-Chapter 1- Cliffhanger

Arthur Leywin P.O.V.

*Taking place when the Twin Horns and the Leywins are attacked by bandits on their way to Xyrus*

Gathering all the mana remaining in my small body, I tackled my mother, propelling both of her out of the way. She was now safe from the oncoming water cannon, unsheathing the knife I received from Jasmine I threw it at the conjurer concentrating the water cannon. I heard a *thud* of the blade further up the mountain.

The conjurer let out a scream of pain when the knife hit him telling me he was still alive. Although thankfully the pain broke his concentration breaking his hold of the spell.

The water cannon's power began to dissipate but not enough for me to be safe from the blast. It collides with me launching me back several yards, feeling like I just got hit by a brick wall knocking the air out of me as I am launched off the side of the cliff.

Thankfully I had used mana to create a string still connected to the knife which was now with the conjurer. I had previously used this technique in my old world using ki. Fortunately, it is still working with mana in this world. I tug on the string to pull back the knife which still was embedded in the body of the conjurer, with the added force of being blown back from the water cannon I manage to pull him to the edge of the cliff but he grabs something to keep himself and me hanging off the side of the cliff.

Hanging off the side of the cliff by a string connected to an enemy is not the best situation to be in. Using what little amount of mana I have left in my core I enhance my fist and drive it into the side of the cliff to get a stable hold. My infant body does not have much strength. I wouldn't be able to hold myself long if it wasn't for the string. I repeat this process trying to get to the top of the cliff.

When I reach the top and see the conjurer had climbed up from the edge of the mountain, he sees that I had climbed back up and takes the knife I had thrown at him to attack me. He lunges forwards and using the knife swipes towards my chest, from the looks of it he has no hand-to-hand combat experience clearly showing from his unstable stance and no use of mana to enhance his body. I dive down below the knife and I infuse mana into the blade of my hand turning it into a sharp edge. This was called 'the swordless art' in my old world, but here it would be more appropriate to call it a wind attribute technique.

I took a swift swipe to their lower calf muscle and they topple over, I enhance my fist in mana and punch them in the stomach. They fall backward and fall off the side of the cliff, they quickly grab the ledge in desperation to try to survive.

Feeling no remorse for these bandits I stomp down on their hand releasing their grip on the ledge making them fall to their death.

I pick up my knife off the ground and sheathe it. I don't want to lose the gift I had gotten from Jasmine so soon.

My mother Alice runs to me and pulls me into a hug, she ignores the battle nearby and cries hysterically. I keep forgetting what it is like for her and my father to see me in danger, it must have been hard for her to see me go over the ledge. The thought of losing her son in a bandit attack due to her inability to protect me.

Near the battle, Reynolds my father along with Angela help defeat the Bandit leader with Jasmine and Adam swiftly defeating the rest of the weaker bandits.

***

We set up camp later when we got further into the mountains, I didn't have much to do since the adults did all the work. I simply brought my books over to my tent and began to read through them.

The Encyclopedia of Dicathen, I open to where I left off.

Chapter 4, the beast glades, I read about the beast glades and mana beasts in another book back in Ashber but this one seems to have more information than that book for children.

...Mana beasts are creatures with the capability to form a mana core at birth, these are called beast cores.

These were things I already knew but the next lines brought my attention

...Many Mana beasts are capable of absorbing mana while moving, making them formidable opponents for even high-ranking adventurers.

This was something I had thought about previously if I could absorb mana while moving. I never had time to practice with so many people around watching me, 'Maybe when I get to Xyrus I can read through more books to learn more about mana theory and what else could be possible.'

I hear Adam and my father laughing in the distance and I shut my book, I get up to go check out what's going on. They finished setting up the campfire and the twin horns and my parents are sitting around it celebrating their victory, my mother is slightly separated from the group still put off by the fact I nearly died a few hours back.

I go to my mother and sit down with her, I decide to speak to her to distract her from the previous events. "What will be the baby's name?" I ask, trying to still sound like I am only four years old.

My mother replies saying "Well if they are a boy your father wants to name them Brandon. However, if you get a little sister, they will be Eleanor."

The idea of being an older brother was something I always wanted to be, not only to have parents but a sibling to take care of and protect.

Suddenly a loud ruckus can be heard from the near campfire, my father and Adam have decided to compare strength and Adam ended up throwing a large rock putting a hole in the side of one of the carriages. Helen sighs deeply at the sight and Jasmine hits Adam over the head for his dumb action.

I laugh at the three augmenters' actions. Moments like these I never want to go away, I finally have a family and loved ones close to me and soon a younger sibling, there are many people in this world I want to protect and so I must get stronger, so I can be there to stop anything that wishes to take these moments away from me.

***

The next day we set out on a carriage to the final destination, the teleportation gate leading to Xyrus. After weeks of travel and a near chance of death, we will finally arrive at our destination.

On the journey, I continue reading my books but find nothing new. Perhaps I could hope to get a beast will, it would be beneficial for me to grow stronger but it isn't like obtaining one is anything simple.

I shut my book to look out and watch the view, I lean on the box that Adam put in a crude way to cover up the hole he made. The view from atop the mountains is a glorious sight, although there wasn't much to see other than fields and lots of trees the sight was breathtaking.

Behind the cart is Adam walking slowly behind, keeping guard. Using mana I try to look and see what color mana core he has, but I can't sense his mana core at all. 'Why is that?'

I decide to meditate and begin to purify my mana core while I wait. Currently, my core is in the dark red stage, next is the solid red stage which I hope to achieve before we leave Xyrus.

Eventually, the cart stops, and I hear the conversation. I look to the front and I see Helen and my father showing some kind of badge to some guards. Behind them there sat a large circular structure. The teleportation gate looks like it was made of a special type of wood or marble, etched on the structure are runes and other bizarre carvings.

The guards are wearing a thick set of metal armor and each carries a broadsword. The thing that stood out about them is that they aren't even that high-level of mages, only dark red and solid red core mages.

One of the guards after inspecting the badges turns to the big teleportation gate behind him and puts mana into it.

The teleportation gate begins to shine a bright blinding light, shining a bright golden color, there are slightly yellow and green swirls going around giving it some life.

The carts begin to move forward and enter the light, slowly the front of the cart disappears then slowly creeps back and soon engulfed me and the rest of the cart.

Suddenly I find myself seeing pitch-black, the space around me is empty with no cart or any of the twin horns around. 'Did something go wrong with the teleportation gate?' As soon as it appeared it went away and I found myself on the other side of the teleportation gate.

I feel a surge of pain in my stomach, feeling sick I nearly throw up. 'I am not going through another teleportation gate for a while if I have any say about it.'

When I finally look up I get lost in amazement looking at the large city. With all the large buildings and the shops, it's like I'm back in my old world wandering around in the big city. Of Course without the skyscrapers. It's honestly refreshing to see somewhere I can at least feel familiar with. I imagine back when I was a kid... a kid in my old world where I would run down the street.

On the sides of the roads are tons of shops, not just clothing or food, but weapons and magic item shops. I can't wait to check those out in the near future.

We continue our trip till we reach a big elegant mansion. My family got off the carriage and took our bags off as well.

Helen gets onto the front of the carriage and turns to us. "I and the other Twin Horns will be staying at an inn in Xyrus, feel free to contact us at any time. It is always fun being around you all."

"Thank you all for the help in getting us here, it is greatly appreciated" Alice responds.

"It's truly no problem Alice, anything for you guys." Helen begins to get the carriage moving. The other twin horns all say their farewells.

The carriage begins to leave and I turn around to look at where we will be staying. Before I is a large path leading forwards to a large mansion, it's nothing special compared to where I had lived as king but it's still amazing to see such architecture.

We walk up to the front doors and before Reynolds can even knock on the ridiculously large doors they swing open and a man walks out. The man who walks is a thin proper man with glasses and parted hair in a suit, he carries himself like a refined noble. He is Vincent Helstea my father Reynolds had saved him back when my father was an adventurer

Looking inside the manor I see two figures, A tall woman with dark black hair who I assume to be Vincent's wife Tabitha, and beside her is what looks like their daughter Lilia who also shares their dark black hair. Vincent and my father are mid-conversation then he turns to me and says "Vincent this is my son, Arthur. Arthur, why don't you introduce yourself."

I look up to them as I give a half-bow, I begin to introduce myself. "Hello. It is a pleasure to meet you and your wonderful family."

Vincent, shocked at my response, asks my father "When did you teach him that?"

My father smiles, "Arthur is full of many surprises, I can't go a day without him doing something amazing.'' He laughs a bit as he exaggerates my progress as a mage.