Three years have passed since then. I'm technically seven years old now. I've been living it well since then.
I can do basic math and so on since then which surprised both Gerald and synthia, who were jumping up and down, before Gerald calmed himself and said "I've raised a fine child." like i didn't see you jumping like a woman. Plus, he didn't even help me! It was synthia that managed to help me figure out math.
I've also learned how to speak as well, though it's not as fluent as you'd think. I'd like to think they both think I'm just doing baby talk between actual words. Synthia claps and smiles at me when I speak and Gerald looks at me with his cool face, though I can see the cracks sometimes slip and he ends up showing a smile.
And now here I am, looking out the window of my room. Watching Gerald train outside. This place really changed over the years from what I was looking at.
Looking outside to see the village is a real sudden change from what I'm used to. The village is named Shanford, judging by what travelers and the neighbors say. The neighboring houses and roads looked really medieval. Roads were just pathways with no cement roads. Just trails of overused paths used by the carriages used by the horses here. Honestly, I expected there to be horses, the ones here seem more muscular and just more larger when compared to my worlds.
The houses here were basically either just a one floor or two floor house. Some had their roof with tiles on them while others were just just stacks of moss clumped on the top. There was also no electricity outside, lamps and brazier were set amongst the roads to guide people when it came to night.
The front of our house, where Gerald was training, was covered in these flowers that kinda looked like roses, but shimmered. I guess synthia has been taking care of those along with the tree that was right next to the front gate. You know, thinking about it now. I'm pretty sure our home is probably the nicest here in the village. The outside of our house was painted a nice brown color and the garden just made the house pop out more.
And not only was the house appealing, but Gerald himself. Who was shirtless and doing his sword training. Whipping his sword around fast and backstepping, etc etc. I wasn't well known in the swords, but I can tell he was doing things fast and it impressed the ongoing passers.
He swung his sword around, it was like he was water dancing? I wouldn't really know how to explain it. But the movement seemed defensive. Each movement he did, every thrust or feet movement seemed on purpose.
"Curious, kota?"
I turned around, and saw synthia walking in with a basket of clothes, looking like she was finished with cleaning and decided to check on me.
"Yeah, what's dad doing?" I said, tilting my head.
I'm trying my best to look like a baby, am I doing well?
She walked up to me and held my hand, dropping the basket onto the bed. She then looked out the window too.
Both me and synthia peered out the window to watch Gerald train, I caught a look at her and saw her blushing and eyeing him hard. That's true love right there…or obsession?
"When your father was an adventurer, he trained in the art of swordsmanship under many schools to learn all four styles in them. Right now, he's training his water king style."
"Water king?" I asked. Now that I think of it, his movement almost flowed like water too.
"It's a style of swordsmanship that relies on countering and manipulating the opponent. You see all his swings and movements?" She pointed as Gerald finished his routine with a slash.
"All of it is deliberate, thinking ten steps ahead of his opponents"
He took a deep and held a crouch stance, his blade and eyes focused on a dummy on the other end of the garden.
"Now watch closely, kota!" She pointed at Gerald and panned to the dummy.
With a sudden movement, Gerald seemingly glided toward the dummy at a ferocious speed. It was stunning. By the time he got to the dummy, there was a "snkt" sound.
And then after what felt like a good minute, the dummy was sliced into bits.
"Wooaahhh" I exclaimed, this shit looked cool as hell!
Synthia smiled, she must be surprised that I'm even excited, I've rarely shown any sign of excitement during my time here.
And I wasn't the only one applauding as well, a group of girls who were at our front gate were gasping at it too.
I could hear the "oh my!", "are you single?", "marry me!" From them.
Seemed like Gerald was enjoying that attraction, as he chuckled and waved at the girls, blowing a kiss to one of them. What a good man! Nah, I mean I would do the same thing.
And then I felt synthia's clutch on me tighten. Like really tight.
"Kota…would you like to see what mommy can do?" She said in a slow deathly tone.
In these seven years I've been alive here, it was always synthia's sudden change that gave me chills. Every time Gerald would do something wrong that could possibly have a negative effect on their relationship. She'd go berserk on him. I nodded in response though.
I've never seen her mad with me though, maybe she didn't hold any of that lovey dovey yandere stuff to me.
She held up her hand and closed her eyes.
"Hear me, Water god. Oh mighty ones who pour to those in need. Heed my answer and lend me the waves that can drown those in fear. Rain down on those who deserve it. Lend me water ball!"
I had no idea what she was talking about, but as she was saying that. I saw it.
A ball of water forming out of her hand, a surprisingly big one too.
How'd she do that? Is that the magic here? What the hell?
Well I shouldn't be too surprised if we are in a world where swordsmen can practically glide.
But this had me in awe and got me curious.
Once she finished her chant, and held her hand out the window and aimed it at Gerald.
"OH, GERALD" Her yell absolutely scared the shit out of me.
Gerald swung around immediately, jumping at her voice before she threw it at him. He instinctively tried to raise his sword, as if anticipating a deflect.
And it was a hard throw, even with me in her other hand. It whizzed through the air, spiraling down to Gerald who misjudged his angle.
It collided with his face and he flew back a few feet, hitting the floor.
She then chanted again and another ball of water formed.
"Do any of you ladies want a wash?" She said, glaring at the group of ladies.
Frightened and scared of this lady throwing water, the group fled off in multiple directions.
And with that, synthia calmed down.
Peering down at me with a smile she said,
"That was a beginner water spell! Your mommy used to be a mage for the group me and your dad used to be in! Isn't it cool?"
I peered down out the window and watched as Gerald got back up, rubbing his injured face.
Now, I could be a swordsman like Gerald, but seeing how synthia managed to use it in a pretty efficient way, also hilariously. It made me more curious on how magic worked.
Being able to make water out of my hands sounds pretty damn cool as well.
I looked back at synthia and smiled.
"Yeah! Magic is cool! Teach me!" I responded.
She then celebrated with me by holding my hand, jumping up and down and screaming "Gerald, our boy wants to be a mage like me! Wooh!"
I could hear Gerald groan from the garden.
"Ok, kota. From the morning to noon, I will be training you in the art of magic! This will be so fun for you! Oh, we should probably head downstairs to heal your father. Oh, you'll get to see what healing does!"
And she ran downstairs with me in tow to wait for Gerald to come back in. And once he did, Synthia gave him a big ol slap.
"Ow! Alright! Sorry!" Gerald pleaded, immediately getting on all fours. "Forgive me! I was being careless out there!"
"You say that every time…" she gently patted me with her hand "Your lucky Kota is here. Otherwise you have that head of yours gone!" There was an eerie happiness when she said that which frightened me.
Synthia then knelt down and grabbed Gerald by his chin. Looking at me. "Ok, I'll show you a beginner healing spell! We'll use Gerald as our little experiment for now!"
And this was how I started to learn about magic.