Chapter 10: Side Effect

Cael Horais Sirius POV

I sat on my bed and closed my eyes, trying to process everything that had happened today.

It felt like too much had happened in such a short amount of time.

And now I had received an invitation to meet the King of Cygnus tomorrow.

There were too many things running through my mind.

What would happen tomorrow?

Why did Sir Faust send me that letter?

And why did he specifically tell me to bring Fragarach and my family?

I tried to calm myself down.

Then, suddenly...

An excruciating pain erupted throughout my entire body.

“Gah!”

I immediately grabbed the pillow and bit down on it to keep myself from screaming.

My arms, legs, chest, and abdomen felt as though they were being ripped apart from the inside.

It wasn't like the pain I had experienced from an injury.

It felt as though my entire body was crumbling and expanding at the same time.

My muscles tightened.

My bones ached.

Even breathing became difficult.

“Fragarach!” I called telepathically.

Fragarach immediately began glowing with a golden light.

A bright golden aura spread from her and covered my body.

The moment the aura surrounded me, the pain slowly began to subside.

It didn't disappear completely.

But it became bearable enough for me to breathe again.

My mouth finally released the pillow.

I took several deep breaths as I tried to regain control of my body.

“Thanks, Fragarach,” I said.

“Sorry, it took a while to cast it,” Fragarach said.

Rank 4 Personnel Holy Magic, Pain Ease.

I focused on controlling my breathing.

The pain was still there.

But compared to a few moments ago, it was manageable.

The entire episode had only lasted for a single minute.

Yet it felt as though I had been trapped in that agony for several hours.

“That’s probably the side effect of using your Special Skill,” Fragarach commented as she moved beside me.

“You’re probably right,” I said.

I slowly sat upright.

I didn't want anyone else to see me like this.

Especially Mom, Dad, or Talya.

“I’m glad it only happens now. I don’t like anyone seeing it, especially my parents or Talya,” I added.

Fragarach remained silent for a moment.

“This is just a hunch, but your situation is probably the same as the First Hero’s,” Fragarach stated.

“The side effect of his Special Skill, Vital Amplification, only happens when he is no longer in battle, after a few hours,” she explained.

I looked toward her.

“No wonder you knew a spell to alleviate the pain,” I said.

“Of course. I’ve used it countless times.”

Fragarach's voice became slightly quieter.

“After all, it’s a spell created by the First Hero himself.”

I became curious.

“I thought the First Hero was a swordsman,” I asked.

“Swordsman?”

Fragarach seemed amused.

“Well, I guess he is in the stories, but the truth is, he loves magic more than anything,” Fragarach replied.

I stared at Fragarach.

That wasn't what I had expected.

“The stories always made him sound like the greatest swordsman of his generation.”

“He was a great swordsman, but that doesn't mean he preferred swords over magic.”

Fragarach continued.

“Wind Master, Lightning Master, and Holy Master were the skills that were originally his.”

I looked at Fragarach in surprise.

“So those skills belonged to him?”

“Yes.”

Fragarach's golden glow became slightly brighter.

“He transferred a lot of the things he created during his lifetime and stored them in me.”

“All the spells he spent hours, days, and even years working on.”

I could barely imagine how much knowledge that represented.

A thousand years had passed since the First Hero's death.

Yet Fragarach still carried the things he had created.

“He sounds amazing,” I said.

Fragarach became quiet.

Then she spoke.

“He’s just a klutz who doesn’t know how to give up and keeps moving even until his very last breath.”

I smiled slightly.

That description sounded surprisingly different from the heroic stories I had heard.

“I’m glad you told me,” I said.

“You remind me of him,” Fragarach said.

My smile disappeared.

“Do I?”

“Yes.”

I stared at Fragarach.

“Is that the reason why you chose me, even though you never chose another wielder even after a thousand years since his death?” I asked.

Fragarach didn't answer immediately.

“Apart from that, the truth is, in the thousand years that have passed, you’re the only person carrying the blood of the Horais Clan who has managed to attain two things.”

I listened carefully.

“A Special Skill that involves time,” Fragarach explained.

I understood immediately.

My Special Ability was Time Conversion.

“And the other one?” I asked.

“A selfless being who is willing to give everything for the good of others... a hero,” Fragarach added.

I remained silent.

I had never really thought of myself that way.

I simply did what I thought I needed to do.

“You’re not the one who gave it to me?” I asked.

“Of course not.”

Fragarach's answer was immediate.

“Only God Andromeda can give out titles to the beings she deems deserving of them,” Fragarach added.

I looked down at my hands.

So the title wasn't something Fragarach had simply given me.

It had been granted by God Andromeda.

“Fragarach, are you saying that the First Hero is somewhat related to me?” I asked.

The realization slowly began forming in my mind.

Fragarach had specifically mentioned the blood of the Horais Clan.

“Vesper Horais Adhara, also known as the Twilight Hero and the First King of Adhara,” Fragarach replied.

My eyes widened.

Vesper Horais Adhara.

The name suddenly made sense.

“Did you forget how names work?” Fragarach suddenly asked.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“The first one is your Name, Cael.”

I listened carefully.

“The second one is the Clan Name, which is either your mom’s or your dad’s, depending on their standing, Horais.”

“And the last one is where your parent was born, specifically the parent who was not chosen for your second Name,” Fragarach explained.

I thought about my full name.

Cael Horais Sirius.

Cael of the Horais from Sirius.

My eyes widened.

“Are you saying they knew that I’m related to the First Hero and that I have a bit of noble blood?” I asked in panic.

Fragarach didn't seem particularly concerned.

“You’re pretty cautious most of the time, but I think flaunting your name like that, even though you’re not required to say the second name, is just looking for a fight,” Fragarach commented.

I froze.

Fragarach had a point.

I had openly introduced myself as Cael Horais Sirius.

“Right...”

I sighed.

“I see. You’re right. Outsiders are only required to state the First Name and Origin Name,” I said.

There was no point regretting it now.

“Well, there’s nothing I can do about it. No point in dwelling on it,” I added.

“I really admire your easygoing thinking,” Fragarach commented.

I smiled.

It was probably too late to worry about what people might have already noticed.

Besides, there were much more immediate problems.

I picked up the invitation I had received earlier.

“Fragarach, what do you think of the invitation? Do you think we’re in danger?” I asked.

“About 70-30, I guess,” Fragarach said.

I stared at Fragarach.

“70? 30?”

“Seventy percent chance that we will get into a fight and thirty percent that we won’t,” Fragarach explained.

“Oh.”

I thought about that for a moment.

“Oh, that sounds pretty dire, then.”

I looked at the ceiling.

“I don’t think I can beat Sir Mephisto or Sir Faust if it’s not one on one,” I said.

“One on one?”

Fragarach sounded slightly amused.

“You mean one on two.”

I looked toward her.

“Remember, Cael, in battle, I’m not only your weapon but also your partner,” Fragarach said.

I smiled.

“Thanks. I’ll remember that.”

The pain in my body had mostly subsided by then.

Fragarach looked at me.

“For now, you should at least check your Status.”

“My Status?”

“You defeated quite a number of monsters.”

Fragarach paused.

“Don’t tell me you forgot that you’re just a Class G1 ten-year-old child.”

I frowned.

“I don’t feel like I like how you put it like that,” I said.

Fragarach laughed.

“Just think about it. You’re at your weakest Class, that’s why you have a lot of room to grow,” Fragarach stated.

Fragarach wasn't wrong.

Before meeting Fragarach, I had been a Class G1.

Now, after everything that had happened, I had no idea how much my Status had changed.

I took a deep breath.

“Status,” I uttered.

A familiar screen appeared before my eyes.

Cael Horais Sirius

Male
Mental Age: 10 Physical Age: 11

Title: Hero, Master of Holysword Fragarach, Giant Slayer, Protector of the Weak, Timekeeper

Class D32

Vitality: 1980 + 16940
Psyche: 1980 + 12980
Power: 198 + 1694
Speed: 198 + 1298
Endurance: 198 + 1694
Fortitude: 198 + 1298

Special Ability: Time Conversion

Extra skill: Record, Replay, Forward

Armament Skill: Synergize, Aegis, Lightning Master, Wind Master, Holy Master, Unbreakable, Telepathy, Divine Edge, Resumption, Eyes of Lesser Revelation.

I stared at my Status.

Class D32.

I had gone from Class G1 to Class D32.

That was an enormous change.

My Vitality had also increased dramatically.

The same was true for my Psyche, Power, Speed, Endurance, and Fortitude.

Then there were my titles.

Hero.

Master of Holysword Fragarach.

Giant Slayer.

Protector of the Weak.

Timekeeper.

Five titles.

I had only recently learned how rare titles were.

And now I had five of them.

“That's quite a change,” I muttered.

“You could say that,” Fragarach replied.

I continued staring at my Status.

There was still so much I didn't understand.

My Special Ability, Time Conversion, had already shown me how dangerous using my power could be.

And now I had learned that the First Hero had suffered a similar consequence from Vital Amplification.

I touched my chest.

The pain was still faintly present.

If this was going to happen every time I used my Special Ability, then I needed to understand it better.

Tomorrow, I would meet the King of Cygnus.

I had no idea what awaited me.

But at least now I knew one thing.

I wasn't the same person who had entered the battlefield earlier that day.

I had become stronger.

Much stronger.

But with that strength came more questions.

And perhaps tomorrow, I would finally begin getting some answers.