Walking through the streets Merlin and Arwen steadily made their way home as people walked along the street. Merlin justed looked around in a disinterested way meant more as a facade to others.

Inside he was trying to figure out what Diane said about affinity to the gods. Giving up eventually he turned towards Arwen who was walking next to him. He waited for her to finish greeting a few of the locals that she knew.

Seeing Merlin looking at her Arwen turned her head towards him while continuing to walk forward.

“Miss. Arwen, what did Priestess Diane mean about holy affinity? I feel like I should know that term.”

Looking at Merlin as though he was sick Arwen had answered, “You should, I talked about it when we went over the members of the temples. Sometimes when a person is born there is an imbalance in the power the gods used to give us life. This causes people to lean towards one of the gods. It is through that connection and utilization mana and ki together some are able to invoke the power of the gods. Though are you sure you feel alright? That should be easy for you.”

As she spoke everything became clearer to Merlin as though he always knew that.

“Yeah I am fine Miss. Arwen. I think it is just because of what happened today. How do you tell if there is a connection between you and a god?”

Still wearing a worried face she responds to Merlin, “I personally do not know what it is like. However, I have raised a few kids that became priests. They all say it is like a tug at the back of your mind. Always reminding you of its presence, but not enough for it to interfere at all. I had one even claim that he could occasionally feel like something was watching him. However that disappeared quickly, plus he was always a jumpy one.”

Listening to her talk Merlin could almost feel something move in response. It was almost as if it was trying to say THAT’S ME. Thinking back he could wondered if the one boy Arwen mentioned was right about being watched. He felt it strongly right before his awakening.

“Speaking of the kids, maybe you could ask one of the kids aiming to be a warrior about training your Endurance maybe? No matter what, that should be increased if only a little. Also you should do some chores and gain a few skills for them. They will be useful, like cooking for example.”

Nodding in agreement to her words, Merlin’s thoughts started to drift once more, as he thought about what he should train.

Seeing him like that Arwen sighed knowing that despite what she wanted to say he was not likely to listen to her anymore. Removing her sight from Merlin proved easy as she heard yells up ahead indicating their arrival at the orphanage once more.

Morning came once more as everyone sleepily went about doing their chores. Merlin was part of cooking that day as Arwen set it up so he could start getting the skill at least. They were having oatmeal that day along some fruits the farmers would deliver on occasion to the orphanage.

All Merlin had to do was cut up some of the fruits so the smaller children could eat them easier. As he finished that and started to sit down to eat with the rest of the children out of the corner of his eye a blue screen popped into his view.

NOTICE

You have learned a skill.

Due to previous experience the skill has been updated accordingly.

Cooking

The ability to put ingredients together and make something edible.

Allows for using of basic utensils to make food from simple ingredients.

Allowed ingredients and untensils will increase when skill increases with skill.

Flavor and amount of success will increase with skill.

Level: Intiate

Skill will not go past Novice unless Class permits it.

Mastery: Middle

Smiling in satisfaction he continued to eat.

After breakfast Merlin headed to the side of the orphanage where a training field was located. Here was where most of the warrior focused children would spend time as there were a few practice weapons along with training dummies. There was even a few circles of dirt that were designated for sparring.

Noticing his approach Mary called out to him. (AN: Chapter 1 girl)

“What are you doing here Merlin? You don’t seem to like a warrior type at all.”

Hearing her call out a few of the kids turn towards him. One in particular formed a sneer on his face.

“Yeah we don’t want some wimp like you hanging around. It might make us like you. Hehe.”

With a look of exasperation on her face Mary yelled at him, “For the last time Mavis, just shut up. We do not need you telling everyone about yourself now, do we?”

Laughing at the remark the tense atmosphere that had unknowingly built up dissipated as the rest returned to their activities.

With a angry look on his face Mavis walked away to corner of the area and started beating a dummy out of anger.

Turning back to Merlin Mary smiled.

“Sorry about that. Mavis gets a big head while training, but he is alright once he calms down. Now do need something Merlin?”

Nodding in appreciation Merlin asked, “Do you think you can help me train my Endurance? It is really low and I would like to at least increase it by a few points.”

Understanding coming to her face Mary nods before tapping her chin in thought.

“Well if you are not becoming a warrior the best way would to run until you collapse repeatedly. Any other form of training it often overlaps with warrior skills. Unless you plan on becoming a warrior?”

Her last question told Merlin that his chances of being a warrior were terrible. The thought saddened him as even those barely older than him could tell that.

Thanking her for that, Merlin got advice on a good way route to use, as some were doing right now.

Starting off on the closest point near the field Merlin started running. The result after five minutes was him collapsed on the ground out of breath. The distance he ran was about one tenth of the entire course. Looking up he watched some of the other run as they went almost double the amount of what he did and over five times the distance. The part that disappointed him most was instead of collapsing like he did they merely started walking before resuming after a minute. It took at least ten to even start walking and an half hour to start running just to end in the same predicament.

Merlin continued like that until lunch was called where he was only about of the fourth of a lap. A few of the kids who ran also walked over to Merlin and helped him to the house. Many of them felt pity as they passed him at least ten times in that period.

This continued for a few days before Merlin approached Arwen.

“Miss. Arwen is there a person I could learn how to use my mana from? Even if I don’t end up needing it I would like to have it for now.”

Tapping her chin in thought Arwen spoke, “Maybe, let me get in contact to see if he will help. I will let you know when I find out.”

Smiling in appreciation Merlin walked away to do his ‘run’ for the day.

Watching him leave with a worried look on her face Arwen grabbed one of the kids heading into town and had them deliver a message.

A few days later Merlin came in for lunch and felt someone of some power located in the building. While not the greatest he felt it was still above average people. Before he could question the source he found a man sitting talking with Arwen.

Seeing him walk in Arwen motioned for Merlin to come over. The action caused the man to turn around and show that he was a cat-kin.

Pointing to him Arwen spoke, “This is the one I was talking about Merlin. His name is Austin and he is a level 34 Mage.”

Giving the boy a look over he spoke out in a voice that betrayed his age, proving him to up there in years.

“Boy why did you even bother with asking about mage skills if you are clearly doing training for a warrior?”

Contrary to what he expected, Merlin answered in a calm manner, as though he did not hear the insult hidden in the words.

“My Endurance is really low. I want to improve it a little more. My interests though, lie in mana. So please accept me as your disciple Mr. Austin.”

Seeing the boy’s collected manner Austin smiled before responding, “Your attitude certainly shows you are no warrior. Very well. You have a range used for archery practice correct? Please take me to it.”

Smiling Merlin nodded and started leading the way before he heard Arwen’s voice.

“Aren’t you forgetting about lunch Merlin?”

Rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment, Merlin excused himself before heading to eat lunch.

Some time after lunch what seemed like all the children in the town were sitting near the range to see magic. Despite mages meant to be fighters a few turned it into a small show. It was not uncommon. It had even managed to become its own class, becoming a Craftsmen related one.

Making sure none of the children were near the targets Austin looked down at Merlin who stood close by.

“Now Merlin, unlike warriors, mages require that we use chants to use our spells. This makes them take time to cast and be used. This makes us slower than warriors who can do it on almost thought alone. However, mages will always have superior power when comparing similar levels. I find it is best to start with memorizing the chant along with having an idea of what you are trying to do. Now stay behind me and watch.”

Nodding his head Merlin backs up and joins the crowd of children who were being watched by Arwen and a few mothers who bring their children here to play.

Checking one last time, to make sure no one is near the targets, Austin closes his eyes in concentration. When he next spoke, his voice was filled with power.

“Come raging wind and slice my enemies, Airball.”

Invisible to the eye, a rush of wind streaks down the range and strikes one dummy, creating slashes, similar to blade marks, to appear all over the dummy. Without stopping he continues.

“Come swirling water and wash away my enemies, Waterball.”

Unlike wind, everyone could see this one as water rushed from the lake and formed a ball of water before crashing into another dummy. Despite that he continued.

“Come steadfast earth and pierce my enemies, Rockball.”

In front of him the earth rose as it formed another ball before it too rushed down the range and made a hole in one dummy that was still untouched. Unlike the previous times Austin waited a moment before chanting one more.

“Come consuming fire and burn my enemies. Fireball.”

Above his head a giant ball of fire appears and soars down the range striking the last dummy setting it on fire.

Nodding in approval Austin turns around with a smile on his face before exclaiming, “That my children is the four basic spells that all mages know when given the class as ordained by the gods.”

All the children there with a few of the adults mixed in had a shine in their eyes. One truth accepted by all was that spells had a charm about them that no ki technique could match and have the same effectiveness.

Seeing the look in their eyes, Austin chuckled before gesturing with his hand to have Merlin come forward.

Seeing that Merlin quickly walked forward not even noticing how a few of the younger ones started walking forward too, only to be stopped by the adults nearby.

Standing next to him, Merlin looked up with a expression on his face asking what he should be doing.

Pointing down towards a few untouched dummies Austin told Merlin, “I want you to try and cast Waterball so that it strikes a dummy. The reason for using Waterball is because it has the lowest cost and easiest to deal with any accidents should anything happen. I do not expect you to get it right the first time so do not get discouraged. However, do not force yourself. I mean it when I say that. Otherwise you will be hurt or even killed. Now, you may begin when ready.”

Seeing the seriousness on the old man’s face Merlin calmed down almost instantly as he looked towards the dummies mentioned by Austin.

Recalling what he said and the action described Merlin held out his hand as he pointed towards the dummies.

Seeing that Austin nodded in approval as accuracy greatly increased while doing so. The only reason he did not was due to his age, despite he was only Novice Low in his magic.

Feeling inside Merlin tried to find energy similar to what he felt was used in the spells he saw. Initially all he found was what felt like an empty cavern in his stomach before moving up to his head where he saw a pool of energy that could easily fill up the cavern he found earlier with some to spare.

Drawing it out slowly he found it moved easily in his body. Moving it towards his mouth to speak words of power similar to Austin, Merlin spoke the chant.

“Come swirling water and wash away my enemies, Waterball.”

Instantly he felt a portion of it leave his body and start pulling water towards it.

Excited at his success Merlin suddenly felt as though the energy was dissipating rapidly. Using his connection to it he found that it seemed like something was tearing it apart, forcing it to dissipate.

With a maddened look on his face Merlin did not gently move the energy anymore. He forced it to obey him. To stay together. To submit itself to his will power.

Merlin forced more of the power outside his body to compensate. Suddenly Merlin felt as though he broke past a barrier that stopped the spell as the energy suddenly left his control he opened eyes to see what was going on.

What he saw was a Waterball larger than the earlier one fly down the range and strike two dummies at once.

As he took that Merlin did not feel himself fall to his knees as the ground rushed up to greet him he managed to see two screens.

NOTICE

Due to successfully casting a spell on your first try you have earned the following stat points.

+1 Intelligence

+1 Wisdom

+2 Willpower

NOTICE

Due to your amazing feat of performing a spell on your first try you have been granted the following skills.

Water Magic

The ability to manipulate water around you to form what you desire.

Can use following spells:

Spells:

Waterball

Level: Intitate

Mastery: Low

Mana Manipulation

Using this will allow the user to control how much mana is used for a spell.

The less mana the weaker the spell. The more the stronger. Simple.

WARNING: Some spells will have unintended side effects when improper amount is used.

Level: N/A

Mastery: N/A

Mana Sight

Allows you to see mana around you.

Details and distance are determined by skill level.

WARNING: In presence of large amounts of mana user can be blinded. Will affect Health in extreme cases.

Level: N/A

Mastery: N/A

That was the last thing he saw before passing out.