SSS Rank Sword Mage: Awakening Starts with Weakest Mana Affinity

Opening my eyes last, alongside Morad, as Astraya had stepped inside first, I could already hear her tone.

"Wow, so much trees, hahah!"

I blinked against the soft brightness, and she was right. There were so many trees, giving the allure of an open park or something. It wasn't like this was a dense forest; the trees weren't so tall that they blocked the sun. Birds flitted between the branches, and the faint rustle of small animals squirrels, maybe moved through the air. Everything just felt completely different from inside the barrier. just enough for little animals like squirrels and birds to call home.

Then I heard it faint at first, but my ears were sharper now.

Whooshhhhhhhhhhh...

"Wait, is that a waterfall I hear?" I asked, turning my head toward the sound.

Father, who was steadying the reins of the shimmering horse, looked back with his usual, confident grin.

"Oh, that? Hahaha, good ears, Astraga! Yes, we're close to a waterfall. Actually " he gestured broadly toward the distance " there's a cabin nearby, our family cabin. Your mother and I had prepared it in case we ever needed to live outside the barrier. We've been planning everything out for years! You're lucky to have us," he said, playing the situation off casually.

He puffed out his chest proudly, patting the side of the wagon.

"Wait, hold on," I squinted at it. "Father, I thought you said carriage! This is a wagon!"

Astraya chimed in, "Yes, Father, I'm sure you know we can tell the difference at this age." She was right; we weren't blind at least we had gotten some form of education from Mother as well.

"Wow, my children are smart! Your mother taught you, huh?" he said, genuinely impressed he got found out.

"Hahah, correct, but… 'carriage' is just some fancy word. This… it's our family royal carriage! Don't you like it? It was quite expensive."

Morad's bowl sloshed as he stared through the transparent fish bowl. "Umm, but it's made of wood."

Father chuckled nervously. "Also correct, Morad! But… very expensive wood." He looked away, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "And don't tell your mother I got scammed. Sigh… Manyblood I remember why I left that damned place and moved to the hinterlands."

Astraya leaned against the wooden rail, feeling its smooth edges, giggling as she patted the brown horse comfortably. "Father, I hope the horse also isn't a scam?" she said, teasing him.

He threw up his hands dramatically. "Scam? No, no, no I got this from a very respectable horse farm! As for the wagon, let's call it charitably supporting local craftsmanship!"

I shook my head, smiling despite myself. The horse pawed at the soft earth, steam rising faintly from their manes.

Father climbed up onto the driver's seat. "Come on, hop in! It's not far if we leave on time. You'll love it; we are heading to the nearest town."

I carefully lifted Morad's bowl onto the wagon. Astraya was already on it, excited. "What's the name of the town, Father?"

"Blackroot," Father replied.

Astraya stretched her arms toward the sun. "Let's go, then! I can't wait to see it!"

"I have spoken to your mother while you were asleep. The trip may take two days or more days, to be honest. Luckily, she agreed. But I promised I would send messages regularly this time," Father said, showing us a sack-like water bag of purification water he would use on the crow.

"I see. No wonder Mother was extra worried. Your mother is scary! She said, 'Not a single scratch on you guys,' so please do your old man a favor and don't get injured. By the way, Astraga, how's Morad able to fit into that fish bowl?"

"Oh, that's because Morad can shrink in size! Apparently, he can shrink to the size of a smaller fish a goldfish."

"Wow! I have so many experiments to do!"

"Come on, Dad, let's goooo!!" Astraya urged.

"Alright, alright!"

As Father clicked the rein, the mana-tuned horse (as he called it) neighed softly, pulling the wagon forward. The rhythmic creak of the wheels began the journey.

The world ahead was green, glowing, and unknown and for the first time in my life, that didn't scare me.

---

The wagon creaked softly as it rolled through the open path, the horse hooves clopping rhythmically against the packed dirt. Wind brushed through the trees, carrying the scent of pine and something faintly sweet wildflowers, maybe. It was just the fact that we were outside: no demon, nothing, just pure freedom.

Astraya was humming again. No surprise there. But this time, Father joined in.

"Oh~ when the skies are blue, and the bluebird's true, the road will carry me home~!"

His voice was off-key but full of heart.

Astraya laughed mid-verse, trying to match him. "Carry me hoooome!" she sang louder, throwing her hands in the air like a conductor.

I couldn't help but smile as Morad's fins flicked inside his bowl, the ripples bouncing rhythmically.

"You two are killing my ears," I muttered.

"That's the spirit, Astraga! Join us!" Father said, not missing a beat.

I sighed. "Pass."

"Boooooooo!" Astraya teased. "You're no fun."

Morad, clearly enjoying every moment, chimed in with his bubbling laughter. "This is… actually kind of nice. I didn't think I'd ever heard this song. Come on, Astraga, join! It's a traveling song."

Father chuckled, gripping the reins gently as the horse adjusted their pace. "Ah, it's a traditional travelling song, Morad. Best for horse travels. When the roads are long and spirits get low, singing keeps the mind light."

We rode for a while under a wide, cloud-dotted sky.

"Father," I said, respectfully cutting his singing, curious about something he'd said earlier, "earlier… back at home, you mentioned the world had changed. What did you mean by that, father?"

Astraya also stopped singing, curious as well. "Yes, Father. Changed how? And how does it also affect Blackroot, the place we are going?"

Father's expression shifted slightly, though he kept his eyes forward. "Ah, that." He exhaled, his usual light tone giving way to something more serious. "The world outside the barrier isn't as peaceful as you two think."

I mean, I know that. No matter what, I wasn't really expecting a slice-of-life type of journey the moment I got reincarnated; being hunted by a demon, that alone said a lot about the world.

"Take Manyblood as an example… it's in tense situations currently. These parts may not show it, as we are in the hinterlands of Manyblood. You see, nations are like people. When they grow too proud and big, they start stepping on each other's toes." Sigh.

He flicked the reins absentmindedly as he spoke.

"Manyblood isn't on good terms with a lot of kingdoms, as the types of policies they have don't align with some other kingdoms, and especially with Volkar, Verdun, or Aserin who are part of the big four, typically big five, you know what I mean, right?"

I confirmed his thoughts. "Yes, Father, according to those books we have, the G5."

Astraya rephrased. "G5?"

"Yeah, according to the books on geography, there were basically five great nations powerful kingdoms who have the wealth, military power, and population. But in the books, it was more or less G4, as Manyblood was usually used loosely to be part of the G kingdoms; Manyblood lacks military might but can only match the rest in economic might."

Sigh, this is why I don't read those stuff, I just get irritated knowing all these.

"Just like your mother, I see, hahah!" Father joked.

Astraya looked perplexed. "Wait, Astraga, you read the other books?"

I replied, "Yes, Astraya, of course! It was a lot; made my head hurt."

"Good, Astraga, I trust you know what I'm about to say then."

"Yes, Father, about the G4."

Father continued by saying, "Trade routes are strained, and and border patrols have grown hostile. Only Aetherhall remains in stable talks with Manyblood—but even they play politics behind closed doors."

Astraya tilted her head. "So… are they fighting or friends? I don't get it."

"Not yet. I guess you could say friends, or frenemies, hahaha," Father said, laughing at his supposed joke, though his tone didn't sound certain. "But there's some kind of relationship, which is why I was able to get the Aromancer Aetherhall royal as your teacher if not, that wouldn't be possible. But it's just one big pile of diplomacy, spies, and gold. The sad part is it's all politics. Sigh. At least in battle, you can see your enemy. You know, in politics, you can't, because you really don't know exactly."

"But one thing is sure: Manyblood's lack of military strength is the reason they are in this situation. But even though nobody likes to say it, including the other nations in the G5/G4, one country still remains top and has stayed there for years on end, as the gap between them and the other four is not even close. You know who, Astraga? I'm sure you've heard their name repeatedly."

"Yes, Father, the Volkar Kingdom," I replied.

"Correct. So they usually don't face any issues like this. And Manyblood is just so hungry for power."

"Dad, look ahead!" Astraya cut him off.

Father looked. "Huh? What's that, dear?" turning his head forward, back onto the road.

"There, Father. I also saw it." Father hasn't been paying attention to the road, more towards the politics of the world.

Ahead, the path split into two roads one bending left toward a small bridge that cut through the valley, the other rising slightly toward a ridge covered in tall grass.

Father pulled gently on the reins, squinting.

"Hmm… that's strange."

Astraya leaned forward, peering at the crossroads. "Which one?"

He scratched the back of his head. "I could've sworn the map said left for Blackroot, right for Sabah… or was it the other way around? Hmmmm?"

"Wait you forgot which road leads where?" Astraya said, as I was already feeling my stomach twist.

Father laughed nervously. "Not that I forgot… just that I can't remember at the moment."

"Dad, that's what they call forgetting," I said, a bit annoyed.

Before Astraya could also reply, a voice drifted toward us.

"Headin' to Blackroot?"