[A/N: Keep in mind that this chapter is still being worked on, so it will be improved throughout the day!]
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''Wait, wait please!''
A bizarre sight unfolded in the afternoon at the Barastrosa residence.
''What's going on?'' The maids wondered, putting their hands in front of their mouths, gaping.
It was almost impossible not to look at such an annoyance, in the middle of their work.
The employees watched Lughys and his tutor come out of the private classroom, housed in a small office south of the Barastrosa mansion, yelling at each other.
''Cheer up, pupil!'' The man said outloud, ignoring the boy's pleas. ''You'll be excited as I am, the moment you see what I've prepared.''
Walking quickly through the corridors with long strides, Alfred Weathers, the young son of the baroness Weathers family, responsible for the education of Lughys Fou Barastrosa, was spotted with a wide smile on his face.
''Is he okay?'' Employees who knew the young lad asked each other. ''Maybe it shouldn't be better to call Dr. Hagrid?''
From what people already knew of the young green-haired man, he tended to be strict when it came to studies, but his personality didn't have any factors indicating that he was disturbed.
On the contrary, the man was known to be extremely formal and proactive, but also somewhat reserved when necessary.
However, unlike his usual demeanor, he seemed to act on impulse, as he strangely carried Lughys forcibly, pulling the boy by the arm for him to follow.
"I still don't get it, professor." The brown haired student uttered, trying to keep his speed in sync with the man's. ''Why all this rush? Did the duke return from his mission, or something?''
Although he had asked about the question of Duke Julius' return, Lughys was fairly certain that his foster father hadn't returned to the manor yet.
Probably, just as he had when he left to fulfill his duties at the imperial court, he would send a letter in advance to the servants, so that they would warn those involved and his family.
In that case, Lughys and Jasmine would be the first, in addition to the governesses involved, who would know that information -- given that Duchess Mariana had not been seen by the mansion's properties for days.
'So it must be something related to his work as a teacher.' He assumed internally, feeling his legs throb with pain, from straining them more than he should have.
Frankly, the situation he found himself in now seemed ridiculous even from his perspective.
Trying to keep up with the strides and strides of a grown man, whose size matched that of Duke Julius, at around 1.89cm, was not a good idea as a 6-year-old child, at 1.36cm.
Smoothing his legs with his free hand — the one Alfred wasn't holding tightly, engulfing it completely with his hands — the boy fell lost in thought once more.
'If it's something related to his work, as I've speculated earlier, then perhaps some practical training in magic?'
Thinking, he didn't notice that his face distorted into a puzzled frown.
''.....''
The green haired man looked back for the first time in minutes, seeing the contemplative expression on Lughys' youthful face.
He chuckled at the sight of that scene, pausing for a second in the middle of the vast hallway, and drawing the boy's attention to himself with a clap of his hands.
"Look, Lughys, I know your immature little head is still developing and all, but I want you to do everything as I direct you, okay? I know you are more than capable of following them."
Looking the man in the eye, he understood that Alfred was serious with what he said, reverting to his strict origins with a mixture of gentleness in his tone of voice.
Lughys quickly shook his head up and down repeatedly, not opening his mouth, so as not to get in the middle of his teacher's speech about what they were going to do.
''We're going to meet a very close friend of mine. As the previous maiden informed us, she is already at the entrance waiting for us.'' The young man continued.
His serene green eyes seemed to penetrate the most atrocious depths of Lughys' soul for an instant.
''I can only say that she will be an aid in your learning process from now on. Mostly practical, if you know what I mean.''
He continued his explanation. Lughys tried to pay attention.
''Honestly, I have high expectations for you, Lughys. By far, you are one of the few that has me so excited to tutor, in all these years."
Lughys didn't know if that should be taken as a compliment or not, but he put a hand on his chest, bowing slightly at 90 degrees.
He was flattered, somehow, and thanked the instructor for the comment.
''Well, anyway, just keep acting normally. There's no reason to be hasty.'' Alfred said, patting Lughys on the head. ''By the way, why don't you take a look over there?''
Looking out the window, as suggested by his instructor, the brown haired child lazily rested his gaze towards the huge garden outside the mansion.
'It's very beautiful, as always.' He thought.
The estates of that house were so vast and incredibly well maintained that they did not fail to impress Lughys whenever he had the opportunity to observe them carefully.
''Do you see?'' The man next to him asked, making the boy regain his focus.
Squinting his pupils a little, his vision limited by his age and height, he saw some servants carrying some suitcases into the mansion, after taking the objects from inside a carriage.
There, next to the rustic-looking transport, but which had an emblematic flag with a symbol of the Barastrosa family inlaid on the ends, a short woman with blond hair watched the landscape.
Her short, thin, shoulder-length blond hair was tied tightly with a reddish bobby pin, but a few strands fluttered in the cold breeze that hit her.
Lughys was amazed to see a figure that expressed such beauty, even from afar. For a second, however, a thought crossed his mind.
'I'm looking like a regular stalker now…'
He felt sickened just by the thought of that.
Alfred brought him out of his daze, touching his soft, underdeveloped shoulder.
''Lughys?'' he asked.
''Yes, teacher, I see her.'' The boy answered him without blinking.
Soon after, moving on, Lughys and Alfred crossed the rooms of the Barastrosa's gigantic main mansion without much trouble in their path and reached the entrance of the house.
Looking quickly around they saw the woman with shoulder-length blond hair, as it was tied by a sort of hair tie.
She was distracted, and didn't even notice the flashy arrival of Lughys and Alfred, covered in sweat from the long, fast walk they had taken, as she continued to converse with a handmaiden close to her position.
Then, still somewhat out of breath, the two guys walked over to her appropriately.
"Miss Alicia, to what do we owe this honor?" Lughys began the conversation, before Alfred even had a chance to say a word.
Intrigued by the boy's courage, Alfred kept silent, just watching the situation unfold with curious eyes. His suspicions of Lughys' premature maturity were getting closer and closer to confirmation through his mental notes.
In front of both of them, the woman was surprised at first by the sudden interruption, but her eyes soon turned kind as she saw who was the person talking to her.
Then she answered kindly, her tone of voice bringing comfort to Lughys' uncontrolled heart.
''Oh yes! Lord… I mean Young Master Lughys. How are you doing in your new house?'' She stroked Lughys' head as a person would do to any child.
Honestly, it made Lughys feel warm inside, reminding him a little of the way his mother acted, in his past life.
''I'm fine, luckily. But yeah, back to the point, what are you doing in this house?" He asked, trying to keep his emotionless face evident. ''Didn't you say you had business in the watchtowers of the Barastrosa estates?''
Remembering the last time he'd seen her, that is, in the first day he'd arrived at the Barastrosa's main residence under the escort of Cale Alderon and Alicia, the knight before him, Lughys commented.
It was really curious to see her around so soon, given that from what she'd informed him earlier, they wouldn't see each other for a long time.
''Ah yes... regarding that topic...'' She started, but her shy personality restricted her.
Seeing that, Alfred quickly took over the explanations, stepping in front of the woman and standing in front of the two people talking.
He waved a hand for Alicia to leave it to him, grinning wide from ear to ear.
''Lughys, my dear student.'' The green haired man pronounced, walking to Alicia's side. ''As I said before I have high hopes for your future. Therefore, I want you to meet your new fencing instructor: Alicia Gray Diphda!''
At the man's speech, the woman actually looked conflicted and a little embarrassed at the position she'd taken.
Lughys' expression was lost in a look of surprise as he let his emotions show more than he intended.
''E-eh, hello.'' She said, bowing. ''I hope we can get along well from here on out, Young Master!''
At Lughys' uneven facial expression, Alfred burst into loud laughter, lit by the late afternoon sun.