Mushoku tensei: A New Path

The soft glow of the setting sun bathed the room in warm hues as Rudeus stirred in his crib. His body felt heavier than usual, a lingering effect of his earlier attempts at magic. Slowly, he opened his eyes, the muffled sounds of conversation and clinking utensils drifting up from downstairs.

Realizing it was already evening, he carefully climbed out of the crib. His small hands gripped the rails as he used a mix of crawling and toddling to reach the ground. He steadied himself and began making his way downstairs, his movements slow but purposeful.

When he reached the kitchen, he found Zenith and Lilia chatting while preparing the table for dinner. Paul was at the far end of the room, polishing his sword and inspecting his gear. The warm, homely atmosphere greeted Rudeus like an old friend.

As soon as they saw him, the adults' faces lit up with smiles.

"There he is!" Zenith said cheerfully, crouching slightly to meet his gaze. "Just in time for dinner."

Paul set his sword aside and leaned back in his chair. "Come on, champ. Let's get you something to eat."

Lilia pulled out a small chair for Rudeus, and he climbed up with their help. The rich aroma of stew and freshly baked bread wafted through the room, making his stomach growl audibly.

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Rudeus's thoughts were clouded with his earlier failures. Why couldn't I perform the spell? Was it the incantation? Or do I lack proper mana output control? As he stared at the food, these questions swirled in his mind.

But the loud grumble of his stomach broke the train of thought. The sound was unmistakable, and all three adults turned to him with wide grins.

Zenith chuckled, covering her mouth. "Oh dear, someone's hungry!"

Paul burst out laughing. "What a roar, Rudy! That could scare off a Dire Wolf!"

Lilia joined in, her usually reserved smile turning into a soft laugh as she sat at the side table where she always took her meals. Despite her warm demeanor, she kept a respectful distance from the family dining at the main table. It was a habit born of her role as the maid of the house, a quiet acknowledgment of her position.

Rudeus's face flushed with embarrassment. He fidgeted in his chair, his gaze fixed on the table as the adults laughed.

Paul, still chuckling, stood and lifted Rudeus into his lap. "Alright, kiddo, let's get you fed. No need to stare at the food like it's going to jump into your mouth."

Usually, Rudeus preferred feeding himself, but tonight, he let Paul spoon-feed him. The warmth of the gesture brought a strange comfort, and for a brief moment, he forgot his frustrations.

Zenith smiled fondly. "No matter how clever he is, at the end of the day, he's still just a kid."

Paul nodded, grinning as he offered another spoonful of stew to Rudeus. "That's right. No rush to grow up, Rudy. Enjoy it while you can."

Though she ate apart from the family, Lilia glanced over at the scene with a faint smile. It was a tender moment that reminded her of the joy this household brought, even if she wasn't fully part of it.

Though embarrassed, Rudeus felt a rare sense of contentment. For all his ambitions and secrets, moments like these reminded him of the simple joys of being surrounded by people who genuinely cared for him.

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The days passed in a steady rhythm. Over the next two weeks, Rudeus maintained a routine. Whenever Zenith and Paul were out—Zenith at the clinic and Paul on patrol—Rudeus would seize the opportunity to take one of the storybooks as a cover and retreat to the room overlooking the garden. Lilia, busy with her chores, paid little attention to him.

Every day, he chanted the Water Ball spell, hoping to perfect it. Yet, for most of those two weeks, the results were the same: incomplete formations, dissipating mana, and a lingering exhaustion that left him frustrated.

Why can't I do it? he thought repeatedly. But as the days wore on, a realization dawned on him. The O.G. Rudeus cast his first Water Ball at the age of two. I'm trying this almost a year earlier. Could it be that my mana reserves just aren't developed enough yet?

It was a hypothesis he couldn't fully confirm, but he felt confident in one thing—his incantation was correct. He'd even asked Zenith to demonstrate it again, memorizing every detail of her performance.

At the end of the second week, Rudeus climbed to the familiar room with renewed determination. He chanted the incantation once more, his voice steady and focused.

"Let the great protection of water be on the place thou seekest. I call a refreshing burbling stream here and now. Water Ball."

This time, the spell succeeded. A perfect sphere of water formed, shimmering in the sunlight streaming through the window. Before Rudeus could fully process what was happening, the Water Ball shot forward, launching out of the window and into the garden below.

Relief washed over him, and he sank to the floor, a triumphant grin on his face. It worked. It really worked!

He plopped down, the exertion catching up with him. His thoughts were clear: Just like the novel, mana reserves can be increased over time. If I keep practicing, I'll be able to cast multiple spells without collapsing.

After a moment's rest, he tried the incantation again. This time, the spell formed more quickly, but the exhaustion hit harder. His vision blurred, and he fainted on the spot.

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Later, Lilia found Rudeus in the same drenched state as before. She chuckled to herself as she scooped him up. "This boy is so strange," she murmured, her voice tinged with amusement. "So smart one moment, and then this."

To her, it seemed as though he'd wet himself again. The idea made her laugh softly. "At the end of the day, he's just a child," she whispered, carrying him to his crib.

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The following day, Rudeus returned to the same room. This time, he decided to try something different: chantless magic. He closed his eyes, focusing on the memory of how the mana felt when he cast the Water Ball.

It's all about controlling the flow, he thought. Slowly, he imagined the mana moving from his core to his hands. At first, nothing happened, but he kept concentrating. Gradually, he felt the faint sensation of mana squeezing out of his palms.

With the image of a Water Ball clear in his mind, a small sphere of water began to form. It plopped onto the floor unceremoniously, but Rudeus wasn't discouraged. I didn't focus on speed or direction. That's why.

He tried again, this time imagining the Water Ball being shot from his hand. The sphere launched forward, arcing through the air and out the window.

A grin spread across his face. It worked.

On his third attempt, the spell succeeded again, but by the fourth, exhaustion overwhelmed him once more. Yet, as he collapsed onto the floor, he felt an immense sense of pride. At less than two years old, I'm already a chantless mage. The possibilities are endless.

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When Lilia came to check on him later, she found him fast asleep in the same room. This time, there was no puddle or sign of wetness. She smiled softly, lifting him into her arms.

"You're a strange one, Rudy," she whispered, carrying him to his crib. "But you're going to grow into someone amazing. I just know it."

As she tucked him in, Rudeus stirred slightly, a small smile on his lips even in sleep.

Lilia left the room, her heart warm with affection for the boy she cared for so deeply.