Chapter 37[Test 2]

~~Alan maverick POV~~

My mother was half shocked and half pleased by my answer but as a professional teacher as an expert mage her expression vanished as quickly as they came, she again held a straight face and looked at me with a face filled with doubtful eyes as if telling me she was in doubt that my answer is wrong, well I know this was a trick she uses but it won't work on me.

[That's my definitive answer Mother] I again said firmly.

[Good that the way, being a mage is a difficult path but one thing you should know is that this is the path you choose and as a mage, you should always stay true to your words.] said mother with a smile that was brighter than the sun.

[Now for the second question, what is the biggest weakness of a mage?] asked papa. It looked like they were prepared to grill me with questions.

Well, the mage in current times are not like that in the past, they are not just some punny stick holding aged men who cast spells while hiding behind warriors, in current times they are far stronger than any warrior that trained day and night 3000 years before from the stories I hear even the non-mage like my father use a branch of mana arts to increase their strength. So physically there is very less weakness someone can exploit, well until someone is on the same strength level as others, it is obvious those with higher strength can always exploit those with less, so does this mean that being weak is the biggest weakness? NO.

[Its Will, the biggest weakness is neither physical limits nor the level of your mage arts, the thing that stops us from getting strong, the thing that makes us take the wrong step is our lack of willpower, the less the willpower the less will be the mages determination and less will be his talent and as a result, he will be weak. ] I said and looked up at papa's face, checking his emotions.

[Again you are right, Willpower to overcome any obstacles, a willpower that is stronger than mountains is required to walk on the path of mage, so remember this little Alan whenever you lack the willpower to move forward, remember this day and think that you are Maverick you are like no one else an no one can ever be like you and take a step forward and blow away all your hesitation and just keep moving the way your heart and mind guides you.] said, my papa.

[Thank you, papa. I will remember this and believe me when I say this I will always move forward.] I said with a deep resolution in my heart, since my mother and papa believe in me so much to the point of allowing me to give take part in trials at an age of 3 I have one more reason to become strongest, I will make them proud.

[Humans are the nature left child, all we can do is rely on ourselves and thus making our biggest weapon against any other our mind, you must know this] said my mother to which I simply nodded.

[So for the next question, what is our second biggest weapon that we wield that set us apart from anyone else??] asked my mother.

Thinking about it, the biggest weapon that we use is our mind, our ancestors founded this Mana system that allowed even us Humans who are originally not meant to wield mana to now, where not only we wield mana but also stand toe to toe with other species, we have built many amazing things with our creativity and knowledge; we are constantly evolving and increasing our understanding of Mana. so the use of our Mind is not only our biggest weapon but our most powerful one at that, but what about the second, it is said as compensation for not providing mana nature gifted us with a mind unlike anyone else and when we finally break free from the shackles of nature, it gifts us with awakening, that sets us on an equal footing as all other races. So what is the second most powerful weapon? Nature gave us only our mind to rely on, so does it mean awakening or blessing is the second most powerful gift? No, it can't be. They are just external factors and are not equal to. All, this is not the answer, so what could be the answer? Thinking hard, I suddenly remembered something mother said a very long ago.

[Fear, the second weapon of humans is that they are fearful, from the start we were weak and only weak could now the meaning of fear, those born with strong bodies or are gifted by nature are strong from birth they don't know the meaning of fear, thus they travel fearlessly, and thus their steps becomes careless and they become prey to someone stronger, the fear that humans feel against those other races makes them aware of their weakness and one can only become strong if he knows his weakness if the fear is wielded properly so that it does not weekend our willpower but sharpens it than it can be made our weapon.] I kept on saying without stopping and once I was over I realized rather than a short answer I accidentally thanked out loud and now my mother and father were staring at me weirdly.

[what did I say anything wrong.] I asked politely. My voice broke the silence and my mother shook her head as if waking from a daze.

[No nothing, your answer was perfect, even more perfect than we thought,] said my mother smiling brightly. And with that, I heaved a sigh of relief.

[Well, when I was asked this question, my answer was hard work. Only humans do such hard work, and then our determination. I always thought that our mind, hard work, and determination are the factors that brought us to where we are today. But I always thought being fearless was important but now that I listened to you I know having fear is just as important as anything else, but always remember you can be fearful to the strong but as a mage and more important as a man you should never bow to anyone else because of your fear...] my father said, with a face filled with a mix of emotions I was certain he was hiding something but he hid all that under a smile, seeing that I now knew the meaning behind his words, never to bow and to protect is the true meaning of being a man.