After my fateful meeting with the time manipulating beast Nmemosyne, we successfully arrived at the commercial area. Although I didn't follow through my previous plans, simply shopping foods and daily necessities with Rita and the other cute maids were able to take my mind off some things.
We went home before sundown, and as we were arriving at the Ventura estate, I have decided to tell mother about the incident with Nmemosyne.
Of course I won't tell her about it in a shockingly detailed way. I should tell her about it in a manner befitting of a child. Since the person I'm really relying for answers isn't mother. I'm sure that after hearing such a story from me, she'll tell father immediately later on.
Then I won't have to go through the trouble of telling my annoyingly clingy father, he'll be the one to approach me.
After taking a bath, I confirmed that there was indeed a mark engraved on my back and it's pretty big as it occupied more than a half of my back's skin surface. But I can also make it disappear by controlling my mana around it. I was able to safely be dressed by the maids because of it.
I made my way to mother who was tending to her flower garden and started telling her the story of what happened between me and Nmemosyne. I kept my expression as pure as possible and used simple amd childlike descriptions while telling her the story.
The expression on mother's face constantly changed but she was surely worried the whole time I was describing the events that transpired on my supposedly short and safe trip.
She even had moist eyes after I showed her the mark on my back. I'm so loved by my mother I think I'd never need another woman's love ever.
WAIT STOP. THAT'S A JOKE HAHAHA. I NEVER MEANT IT. HAHAHA. PLEASE GODS OF THIS WORLD DON'T JINX ME.
She hugged me and asked me wether I'm hurting anywhere but I said none. Perhaps it's a woman's thing, but then mother basically poured her 100% of attention to me until dinner that day.
Judging from the way mother kept sending 'wife' signals to father while we were eating that night by throwing him real worried looks, it's quite obvious that they discussed my matter afterwards. But all father did was come to my room before my sleeping time and asked me to show him the mark.
My usually loud and stupid looking father was silent about this one? Did he eat something wrong today?
Well it's not like I'm gonna be dumb and flaunt it everywhere. For the sake of a potential legendary puppy I must protect him until he's ready to come out.
Still I wonder what's the deal with father tho.
Well, I'm still have two good things to look forward to. Nmemosyne's pup, and the coming winter.
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Just as the winds grew colder as a sign of the change of seasons, my sister Ariessa came home from the Academy. She started studying at the Liberi Laguna Academia a year ago, a school found flying above the lake named after an ancient hero from the Liberi family that fought against the swordmaster of the ancient demons. The laguna was an after-product of their fabled battle. The Hero of Liberi won against the demon but fell too after his victory. Their swords were embedded into the earth and cause the surrounding mana to be amplified.
The historical books I've read about that academy had never once spoke about reclaiming those swords from the war centuries ago. But then the humans successfully made the demons withdraw back to their lands, and the battle site now flooded with mana was turned into a school grounds by one of the king's dukes.
It's just my sister's second year as a student of magical arts there so she can spend the whole winter as a vacation since she isn't really that busy yet with her magical research. The school gives them a season's worth of free time that they can use however they like, most do personal training or finish up magical researches, while the younger students mostly go back to their homes and spend more time with their family.
Today I'm with my big sister. We sneaked out to her secret place right at the border of the forest in our estate. It seems like one of the sentient stronger beasts here know father and recognized her as his daughter, so he helps keep the stronger beasts from coming near here.
I've been hanging out here on my own since last year, because I followed her one time and thus discovered this place. I saw her practicing her magic and weapons mastery here, then I figured out her weekly pattern of using this place.
And so, I practiced magic and read books here quite often since its peaceful and unknown to big hassles like father and Oli. I eventually got caught by my sister tho, so she is currently the only person that knows I can do chantless magic aside from myself.
We entered a deal that we'd keep quiet about everything if I teach her how I do chantless magic. Which was quite fruitful even if she can't do it like me yet, but her chanting speed became incredibly fast which in turn made spellcasting incredibly shorter.
I figured that I have to hide this ability of mine like my elements, so I asked my sister to bring me home some beginner and intermediate level books of magic so I can memorize chants to disguise myself when I finally come to school myself.
While I was practicing on multitasking by reading and activating my elements on the other hand, Ariessa suddenly called out to me.
[What the heck are you doing Ammon! How are you doing that?!]
[Huh? What that big sis?]
[When did you grasp the time element?!]
Huh?
I looked at my right hand where a butterfly was fluttering above it. But its definitely not doing so in a normal way.
Its like captured in a slowmo vid, the speed of how the butterfly's wings flap was so slowed it hasn't yet to pass over my hand.
[Quickly stop it! You're gonna drain yourself of mana!]
When my sister shouted that, I indeed suddenly felt heavy, and the butterfly was able to fly over my hand and flutter away from me.
[You dummy. You're usually so smart, but you're still a baby after all.]
She laid down her wooden sword beside me and helped me lie down the forest grass.
[Stop bullying me, I didn't know I can do time magic yet.] I used my ultimate card against her. The lil bro pout. I've realized it since I was able to move freely around that my big sister is a bro-con. Feel the power of a cute younger brother, ha!
Her gaze really softened after that and started brushing my hair.
[Only I can bully you okay? Make sure no other kid bullies you like I do when I go back to school okay?]
[If you only bring more advanced magic books next year.]
[Deal. I have eyes and ears on you so don't you dare cheat okay?]
Scary. This is both scary and heartwarming to me.
[So tell me how you figured out how to use your time element.] Her eyes were literally shining while staring at me.
Hmm… Should I tell her about what happened or not? She pretty much knows everything about me at this point and she's my sister after all.
[[[Don't. trust. Anyone.]]]
My eyes widened in shock as I heard a child's voice say that. I tried sensing if anyone is around using wind magic but there's no one.
Maybe I'm just recalling some meme from Earth again. I've been remembering lots recently since I interact with people more now.
So I told Ariessa about my encounter with Nmemosyne and showed her the disappearing mark on my back. I explained what mother said too, so aside from the gasps she did, I also got a promise of silence from her too.
After she calmed down we practiced chanting together and played a bit before going back home before sundown.
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A week later, when father came home from work, he announced at the family dinner that I will begin my schooling alongside Oli. We will enter the preparatory class in spring and before that we're going on a grand family vacation to 'deeper our family bonds'.
So it finally came. Hohoho.
My youth is starting! School! Friends! Beautiful teachers! Lessons!
I didn't bother hiding my excitement and seeing me look like that apparently made them all happy. My damn cute kid charms is still quite deadly.
The day after we all went out together to shop things necessary for me and to get me measured for my uniform. They're sending me to a prestigious school where children of nobility and aristocrats. I hope its not filled with brats like those kids from private schools in earth.
[Father I'm telling you I don't need too much frilly clothes! I'm not one of the princesses who only care about their face!]
[You should atleast try these ones I picked on. Ever since you went to school you stopped being a loving daughter to me! Oh how sad, I feel like I've aged so much dear.] After acting so betrayed, father leaned on mother who was right beside him.
The two were causing quite the commotion here in the tailor's house which was run by mother's friend.
[Oh stop saying such toe-curdling things! Mother stop him!]
Well it's amusing just watching their banter all day long. Father was kinda cool for going out of his way to do this for us.
I was unconsciously smiling brightly while standing upon a stool and having various measurements done on my body.
It felt like just yesterday when I was wrapped up with a small cloth when I arrived at this world, now I'm being prepared to wear school uniforms.
[[[Don't. Let. Emotions. Rule. You.]]]
I confirmed that I really was hearing someone in this past week. And right now, the bright smile I had on my face stayed still but there was no more joy nor warmth anymore.
The lady taking my measurements flinched when she felt cold, dreary air. But I returned my sunshine smile in a split second so nobody noticed anything wrong.
It seems that even if I already left everything back in earth, the one thing I wanted to leave behind the most remained.