"What was that?" Arvon asked.
Blinking in bewilderment, Alicia glanced over her shoulders, up and around, looking back with a tilt of her head. Her whole movement and facial expressions answered his question with perplexity.
Alicia, who had no intention whatsoever for becoming involved with the storyline, couldn't be bothered to explain her mumbled words.
Of course as an objective observer her best interest was not to have any involvement with any vital characters. She'd already had contact with the heroine which couldn't be helped. As for the female lead's future knight, even with involvement, which she knew could no longer be stopped with their connection, there was no worry in her heart.
That boy who's yet to become a man, should have already gained a strong interest in the heroine. In other words, he had it hard for her. Hard like a rock, a mountain refusing to budge an inch. No amount of incoherent mumbling's would be changing that stubborn man's mind which bordered obsessive.
"Hey, hey, hey, hello!" Pulling her attention out of her sea of thoughts, Luke's insistence portrayed by his waving hands succeeded in gaining Alicia's attention.
Smiling proudly he spoke, "Say, how did you do that? How did you manage to catch my stone throw?" Arvon's ears perked up to listen. He too was curious.
Alicia was confused for real this time. She'd merely opened her hand and caught it, what more was there to say? Yes she had used her magic as a cushion since doing so was instinctual. How was she to know it was her very use of magic which caught the two 14 year old boys' attention?
"Luke have you forgotten already?" Patting his sister's head, Huen's eyes shined with pride. "I must have praised my darling sister too few times. I'll keep that in mind for the next time."
With a laugh, Huen shamelessly spoke highly of his sister. "Of course it's because little Al here is a lightning master. Her affinity with the element has reached perfection, surpassing Professor Vision for miles if not more."
"What?!" Both Luke and Arvon exclaimed, both glanced her way as they swallowed with difficulty.
Of course Huen's words weren't new to them as both suffered through many praises of their friend's sister. So many in fact, they'd learned to mute out his ramblings, ignoring or otherwise forgetting it all.
Likewise, since they'd obviously forgotten, their confusion was understandable. Who was Professor Vision and who was this little girl? The answers were obvious in their minds.
"How could she, a 10 year old surpass the professor at her age? A hardened mage knight like him couldn't possibly be spoken in the same sentence. That's simply unheard of." Even Arvon here despite his scary talent couldn't do the same. Luke trembled in disbelief.
Snorting derisively, Huen distastefully scoffed. "How can Professor Vision even compare to my sister? Who do you think destroyed his arm?"
At first these two boys were already shocked by Alicia's fine control over her magic, they did not need that second wave of shock. A proficiency which reaches heights beyond a Magus Academy professor was startling. Now with this new information ramming in their skulls, they were simply overcome with incredulity.
Disregarding the boys' horrific expressions, Alicia nudged her brother. "Big brother, that blind man works at your school as a teacher?"
Huen smiled at his sister. "Yes, he's the professor in charge of lessons on lightning magic and war tactics."
"Really? Did he get demoted from his post? Is working with one arm really that difficult?" Alicia found it surprising he'd been picked to teach lightning over fire as she knew his fire affinity was much higher.
Back when she had taken his arm, if it weren't for his weaker lightning affinity boosting her own attack, that fire which was much stronger than she could handle, would have changed the whole outcome of that event.
In other words if he had used his fire alone instead of using fancy tricks, he'd never have lost that arm. Once again this confirmed his blindness which distorted his own name.
"I'm not sure." Huen frowned. He'd assumed his sister asked out of worry for him, so to ease her heart he comforted. "Still I don't believe he knows it was little Al who destroyed his arm, but don't worry, your brother here is confident in his strength."
Placing both hands on his hips he laughed heartily. Alicia giggled at his silliness which he'd copied from her.
"Hey, hey, hey, Alicia, Alicia! What do you think of becoming friends with my sister? I believe you two would get along great!" Enthusiastically Luke asked once he had snapped out of his shock.
Arvon nodded, "I agree." He too thinks the same as Luke. His face softened into a smile upon thinking about Libbyie.
Alicia instantly frowned. Why would she want to be friends with Mother Mary? Before she could deny them, a hard smacking noise stopped her in place.
Jumping in shock, a heavy hand landed on top of Huen's shoulder. Surprising the two siblings with his arrival, they both quickly greeted the newcomer. "Welcome father."
"Hmm." Duke Cadarvic nodded towards his son. Smiling at his daughter he answered her previous question.
"Sir Vision is still commander of the royal guard. His majesty appointed him as professor at the behest of head cleric Balbazar. As the only lightning affinity mage which meets the academy's standards, duty driven, he had to complete his dues."
Alicia understood as she thanked her father.
"Alright, lets begin today's lesson." Duke Cadarvic ordered. He frowned at the two boys who were lost in their own thoughts.
Sheeting across the ground, freezing the grass in place, quickly the boys snapped out of their stupor. Their feet had become mounted to the ground as their insides quivered. Not daring to anger the duke their bodies became taut, mimicking the guards standing nearby.
Satisfied, the Duke unfroze them.
Not wasting anymore time, Duke Cadarvic begun sparring with all three boys at once. Of course Alicia was excluded.
This was part of the deal for her joining the lesson. She just couldn't omit this point no matter how long her convincing went on. Unable to join in the rambunctious play since her father feared harming her, she at least could sit back and watch.
Stopping on a break, Huen fell to his bottom, wiping away his sweat. Arvon too had fallen to his knees, breathing heavily with exhaustion. Luke was the only one who seemed to radiate endless amounts of energy. Still standing strong his breath just as heavy as the other two, yet the smile on his face showed he was nowhere near done.
"Duke Cadarvic if I may, there's a question on my mind." Luke expressed his curiosity.
"Speak." Amused by the boy, the Duke wondered how his mind still spun questions despite working them so hard. Viscount Vemen has a good son, he praised.
"The Lady Alicia is strong. Her magic so meticulously controlled neither I nor Sir Arvon could identify its element." Even before his words finished, the air tensed. Unaware of the change Luke continued. "With that in mind, why must she sit out? I'm quite curious how the lady holds her own."
"Your magic has returned?" Turning around the Duke heavily questioned his daughter. Sweat anxiously fell from Alicia's left temple.
She nodded with difficulty. "Yes father."
"Must I ask or will you tell me yourself." Pain stung her heart at her father's exhausted face. Lowering her head in shame she shook her head. "No, I used my magic. I have no excuse."
"No excuse," Von controlled his emotions as best he could. He could tell his smart princess could see right through them.
Shame wrapped her form with weakness drooping her shoulders. It pained him to see his confident daughter like this just as much as her fevered form wrapped in blankets. Still even though he hated this sight, he knew he had to be strict with her. Otherwise, in the future she could possibly end up in even worse a state.
He spoke evenly. "Haven't I constantly reminded, once your magic has returned you are not to use a drop until the head cleric gives permission."
Hardening his heart, he orders. "Immediately turn around and return home. You are to inform your mother of your wrong and ask for punishment."
"Father please don't blame Al," Huen ran in front of Alicia, preventing her from leaving. "it wasn't her fault. Our playing got a little too out of hand which caused her to use her magic as protection."
Alicia tried to stop her brother, she knew this was her fault and was willing to accept her punishment. Yet her actions were stopped at the other two's interference.
Despite not knowing what was going on, not understanding the reason behind the Duke's overly protective actions, both Arvon and Luke agreed with their friend, standing in front of Alicia protectively. Especially Luke as he felt quite guilty. It was after all his words which had sealed Alicia's punishment in stone.
"That's enough. Your words won't change my mind." Glancing back at his son he berated.
"As for you Huen you should know your sister well. Even though your actions of involving her in your boys' rough housing was wrong, she still must be punished. Her lack of understanding towards the frailty of her body needs to be righted."
The Duke sighed heavily. "Your mother and I simply can't handle another fainting episode."
The boys' hearts trembled at the weakness of the duke's voice, even more so at the obvious tears hanging at the edges of his eyes.
"Why are you still here? Do you as well believe your punishment is wrongly placed?" The Duke's cold voice pointed its blade at Alicia.
Startled by her father's heartless tone, she didn't even dare to remain a second longer. "Of course not father. I know my wrong, I know this is my fault. I accept my punishment willingly."
After thanking the boys with a smile Alicia bowed and left the training grounds. Alicia glanced over her shoulders only to speed up her steps.
Left behind, her father's hair which swayed in the breeze shined with silver strands of stress. His tall form weak with age scared her in wishing to turn around and hug him, protecting him from falling over like an old tree rotten to the roots.
Tears streamed down her face as once again she's reminded how weak, how fragile she is. Luck had its limit as today had quickly turned bad.
"What am I supposed to do? Why must history repeat itself?" Nothing could be done. Nothing she herself could manage to find would fix her frailty nor would it solve her parents worry.
The confidence she had back then, the confidence to leap into the abyss was quickly crumbling away.
"Alicia what's wrong? Are you crying?"
Stopping to stare, she looked up at her cousin, the prince who was rushing to her side in concern. He wrapped her in his arms, not knowing much else to do but this.
As if a switch was flipped, her tears soaked his shirt in endless waves. Her heart broke to pieces as she cried unrestrained in his arms.
Quite flustered by her out break, the 13 year old stood petrified as he let his cousin cry. His strong and mischievous cousin's weakness broke this boy's heart as he too cried silently.
The girl's cries were loud and full of energy. With little time staff nearby followed the sound, falling quickly into a frenzy of chaos upon the sight of their little miss.
It took a lot of time, but they managed to get Alicia inside and to her mother. By the time she made it to her mother's side, her lapis lazuli eyes had become swollen red with tears.
Fraught with worry, Cláudia took her distraught daughter in her arms. Provided with a warmed cloth, she proceeded to wipe her eyes.
Cláudia hadn't even needed to ask the reason for her tears. Upon feeling her mother's gentle actions, Alicia's broken words tripped over themselves to get out. Her tears flowed once more as she told of what she had done.
"Mother Al-ali-," huffing to breathe, Alicia's words were scattered with her emotions. "I, I, I request punishment. I did wrong. I'm so sorry. Sorry."
She completely lost semblance of control. Therefore her mess of a mind could not stop her actions which were so childish, so unlike the maturity she'd often show.
Anger fumed the Duchess' face at the sight and words of her daughter. Ask for punishment? How dare her husband treat her daughter in such a way! This was straightforwardly bullying! Oh by hell's fire burned by the god Furvus, she'd let him know what true punishment is.
Stomping her way to the training grounds, lightning magic more powerful than Alicia's scorched the ground. Pulsing along the earth, turning the luscious greenery to ash, smiling calmly she grabbed her husband by the ear and proceeded to kick him upon the rear.
"Dare you ask this wife for punishment? Yes yes, ask a way, what punishment do you deserve?"
"Cláudia dear. Honey, Sweet heart. Have mercy, this husband knows, this husband," Von was cut off by a storm of lightning just barely missing him.
"You know what? What is it you know? Is it your punishment? Oh please do tell, I'm all ears."
Trembling faintly, a defeated smile scattered across Von's lips.
Clear skies swiftly turned into clouds of darkness. Though rain was not present, lightning and thunder fervently shook the Duke's estate.
Beaten black and blue by his wife, the Duke's knightley image quickly changed in the young boys' eyes who couldn't pull their attention away.
As of today, the Duchess would be seen as the true warrior, a mighty presence in their hearts. Fear quickly ran in their veins while they stiffly made their way within the estate for lunch. Never would they dare anger the Duchess.
Munching away, Huen was the only one not affected. He'd already grown used to this. In his eyes and all of the staff of the Duke's estate, the Duchess' image had already been ingrained as above the master.
Truly, the woman of the house should not be taken lightly.
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Author's note: In case of theft. This is an original -English- novel done by yours truly [MyKataren]. This author will state here and now, oh ye thief of old, thanks for the free advertisement!
Original : www.tinyurl.com/MVPGAwebnovel