The Reincarnated Archmage

"I'm afraid that Lady Alyssa should not try to use magic."

Silence envelops the whole room. The priest is looking at me with sympathy and I can feel my brother's hands on my shoulder holding me tight. As for me, I'm trying to think of everything that can explain the priest's words.

"Can you tell me the reason why?" My brother asked.

The priest looks at me again.

"It's okay to discuss it here." I said.

"Since she's from the Vivione bloodline, it's natural that she can cast magic without using any amount of mana. But Lady Alyssa is different. The magic she can cast may use the physical energy in her body, just like how the Vivione bloodline usually does it. But using this method is too risky for her body." Priest Samuel explains then looks at me again. "Tell me, Lady Alyssa. Have you tried collecting mana before?"

"I tried, but it's difficult for me to do it." I said.

That's the truth. Whenever I try to collect and preserve some mana, my body gets tired easily that I have no choice but to stop. At first, I thought it's natural since I'm still young. But I guess that's not the real reason, huh.

"I see." Then the priest takes a deep breathe. "I'll be honest. Lady Alyssa, your body is too weak. Absorbing and conserving mana is an impossible task for you. Even if you can conserve mana, it will only be on minimum or will disappear without giving you a notice. Your body is rejecting any form of mana that will enter your body. You can still use magic, but it should be very limited. If you keep on using magic, I'm afraid that it may cost you your life."

A heavy silence suddenly surrounds the whole room. My brother's hand was holding me tight, the priest is looking at me with sympathy in his eyes, and I'm just looking at them as if everything is normal. But in truth, I'm doing a quick analysis in my mind on what the priest said to me. I trust what the priest said to me. Aside from he's a person with my father's trust, he also looks like a good man to me.

One of the things my family is proud of their strength when it comes in using magic. Using magic without wasting an amount of mana is a huge advantage to us. Using the physical strength as an exchange for using magic is not a problem since one can train their physical body so it can make it stronger and endure some fatigue. But just like the priest said, my case is a difficult one. My body is rejecting any form of mana. It is also lacking from any physical strength. The only choice left on me is not to use magic.

"I... I'm really sorry. It pained me that I should be the one who needs to deliver this news to you. But Lady Alyssa, I'm only concerned for your health. If you keep using magic with your current body, you'll be in deep danger."

The way Priest Samuel looks at me is like a grandfather who is having an anxious heart towards his grandchild. His eyes were looking at me with sympathy. I can really understand his actions. He is just telling me the truth so there's no need to feel guilty about it.

"Thank you for worrying about me, Priest Samuel. I'll keep that in mind." I said. "I'm also thanking you for telling me this, Priest Samuel. I really appreciate your honesty with me."

The two look at me with wide eyes. It doesn't need a scholar to know what these two are thinking about. They thought that I'll cry or throw tantrums at them after I heard the bad news about me. But I'm not a real kid. I'm a hundred year old woman trapped in a child's body. I will deal with this situation calmly.

I sit again in my chair and reach for a cookie on the table. When I take a bite of it, the sweetness of it spreads in my mouth. As I eat the cookie in my hand, I can feel the gazes these two throwing at me. I'm about to tell them to stop it when the door opens revealing my father. Seeing him, I quickly put the cookie I'm holding on the table and run towards my father to give him a hug, which he happily accepts.

"Welcome home, papa!"

"Thank you, Aly. I'm home!"

Then my father lifts me up in his arm. I continue hugging him and pats my and on his back. He may be smiling at me, but I know how tired you are. You should take good care of your health, father.

"How was your day?" My father asked.

"It's good. My friends and I had a tea party earlier." I said with a smile. "How about you?"

"It's the usual. That incompetent and stupid king was still pestering me."

Father, you're slandering the most important person in this land again.

"Papa, Priest Samuel is here to see you." I said to divert his attention.

He looks at my back to see the priest and he let out a surprised expression. He puts me down and walk towards the priest.

"It's good to see you healthy and fine, Duke Vivione." The priest said with a smile.

"It's been a while, Priest Samuel. I see that you already my daughter."

"Yes. Lady Alyssa is a such a good child. You raise her so well." Then the priest let out a smile.

"Of course she is." My father pridefully said. "Do you need me for something?"

"Yes." The priest nods. "I want to discuss some things to you. Is it a good time to do it?"

"Sure. Let's go to my office."

Then the two of them left to go to the office and talk leaving me and brother. I'm planning to go to my room when my brother suddenly lowers his body and hug me tight. Though I'm surprised to his action, I just let him do whatever he wants.

"I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

Why are you saying sorry? Did you do something bad?

"Don't let Priest Samuel's words bother you. If you feel sad, rely on us, okay?"

Oh, I see. You're worried about me. Is this the reason why you are saying sorry? You did nothing wrong though. I also wrap my arms on my brother's back and try to squeeze his body as I give him a hug.

"Silly brother. I'm not feeling sad. I don't really mind if I can use magic or not. I'm already contented by spending time with my family and friends. Don't worry about me."

My brother looks at me and try to check if I'm telling the truth. But I'm not lying. So I show him a cute smile. When I see his eyebrows knitting together, I poke his forehead with my finger.

"Don't frown, brother. You'll ruin your handsome face."

"You like my face?"

"Yes!" I nod. "I really like how handsome you are. You are the most handsome brother in the whole country!"

My brother can't help but to laugh when he heard my words. I'm not lying though. I really like his handsome face. That's why I'm so glad that I have this golden opportunity to have him as my brother. I can have the privilege to him whenever I want.

After exchanging some few words, I tell my brother that I'll go to my room. He tells me to take a rest in my room and he'll ask a servant to call me when dinner is ready. I nod my head as I watch him go.

-//-//-

I think I unconsciously lied to my brother earlier.

I know I told him that Priest Samuel's words are not bothering me. I also told him that I'm not feeling sad about my situation. But the moment my body hit the mattress, I can't help but to feel depressed about my situation.

I can't freely use magic anymore.

As a person who uses magic all the times in my past life, this conclusion is eating my mind. Before, I'm already been acknowledged as a genius mage at the age of three. Since then, I have dedicated my whole life in magic. I even sacrificed my relationship towards my family and friends just to achieve my goals. Then later on, the people recognized my talent and pronounce me as the Archmage of Light.

But now...

It seems like I'm just a powerless noble lady in this lifetime. My pride as a powerful mage is still buried deep inside my soul. That's why my reality is starting to hurt me little by little. I'm always full of confidence and prided myself as a genius in the field of magic, so why do I have to face this kind of situation?

I lay on my bed and didn't bother to move even an inch. I'm getting depressed every second. I'm thinking that my mood is getting synchronize with my current age. As if I'm a real child who faced the reality the her dreams will never come true. It's really childish for me, but I don't care about it for now. All I want is to dwell in this feeling for a bit.

I'm still lying on my bed, then I suddenly feel a pair of hands holding me. I flinch a little and quickly turn my head. I see my mother looking at me with worried eyes.

"Aly, are you okay? You didn't answer me when I knock on your door. I got worried so I enter your room."

She knocked on my door? But I didn't hear anything. And I also didn't hear her footsteps. If I'm still the me before, I can sense even the slightest movement around me in a huge range. Then it hits me so hard.

I am not that powerful Archmage everyone knows. I am not that Veronica Herol anymore. I am now Alyssa Lerei Elise von Vivione. I am now a powerless noble lady of Vivione household.

"Mama..."

Without waiting for her response, I quickly wrap my arms around her and buried my face in her c.h.e.s.t. And then I cry. For the first time, I let myself cry. I can hear the panicked voice of my mother, but I didn't care about it for now.

I heard a pair of loud footsteps towards my door. Then I saw my father and brother rush inside my room. They also see me in this state, but I don't care. All I want is to cry my all my sadness and disappointed right now.

"Aly, don't cry. You're making me sad too."

"It's okay. Everything is gonna be fine."

"Aly..."

My family is trying to console me. But I don't want to hear any of it right now. I feel like a huge chunk of my heart had gone missing. I lived my life relying on my knowledge and strength when it comes to magic. But if this thing will be stripped off from me, then what will happen to me? How am I going to identify myself?

"I-I'm s-sorry..." I said between my sobs. "I-I... I'm n-not..."

'I'm not worthy to be your daughter.' That's what I want to say. This family is known for their reputation when it comes to education, politics, and magic. But since I can't use magic, I'll only become a disappointment to them. I don't want the others to think badly of them just because they have a daughter like me.

My rational and irrational mindset was getting mixed up right now. I keep talking nonsense, but I don't know what I am saying to them. But I can't stop it. I can't think straight and I'm feeling hopeless like a real child. This situation has really given a huge impact on my life.