(Third Person POV)
[A Year Later, The Greyclaw Home]
"Samuel.....Grey." A young Samuel said as he was on the desk, writing on a paper, "Yes. That is my name."
Meadow, a maid who works in the home, frowned, "No, Master Samuel." She said, placing her finger on the paper, "Greyclaw. Your surname is Greyclaw."
Samuel frowned and looked at her, "Greyclaw?" He asked, "No, Samuel Grey."
Meadow chuckled, "Grey....claw." she said, "Go on, write it down."
Samuel pouted, holding the quill in his hand, "My name is Samuel Grey."
"Greyclaw." Meadow corrected, "Your Father is John Greyclaw and your Mother is Sonya Greyclaw. You are a member of the Greyclaw line, a very prestigious Hunter line. Your sisters are Maria and Lydia Greyclaw."
Samuel rolled his eyes, "Tch..." He said, "I'm Samuel Grey."
Samuel Grey. That is the name that kept appearing in young Samuel's head ever since the nightmares began for him when he was 3 years old. He kept saying that his name was Samuel Grey, and despite everyone correcting and reminding him that he was Samuel Greyclaw, it didn't matter.
Samuel was obsessed with drawing runepowder firearms since he was 3, even acting like he would be holding such weapons and pretending to shoot everyone. He would laugh constantly as he ran around, annoying his eldest sister while "shooting" her.
Plagued with nightmares, the young boy was the target of concern. John and his wife, Sonya, would constantly look after him while he slept. They were unaware if the nightmare stemmed from a curse, and they had spent the entire year consulting experts in the Abaddon Kingdom.
They even reached out to Sonya's mother, who lived in the Capital, to try and get some answers. But there was no answer from Samuel's grandmother, leaving them with cold shoulders.
He had no symptoms of any illness or curse, which left the two still worried. They knew that his nightmares would plague him every night, but they didn't know what would cause them.
At some point, Samuel spoke in his sleep, mentioning blood tendrils that would pierce his skin and break his body. Meadow, the maid who was watching over him at the time, heard this and reported it to John.
This was but another drop to the overwhelming cup of metaphorical water in John's cup. He couldn't wait to find out what was wrong with his son.
And today was the day he might get some answers.
"I'm hungry." Samuel said
"I'll get you some toast." Meadow said with a smile
As she said this, John stepped into the room, "It's time." He said, "The Attribute Test."
Meadow looked at him, "Oh, is Lord Sincast here already?"
"Yes." John looked at Samuel, "Come, son."
Samuel frowned, "Why?"
"Just come with me." John gave him a slight smile, "It'll be interesting."
Samuel sighed and got off the chair, walking over to John, "Okay."
John walked out of the room and as Samuel followed him, they made their way downstairs. After reaching the living room, where space was made for a small table in the middle, Samuel saw that his sister Lydia was standing in front of the table.
Next to her was Sincast, the old man who had spoken to John a year prior. To the side of the room, Sonya and Maria were standing. The young girl was holding onto her mother's hand, showing a bit of concern in her face.
"Ho?" Sincast looked at Samuel as he stood beside his father, "This the little whipper-snapper that I keep hearing about? Man, you're quite big. How old are you, boy?"
"I'm 4." Samuel said
"Hehe...." Sincast stroked his beard, "Interesting."
"Can we start?" John asked
"Oh, yea." Sincast sighed, "Quite impatient, huh? Well, the Test shouldn't take long."
He had a blank canvas on the table, lying flat as he pulled out a small container of what looked like paint, white in color.
Lydia was standing there, looking up with curiosity, "And what is that?"
"This is Arcane Paint." Sincast said, "It's nothing major; it merely acts as a conduit for magic rune circles. For this specific circle, it will simply adapt to the magic power that you pour into it. The runes activate, and they analyze your very being, as Magic is the fundamental source of every being in our Realm."
"Oh." Lydia said
"The Attribute Test is as such." Sincast pulled out a brush and opened the container, "This canvas represents you.....empty but with the potential to be anything. And with the white paint of the arcane, I draw the circle...."
He dipped the brush into the paint, lowering himself down to the table and drawing a magic circle that was barely visible onto the canvas. Lydia watched with pure curiosity, wondering what would happen next.
"I was told Maria performed quite splendidly, inheriting John's penchant for Alteration Magic." He said as he finished up drawing, "I'm impressed."
"Elemental Magic as well." Sonya spoke up
"Ho? That's quite nice." Sincast smiled, "You'd be a fine mage, taking after your parents, young girl."
Maria blushed and smiled, clearly liking the idea of it.
"Now, Lydia." Sincast said as he looked at the young girl, "Place your hand on the paint and pour your magic power into it. Think of it as an invisible water being poured onto the canvas."
Lydia placed her hand on the canvas, doing as she was told. In a matter of seconds, the magic circle began to glow with a silver hue.
John widened his eyes with surprise, "A silver light..."
"Hmmm...." Sincast stroked his beard, "Fascinating."
Lydia was focusing, "Hnnngh....."
The magic circle began to emit a light and Lydia grunted, feeling something hit her hand.
"Oh?" Sincaster said, "Go on, grab whatever you feel. Don't worry, the construct with disappear within seconds, but not before we confirm what it is."
Lydia grabbed what touched her and she pulled it out.
Sonya gasped as she saw that Lydia had pulled out what looked like a small sword, shrouded in silver light.
"Oh!" Sonya said, covering her mouth, "S-Sword!"
John widened his eyes, "A sword!"
"Hoho!" Sincast said, "Silver light with Sword. Haha! Are you going to be a Swordmaster like your mother? Good, Girl! That's very good! Someone will inherit the Sword Saintess legacy!"
Sonya ran to Lydia as the sword disappeared, hugging her tightly, "Ooooh! Lydia~~!!!" She exclaimed, "I'm so proud of youuuu!!!"
Lydia was blushing, "A sword...." She said, "And silver light...."
Samuel had his arms crossed, "Am I next?" He asked, a pout on his face, "Hm?"
"Hahaha!" Sincast laughed, "He's a genius, alright. Yes, boy. Come on over."
Sincast replaced the canvas with an extra one he had, painting the same circle on it as Lydia and Sonya stepped to the side. Samuel walked over with a frown on his face, looking around.
"I pour my magic in there?" He asked
"Yes." Sincast said, "As I told Lydia, you merely need to think of it as water being poured-"
"Yea, yea." Samuel said as he placed his hand on the magic circle, "I do that."
John watched as the magic circle began to glow, emitting a black and blue light. He widened his eyes slightly as Samuel narrowed his eyes.
"Interesting...." Sincast said, "This feeling...."
Samuel then grabbed hold of something, pulling out, "Ha!"
Everyone widened their eyes as a revolver was in Samuel's hand, pointing upwards.
"W-What?!" John exclaimed, "That's....!!"
"From the drawings!" Sonya said
Sincast was in awe, "A runepowder weapon...."
"Hahaha!" Samuel smiled, "Gun! Bang! Bang!"
"Bang, Bang, Bang!!"