On a training field, a platinum-blue-haired young man stared at a sword in his hand.
With each stroke, he took, the air cooled around him to such an extent that his breathing was visible.
At some point, three bullets of water bounced in his direction.
Still concentrating on the sword, I heard something whistling in the air and, out of pure instinct, I tensed my legs and jumped back.
Before I could relax, the bullets deflected back toward me.
I tightened my grip on the hilt and spun around as I launched a slash towards the bullets.
I cut two in half and arched my back to the right to dodge the last one.
A cold sweat flooded me and I slashed behind me.
Water splashed over my body and I activated the Heart of Ice.
The splashing water froze and, with a swing of my sword, a silver lightning bolt flashed across the field.
"You've improved, Adad."
I turned to Keith, who had a discreet smile on his mouth.
"How did you like the sword?".
I fixed my gaze on my right hand, where a sword lay.
Its pearl white color shone in the sun and on its blade were engraved fine, almost transparent white flowers.
"It is, a fine sword."
To my right I heard timid footsteps, approaching me.
"Here, little brother."
Said Terry and Everly uncharacteristically as they held up a scabbard and sash respectively.
The scabbard was of black leather and metal, as was the hilt of the sword which contained the same fine details of the roses.
In addition, the leather sash was of a plain white color.
"Adad here."
I turned to Tasha who had a pair of dark blue gloves in her hands.
"Thanks, guys."
"Okay, looks like that's it, Adad, Elena follow me to the office," Keith said as he walked.
For a while, we walked down the hallways to some stairs, which we walked up until we entered a small room.
The two of us sat facing each other and Elena for her part sat to my right.
"I hear you played a big part in the battle against the bandits."
Her eyes moved, meeting mine.
"So I wanted to ask you."
He paused as if he wanted to hint at something.
"What do you think of these "Bandits". What do you think their purpose was or what do you think about them? Adad."
Silence flooded the room due to my lack of response.
If Keith was asking the question he most likely already knew a little about what happened and would have come to a conclusion.
"Me, I think it was Nickolas Hairbear's doing."
Elena looked surprised but forced herself to shut her mouth.
Keith for his part just had a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"Tell me. Why do you think that?"
Silence silenced the room at the lack of response from me.
I did not know how to explain my suspicions, for it was almost impossible for Nickolas to be so foolish as to make such an attack without thinking of the consequences.
But that's the kind of person he is.
A stupid person.
More than stupid was his configuration, that of an ignorant young Master.
"It's just intuition, besides I guess you've heard about Emilia's and my rumors.
The ones that said that the son of the house of Dukes Hall had been rejected by a poor woman of no nobility.
"Most likely they had been cast out by him."
Keith's eyes widened with surprise but instantly changed to pride and pity.
"So that's the reason you want to leave" His eyes changed, boring into mine "I'm proud of you, son."
His words generated memories in my mind, resulting in immense displeasure.
Both with the memories and with myself.
I am not his son.
Those words lingered on the tip of my tongue, unable to get out.
"Then let's talk about the next topic."
Keith said as I fiddled with activating and deactivating Ice Heart, something I learned in the bandit battle.
"Well..."
The next few minutes were Keith talking to Elena about Dawnwinter style and the things we had talked about earlier in Hall territory, for a while that talk dragged on thanks to Elena's questions.
"So, when does the exam start?".
At Elena's question, Keith paused and pulled a letter out of his bag, and placed it on the table.
To: Keith Hall
From: Bull Sofko
Dear Keith, It has been years since we last communicated.
I still fondly remember the years we spent on the battlefield slaughtering monsters and people.
As we watched the blood flow and laughed like crazy.
"Haaa~
"That guy is still just as crazy, please ignore that Adad."
"Ok."
I replied as I went back to reading.
I also remember the women we were watching...
I am reluctant to go to the capital of Aren's kingdom to test his strength, so I trust that, because he is your son, you will not send him to his death.
I hope he is strong enough not to tarnish my name with his death in the exam.
By the way, it starts in a month.
By then I have an appointment in the capital so I can take him to where the exam will be.
The letter was not yet finished but Keith snatched it out of my hands and handed it back.
"Adad will probably last a month even if he attends school, which starts again in two days."
"Haaaa~" Keith paused with a sigh as Elena finished the words with sweat on her forehead "We should meet with the principal."
I walked out of the office as my thoughts hovered on one person.
The director.
Not much is said about her in the game, only that she is an elf and that she is extremely strong, plus she is a deviant towards darkness.
Something quite strange not to say almost unheard of in an elf.
Before I knew it I had reached my room.
I walked in, thinking about what I might do for the rest of the day.
Right next to the bed was a window that looked out onto the inside of the second wall.
I guess I could take a walk.
I showered and grabbed some pants that came to my waist and a long-sleeved, high-collared white shirt that had a spring in the sleeve and another at the wrist.
I let my hair fall over my face and grabbed my sword, before leaving I looked in the mirror and could only describe myself.
D-I-V-V-I-N-E.
Thanks to the person who brought me to look like this.
I left the room with quick and silent steps.
I couldn't let them catch me as Elena wouldn't let me leave without guards and more so after the bandits' attack.
I jumped out of a window and landed on the training ground from before.
I approached the wall and tensed my legs ready to jump them.
"Where are you going, little brother."
Just before my jump, I heard a soft, sweet voice calling out to me.
I turned slowly and my eyes met those of a little girl just like me physically, sitting on the floor with several wooden toys around her.
".... I'm going outside."
"Mmmm."
Terry cocked her head to the side, confused.
"Why, you're not going out the front door."
As if answering her question, his eyes sparkled with understanding and a smile emerged from his smallmouth.
"I see, so you're sneaking out."
Her mouth opened and toothy e as she moved her eyes so as not to meet mine.
"I want to go with you!"
My eyes scanned Terry, his hair, face, and clothes were full of dirt.
"You can't go out dressed like that Terry."
Before I could say anything, I tensed my legs. But once again his words stopped me.
"Yo, I'll, I'll tell Mom you didn't take me."
Without hesitation, I picked her up and ran to her room.
I jumped onto a small wall that protruded from the wall and with another leap I grabbed onto a window.
Opening the window we entered a room just like mine, only with a bunch of stuffed animals and toys.
"That... That was great, bro."
Terry jumped out of my arms and ran to a door.
"Don't go away, I'll be out in a few seconds."
THUD
The door slammed shut and soon a voice came out of it.
"Pick out a dress for me, please."
I scanned the room and quickly made my way to a small closet next to the bed.
Chiiiir~
When I opened it there was a large number of dresses, I looked through each of them with my eyes.
I didn't know much about fashion, so I picked up a black and white one that matched my outfit and laid it on the bed.
After a few minutes, Terry came out of the bathroom with his hair combed back.
"Oh, so you picked up one that matched, good choice."
With a thumbs-up, he took the dress in his hands and prepared to put it on.
I reached out my hand and stopped her movements causing her to look at me confused.
"You need to dry your hair or your dress will get wet."
She touched her platinum blue hair and looked at me.
"But I'm going to last long."
"Mmm sit down."
I put my hand on Terry's head and conjured hot air around his platinum blue hair.
I had tried this on myself, but not for long because my affinity towards fire was not high.
"Whaaaa!"
Terry exclaimed at the sight of her partially dried hair and without wasting any time she pulled her dress on over the little blouse and shorts she was wearing.
"Well, let's go out."
I said as Terry finished combing her hair.
"Wait you have to comb your hair too."
Jumping on his bed and with his hands up he gave me a couple of brush strokes.
"You should grow your hair out, it's too pretty to keep it short."
He said as he walked away from me, I looked at my reflection in the mirror which had no different from when I left my room and touched my hair.
Maybe, I should let it grow.
"Well, goooooo."
With Terry on my back, I pranced around the walls of the mansion.