Luke grunted as he fell on the ground, limbs aching and ears ringing. The surrounding sounds around him felt like bees buzzing and he constantly grasped for air while he tried to stand up.
"Come on, prince! Stand up and show them how strong you are. We don't have all day for you to lay on the ground like that.", Hector told him.
Luke stood up and continued running again to not disappoint his instructor for today. He felt alright even if Hector always pushes him hard like this. Remembering the memories of his past life, this sort of training was a lot more harder.
"My body have improved a lot ever since I started training together with my friends. At first, my body felt heavy and did not move like I wanted it to move, but it's coordinated well now and felt more powerful", Luke thought.
He started running again after he recovered in a few long breaths and started to catch with the children ahead of him. There were five of them ahead, breathing steadily even though they have running for almost three hours straight now.
"About time you caught up, Luke. How'd the ground taste? Hehe.", Jed teased him and laughed while looking behind.
"Oh shut up, Jed. You were worse than Luke when we first started running. I remember you looking like a [Big- tongued Cow] before you passed out of exhaustion back then.", Mimi said, backing up Luke. She then imitated Jed's exhausted face based on what she saw back then.
The others laughed while what Jed were like as the latter's face was beet red. After Luke caught to them, they continued running a little faster for about an hour until Hector, their instructor, finally ordered them to stop. Indicating that it was time for their breakfast, and they could finally eat up and rest before their next lesson in history and cultivation, with Levi as their teacher, starts.
"Well, see you guys later! I'll take Mizu with me first and meet up with you guys in the library." Feng waved his hand as he ran towards Mizu, sitting under a tree, using it as a shelter.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll rest my mind first so that I won't get sleepy again in the class. I hate getting called out by that old man." Jed said, determination burned in his eyes while clenching his fists, but his expression changed when he recalled the time he got called by Levi, he's mind was completely burned out from Levi's endless questions as a punishment for yawning in the class.
"That old fart's a tough one... I almost died back there!" Jed thought, imagining his lifeless face.
"That's what you get when you don't focus on Granpa Levi's class. It's completely reasonable for him to call you out." Mir told Jed while tying her golden yellow hair in a ponytail.
"Well, I'll just beat you all in the combat class in the afternoon. I'm the strongest out of all the children here anyway, so I think it's reasonable for me to not focus on studies." Jed put up a smug face and boasted his greatness in everyone around him.
And then, karma or not, Hector suddenly punched Jed's head, startling him and the others. "You should still study regardless, you little monkey. I can't stand my disciple shaming my name when the rumors of you getting sleepy in class gets out."
"Disciple greets Master..! Should we eat now, Master?" Jed quickly bowed respectfully, a little bump showing on his head. His devotion for his master was shown as everyone saw his eyes sparkling in admiration.
"We'll go home first. We can't eat here outside. Let's go, Mir, Jed."
The three of them then went on their way home together. Jed followed behind Hector and Mir just like his master said. He started training under Hector two months after they entered the Sanctuary and settled their home here.
For some reason, Luke just saw Jed and Mir, that he saw only once from his memories, getting along together and kept fighting every time they had the chance to. Luke was happy for them, getting along together and eating in the same roof.
Unlike him in his past life, those happy memories were just fickle fragments of his terrible life as a child raised to be an assassin. At those times, Luke's past self will find himself waking up in darkness and in the next second founding himself in bloody clothes with a cold headless body beneath his feet.
Luke felt grateful this next life that was given to him has no wars to go to and only peace in the early part of his life here. But he knew that this peaceful times won't last long. What would be the reason they were all training, then? And aside from the seven of them, who were born with full potential, there were also young demon children being trained in the Sanctuary at the same time.
"Your Highness, I apologize for being late. Let's get you home and eat breakfast with the King and Queen." Nora bowed to Luke, wearing her servant clothes, white and pure, with a black lace in her hips to tighten it. Her expressionless face was still the same as before, keeping her eyes locked on Luke every time.
"Mmmn. No need to be sorry, Nora. I was just about to think of you when you showed." Luke tagged along beside Nora as they walked towards the castle at the end of the village uphill.
As they walked, Earl and Mimi also made their way home in the same direction, but Mimi grabbed Earl by the arm and dragged him hurriedly towards his house.
"I heard from the soldiers that your cooking became tastier again. I'll have my breakfast in your house." Said Mimi, drooling from just thinking of the delicious dishes Earl would make.
"Uh... Okay. But, what about your mother? Wouldn't she be worried?" Earl helplessly nodded and scratched his head.
"Don't worry about her, she's grown up now. I'll just enjoy your cooking... Now, let's go!"
With that, Mimi and Earl dashed towards his house.
Luke watched them with a smile on his face, and then turned to look at Nora. "Let's also go home, Nora." Luke said. Nora nodded and they continued to walk towards the castle.
It was pass eight in the morning when Luke and Nora reached the castle, then start getting lessons after eating. For six months, Luke has been living like this, getting up early to train his body and eating meals before starting to train again.
"Mom!", Luke shouted happily, running towards the dining table. There were two people eating there that made Luke that he was truly home when he sees them.
"Oh my! Was training over? You look dirty now... go with Nora and wash your body and eat with us.", Lilith kissed Luke's cheek and hugged him.
"Was your teacher strict?", Luce asked.
Before answering his father, Luke hugged him and rubbed his sweaty hair over Luce's clothes. Lilith chuckled a little as she saw her son using his father as a towel.
"He was the best teacher! For training my body, that is. He always makes us run without using gracia so that it can be fair for me, although Mizu always gets tired and have to drop out.", Luke told his father, looking up to meet with his eyes.
The obvious resemblance that Luke found out when Luce came back from the outside the village was his shiny black hair and his handsome face. Luke was happy about having a handsome face as it will help him a lot in the future. Being a prince was hard, in Luke's opinion as you have to attend every ceremonies and events, giving speeches and boosting the people's morale.
Nonetheless, having a happy family was all he ever wanted, even before he was born here in this world. Being an orphan at a young age was miserable, fortunately, the previous him was taken of by a group of assassins that worked for the oppressed, killing corrupt nobles, evil merchants, and cruel priests.
"Hey, Nora. Do we have someone that we revere or we praise in a while?", Luke asked while he was being scrubbed gently by Nora. This was a question that he wanted to ask to them ever since he realized that the people that he was living with, his family and friends, were all not humans.
Nora stared at Luke as she poured a bucket of water in Luke's head, " I do not think it's appropriate for you to know something like that from me, your highness.", the way she said made Luke more ask about that question.
"I think not, Nora. You all are important to me, together with my friends and my parents. I will not think of you servants as a lowly being below me. I don't have a prejudice like that... no, I must not have it and will not act like that. I promise you, Nora!", Luke swear, raising both of his arms to let Nora brush his armpits.
"Nonetheless, your highness, I cannot answer that for you. You should ask that question to the King or the Queen. I am sure they will give you a satisfactory answer.", the expressionless face of Nora never wavered as she continued to do her work.
Luke just pouted in defeat and kept quiet throughout the bathing time and while wearing his clothes. His hair was now reaching his shoulders and have to be tied up later if it gets in the way while training. He looked at his reflection at the mirror and contemplated his looks. He has a strong jawline with a slightly sharp chin, his nose's shape is short just like his mother's as well as his sharp hooded red eyes. His skin was between the color of white and pale just like his father, that perfectly matches their shiny deep black hair.
"This should be enough, your highness. Tell me if you have something you do not like with my work", Nora said, watching Luke turning his head left and right to see if his hair was tended properly.
"Your the best, Nora! I like what you did to my hair a lot.", Luke told her as he hugged her. Acting like this will definitely pay off when he grows up. Also, Luke cannot keep his excitement inside him every time. His adult mind just gave up resisting and just went with the flow.
"It's nice to be a child", Luke mumbled, low enough to not let Nora hear what he said.
But, surprisingly, he felt Nora tightening her embrace, Luke between her arms. Luke tried to see what was Nora's flustered look, but her arms were so strong and he almost suffocated between her breasts.
"Nora... can't breathe...", Luke muttered for help.
Nora immediately let go of him and bowed repeatedly, "I- I'm so sorry, your highness.", she stuttered while blushing lightly in embarrassment.
After Luke finished fixing his appearance, he and Nora headed directly to the dining hall and dine with his parents. He happily greeted them again, then sat on his chair to start eating.
" This stew is delicious! I could eat a whole barrel of this.", Luke said, sipping a spoonful of his favorite dish; the meat and potato stew, while happily being watched by his parents.
"Eat slowly, Luke. You will get a stomach ache if you eat hurriedly like that.", Lilith said, worried Luke might have to skip his lesson with his friends if his stomach will ache.
Luce chuckled as he watched his lovely son munch a bite-sized piece of meat in his mouth and then reached out to caressed Luke's hair, "Your mother's right. Eat slowly, Azrael.", he said with a smile.
Luke's brow twitched as he was called by his father. Hearing his second name felt weird for him at first when Luke saw his father for the first time. Being called by his second name was not a problem for him and did not negatively affected him, he was just not used to being called Azrael.
"Yes, father... Mom, don't worry about me. I will chew it really well... see", Luke opened his mouth to let them see that he swallowed the meat after chewing it well.
"Don't do that, Luke! You must not do that even in front of your friends, okay? Opening your mouth that wide towards someone who is eating is disrespectful.", Lilith snapped at him, but not that fierce. She was just lecturing Luke and teaching him proper etiquette.
"Oh... Okay, Mom. I'm sorry.", Luke put down his spoon and felt dejected, staring at his toes while holding his tears.
"Hahaha..! Just don't be like that when you are with your friends. You can always act silly when you're in front of us, and only us, alright?", Luce comforted Luke while he embraced him with his right arm.
"Mmm... I will do what you said, father.", Luke felt relieved and happy again, looking at his parents.
Lilith felt guilty and looked at Luke solemnly, then glanced at her husband who shrugged at her, telling that he will not do something if she doesn't move first.
Lilith then stood up and walked behind Luce's chair to circle around and hugged Luke, opposite of her chair. " Don't worry, Mommy's not angry at you. I just did not like what you did. Luke's still our baby...", Lilith said softly, as she shrugged Luce to join using her back.
The three of them then embraced together as a family for a moment, but that moment was heart melting moment for the servants who were watching them being a lovely family.
"Maybe that is why I've been reborn here... to have a family like this, that I did not had in my previous life. I'll cherish this family for the rest of my life.", Luke thought as he tighten his embrace from both of his parents.
Luke felt a warm touch from the inside of his stomach and chest, but he disregarded it and thought that it was just him imagining the feeling of true love. The three of them then continued their breakfast, eating their meals that were all very nutritious for Luke's body.
After all was said and done, Luke then greeted both of them goodbye and went to the castle's library to have his lessons with Levi as his teacher. Nora bowed and left together with him, with her expressionless face.
When Luke was gone, Luce and Lilith stared at each other intimately and smiled. They were both thinking of one thing and they both knew it.
"You felt it, right?", Luce asked with a proud smile on his face.
Lilith nodded happily and then told the servants to go fetch the best wine for a celebration. The servants then brought immediately from the cellar and poured them both a glass of exquisite and very expensive wine.
The servants smiled happily and just thought that they were celebrating because they hugged, but they didn't know the real reason. Nevertheless, as long as their masters were happy, they will also be happy.