The Great Ita Family!

[Narrator Pov]

Welcome to Aios! The ever-expansive world with 9 known Continents and home to thousands of different cultures!

Currently, the world has been experiencing a time of true peace because of the Monark who has ruled for over 800 years. They vanished in Year 981, and the current year is now 989!

Without our Monark, the threat of war once again looms over multiple nations as power runs unchecked, but that is neither here nor there because our story follows young d-I mean our story's protagonist, Elpida Ita, who is now seven years old with his eighth birthday fast approaching.

[Elipda’s Pov]

“Young master, would you please wake up..” A calm but annoyed voice filled the room. This was my personal butler, Rufus Von Clancy of the Clancys. He was here to, of course, wake me for my combat lessons that I had been avoiding…

“Ughh Rufus, can’t you wake up brother Sin instead?” I groaned at the thought of combat training.

I think I endured enough of that in my previous life. Although I can’t really explain to anyone that I was a soldier in my last life, they would think I was a lunatic. On one hand, it was cool to pursue magic, but on the other, I just didn’t want to learn to fight to kill again.

“Young master, this is an order straight from your father, so there is no getting out of it today.” He calmly said with his usual deadpan expression. I got up sighing. “Ofcourseee father wants me there today.”

My name is Elpida(El-pee-Da) Ita, the youngest out of 5 sons and 3 daughters. I basically have my word spoken for me in terms of being my father’s successor, since everyone is already in favor of my older brother, Ren. The only reason I am getting lessons is because apparently it’s customary that every child in the Ita family be proficient in politics, combat and magic.

“Young master, would you like me t-.”

“Absolutely not, I can get there myself!” I had rudely interrupted Rufus. It’s not anything against him, I just don’t really care for the whole babying thing for nobility. I finished dressing myself for training and looked into the wave mirror, checking out my black sleeveless shirt, form-fitting dark black pants and the brown sandals on my feet.

“Looking sharp as always, right Rufus?” I smirked at him.

“Yes, young master…” he looked put off by my display, but it was comfortable for combat. My mirror began to glow as, before long, my brother’s face appeared.

“R-Ren!” I exclaimed, noticing he looked particularly annoyed.

“Little brother, father, and I want to know why you are 10 minutes late for lessons!” His face was so angry you would have thought he was an actual time bomb. “You never call about this is today special?” Hoping not to hear anything crazy, I just kinda smiled and waited a reply.

“Well, if you would actually listen to poor Rufus, or maybe listen to any of the audio messages your sister left. You would know today is evaluation day, and I have personally come with dad to see how our youngest is developing!” At this point, it was clear he only was not yelling because people were around. My family cares a lot about appearances.

That's because our family is the second most powerful in all of the Kuhaku domain. Only second to the Kuhaku clan, so needless to say, they are not at all happy with my tardiness.

“Just hurry up and get over here!” Ren abruptly hung up the mirror transmission.

“Uhhh Rufus, a little help aha~.” He sighed at my request as if he saw this coming. The middle-aged man drew his black steel sword, and his gray ponytail and blazer coat ends started flowing. “Have a good day, young master.”

With a single elegant and precise slash, he opened a portal to my destination. Apparently, he is some sort of retired legend. In fact, I hear the only man to best him is my father, and he works here because of that.

After stepping through the portal, I was at our training grounds. A larger open arena with cobblestone tiles that had one giant spiral, at the center, the spiral formed an eye. At the edges were giant walls made out of wood with watchtowers all around them extending into the giant walls that surround our entire estate to keep intruders out.

“It’s about time you made it, Elpida. We have been waiting.” Ren had walked forward to greet me with a warm smile.

“I don’t mean to be strict, but we have things to do and an image to uphold.” He leaned down, placing his right hand on my shoulder. He then gazed into my face, his golden gaze met mine as if he was already studying me. He stood up facing my father as his dark skin basked in the sunlight, dark blue hair tied into a long ponytail today. Even brought out the formal wear today.

“Father, shall we start the trial before we get further behind schedule?” He said to the bored-looking man who cast his gaze down at us from atop his giant chair that observed the whole room. He only nodded as my brother led me to one end of the room.

“Okay, your trial is simple; it will be a combat evaluation today! But the difficulty will be much higher than what you are used to, so have Rufus give you actual combat gear.” I looked at him in slight confusion, but before I could fully comprehend, Rufus had brought me my specially made iron gauntlets that allow me to channel the magic that they call Flow here.

Soon, a man who was shackled from head to toe emerged from the other side with guards holding him in check.

“Son, this is your opponent, death row inmate Craig The Gut Sampler. Arrested for upwards to 50+ murders in which he removed the guts for eating.” I would ask if father was serious, but that man never jokes; in fact, in my 7 years of life here I don’t think I have ever seen him crack so much as a smile. Which would mean my life is probably also on the line with this evaluation.

After I had finished putting on my gauntlets, my father raised his wine glass. There was now a silent tension in the air. My brother had made it to the observation area.

“Begin!” He smashed the glass into the ground to signal the start. Like it was rehearsed on queue, the men had removed all my opponents' restraints and threw him a royal knife. I was hoping my military training in my previous life would carry me through this if I mixed it with this world’s system.

“Okay, father wa-..” before my sentence could finish, a knife barely grazed my right cheek, only because I dodged at the last second. Before I could process and readjust myself, I felt the heavy force of a knee dig into my stomach. I was tossed back into the wall before collapsing on the floor.

“Your daddy is a great man~ hehe~, he says if I kill yer I’m free to go!” He had his tongue hanging to the right side of his face while chuckling to himself. He didn’t see me as a threat whatsoever; in fact, he looked like he was playing with me.

I slowly picked myself up off the ground, ignoring the pain in my gut. “Okay, now that was just rude..”

“Rude? The little Ita brat has the nerve to call me rude? I now remember why I hate you damned Ita scum!” He lunged at me, swinging the knife down. After pivoting to the right, I quickly gathered Flow into my fist. I planted my fist firmly into his jaw, disorienting him. I followed up with an uppercut aimed at his chin. I was caught off guard by him grabbing my arm and coiling around it to chin check me with his feet.

Breathe. Breathe. I struggled to catch my breath as he was already rushing me down. Heavy steps on the ground followed by the sound of iron scraping stone, sparks slowly becoming fire as he slashed upwards, leaving a trail of flames.

HOT. HOT. “Damn,” it had just sunk in fully, but my life really is on the line here. I would ask what kind of father would do this if mine wasn’t the bored looking man casting his gaze in disappointment at me.

Right. This isn’t Earth anymore. The sooner I stop thinking about things that should be normal. The sooner I can focus!

Craig spun his knife on his fingers. “Hey, Ita brat, let me show you what real combat looks like before I eat your guts!” He threw his knife, bursting with fire, while simultaneously running towards. Remember what Rufus taught you about Flow.

Feel it. Manifest it. Control it.

With a deep breath, I raised a wall of water to stop the approaching flames. Then I drew the water back to me, coiling it around my fist. Craig, by then, had ducked into a full sprint with no sign of stopping.

I met his flame with my water once again. He had grabbed the knife while our fists were locked against each other with his free hand. Forcing me to jump back before he could cut me, we both stared each other down, breathing heavier. Now catching our breaths, we got back into stance.

“Not bad, kid.”