Is that really a manual for magic? Based on the title it doesn't appear to be fiction. I guess there's only one way to find out, let's open it. Or that's what I would have done if my mother hadn't run in.

  “Oh! Theo! Are you okay?” She says as she checks me for injuries. “On no! You got a little ouchie on your head! Mommy will heal that for you right quick!” I look up at her as she rests her hand on my forehead. She mumbles some kind of incantation under her breath and a bright, gentle light forms around her hand. I feel the pain in my rear and on my forehead disappear and then I feel rejuvenated. Holy smokes magic is real! “There you go, all better now! You should be more careful baby boy.” My mother says “Thanks mommy!” I responded back.

  She bends down and picks up the book. “My old magic manual? I don't remember teaching you to read.” She says. I look at the floor, debating on whether to lie and say I can't, or just say I can. But before I can say anything she says “That's just great! I always knew my baby boy was gonna be a genius!” she says with glee, hopping up and down a bit. “But no matter how much of a genius you are, magic is too dangerous for little boys.” she adds.

  I can't let her just waste my time, so I stand up and look her in the eyes, pleading, csping my hands together. “Mommy please? I promise I'll only do it when you're around.”

  My mother put her hand on her chin and paced around the room a few times “Marcus! Get in here and tell Theo why he can't learn magic. If I try, his cute face will make me let him.”

  My father walks in the room, with a stern expression on his face. Ready to y down the w. He looks at my mother and sighs. “Lily, it was a good idea you called for me, you're too soft with the boy.” he then turns to my direction and adds “Theo, whatever your mother said was right, now is not the time to learn magic. Wait until your 4th birthday, and then we'll talk about it.”

  He pats me on the head and ruffles my hair before walking out of the room, leaving no room for discussion. My mother puts the book away and follows closely behind.

  Having a family is good and all, but the way they look at me like I don't understand ticks me off. But I have to keep the act up. They didn't ask to have a reincarnate as a child after all and I'd rather keep my retionship with my parents healthy this time.

  Looking out the window I noticed that it's te so I left the study room and walked down the hall to my own room. I plop down onto my bed after a long day at the market and get some sleep.

  2 months passed in the blink of an eye, I've been patiently waiting for my birthday ever since.

  On that day I was walking home from messing around with the local kids outside. When I opened the door the house was quiet… too quiet, I walked in and both my parents jumped out from either side and yelled “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!”

  Once I'd calmed down, we walked to the dining room together and my mother had gone all out for my birthday, meat, grains, soups, bread—everything.

  “Oh wow! Is this all for me?” I ask timidly “Theo, is that how you react when your mother cooks a feast worthy of a king?” my father says jokingly, patting my back roughly “Marcus, let the boy breathe,” my mother retorts, nudging his elbow. “It's his birthday. lighten up a little.”

  “Thank you so much mommy!” I run up and hug her, wrapping my arms around her like a vice. She pats my head affectionately “a growing boy like you needs a lot of food, so eat as much as you want!” she says with a gentle smile.

  We all sit at the table, eating, telling each other jokes, I have to look away because my parents are way too lovey dovey. It all feels like a dream. This is all so enjoyable, it doesn't feel right that a guy like me was blessed with this second chance.

  After we finish eating my mother walks up with her hands behind her back and a smile on her face “Look Theo, I got you something.” and then she pulls a book out from behind her. I take it and read the title which says “An Encyclopedia Of The Various Countries Of The World” I look at my mother and grin, already skimming through pages “Thanks so much mommy! I'll always treasure it.”

  My father walks up to me with a serious expression and hands me the magic manual like it’s a Bible or something “Theo, as I said, I would let you learn magic on your 4th birthday. Depending on how you do during the test, I’ll decide your gift. So come outside with me, and we'll learn what kind of magic user you are.” Wait, Do they even have religion in this world?

  So my father takes me outside, and we sit down in the backyard. He opens the book, licks his thumb to turn the page and begins reading.

  “Alright Theo, magic users are split Into two types. Endogens and Exogens” he looks at me to see if I understand, I nod affirmatively. He licks his thumb to turn the page as he continues.

  “An Endogen makes use of the mana Inside their body to enhance themselves. Making one stronger, faster, more durable, and imbue weapons with elemental effects and if they have mastered it enough, they can even heal their own minor wounds.” he pauses, giving me time to absorb the information. “But if they overuse their mana, it can cause internal injuries to bones muscles and organs”

  Wow, no wonder they didn't let me learn at three. Well that's a relief I could have died! “Do you understand Theo?” he asks. I nod and reply “Yes Dad, I understand.”

  He turns the page and then looks back at me and continues “An Exogen pulls mana in the air around them. So they can use long range spells. They can use the elements to hurl people from long range, but they can't enhance themselves like an Endogen does and if they overuse their power they could cause themselves severe exhaustion, and potentially brain damage” he says

  I cringe a bit, I'd rather not be an Exogen, brain damage is no joke. I lean back on my hands as I think of a response.

  I raise my hand “Can someone be both types? If they can, what would happen?” I ask curiously “Well it certainly isn't impossible. But the odds of that happening are very rare. If that happened they’d probably be hunted by the royal family” he says.

  I gulp “Well good thing it's rare… right, Dad?” I say with a shaky voice. “Yep, a very good thing Indeed. But don't worry, if you end up being one I won't let them take you...” My father says, ruffling my hair.

  Marcus, that's a pretty ominous thing to say to your 4 year old son if I don't say so myself. But lucky for me I'm mentally way older than that so I'm chilling. My father rises to his feet and helps me up as well.

  “Alright, so as an Endogen myself, I can show you how an Endogen charges mana. If it doesn't work that just means you're an Exogen, heh.” he says, stepping back about 6 feet away from me.

  My father csps his hands together and sets his feet about shoulder width apart. He then closes his eyes and I can feel the air shift. I feel the wind start to pick up as my father charges up his mana. The grass fttens under his feet and dust kicks up as I start to see a faint but noticeable translucent white aura start to bubble up around him and then he stops.

  “That was the demonstration. Theo, do you understand?” He asks as he gets back into a normal stance. “Uhh… not really? You didn't really expin how you did it.” I respond, my expression dumbfounded because I haven't seen anything like it before..

  My father sighs, putting his hand on my shoulder gently. “Basically it's a feeling, if you're an Endogen you have to feel the mana Inside you and draw it out.” He expins, still patting me on the head before stopping to add “But don't worry buddy, I know you can do it. Magic user type is mostly genetic after all.”

  With those words of encouragement I assume the same stance my father did. I try to feel the mana, so I search my being. But holy smokes, this is pretty hard.

  I finally found it. It's a warm, fuzzy feeling in my chest that feels like it's just waiting to burst. As I continue to charge it up I feel a shiver down my spine and then a heat rushes from my heart to the tips of my toes and fingers. My heart rate speeds up and my hands feel jittery.

  The wind picks up, swirling towards me and the grass draws towards my feet. Strange it fttened for dad, maybe it's because he's more experienced. The heat continues to rush through until it gets to my skin and that's when a pale yellow translucent aura flows out of me slightly.

  “Alright that’s enough” my father says, shaking me slightly to break my focus, the aura disappearing. “You wouldn't wanna hurt yourself before I get a chance to teach you anything, right? haha.” My father adds, patting on the back proudly.

  “I’m actually impressed, you were able to manipute your mana and on top of that you're a fire affinity. That's why your aura was a different color than mine.” He tells me as he picks me up and puts me on his shoulders, holding me steady by my legs. “Maybe your mother was right about you being a genius.” He says in a very proud tone as we re-enter the house.

  After we enter the house, my father sets me down and walks into the other room. I lean against the wall as I wait for him to return. After a few minutes he gets back with a wooden sword.

  “Alright Theo, your gift for your birthday from me is this here wooden sword.” He says, as he presents it to me like some holy weapon. “I also bought a little wand, but that was for if you were an Exogen.”

  “Thanks Dad! It's so cool!” I say as I take the weapon, and give it a few practice swings. “Oh, it seems you have talent in the sword.” He says proudly, with a boastful tone.“You're dear old dad here used to be quite an adventurer, but that's besides the point.”

  I was always into swords in my past life, I even took fencing lessons. But I got zy about 2 months in and quit. Maybe now because I'm being taught by a parent, I'll actually keep it up.

  “So dad, are you going to teach me sword techniques or something?”

  I ask curiously as I continue to py with the wooden sword. “Theo, sword fighting isn't a game. If you want me to train you, you have to be completely focused. There could come a time when you're older and you have your own family, and you have to protect them. So learn now, practice hard, and you'll be a great swordsman in no time.”

  Nah, I didn't know that. I totally thought sword fighting was a game and all I had to do was swing a piece of metal around. You know what he's right about that. I should be serious.

  "Understood father!” I say affirmatively as I set the wooden sword down. “I’ll always make sure to put my all into all your lessons.” He leans down and pulls me into a hug “Thank you son. Just remember no matter how hard the training gets, that I will always love you.”

  Oh… that's kinda scary. How hard is this guy going to drill me that he's afraid I'm gonna hate him? No matter, I'm not a little kid mentally, so I understand.

  “No matter how hard you push me I won't hate you. You're my dad!" He smiles lightly, patting me on the back. “Well, get some rest today Theo, because we start tomorrow.”

  And thus, begins my training arc!