Apologies

The door opened and light flooded in the room, Vita shut his eyes then allowed for them to readjust to see three figures in the doorway.

They were Lilith Rowan and Darius, all we're looking eagerly towards the now dishevelled tired Vita.

He truly was a sight that made the eyes water. This was to be expected after keeping a child in a cell yet it hurt even more to see their child and grandchild in such a state.

Darius shortly felt awful after sending away Vita even though he knew that this was by far a better opportunity for Vita if he could keep his focus it was still unrealistic that a 5 year old child could cultivate in meditation and comprehension. Even though Vita had always been an outstanding boy and an almost silent and perfect baby with a prodigious level of intellect only lacking in the means for more knowledge, he was after all just a smart and sensible boy.

Lilith came rushing in and hugged Vita so tightly his normally pale face turned from red to purple then blue before she stopped and he started heaving, causing both Darius and Rowan to chuckle silently so as not to incur the wrath of Lilith, a worrying mother.

"Vita us three and some of the other children are going to a nearby village for a small outing would you like to join us?"

Vita responded politely "Greetings father, mother and grandfather. Do you mean out of our families jurisdiction and territory?"

This time Lilith spoke in a caring tone "Yes dear so if you would rather stay at home and rest that's perfectly fine"

Vita smiled brightly "I'd love to go. I want to see what other areas nearby are like and their people!"

Abadon laughed 'do you think that anyone will believe you? You don't even talk anyone besides your master and nobody from your family except these three? Interested in their people! Hahahaha! Well let's hope that there are some other races there and if you do I promise to give you a technique that you may gain as many insight from it as you wish!'

Vita's eyes shone 'Really?'

'Of course why would I lie to you? But seriously the odds of you finding anyone from another race is almost impossible'

'Even if they are from another race there's no telling if it's a race that I'll have use for unfortunately. I need a monster or elf race.'

'We'll even if you don't find another race I'll teach you some techniques to manifest the insights you gained to their fullest effects. I'll grant you a technique that has no limit and grows with your power if you want it now just say if not then I'll tell you later.'

'Tell me later it seems like this trip might not have what I was expecting. Why couldn't you tell me that there's almost no chance to see another race there? Now that I acted so eager I'll have no valid reason to back out and if I say I'm ill they'll just take me next time! Demon you had better keep me entertained while we take a carriage ride for who knows how long. You over grown pigeon!'

'What did you just call me!'

'Do you prefer the name black chicken?'

'You little!'

A few days later

Vita could only live on, hoping to eventually get some practice in magic, while enduring the madness that he was getting used to call family life.

He had to be lively, but not too much. He had to be curious, but not too much. He had to run around but never get out of the door.

His parents were never satisfied. If he tried to sit in corner meditating (I'll use this as the term for cultivating the various techniques for the dantian) they would worry because he was too quiet or too lazy. If he tried to move around or help them, he would be scolded for getting in the way.

He now realised that this was their way of showing him that they were sorry and trying to help him make friends with others his age. Unfortunately the closest people to his real age was his parents, at least from what he could tell about their real ages. Looks in this world could never tell someone's true age.

When they arrived Vita saw that there was no sign of any complex technology, even a windmill or a watermill would have been considered a marvel of science. Unfortunately his first life's inventions are not repeated here.

When Vita asked about the village, Darius explained that only artisans, scholars and merchants lived there, the rest of the population lived in their own farms tending the fields and raising livestock.

The village consisted in a few dozens of one or two stories high wooden houses well-spaced between them. Not even one was made out of stone or bricks. Apparently that was only for the rich.

There was also no road pavement of any sorts. The space between the houses was just like the road to the village, just dirt and mud.

From the signs hanged outside the buildings, he could spot a blacksmith, a tavern and a tailor shop.

They all went to a small cafe and had some food and some conversation. After Vita knew all that he could he wanted to leave however he caught an odd looking sign in the corner of his eye. A book.

No matter the world this was always used for a library. After begging to go to library he found a book called the basic functions of the elements.

Inside this book was a lot of boring nonsense that he found tedious to read until discovered that water magic was not just about conjuring and manipulating water, it also allowed the user to lower anything's temperature. Any magic apprentice was supposed to be able to generate ice, and use it as a mean of both offence and defence.

Air magic too had an ability that he had never taken in consideration. Air magic highest peak was weather control, but even at the basic level a mage could generate a small amount lightning.

Fire and earth were just plain and simple as he had pictured them all along, so he moved to the last two elements.

While reading, it became clear to him that because of magic, whoever had written the book had no idea what anatomy was.

The book would speak about the importance of keeping a wound clean, there was no use of terms like disinfection or sepsis, so he barely found unknown medical terms.

Vita remained dumbfounded upon discovering that light and darkness were explained together instead that in separate chapters.

According to the book, both elements were the bread and butter of any healer. Darkness magic could be used as a weapon, but it was not explained in detail.

'Am I supposed to…heal people? How can I heal people I don't even like this race?'

'Just do as I did destroy with darkness and heal those that you care for. With power in darkness come equal power in light.'

'Wait you can use multiple elements? Why didn't you say this earlier?'

'Oh, seriously! Pay attention! Nobody ever said that you have to use one magic since birth it's just that certain families such as your own are better at fire so why bother leaning others? Ugh why can't you just ask your master to teach you all the basics of this world snd maybe then I won't have to remind you of such an obvious thing'

'I have a better idea'

"Grandfather Darius please can u have some books on the basics of magic, history and evolution of magic and on the surrounding areas?"

This question surprised Darius as although he knew that Vita was smart he never knew that he was so interested in magic. He was happy to see this because it meant that his punishment of a months worth of time in cultivation wasn't wasted and that he hadn't scarred a little boy.

With a large smile he said happily "of course keep them for however long you need them, if you need one I'll send for a tutor that can tel you more than any other that you may have had, someone specialised in certain topics"

'Wow I guess that he really felt bad'

'We'll he did lock up a small child alone in darkness with only a few candles snd matches for a month. How would you feel?'

'I think we both know that certain things cannot be done yet I do see your point'

'Oh wow so the great Vita Ainsworth has morals'

'Of course I may not like my own race yet I won't hurt certain people nor attack wantonly. I'm not, is monster an offensive term?'

'Only if you are in there company in which case I'd urge you to find an alternative, trust me in this I destroyed a forest in a fight with a stage 5 eagle because I made that mistake, they're almost as prideful as you humans. Haha those were the days'