I wanted to quickly go and practice my new spell, but I was called into the ‘throne room’ where Arthur was. What a name for such an ugly frog. Does he think he’s a prince? Anyways, it seems he did want the kelp jerky.

“I remember seeing a peculiar plant around your shoulder. What happened to it?”

‘Oh I ate it. I had to fend off a rather large fish and needed to recuperate. I needed to protect the weak ones so I quickly ate my snack to get better sooner. Is there something wrong?’

Keep in mind, I am not talking. I am projecting my thoughts. I think. Somehow, the other party understands my intentions. His froggy face somehow looks downcast before he turns it up again to face us.

“No matter! If you needed it, then all is well!”

Nice words. So why is he so adamant about us being here if not for the plant?

“Rather, I was actually hoping I could trade for it. I needed to make some more soldiers as quick as possible to take care of the Tyrant. Although, I believe you and your family can take him down!”

‘Tyrant?’

I was going to ignore that trade thing, I doubt he had anything worth it if he was going to use some measly kelp to try and make soldiers. Heck, comparing the followers we had to the common frogs found here, we were clearly the better equipped.

Our frogs had more robustness to them and had a firm glint in their eyes. Most couldn’t summon the water like the ten of us, but they were still of a better quality than these little good-for-nothings.

I decided to show off what the other frogs normally did. Feelings of awe and amazement filled the onlookers surrounding us. Soon, all the frogs were continuously training. I showed off my own cultivation method, at the cost of some peace.

Not many of the frogs could follow through, and the large elite frogs could not do it, even if they were stronger. I guess they had travelled too far on their path to start over.

Maybe one or two out of several hundred could follow my path. I took in about 5 more members that managed to complete the full cycle. I was going to have to call us something. Maybe just Frogmen? Frogfolk? Froglings? Wait, what was it that Mr. Black called me? Freshling? What’s that? Is that a young person?

I asked a guard and he said a freshling is an extremely old term for beginner Mage. Hmm. Then I can’t use that. I guess Frogfolk will do for now since there are girls amongst us.

Speaking of girls, there are vastly more women than men! I know frogs are a symbol of fertility, but this is insane! Out of the five new members that joined us, not one was a guy!

Well, moving on, the next week was spent training newbies the art of walking and supervising their rotation exercises. The elite guards had all been beefed up an extra ten percent it looked like and the leader guy Arthur was a good head taller than before.

All of my siblings were busy practicing their magic. While the Frogfolk were using Water Drills, the Big Frogs were attaching a spinning water sphere to the tip of their tongue before they lash out with it at an incredible speed.

I found out focusing the energy into the body could enhance our physical abilities as well. Now I could easily outjump any frog here. I could also easily outrun my siblings and I learned to activate this ability I call Strengthening just before making contact with the target so as to minimize the energy usage. It involved focusing the strands of energy I had to a specific part of my body.

As for these strands, I had about thirty of them so far.

It was about time for that new spell. I imagined the push and pull of the waves at the ocean in my previous life, the splashing and rolling. I remembered the crushing power and the gripping fear it had instilled onto me. I also remembered the beautiful sunrise I saw as well. It was like a passionate friend trying to convince you to think again.

I don’t know what happened, I just know I blacked out. I guess I didn’t have the strength to power such a spell. But when I awoke, everyone was staring at me. I looked around and noticed almost all the logs were washed up together, piled high. Did I do that?

Arthur had even hopped all the way over to me, personally.

“What…what was that?! You called in a storm it felt like!”

‘I don’t know. I blacked out. I don’t remember.’

“You have been out for three days! We were afraid you hurt yourself!”

Thanks for the concern, I guess. The frogs were actually having some fun jumping from log to log, coming in and out as if they were playing games. It kind of reminded me of those tall apartments with multiple floors.

I tried to use my power and noticed it was still there. I guess it regenerated, after all. Good to know it wasn’t gone forever.

I sat down and focused on that feeling, but sort of watering it down. I was surprised to see the water move towards and away from me in all directions. I must have made a tsunami! A massive wave like that could knock down buildings! Well, if we were about normal size, then I could knock down dog houses.

Unlike me, who could control the area around me, my siblings could only do one of two things. The Frogfolk could control the area in front of them to surge forward against the enemy, probably disrupting their attacks and even sweeping them down.

The Big Frogs could make a big splash even bigger. In an area filled with water, this could be used as a diversion or to quickly spread water around to multiple areas. Not really an attack, but a support type move.

Well, I had created a simple move, Rippling Waves, and a super move, Drowning Tide. I wonder if I could do the same thing with the Water Drills. Let’s find out.

This time, I had some of us go back to the pond to practice. Arthur was a little upset, but he quickly covered it up with a fake grin and only hoped we would return quickly. Yeah, I can’t leave my family behind for whatever it is that you fear.

Little Brother was the one who went with me. I had him swim below me and start a whirlpool. I was stuck inside the whirlpool, helplessly caught inside. I was deep in thought, trying to remember the feeling. No, it wasn’t fast enough. I ushered Little Brother to speed it up. Let’s just ignore my masochistic actions, alright?

I could finally feel that energy slowly building up within me, as I memorized the motions and feeling I experienced. Before I returned, I wanted to try my spell. I went into a trance and immersed myself in the feeling of the whirlpool. A whirlpool wasn’t a drill, why did I delude myself? I realized a whirlpool was a dangerous monster, quickly consuming all in its grip.

Just like the ocean.

That dark feeling emerged and I soon lost control of my body. I awoke back at Arthur’s place with Little Brother off to the side. I quickly got back up but Little Brother just ran away. I followed him, quickly catching up to him with my faster speed. What I saw made my skin crawl. A nasty scar had gone up his face and almost took out his right eye.

I had done this. I quickly went to Mr. Black, wasting all my energy. I didn’t notice at the time, but it must have only been half an hour of running at top speed.

‘Mr. Black, my brother is hurt! What can I do to heal him?’

“Hm? Oh, it’s Little Jumper. You seem to have gotten even stronger in the short time you were gone. Not so much of a freshling anymore. A true Mage, huh? Your brother? Could it have been an accident?”

‘…I have no excuse. I lost control.’

“There, there. Here, feed him this petal. It has restorative properties.”

‘Thank you, Mr. Black! I will return with good news!’

Yes! Well, oops. I was in such a hurry to get back to Little Brother, I scratched myself up pretty bad, slipping on the wet rocks. I finally returned and forced him to eat the petal. Soon, his entire body glowed with a fantastic light and the nasty scar faded and soon looked more like a light scratch.

Yes! He’s okay! I quickly drag him behind me to go thank Mr. Black! Wait, couldn’t I have done that the first time? Who cares?!

It was definitely dark by the time we visited Mr. Black again. I even bowed to him. I mean I got on the floor and kowtowed to the big turtle. Little Brother copied my movements and I could hear Mr. Black chortle.

“Hur hur, you little rascal. You do know you could have eaten that little petal and have grown stronger, right?”

‘Huh? But I needed it for my brother.’

Why steal from him? Mr. Black himself gave the petal for me to specifically use to heal Little Brother. Did he forget that? He began chortling again.

“Hur hur, for your brutal honesty and pure heart, here. Nine more petals. Share them with your family.”

‘Thanks, Mr. Black!’

“Hur hur. Take care!”