Talent Awakening (1)
Come to think of it, I'd never heard Asella call me by name before. In the future, I figured it was out of contempt, and now I thought she was just upholding propriety. Turns out, she simply didn't know it.
"It's Ras. Ras Gotberg."
"Ras."
Asella rolled the name around on her tongue once before stepping forward. Her long hair brushed lightly across my face as she passed.
...A strange fragrance lingered.
"Young master, tell me what you want."
"Out of the blue like that?"
Well, at least she didn't use my name. Though dropping formalities so suddenly would look odd anyway.
"It's fair payment for the rose. Mother accepted it, so now it has value."
So she wasn't planning to just plunder it one-sidedly? That scrap of kindness alone was enough to move me to tears.
"It's fine. Consider it a gesture of goodwill."
"No."
Asella whipped around, emphasizing her refusal.
"I said it's payment. If you gain something, you give something back. That's the most important law in the world."
She traced a simple magic circle in the air with her finger. Like striking a match, a tiny flame flickered to life and vanished into the void.
"A small amount of mana can't activate powerful spells."
She sure picks the strangest hills to die on. Too lazy for an argument, I gave a vague reply.
"Understood. I'll think it over carefully."
"I'll wait."
Asella glided away from me, light as a doll.
In the afternoon, Sibers gave me a tour of the estate grounds. The mansion grounds alone were vast, but beyond the walls patrolled by knights, the territory stretched out enormously.
To the south lay a small city where the estate's folk lived. A great river flowed to the west—chilly, but good land for farming. The east side housed the healer training center, a sort of mini-academy with dorms. It doubled as a church but wasn't overly religious.
I wasn't boarding there, but apparently, I was supposed to attend classes. I had almost no memory of actually doing so.
"Heh heh, we were all stunned by your exploits, young master! The rumors have spread everywhere—praise for you on every tongue!"
Sibers was way too hyped, so I waved him off to cool the mood.
"Who'd buy that nonsense? They're probably ripping me to shreds behind my back."
"Oh no, not at all! I know better than anyone how much you've changed. Now, this way..."
As Sibers guided me, I checked my status window.
Stats
Strength: 6
Stamina: 6
Mana: 1
Mana Pool: 12
Divine Power: 22
Faith: 100
Wow, trash-tier. Is this a person or a paper doll?
With stats like these, the chief physician exam's gonna be brutal.
Gazing north toward the forest, I asked Sibers, "Is that undeveloped land?"
"Yes, young master. It's the empire's northwest border too. Beyond the floods lies unknown territory—be careful. It's crawling with powerful mana beasts."
"Practical exam's in that forest, then."
"As expected of your insight! We'll hunt mana beasts with the knights and test the healers' skills."
Mana beast hunts. The hero party thing I got sick of. The problem was my stats. Mana pool and divine power were decent thanks to bloodline perks. But mana was 1. Zero magic talent.
I should've trained my body, but this wastrel had spent his growth years boozing it up. Stamina was barely enough to run around a site. Strength was nothing special either.
Faith at 100 is still hilarious.
Like sword training boosts strength, healing spell practice raises faith. Theology or prayer solidifies it too. Mine was rock-solid—probably because as a possessor, I knew damn well there were no gods in this world. Paradoxically, that made my faith unshakable. Even ten years later, it stayed maxed.
The issue was untrained divine power holding me back from the strongest healing spells.
Gis probably has around 25 divine power.
Top dog at the training center, so yeah.
I'll have to leverage medicine for the exam.
No license, just a quack with a few field stints. Still...
Knowledge alone won't cut it here. Skills are king.
One spot caught my eye—always blanked out before.
Talent: ■■■ (S) ■■ (S)
Blacked out, unknowable. Mage? Swordsman? Talent unlocks skill trees. Mine? S-grade—two of 'em. Jackpot if unlocked.
Normal folks get one. I've always had two—weird.
Didn't matter why. Unlocked or bust.
"Time to open 'em."
Life's short—better genius than mediocrity. Perfect chance too.
Dinner time arrived. Official talk on the third empress and Gotberg co-governance. Nobles prized etiquette above all. Stiff bunch.
My betrothal to Asella was on the agenda too.
"Splendid! At a ball, every lady would've clamored for a dance! Heh heh heh."
Dressed for the central hall, Sibers straightened my collar with a booming laugh. Spotting a candy basket on the table as I left the annex.
"Ah, snacks for the princess, but she refused."
"Candy's great—why'd she say no?"
Grabbed a handful for boredom later.
Heading to the rendezvous.
"Father, I'm here."
"Ras, early bird."
Father beamed at me in the central hall.
"Seeing your diligent change fills me with joy."
"Just doing my duty as heir."
"Forget the house. Keep this up, and I'll back your ambitions fully."
"I'm unworthy."
Father was too nice—naive type. A little trust, and he'd stamp guarantees blindly. That's how the empress hooked him.
"I promised your mother I'd give my all for you—and forgot. Looking back, I prioritized work over you. Thanks for growing up first. My son indeed."
"Haha, no doubt there."
"Reliable. I'll cut back and focus on you kids more."
You kids—house had another lady besides me.
"But the princess's chief physician exam—sudden, no? Worried?"
"Frankly, a bit. Great for the family, good optics as betrothed."
"Hm. My son? He'll excel. I believe it. Go get 'em."
His innocent eyes screamed no shortcuts. Clueless on politics, never took a bribe. Third empress faction's a rotten rope.
That's why the house got framed for treason in that incident—wiped out without a peep. Ditch her for Asella, Father. Better ride.
A girl entered the parlor with a maid.
"Father, evening greetings."
"Ah, come in, Neria."
The petite girl bowed politely.
Neria Gotberg. My half-sister. Anyone could tell we were family— all white-haired tones, mark of strong divine power. Father gray, her ash, mine near-silver.
Neria, about ten, carried herself maturely.
"Hi, Neria."
I smiled warmly. She seemed a tad scared.
"Ah, brother... good evening."
Avoiding my eyes—familiar from ten years on.
Neria's the hero party's saintess.
Just a normal girl now. Chosen after hero appears—post-housefall. I got picked for party partly due to sibling tie.
No grudge against her. One of few kind to me, saintess or not. Always wary from past baggage, though.
Better get along—we'd see each other often.
"Dress suits you. Taller already."
"R-really...?"
She peeked at her skirt, lips curving. Short height complex—praise worked.
"All here— to the banquet hall."
Following Father down the wide corridor. Neria beside me, shoulders hunched.
Freaked by imperial guests.
I patted her shoulder.
"Eek!"
Pulled a candy from my pocket into her hand.
"Relax. Met empress and princess earlier—normal folks."
"R-really...?"
"Dinner time—no snacks? Eat this. Sugar lifts moods fast."
"Th-thanks..."
She popped the tiny candy. Smile sparkled instantly.
"So sweet!"
Sugar to energy—quick mood boost. Growth spurts need calories, always.
"Tension gone. Brother knows everything."
You're the erudite ten-year-old.
"Want more? Just say."
Patted her head lightly. She flinched like a small animal, then relaxed. Felt her gaze as we entered the hall.
The dinner was laden with delicacies. Just five—Father, me, Neria, empress, Asella—but servants ferried food and wine.
Asella and I exchanged brief formal greetings. Then stiff talk between Father and empress. Yawn city. Jaw ache.
Mostly useless politics. Empress angling to drag Father into court power plays. He weighed pros-cons, talks parallel. He led, but her rank demanded courtesy.
How long this drudgery?
Empress chattered nonstop at Father. Mage? Clown.
"Court's about stacking aces. Say oracle predicts demon king invasion in ten years—what's every faction craving?"
"Hero. Hero-holder dominates court."
"Hero's ideal. But Gotbergs could snag equal second-best?"
"Saintess, you mean. Ancestor was one."
Father affirmed.
"No saintess, no demon king slay. Thoughts? Any saintess material at your center?"
"Too soon to tell."
"Make one. Hence 'candidate.' We're in the same boat now—kids betrothed."
"True."
Empress desperate for our ace. Rotten rope. How broke to push so hard?
Father's life worst mistake: betrothing Asella to me.
"Ancestor saintess—noted. Her blood in your children?"
Empress eyed Neria slyly. Neria flinched. Father uncomfortable.
Empress, Asella's mom, charged solo. Signaled servant—item out.
Here it comes.
Copper chalice on table—regal aura.
"Artifact awakens hidden talents. Rare find."
Rare? One per year worldwide.
Knew she had it—from Neria. Awakened her talent via this grail. If I used it...
Unlock both.
Empress was empress—bold table drop mid-meal.
"Lady Neria, thoughts?"
"Eh?"
Neria startled, shoulders up.
"Never dreamed of saintess?"
"Th-that's..."
Eyes down, trembling lips formed words.
"Saintesses fight demon king...? Demons, mana beasts..."
"Honorable duty for continent."
Neria hiccuped in fear. Glanced at Father pleadingly. He waited—respecting her will.
She mistook it for pressure, whispering, "...F-for house."
"Hold up."
I cut in before she finished. Empress glared—what now? Bored Asella perked, watching.
"Could birth a saint instead."
Gimme that precious thing. My turn. All of it.
"Intriguing."
Asella smiled thinly.