now stops, and the blood that had been pouring out now flows back into her arm.

"Wooow,"

"How are you doing that, Mom!?"

"Oh, It's nothing special, just a spell to stop the bleeding."

"That's so cool! Will I be able to do something like that, too?"

"Maybe one day, Haru. Maybe one day."

"Are you okay, baby? Blood can be scary to see at your age."

"I'm fine, mom!"

Only because this isn't my first time going through life, I'm sure if this were anyone else they would've been traumatized.

"How about you go read one of those books you have? I need to stitch this up, and I'm sure you don't want to see that."

"Okay!"

Tap

I close the book I'm reading and lean back in my bed.

I have already read all the books in the house... Other than one book that uses more complicated words than I can understand. But now I should be able to read most parts of it. The good thing is that it's a book about magic! Maybe I can find out why I fainted after trying to use only one spell.

"Hm-hm-hm"

Fwip

"Okay, that makes sense."

So the book says that I experienced something called "Mana Deficiency". The reason I got it boils down to this: there are three ways to cast a spell using mana. One way is an "Incantation" like the ones Mom uses. Another way is a "Shortened Incantation" which is what I tried to do. Shortened incantations are better in combat because you don't have to say the whole spiel, but they cost more mana to cast. The last way is "Wordless", the name says it all. You don't have to say a thing. This, of course, comes with its drawbacks, such as costing the most mana out of the three and needing concentration to imagine the spell. Anyway, I tried doing "Shortened Incantation", and due to my extremely disappointing mana pool, I went into Mana Deficiency.

"I sure am lucky."

Mana Deficiency can be deadly. I could have died there. Either I got really lucky, or Mom cast a spell on me before putting me to bed.

Yaawn

"Reading makes me so tired..."

Fwump

"Did he fall asleep while reading again? How cute~"

Step step

"Here, let's get you tucked in."

Bump

"Oh, is that what he was reading?"

"Gasp"

"Introductions to magic and mana!? I didn't know we even had a book like that here!"

"He can't understand this, can he?"

Tap

"That's right, there is no way he can understand a book like this. He is only two years old! I'll just put it up on his cabinet where he can't reach it, for now."

"Mwa"

"Good night, baby."

Step step step

Creak

Close

"Haa."

"That was close. If they hadn't run away when they did, I would've..."

"I need to protect him. He's all I have left."

"Ow!"

"It started bleeding again? Did the spell run out?"

Rrrip

She cuts a piece of cloth off an old towel and wraps it around her arm.

"There."

Yawnn~

Bang bang bang

"Open up!"

Monster Dex - Supersonic Wolf

- Appearance -

• Black, brown, white, or bluish-gray body

• White bones sticking out of the body, most notably the ribcage

• Lightning bolts appear when running at top speed or slashing with claws

- Living style -

• Packs of 4-6, but rare cases show groups of up to 8

• They live in grassy areas with high steeps, such as mountains. They always make sure to stay in their territory unless provoked

• Lifespan of 20-30 years

• They fight using their high speed and sharp claws, paired with a powerful bite force. They also naturally have good teamwork skills, making it exceptionally harder to kill an entire pack.

• Bodies are optimized for speed and mobility, meaning arrows and swords can easily pierce their skin

- Special notes -

• Their meat has medicinal and speed-enhancing properties. A single bite can clear your mind and allow you to think, as well as run at much higher speeds. If eaten raw, high-voltage electricity will course through your body, possibly causing permanent paralysis or death.

• As an infant, none of the bones are sticking out of their body. However, during adolescence, as their body matures, the bones grow out of the body. This process is extremely dangerous and requires the pack to stay in one location to feed and protect their young. This process usually lasts 1-3 days, and without sufficient protection, it can be fatal.