Overflowed Mana

[Portia's POV]

A wise man once said not to judge others by their cover. However, I need to protest to that whosever wise man because now, I can see great unfriendliness in Oliver's face when he checks me. He puts down the stethoscope and frowns.

Is there something wrong with me?

Am I … going to die now?

"Lady," calls Oliver in a stiff tone.

"Y-yes, what's wrong, doctor?" It is better for me if he shows some facial expression so that I know if it is bad or good news, but his stern face makes me nervous. For those two, Adeline and Anthony, their worried face only make my nervousness get worse. Luckily, Yuri was brought back to her room because she felt sleepy.

"Do you perhaps … happen to feel something uncommon lately? Like your body getting heated up in the middle of the night even though the weather is freezing cold?" He shows an unusual expression this time. He is curious about me.

"Is that a bad thing, Oliver?" Anthony jumps into the conversation. He also looks worried that his daughter might be having a severe illness.

"No, Your Highness," answers Oliver with a faint smile. "It looks like your daughter has awakened mana from a young age. It is quite surprising, even though some bright kids also awakened their mana at a young age, the percentage is low."

Anthony gasps wide. "Ma … na?" He then turns to me with a shocked expression. Mana is an important issue in this empire because if an heir from a famous noble household is known to be a sorcerer, their household will hold great power. "Portia, since when have you awakened your power? Why haven't you told me?"

"Sorry, Father. I—"

"It's not her fault, Anthony!" screams Adeline. She stands in front of me to defend me. "The empire's doctor also told me about Portia's power, and I chose to hide it first. She is not to blame for it. I know about the fact and am too scared to tell you because … because Portia might get hurt if she follows the path of a sorcerer. I don't want that. She is my precious daughter, just like Yuri. I don't want her to get hurt from using her mana like before."

Adeline falls to her knee and starts to weep.

Ah, I get it now. The conversation between her and the strange man when I am unconscious is about my power.

She must be scared to know that her stepdaughter has a magic power. Who knows if I will attack Yuri in the future? I know her concern, but it is not her right to make a decision about me.

I get up from the couch and lend my hand to help her stand up. "Mother, I am grateful for your concern. But I can take care of myself."

After that, I turned to Anthony, who was still in a shocking state. "Father, do you remember my request a few days ago?"

"Request?" He tilts his head and thinks for a while. "Do you mean—"

I give him the biggest smile I can make. "Yes, you're right, Father. I have awakened my power since that day. By entering Central Academy, I think I can learn how to control my power and broaden my perspective as a proper Palmerston daughter."

This is my only chance to convince Anthony and let me enter the school.

Anthony looks flustered. "I-I don't know, Portia … that place is dreadful. I never have a thought sending you, my precious daughter, to a horrible place like that—"

"You should send her, Anthony." Oliver cuts Anthony's words.

What? He has been so quiet for some time, and now he jumps in on this important matter?

"You too, Oliver? You know how terrible that place is!"

I bite my lips. Anthony is mad. It means that the conversation is going to be a bad result.

"Yeah, I know. I've been there for six years and don't want to return again."

"So why—"

"Because she needs to." He looks at me. "Your daughter has a unique mana type. I can privately teach her how to handle her power, but it's not enough. She needs to learn and practice it in school. If she didn't get a proper education, she would explode."

"What?"

"What?"

Both of us—I and Anthony—have the same expression on our faces.

Please wait a minute. I know that untrained sorcerers can not use their power due to a lack of knowledge and mana. But I never heard of a sorcerer exploding like a bomb because not going to school!

"Her case is different. Your attribute is light, isn't it?"

I nod. Light is an inheritance attribute in Palmerston. The last sorcerer in Palmerston is my grandmother, Juliana. She was well-known as a light goddess when she was still alive. We kept her portrait and all her belongings in Juliana's bedroom.

Oliver crosses his arms and leans on the couch. "It seems that you have an overflowed mana. Even for adult sorcerers, having that much mana will make them suffer from head pain and severe illness because their bodies couldn't accept it."

"What—"

"Wait, hear me first." Oliver lifts his right palm and stops Anthony before he can speak anything, whereas I am too stunned to speak.

Overflowed mana? Me? A loser woman who could never use her power properly due to lack of mana? What the hell happens here when I think everything will happen precisely like in my previous life. So … didn't it means some things might change in the future, and my memories become useless?

No, no, stop thinking negatively, Portia. Everything is going to be okay. I have been given a chance to live again, and I will never jump into the same mistake I made in my previous life.

"For now, the amount of mana that flows in her body can be controlled using control pills. I will give her the prescription I made. But, as she grows up, I can not guarantee the effectiveness of the pills anymore. She needs to control it herself, Anthony. That is the best advice I could give to you."

"I know." Anthony lets out a deep sigh and turns to me with a desperate look. "I need some time to think. I will give the final decision at dinnertime. Please excuse me."

He gets up from the couch and goes to his room.

Adeline approaches me. She looks pale. "Portia …."

"Mother. You look tired. Please get some rest."

"But—"

"I'm alright, Mother."

She bites her lips. "Yes … please reach out to me if you have something in mind, Portia."

"Of course I will."

Adeline does not say anything else and walks out. Perhaps she does not want to put another burden on my shoulders, knowing that I am dealing with a difficult situation.

When I turned to Oliver, he had left the room without saying anything.

Crap! I forgot to ask him about something!