Growth (1)
Sensing mana and becoming a mage weren't really connected at all. For starters... sensing mana was ridiculously easy.
Is this mana?
This world—whatever kind of place it was, a fantasy world anyway—was overflowing with mana everywhere. That was why even random folks could absorb mana and wield mystical powers. Monsters used it, other races used it, even the local farmers could sense it. They'd say that if you diligently farmed and felt that vague, powerful something, you were sensing mana 99% of the time. The world was just that saturated with it.
Using that mana to strengthen your body or blast it out to attack enemies turned you into a warrior or knight—a fighter, basically. (For the record, even the neighborhood farmer could wrap mana around his hoe. Mess with a guy who's farmed for fifty years, and you might end up dead...)
So wielding mana itself was super easy. The hard part was something else entirely.
Distinguishing mana.
Not all mana was the same. Hidden within it were unique wavelengths. Figuring out what those wavelengths were and emitting mana that resonated with a matching target—that was what they called magic.
Analyzing those wavelengths was insanely difficult. Every object had its own unique wavelength, and sensing and remembering them was pure talent territory—something you couldn't force.
My magic wavelength is definitely bugs.
When Dante released his mana, the beings that reacted first and most sensitively were the ones whose wavelengths matched. Bugs responded to Dante's mana right away. He had a talent for bug magic.
Deep in the forest, Dante meditated briefly, feeling the mana of great nature. Of course, whether it was the forest's mana or a beast's, he couldn't sense most of it. The wavelengths didn't match.
Bugs. The unique wavelengths pouring from the billions living in the forest. Dante's senses could detect and classify the mana of each and every one.
"Come here."
Dante extended his hand and murmured. A stag beetle that had been lapping sap under tree bark flew over, drawn by his mana.
Click!
It neatly folded its wings and landed delicately on his palm. Bug magic—or chongsul, as it was sometimes called. Dante had been able to use it as naturally as breathing since the moment he was born. It was talent, sure, but mostly because he'd fully inherited his birth mother's magic.
The stag beetle gazed up at Dante steadily.
[A stranger. But you're not scary.]
"Same to you. First time meeting, but I know you won't hurt me. Right?"
[What do you want, human?]
"Nothing. Just wanted to make a new friend."
Flutter flutter!
The stag beetle beat its wings vigorously and flew off between the trees.
He could feel the life force of countless bugs. Under the soil. Beneath tree bark. Between leaves and branches. Big ones, small ones—they all lived here.
Dante thought: The forest is fun...
He could see why his birth mother had spent her whole life here.
Black bugs crawled up onto Dante's shoes.
"Earwig bugs."
Earwigs that loved hiding under rocks. But right now, they were climbing his pants to meet him.
"Centipedes."
Centipedes lurking in damp spots emerged to see him too.
"Don't eat each other."
At least fight where I can't see.
Dante commanded his bugs. The centipedes smacked their mouthparts hungrily but obeyed, not devouring the earwigs.
The centipedes slipped into his clothes one by one. They preferred dark, cozy spots.
"Kinda ticklish."
Dante chuckled. His clothes were already filling up with earwigs and centipedes. Probably over a hundred crawling on his skin by now.
The bugs roamed his body, basking in the insect mana he emitted. One centipede tapped at his lips.
"What're you?"
[Eat... me. Human!]
"Ew, no thanks."
[I want to become one with you...! Eat me...! Please!]
The centipede begged to be eaten. Bugs nearing the end of their lifespan yearned to be consumed by a bug tamer. Dante didn't fully get it, but it seemed like they felt some religious fervor from his mana. A holy desire to merge(?) with him and live on forever.
"You'd taste bad."
The centipede tried crawling into his mouth. When he clamped his lips shut, it aimed for his nostril instead. No chance. The moment it got too bold, the other centipedes swarmed and tore it to shreds.
Centipedes loved cannibalism. They gleefully shared the flesh.
Feeling hundreds of bugs crawling over him, Dante quietly closed his eyes.
"So quiet..."
Could it get any more peaceful? Home was a 24/7 chaos pit thanks to the kids...!
The forest was pure serenity!
Dante Aision, age 10. Right in the thick of childcare stress...
"Hey, you... big bro jerk!!!"
"?"
As Dante blissfully healed in the forest, someone came looking for him. Cute, if you liked that sort of thing... utterly exhausting, if you didn't.
9-year-old Sara Aision. Dante's little sister.
"What the hell are you doing, creeping around like that!!!"
"Becoming one with the forest."
"Ughhh...! Shake off all those bugs! Now!!!"
"Shake them off? Bugs and I are already one body..."
Centipedes and earwigs poked in and out of his clothes. Sara went pale instantly...!
She was a noble lady with the sensibilities of a perfectly ordinary girl.
"This is so gross, I'm gonna die!!!"
"Ah, are centipedes too high-level for you?"
"Quit with the level crap!!!"
Good grief. This was why normies were...
Dante sent the centipedes and earwigs back into the forest and snapped his fingers.
A butterfly fluttered over and landed on his fingertip.
"How about this one?"
"...That's better."
Whew. Sara liked butterflies.
It fluttered naturally to her hair clip and perched there. Dante smiled.
"Cute hairpin. Suits you."
"..."
Sara trembled with rage. That bro. He used his creepy bug-controlling magic, and she really wanted to beat the crap out of him most days...!
But then he'd do something sweet like this, and she couldn't hate him!
"If you're done playing, go watch the kids!"
Sara grumbled.
"...Eric keeps whining he wants big bro."
4-year-old Eric was definitely different from his sisters. Being a boy, he loved bugs. That's why he adored Dante, who showed him all kinds.
Dante stared at Sara blankly.
"What? Why?"
"Sara. Don't you ever go out and play?"
"...Play?"
"With friends. Like a picnic."
Sara pouted.
"You're always off playing, so I don't have time."
Dante pointed to a fallen log and pulled out a handkerchief to make a seat for her. They sat side by side.
"Valentina and Eric are our siblings, but we don't need to cling to them all day."
"But...!"
"We're not their parents. Mom and Dad will look after them, and the maids and butlers help too."
"..."
Dante said, "Not my place, but I'm worried about you."
"...Worried how."
"Be honest. You stick with the kids 'cause you don't wanna meet friends, right?"
"!"
Shock flashed across her face, but she played it off. Too late—she was busted.
"You know you've got debutante in five years, right?"
"Ugh, I know!"
Debutante. A rite of passage for every noble lady. Literally a self-introduction. Girls attended a debut ball and said, "Hii~ I'm Sara Aision, nice to meet you~." The goal was to make their social entrance.
First debuts usually happened between 14 and 15. Essential for noble society survival. Skipping it was like declaring war on high society.
(Guys didn't have debutantes, by the way. It was girls-only.)
"Start making friends now, so your debut goes smoothly..."
"O-Oh? Who're you to nag me?! You're still playing with bugs in the woods!"
Dante grinned.
"My life, my rules?"
"Th-That's not fair!"
"I'm a mage. Parents know I'm studying bug magic. I'm going the magic route, so this is fine."
"...Cheater!"
Facts only. Dante was a mage. A super rare one, born with bug magic talent. His parents acknowledged it and let him study magic.
(...No teacher yet, so self-studying past 10. But Dante wasn't anxious.)
"Don't you wanna learn other magic besides bug stuff?"
"Dunno. Not interested yet."
"...You really like bugs that much?"
Dante gazed up at the sky. It wasn't like or dislike. It felt like this was the only path laid out for him.
(He'd never told anyone.)
Dante had a wish. A goal. A desire, maybe.
I want to visit where my birth mother died.
Not his current mom. His dead one. The biological mother whose name he didn't even know.
She'd fallen for some guy, gotten pregnant with Dante. But... a woman who seemed to be that guy's mother killed her.
Why? Who was his real dad? What kind of person was she?
...Not urgent.
Not a must-solve task. Just curiosity. Pure wonder.
Studying bug magic and following her trail might uncover clues. Dante wanted to know everything about his dead mother. That's why he'd chosen bug magic.
Just in case he found a lead later and hadn't missed anything.
"I told you: make friends early, prep for debut."
"Waaah~ No nagging!"
Sara threw a tantrum, and Dante just laughed. Fair enough. She was only 9. Shy kids existed at that age.
"Go get the kids. Let's play by the lake."
"Okay!"
Soon Sara returned with the kids—and maids and guards in tow. He usually picnicked solo to spare the staff, but today? Why not.
Dante Aision, age 10. Prime age for playtime fun.