Head Start is the 3rd chapter of The Beginning After The End Novel.
Summary[]
Alice Leywin reflects on her son Arthur’s development with a mix of pride and determination. She admires his bright auburn hair and intelligent blue eyes, yet she’s adamant about not being an overly doting mother. Instead, she aims to be strict and just, recognizing that her husband’s influence might lead Arthur astray, especially after witnessing his premature attempts to teach the baby combat skills.
As Arthur becomes mobile, Alice is both proud and overwhelmed by his curiosity, particularly his unexpected interest in the study room, which contrasts with his father’s aversion to reading. To nurture his engagement with the world, she decides to take him out to town more frequently, under the guise of needing fresh food and for his education.
Throughout her musings, Alice’s love and hopes for her son are evident, even as she humorously denies being overly indulgent. She’s enchanted by his eagerness to learn and experience life, particularly drawn to his disproportionate head turning every which way in wonder, and his fascination with his father’s activities.
Reynolds is described as a skilled adventurer who rose quickly to a B-class rank by the age of twenty-eight, a notable achievement given the difficulty of advancing in ranks. The Adventurer Guild, where Alice worked, required a test for the lowest E-class rank to ensure young, inexperienced individuals didn’t recklessly endanger themselves. Despite rarely seeing A-class adventurers and doubting the existence of S-class ones, she encountered many overconfident teenagers at the Guild Hall in Valden. She recalls an incident where an examinee, tasked with showing basic mana manipulation skills, comically failed by collapsing under the weight of his own sword before the exam even started, highlighting the gap between ambition and ability.
Alice humorously recounts her first encounter with Reynolds, who was struck by her presence to the point of speechlessness and embarrassment at the Guild Hall. Their initial awkward interaction led to a dinner invitation and the start of their relationship. She fondly remembers these moments and notes how their son, Art, has inherited the best traits from both parents, including an amusing sense of shyness, even during diaper changes.
Alice joyfully documents the milestone of her son Art’s first word, “mama,” in her baby journal, which she humorously insists is for educational purposes. The event causes playful family rivalry as Reynolds, Art’s father, reacts with mock sulking for not being the first to be called by their son.
The year progresses well, with Art accompanying Alice everywhere and showing interest in his father’s activities. Alice expresses relief that Reynolds has settled into a safer job as a town guard, valuing family presence over the risks and rewards of his former adventurer life. The mention of “that incident” hints at a deeper reason behind this lifestyle change.
Alice is relieved that her son Art is healthy, yet she’s puzzled by his frequent, quiet moments of stillness, which resemble meditation. This behavior is unusual for a baby, but since Art appears content afterwards, she’s not overly concerned. Despite her playful denial, her affectionate description reveals her deep maternal love.
Arthur Leywin has spent two years attempting to form a mana core, a task that is proving to be difficult and slow. He understands that normally, one would not awaken to this ability until adolescence, as it takes years for mana particles to naturally coalesce. However, possessing the mental acuity of an adult, he is able to actively manipulate the mana within his body, a skill he compares to controlling ki from his past life’s childhood training. This allows him to accelerate the process, actively gathering mana particles instead of waiting for them to come together on their own.
Arthur’s daily routine involves discreetly practicing mana gathering to avoid his parents’ suspicion. His father’s rough play cause him discomfort, while his mother’s intense gaze is somewhat unsettling. He communicates in simple phrases to maintain his cover, especially after his first word “mama” brought his mother to tears. Despite the slow progress, he is ahead in his training and was close to forming a mana core when he was startled by an unexpected explosion.