Mother

Walking towards the garden to have the appointed tea with my mom, I couldn't help but admire the hallways of my home, although I've walked everyday through here it stills holds its beauty with decorated walls and fine sculpted pillars along with portraits of the previous family heads.

Ever since the birth of our household, the Argenti always had the reputation of being exceptional mages, whether was in the theorical field with groundbreaking research on spells and experiments or on the battlefield with great contribution on wars, quelling rebellions, and beast subjugation. It's current members still follows the trend with my father being a 7th rank mage known for his mastery of the metal element and for its contributions to the world of magic with groundbreaking magic.

Then there's my sister, at 14 years old already having a mastery of water and wind elements along with its ice and sound variations and being a mid-2nd rank mage on par with most people in their late teens. She still has two years left before attending the academy and she already surpasses most second years and the lower end of the third years.

On the other hand, my older brother has a giant mana pool compared to an adult, but his magic control leaves to be desired, even with that weakness father still sees value in him but it leads to him being constantly being compared to our sister.

As for me I've heard from the servants that my father has high expectations for me and hopes for me to surpass both my siblings, otherwise I'm going to be discarded.

Yep, no pressure

-No use worrying about it, talent isn't something one can control...

Leaving those thoughts aside as I enter our mansion's garden with various types of flowers lined up on the sides, along with a beautiful fountain at the center. Behind the fountain was a small glasshouse inside of it was a woman with a long black hair and black eyes, wearing a one-piece silver dress, she was sitting on a table talking to a maid alongside her.

-I'm here mother.

-Oh Luke! welcome, please have a seat.

Greeting my mother, I took my place on the side of the table, there were a variety of snacks from cookies to cakes and some fruits.

Ever since I started my lessons, once a week I drink tea with my mom in the garden, here we don't have keep up the status quo. It was her that proposed it. To relax after consecutive lessons.

Taking a bite of the cake my mother asked me.

-How were the lessons today?

-The same as always mother, except the general knowledge teacher kept saying shallow praises about our family and made the lesson boring. Kind of sad since our kingdom's history is so interesting.

-Sorry about that baby, even if I try, I can't change your tutors without your father's approval, and you know how he is.

-Yeah…

'At least he doesn't let the rain of praises distract him, such a smart child!'

-In a few months it's going to be your 6th birthday, right?

-Yes, why do you ask?

-You are going to have your affinity test remember?

-Oh, I almost forgot about it.

right, there was this event. Every noble at age of 6 goes through and affinity test using an affinity orb to determine whether you can use mana or not along with your elemental affinities, mana sensitivity and your mana pool, from there you can choose whether to be a knight or a mage.

-You don't sound too excited…

-I am excited but not looking forward to the amount of work father is going to put me through.

An expression of sadness and sorrow appeared on my mother's face, well seeing how her two other children's personalities became due to their environment and their father's influence, she was bound to have some regrets.

Few seconds later her expression brightened up.

-Luke how about I show you some magic?

-You are a mage mother?

-Of course, I may not look like it, but I am a high 5th rank wizard.

I suspected that she was strong, but a high 5th rank was a surprise. Of course, got to keep the kid act sometimes so I pretended not to know.

Still 5th rank mages a rare in this period. I doubt that her family let go of her easily, got to ask her about it.

- Amazing Mother! Then please show me your magic.

-Alright then, let's go to a suitable spot.

My mother took a spot on the center of the garden as she prepared to cast her spell.

A magic circle appeared beneath her feet, the temperature started to drop and about 30 ice shards formed around her. The shards started spinning the shot up to the sky at incredible speed and exploded into pieces, causing snowflakes to rain.

-Wow.

It wasn't my first-time seeing magic, but this one felt powerful and comforting at the same time.

-This is 3rd rank spell called ice cluster. as you saw it freezes the air around the caster to create ice shards to get launched at high speed and cause and explosion on contact, it's also possible to delay the explosion causing a timed detonation.

It's definitely a strong and useful spell, the delayed detonation can definitely be used to catch others off guard.

-Is Water one of your affinities mother?

-It's my only affinity, Ice is only a higher form of the water element as such ice is not classified as an affinity. Your tutor might teach you this in your next lesson.

-I see.

I kind of understand since ice is just a state of water, but one can also make an argument that one doesn't need water for the freezing phenomenon to happen. I guess science still hasn't advanced in that field yet.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I sensed a faint presence of someone approaching us, turning my head to my mother's personal maid Clara coming near us.

Guess there's more then meets the eye about the house servants,Elise must have similar skills as a last resort to protect a member of the family .

-Excuse me duchess it's time for your other appointment.

-Oh my I almost forgot about it.Please Clara Prepare my clothes in my room,i will be there shortly.

-As you wish.

A soon as Clara left, mother turned around to me.

-Sorry Luke to cut this short but I must go. I will show more magic next time.

'Pity, I wanted to ask her about how she met father'.

-Okay!!

Seeing the smile on my face, she knelt to pat my head and said:

-Although it's still far, I want you to remember that no matter what happens at the ceremony I will always consider you my precious child regardless of the results.

- Don't worry mother. Everything is going to be alright.

Saying our goodbyes, I went to my room to do a little more exercise.

'The ceremony huh...'

On normal circumstances, I would be excited to choose my path but that has already been decided.

The only thing that worries me are what affinities i will get and how much mana i can use.

There's also a chance of me not being able to use but considering who my parents are it's very unlikely.

'Well dwelling too much on it won't help. Regardless of the results one's got to play with the hands they are given'.