(Third Person POV)
"Fascinating...." Sincast said as he was sitting down at the kitchen table, reading some documents, "Very fascinating."
John and Sonya were sitting across from him, worried looks on their faces. They had never dealt with something like this before in their lives. They were more concerned with Samuel's nightmares than his shocking attribute.
In the other room, Samuel was heard playing around with Lydia, "Bang! Hahaha!" His joyous laughter was heard, "I need to make another gun!"
Sincast was given papers that documented what Samuel had stated he'd seen in his nightmares. From riding on horses to shooting bandits in a desert-like area, it was all very unusual and a bit concerning. The nightmares weren't horrific, but they were very intense and full of adrenaline.
One would think they were simple dreams, but those sequences were cut off by the splattering of blood and bodies being dismembered. That is what truly concerned John and Sonya, who were unsure of what to do. John had constantly tested Samuel, checking if he had any form of Curse placed upon him, but everything came back negative.
"Hmmmm...." Sincast said, "Interesting....."
"What is?" Sonya asked, "Please, tell us something...."
"I don't think I've dealt with something like this personally." Sincast said, "Dreams like these.....it's rather fascinating. The part of the blood splattering and the bodies being dismembered, I can see why that is concerning. Such a sight for a boy his age must be disturbing. As for the others, I can explain it....to an extent."
"What do you mean?" John asked
Sincast stroked his beard, "His Attribute Test confirmed it." He said, "Firstly, I believe he will have access to a form of Artifice and Summoning Magic. As well as enhancing the Runepowder Firearms the would be able to either summon or craft. Let's get that out of the way. Your boy shows great promise, and with the proper guidance, he will become a fine mage. Hell, he could be a deadly Hunter like you, John."
John sighed, "I see."
"Seriously, he shows great promise." Sincast said, "If we perform the Mental Fortitude Test, we can confirm his potential. Maria scored 433, did she not? That's not bad at all, considering the highest is 650."
"Right...." John said
"If Samuel scores more than 500, I would consider him a genius." Sincast said, "I can even petition Queen Asothia to send someone from the Academy to tutor him personally. Runepowder Firearms are very rare in this realm, so we'll need someone to teach him how to wield them. Not only that, he needs to learn the fundamentals of magic and-"
"That's all well and good..." Sonya cut him off, "But will my son be okay? What's with the nightmares? You said you had an explanation!"
Sincast nodded, "The Disortion."
"Huh?" Sonya blinked, "N-No, are you serious?"
"Distortion? My son will be Distorted?!" John said
"Relax." Sincast said, "No. That's not the case, he does not show any signs. What I mean to say is that the Distortion is the reason for this."
"W-What?" Sonya said, "What do you mean?"
"Every single Realm in the Godlands is one with the Distortion." Sincast began to explain, "And every realm and its magic is born from the Distortion. The Distortion bends and changes everything it touches, every concept and every single thing. Every Realm exists due to the Distortion taking a concept and distorting it, giving it shape and form."
"I....I see...." John said, "I know that much...."
"The Distortion can carry a concept from a Realm and carry it to another, even if it is a Forbidden Realm." Sincast continued, "In this case, it possibly leaked the concept of Runepowder through and upon your son's birth, it implanted said concept into him, giving him the attribute. Everyone's attribute is implemented by the Distortion itself, it was no different with your son."
"And the nightmares?" Sonya asked
"A mere side-effect." Sincast said, "The Realms that have those sort of Firearms might've had brutal showdowns and the concept of that.....no, the 'history' and 'memories' of such concept was leaked into your son, possibly giving him those dreams. As for the blood and dismemberment, maybe there is more to that than we know. It is early."
"So...." Sonya said, "W-What do we do?"
Sincast stood up, "Worrying is not what you should do." He said seriously, "The boy will be fine, I promise you. Unless these nightmares make him physically ill, then there is nothing to worry about. Maybe give him teas that change his dreams could help."
"I can.....I can do that." John said, "But I have to travel in order to get the proper ingredients. I require some monster organs....for a powerful one."
"John..." Sonya said
As this happened, Meadow walked in, holding a platter of teacups in her hand. As she set it down on the table, Sincast noticed there was a bump on her stomach. Meadow noticed his gaze and she immediately looked away, blushing slightly as she hurried away.
It did not take a genius to deduce that Meadow was pregnant.
John looked at Sincast, "I thank you, old friend." He said, "For everything."
Sincast stood up, "Ah, don't worry about it." He said, "I do find everything quite intriguing. I mean, this is a new for you, I bet. You could have a different type of Mage in your family, hehe."
John nodded, "You could say that."
Sonya sighed, "I just want him to be okay." She said, "But thankfully, he will be."
"Everything will be well, worry not about it." Sincast said, "The boy is lucky to have such doting parents."
"He does...." John said
"Well, I'm off. I had to take a detour on my way to the Capital. The Midnight Legion are stubborn bastards, and they would not like the fact that I am late." Sincast said with a chuckle
"How was the journey to Duskstar?" John asked, standing up and adjusting his coat
"It wasn't terrible." Sincast said, "But I wager that the peace talks went through. Queen Asothia has allowed Dusk Elves to migrate over and make homes here. I do wonder how that would play out."
"That sounds like a rough time." Sonya said with a frown, "For them."
"Tell me about it." Sincast said, "But The Abaddon Kingdom is an amalgamation of Mortal Races, so I hope this doesn't get out of hand."
"I hope so too." John said, "Again, Sincast....thank you."
Sincast patted his shoulder, "Until the next time we meet, John." He said, "Sonya, I'll give your regards to your mother."
Sonya nodded, "Thank you."
Sincast turned around and began to walk away, "Your boy's got a bright future!" He said,
"Don't forget!"
**********
[A Few Days Later]
"I can't believe Lydia is inheriting the Sword Aspect!" Maria said as she walked next to her mother, "That's amazing."
Sonya had a warm smile as she held her two daughters by the hands. "Of course, darling." She said, "It is a magnificent thing."
"I wish I could become a strong swordmaster, Mother." Lydia looked up at her mom, "I would want to make you proud."
"I'm sure you will, my sweetling." Sonya said with a genuine smile, "One day, you will be a mighty warrior whose names reaches the heavens."
"And I'll be a powerful Mage whose name causes the Kingdom's enemies to shake in their boots!" Maria said with a proud smirk
"Fufu~" Sonya chuckled, "I'm sure that will come to be."
They were making their way down the street at the center of town, having returned from the Market. Samuel was ahead of them, snacking on a sweet as he looked around. Other Townsfolk were walking past him, some would glance at him and merely see an ordinary boy who was walking ahead of his mother and sisters.
"But Samuel has a strange attribute." Lydia said with a frown, "Will he be okay?"
"Sincast claims that all will be okay. He's a wise mage, that old man." Sonya said, "He's one of your Father's teachers."
"Really???" Maria said, "He can teach me too!"
"He's a busy man, being a member of the Midnight Legion and all." Sonya said, "But perhaps, if you join it."
"I will!" Maria said with a huff
"That's a long way from now." Maria said
"Bang!" Samuel said as he winced slightly, almost as if something was bothering him, "Hehe...."
Sonya noticed this, even from behind him, "Samuel?"
"What's wrong with him?" Maria asked
"I don't know." Sonya said, "Darling, are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" Samuel said with a smile, looking at him, "Everything is okay! Mom, show me how to make a Gun!"
"I don't know how to do that, sweetheart." Sonya said, "Why would you want to do that?"
"So I can hit everyone with a bang!" Samuel said with a bright tone, "I-"
He bumped into someone that was in front of him, causing him to fall down on his butt. He let out a slight grunt as he hit the ground, hearing the yelp of a girl.
"Ah!" He looked to see a pink-haired girl was stumbling forwards
"Samuel, are you okay?" Sonya reached him as he stood up, "That was quite the hit, darling."
"Ughh..." The girl said as she rubbed her back, "Who hit me?"
She turned around, wearing what looked like a white robe, fashioned into a Gi. She had short pink hair and a flower pin on the side of her bangs. She also had pink eyes that were big and round.
She seemed to be Samuel's age or a year older than him, but he was definitely younger than Sonya's girls.
"You got in my way." Samuel said
"No, darling, you weren't looking." Sonya said
The girl pouted, pointing at Samuel, "Name yourself, you coward!!" She shouted, a challenging tone in her voice, "Or I shall punish you."
Samuel scowled, pointing at himself with his thumb, "Samuel Grey is my name! Remember it!"
"Greyclaw." Lydia said as Maria frowned
The girl pointed at herself with her thumb in a similar manner, "I'm Clara Hawthorne! Daughter of Brenna Hawthorne!" She said, "I'm 5 years old, and I can beat you up!"
Samuel raised an eyebrow, "My dad's John and my mom is Sonya!" He said, "And I know Gun Magic, so I can shoot you!"
"O-Okay, that's not something we want to do." Sonya said, "Calm down, Sammy."
"Sonya?" A woman's voice called out
Sonya looked over to see a woman with short orange hair walking over. Her hair was fashioned in a parted bob, her brown-orange eyes had a serene gaze to them.
"Nora?" Sonya said, "Oh my goodness, it's been so long!"
Nora smiled, "It has been." She said, "Oh my goodness, your children are all so big now."
"You moved to Ellerift?" Sonya asked, "I'm happy for you."
Nora nodded, "My husband opened up his martial arts academy. Or his dojo, as his old Master insisted on calling it." She said with a smile, "I see you met my beautiful Clara."
"Ah, I assume she looks like the father." Sonya said
"A spitting image of Brennan!" Nora laughed, "Who, in turn, is a spitting image of his mother."
Sonya looked down to see Samuel and Clara glaring at each other, the air getting tense.
"W-Well, this is my boy, Samuel." Sonya said nervously, "He's....well, he's something else."
Nora chuckled, "I can tell." She said with a smile, "He's so small and adorable. Nice to meet you, Samuel."
"Nice to meet you." Samuel nodded, "I am Samuel. I did an Attribute Test."
"I passed with a Gun."