The Frivolous Prince

[5] Rista

Where am I? Oh, I see. I passed out yesterday upon exhausting all of my mana.

I tried to get up and look over the windows. No one is taking care of me, huh? Well, it’s understandable. Why would they even care?

“Brother!” Zeana shouted.

She came in without even knocking. She rushed to me like I passed out for a week. What a caring little sister.

Wait, she’s not stopping?

Zeana jumped and hugged me that made us fall into the floor.

“I miss you, brother! Why did you just pass out like that?” Zeana exclaimed.

I pat her head. I said, “I’m alright now. No need to worry, you don’t have to look like I lost consciousness for a week.”

“Huh? You’re an i***t, brother. It’s been two weeks since you passed out in that room,” Zeana said.

Wait, what? That long? I wasted two weeks of my life just laying down in this bed?

“Father, brother are already awake. Please let the doctor check him up!” Zeana shouted.

The king came into my room normally. His face doesn't even have a worried or happy expression.

“I see, then it’s good. Since you’re awake, we’ll hear what the experts say about your condition,” the king said.

A group of three members also came inside the room. From the looks of them, one of them is a doctor that specializes in researching illness and medications, another one is a healer. For the other one, I don’t have any idea but I think she’s an important figure.

The three sat down in the chairs beside my bed while Zeana and I sat on the bed. The King remains standing as the conversation goes.

“So, Zenith passed out due to lack of mana, is that what you are saying, Proudmoore?” the King said.

So the doctor’s name is Proudmoore. Let’s see if he really knows.

“Actually, the ultimate reason is that his stamina depletes. Though, it’s because he runs out of mana,” Proudmoore replied.

“So my son really was able to use magic? I thought it wouldn’t be possible for him to learn. I guess he still has the potential,” the King said.

“Actually, it’s still debatable. It will depend on what really happened before he passed out. The maid that heard Zeana that time discovered that he is studying this book,” Proudmoore replied.

“Basic Magic Course One, so it’s safe to say that he cast some magical spell. Rigard, you’re also one of the people that came in his room, right? Can you confirm this?” the King said.

So the healer’s name is Rigard.

“Yes, your majesty. The page where the book is turned is on the fireball spell, however we didn’t see any marks that could prove that he uses this spell,” Rigard replied.

“That would mean that he passed out even before casting the spell? Is that even possible?” the King asked.

“Yes, it’s possible. If your current mana is just a little short of the spell you tried to cast, it will still be consumed but your spell wouldn’t function normally. We don’t really hear about that situation since most of the magicians are very careful on their mana,” the woman whose name I still don’t know said.

“Rista, you got the Appraisal Magic Level 5, right? You could still confirm it, right?” the King said.

Woah! So I already found the one that I’m looking for. She could help me progress in studying the Appraisal Magic.

“I already used my Appraisal to him but it didn’t really give much information as to what had happened. One method to check it is for him to cast another fireball spell and check whether he would run out of mana,” Rista said.

“But I wouldn’t recommend that, your majesty. If what we theorize is true, then the prince would pass out and would spend another two weeks here,” Rigard said.

“Yes! Don’t ever do that. I don’t want my brother to pass out again!” Zeana exclaimed.

“Well, the simplest method is to ask the ninth prince directly,” Proudmoore said.

You could have done that earlier! All those talks are not true anyway.

“I doubt that this son of mine will tell the truth,” the King said.

Oh, I forgot about how low their expectations were about me.

“Anyway, I have an important matter to attend to. The three of you should find the real cause and report it to me whenever you have the time,” the King said.

After he said that, he left without even looking back.

I’m stuck with Zeana and these three people that work with the king. But it’s fine, maybe it’s an opportunity to learn from Rista.

“Hmm, actually, I also have an errand I need to do. This is just a simple task so I’ll leave this to the two of you,” Proudmoore said to Rigard and Rista.

“Ahmm,” Rigard said.

I feel that Rigard also doesn't want to take part in it.

“It’s fine, I’ll take care of this myself. Well, I prepare to work on my own anyway,” Rista said.

The two immediately went out. They are very afraid that Rista might suddenly change her mind.

“So,” Rista said with a very serious expression.

Is she like the others that belittle me?

“I never thought that the ninth prince was so cute!” Rista said while pinching my cheeks.

“Hey! What are you doing to my brother?” Zeana said.

“Why? His cuteness is killing me. Are you not feeling the same way?” Rista asked.

“Of course I know about that! I’m saying that my brother is all mine,” Zeana said.

“Ugh, you are also cute princess Zeana. You don’t have to be jealous,” Rista said then also pinched Zeana’s cheeks.

She’s also cute, I think she’s not yet twenty years old. I overheard that the only one that has Appraisal level 5 in the Kingdom is very young. She leveled up her skill because her father was the one appraising everyone here until his death.

“Why do you look so serious, Prince Zenith,” Rista asked.

“Nothing,” I replied.

“Anyway, back to the reason I’m here. What happened before you passed out?” Rista asked.

“Actually, it’s not the fireball spell. I used the Appraisal Magic,” Teiko said.

“Oh, really? That’s why there wasn’t any kind of damage in that room. Appraisal Magic takes one hundred mana from the user while fireball only consumes twenty mana. Then it’s wonderful, if you collapse while using appraisal then it’s understandable. Normally, children of your age still don't possess more than one hundred mana. Well, a royal family of your age has about one hundred fifty but it’s fine. They wouldn’t belittle my little cute prince anymore,” Rista said.

Oh, I never learned about that. So having more than one thousand mana in this age is a great feat. Should I tell her about it?

“From history, what’s the highest mana capacity ever recorded?” I asked.

“Eh? You don’t know about that, Prince Zenith?” Rista asked.

“My brother doesn't have time for stuff like that, he only reads tons and tons of complic-,” Zeana said but I cut her off. I think it’s best to hide my power to anyone. If my own family wouldn’t trust me, how can other people do so?

“I’m sorry, I really don’t read that much,” I replied.

“I see, then why are you curious? Aha! I have an idea, why not let me be your personal tutor until you can go to the academy?” Rista suggested.

“There’s no way, my brother even hides from his instructor,” Zeana said.

“I’ll accept your offer,” I said.

I could see how shocked Zeana was as I accepted what Rista said. Why would I refuse something like this? She got the information I need and compared to my current instructor, I know that she’s a good teacher.

“Okay! This is the best thing that has happened in a while. All I need is to ask permission from the King and the Queen and everything will be alright,” Rista said.

“I think it’s not possible. From what I know, you’re the only person responsible in Appraising people’s level. If you come here to this palace every time, then you have to leave your responsibility,” Zeana said.

“Woah, I never thought that you're very knowledgeable even though you're just six years old. As expected to a Magic Level 8, not only are you talented, you are also smart. But yeah, that’s the problem of me being Prince Zenith’s instructor,” Rista said.

“Then I’ll just go to where you’re doing your job. With that, there’s no need for you to come here every time,” I said.

“But royal families are usually guarded when they go out. And aside from that, children are not allowed to go out of the palace,” Rista said.

“Yeah, and I’m not okay with that. I wouldn’t want my brother to go far away from me,” Zeana said.

“Hmm. I think it will be fine, if it’s me then I think that the King will approve that. And as a matter of fact, no one is really familiar with my current look. They wouldn’t recognize me even if I had bodyguards with me,” I replied.

“You got a point, then we will try asking the King,” Rista said.

“Wait, if you’re going out, then I’ll go, too,” Zeana said.

“That would make things more complicated. The King will surely disagree with that,” Rista replied.

“Zeana, I’m not going out just for nothing. I’m going out to study. And I’m sure you're one of the people that want me to study, right? And even if for unknown reason, the King allowed you to go, I couldn’t play nor interact with you since I’m gonna focus on studying,” I replied.

“Princess, it’s for the greater good, okay? My post is not that far from here and Prince Zenith would go back here early. You have ample time with each other after the lesson,” Rista said.

“Okay, I understand. If it’s for my brother then I’ll accept it,” Zeana said.

I’m glad that she’s okay with it.

“Anyway, to answer your question. The highest mana capacity ever recorded is ten thousand. And that person is your father’s father, your grandfather. The reason that our Kingdom is very established is because of him. Monsters and evil beings weren't able to infiltrate our kingdom back then which gives this place ample time to build impenetrable walls. I’m really surprised you didn’t know about your own grandfather,” Rista said.

I see, so we are from the line of what they can call a hero. Wait, that means I have one-tenth of that mana? And as I train hard enough, it will surely increase.

“Your grandfather, Zernard, achieved that mana when he was seventy years old. I think when he's the same age as you, he already has two hundred mana. Though he started being a Magic Level 6 so it’s really possible that Zeana could surpass him,” Rista said.

“I don't really like that kind of fame, I just want to live happily with my brother,” Zeana said.

“Princess, it’s not really that bad if you have a thought like that. But when you were born into the royal family and you got that kind of power, you are already responsible for keeping this Kingdom's peace,” Rista said.

“Oh, that means I don’t have anything to do with that, right?” I said.

“Huh? Of course not! Your cuteness might save people's lives you know,” Rista said.

She didn’t even say that I might change things even with a low magic level. Anyway, I hope that everything will be alright as she asks the King’s permission.