"Your Highness, I know your secret."
His concentration faded away, and his neck cracked in his sword instructor's direction.
"Excuse me?"
"About your night outing two days ago."
He expected that their sneaking out plan would eventually be known by their parents, but what he didn't expect was for Sir Raihan to be the one who brought this topic to his attention.
Of course, he knew that Sir Raihan would know. Because where would Rezal get two teleportation stones anyway? Either he bought it himself or took it from his father. Both of those would eventually come to Sir Raihan's knowledge sooner or later.
"Rezal won't be coming for practice this month."
Ah, that kid must be grounded.
"Don't expect to be free from any punishment, Your Highness."
He flinched. Dang, him too?
"Did dad know about this?"
Sir Raihan put his hand on his waist.
"He did. You know that everywhere in the palace are all his eyes and ears, right?"
Is that so? So every little secret about him was known by Asteric from the start? Or is it just about the presence that comes and goes from the palace?
His relationship with Asteric could be described as good now. Their relationship was always good; it was just that after that time when he was having a breakdown, they became much closer. He is unable to describe their relationship in detail.
He also gave back the book about aura to Asteric. He just knew that practising aura was forbidden. Literally forbidden for anyone. He just thought it was forbidden because of his age. That increased his suspicion as to why this book was in the library if it was forbidden to be read. Asteric told him not to worry, and that he would inspect any suspicious acts around his palace.
He had calmed down a little by then. He was living in ignorance until he was easily led into doing something dangerous. He should be more cautious.
Asteric has been visiting him more often than before, rather than just when having a meal together. Asteric will visit him once a week when he is not busy, and they will talk and have a snack together.
He found Asteric a good father, but not to 'him'. He looked at Asteric as someone respectable and admirable. He is becoming more comfortable with Asteric; he does not act awkward anymore, just a little. But still, he managed to make himself feel not too strange by their new bond.
It would be hypocritical of him to act so shamelessly when he is literally living in his son's body. He could be a good son to Asteric, but he still can't think of Asteric as his own father.
He won't be stealing anything from this kid. This kid has given him an opportunity to feel all these feelings he never felt before, and he won't ask for more. He feels grateful, and that's enough.
Their affection is not for him after all.
"I apologize, Sir Raihan. I'll accept any punishment."
"Very well, that's a good attitude."
'Your son has a more respectable attitude than you.'
Raihan got to know his teleportation stones were stolen by his son when he was called by Asteric to meet. Asteric said that Michaelis and Rezal were not in the room when he left Rezal for a sleepover that day. He should have known from the start when Rezal begged him to stay at the palace that day.
If not, Asteric would not know, but Riri informed the empress about the traces of magic used in Michaelis' room when she went to wake up the two boys in the morning. Riri is a magic user, so she knew that teleportation stones had been used in the room. From that, they knew that Michaelis and Rezal had sneaked out that night.
When Asteric informed Raihan about this, Asteric asked Raihan to keep an eye on Michaelis and possibly Rezal too. He is worried these two kids, who may be in their rebellious stages, will get into trouble. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Asteric also said it is wise to punish them a little so they will not act recklessly again. Asteric knew what Raihan would give as a punishment to Rezal, so the punishment for Michaelis is something Asteric himself asked for.
Raihan looked at Michaelis with a smile, remembering the time with his two friends at the academy. He would say that Michaelis has a different attitude than Asteric.
'Maybe I should lessen Rezal's punishment a little.'
He thought for a moment and then dismissed his own plan.
'A month is not that long. Rezal would repeat it anyway.'
"Then I'll increase your training."
Michaelis stood straight.
"Starting from today until a month later."
Sir Raihan pulled up the wooden sword that they would use later before he kneed it and broke the sword into two. Michaelis widened his eyes.
"You can't practice swords."
Sir Raihan tossed away the broken sword.
"And also, no magic training."
"But—"
"No objection, Your Highness. I know that you've been practising magic every day now, so I will take that privilege from you."
Oh no, he just wanted to try something new this night.
"Don't try to practice in secret. Riri would inform me if you did."
Wait what? Riri can use magic! Oh God. Maybe he should learn more about the people around him than just this world.
But is that all? That's not even a big punishment. It's not a big deal to stop practising magic and swords.
But wait, a punishment for a month seems like too long. How if he begins to get sloppy at sword and magic? He will need to work harder when practising again next time to maintain his swordsmanship and magic.
"And."
Oh, there is more.
"You will now undergo training about how to use aura properly."
He blinked in confusion. He had managed to control his aura. Now, he can bring in and out his aura at any time. Is there actually more to learn?
"The real use of aura. We'll need to go somewhere for this to check your aura compatibility."
"Aura compatibility?"
"Yes, and I must warn you, Your Highness."
He gulped at the sudden stare.
"It will be five times harder to do than what I've taught you all this time about aura."
How hard can that be?
×××××
This must be a joke.
Sir Raihan could not possibly leave him here alone.
With just a word of good luck, Sir Raihan vanished beside him. Leaving him here to who knows where.
His sword instructor also said he would be back after a month to pick him up. Seriously?!
He was forbidden to use magic, and only Riri is here with him. That actually gave him a slight sense of reassurance. At least someone he knew was with him.
"I'll go right away, Your Highness."
"You too?!"
"Good luck, Your Highness."
Riri vanished instantly by using a teleportation stone. He thought Riri would be here with him to prevent him from using any magic. So why does Sir Raihan say not to use magic because Riri might know? Is this a hidden test? He needs to solve it on his own. Is Riri actually looking for him from afar? Is that why Sir Raihan said that just now? Or is that just to make his hopes high?
His brain can't comprehend this at all.
"Greetings."
He froze.
"Welcome to the Forest of Miracles."
Is that this name's place? Oh, he's familiar with that name. He had read it in the books many times.
"We should begin your training right away, Your Highness."
He will have his training here. No, he is not ready for this sudden change of settings. He just got a taste of the outside world for the first time two days ago, and now he was thrown into an unfamiliar place all of a sudden.
"Where are you?"
This is a stupid question if he asked someone who had been talking to him since then, but he really needs to know. He did not see where that voice that was talking to him was! Not even a shadow could be seen!
"I'm here."
He looked around. No, nothing. Not even a presence could be felt.
"Look to your left."
He looked to the left as instructed, but he saw nothing. He frowned. Is he being played right now?
"Rude, you don't see me right here?"
He blinked when he felt something touching his neck. He twisted his neck more to look over his shoulder. Oh, there it is. The owner of the voice.
"Finally. Nice to meet you."
That's why he heard the voice so close to him. It was just beside him.
"You are tiny."
"Are you implying something about my body or what?"
The little girl on his shoulder glared at him. Michaelis looked at the little girl confusedly. Of course, he is implying something about her body. What else?
He is just giving his honest observation. This little girl with green hair must be a fairy. That's why she is so small; she even managed to sit on his shoulder without him noticing. But he didn't think that a fairy was this small.
"Nevermind. You look like an innocent boy. Oh yes, you just ten."
The fairy girl shook her hand, dismissing her question just now. His neck was hurting looking at her like this, so he just looked elsewhere.
'What is she saying by innocent? I am already an adult.'
"Nice to meet you."
The fairy slowly flapped her wings and stopped in front of him.
"Let's go. Everyone is waiting."
"Everyone?"
Okay, what is it now?
"Obviously. For a month, you'll be living here with everyone."
He started walking, following this little fairy. The forest he is in now is big, with many tall trees. But when he walked further, he saw a gate that was created with a tree vine and leaves. He walked through the gate and was presented with something majestic.
He was mesmerized. This place looks like what he would call a fantasy world. Beautiful.
Some fairies flew around. There is also a creature with sharp ears that he assumes to be an elf everywhere. This place is beautiful and feels peaceful.
"Again, I welcome you to the Forest of Miracles, Michaelis Kristafall."