Strings!? Are you for Real?

The long-awaited day I'd wished to come had finally arrived.

It was already nighttime, and by midnight I would finally turn 7 years old.

In the past few years, I have learned a lot from my mother and father, who had S-Rank skills.

My mother, who had the skill to heal It may not be combat-suited, but it's still overpowered since she can still heal an individual who's even on death's doorstep.

Meanwhile, my father, Damian Echevalier, was a known swordmaster who owned one of the strongest S-rank swordsmanship skills. His ability was combat-suited, which he trained and harnessed for several years until he gained the title of a swordmaster and became unrivaled in all of Helium.

Helium is the continent we're currently living on. A vast continent with several countries, towns, and villages scattered throughout the area.

Among those countries was Turk, the Prestigious Dukedom we currently live in.

My father was the Duke of Turk. And I was basically the son of a duke.

Then that explains why our household had magnificent interior designs and extravagant decorations.

which also explains my excellent facial features. Having my father's emerald hair and my mother's ocean blue-like eyes, I was pretty confident about my looks being above average.

*Knock*

"Young master?"

"Yes?"

"May I come in? I brought you some snacks."

"Okay nanny."

Helena, the nanny that took care of me after my parents started getting busy, was very thoughtful and kind. She had this gentle look on her face. And she would always bring me some snacks whenever she visited me late at night.

"If your mother knew about this, she's going to scold us both." Helena said as she placed the snacks on the table.

"Please keep it a secret."

Being awake even near midnight would make my mother angry. Well, since Nanny was on my side, I didn't have anything to worry about.

Ever since I learned about skills and mana, my curiosity has devoured me. And I ended up investing my time in learning about this world's cultures and mysteries.

And since I was three, I learned about mana gathering.

It was a necessary feat to do, which helps an individual gain a higher-ranking skill when he fully awakens at the age of seven.

So ever since that day, I trained and honed my mana gathering technique and fully learned the mana manipulation technique in the span of three years.

Mana Gathering is the first form of mana technique in which the individual meditates and gathers the mana particles around and brings them all together in a certain area within the individual's body.

It was hard at first, but after several tries, it got easy for me.

And after three years of continuously gathering mana, I've finally learned the essence of mana manipulation.

To which the individual is capable of manipulating the mana around him.

Mana manipulation contains total concentration and overwhelming control over mana.

Mana, which is similar to this world's oxygen, was an important entity for every living being in this world.

Every intelligent being in this world has a mana core—a second heart they use to contain the mana they've gathered.

The mana core acts as the limiter of an individual's mana-level capacity.

Mana core levels are split into five stages: beginner, intermediate, advanced, master, and supreme.

As the individual's mana core evolves and grows, the mana that the individual can contain also grows and helps them improve their skill's capabilities.

Well, as for me, my mana core is still in the beginner stage. Since I'm still learning about how mana actually works.

But what I'm truly excited about right now is my awakening.

In this world, once you reach the age of 7, you'll awaken and obtain a random skill that will help you in your life.

"I just wish I could obtain an S-rank skill."

"Don't worry about it, young master; I'm sure you'll receive an S-rank skill since you're a child of S-rank skill users." Helena said while gently patting my head.

"Thanks nanny." I responded and smiled at her, waiting for the clock to strike midnight.

Then, after several minutes passed, it was finally nearing midnight.

Nanny Helena left my room to give me some space for my long-awaited moment.

Please give me an S-rank skill. Please give me an S-rank skill...." As I prayed to whomever the gods of this world were.

*Dung!* A loud noise occurred, indicating that the clock had finally struck midnight.

In that instance, a bright golden light shone in front of me as it formed into a golden magical circle surrounded by weird writings.

The area around me darkened while the magical circle shone radiantly.

It was finally time—the day I'd receive an S-rank skill. My long-awaited moment."

I was super excited after seeing the Magical Circle, in which I trembled in joy. I felt goosebumps over my body as I stared at its magnificent golden gleaming color.

"Please give me an S-rank skill!" I widely opened both of my arms, expecting to receive an overpowered skill that could somehow change the world.

*Ding*

A holographic image appeared in front of me.

"Finally!"

*You have obtained the skill String Manipulator*

"Huh?"

*Congratulations on your awakening*

"Huh?"

*Skill: String Manipulator, Skill Rank: E, Skill Type: Growth*

"Huh!?" Witnessing the holographic tabloid in front of me, I fell to my knees, wondering if this was a prank or some kind of mistake.

That's when I realized that even after being reincarnated into this new mysterious world, the bad luck from my past life was still attached to me.

.....

...

The next morning, my body felt numb, as if all the excitement I had in this world had suddenly disappeared.

The urge to die and get reincarnated once more was all I could think about.

"How?"

"Why did I receive such a low-ranking skill?"

My face turned pale as I lied on my bed, grumbling and regretting why  I had to obtain such a low-ranking skill.

Even the name doesn't sound cool.

"String manipulator? Is this world for real? Who would name a skill such as this?!" I yelled annoyingly, wearing a frowning expression.

*Knock* "Young master, It's time for you to get changed." Helena said in a happy tone.

Hearing her voice, I'm sure she's excited to know about my awakening.

But just thinking about it makes me want to lie on my bed for eternity.

Even Nanny Helena was able to obtain an A-Rank skill. This is so embarrassing."

"Okay nanny, Come in."

"Happy birthday, young master." Helena smiled happily and gently hugged me.

.....

....

After that, Helena did not question Axel about his awakening and dressed him in a more decent attire. Then she quietly escorted him towards the dining area, where Damian and Alexandra were waiting for Axel's arrival.

"Happy birthday, son!"

"Happy birthday, sweetie!"

As both Damian and Alexandra greeted Axel on his seventh birthday.

"Thank you, mother and father." Axel responded with a gentle smile.

Axel then sat in his chair and dined with his parents.

Luxurious food was all over the table, while expensive juices were placed in the middle.

Damian stared excitedly at Axel and asked, "So son, Tell me about it. I mean, how did your awakening go?"

"Yes sweetie, Tell us. How was it? Did you obtain an S-rank combat skill?" Alexandra asked with an excited demeanor.

Hearing their words made me gulp. To ruin their expectations about me, truly damaged my pride as the son of two S-rank skill users.

"Mother, Father. Please don't be disappointed."

"Come on, stop being humble." Damian said and chuckled.

"I'm serious. See.... skill status."

*Skill: String Manipulator, Skill Rank: E, Skill Type: Growth*

Their eyes blurted out after seeing my skill status window in front of them.

Their foreheads began sweating profusely, while they were forced to wear a smile on their faces.

"I'm sorry..." Axel said sincerely and lowered his head.

"It's fine, son. Don't worry about it." Damian replied, Trying to comfort Axel.

"Yes sweetie, No need to be bothered about it. I'm sure your skill would be helpful since it's a string manipulator skill. You'll be able to make lots of beautiful attire." Alexandra said happily, also trying to comfort Axel.

But after hearing Alexandra's words, Axel and Damian fell off their chairs and wore a very dejected expression.

"Is my skill only for sewing?" Axel uttered while in despair.

Damian drank a glass of water and wore a serious expression, saying, "But something's bothering me, son."

Axel looked at his father and wondered.

"What do you mean, father?" He asked.

"Your skill, It might be an E-rank, but this is my first time seeing an E-rank skill that has a growth type in their skill description."

....

...

That's when I realized that there might still be a small chance that I could upgrade the rank of my skill since it was a growth type.

Chapter End.