Mana Measurement

The next morning, I was in high spirits from the moment I woke up because I was going to church.

"Big Brother, you've been grinning all morning!"

"Marie, we're going to church today. Big Brother is going to be able to use magic!"

"Geez! Big Brother, you told me that so many times yesterday!"

I was so happy that I kept talking to Marie about it until she was half exasperated with me.

Yet I couldn't contain my excitement, and after breakfast, I spent the entire time fidgeting restlessly.

Since I couldn't concentrate at all on the laundry and cleaning I usually did, I finished the cleaning halfheartedly and decided to go tell Marcel-san that I could go to the central district tomorrow.

"Then I'll go tell him about tomorrow!"

"Be careful on your way!"

"Okay!"

As I answered, I dashed out of the house and ran to Marcel-san's place. There wasn't much time left before the lunch service began.

"Hello, Marcel-san!"

When I reached Marcel-san's house, I called out to him. After waiting a little, he soon poked his face out through a door at the back.

"Leon, what brings you here at this hour?"

"I came to tell you that I'll be able to go to the central district tomorrow."

"That was quick. Then shall we meet at my house tomorrow? The shared carriage stop is close by, after all."

"Yes! That's fine!"

"Then I'll get everything ready."

"Thank you! I'll come back tomorrow!"

After that, I left Marcel-san's house and ran all the way home again. Judging by the position of the sun, the noon bell would ring soon.

"I'm home!"

The noon bell rang almost exactly as I opened the door and called out.

"Leon, leave the door open!"

Since Mom called to me from the kitchen, I propped the door open and waited for customers in the kitchen.

A customer arrived right away, so I began helping with the lunch service.

The lunch service ended, and now we were all eating lunch together.

"Marie, are you coming with us? You can go play with Nicola and Luke instead, though."

"I'm coming with you!!"

"I see. Then the four of us will go together."

Marie and Dad were having this exchange. Apparently, we were all going to the church today.

The church was about twenty minutes away on foot, so we could walk there.

"Mom, how do they measure mana?"

"First, they measure your mana capacity. There's a metal plate-like device that displays your mana capacity when you channel mana into it, and that's what they use to measure it. It displays a number from one to five, with five being the greatest amount. Once they know your mana capacity, they determine your attribute by having you try the basic spell of each attribute in order. Whichever one you can use is your attribute."

So the device could measure mana capacity, but not your attribute. You just try each one in turn, and whichever one you can use is your attribute.

"Mom and Dad both have the Fire attribute, right? Did you learn to use it right away?"

"Yes. The other attributes didn't work at all no matter how hard I tried, but I was able to use Fire right away. I wonder what attribute Leon will have."

So you could use your own attribute right away. I wonder what mine will be... If possible, I'd like Healing. Being able to heal my own injuries would be a huge advantage.

"I want the Healing attribute! Are some attributes more common than others?"

"Healing is convenient—you wouldn't have to pay the church when you get hurt. But there is some variation in how common the attributes are. They say Fire is the most common and Healing is the rarest."

"I see... Then maybe Healing is out of the question."

"It isn't extremely rare, so you still have a chance."

There isn't an extreme imbalance between the attributes, but some are more common than others. I was really curious about what my attribute would be... Well, I'd find out once I got to the church.

After lunch, we prepared to leave and walked to the church together.

The church consisted of a central, chapel-like building with a tower on top, flanked by two slightly smaller buildings that seemed to be connected by covered walkways.

The entire complex was compact but well-kept.

"Mom, what are the buildings on the left and right?"

"They're an orphanage and a healing clinic. Every church has them attached."

So churches also functioned as orphanages and healing clinics... That was impressive. Come to think of it, I wondered what religion was like in this world.

"Mom, do lots of people come to church to pray earnestly?"

"Hmm, some people do, but they're a minority. There are many churches, but I think most people see them as places to have their mana measured or visit the healing clinic rather than places to pray."

"I see."

Religion didn't seem to have much influence in this world. As someone who had been Japanese in my previous life, I was glad; dealing with a powerful religion sounded like a hassle.

While we chatted, we stepped inside the church. There was what looked like a statue of a god at the back, with rows of benches facing it in front.

"Hello. Are you here to pray today?"

A woman in nun's robes spoke to us as soon as we entered. Dad answered her.

"We came today to have Leon's mana measured. Can you do it now?"

"Yes. No one else is here today, so we can do it right away."

"That's good. Then I'll leave Leon in your hands."

"Yes. Leon-kun, come this way."

As she spoke, the nun indicated one of the doors along the side of the chapel.

"Am I going alone?"

I asked because I felt vaguely uneasy about being alone in a church, but apparently the measurement was done one person at a time.

"All right, Leon, do your best. We'll wait for you right here."

"Take care, Leon!"

"Big Brother, do your best!"

With their encouragement behind me, I stepped through the door and entered the room.

There was a table in the middle of the room, with a metal plate on top. The only other things in the room were two chairs facing each other.

"Please sit in the chair closest to you."

"Yes."

I was a little nervous, but I did as I was told and sat in the nearer chair.

"We'll begin the mana measurement. First, we'll measure your mana capacity, so place your hand on this metal plate. It will automatically draw mana out of you when you put your hand on it. Remember that sensation, because it's the same sensation you feel when using magic."

"Understood."

I answered and nervously placed my hand on the metal plate.

I felt something being drawn out of me. So this was mana... I hadn't noticed it at all until now.

Perhaps becoming aware of mana through the device was what allowed you to use magic.

After a while, once enough mana had been drawn out, the nun spoke to me.

"You can take your hand off now."

"Yes."

"We've measured your mana capacity. Your mana capacity is... five. Amazing! That's the highest possible value. You could even take the soldier's exam."

"The soldier's exam...?"

"You have to graduate from the Royal Academy to become a knight, so almost all knights are nobles. But a commoner with a mana capacity of four or five can become a soldier by passing a simple exam. It's a popular career because the pay is good."

"Really? Then that's great!"

I fought back the urge to speak politely and tried to carry on the conversation in a childlike way.

Still, I hadn't known about soldiers... The high pay sounded nice, but I was aiming for the Royal Academy, so I wasn't going to become a soldier.

"Next, we'll determine your attribute. Do you know how many types of magic attributes there are?"

"Yes! There are six: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Physical Enhancement, and Healing!"

"That's right. You'll try using the simplest spell of each attribute, and whichever one you can use is your attribute. Each person has only one attribute, so once we find one you can use, that will be your attribute. Which one would you like to try first?"

"Healing, please!"

"All right. The simplest Healing spell is Light. Point your index finger forward and imagine light shining from the tip, then say, 'Light.' The most important thing in magic is your image. When you infuse that image with mana, the spell will activate. Once you get used to it, you'll be able to use magic without chanting. Give it a try."

"Yes! 'Light.'"

I imagined light shining from my fingertip, focused on the mana I'd sensed earlier, and chanted 'Light.' The tip of my finger lit up exactly as I'd imagined.

Amazing!! It worked!! Magic really was so cool.

"I did it!"

"So you have the Healing attribute. That's wonderful. Once you get the hang of magic, you'll be able to use it quickly with practice. The most important thing is your image, so keep practicing. The other Healing spells are Heal and Purification. Heal treats injuries, while Purification cleans away dirt."

So the spells were for healing and purification.

"I'll start practicing!"

"You have a mana capacity of five, so you may even be able to heal broken bones. Practice hard."

"Yes! Can it cure illnesses?"

"Healing magic can't cure illnesses. It can only treat injuries."

"I see."

Could it really not cure illnesses? Based on everything I'd heard, magic seemed limited by what its attribute could do, with its effects determined by the user's image and mana capacity.

Healing ought to be able to cure illnesses too... I wanted to try it sometime. Well, I could do that after I got home.

"Then work hard at practicing. Magic is useful once you can use it. Also, since you have the Healing attribute and a high mana capacity, you could work at the healing clinic. If you're interested, please come by."

The nun smiled at me with the look of a hunter eyeing its prey... Ugh... I should probably get out of here as quickly as possible...

At this rate, I was going to be forced to work at the healing clinic.

"Th-then, thank you very much."

I stood up from the chair and tried to leave through the door right behind me. The nun saw me off with that same predatory look in her eyes.

Phew. I should try not to come to the church too often...

Still thinking that, I returned to the chapel, where everyone was waiting for me.

"Are you done, Leon?"

"Yeah! My mana capacity is five, and I have the Healing attribute!"

"Your mana capacity was five? That's amazing. Since you have the Healing attribute, you'll be able to heal us whenever we get hurt, Leon."

"That's right. From now on, we'll ask Leon to heal us whenever we get hurt."

"You have the Healing attribute, Big Brother? Then I won't have to worry even if I get hurt!"

"Marie, try not to get hurt if you can help it."

"Okaaay."

Dad and Mom listened to our exchange and smiled gently.

I was truly glad to have an attribute that let me heal everyone in my family.

"Then shall we head home?"

"Yes. Shall we make dinner extra special to celebrate?"

"A fancy dinner!! Yay!"

"Thanks, Mom!!"

We chatted as we left the church and started walking home.

I renewed my resolve to learn to use this magic properly so I could protect my kind family.