Arthur Leywin POV
"What the hell! Why are you trying to kill us?!" I yelled looking at Tessia's grandfather, and also our assailant. Who I also suspecting someone who has loose screw.
"Kiddo, that toy may left some bruise on her body, but I'm sure it will not kill her." Said the old man while pointing the toy he threw earlier.
I was tricked!
"Nice reaction though! To think You'd catch my little present, and block my sneak attack! Truly marvelous! And your usage of mana was frightening, to the point I want to know who teach you"
He proceeded to throw me a wooden sword fit for my size as he took out a wooden sword of his own, just a bit bigger.
"Here I come!" Not even giving me the time to get in a stance or even the chance to accept his impromptu training, he dashed towards me.
This crazy old bat!
When he dashed towards me , I use gravity magic around me to slow him down if he comes near me. Then I distance myself, and making a fighting stance.
The old bat, just grin at my counter. Then he began to dash once again towards me. He's fast but I can still keep up, blocking every attack he throw, while at same time I counter his attack, our sword clash every now and then, as we both block each other's attack.
Until the old bat distance himself.
"Looks like I underestimate you too much. I should take this a little more serious." Said the old bat. Before he can even make a move, I attack him before he do.
Sending ice spears and conjuring earth spikes toward him, then soon a lightning was heard and began to crackle around my body.
"Tri-Elemental! And also a deviants at it!"The old man yelled shock, at what he just witnessed.
He parry the ice spears I send toward him with his sword, and avoid the Spikes by jumping around. And as I was about to dash forward when suddenly, I feel a pain coming from my core stopping on my tracks, I took a knee, and putting my arm on my sternum.
"Art!" I hear tessia scream in worry from her place.
It seems the old bat saw what happen. Because he didn't attack me, and also help me subdue the pain. After the pain was gone I hear the old man mutter.
"Just as I thought." Muttered Elder Virion, while standing and seeing the confusion on my face.
"Your mana manipulation, your sword techniques and fighting experience are frightening. Enough, to make me wonder what sort of life you had led to learn all of this." His eyes narrowed. "But you failed to mention one critical thing in your story earlier."
"I've decided, although there's nothing much I can teach you. Arthur become my disciple!" He nodded, throwing me entirely off guard.
I just stared at him, dumbfounded.
What was this old bat saying?
"You've said it yourself, there's nothing much I can learn from you. So why want me to be your disciple?" I refuted.
"Yes, you're right. There's really nothing much I can teach you but I can help you stay live." He said while looking at me seriously.
"What do you mean?" I ask him confused what he mean about that.
"Grandpa what do you mean by that?" Said Tessia looking at his grandfather also confused.
Then he started to tell me about mages, beast, and beast will.
During his explanation. Tess was taken by maid because it's time for her to go to bed. Leaving Elder Virion and I alone.
From what I understand on what he said. The beast will he's talking about was the will Sylvia gave to me.
Everything was beginning to make sense; the strange, faint markings that appeared on my mana core after Sylvia gouged through it and how she said my future progress would depend on understanding her power.
My eyes welled up with tears as I lowered my head, trying to keep my tears from falling. Seeing my expression, Elder Virion didn't say anything, I think he also realized that asking about my beast will is a bad thing to do.
"Okay! I accept your offer to be you're disciple Elder Virion. Please take care of me from now on!" I said with some determination. But then I ask " But, what about my family? and Elder Virion, isn't human aren't allowed to stay in Elenoir?"
He look at me with a grin. "Good decision brat. And call me grandpa I think it's reasonable enough for my first ever disciple to call me that. And for your family I have a friend who can contact your family and so you can talk to them to explain your situation. And for your stay here as long as your under my tutelage, no one will say a thing about it."
~~TIME SKIP~~
It's been 3 years since my stay here on The kingdom of Elenoir. And many thing happened during my stay here.
The time I accepted elder Virion's proposal to become his disciple and ask me for my abilities. I told him that I was a Quadra-elemental mage that can control their higher forms, and he just look at me with face pure of shock.
I also meet the friend gramps talking about. Yes! I started to call him gramps when I found out his trustworthy. Enough That I tell him what kind of beast pass it's will upon me.
Elder Rinia was the friend gramps talking about, and also a diviner that help me to communicate with my family.
Just like what mother Sylvia said. I enjoy my childhood, every time I have nothing to do, I along with Tess, Wander around the city.
When I'm looking around the city. I also make a friend, whose name is Feyrith or Feyfey as I like to call him. I met him on my first trip around the city, and he challenged me into a duel that end with a single punch. Since then we became close and he declared me as his rival, challenging me every time he see me.
Even though I finished my assimilation in my first 6 months here. Because I and the will is in complete sync, that confused me but I just shrugged it, thinking because I'm a Quadra-elemental so where in sync.
During my assimilation I'm also not allowed to purify my core so I stay at light-orange core stage, on my entire assimilation period.
So after my assimilation finished. I and gramps always spar, and during this 3 years. Gramps, from mid-silver core, became a white core. I still remember the proud look on his face when he made that break through.
And gramps also introduce me to some elves, he said that they were the strongest elves Elenoir had except for him. They're known as Aya Grephin and Alea Triscan, both in the white core mage, We became sparring partner since then, and also became close toward each other.
"Kyu"'papa, I'm back!' A voice rang inside my head looking around. I then saw a white fox running towards me, and then jumping on the top of my head, I then reach and patted her gently. seeing her again a smile formed on my face.
'sylv! It's good that you're back. were about to go back home ' Sylvie or sylv as I call her, Was the stone that Sylvia gave me. I thought it was just a precious gem but, boy! I was wrong! The day I finished assimilation was the day sylv hatch from her egg, and when she come out she look at me the bit me on my arm, making me her bond, and since then we're able to communicate telepathically.
I also use the feather Sylvia gave to wrap where the tattoo or insignia of our bond. Fearing that Sylvia's enemy can sense where we are from the mana Its emitting.
A year after she hatch from her egg, she started to go to the beast glades to hunt and train, and she was coming home from time to time. I also found out that she can change her form, and currently she's on her white fox form.
Facing gramps, Tess, Aya, and Alea. Who was waiting for me, Gramps was the first one to come at me putting his hands on my shoulder, he then hug me a give me something.
"Brat. hold on to this. It's adorned with the Eralith's house crest and it'll help you navigate the forest. or, you can just find another princess to lead you back." He tease me while handing me the thing.
While Tessia pull his beard down, it's still a mystery for me how his beard still remain the same after years of Tess pulling it. Aya and Alea just giggled at the royal antic's.
"Goodbye little Art~ I just hope you're already an adult the next time I see you~ Then we can train something new~" Aya said as her as usual seductive tone. Then she was pulled away by Alea.
"Don't listen to Aya, Arthur. Anyway here!" Said Alea while handing me a box.
Opening it. I saw a necklace with blue gem on it.
"Knowing you you want to be as low-key as possible. So Aya and I try to find you a gift before you leave. and that's a mana core concealer that we found, you just need to think of the core you want to have. For example: dark yellow. If you think dark yellow, then you're core will be viewed as dark yellow for those who try to see your core." Alea explained what and how to use it." Remember, you can only use the core below your current one."
"Thank you!" I then hug the both of them. And they hug me back
The last one to step forward was Tess. She said; I should to take care of myself and sylv. She said goodbye to me while crying, I just hug her to calm her down.
"Tess! I expect you to be stronger the next time we meet. With gramps, Aya and Alea training you, I'm sure you will." She just nodded at my words still crying. I then release her from the hug.
Waving back at them. I then walk towards the carriage, when I open the carriage I see a familiar face, I just smirk at the sight while he do the same.
"Oya? It seems like the human brat after 3 years was finally, being kicked out from our kingdom." The voice said teasing me. While I climb the carriage, then sitting on the sit beside him.
" Sorry but, who are you again?" I said feigning ignorance. He just look at me then shouted.
"It's me! You're rival! Feyrith! Feyrith..." I cut him off by saying.
"Ah! Feyfey!" I said faking that I suddenly recognize him again. Which earn a laugh from the other elves inside the carriage.
"I told you for a million times. DONT CALL ME LIKE THAT!!" Feyfey doesn't want to be called by his nickname. So when he always try to tease me, I will just call him by his nickname.
"Yeah, Yeah, Sure." I just respond with a lazy tone. Looking at the window, I couldn't help but smile.
After 3 years. I was finally coming home!
~~TIME SKIP~~
I was currently standing at door of the Helstea.
It was a strange feeling being more nervous now, meeting my family, more than when I first appointed a king while in the midst of the most powerful people in the world.
"Whew~ let's do this Sylvie."
"Kyu"'Lets do this papa' She responded, my excitement spreading to her.
The dull sound of metal clanging on metal rang surprisingly loudly.
Unexpectedly, I could hear the faint pitter-patter sounds followed by a childish voice. "Coming~!"
A maid opened the door together with a little girl. Immediately upon seeing me, she hid behind the maid.
The maid looks at me curiously, evidently surprised to see an eight-year-old knocking on the door of a noble's estate.
"Ahem, nice to meet you. My name is Arthur Leywin. I was informed that my family is currently residing in this manor. Do you mind if I speak to them?" I give a slight bow, Sylvie rocking on my head.
Before the confused maid could even respond, I heard an all too familiar sound in the background.
"Eleanor Leywin! There you are! You have got to stop running to the front door every time someone..." My mother stopped mid sentence and dropped a small bowl of what looked to be food for... my sister.
I look down to see the girl with dazzling brown eyes, looking at me with innocent curiosity. Her light ash brown hair shimmered with a much prettier quality than Father's but I knew who she had gotten the color from. Her hair was tied into two pigtails on the side of her head above her ears.
I struggled to peel my eyes away from my little sister and turned to face my mother. My vision going blurry as tears filled my eyes, I said one thing I knew she was waiting to hear.
"H-hi Mom. I'm home." I gestured a small, awkward wave, not knowing what to do if she couldn't recognize me.
....
After our family reunion that we had at the front door. We move to the living room, then I told them what happen to me during these past 3 years I was away with them. Of course I didn't tell them about sylvia.
"By the way art. What's the story behind your little friend over there?" My father ask while pointing at Sylvie.
"And what's you're mana core stage?"
"Oh! This is Sylvie! My bond! I found her at the lair of a dead mana beast."
I said answering his question.
"Dad. What color is your mana core now?" I asked him back while Sylvie made her place back on the top of my head, tail swishing in content.
A confident grin emerged from his face as my father proudly replies, "Your old man broke through from the initial-silver stage a couple years back and is a high-silver mage."
He then asked me, leaning closer, "I bet you only asked me so you could brag yourself. Let's hear it, what stage are you at now?"
Scratching my cheek, I mumbled, "...mid silver."
"Mid silver? Then why I just see a dark yellow?" My father asked me with a neutral face. As if it's given for me to have a high core stage.
"Oh! About that! I'm using a concealer my friends gave me." I said showing out the necklace, Aya and Alea gave me.
My father just nodded in understanding.
"Mom! Is brother strong like me?" I hear Eleanor, my sister ask mom.
Hearing this confused me. What did she mean by strong like her?
Checking her I sense some mana around her. I then start checking for her mana core, then I found out she's also a mage with a dark red core. I'm not shock on finding this out since I was born with mana core. So, seeing her at the dark red core on her 4 year's of age, didn't surprised me at all. Thinking she was the same as me who was born with a mana core.
I hear mom reply to her by saying a yes.
"Art! Want to have some spar with you're old man!" ask my father while grinning at me.
"Dear! He just come home. So let him rest for a bit!" Chimes in my mom.
"It's okay mom. I'm not tired and I also want to have a spar against dad." I reassured my mom.
"Men! Always trying to fight! Isn't that right, Ellie?" My mother shook her head helplessly.
"Papa and Brother are men!" Echoed Ellie, trying to mimic our mother's expression.
Both father and I laughed this time. It was really good to be back.
We all get up to move to the backyard when I hear the door open.
"Rey! I just heard your son was alive. What the hell is going on?" I see a thin proper man with glasses and parted hair in a suit sweating, with what I assumed to be his wife and daughter running behind him.
"Vincent, everyone! I would like you to meet my son, Arthur! He's back Vince, Haha!"
My father wrapped his arm around the man's shoulder.
"Arthur, this is Vincent, my old friend and the person I now work for. This is his house so introduce yourself before we start wrecking it," he grinned broadly.
Bowing to a ninety-degree angle, I introduced myself. "It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Arthur Leywin. I'm not sure what my family has told you about me, but I was in contact with them for a while back. I was also the one that told them to not tell anyone until I get back, so I apologize for the confusion. Thank you for taking care of my family all of this time." This man was the one that housed my family in their toughest time. As far as I was concerned, I owed him and his family dearly.
"Y-yeah, It's really no problem. I'm glad that you're alive and safe." He adjusted his glasses as if making sure he was really speaking to an eight-year old. "Meet my wife, Tabitha, and my daughter, Lilia," he continued, pushing them forward so they were in front of him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am, Lilia" I bowed again, Sylvie introducing herself too with a "Kyu!"
Tabitha gave a kind smile in response. "Great to have you in our home, Arthur. Say hi, Lilia! Arthur is your age so don't be shy."
The girl named Lilia spoke up, pointing hesitantly at the white fox on my head. "W-what's that! It's so cute."
"This the mana beast I'm bonded with. Her name is Sylvie. Sylvie, get down and say hello."
Sylvie leaped off my head and mewed at Lilia.
"Oh my gosh!" Lilia squealed.
"Rey, what did you mean by wrecking my house?" Vincent asked after peeling his eyes off of Sylvie.
"We were just on our way to the backyard. Arthur and I are going to have a little spar. Want to come?" He chuckles.
Vincent sputters incredulously, "W-what? Are you serious? Your son just got home and you want to fight him? Besides, your son can't be older than eight. What are you going to spar with him for?"
"Don't let my son's age fool you! He's already a dark yellow stage augmenter!" my father harrumphed proudly, puffing his chest. I'm thankful that he didn't tell them my real core stage.
Vincent just shook his head. "Don't be ridiculous, Rey. Your eight-year-old son has already awakened, and he's already at the dark yellow stage? Even the snobby genius brats that get admitted into Xyrus academy are barely at the dark red stage, and that's when they're eleven or twelve!"
Why did he react like that Isn't Eleanor the same? I should ask my parents later about it.
My father just laughed louder in response before he added while leading us to the backyard,"You'll see."