17 Awakening (1)

Nathan walked back to the town with the rest of the militia but the journey took over 5 hours to complete due to the slow they had to take to ensure the injuries of the injured did not get worse on the bumpy roads.

By the time they arrived, the sky was just beginning to darken. When the group arrived in town, everyone went back to the garrison where doctors and healers were waiting except for Nathan.

He used the chance when no one was paying attention to sneak away and head back home. Although he was not too worried about the sitter, he did not want her to use her communication device and bring his mother home early.

But as they say, the more one hopes for something not to happen, the more likely exactly that shall happen.

When Nathan opened the doors, he did not see the face of the old woman who was supposed to be watching him but instead the blazing eyes of his mother.

Nathan walked in the door like nothing major happened and as if his mother was not looking furious. He walked into the kitchen to try and wash his hands to get something to eat but before he could, he was picked up by his collar in the back just as Alex had done earlier that day.

'I need to eat more or grow up faster. It is too easy for people to do this to me.'

As if was facing away from her, he did not see what his mother was doing but was not worried. He could tell that she was more worried than angry from the look in her eyes. Even though Nathan was terrible at expressing emotions, he was excellent at reading them.

And just like he thought, Natalie was truly looking over and checking up Nathan's body to ensure that he was not too injured and was ready to apply healing magic to anything that seemed like it would take longer than a month to heal.

'Besides his arms, the rest of his injuries will result in nothing but a few cuts and bruises. This is a good chance for him to learn that there will not always be a mage to heal him so he needs to treat his body better.

But what is truly interesting is what I feel in 'there'. It seems like this adventure of his did have a positive outcome. My son awakened before his 5th birthday!'

She was truly happy that her son was healthy for the most part and had awakened. This was indeed news worth celebrating.

Awakening occurs when a creature gains its core and first becomes able to use manipulate mana or ki and use spells. A creature develops its core within a certain age range according to its species unless a rare occurrence occurs. The younger one gains their core, the better quality it usually is.

Most beings that knew how to manipulate mana particles could sense them or ki since it was similar, and therefore sense other beings who were awakened. This is why Natalie was able to be sure that Nathan was a mystic easily when she was checking up on his body.

She sat Nathan down in his chair before telling him to 'sit still'. Even though he did not understand why Nathan did as he was told and obeyed his mother.

Natalie waved her hands before a barrier surrounded their home. But feeling that was not enough, Natalie created 3 more for a total of 4 barriers around the house. 1 was for protection, 1 was to keep the light from inside from leaking out, 1 was for making sure their conversation was not heard, while the last was to ensure that Nathan's signature did not leak out.

Only after all 4 barriers were up, did Natalie nod with a small smile on her face. She then went to her room and brought back out a cube. She placed it on the table in front of Nathan before explaining what it was.

"You have formed your core and awakened as a mystic. This is a cause for celebration. But since you awakened so early, you will stand out.

Therefore, after we test your potential today, we will seal your core until you turn 5 in 8 months since that is the normal age for a djinn child to awaken. This is also why we have the barriers set up to make sure that no one finds out."

Nathan nodded his head gravely at this. He had experienced what it meant for a child to be found out to be exceptional in his last life and had a lingering fear of being enslaved again. He never wanted to go through anything like that again.

Before he continued his depressing and spiraling train of thought, he changed the way he was thinking.

'No! This is not the same as my last life. Before, I was weak and powerless. I could not fight them off then. But now, I have strength. If anyone dares to try to enslave me, I will slaughter them all!'

Nathan felt a dragon roar from inside his very soul.

'Thanks, Berus. I know you are with me. With you and Mother here, I know neither of you will let anyone try to take me.'

Berus also came to the world with Nathan but he did not know about him at first. It took Berus 3 years after Nathan's rebirth to fully recover from the destruction it had done to itself in its previous life.

But after it recovered, it seemed to have improved and become even more powerful. Berus had seemingly gained increased intelligence. Although Nathan spoke to it before, it never spoke back or spoke of its own accord. It was more like a normal mech and its pilot.

But now, Berus seemed like its own entity that could respond to Nathan and keep him company. Although Nathan had yet to summon Berus outside in this life, he could still see what it looked like the inside of him.

With Berus by his side, he was not afraid of any mages, mystics, riders, or anything else that may threaten him in this world.