After seeing Ethan off, we gathered at the city gate to welcome my parents. The gates were lightly decorated with some flowers and our family banners, attracting a small crowd. As the lavish carriage approached us, the crowd began to edge closer, eager for a glimpse at the prestigious Ernius family. The carriage was being escorted by a few dozen highly skilled guards and three shadow guards, ensuring their safety throughout their journey.
Although it was nice to have the whole mansion to ourselves for such a long time, I really missed them. I'm so glad they've returned.
"Aria, remember to follow the etiquette and hold on for a little longer. There are lots of eyes on us right now", Letty warned me.
"I know, I'm not a kid", I retorted.
"Yeah, and you weren't a kid when you returned from the academy. Do you need me to remind you how you literally jumped on your parents as soon as the carriage door opened? Sigh, I'm just saying, save it for later when there aren't as many eyes on you", she said.
"Oh, come on, they hugged me back too, you know. It wasn't entirely my fault", I replied. Although it would have been weird if they hadn't hugged me back after my display.
"Sigh, like I said, just maintain your image now", she insisted.
"Yup, I've got this!"
As the carriage came to a halt, I stepped forward. A guard gently knocked on the door and opened the doors, revealing the glowing faces of my mom and dad.
Like a perfect lady, I curtsied and said, "Welcome back, My Lord, My Lady. I hope you had a delightful journey". Following me, everyone else bowed their heads.
"At ease", Dad said, and everyone relaxed. He stepped out of the carriage first, then extended his hand to help Mom out as well. Once she was beside him, he added, "Thank you, everyone, for the warm welcome."
I can clearly feel the effects of this well-deserved break– both of them look rejuvenated, with a healthy glow on their faces. For some reason, Mom appeared a bit younger than before she left. Also, somewhat healthier… I guess seafood has been treating her well.
After the formalities, Mom turned to me with a warm smile. "It's good to be home, Aria."
"It's good to have you back," I replied, keeping my composure and fighting the urge to jump on them.
With that, we all made our way toward the mansion. As soon as we crossed the door, I let go of all restraints and pulled them both into a tight hug. "Mom, Dad, I missed you so much!".
"We missed you too, Honey!" they both reciprocated.
"Letica, why are you just standing? Get in here!" Mom called out.
After our family reunion, Mom noticed that Letty wasn't wearing her usual maid outfit and gave me a thumbs up and patted Letty's head. They also brought a bunch of souvenirs for us from their travels.
We moved to the lunch hall while they recounted stories from their travels. As we ate some snacks, I noticed that Dad didn't seem as enthusiastic as Mom. I hope that's just because he's tired, nothing else.
"You wouldn't believe what happened next-" as Mom was speaking, she followed my gaze towards Dad and stopped.
"Right, we should talk about the reason we had to cut our trip short", Mom said.
"Don't worry about your Dad, it's nothing serious. He's been whiny ever since I decided to participate in the Sea Dragon subjugation", she said.
I get it now. It's about the Sea Dragon. And I totally understand why Dad is being like this. I also don't think it's a good idea to take unnecessary risks, no matter how strong she might be.
"I'm not whining, I'm serious, Martha. There's no need for you to participate. Even though you are strong, I'm sure they can manage just fine even without you. We can send our knights, and they'd do an excellent job too", Dad said.
"Yeah, Teacher, it would be better if you don't go", Letty said.
"I also -", I started to agree with Dad, only to be quieted down by Mom.
"Alright, everyone. Let me say my piece first, and then we can discuss further", she said.
"Firstly, a rogue Sea Dragon isn't a threat to be taken lightly. Otherwise, there would have been no need for the king to issue such large-scale summons. It's a fierce monster and all, but it's not even the biggest threat here. It's the fact that a Sea Dragon rallies a small army of water and amphibian-based monsters along with it. They block all the trade routes and cause havoc to any human or monster settlements near the shore. In turn, pushing back the land-based monsters from their habitat, causing them to run wild."
"It's a very serious threat, and the sooner the root problem is solved, the sooner their monster army dissolves, and the more lives we save", she took a pause.
"Now to your point, Richard, why must I go? That's because I don't believe there is anyone in this entire kingdom who can rival my firepower. I know I've never truly revealed my powers before, and please forgive me for wasting away my Talent, as my father used to say. But trust me when I say that a mere Sea Dragon is no threat to me at all", she said. I could feel that she was a little sad when speaking about Grandpa.
As the mood began turning heavy, she lightheartedly added, "Besides, I'm not going to participate in the gory fight. My role would be to land the initial strike from a distance and hopefully kill the monster in one powerful attack. I won't have to go anywhere near the actual battle. And not to mention, this would set the perfect stage for my little girl's eighteenth birthday and engagement announcement".
Well, Ethan was also saying that she's powerful, and I really hope that's the case.
"I understand, Mom. If you are as strong as you say, then it's fine. But you must promise me that you will run away if you are ever in danger. And also, I want you to prove that you are as strong as you claim. I want you to defeat our best knights one-sidedly– only then will I allow you to go", I said.
Dad still had the same concerned expression. He said, "Hah, you too, dear? Sigh, Martha, I know how powerful you are, but still… Alright, you win. But I want you to leave the battlefield as soon as the big monster is down, am I clear? And don't go near it"
"Yes, you don't need to worry about that. I hate such barbaric fights the most, I won't go anywhere near the battle", she said.
"Hah, now that that's out of the way", she wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and walked up to my chair. She pinched my cheeks and teased, "Someone's feeling a little cheeky today, isn't she? You don't believe that I'm strong enough, huh? It seems that Letty has been a bit too lenient in my absence", she continued to playfully tug my cheeks and started dragging me towards the door.
"Oww, oww. Sowwy Mom. I didn't mean it that way", I pleaded as she continued her assault. She finally let go after dragging me to the garden.
"Ouch, my cheeks are hurting. Why are you being so mean? I was just worried about you", I said, rubbing my poor cheeks.
"Stop overreacting, and keep your eyes on that boulder", she said, wanting to showcase her skill. Let's see just how powerful she is.
She conjured up a small fireball in front of her hand. Judging by its size, it seems like a beginner-level fireball spell. But soon, the color of the flames shifted from orange to bright yellow, then to a nearly blinding white. Just by looking at the flames, I could tell it was no ordinary fireball. Then she released the spell on the poor rock.
Woosh
The rock instantly melted into a pool of molten stone, bubbling and hissing as steam rose into the air. The sheer intensity of the heat forced me to take a step back, my eyes wide with disbelief.
Wow, just wow. I've seen some really talented fire mages before, but this… this is on another level! I can't believe my mom's such a monster. Awestruck by the raw power of her spell, my mouth hung open.
"Not bad, eh? Now imagine that, but maybe ten times bigger. That's the fate of that Sea Dragon when I reach there", she boasted, a satisfied smile forming on her face.
"That was incredible, Mom. Why did you never show it to me before? That color, the mana-efficiency of that spell. This is so cool, Mom! You've got to let me study your spell. It could have a revolutionary impact on all sorts of appliances. From enhancing the basic heat engines to improving our most advanced energy systems", I said, totally fangirling over my mom.
"Hahaha, I'm sorry for not showing it to you before. I just never felt the need to. I'll let you study my spell all you want after I return, alright? So take care of the mansion until then. You've done a great job so far", she said.
Well, all I did was read the documents once and sign them, Letty did all the grunt work.
"No Mom, it's mostly Letty", I admitted.
"Of course, I expect no less from my only pupil. You both make me proud", she said, petting my head.
She pulled me into a warm embrace, her voice tinged with sadness. "Ever since that argument with your grandfather, I've avoided using my skills. But I don't regret leaving everything behind to start a new life here. It was the right choice for me, even if it means he might hate me for it".
She must be missing grandpa, and now that I know something unfortunate might happen soon, I'll make sure she at least gets to see him before it's too late.
Not wanting to let me see her face, she gently pushed my face onto her chest, "Haha, look at me going off on a tangent. Don't worry about what I just said, hehe", she said, laughing, trying to cover up her emotions. "Anyway, you still want me to prove myself, darling?" she asked.
I shook my head and softly said, "Nope, no need. I'll never doubt you again. But just be careful, alright?"
"Hehe, thanks for worrying about me, darling. I'll leave tomorrow morning and be back before you know it", she said, kissing my head.
***
AN: Hello, hope you all are doing great. Make sure to leave a comment!