Mushoku Tensei: Reborn Mayhem

It's been two years officially since my rebirth. How I've survived this long without the internet surprises me. In that time, I've learned to walk and found the room with the chest containing books. Lifting the lid was a challenge—probably more a testament to my age than anything else—but after many attempts, I managed to crack it open.

Inside were five books. Getting them out took forever, and my tiny muscles ached for days. But it was worth it. The books were filled with basic spells and magical theory—a treasure trove for someone like me. My family, however, didn't seem to think much of it. Paul's grunts as he struggled to read the books aloud for me were both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, I learned to read. On the other, I had to endure his lack of enthusiasm.

With the basics under my belt, I began experimenting with magic. My first success was the Water Ball spell. The incantation felt clunky, but the thrill of conjuring water from nothing was unmatched. My first attempt left a puddle on the floor, much to Zenith's dismay. From there, I pushed myself to go beyond incantations. Using my modern knowledge of science, I imagined water molecules forming and manipulated mana to bring them together. The result? A silent, efficient Water Ball.

I practiced daily, pushing my limits. By visualizing the flow of mana like circuits and focusing on spell mechanics—element, size, speed—I discovered I could manipulate spells in creative ways. Adjusting the size of the Water Ball, curving its trajectory, even controlling its speed—it all felt like solving a complex physics problem. My experiments created a small pond outside my window, though thankfully no one seemed to notice.

Healing magic was another area of focus. Mimicking Zenith's chant, I refined my technique until I could heal minor scrapes without verbalizing the spell. The process was draining, but each success felt like a step forward.

After countless experiments, I decided it was time to move on to something bigger. The Water Cannon spell caught my eye. Its incantation was longer, more intricate, but I was confident in my ability to handle it. Standing in my room, I focused my mana and began to chant:

"Supple spirit of water and princess of streams that flow through the earth, sweep away all things with your hidden inner might. Water Cannon."

The spell fired—and promptly blasted a hole in the wall. Dust and debris filled the air, and before I could even process what happened, Paul burst into the room.

"Rudy! Are you… what happened?" he demanded, eyes scanning the damage.

Zenith followed, her expression a mix of worry and confusion. "Are you hurt?" she asked, kneeling to check me over.

"I'm fine," I managed, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

"Monster attack? No, not likely. It's broad daylight," Paul muttered, his brows furrowing.

Zenith's eyes fell on the book near me. "Wait… did you happen to read what's in this book out loud?" she asked, her tone oddly cheerful.

"Yes… I'm sorry," I admitted, playing the guilty child card.

Their bickering over the incident was cut short by Lilia's intervention. She suggested channeling my talents into formal training. It wasn't exactly what she said, but I latched onto the idea regardless. If I was going to navigate this world, I needed to become both a competent mage and swordsman.

And so, the next chapter of my journey began with Roxy Migurdia's arrival.