Chapter 15: Christmas

"Mana is present all around us," Jasper began. "It requires intensive training to feel its presence. However, there are some who are born with mana sensitivity, though it's rare."

I listened intently, absorbing his words while pondering my current understanding of mana. 

"What is mana? Where did it originate from?" Jasper continued, answering his own questions as he delved into the subject. 

Mana is said to have existed since the creation of the world, though it was not initially seen or felt by anyone. Its discovery came when the first king opened his mana presence. Many scholars had since tried to understand its origins: How was mana created? Where did it come from?

"In my theory, I propose that mana exists because of us," Jasper explained. "I've conducted research that shows certain areas have an abundance of mana—places like hospitals and forests, where life is constantly being created, have higher levels of mana compared to other areas."

Jasper then referenced the Theory of Haynton, which posited that mana is continuously emitted from our bodies. "From my study, I concluded that mana comes from life itself," he said.

I nodded thoughtfully, occasionally chiming in with my thoughts on Jasper's theories. His insights changed my own views on mana; I had always thought of it as something that naturally existed. But Jasper's theory seemed plausible and opened my mind to new possibilities.

Time passed quickly, and soon my class with Jasper concluded.

"Sir, may I ask something?" I said, lingering as he packed his belongings.

"Of course. What is it?" Jasper replied.

"If someone has mana sensitivity, what do you think is the most likely cause?"

Ever since I began practicing mana control, the strange scent I often smelled had started to subside.

It was still faintly there, but I no longer needed to carry a handkerchief everywhere I went. I suspected that the scent might actually be mana, but reaching this conclusion only led to more questions.

"There are three primary reasons why someone might have mana sensitivity," Jasper explained.

"First, they could have been born in an area with a high concentration of mana, allowing them to feel its presence from birth."

"Second, some people are simply born with a natural mana presence. And third, some individuals react strongly to mana because they were born with an unusually high amount of it within their bodies."

"But what about the third reason?" I asked. "Isn't mana supposed to be absorbed from the outside into the body?"

"Yes, generally speaking," Jasper said. "But in rare cases, some individuals are born with mana trapped inside their bodies, making them more sensitive to it."

He paused, giving me a curious look. "Is something bothering you?"

I shook my head. "No, sir. I was just curious. Thank you, and I hope you have a pleasant afternoon." I bowed slightly and left for my next class.

***

"Ready to start your training, kiddo?" Herald greeted me with his usual smile, and I nodded in response.

"Alright then. We'll continue with the same exercises as yesterday," Herald said, blowing a whistle to signal the start.

Just like the day before, I underwent a grueling exercise routine: running, push-ups, and sit-ups. Unlike yesterday, my body felt a little lighter, and I pushed myself to my limits until I heard the whistle again and stopped.

"Not bad, kiddo. You did much better than yesterday!" Herald praised. "For now, focus on training. If I see fit, I'll start teaching you the basics of swordsmanship."

"Yes, sir."

Days passed, and my schedule settled into a routine of theoretical magic lessons with Jasper in the morning and physical training with Herald in the afternoon.

Jasper's classes helped me understand mana more clearly, and I even began formulating my own theories about it.

As for my training with Herald, I noticed some physical changes: I grew a centimeter taller, and my previously skinny body started to show signs of muscle development.

After my classes, I would retreat to my room to practice mana control. I was slowly gaining better precision, although I hadn't yet mastered coating my skin with mana. Still, progress was progress.

Meanwhile, my left eye continued to bleed occasionally due to the trauma. Despite numerous attempts to heal it with both magic and technology, nothing seemed to work.

I'd grown accustomed to living with one functional eye.

With Christmas only three days away, Jasper and Herald were given a week off to celebrate the holiday with their families.

As usual, it was just Marie and me celebrating this time of year. Occasionally, memories of my past life would surface.

I recalled how my father would take me downtown during Christmas to buy sweets, sneaking me out under some flimsy excuse.

"Eating sweets is our little secret, just for us men," he would say, encouraging me to indulge despite my mother's strict rules against eating too many.

As I remembered these moments, I realized that, despite everything, I still loved my father.

"Young master? You're dozing off again."

I jolted back to reality, realizing I had been lost in my thoughts and forgotten about Marie.

"Just thinking about something," I mumbled quickly.

Marie gave me a warm smile. "Well, your birthday is coming up soon," she reminded me.

I was born on January 10, 20XX.

I nodded, though birthdays didn't hold the same excitement for me as they used to.

When you're a kid, birthdays are magical, but as you grow older, they lose their charm.

"What would you like for your birthday, young master?" Marie asked, smiling brightly.

I paused for a moment before responding. "I don't really want anything for my birthday."

Marie sighed, her smile faltering slightly. "Fine, I'll pick something for you then."

I nodded, gazing out the window at the streets filled with couples and their children.

We had just returned from buying ingredients for Marie to bake with, and as I helped her put away the groceries in the kitchen, I found myself drifting off on the couch in the living room.

When I woke up, I was covered with a blanket, and Marie handed me a cup of hot chocolate.

It had been particularly cold lately, and my body seemed to react more to the chill.

Though I wasn't sick—I rarely got ill thanks to my Resistant Immune System—I just felt unusually drained. Perhaps it was more of an emotional thing.

I sighed, changing the TV channel to distract myself.

"Young master, you've received a gift," Marie said, placing a red box beneath the Christmas tree. "It's from Sir Jasper."

"Sir Jasper sent me a gift?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes, he did," Marie confirmed, sitting beside me.

I couldn't help but feel confused. Why would Jasper send me a gift? We were just student and teacher.

"What's wrong?" Marie asked, noticing my expression.

"Nothing," I replied nonchalantly, turning my attention back to the TV.

The next day, gifts arrived from Herald, Vincent, Hans the old butler, and Marie. I was especially surprised by the gift from Hans, as we had only met twice—once when I was hospitalized, and once when he moved us into our new quarters.

"Marie, can I mail this?" I asked, holding a blue box I had prepared for Vincent.

"Of course. Let me help you with that." Marie assisted in mailing the gift, then returned to the kitchen to continue her holiday baking.

The doorbell rang, and I opened the door to see a man in a suit.

"The patriarch sent you this gift," he said, handing me a red box before leaving without further explanation.

I blinked a few times, checking the box. It had the Leclair family signature, so I didn't worry. I placed it beneath the Christmas tree and continued with my day.

When Christmas Day arrived, Marie went all out, preparing a feast despite it being just the two of us. After the meal, she urged me to open my gifts.

From Vincent, I received a special notebook that allowed me to write anything using mana.

From Herald, I got a fitness shirt with his face plastered on it. Marie told me it was a joke, as Sir Herald often struggled with gift-giving.

Jasper's gift was a magic pen that could write phrases visible only to those who possessed the pen.

Hans sent me a pair of gloves that could resize themselves, and Marie gifted me a book about magic, which I had been wanting the most.

Lastly, from my father, I received a pendant with a simple note: "This pendant belonged to your mother." When I opened it, I saw my birth mother's face for the first time.