Chapter 4: The first steps (1)

After getting something to eat, Cassian went back to the library to look up some information from the novel. He was aware of the fact that not all of the information that he had would be the same as it was in the novel.

Within hours he found that most of the information matched the novel. He did notice a few differences in a couple of places, but these were only due to different names and would not have a major effect on the flow of the story.

While he was in the library researching information, he was abruptly asked by one of the servants to have dinner with his new "parents". As you can imagine, the meal was very uncomfortable for Cassian. Not only did he not know them, but they showed too much affection for his taste. Above all, he had to pretend to be a son he neither remembered nor knew anything about.

Then he was allowed to go back to his room and he couldn't have been more excited because tomorrow was going to be a big day for him.

So the first day of his new life ended.

And a new morning began to dawn.

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When the sunlight shone into his room, announcing the morning, Cassian stood up with a sleepy face while stretching his arms a little.

He was a bit worried that he wouldn't be able to sleep because of all the excitement, but on a good quality bed you just feel too comfortable to be disturbed by any emotions.

To be honest, he couldn't remember the last time he'd slept so well.

He made his way to put on his workout clothes, which were lying folded on the table. Yesterday, after dinner, he asked one of the butlers to send his workout clothes up to his room for him.

This was because he had planned to start his workout after breakfast.

´I just hope my new parents don't complain about me running around in workout clothes´

Cassian thought with a fatigued expression. He could already imagine how his "mother" would lecture him with a murderous look in her eyes until he couldn't stand it any longer.

Yesterday, he had the impression that his new "parents" were very elegant and calm, but when he had dinner with them, that impression quickly fell apart.

The gentleman could not escape the clutches of his wife, and the lady seemed to be more like a greedy dragon who did not want to share her precious things with anyone. Unfortunately for Cassian, the precious thing was her family instead of gold.

It was a complete personality change from yesterday morning at the breakfast table.

"Tsk, she got mad just because I spent most of the day in the library... Wasn't that a little too much from her?

he said annoyed, heading for the door to avoid missing breakfast.

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After an exhausting breakfast which ended with a lot of complains cassian managed to get to the training ground.

In the very center of the garden, in a dense forrest there was a training ground made of stone with a variety of different types of training equipment.

Cassian has deliberately chosen to train in a very isolated area.

He had no idea of all the unexpected events that could arise when he start learning mana for the first time.

Lying on the training ground in a relaxed pose, Cassian waited until Erwin finally arrived with the mana stones.

"Huff...huff...young Master I finally managed to find you" Erwin said out of breath with a exhausted smile on his face and a loaded sack on his shoulders.

His dirty blond hair stuck to his forehead and his whole body was covered in sweat. He must have been on the lookout for Cassian all over the place, with that heavy sack full of mana stones.

Cassian looked at him for a moment with a blank look on his face before he said

"Sorry... I forgot to mention which training ground we were going to meet at"

silence fell for a moment before Erwin's face flushed red in anger and he began to stutter

"Yyou...you...Mothe-Aarg..." Before he could say anything more he quickly put his hands on his mouth with a terrified expression on his face.

"I... i´m so sorry, young master, I didn't mean it."

Still clutching his mouth, Erwin waited for Cassian's death sentence on him.

Cassian stared at him with narrowed eyes. He was considering punishing him, but luckily for Erwin he decided against it. To a small extent, it was his fault as well.

"Hmm... I let it slide this time" he said softly under his breath with a grumpy face.

He stood up slowly and stretched his body a little, until he saw the shining eyes of Erwin, who was looking at him with a look of admiration.

"Wha...Whats wrong?"

Cassian asked stuttering with a puzzled look on his face. It was obviously his fault, but he was too prideful to admit it. There was no reason to look at him in such a favorable light.

"Nothing... I'm just grateful, young man, that's all" said Erwin, shaking his head with a bright smile on his face.

Erwin had learned from his father to avoid the aristocracy at all costs. According to him, most aristocrats would respond violently to any form of disrespect from commoners. He was prepared for a violent reaction from him, but he was unexpectedly kind.

"Well... whatever, just get the mana stones from the bag"

"Yes... sir!" said Erwin, carefully placing the mana stones one by one on the ground.

The mana stones were in the shape of a prism, and they glowed faintly in various colors. They were slightly smaller than an adult's hand.

There was one in particular that caught Cassian's eye. One of the mana stones was tinted black.

´This must be the empty mana stone´ Cassian thought, before he picked up one of the colored mana stones. Even without grasping the concept of mana, Cassian could sense the power emanating from the stone.

"Ehm...young master"

But before he could begin his training, he was abruptly interrupted by the servant.

"What is it?" he said in an annoyed tone.

"Um... what am I supposed to do until then?" asked Erwin with an uncertain undertone. He didn't want to disturb the young master, but he also didn't want to stand around awkwardly. He thought there was at least something he could do.

"Run" said Cassian with a cold smile.

"Excuse me," Erwin asked with a blank look on his face. He was wondering if he had heard it right.

"I said run...Damn it! You have even less stamina than an old man with a cane" shouted Cassian with an aggressive tone.

"Oo~key" said Erwin with an overwhelmed expression before he started jogging on the training ground.

"Faster!" yelled Cassian loud enough for Erwin to hear.

"Yes sir!"

Cassian looked at Erwin, who was running for his life, for a moment before he finally focused on the mana stone. He could already feel the mana from the mana stone trying to make its way into his body.

"Finally...I can take the first step to becoming stronger" Cassian said with a gaze that was filled with longing.

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