Dantis and a group of soldiers had also arrived since they heard the commotion.
'Alright take your places.'
As they took their place Dante whispered to Kevin, "I block his incoming blow, and you break his knees from behind."
"And when he hits the ground place your last strike on the back of his head."
"So just like in Ignis, you'll be my shield and I'll be your sword?"
Dante nodded.
Marika smiled as she knew what they were going to do.
As Marika was watching the sparring match of Dante and Kevin and how they executed there plan flawless and in less than a minute.
Marika was overjoyed by her brothers performance and she ran up to them and hugged them.
'You guys were great! I'm so proud of you!'
'As a reward, you two will get to spar with me for a whole week.'
Dante and Kevin's eyes light up "Really sis!?" Kevin asked.
Marika nodded, 'I want to see more of your joined attacks.'
'And little brother, out of those 7 day's only 3 can be spend with your bow, the other 4 will be dagger's only.'
Kevin hugged Marika "Alright sister."
Dantis asked Genus, "How was Dante able to withstand that kind of force?"
"Well that's easy, before she started to train him with the sword, she trained his stamina and breathing fist. Having control and knowing your body is half the strength, once you master your body then you can master the sword. She doesn't see a weapon as a tool but an extension of her body.
Marika then check the instructor on the damage Kevin had dealt to him.
'Hmm well you broke one knee, contused the other and you held back on your final strike at the back of his head.'
Genus came over and also check the instructor, "He is lucky the little guy held back, or else he would be dead."
Marika looked at Kevin, 'Kevin let me asses your current strength.'
Kevin nodded.
Everybody made room for them
Dantis asked Richard, "Isn't that boy at a disadvantage?"
Dante answered his father question. "No not at all, even though he is small in size it is an advantage, and there is one more advantage that he was made aware of. Even though he is young in age, that is his biggest advantage, he has more time to master a skill and perfect it then me."
"We are also taught that no matter how long it will take us to master something the journey to the results is what matters."
"Why is sparring with her a reward to you guys?" Dantis asked his son.
"Well that's because we never spar with her unless it's to assess the level of skill and if we are ready for the next advancement."
"Basically she shows us the move's explains them and let us train them by our self's. But she does coach us when she sees if anything is wrong with the moves and correct us."
"Well consider that this whole sword style is self-taught and self-made so for us to learn it on our own is only right."
Marika took her stance 'Treat it as a really fight and don't hold back. You know that I can heal all the damage you inflict on me.'
Kevin nodded.
After a few strikes from Kevin she noticed he had advanced a lot, but also felt there was frustration in his strikes.
'Nobody is allowed to interfere with this.'
"What's going on?" Richard asked Dante.
"Well the trued is, while I was sparring with Kevin I noticed he got agitate and frustrated after a few strikes. I notified sister about it before coming here and she told me she would asses him after we took down an opponent."
Kevin charged at her again, just when he was a few center meters away Marika dropped her swords and caught Kevin's arm that was holding a dagger. Kevin used his other dagger to make a strike but was also blocked by Marika.
Kevin made a move and got free from Marika's grip.
He then charged her again, and she evaded him with ease and hid him in the back of the head and Kevin was out cold.
'Why are my brothers such a handful.' Marika sighed.
'Take him home and when he wakes up you guys go to Mystic Cave and call for Solis and Caelum. Something inside him is waking up and it's very unstable.'
"How unstable?" Dante asked.
'Well not life treating unstable, but it could affect his mental state.'
"Then I'll ask brother Luca to come just in case."
Marika patted his head and nodded. 'That's a good idea.'
'For now I disconnect my bond spell with Kevin, if he asked why, just tell him it's a repercussion.'
Dante nodded and picked up Kevin and left the training grounds.
'Alright time for dinner, I'm starving.'
Then one of the soldiers asked Marika "What do we do with the instructor?"
'Just bring him to the medical wing and let him be.'
Marika walked over to Richard, 'Let's have dinner.'
Marika went back to Richard room and took a bath after she was done the changed her cloths and went to the dining room Richard told her to be.
When she opened the door she saw the soldiers sitting including the guard captain.
"I thought you would like a lively atmosphere during dinner."
Marika enjoyed her dinner and the guards that were there, they talked and challenge each other, told embarrassing story's.
It looked like they were a band of brothers, best friends who had met up after a long, long time.
But the only concern Richard had was nowhere to be found, Marika eat a lot and drank a lot.
After dinner Richard and Marika took a walk through the garden.
"Sweetheart why were you reluctant to come in to my study and ran away like that?"
'Well… that's because the person inside your study triggered an memory I thought I buried away.'
'But I don't want to talk about it yet…' Marika looked a bit dejected.
"If you can't talk about it it's fine, take your time and don't force yourself, when you feel you can talk about it, I'm here to listen."
Marika smiled and gave Richard a hug.
As the continued there walk he took Marika to a room where there was a violin standing.
Marika looked at it and saw it was used a lot.
Marika picked it up and felt a faint presence from the person who used to play it.
'Richard? Did your father perhaps played the violin?'
Richard nodded. "That violin was a gift from my mother to my father, because she always loved hearing him play it."
'Ohh so that's why you love to listen to me playing the violin.'
Richard nodded.
She opened the balcony doors and started to play, one song after another she played.
Everybody could hear her play throughout the castle.
When she was done playing she whisper 'Father in law, mother in law this piece is for you, may you watch over us and protect us.'
Marika started to play a new piece the sound was soothing like a warm spring day, but the further she got in to the piece of music, Richard felt like it was as if he was listening to his father playing the violin.
She put the violin back on its stand and said, 'I'll come back and play on you again.'
Marika and Richard left the room and went back to his bedroom.
Once they arrived Richard hugged Marika from behind and kissed her neck.
A fire was light in his hart because of how mesmerizing Marika looked under the light of the moon while playing the violin.
Marika turned around in his arms and started to kiss him. Richard picked her up and gently laid her on the bed.
The two of them felt absolute bliss while they were consuming there love.
[At the Mansion.]
Kevin started to wake up and saw Derick and Dante standing next to him.
"What happened?" Kevin asked.
"You don't remember?" Dante asked him.
Kevin shook his head.
"What do you remember?" Derick asked him.
"I was having an assessment sparring match with sister, but halfway I blacked out."
"After how many strikes at sister did you black out?" Dante asked.
"After my third strike."
"Brother? Is sister mad at me? Why is my bonding spell with her broken?" Kevin looked fearful and panicked.
Dante sat next to Kevin and hugged him "She is not mad at you at all. I need you to calm down and listen to me, can you do that?"
Kevin nodded and Dante let go of Kevin.
"Well here is the thing, when we sparred earlier today I noticed something was not right with you so I told sister about it. First she didn't seem to be overly concerned, and while we took down that man I didn't see anything wrong at that moment either."
"I think sister suspected something after she assessed the injuries on our opponent and that's why she wanted to assess your skills."
"After your third strike at her she noticed something was off and told us not to interfere."
"After she caught you, you struggled and kicked her in the stomach and charged at her again but she evade you and knock you out."
"She said we should go to Mystic Cave and call for Solis and Caelum."
"Why?" Kevin asked.
"Because sister noticed something inside you is waking up, making you unstable and although it's not life threatening, it is something that can damage you mind if we wait to long."
"And the reason your bond spell is broken off with her is just a repercussion."
Kevin looked a little dejected.
"Little brother, you know that sister is going to Ignis tomorrow to relax. What if we go to Mystic Cave tomorrow and wake up whatever it is that is wanting to show itself. If you succeed you can show it to sister and help her kick Raphael's ass."
Kevin looked at Dante, "Do you really think I can succeed?"
Dante nodded "Of course you can, aren't you the smartest out of us 3 brothers? And besides look at our sister, even though her life was constantly in danger because of her awakening, she never let it get to her, because she didn't want to leave us behind.
Kevin started to cry "I want sister here…" *sniff*
Dante called Richard and told that Kevin wanted Marika to come over.
Although it was almost midnight she heard everything. She gave Richard a kiss and said 'My little brother needs me, I'll let you know when I get back to the mansion tomorrow.'
She ran over to Williams room and kicked him out of his bed.
'Portal to the mansion now!'
William didn't understand but opened a portal for her.
'Thanks a lot, and goodnight'
Marika came to Kevin's room and opened the door.
'You called for me?'
Marika walked over to Kevin and she hugged him tight.
'You two can go, I'll stay with him for the night.'
Dante and Derick nodded and left the room.
'Are you scared?' Marika asked him.
Kevin nodded
'Well I won't tell you that you don't need to be scared, because that will not help at all. Being afraid is very normal and not something you should be ashamed about.'
'So tell me what is scaring you.'
"That I will become a different person, and that you won't like me anymore after the awakening."
'Well let's say you suddenly change to a 16 year old, it won't change the fact that I will always see you as my adorable little brother.'
'And if your personality changed than I just turn it back to the way you are now.' She smiled.
"How?"
'By constantly nagging you that I want my 10 year old brother back.'
Marika laughed and Kevin stated to calm down.
"Sister? Dante told me I kicked you when I struggled to break free, I'm sor…"
'Yes you did, so what? You know that a sparring match should be treated as a real fight.'
'But that was a risk I was willing to take so… There is nothing to apologize for.'
"Why do I need to go to Mystic Cave to do my awakening?"
'That's because there is a lot of natural energy there, and it can help you stabilize your current unstable energy. When you awaken a part of your true form or your whole true form the best place to be is in a stable environment with lots over energy, since you will spend a lot of it during you awakening.'
"But what if I can't do it?"
'Well I don't doubt that you won't able to since Dante, Solis, Caelum and Luca will be there with you.'
"But you're not there tomorrow."
Marika took something from her pocked and gave it to him, 'I'm there with you', it was a stone containing some of her energy.
'I maybe not be there physically, but with this my presence is with you.'
'Now I'm going to teach you something that will help you every time you have an awakening.'
She told and showed Kevin on how to sit in the meditative position and how to breath and to clear his mind.
'Tomorrow I want you to do this and search for something that looks different inside you. Don't fight it, just accept it. It's only a part of your whole true self, do you understand?'
Kevin nodded and hugged Marika.
'Don't panic if I'm gone by the time you wake up. I'll ask Dante to let me know once you're done. So I can buy you a present.'
'And when I get home we renew our bond.'
Kevin nodded.
'Now get some sleep now and little brother I'm here with you tonight.'
Kevin laid down and Marika laid next to him, hugging her little brother and soothing him by stroking his hear.
Kevin felt a sleep in a few minutes and Marika wasn't far behind.
Dante and Derick checked on them and saw little brother and big sister sleeping peacefully.
Derick took a photo and send it to Richard.
Richard smiled "She really loves her little brother."
"Yes, and she is the only one who can set his mind at ease , because she knows better than anyone what scares him."
"Does my daughter know what Kevin's true form is?"
"Well considering she would send him to Mystic Cave I think she has a rough idea. But I think when she sees his true form you better pray that he won't be hugged to death."
"When are you coming back Master?"
"Tomorrow evening, Marika had smoked out the vermin that is infesting my castle. And I need to deal with the after math."
"How is she perceived by the people in the castle?"
"Well a quarter of the guard is standing behind her and even half the court isn't opposed to her."
"That's a relieve then."
"Goodnight Master and I'll see you when you return."
[Next day]
Marika woke up early and saw Kevin was still sleeping. She wrote a note for him and placed the stone on it that she gave him last night.
She went down stairs and greeted Derick who was in the kitchen and helped him out with the preparation for the breakfast.
She told him to pack up a lunch for Dante, Kevin, Luca and her son's.
After she eat her breakfast she went upstairs and kicked in the door of her brother room.
"What the hell sis!!"
'Good morning!'
'I just came to say that I'm leaving for Ignis and leave our little brother in your care.'
And she hugged Luca.
"Sis your creeping me out here with your happy and energetic attitude."
Marika pouted, 'Well you'll never receive a hug from me ever again even if you beg me for one.'
Luca started to laugh.
'Well I came to say that I taught and explained to Kevin the method I used for my awakening stages so…Even if Solis is going to be a nag about it tell him his mother told him to do it that way.'
"Alright sister, enjoy your day with your brother of the battle field."
Marika smiled and jumped out of the window and flew to Ignis Kingdom.
Marika arrived at the castle and landed near Canus room. She climbed up to his balcony and opened the balcony doors, she saw Canus was still sleeping.
She snuck in and then said in a loud and energetic voice 'Good morning! Your sparring partner and teacher has arrived!'
It was so loud that Canus was sitting upright in his bed and Cillus and Cinis came in to his room.
"Mari!...I mean Yumaria"
Marika looked at Cillus 'It's alright you guys can call me Mari.'
"What are you doing here so early in the morning?"
'I came to fetch Canus, we have our hangout day today.'
"Sis can you let me sleep for a few more hours? Yesterday was hell."
'Ohh probably not as hellish as mine, I had to deal with vermin, a stupid Duke from the Sun Kingdom who by the way's came to Richards door and wanted to kill me. A prime minister who also wanted to kill me, a bunch of guards who almost acted out treason, a bunch of doctors, and on top it all off, my little brother who was scared out of his wits because he will awaken soon, and I had stayed up till past midnight to calm him down.'
'So… who's day was worse?'
"I'll take it back, my day was just another walk in the park."
'Now get up, get dressed and eat breakfast. Hurry!'
Marika left the room and went down to the kitchen. There she prepared breakfast for the three of them.
After half an hour one of the servant's arrived and told her they were in the dining room.
Marika and the servant put everything on the food cart and brought it over to the dining room. There they both served everything and she set down too.
"Mmm smell's good."
'Of course it does, everything was made by me.'
"Really!?"
Marika nodded. 'Enjoy your breakfast.'
While they enjoyed the food, King Cillus asked "How did you convince the Chef Cook to let you use the kitchen?"
'Ohh that… easy they could either shut up and learn a thing or two, or they could just get out of the kitchen and stay ignorant for the rest of their life's.'
After they were done eating Marika pored a cup of tea for them that help digest the breakfast.
'Uncle Cillus? How is it going on the case of the nurse and the herb garden?'
"It seems it still troublesome even after the incident with the doctor he still forbids them to pick and use herbs from that garden even thought I send out the order that everybody in the palace is free to go there."
'Is that so… Well it's not good to have someone in the palace who undermine the word of a King.'
'I have an idea, I saw that there was another unused greenhouse do you perhaps have the key to that one?'
Cillus called for a servant to bring all the keys to the empty greenhouse.
The servant came back with 5 key's, Marika held on to one and gave one to Cinis and Cillus , 'one is for gardener, one for the nurse.'
"Sister weren't you suppose to relax?" Canus asked her.
'Well this is a small thing and I redder do it now since I'm here anyway.'
Canus stood up and pulled Marika by the hand, "Alright let's go to the gardener and the nurse, explain what you want to do and give them the keys"
As they left the dining room, King Cillus was a bit baffled.
Cinis started laugh a little. "Seems like he doesn't want to waste his precious time with her."
Marika arrived at the Greenhouse and Canus told her to wait there since he has to go to the medical wing to pick up the nurse and on his way back a gardener.
Marika opened the Greenhouse doors and took a look inside, but to her surprise it didn't look that messy. Even though it wasn't used anymore it still looked clean and well maintained.
As she was walking around the greenhouse to see if there was any water supply heading in the greenhouse. As she found it but was completely dry, she then heard a stream of water running not far from her.
As she walked in to the direction of the sound she saw a big wall. 'Damn it…well I have to figure something out.' She then turned around to walk back when she spotted something from the corner of her eye.
As she walked over to it she found a fox-like creature 'Ohh you don't look so well.'
The creature whimpered a little and Marika carefully picked it up. and took it with her back to the greenhouse. When she arrived she looked for a basked and some old rages. She placed the little creature in the basked and started to heal it.
When Marika was done healing it she petted it and told it to take a good rest and if it felt good enough to go back out again he was free to leave whenever he wanted.
Canus had returned with the nurse and a gardener.
Marika told them to talk in a low voice since there was a small guest recuperating.
Marika gave the nurse a key, 'This key is for this greenhouse, and since you are forbidden to take any herbs from the herb garden, I'm going to make this greenhouse in to a second herb garden that will only be accessible by you, the gardener, His Majesty Cillus and First Prince Cinis. And of course me.'
The gardener started to speak, "The reason this greenhouse is abandoned is because of the water supply."
'I noticed that, and I already have two solutions for that problem. One is we need to dig in the ground so we can install a drainage system from the stream on the other side of the wall, and second is collecting rainwater by placing gutter's . And as for a water reserve we can dig a pond in the middle of the greenhouse.'
Suddenly Marika felt something one her leg 'If the princess needs tunnels and holes me and my siblings are expert in these thing's'
'He cutie! Your awake, how are you feeling?'
Marika picked up the fox like creature.
"Princess, where did you find this ground fox?" The gardener asked her.
'Not far from here, near the wall. Why is that a problem?'
"No not at all, ground foxes are very useful when it comes to landscaping and loosen the soil, to us gardeners we consider them as a good omen."
'Did you hear that cutie, you're a good omen.'
Marika thought for a moment.
'Cutie? Do you mind that you work together with this man and make this greenhouse in to an beautiful herb garden?'
'I don't mind, and my brothers and sister would not mind either once I told them the princess saved me.'
'Alright then, if you and your siblings can dig a pond and a tunnel to the steam on the other side of that wall the it would help a lot with starting up the herb garden. Ohh and one more thing cutie, make a separate tunnel for your self's so you can go in and out of this garden whenever you all want.'
'The princess not only saved my life but, but is also kind enough to give us a shelter.'
'Of course… the more natural the environment is the better the herbs will grow.'
'Now for one more thing, under no circumstance if that bastard of doctors allowed in this garden.'
'Does princess mean that greedy doctor who won't allow anybody picking herbs from that other garden?' The ground fox asked
Marika nodded.
The gardener looked at the ground fox "Then we shall protect this garden."
'As for the design I leave it up to you guys just let me know when everything is ready to be planted. And as for the gutter's I know of a trust worthy black smith and he'll send it over.'
Marika then said to Lilly… whenever you need herbs even if it is for a family member, don't be shy and pick what you need.'
Lilly hugged Marika 'Thank you so much.'
'No problem, health is the most important thing in life.'
Marika and Canus left the greenhouse, and Canus asked "What do you want to do now?"
'Hum… First we go to the training grounds, I want to see how you have improved on what I have taught you a few days ago.'
Canus eyes light up.
When they arrived at the training grounds a few soldiers were sparring and saw Marika coming in to the area.
"Look it's princess Mari!"
They all ran up to her and asked if she could give them some advice.
Marika looked at Canus, "It's fine! While you help them I'm going to start with my breathing exercise."
Marika smiled 'Remember, relaxed and calm your mind.'
While Canus was starting on his breath exercise, he heard Marika's drilling the soldiers.
'Honestly you guys… What is it with the brute strength? You won't last long on a battle field like that."
'You all sit down and I want you all to relax.'
They did what she told them to do.
'Now tell me, do you feel any tired muscles?'
The man looked in surprise, the actually felt that there arm muscles were tired.
Marika took one of the swords of the soldiers and balanced it on the tip of her finger.
'How much strength do you think I'm using?'
The man looked at Marika's arm muscles, but there seemed only a slight tension in her muscles but not much.
She then asked one of the soldiers 'how much does this sword weigh?'
"That sword should weigh some were between twenty and the twenty-five kilograms."
'Is that so… but looking how I'm balancing it on my fingertip it doesn't seems that way now does it?'
The man looked at her not really understanding it.
'If the sword weighed twenty-five kilo grams shouldn't I have a tough time holding it? Especially considering my muscle build?'
'I mean looking at you guys this sword should be as light as a feather and considering my build it should be as heavy as steel.'
'But look at me, here I am balancing it on the tip of my finger.'
She then pointed at a soldier 'You stand up and hold my hand for a moment.'
The soldier took her hand but didn't put force on it. His arm was relaxed and Marika swung his arm up and down while still balancing the sword on her finger.
'Now did you get the feeling you needed to use force to swing around your arm?'
The soldier shook his head, 'Alright then, go pick up your sword and think of it as holding my hand.'
The soldier picked it up 'Now strike at me with the same amount of muscle force as if you were swinging my arm up and down like me fore, don't worry I'm able to block any strike.'
The soldier did what she told and he struck at her, Marika blocked the strike and asked 'So tell me what's the difference you noticed between your normal strike and your current strike?'
"It feels faster and lighter."
'There you go! And if you lessen the tension on your body you'll last longer.'
Canus was done with his exercise and came over to Marika
'Last time he lasted 25 minutes against me, now let's see how long you last now.'
'You know the rules.'
"Take it as if you live depends on it and give it your all."
Marika and Canus both took their stance.
The soldiers were standing at a safe distance and watch the two sparring with each other. They were completely amazed by their match.
"It seems both haven't broke a sweat even though they are ad it for an hour and a half."
Another hour pasted an Canus finally started to feel he was getting slightly tired and starting to sweat. But just when they hit the 3rd hour he gave up.'
Marika patted him on the shoulder, 'It's good when you know you hit your limit.'
'So do you want to know your time?'
Canus was catching his breath and nodded.
'Well guys how long was he at it!?'
"3 hours princess!"
Canus looked shocked
'It's true, you stood against me for 3 hours, you made very good progress in just a few days.'
"All because of the breathing exercise you taught me?"
'Now do you still think I'm expatriating, when I told you you'll be on par with me and Richard in no time?'
Canus shook his head "No.. if sister believes in me then all the more reason I should believe in myself."
'Now let me tell you another thing you have achieved.'
'You are now able to take down a squad of soldiers on your own in roughly 5 minutes.'
'So here is something new for you to train at, just like before you started to spar with me do your breathing exercise and then spar with a squad of soldiers.'
'Don't get frustrate if it takes you longer than 5 minutes.'
"I know, take my time and don't rush."
'Now let's freshen up and go to Favilla District!'
"Uhm…what's so great about that district?"
Marika smiled 'You'll see.'
When the both walked to Favilla District Marika told him about how she spend her days there last time she was there and that everybody knows her as Yume the Vigilantly.
As they visited the marked she walked over to a herb stand. As she was looking for a few specific herbs she ask the man if he had anything from Virtus et Caeruleus Viridi or the Blood Kingdom.
The merchant shook his head. " Every time I have some the palace head doctor takes them from me without paying. Saying they are rare herb and only the Royal family has the right to have them."
'That son of a b*tch!' Marika said angrily.
'I should have killed him the last time I saw him.'
'Mister I have an idea', and Marika whispered something to him.
"That's a great idea, I will implement it tomorrow."
Marika smiled and bought some herbs that were native to Ignis and the Moon Kingdom.
After they left she went over to a blacksmith shop and some other stalls and shops.
[Mystic Cave]
Dante, Luca and Kevin arrived at Mystic Cave.
"Solis, Caelum! Could you guys come down!?" Dante called for them.
Solis and Caelum came down and saw the 3 of them.
Caelum saw Luca and ran up to him, "Uncle Luca! And gave him a hug.
Caelum then looked at Kevin "Uncle Kevin your about to awaken, well its only one stage out of 3."
Caelum walked over to Kevin and gave him a hug too, this surprised everybody. Caelum never had done that since the day he was born.
"Don't worry everything is going to be fine, no need to be anxious nothing will change, well maybe a few senses but you'll still be the uncle Kevin we all know."
Kevin relaxed after hearing those words, to him it felt like his big sister was with him.
Luca whispered to Solis "He really is taking after my sister."
"Luckily it's her calm and reassuring part."
"Did mom tell you what you need to do?" Caelum asked Kevin.
He nodded "She told me to do my awakening the same way she did, by coming here and meditate until I awaken my stage."
Solis was against it. "Why would she tell him to do it in that way…"
"Solis I have a message from your mother" Luca said.
"Even if Solis is going to be a nag about it tell him his mother told him to do it that way. Is what she said."
"Then she must have a good reason to bring him here, or she already know what he is going to become." Solis said.
Solis asked Caelum, "Is there any instability in his body?"
Caelum nodded "It's not as bad as it was with mom, if I have to guess it's like 5 % of what mother use to be."