《Reborn in Another World as a (Colorless) Demon Prince》Chapter 4: Essence
Advertisement
“Good morning, Young Master. Did you sleep well?”
Kieran hid under his blanket as Teal came to wake him up. He let his black hair show so she would know he wasn’t trying to scare her.
“Young Master,” she said as she gently shook his shoulders. Her soft and airy voice lulled him, “I don’t blame you for wanting to sleep in. I know we’ve been pushing you harder but if we didn’t then you’d fall even further behind your siblings.”
“Then why did we start seven years late?” he asked while still keeping his eyes closed.
“I wish I could tell you,” she said. Strangely enough, he could feel the sympathetic smile. “You can’t sleep in but I promise that today’s lesson will be fun and that you’ll get a break later tonight. Okay?”
He didn’t have any grand ambitions or a clear path ahead of him as the fifth prince so there was no reason for him to be so diligent. But, he got up anyway. If it was anyone other than Teal, he would’ve fought to stay as a bed potato.
She killed me with kindness. Alexandra probably would have just killed me though. I wish they'd just let me enjoy being 10 again.
“Thank you,” she said as she tidied the books on his desk. Although he hated studying, a book here and there was better than playing with toys. He could tell that Alexandra and Teal approved of his choice.
“I should be the one thanking you,” he said. He put on his day clothes.
She helped him with some of the buttons, “For what?”
“For always helping me and all.”
She laughed, “It’s my job, Young Master. There is no need to thank me.”
“But you don’t get paid enough,” he said as he stretched in his new clothes.
“The wage given to me is more than fair. I make more than enough to support myself.”
He looked at her patched up blouse, the same one she wore two days ago, and sighed. It’d been about half a year since his studies started and he overheard their conversation.
If you can’t even afford clothes on a more than fair wage, then it’s not exactly fair is it?
He didn’t push the conversation further.
Alexandra appeared in the doorway to lead him away, a rather unusual situation. She taught him in the afternoon and evening, so the fact that she was here now meant something different was happening. The idea was reinforced by Teal tagging along.
The two brought him to a room in the far corner of the main palace. A painting depicting the victory of the demons over the humans caught his eye. Although he’d seen many that were based on the subject of war, something about this one was different. He didn’t have the time to get a closer look at it. Alexandra’s eyes fell on him and he hurried to catch up.
Standing at the front of the door were two royal guards wearing breastplates marked with the kingdom’s crossed wings and claws. Each one had pauldrons sitting on their left shoulder and carried a halberd twice Kieran’s size. They seemed like the smaller kind, made for one on one combat.
When the doors opened he was hit with a wave of cool air. The refreshing feeling blew away his grogginess and at the same time, a sweet scent emanated from the room. While he half-expected to see he was outside in the gardens, all he saw were two stone pillars and an intricate circle overlaid on top of an octagon with dozens of different inscriptions and shapes inside.
Advertisement
“To me,” Alexandra said as she pulled out an orb. “Place your hand on this so we may determine your Essence.”
His hand shot out onto the orb and it went from crystal clear to a swirling black mist.
“Amazing! That’s great, Young Master,” Teal said, her hands clasped in excitement.
“Yes, Shadow Essence is a favorable outcome.”
Essence. He had seen the word multiple times during his studies. It was the magic of this world. Hearing the word made him giddy.
“We will train your Essence control in parallel to your current studies on the first great war,” Alexandra said. “The spell you will learn is-”
“H-Hold on,” he interrupted. “Can’t you tell me more about Essence first? Like what it is or something?”
Alexandra started without missing a beat, “Essence is an energy that permeates this world and all living things. Six main types of Essence exist, Light, Shadow, Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Yours is Shadow Essence, which lends itself to manipulation as opposed to Light, which relies heavily on casting spells that have predetermined effects. As a person who possesses Shadow Essence, be wary about its unique trait. At certain times in the day, noon and midnight, its powers wane, while it is strongest between night and day, in the brief moment of twilight.”
“You can train to use other Essences,” Teal added. “Though it is best you stick to mastering yours at the moment.”
“The most basic spell is, ‘Jarl und vass’ which means ‘Bolt of Essence’ or simply, ‘Essence bolt’. Observe. Jarl und vass,” As the words left her lips, a black blur shot across the room, colliding with the wall and leaving a black mark.
Fucking awesome.
“Your turn, Young Master,” Alexandra said.
Her expectant eyes bore a hole through his skull. In an instant he felt his mouth dry up. “J-Jarl und vass...”
Nothing happened.
“Focus. Do it again.”
“Jarl und vas.”
“Jarl und vass. Again,” she commanded.
“Jarl und v-vass!”
“Energy and enthusiasm mean nothing if the words and pronunciation are incorrect.”
“Maybe it’s not my fault. May it’s because I’m Color-”
“You are not,” Alexandra said instantly. “Sometimes blessings do not manifest until one reaches fifteen, once they go through their Scaling.”
Adulthood, in other words.
“Try again,” she said.
There were no excuses now, “J-Jarl-”
“Stop. Do not stutter. Do it again.”
A hand fell on his shoulder and he jumped. Teal was kneeling next to him with a soft smile, “It’s alright, Young Master. Take your time. We’re excited to see your Flow.”
In the silence, he focused his thoughts.
“J-Jarl,” he cleared his throat. “Jarl und vass.”
The impact rang throughout the room. A numb sensation spread around his arm and sweat ran down his neck. The world spun and it took all that he had to stay conscious. Was this the toll for using a single spell?
Teal steadied him. “You did amazing, Young Master!”
The refreshing air breezed past again and his exhaustion faded. Kieran aimed his spell next to Alexandra’s so he could compare them afterwards. His completely eclipsed hers.
He pumped a fist in the air and let out a triumphant cry. Teal mimicked him and brought her fist down onto his. Though he knew Alexandra wouldn’t be happy about their little outburst, he was glad that Teal joined him. It was always better when there was someone else to celebrate with.
“Temper yourselves,” Alexandra said, as if on cue. “A prince and a prince’s caretaker should always watch their emotions.”
Advertisement
“Can’t I celebrate even a little bit?”
“And what would you be celebrating, Young Master? The usage of a single spell that almost made you faint, hm? Or is it perhaps the fact that you were able to recite the simplest of chants that even a babe with an ounce of Essence in it could do? Your achievement is none at all. My Essence is fire, not shadow like the one I used.”
Heat was rising up to his face, his ears flushed red. The smile and cheery attitude vanished. He kept his eyes on the wall and his mouth clenched shut.
Teal reached for him but Alexandra’s words cut her off.
“Let him be. Our job is to teach the Young Master.”
“...No,” Teal’s voice shook. “Our job is to care for him.”
“Not filling his head with empty praise is the best care we can give. The sooner he understands his limits, the better he will be. Young Master, do it again.”
Kieran kept using spell after spell, going through a cycle of refreshed to exhausted as the circle beneath his feet glowed. His spells had been getting smaller and more controlled. He felt less tired after each use.
Teal supported him after his last one. She looked for something to wipe away his sweat. Alexandra tossed a handkerchief to her.
“You two are to continue your studies,” she said. A handful of maids rushed in after she left and began cleaning the room. Flowers and other plants that weren’t previously there had grown around the pillars, close to blooming. The maids plucked them out.
Teal beckoned him and he followed her. His eyes were still glued onto the plants.
“You did well today,” Teal said suddenly.
“I could have done better.” He was out after only one spell.
“Don’t let what Alexandra says bother you. She means well; she just doesn’t know how to convey it.”
That’s for sure. If she was more like you then there’d be no problems.
“Young Master?”
“Hm? Oh, I was thinking about that circle.”
“It’s a spell circle,” she answered in a cheery tone. “I don’t know as much as Alexandra but I’ll be happy to-”
As they rounded the corner, Teal fell. She had collided with a long-nosed maid. “My apologies, Your Highness,” the maid said with a bow. She disappeared down the hallway. When Teal got up, her horn that always stuck out proudly now seemed smaller.
“Hmph. She was really rude, apologizing to me instead of you. I should have reprimanded her or something.”
“It’s alright, Young Master. I’m glad you feel that way but if someone apologizes to you then that’s the same as apologizing to me.”
“Really? Well if you put it that way then I can’t let her off the hook after all.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Well, if she doesn’t apologize to you then that means she hasn’t properly apologized to me.”
“No that-”
“Teal,” he interrupted her. “If I’m happy, are you happy?”
“Y-Yes?”
“Right. If I’m unhappy then you’re unhappy, correct?”
“Of, of course...”
“So that means that she needs to apologize to you too because you’re unhappy right now,” he stated.
“No, no. Y-Young Master, It’s really okay. I swear,” Teal said, frantically waving her hands. “We must get back to your studies or both of us will be in a bind.”
“Okay, fine. But if something like that happens again, don’t let them get away with it. Otherwise I’m not gonna be happy.”
“I understand.”
I’ll have to watch her more carefully. I don’t think she’d tell me what’s bothering her even if I ordered her to. Would Alexandra tell me? Wait, she probably doesn’t know or doesn’t care.
When they returned to his room, they continued from where they left off yesterday in his studies. The War of Saints and Demons was the first conflict between humans and The Blessed. It followed around one hundred or so years after The Sundering, the war between the gods. The Sundering was an event referenced over and over. The two main gods in that war were the humans’ god, Rithorn, and their god, Bel’ekah. Their believers’ conflict had spread to them and after they were done and saw the destruction they caused, they exiled themselves to the other realm, a spirit world of sorts.
As the day wore thin, he paced about and barely registered Teal’s reading. She closed the book and asked him to sit. He obeyed without a word but was up again in minutes.
“Is something on your mind,” Teal asked.
“I’m just trying to remember things for review,” he replied, still pacing.
“Alexandra won’t be coming today,” she said, stopping him. “It’s her yearly trip to the eastern temple.”
“I don’t remember any yearly trips.”
“We started lessons less than a year ago and I’ve always put you to bed since I started working here, so it would make sense. She leaves before midday and is back the next morning,” Teal explained.
“Why the eastern temple when there’s one on palace grounds? And is it the same day every year? Could it be because of the flowers there or something?”
“I don’t know why the western temple but it is the same day,” Teal answered. "I think the nicest flowers bloom here every spring."
Kieran let out a sigh and plopped to the floor. His arms held him up from collapsing onto his back. Teal continued the lesson while he stared at her with half-shut eyes. When she began questioning him about what he learned, he recited what he remembered and backtracked when new knowledge came back to him.
“And Kayn is?”
“Kayn is a hero of the second great war between the Blessed and the Humans. He was also a Blood Demon like Alexandra.”
It was an easy question. Although they were on the first great war, Teal told him the stories of heroes from all wars so he wouldn’t get bored.
Teal stared at him, her eyes round like the moon. “H-How did you find out about Alexandra? Did, did I let it slip somehow…” She twiddled her thumbs.
If I’m not supposed to find out, don’t make it so obvious that it’s a big deal.
“I heard it during my first trip to the library,” he said, stifling a yawn.
“Oh..” She quickly changed the subject, “I suppose it’s time.”
Teal set the book down and cleaned the room while he changed into more comfortable clothes.
After he climbed into bed, Teal asked, “Do you need anything, Young Master?”
“Nope.”
“...Are you sure?”
He sighed, “I told you I’m too old for that now.”
“...”
“Alright fine. Just hum the first part to me then.”
He could hear the glee in her tone as she heeded his request. The words played in his head automatically.
Nahariundvass, why have our fates been tied? A twisted winding knot drifting through you, Nahariundvass. Cobblestone home hidden in the woods, a family of three happily living among the trees. Nahariundvass, thank you for the stream. Water for three as raindrops start to fall.
Advertisement
HP: A Magical Journey
[A Harry Potter Fanfiction]Follow Quinn West, who finds himself in the world of Harry Potter, but are things as they seem, is the world he has landed in the same as the one he once read about.Will Quinn able to find his way in this new world? Will he ever be able to feel like he belongs here?What opportunity would the magic of this world provide him? Will it lead him to the light or drown him in the dark?Tag along as Quinn makes his way into the world of magic as he discovers the secrets behind the infinite potential behind the magic that is within his grasp.****This novel is my escape from the burnout that I suffered from my other novel. I have no solid plotline planned, there will be no definite release schedule. The reason for me writing is to improve my writing skills, light my brain cells.As you know that there are so many Harry Potter Fanfictions out there, it is the largest FanFiction community out there, and as I write this novel, I don't have anything in my mind that isn't already out there, but I am trying to create a piece of transformative work that would pick up ideas from that wide community and create a work that would be enjoyable to read.So, give this content a chance, and I hope that this novel would stand up to your expectations.
8 451Apocalyptic World, Cheat
The peaceful scenery was ruined by a Meteor, People struggling to survive.. Food is important in this Apocalyptic world. One student with the power of Gamer, Trying to Level up, And Babysit at the same time. (If this Summarize is bad, please help me make it better.. :'D)
8 189Nova
Adachi, an orphaned boy who was adopted by a mountain hermit, is afflicted with a curse that makes him unreasonably heavy. His adopted father tells him it's a blessing in disguise, but will he ever learn to control it? Adachi will leave home, discover new lands, and discover things he never knew about himself. Follow his adventure for purpose and understanding! Updates: Wed, Fri, & Sun @ 5 PM PST.
8 191My Last Reincarnation
Achieving the pinnacle of power, a mortal could, Andras stood against both Heaven and Hell to save humanity. Having died several times in futile resistance while the brutal war for the Chaos Seed continued, his sole wish was for his undeserved suffering to end. In the final battle atop the world tree, Andras sacrificed himself one last time. Having never reached old age nor found love, he swore that if reincarnated once more, he'd forsake the tragic hero's path in favor of a peaceful life.With his wish granted, Andras found himself within the Central Hospital in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Instead of being reborn, his soul now occupied a body of a teenager who had forsaken his own life in what some assumed was just an accident. In a world without magic, Andras was left only with his knowledge of martial arts and the internal Qi that all humans possessed. The story follows his adaptation to a new life without prior knowledge he would have gained over the years. Thrown into the wilderness that is the modern-day high school, in search of love and well-deserved happiness. I hope you enjoy the long ride ahead of us, as we watch our MC struggle to grasp the concept of modern tech. Joined by a wide cast of characters, plots, and character development, the story of My Last Reincarnation is full of drama, romance, comic relief, and action! Schedule for 2022:Currently, there is a two-chapter weekly release every Monday and Thursday at 1 pm EST and 6 pm GMT. Content Warning Tags - They are included just in case because one in who knows how many chapters might have such content. Though it is not the main focus of the story. Enjoy! "My Last Reincarnation" is dedicated to Flafi (Fluffy 2009-2021). You shall be missed, my buddy.
8 197LITTLE GREEN MEN • Book 1
As nineteen-year-old Alex Dash cares for his six-year-old twin siblings, Henry and Annabelle, he is forced to navigate a post-cataclysmic world full of hostile entities. Dogs that seem more aware than they ought to, sentient plant-life, nomads aimlessly wandering...Rescued by a farming colony called Community, Alex meets Eva Monroe. She is mysterious, but also familiar somehow. When Alex sees strange lights in the fields, he begins asking questions that no one seems willing to answer. Together, Alex and Eva discover a secret. A secret that no one in Community saw coming...or did they? I will also post some of this story on Royal Road.Excerpt: To the right of the road the land rose sharply to a hill. Alex's gut tightened and fluttered as he realized their current location was not a wise one; low ground was a disadvantage in a conflict. Alex had a bad feeling, a hunch that he wasn't the only one searching. His attention was drawn to the top of the hill. Something was up there. They were being watched.
8 84The black phone ~imagines~
Check out my other book the black phone before you read thisI'll take requests on what characters you would like and what kind of stories
8 455