Father and Son Talk
'It's as I thought.' Xander sighed as he stared at the simple letter in his hands.
It was the next day, and the first thing he did was go to meet one of the family blacksmiths to ask for a sword. The older man had given him an odd yet interested look when he described what sort of sword he wanted, and he asked for two weeks to complete the weapon.
With that done, Xander spent the rest of his time in the family library, perusing books about spells, magic, as well as the history of this world.
Naturally, from the original Xander's memories, he knew the basics, but it was impossible for him not to be interested in a new world where magic existed, so he brushed up on his knowledge related to that as well.
This world was called Tatonia, and according to the books, there were 5 continents. However, each continent was massive, and it seemed that unlike earth, the water to land ratio was more balanced.
It was also home to many races and species, with the main intelligent races consisting of the Humans, Elves, Wraiths, Dwarves, Oni, and Dragons.
Humans and Elves had a good relationship while the Dwarves and Oni were mostly neutral, but they traded between everyone here and there. The Wraiths didn't like anyone, it seemed, but they seemed more reclusive than confrontational, and finally, the Dragons were revered and powerful creatures that were difficult just to even find, let alone form relationships with.
That was the general situation of the world at the moment, which surprised Xander as he had expected himself to be thrown in the middle of some brewing war between races.
'I guess I got lucky?' He wasn't sure.
Anyway, other than that, he continued to learn about different spells. Specifically ones he could incorporate into his swordplay. As there were no spells for channeling, the process would have to fall on him, as such, he ensured he was very careful with what he decided would work.
It was in the midst of this learning that a servant had found him in the library and given him a letter that was apparently from the family head, his father.
When he read it, he sighed.
To summarize, it spoke about how he was going to be sent to Avoma Military School early next month, confirming what he already guessed.
'There really isn't much to do about it,' He shook his head. 'Still, there is something interesting here...' Near the end of the letter, he surprisingly saw something that made his heart skip a beat.
It said that he could ask for one thing he desired before he left, so long as the thing was within reason and something he actually needed. This made him start thinking.
'I'm already in the process of making a sword, and I have access to this library for the time being. The food is helping my training greatly... hm. Actually, now that i think about it, my Mana...' He sat up.
While his training helped build his strength and endurance, his mana capacity was still, well, terrible. Using swordplay to magnify it helped, but it was just too small to be of any long term benefit. Unless he wanted to become a burst fighter, he didn't want to leave it that way.
Granted, constantly draining his mana pool and refilling it increased its capacity bit by bit, but it was just too slow compared to building his muscles.
'I heard that there are items that can permanently increase one's mana pool. That shouldn't be too absurd of a request, right?' He mused, his fingers finding his chin again.
After a while, he nodded to himself.
'I'll write to him when I return to my room.' With that settled, he couldn't help but feel a little excited.
There was just something so cool about watching his swordplay—something that was considered cool but largely useless back on earth—produce such miraculous results. If he could increase his mana pool, he could train longer and better familiarize himself with the power he possessed.
Pleased with himself, he continued his studying.
***
The following day, Xander had to get a new practice sword from the training field.
As it turns out, channeling his mana through a weapon caused it to wear down extremely fast. So one can imagine his shock when he had swung the weapon, only for it to shatter like glass with his latest infusion of mana.
He'd been quite miffed when it happened as it was late in the night, so he couldn't just go and get a new sword to continue practicing. Hence, he spent the rest of his training time just exercising.
After leaving a very confused servant to clean up the numerous shards of metal in the room, he went to get a few more practice swords, much to the confusion of the knights training there.
However, as he was returning to his room, something interesting caught his attention.
From his vantage point, he noticed a few carriages surrounded by heavily armed guards and mages enter the courtyard, and when he saw the crest on the side of the lead carriage, his eyes widened.
'That's... the royal family's crest.' A memory hit him again.
Then realization dawned on him.
'I see. It must be that time huh.' He nodded to himself.
The battle of succession between the King's children.
In order to be granted the right to be the heir to the throne, the princes and princesses of the kingdom couldn't just curry favor with their father. Instead, they were required to go out and gain the backing of various noble houses.
The ones with the most nobles standing behind them had the highest chance of succeeding the throne as it was a testament to their skill to win people over and gain allies.
Naturally, to ensure they couldn't just bribe or threaten said nobles, each prince and princess in the succession race had a 'Handler' who would ensure they didn't attempt any dishonest means at gaining the alliance of a noble. Besides that, they would not interfere with how they did things at all.
With all that said...
'None of that is my business.' Xander shrugged and walked away before whichever member of the royal family stepped out of the carriage. He was just an illegitimate child with terrible magical talent about to be sent to a military school. He had no business sticking his nose into succession battles.
'Also I'm way too weak. All it would take is for someone to say they don't like me and I'm screwed. Best to keep my head down.' He quickly went out of sight.
Not long after he left, the royal family's carriage opened, and out stepped a girl.
She couldn't have been older than 17. She had fair skin and flowing blue hair that reached her waist. She wore a modest yellow dress, almost making her resemble a delicate flower. But something interesting was the fact that she kept her eyes closed despite stepping down and navigating her surroundings. Almost as though she was blind.
As her guards stepped in around her and her personal butler stood by her side, she 'looked' around before her head faced the direction where Xander had been moments earlier.
'What an odd scent.' She thought vaguely before she began to move.
***
A few days later, Xander was ecstatic to learn that his request to his father had been approved.
A servant came to his room holding an exquisite black box about the size of a fist and handed it to him along with a note saying that his request had been granted before leaving.
Xander locked his door and quickly went to his bed as he excitedly read the note.
On it, there was an in-depth explanation about what the item was.
Apparently, it was a drop of water from the Spring of Life, one of the Elven Kingdom's greatest treasures. It was said that submerging a dead person's body into the spring would bring them back to life, and that the water had a myriad of miraculous effects.
'Th-This...!' Xander stared at the note in shock, then he looked at the box.
'I thought I couldn't ask for anything unreasonable. Heck, I didn't even request for this. I just asked for something that would greatly increase my mana pool. Why am I getting something so valuable???' He thought with shock and confusion.
Frankly, it made no sense.
Yes, he was still treated with a modicum of respect by the family, which is why he guessed his father even gave him the option to ask for something in the first place. But he hadn't expected anything crazy.
But this?
'Nah... this is way too suspicious.' He stared at the small black box on his bed like it had personally offended him.
It was a valuable treasure no doubt. One he doubted even the legitimate descendants of the family could receive casually. Yet here it was right in front of him.
A part of him wanted to think that maybe he was looking into things too deeply, and that maybe the Elves actually had a lot of the Spring water, so they weren't scared of giving a lot of it out, especially to humans whom they had a good relationship with.
'But the books specifically said that the Elves are stingy with their treasures! Especially the Spring of Life.' He rubbed his temples.
'Is it poisoned? No, if he wanted to kill me, he could just send a semi-competent mage into my room and I'd be screwed. Does he want me to owe him? But he has the resources of a powerful noble family at his beck and call. What could a talentless person like me offer him?' The more Xander thought about it, the more perplexed he was about what his father intended. Yet every possible reason just left him with more questions.
Eventually, he sighed. Then he grabbed the box and pocketed it.
'I'm about to do something very stupid.' He thought as he got off his bed, left his room, and started down the corridor.
He was going to ask his father, the family head, why he gave him something so valuable.
***
Xander was very surprised at how easily he managed to reach his father's study.
None of the guards on the way had tried to stop him and ask what his business was. Something the memories of the old Xander told him was bound to happen whenever he tried.
So this was very suspicious.
'He's expecting me. But why? What's the point of all of this?' Apprehensive, Xander reached the door to his father's study.
He stared at them for a few seconds, then he took a deep breath to calm his heart before knocking.
"Come inside." A calm and mature voice echoed from inside.
Xander opened the doorknob and stepped in.
The study was, unsurprisingly, quite large. There were numerous bookshelves holding all sorts of books containing knowledge Xander couldn't even begin to guess the value of. There were some chairs for guests, and finally, at the end of the room was a large desk, and behind it Xavier Lowell sat calmly.
Unlike Xander, his father's hair was a dirty blonde, though they shared the same eerie green eyes.
His frame was lean yet built, and his face was mature but undeniably handsome. His features sharp and angular as opposed to Xander's more delicate attractiveness.
"Take a seat, Xander." Xavier instructed calmly, and Xander refrained from gulping as he silently went forward and sat in the chair opposite him.
When he sat, a silence fell over the room. With Xavier observing his son quietly while Xander tried his best to hide his discomfort.
'It's strange,' He thought. 'I've stood before crowds of thousands before and been in the presence of people who had mastered blades like they were extensions of their bodies back on earth. Yet before this man, I feel like a child sitting before an elephant.' He glanced at Xavier from the corner of his eye.
'One wrong move, and I'll get crushed like an ant... As expected from someone hailed as an Archmage.' When he had that thought, Xavier finally broke the silence.
"I assume you're here because you are wondering why I gave you water from the Spring of Life as the item you requested."
'As I thought, he knows,' Xander forced himself to look up and nodded.
"I... can't help but feel like something so valuable is wasted on me." Xander said carefully.
"Wasted, you say?" Xavier leaned into his chair and regarded Xander calmly.
"What is your opinion of yourself?" He asked, and Xander blinked.
'... What does that mean?' He almost frowned and replied.
"I'm... an illegitimate child of the Lowell family with subpar magical talent." He said slowly.
"I said what is your opinion of yourself. Not what others think of you." Now Xander was very shocked. Where was he going with this.
However, he couldn't try and deflect or lie. The man would know.
"... I think that I'm quite pathetic." He said honestly.
"Oh? Care to elaborate?" Xander swore he heard amusement on his voice.
"... I was born out of wedlock and don't seem to be good at anything. Whether it's magic, politics, or anything else. For the longest time, I've been collecting dust, watching as my peers achieved great things while I couldn't even cast the most basic spell without panting." Again, what Xander said was true. At least, for the old Xander.
These were indeed the feelings of the original owner of this body, and the current Xander was repeating them. Though, to be honest, he felt the same way.
The original Xander had indeed been quite pathetic.
"And now?" Xavier pressed.
Xander hesitated, then he spoke. "... I'm not content to waste away. I want to at least try to achieve something. Anything. Even if it cannot compare with the achievements of others, it has to at least be better than what I am now." This was also the truth, but this time, Xander was speaking about himself.
He had no clue how far he could go even after his discovery concerning the body and magic. But anything would be better than his current status.
Sure, receiving an allowance and being treated as a noble, no matter how skewed it was, would be a dream for many.
But not Xander. He was someone who reached the peak of his craft back on earth. He simply would not be content to just disappear. No, he would do his damndest to go as far as possible.
Xavier regarded him again for a few seconds, then he spoke.
"I have people keep tabs on all my children while they are within my residence. Granted, they don't invade their privacy, but they see things." He rested his cheek against his knuckles.
"I find it interesting how the boy who seemed bitter and hopeless went into his room after seeing the rejection letter from Bellion Academy with wine, and when he came out, the first thing he did was go and get a practice sword from the training field.
Then he asks the servants to bring him an absurd amount of food that same night. And the next day, he goes to one of the family blacksmiths to formally request a sword to be made for him, and then he starts studying fervently in the family library.
Then he even collects more swords after that all while continuing the previous strange behavior which he had never shown before. It is quite the jarring shift, don't you think?" Xander froze.
'Shit.' He'd been caught.
He thought he was being low-key, but it seemed like Xavier Lowell was far more aware of the things going on in his home than Xander had originally thought.
Just as he was scrambling to figure out a response for if Xavier asked who he was, the man spoke again.
"There are two types of people when it comes to having their hope crushed. The first type is those who completely give up. I can imagine many in your position seeing their final hope, which is acceptance into Bellion Academy, being shattered and choosing to give up. Such a reaction isn't odd. In fact, it's quite normal, and most would react this way.
Then there is the second type. The ones who don't give up, but instead become incensed, almost spiteful of their fate. Instead of bending over, they do everything in their power to change their reality regardless of how bleak their future appears. These are the odd ones. Tell me, Xander, which of the two types do you fall under." Xander blinked, but before he could reply, Xavier continued.
"I have my own biases, but I am not a cruel man. At the end of the day, you are still my child. Had you simply given up, you would have gotten almost nothing from me. But your sudden drive has impressed me. So, I am choosing to honor it." He smiled, and Xander almost got whiplash.
"The Spring water is yours. Do not worry. There is no additional cost to it. If I had to ask for anything, it would be to see you break free of this unfortunate situation you have found yourself in." When he finished, Xander stared at him, barely stopping his jaw from hanging open.
Then, slowly, he stood and bowed.
"Thank you, father." He said with genuine sincerity, and the older man just waved him off.
With nothing else to be said, Xander spun and left the room, leaving Xavier who still had a faint smile on his face.
Outside, Xander clenched his fist.
'Break free of my fate, huh? Alright,' He grinned. 'Challenge accepted.'