Chapter 12: I wish to become a Thief

“Fang Now it’s your turn.”

After his mother’s words Fang walked up to the pedestal. The prince watched with bated eyes, in his mind he would not lose to the son of the blood elf who was neither a full blood elf or dwarf.

If the prince had not been instructed by his father to not actively provoke the half dwarf he would have already caused a ruckus in the temple.

Fang, not knowing the thoughts of the prince, walked with confident strides to the podium. Unlike the confidence of the prince his strides were a natural thing built up over time in his fights.

The elder smiled slightly at Fang as he watched the way he carried himself.

‘This boy has the bearings of a warrior. He must take after his father well, however seeing the blood elf in person is interesting.’

As Fang reached the pedestal everyone had a variety of expectations, but Fang himself already knew he had at least an inclination to the fire element and anything else would just be a bonus.

As he placed his hands on the pedestal his mother and father waited with bated breath. But after ten seconds passed nothing happened and they began to grow anxious.

The prince was jumping in joy thinking that the half dwarf had somehow failed. But these thoughts were short lived from the ceiling the phantom image of ashes falling appeared. This seemed to be some form of fire element variation.

As the gray ashes fell they seemed to fill up a large portion of the hall being a match for the prince’s volcanic eruption. In between the ashes small amounts of black electric currents flowed but this was only noticed by the elder.

Fang’s parents didn’t know what to make of the ashes, on one hand almost all elemental variants were looked at favorably on the other how much could he achieve with ashes.

Ashes were the remains of burnt creatures or objects and this signified that he was most likely under the fire element, and while the fire element was known for its explosive strength ashes were a different thing entirely.

Fang although not immediately did take note of the small sparks of electricity with East’s help.

‘Master your elemental affinity is rather odd and i just realized that I don’t like it. That’s why you should just go ahead and use the electricity instead of the ashes.’

Fang had no intention of using only one aspect of his power and although he didn’t have a solid idea of what to do with the elemental variant of ashes he could eventually think of something.

“Young man your mana variant is rather interesting stay with your parents and come with me along with the prince after your speaking with them shortly.”

Hearing the elder speak Fang removed his hand from the array and walked back to his parents calmly. The prince on the other hand looked towards Fang and almost jumped in joy, the child he considered his enemy had lost in their little one sided contest. Although he was the only one who knew of it the prince was still happy.

After all he was not only one of the kingdom’s few variants he was also one of the extremely rare dwarves who could sense mana. In this way he was sure that he had won after all his volcanic element variant was sure to be better than a variant that made one rely on ashes. the dwarven elder took note of the prince’s small victory and sighed inwardly at the childish antic then began to speak to the group.

“Well then the only thing left is to test each of you to see if you have the capability to sense mana those who already know and those who do not wish to participate may leave.”

Luna and Tal looked at their son with some worry, they could not think of what to say.

“Mother the elder asked us to stay and accompany him after this along with the prince.”

Looking at his mother who didn’t know what to say Fang could only be bewildered by their actions. Nodding to her son Luna decided that it would be unnecessary for the dwarven race to train him in an unfamiliar element, so she along with her husband would do it.

Above all Luna didn’t wish to send her son to an academy full of noble dwarves who would cause nothing but trouble. Turning her head Luna looked towards the elder and spoke.

“Elder we thank you for your good intentions but teaching my son will be my duty.”

After nodding once more towards the elder She took Fang’s hand and began to walk away with her husband not far behind.

“Hmm I wonder if the blood elf saw the electric sparks, well no matter the important thing for the kingdom is the prince and the lad with the burning mountain… He reminds me of our high general.”

Back in the their house the small three person family sat quietly while eating, none speaking of Fang’s variant element for various reasons. It wasn’t until after the three had finished their meals that Tal spoke up.

“Fang, son, while I don’t know how ashes will help you fight others in the future for now I'll give you some lessons on refining ki. I’ll also give you a tool that will help you gather mana and convert it into ki. We’ll go to my study and I will explain everything in further detail there.”

Having spoken Tal got up from his seat and walked to his study in order to prepare everything necessary for Fang to begin refining his ki. With the only two left being Luna and Fang there was an awkward silence that Fang didn’t seem to notice.

“Fang, from now on when you are presented in front of some people they may not understand your strength but in the future with some hard work no one will be able to look down on you. So for now you must remember to preserver.”

Fang didn’t quite understand what his mother was getting at but he nodded anyway.

“Now then apart from those things to be able to preserver one must have a goal. Is there anything you wish to do? Or maybe something you wish to become, like a knight or a merchant… Maybe a spy?”

Fang did not even have to think about his answer, it was something he had been preparing for his whole second life.

“I wish to become the world’s greatest thief, I'll own everything the world has to offer.”

This was said in the most resolute way Luna had ever heard her son speak, so she knew he wasn't kidding. But because of that she felt rather troubled, a thief wasn’t a noble profession or could be considered decent in any way.

“... Fang Fae, do you know what a thief does and what it means to be one?”

Luna was hoping that her son was just having a misunderstanding of some sort and read a story book wrong or held a misinterpreted view of what a thief was.

“Yes mother, a thief is someone who takes everything he desires and keeps his things to himself.”

Luna was beginning to see where her son had the idea that he would never surrender any of his possessions to anyone. If he was to be some sort of greed driven thief then his desire to never surrender any of his things made sense.

“Fang who put this idea into your head?”

Although she was speaking in a calm and gentle voice, on the inside Luna was ready to go on another rampage and destroy whoever fed her son these things along with at least three generation of that person’s family.

“I read it in a book.”

Looking at her son who couldn’t possibly be lying to her Luna looked up to the approximate location of Tal’s study.

‘If he has books venerating the actions of thieves I'll send him packing.’

Without another word she rushed up to her husband’s study and began to look through his collection of books. Not finding anything she turned to her baffled husband.

“Husband do you happen to have any books on thieves I could borrow?” Despite her calm tone Tal could sense an impending dread But none the less answered her question.

“No… Actually there might be some on bandit subjugation protecall but that’s all I can think of. Why?”

Seeing his wife’s fake calm demeanor Tal couldn’t help but shiver as he asked.

“... Do you know our son plans to be a thief when he grows up… He said he read about it in a book, and he looks determined.”

Tal was now sporting a large frown, as the high general he received reports about bandit subjugations and the execution of various criminals. He knew first hand what could happen to a person who chooses a life of crime.

“Does he understand what a thief is?”

“He seems to know the jist of it but nothing concrete. I was wondering if you might have had anything that influenced him.”

Tal just shook his head and sighed.

“For now let’s talk to him if we reach a compromise or have him understand what a criminal is then it might be simple to change his mind, maybe we can show him something more interesting.”

Having come up with a good enough solution for the moment Tal continued looking in his desk for an item he bought specifically for Fang’s use. It was a vest that would help one feel the flow of mana and convert small amounts of it into ki from there it was up to the individual to learn the process and continue on his or her own without the aid of the vest.

While his parent’s were conversing about Fang’s future he was calmly collecting the plates and promptly began washing them. As he washed the plates he seemed to not have any care in the world about the big commotion going on in the upstairs study.

‘Master why do you wish to become a thief? It’s not exactly something you want to do if you plan to live a good life.’

“Because that’s the only thing I can think of to do, nothing else seems interesting.”

At first Fang had just been following what happened in the book as a sort of guide but along the way it had turned into his own interest.

‘Well no matter whatever you do I'll be there to laugh at you for doing.’

“Fang Fae! Get up here!”

Hearing his father call him he left the dishes in there place, washed off his hands and ran up to his father’s study. Entering the study both his mother and father had very serious expressions.

“Fang Fae Your mother has told me that you wish to become a thief, for now I'll overlook that as a child’s misunderstanding and will tell you this. If you ever become a thief be prepared to receive a hundred lashings when I catch you. And the sadness you’ll cause your mother will be unfathomable.”

Fang nodded strongly showing his understanding.

“Good that you understand. Then take this vest and wear it for the next week. After you are able to feel the ki in your body feel for the change that happens when mana is converted into ki. When you are able to convert mana into ki on your own I'll teach you more about ki but for now that’s everything.”

Taking the vest in his hands Fang looked at his mother and father making a silent resolution in his heart.

‘I'll never be caught.’

Seeing the resolution in his son’s eyes Tal believed that he had done a fine job of deterring his son from a life of crime, at least temporarily, and making him focus on something more important, ki refining. In his head Fang heard the seemingly never ending laughter of his dragon in tome form, East. She was the only one who truly understood what both sides were thinking and did not clarify for anyone, instead she just chose to let it be.

(Author's note: so this is the second one for today just before 10:00 pm. Something unexpected did happen, I feel asleep. Sorry. But anyway thanks for reading. I don't have much to say this time)

:)