The Least Common Denominator

I.III Summation

"Don't smile just yet, Crimson." Father shook me out of my newfound revelry as he hefted the newly made sword over his shoulder. "It still needs to pass the final test."

"Which is?"

"Elemental Channeling," Father answered like it was the most basic thing in the world. "Unlike armor, Numerators have to be able to use the weapon for it to have value, little Cream."

Numerators? Like the fraction kind numerators? What're those then?

"Judging from your face, I bet you don't even know about the Fraction System yet."

"Fraction System?" Like the mathematical kind? This was kinda confusing, especially since I made sure to pay attention to the lesson mother taught me. Was it some kind of class system or something?

"I haven't taught that lesson yet Dear," I turned my attention towards the room's only entrance, mother's fiery red hair now swaying from the heat in the room as she leaned on the doorway. "I thought little Cream wasn't supposed to learn Runecraft yet?"

Mother was an imposing figure. While she always held me close during my younger years, she always held herself like some kind of warrior; her green eyes as attentive as a hawk whenever we found ourselves at the town square.

"I know, but I have a duty to our daughter Eul," Father replied, his tone sounding... resigned? "If she wants to learn, then I'll teach her what I know."

"Don't say I didn't warn you, Dear~"

Oof. That wasn't a tone anyone wanted to hear from their significant other.

"Come along little Cream," my mother beckoned me from outside the room, "let me teach you somethings about this world of ours."

"Yes, Mother."

Like the dutiful daughter that I was back in my first life, I swiftly followed after my mother's retreating form, still clutching at my newly made sword. It wasn't until we're outside that Mother deigned to pay her attention back to me; her expression uncharacteristically serious compared to her usual caring and kind persona. I stood unblinkingly, waiting for her to make the first move.

"There are certain truths to the world, Crimson," she started, looking out towards the rocky plains behind our house. "I know you're smarter than you choose to appear, so I hope I'm doing the right thing by telling you this."

A pit of nervous dread appeared in my chest. There was a hint of grim determination in my mother's voice; something I've never heard from her in the entirety of my life in this new world. I swallowed a lump of anxiety before paying full attention to what Mother has to say.

"Your father and I..." -Mother conjured a ball of flame in her hand- "we were once an Integer Unit." I couldn't keep my eyes away from Mother's flame that I didn't even notice that she was already beside me. "We worked directly for the Emperor for a few years. That's where we met actually."

A litany of questions swarmed my head as she talked about working for an Emperor? There was an Emperor?

"The Emperor rules the lands of Numenor, little Cream." A gentle hand rubbed the top of my head as my mother knelt down to my level, her loving eyes staring directly into my own as she gave me her lesson. "Don't worry about all the big stuff. I'm sure you'll learn about them eventually."

"But what about the truths you said?" I noticed that she was subtly avoiding the topic when she abruptly stood up in front of me. "Why am I-"

"Let Mommy speak, little Cream~" Her voice took on a tone I was all too familiar with. "You can ask questions later."

I quickly shook my head in obedience. Nobody wanted to face their mother's wrath, even with me technically being older than my own second mother.

"Good."

Mother smiled sweetly before her hand gently taking the sword off my embrace. It glowed a cool blue in her hands before suddenly turning into a fiery red hue, flames now licking the flat of the blade as she swung it with what looked to me as professional dexterity. There was grace in Mother's movements as she went through forms like it was an interpretative dance, before exhaling loudly as she willed the dancing flames around her to disappear. The fiery glow of the sword subsided, once more humming in a cool blue along its circuit-like etches.

That was pretty, unabashedly awe-inspiring.

Am I about to learn how to be a cool magician right now? That would be a neat payoff to being reincarnated into a backwater world.

"What you saw was the collective power of an Integer Unit." Mother explained as she twirled the sword in her hand like it was nothing. "The Elementalism and battle prowess of a Numerator, combined with the craftsmanship and Runic Expertise of a Denominator."

"Am I going to learn how to do all that?" My excitement was palpable.

"No." Wh-what? Why was Mother upset? "You will learn no such thing."

"Bu-"

"You will not speak of this to anyone, Crimson." There was a tone of desperation mixed with worry coming from Mother's voice. Why? There's got to be an answer. "Promise me."

"I-I promise, Mother." I squeaked out, nervousness replacing curiosity for a second as I addressed my mother. Even after all this time, I'm still afraid of parental figures-

"Th-thank you..." A warm embrace enveloped my whole body, my mother crying into my shoulder as she hugged me like I was about to die. "I promise it'll be over soon."

Like the sentimental daughter that I was back home, I hugged my sobbing mother while letting a few of my own tears escape me. There was a fear there... in her tone. Already I was asking a lot more questions than I was comfortable with answering.

What will be over? Why was she crying? Was there an enemy of some kind that needs defeating? There's gotta be a catch to me getting reborn in some medieval fantasy land. The fact that magic existed was already a sign of bad things to come in the long run. From what my extensive knowledge of fiction told me, transmigrated protagonists like me has to have some form of enemy to fight. If this was a story, I know I'd expect one to show up and murder-

No.

That's a thought I refuse to entertain.

Mother and Father were nothing but good to me in this new life. If some sort of deity wanted to make them into some kind of tragic backstory for me to work off of, they'll be sorely disappointed. I refuse to let anyone hurt my family! If this Emperor guy wanted to kill these people, then he'll have to go through me first.

Already, my mind came up with various reasons as to why I wasn't allowed to learn any of this Integer stuff. And as I rub my sobbing mother's back, I silently swore to myself to learn as much as I can about this world.

It wouldn't do for me to have zero information when I'm about to plan something for the long term.

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