Chapter 5: Accepting Reality

Part 1

*knock* *knock*

“Young master Lucien, your mother and father have requested your presence in the library”

“…I understand…I’ll be there in a bit…”

Three whole days since I found out I was inept to use magic. I don’t get it, why am I so broken down over something that moments before I was joking about without a care in the world…? Is it because of how traumatic this is or is it a simple way of showing a crushed dream to someone? Maybe it’s a bit of both or maybe it’s neither. All I know is that I’m doing something wrong to myself and those around me, yet I can’t find within me the will to fix it, or rather I can’t think of a solution…

I thought making a weapon of sorts would be a substitute for magic, but then I realized, why would I need to make something like a rifle or a gun in a fantasy world!? I thought of going to the Academy, but once again I just thought, what use would come of going to a place whose main selling point is the knowledge and expansion of magic in various fields…

Should I just focus on Marla’s affinity and see how far it would go? But…would that be my accomplishment or Marla’s? I don’t know. And now for the first time in a while, I’ve been called by my parents to discuss something in the library. The library is the place used in the mansion whenever something that can’t be treated lightly is discussed, the last time I was there in such a manner was when I brought Marla home and I convinced my parents not to go after the loan shark. I already guess what the subject will be today, and that’s another thing that not sure if I should be glad over or simply pissed at, my parents or rather nobody treated me any different. They said that it was just something odd to happen and to not let it get to me, that after all, the world is full of exceptions to everything and just how there are people with amazing intellect and capabilities, there are also those that for better or worse, life just gives them these handicaps. They were both extremely supportive since the moment they found out about the results, but that’s what infuriated me a bit, after all, this family’s livelihood is centered on a trading company that uses magic to give an easier delivery and better product than the competition. How could they not show any negative emotions to the fact that their son, can’t contribute jack shit to the core idea of the company.

I wonder if the discussion today will be about something that you see a lot in novels about novelty and such, banishment. Yeah, that sounds like the right thing to do if this was a fantasy novel…except that I’m not noble, and my parents aren’t that heartless. Once again, I’m not sure if I should be extremely mad that my parents aren’t upset towards me or extremely thankful for having such parents…

Part 2

“You called for me?”

While entering the library, I posed the expected question, to which my father simply replied with a nod and a request to sit in the chair in front of his desk. Both, mother and father, were sitting on the opposite side of the desk, a large collection of papers were spread out over it, but they still kept a tidy look to them. When I sat down and looked at them, they asked in earnest, although father was the one keeping the conversation afloat.

“How are you feeling today?”

“Better than yesterday, but I’m still not fully accepting what has happened. Maybe it hit me more than I would have expected, hehe.”

“That’s to be expected, take more time to cope with it, but Lucien, please don’t be too impacted by this, you’ve spent your whole life without magic, what difference does it make now?”

“I don’t know myself why, but it doesn’t sit right knowing I’m lacking something others have. It’s kind of how you see someone getting the daily bread on the market, but you’re just the beggar on the street that can’t afford any.”

“But what you lack in some parts, you can make up in others. You know, similar to how blind person has better earing or how a cripple is more dexterous with their hands.”

“Those aren’t the nicest of examples if you’re trying to cheer me up”

“I know, but those are best examples I could come up with. Lucien, your handicap is simply that you can’t use magic but, so what, just because I can use it, doesn’t mean I choose to. My magic is extremely low as is, if it wasn’t for your mother, the family business couldn’t have expanded as it is today, yet it only expanded because I worked besides her to guide others in following the things she did. If you can’t use magic, use strength or knowledge to make up for it, and if doesn’t come directly from you, find others that will follow you and use them. Their abilities are an extension of yours if done correctly.”

“That sounds a bit morbid…”

“That depends on how it’s used, if you use an iron fist or control other aspects of their livelihoods, then without a doubt, it is morbid. However, if done correctly, it will just be having an ally, and that’s what I want you to see. Do you understand?”

Why do you sound like a motivational speaker?

“Yes, I understand. Thank you, that helped quite a bit.”

“That’s good, now we can get into the real business”

“Wait, wasn’t the motivational talk the business?”

“Oh no, that was just something I thought that you needed to hear so you would stop mopping so much. I mean, I doubt this is all it takes to stop it, but I believe it to be a step in the right direction.”

“I see…”

Why is mom nodding to herself as father said that, were you thinking the same too?

“So, what is it that you want of me”

At that moment, father’s face turned from one of an understanding man to that of a cold cut businessman. Even the atmosphere in the room felt a tone shift as mom began moving around the papers to highlight the ones they wanted me to pay attention to…I swear the only thing missing here is the kanji for “Menacing” popping up around him and we’ve got a possible Stand user.

“Lucien, I would like to ask you as a business man, not as your father, for an opportunity to do some trading with me”

I’m confused…is this the same jolly fat man that is supposed to be my father?

“Trading? What do you mean?”

“What I mean to say is, I want to establish a clear trading route between Germas and the Academy, or rather the city that houses it. And I want you to be the one to map the fastest route to it, the one we have right now it’s too time consuming and it costs me way more than it should. Any questions?”

Seems like he is serious of this, so I guess I should be too.

“Various, first and foremost, why me? I mean, I’m still 12-years-old, shouldn’t you find more capable people for something like this? This is something that will affect you and by extension the whole family.”

“I am aware, and that’s why I’m asking you, family, to do it”

“But why not ask Maura, she is in that city, wouldn’t it be easier and more logical to ask your eldest child to do this?”

“Maura is currently studying, and besides when she returns she will be placed as the family head, so she must deal with this in the future”

“Then why not now and again why me? You just said it that Maura will be the family head and the company owner. So why ask this of me?”

“Because even if I don’t want to abandon my son simply because he was born second! If I didn’t place you as the inheritor, then I will do anything in my power to guide you to do something as great or greater. I’m a man of business, but I am also your father. Right now, you seem to have lost a purpose you never had in life, I want this to be your trial run before I sent you out there for real. All you have to do is make a solid, safe and cost efficient trading route for the family company between Germas and the Academy, is that so hard to grasp?”

“….no, I understand. I get your reasoning, even if it is a little bit pushed on, but that still doesn’t change the first barrier, I’m still 12-years-old.”

“I never said I planned to do it right now. Just like you said, you’re 12, that’s why you have time. When you turn 15 I will push on this project on to you, I’m simply giving you the time and a goal to prepare to until then.”

“…That seems reasonable…”

“Glad we’re on the same page, but even if you say that, it doesn’t mean that I’ll hand you everything on a silver platter. I’m giving you this time, so you can prepare everything you consider necessary. If you want to make this time to study maps, then do that, if you want it to hire people to protect you along the way, then do that, however, everything you do, I want you to do it with your own two hands, that brain of yours, and this.”

As father said that, mom took out from a drawer and placed on the table a box, it was obvious, but the box had money inside of it.

“This box contains enough money to get you started, but nowhere enough to get you all the way, try earning that on your own”

“Isn’t that a bit too much to expect out of a kid?”

“Why is it too much? Your grandfather did the same to me when I was your age, that’s how the route between Germas and the neighboring city of Largia was founded. And besides, you know much more than I did at your age, in this 12 years I know you’ve been taking in all the possible information from this library and the outside, in particular when you got that girl to be your maid. I still don’t approve of your actions to defend those that punched you back then, but like a smart business man, you made your expenses into a profit with that girl. So, do you have any other questions?”

“Just one more. If I decide to deny this, what will be of me?”

“Nothing. If you deny this, I won’t condemn you or despise you or anything, however when you turn of age at 16, I will kick you out of this mansion and then you’ll have to start your life elsewhere. What I’m offering you here is an opportunity to test the world, if what you liked was the preparations for it, then become an accountant or project manager, those are always needed, if what you enjoyed was traveling, then explore this vast world, your mother knows very well I didn’t. I just want you to find a track in life until you come of age, because if you’re lost until then, you’ll remain lost even after. So, I’ll ask for one last time, will you do this business with me?”

No matter how you look at it, this is just a forced way to get me to move, but I can’t say it’s the worst one, besides that, he’s given me all the clear options I have, accept it and prepare or deny it and be kicked out later. Not the most varied of options but they help make the decision easier…and this whole time he never let down his business personality even when talking from the perspective of a father. He evens knows my answer but still wants to hear it.

“…I accept father. No, I accept Mr. Mercelious. I’ll use the following 3 years as a preparation to create a faster trading route between here and the Academy, but I want something in exchange.”

With an almost sinister smile, a bit fitting since it reminds me of the one I have, father asked.

“And what would that be?”

“When this is all over, I would like for you to remove me from the Mercelious family name”

His smile disappeared, he put a difficult face for a few moments before answering.

“…Understood”

At this response, mom wasn’t too approving of it.

“Why!? Why would you say that!? He’s your son and you Lucien! Why would you ask for something like that!?”

“…It hurts mom, even if you ask me to forget and move on, it still hurts that I’m linked to a family whose business is known for its magic use, yet I can’t even make the simplest of spells. I simply ask to lose the Mercelious title so I can live free of that burden, I know this is a selfish action on my part but I don’t want people I don’t know of calling me the family’s Black Sheep or worse. I’m not doing it as a way to protect the family, but as a way to protect myself. So please, understand my reasons to request of this.”

When I gave my reason, my selfish reason, I bowed down towards my mother and asked for her permission and her forgiveness. I couldn’t do anything else or think of another reason, I just asked to be rid of this invisible burden.

“…I understand, if that’s…what you wish for Lucien…”

The discussion continued a bit after that, but after it was over, the hollow burden I had on my back this morning is gone, but in its place, a burden filled task that will span for more than 3 years has been placed, and for it I have little to no clue what to do with it…I guess that first thing I’ll do is talk with Marla about her magic.

End of Chapter 5