Chapter 2: F**k Until Monday

That Friday we set off into town, most of my reading materials have been geared towards language learning and writing so I’m looking for some more specific knowledge. In a perfect world I’d be able to obtain a detailed map of the region and world, a book on the basics of magic and a book on the basics of swordsmanship. I haven’t seen much magic used outside of the house, but I see knights everywhere.

I don’t know what I expected of a pre-electricity world, but this book shop is tiny. The sign in front just says “books” and it only has three rows of bookcases. What’s truly perplexing is that the rotund man behind the counter isn’t tall enough to reach the top of these shelves, he must be hiding a ladder out of embarrassment.

“Master Alfred, do you know what types of books you’re looking for?” Mia asks after leading me through the doors.

“Hmm I want an introduction to magic and swordcraft, then I want the most detailed geographical account of the area or world that can be found” I answer without hesitation.

Mia stops and looks down at me.

“That’s quite specific.. did you really have to go shopping yourself when you already knew what you wanted?” she asks with a suspicious look.

“Yes, I need mother and father to spend more time alone together!” I answer brazenly.

“Are you upset with them?” Mia asks with squinted eyes.

I shake my head.

“Not at all, but my cousins said before any of their siblings were born that my Uncle & Aunt spent a lot of time together alone. I’m almost four and I don’t have any siblings, so I must be interfering somehow..” I reply and bring a hand to my chin as if I’m pondering the situation.

“Baha Master Alfred, have you asked your parents about having a younger brother or sister?” Mia asks with a chuckle.

“Not yet, but if alone time worked for my Uncle & Aunt I’m sure it will work on my parents as well!” I answer with confidence.

I haven’t forgotten how babies are made, but actions speak louder than words. Once we’re done shopping Mia will talk to my parents and say that book shopping was an excuse to get them alone together because that’s how I think babies are made. They’ll be overcome by their child’s consideration and fuck until Monday.

“Master Alfred, I think it’s worth talking to them about” Mia says, still chuckling.

I hum for a moment and look up at Mia.

“If mother doesn’t gain weight soon, I will, my cousins said girls have to gain weight before they have a baby so I’ll keep a close eye on her” I say with fire behind my eyes.

“Let’s hope your plan works, now introductions to magic and swordcraft will be in any shop, the harder find is detailed geography. Though the store may have some sort of map” Mia says as she scans the bookshelves.

“A map would help, maybe supplemented by a travel account.." I mumble.

“I’ll ask the shop keeper, one moment Master Alfred” Mia says before leaving my side to approach the round man.

Introduction to magic and swordcraft plus a rough map of the continent we’re on, this isn’t a bad haul when I really just want my parents to make my replacement -ahem I mean a sibling who I’ll love and cherish. Hopefully my parents get busy over the weekend and I can flip through these books.

***

It’s Saturday, maybe 8am? My family tend to be early risers, but the only ones moving around the house are myself and Shayna.

“Hey Shayna, have you seen father and mother?” I ask innocently.

“Apologies Master Alfred, they said they’d be sleeping in this morning” Shayna answers with a loving smile.

Damn I’m good, replacement -ahem sibling- is surely being made today. Now I should have plenty of time to read, so let’s start with magic.

“Magic is created in the body and when moved into the world is capable of creating phenomena similar to that of the elements wind, fire, water, ice, lightning and earth. It is incompatible with most objects and will cause them to break when infused”

Hmm I’m a bit skeptical of that last part, I’ve been infusing my body with magic forever and it’s only made me stronger and more durable. Actually, my father gave me a wooden training sword when he saw the books I purchased, I'll push some magic into it and see if it explodes.

Concentrate, just like how I run magic through my body, let a little bit seep into the handle then let it flow to the deepest part of the sword. Imagine a fine line of magic running down the center of the sword forming its core. Magic leaks from my hand and into the sword, creating the pathway I've imagined.

Now, form a circle around that line, six more thin lines of magic, then another set around those, and another.. I repeat the process layer by layer until I'm satisfied.

And it didn’t explode. Where’s my knife? I reach under my bed and retrieve the small knife I've used to train with healing magic. If my theory is correct, then the wooden sword should be pretty durable now.

I press my knife into the wooden sword – first the handle, second the edge of the blade and finally the tip of the blade where it should be weakest. The knife doesn't leave a scratch or a dent.

Got it, books on magic suck. Take everything with a grain of salt.

Let’s see.. there's the danger of magical infusion – skip. Elemental magic – skip, I can’t practice this stuff until I can go outside alone or I might blow up the estate. Rare magics and affinities - hoho this is the one I want.

Rare magics include healing magic, knew that already, and temporary spatial storage magic? Spatial magic exists, that’s good to know, but why is it temporary? Doesn’t look like the book says anything else on it..

But there’s one more useful section.

“Affinities, magic users specialize in one or two elements and typically know which ones early in their training. If you haven’t used elemental magic before, close your eyes and try to imagine yourself holding that element in your hand.” Easy enough, eyes shut and imagination on. I imagine a ball of water, and yep, that’s a ball of water in my hand. Lightning, yep, also easy. Earth, fire, ice and windAH FUCK.

As soon as I imagine holding a little ball of wind it feels like a small storm starts in my room and my magic book flies into the door. I guess my body likes wind, but I can imagine every element so maybe I can use them all with some practice. I already know some of what this book says is wrong so I wouldn’t be surprised. It won’t be as fun, but I should focus more on swordcraft. Being good with a sword won’t draw too much attention, and it’ll be harder to accidentally destroy the house.