As I looked over in the direction of the gaze, I noticed a family of three that were slowly emerging from beneath a row of chairs that they were hidden under. There was smoke and fire all around them, but from what I could see, they were all unscathed. 

However, that wasn’t the interesting thing about them. The curious gaze that was angled my way, the gaze that was so calculating and observing wasn’t coming from the mother. Who was a second ring mage and dressed in a flowery white dress, or even from the man besides her who was a first ring mage, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers… but from the small, wheat blonde haired boy, with ocean blue, intelligent eyes and… Fascinating. His Mana core is almost completely formed, and at such a young age too. 

Using a small explosion of fire at my heals, I launched myself effortless through the air towards the family and landed a few rows below them. As I did so, I noticed that the two parents tensed up ever so slightly, before immediately relaxing. Obviously startled by my sudden crash landing.  

However, the child had no reaction whatsoever, he didn’t even flinch at my sudden arrival. He merely gazed down at me with surprisingly intense eyes. So intense in fact, that a part of me momentarily considered bowing before him. What kind of child could radiate such a presence, that a fifth ring mage like myself, would consider bowing in his presence? Could it be due to the fact that he pretty much had a Mana heart seven years prior to when most kids normally developed one? 

This talent… this boy… he had the makings of a king. And in a decade or so, he truly may be the one sat on the throne.  

“My name is Claire Merigold, commander of the third division and a fifth ring mage. I know that you have gone through a troubling few minutes, and I apologise that we were unable to respond to the situation any sooner. And for that, you have my fullest apology. Soon, my squad members will open up the doors and carefully evacuate all the survives and provide medical treatment to those who need it.” 

I said to the parents, not waiting for a response, however, before I left, I took one more look at the boy with wheat blonde hair and blue eyes and gave him a small smile. I’ll definitely remember you, boy. I want to see just how far you’ll climb in this world. 

Edward Smith 

Claire Merigold, commander of the third division of the royal guards. She had Snow White, waste length hair, golden fox-like eyes, that were hidden beneath long lashes, and rosy, pink lips that stood out on her porcelain, white complexion. It was safe to say that she was a true, one in a million beauty. Out of all the women I had seen in my old world and this one, none of them, stood out as much as she did. 

But what was even more incredible about her was the sheer pressure that she radiated. I could feel it from the stage at which she had appeared down at. It was hot, sharp and prickling. Like a mix between fire and lightning. But she was clearly directing it towards the clowns… however, as soon as she appeared before us, though the intensity had been reduced to a hundredth of its intensity. I felt myself unable to do much as move in her presence, my eyes that had been tracking her from a distance now glued to her. Unable to leave her form. Even when she had disappeared, and no es towards the next group of survivors… my eyes still tacked her. 

So, this was a fifth ring mage. Of course, I had no idea what that meant… but I assumed that it had to do with different levels of power. I had no idea what the highest amount of rings a mage could achieve, or whether it was a physical thing or a just a title. But even so… the power difference between me, who had no rings, and her who had five… it was like comparing a pebble to a mountain in size. 

In no way did I want to be a royal guard or the strongest mage in the world. I was still very content on living this new life as quiet and peaceful as possible. But maybe, having some power in this world was necessary to live that life. I don’t know whether I want to become a fifth ring mage. But maybe a third… or seventh. Depending on whether one or ten represented the highest ranking. 

The rest of the day went by rather uneventful for that point onward. Soon, just as Claire Merigold had said, royal guard knights, all dressed from head to toe in rather plain and basic looking metal armour compared to Claire, had come in and carefully escorted them out of the building, before directing them to a medical tent where doctors checked us over for any serious harm. However, considering that we were injury free, the process took a few minutes before we were sent back in our way home.  

For the rest of the day and for the subsequent weeks later, Mary and Jon seemed to be a lot more clingier than usual, and they made as little trips as possible outside with me. It was understandable that the two would be rather shaken up by what had accursed at the circus, but for me, it just proved to be a great source of annoyance. After all, I had a new goal. There was a holy grail, a treasure trove of knowledge and information just waiting to be read. All located upstairs in my father's study.  

And it was about time that I made that trek up the stairs and divulged myself on some well needed information.