The Road to Butter Town

Ah the sky looks nice today.

"So you're finally awake." I heard a voice call out. It was Silvia from above me.

Still a bit dazed, I took some time to catch my bearings before sitting up from her lap. Then I replied, "What happened?"

"Mana exhaustion. You used up all your available mana." Silvia audibly sighed. I could tell she felt largely to blame for what happened. "Sorry Reno that was our fault completely, we should have been paying better attention to your condition. It won't happen again and we'll make sure of that."

Oh yeah that's right, I remember now! I accidentally used too much mana when experimenting with Water Bomb. In fact something weird happened when I did - the shape distorted. Instead of forming a sphere it was a weird uneven hemisphere.

Maybe I could experiment with different shapes and how that affects things like distance travelled, impact force, consistency and mana usage. But that was only something to consider later.

Clearly I'm still not used to using magic yet. I'd have to keep practicing a lot more to get to a stage where I could intentionally change the form of my spells. For now, I'll try to learn casting with my eyes open, as if I had to close my eyes every time I wanted to use magic it would be a little ridiculous.

"How are you feeling? Are you okay?" She asked, concerned.

"I'm feeling okay. I just feel kinda light headed." I reassured her.

Damn - that sucked. Well on the bright side that experience taught me a lot. From all this, I realised that learning speed and comprehension probably wasn't going to be an issue for me - at least for now.

The main thing I needed to focus on was improving my mana reserves, which I could do by constantly using the absorption technique. Once I had more mana to work with, I'd experiment with different initial conditions and play around until I found optimal ones.

"We'll end our lesson there for today, we can continue sometime later. Preferably, after you've been practicing the technique for a while. For now, I think you should just focus on using the absorption technique Reno as that's what will give you the best results." Glyffe added, coming to the exact same conclusion as I did just earlier.

"Agreed, I really don't want to pass out like that again," I laughed dryly. Glyffe chuckled heartily - he looked like he was reminiscing about the times he had passed out from mana exhaustion. Oddly enough, I suddenly felt extremely motivated.

"Mam, Dad." I paused, meeting their eyes directly, "I'm going to be the best magician - in the world! No, that ever lived!" I passionately declared my life's task.

Silvia squealed in surprise and Glyffe's face instantly went blank before he began his trademark hearty laugh.

Maybe it was a bit ambitious. Just a bit.

"Hahahaha, that's my son! If you didn't dare to dream at least this much I would doubt you were my son. Ahahaha." Glyffe spoke cheerfully, his grin spanning from ear to ear.

"Dreamer or not, obviously he's our son. We should support him Glyffe - so his dreams don't end up 'on hold' like a certain someone I know." Silvia rolled her eyes.

"Touché. Anyways, aiming to be the greatest magician ever? That's a great goal. I'll hold you to that, and you better not chicken out when you're older!" His laughter slowly faded. Slowly, Glyffe's tone shifted - becoming much more serious.

"But listen, Reno. If there's one thing you should never do, it's let your dreams pass you by. Chase them with everything you have."

I looked up at Glyffe, caught off guard by his seriousness. This particular advice sounded a little ironic when coming from Glyffe. But precisely because it was coming from Glyffe it held some weight. He would know about letting dreams pass by.

"The time we have is too short to live a grey life. Fill the dull world around you with the vibrant hue of your dreams, and you'll see it transform before your eyes. If everyone painted the world with their own colour, imagine how vivid the world would be." Glyffe looked up pensively, lost in thought.

"Glyffe, isn't that a bit too abstract for Reno right now?" Silvia interjected reasonably.

"Well, maybe. But something tells me—" Glyffe paused and looked towards me, shifting his gaze from the sky, to Silvia and finally, to me.

"—something tells me that he understands." Glyffe continued - his eyes shining with confidence as he stared at me. In that moment the usually cheerful and easy-going Glyffe seemed much more wise and perceptive than usual.

It was as if he was seeing through Reno Frostworth and looking directly at the earthling hidden within, Akio Silva.

"Actually, me and Silvia were originally thinking of making you one of the best magicians the Frostworth family has ever seen. But, in hindsight, it looks like we were aiming too low."

"What Glyffe said is exactly right. We've been thinking about how to teach you magic for a long time—even before you were born. We just didn't expect to start when you were this young."

I mean who could blame them for being surprised? It was quite impressive I'd managed to grasp such advanced concepts like mana, especially at this young of an age.

"We'll have to adjust our original plan after evaluating your constitution - not that it's an issue or anything." Silvia added the last part after seeing my slightly downcast expression when she mentioned the evaluation.

I still couldn't believe the evaluation. Talentless... that word hid in the back of my mind constantly like an annoying stalker. I tried not to dwell on it too much.

"Don't worry, we'll think of a way to combat your lack of affinities and small mana pool but those will really only be limiting factors when you're much older. If you keep training and practicing at the rate you are, learning new beginner spells, absorbing mana daily and practicing old spells then, soon enough, you'll be-"

"A monster. Ahahaha," Glyffe couldn't help but interject - cutting off Silvia's train of thought and earning himself a sharp glare.

"Glyffe, don't call our baby boy - a monster." Silvia chided Glyffe , clearly upset with his choice of words.

"What I was actually going to say, was that you'll be unequalled among your classmates - at least in regards to magic."

Hmmm, I understood what they were trying to say. Since I started as young as I did, I'd have quite a big head start on most of my peers who started learning magic and absorbing mana much later than I did.

I would only really struggle and fall behind when I was older. Since later on my mana pool would completely fill up earlier than most - coupled with my slow mana absorption - the advantage I'd built up would slowly deteriorate.

But ideally by then, Glyffe and Silvia had thought up some way to help deal with my 'unique' magic constitution.

"Well that's all worries for a different day kid, for now just work on getting that mana pool filled." Glyffe added while running his hand through my hair and ruffling it up a bit.

"Okay I'll focus on that for now." I replied excitedly. It felt nice having a goal to work towards.

"Perfect, any time you're free or bored Reno, just practice the absorption technique. Of course don't overtrain as too much can be very mentally tiring and exhaustive."

"Roger that!"

"Right let's go back inside, we've still got somewhere to be boys." Silvia said.

""We do?"" Me and Glyffe replied in unison, audibly both unsure as to what Silvia meant.

"Yep. We're going to Butter Town today - how could you both forget?"

""Ohhh."" We were so in sync it was a little scary.

"There's some things I need to pick up in Butter town. And there are some people me and Glyffe need to catch up with - and of course you're coming along with us, Reno."

"Oh right I remember now. And actually there's something I want to pick up too. Perfect timing. Looks like you're going to butter town for the first time Reno!"

"Looks like it."

I didn't know how to feel about that honestly. But I had to admit that I was extremely curious what towns were like in this world.

"Trust me you'll love it Reno. In fact there's someone I'd like you to meet there." Silvia added mysteriously. Glyffe initially drew a blank on who she was referring to, but realization quickly dawned on him.

"Glyffe is still quite sweaty from his earlier training session and the mana exhaustion has caused you to sweat too. So, we'll leave after you've both had a shower. After that we'll go into butter town and shop for what we're missing around the house," speaking up to here Silvia paused slightly before continuing."—and of course for a new copy of The Heroic Tales Of The Paladin Hero too."

The last sentence made Glyffe's eyebrows twitch slightly but only I noticed. With Silvia's plan now in motion, we marched on back home - leaving the sweet grasslands for now as we went to get ready to go out.

It had been about an hour since the magic lesson, and in that time, we had all gotten ready to go out. It had taken a bit longer than expected, which may have been my fault. Admittedly, I still wasn't completely comfortable being bathed by others, so I kinda dragged it out longer than necessary.

For this occasion, Silvia was dressed in a lovely white dress—its simplicity contrasted her luscious black hair while also highlighting her graceful figure. She wore knee-high black stockings and polished black boots, a subtle balance between elegance and practicality.

Glyffe, however, took a different approach. His tight black shirt accentuated his physique, complemented by a brown belt and beige trousers. Even by Earthen standards, he was fashionable. Only his footwear - boots - would seem a little out of place in a modern setting.

As for me, I found myself mirroring Glyffe and Silvia in a way. I wore a long-sleeved white shirt, the opposite of his short-sleeved black one. A black belt, beige trousers, and finally my own pair of black, tier-one boots completed the look.

It was like I had unintentionally blended elements of both Glyffe and Silvia's styles, as if I couldn't quite decide whose fashion sense to follow. Though it was Silvia who dressed me - and I'd say she did a pretty good job.

With our outfits out the way, it was now time to set out for the infamous Butter town I'd heard so much about.

"So Reno, how you feeling?" Swinging the front door open, Glyffe asked curiously.

"Fine, I guess. I'm not feeling light headed anymore." I replied, walking just behind him. Ah, that reminded me... Talentless.

"Hmm." Glyffe responded in a strange tone. I guess my response wasn't quite what he was expecting.

"Hold my hand Reno." A soft voice echoed from besides me - it was Silvia smiling at me.

"Okay mam."

I reached out towards her with my small preschooler hand and grasped her big soft hand. It was warm.

Silvia's face lit up like clockwork. I hadn't seen her this happy in a long, long while. It made sense when I thought about it though - this was the first time we went out as a family. It was definitely a milestone we'd all look back on fondly.

We took our first steps out the door together, following just behind Glyffe. In that moment, it was just me and Silvia facing the great grasslands as a pair - our destination just over the horizon.

"Awww, what a cute mother-son duo!" Looking back, Glyffe added jokingly.

Instantly, Silvia's happy expression turned neutral.

"Hmph. He's an eyesore isn't he Reno?"

Way to ruin the moment dad.

"Uhm... kinda." Sorry Glyffe but, I was with Silvia on this one.

Both of Glyffe's eyebrows twitched, but he turned around like he didn't hear us. Glyffe waited for us to catch up to him then held his right arm out for me to hold.

"Reno hold hands with your dad too-"

Whish!

A sudden force knocked me to the right and I found myself clinging to Silvia - a firm hand locked onto my left shoulder. It was Silvia's hand.

"..."

Glyffe's expression shifted from surprise to a 'please forgive me' look, which he directed at Silvia. Quickly noticing Silvia's glare of annoyance at his pleading eyes, Glyffe opted for a different approach. This time he looked towards me - his meaning clear as day.

Sigh.

I folded.

"Uh... maybe I should hold hands with dad too, mam..."

Silvia's head slowly turned towards me. Her gaze - as heavy as a mountain - passed judgement on my soul.

"No."

""...""

I looked up at Glyffe. Glyffe looked down at me. We locked eyes.

"No problem Reno, because it's you asking of course!" Silvia's mood instantly changed, breaking into a wide and welcoming smile. Her sudden change of pace was so seamless that an onlooker could never tell how irritated she was just milliseconds earlier.

I looked back up at Glyffe. Glyffe looked back down at me. We locked eyes again. We were thinking the same thing.

Scary.

With Silvia's permission, I held my left hand out for Glyffe to take hold of. And just like that - we were a pristine picture of an ideal family.

"""..."""

Definitely a picture of an ideal family. With how motionless our expressions were we might as well have been trapped in a frame.

"Ahem. So where should we visit first?" Breaking the silence with a small cough, Glyffe asked dryly.

Nice one dad, way to break the ice!

""...""

Or not.

"Hmmm, firstly, I think we should go to Stox's blacksmith's shop. Then we could visit the bookstore. And after that, we can visit Bridges' clothing store." Silvia sighed initially, then continued on happily. It looked like she didn't want to keep up this silent stalemate any longer.

"Man, it's been ages! I wonder how old man Stox is doing." Glyffe smiled, his tone thick with nostalgia.

"Old man Stox? You know the blacksmith shop owner, Glyffe?" I asked curiously.

Glyffe's expression turned strange as if he didn't quite know how to respond to my question.

"A little, yeah." He paused. "I knew him a really long time ago and he helped me out a bit back when I was younger. He really wanted an apprentice so I worked under him for a while. I needed the money and he wanted someone to pass on his teachings to."

"What? You know how to forge Glyffe?" I asked, surprised. Silvia's reaction was neutral - she definitely already knew about Stox and Glyffe's past.

"With how strict Stox was, my hands probably haven't forgotten how to craft a sword or two." Glyffe said nonchalantly.

Wow. I never knew Glyffe worked at a forge in the past. I wondered why he needed the money considering Silvia said our family was upper-middle class.

"So Stox was like a mentor to you?" I asked.

He paused. "Maybe." When Glyffe spoke his eyes misted slightly. "He's an old friend." He continued, opting to change the subject.

The hesitance in his expression told me he wasn't comfortable talking about Stox for some reason.

"And speaking of old friends, I hope Zecko and Relly are still doing well too." Glyffe said.

"Zei-co?" It was a strange name to pronounce.

"It's Zec-ko, Reno. That takes me back, Glyffe. When we all met for the first time, I couldn't pronounce it right either. And you couldn't pronounce Relentia either."

"Hahahaha!" Glyffe bellowed loudly - his voice shaking the ground beneath us. "Back at the academy huh - those were the days! Back then you and Relly were inseparable. There was a saying back at the islands—"

The islands?

"If you see Silvia then Relentia's not far behind. Right?"

"Yup - that exact one!" Glyffe laughed cheerfully.

Silvia smiled in response - it seemed like Glyffe had mentioned that saying to her many times.

"Wasn't there a saying about you and Zecko too though?" Silvia said.

"There was, there was!" Glyffe grinned.

"It's easier to spot an ancient demon then to find Glyffe and Zecko apart."

Ah. What sort of ridiculous saying is that...

"Back then it probably was..." Glyffe confirmed.

"I even thought you two were siblings at first."

"'Are you two brothers?' was all anyone ever asked us back then! Back at the islands, me and Zecko were the strongest duo!" Glyffe smiled as he excitedly dropped dad lore. I could faintly hear a noise growing louder in the foreground - but I didn't pay much attention to it.

All this talk about their past was making me curious. Where did they first meet? And what are these islands that they keep mentioning?

"The strongest duo? Aren't you forgetting about two people?" Silvia added as a matter-of-factly.

"Nope. Me and Zecko just let you and Relentia win that one time." Glyffe's reply was confident but his tone was anything but.

"That's why you both were crying after the match?"

""...""

"Don't remember that Reno." Glyffe coughed dryly.

"Okay I'll forget that."

I'll make sure to remember that.

"Mam. How did you two mee—" my words caught in my throat.

"How did we meet? Well funny story actually, we—"

I had gotten lost in their conversation. It seemed like Silvia was the same, also surprised at how far we'd walked already.

"Oh my, we're here. I guess we'll have to save that conversation for another day. Welcome to Butter Town, Reno," Silvia smiled down at me. Before I knew it - we had arrived.

A big wooden archway stood tall before us, with a sign at the top reading 'Butter Town' in aesthetically pleasing cursive. It was the closest thing I'd seen to calligraphy in this world, but that wasn't what caught my attention... at least, not at first.

Green. A flood of greenery washed over me as I gazed at the town ahead. It looked as though a forest goddess had lovingly embraced it, wrapping every building in a verdant splendour. Butter Town was unlike anything I had seen before—every structure was adorned with some variation of plant life, most resembling vines, yet not entirely.

The plants that blanketed the buildings were far more vibrant, colourful, and diverse than any I had known in my previous life. They curled around windows and clung to rooftops, as if reclaiming the land that had once been theirs.

Each building bore its own distinct flora: some pulsed faintly, as though breathing, while others periodically released shimmering motes of light into the air, like miniature fireflies. Spiralling 'vines' twisted outward like drills, some large enough to engulf an entire room, while others were so minuscule they could fit within the smallest of pots.

Every plant had its own quirks and tendencies. Some swayed wildly, thrashing like restless spirits in the wind, while delicate blossoms twirled in their own private storm of floating petals. Others lay flat against the buildings, as steady and unmoving as a mountain. This town was alive.

Above, the clear blue skies stretched endlessly, providing a serene backdrop for the white and cream-colored buildings. The flood of greenery spilled over it all, filling the air with an undeniable sense of freshness.

The architecture blended wood and stone, bearing a medieval influence—yet not quite. At first, I couldn't pinpoint why, but then I realized: the roofs were circular rather than the pointed ones I had always seen in pictures and films.

The grey streets were masterfully paved - smooth, spotless and refined to the touch. To my right was a clear stream, slightly off centre to the entrance weaving directly through the town. The river itself housed a variety of plant species I couldn't wait to admire - just like the buildings.

But, the unique architecture and the pulsing plants on every building wasn't the only surprise Butter Town had to offer. There was also that foreground noise from earlier - the sound of a market. The noise of the people.

"160 Teaves for 800 grams of Bread!"

"I'll buy that!"

"Hold on I'm selling for 145!"

"300 Teaves for 1.5 kilograms of Rice!"

"Aw c'mon can't you do 125?"

"50 grams of honey, only 125 Teaves! First come first served!"

"Of course I can't do 125 - do you know how much I worked for this?"

"Butter Town exclusive Merry Butter! Only in Butter Town!"

"No refunds!"

"Fine 130 then?"

"2 Litres of water and just for 180 Teaves! Don't miss out on this!"

"Limited time offer! Fresh from the karajvink empire!"

"140."

"400 Teaves..."

"Deal."

A bustling cacophony of bargains and deals erupted before me - the likes of which I'd only seen and heard in old fashioned period movies.

I couldn't tell what was more disorientating, the barrage of noise or the visual stimulation of so many unknowns. People riding animals and monsters I'd never seen or even heard of before. Loaded up with cargo that seemed like it was taken straight out of another world.

I watched in awe, my mouth still open - the words from earlier still caught in my throat.

"I..."

"Ah, right into rush hour. We're in the prime of the harvest season and this year was especially plentiful - I can see why you're overwhelmed Reno."

"It's usually quite noisy but it's rarely ever this crowded. It's your first time seeing so many people so it's okay to be a little scared. Just try to relax Reno , me and Glyffe are here."

"This..."

"It's not usually this busy Reno - just hold my hand so you don't get swept up. It's much calmer in the central district where we're headed."

"Yeah she's right - there's much less noise and commotion in the central district so just try and hold out until then. We'll be holding your hand the whole way through so don't worry."

"This is..."

""Reno?""

"This is so cool!"

Glyffe and Silvia both looked at each other in shock - clearly they weren't expecting me to say that.

Coming here made me realise one thing. There was still so much I didn't know about this place. I had assumed it was going to be some generic stereotypical medieval fantasy world - but this, was much more interesting.

As someone who published biology research papers in my previous life - that was the sort of thing I lived for. Plants and animals I'd never even heard of or seen before—I couldn't imagine anything more interesting!

How do they live? Breathe? Communicate? Talk? Procreate? Photosynthesize? Countless questions and ideas flooded my mind. It felt like I'd regressed back into the young boy who opened a biology book for the first time and fell in love all those years ago.

Silvia and Glyffe both smiled, sensing my excitement. My enthusiasm was definitely radiating into the air around me.

"We should have brought him sooner Glyffe."

"Absolutely."

"I second that." I added - not so tactfully.

Glyffe let out a wry smile and Silvia laughed amusedly.

"Let's go, let's go, let's go!" I nagged, fidgeting excitedly like a child who just discovered his first toy.

"Fine, fine come on, lets go. Together—as a family." Silvia replied happily, smiling in satisfaction at both me and Glyffe.

And so, we took our first steps towards Butter town together, hand in hand.

Now we really were the perfect picture of an ideal family.