Reine had his usual breakfast of milk directly from the tap as usual and this time he didn't throw a fuss about it or blush like in embarrassment like he usually does in this situation with his mind on the library trip with Siena. He wasn't about to knock the books for kids, but most of them were just fairy tales with a message of being just and developing personal strength. It didn't scratch his itch for magic, smithing, or even just that general knowledge he was lacking. He knew his father was a lord, but beyond that he didn't know anything about his status or who he might be a subject of or if he was independent for that matter.
At first the plan was to just have Siena accompany him while other servants likely trailed from the shadows without Rhine knowing due to his accident of having fallen down not long ago. Haruka for her part was adamant about going with Rhine and Siena had been the one he was planning to go with.
"Rhine is my baby boy you know Siena, Mama is going to read him all the books he wants." Rhine sat to the side like the cute little prize he was waiting for the two to hopefully agree on the matter while he made sure to stay out of it. "Does that mean you want me to break my promise to cute little Rhine? What if he can't trust even his own family after this? You don't want to be that kind of mother do you?" That was Siena's argument who seemed determined at all costs to keep her promise and get to play out the part of the dependable older sister and see just how much of a prodigy he might be.
"Ara when did I say you couldn't come with us as I read to my son? You could help by fetching all the books sweet Rhine might enjoy you know?" A sly grin could be seen on Haruka's face as she clenched her fist and was about to assume a victory pose her three tails wagging about to and fro. "Then why don't I read to my little brother and you fetch those books using your senses as his mother? Oh wait you couldn't even be there for him as he fell right away. Oops." The two women stared each other down with sparks flying as the temperature in the room felt like it was falling drastically.
Rhine pouting as he watches the two stare each other down slammed his hands against the floor to catch their attention and that it did for the helicopter mother and sister. "Stop! ... Fwight ... Ting! I'll get Papa!" Tottering to his feet Rhine started his slow yet firm path which has him stumbling quite often giving mini heart-attacks to the two following him and all of the servants he passed. He pushed open the door to Geralt's office with a grunt and declared his intent as loud and clearly as he could.
"Papa wead for me!" Two thuds could be heard at that moment as Siena and Haruka both fell to their knees in despair and Geralt who had been overjoyed initially let out an unmanly shriek when he felt the glares of his wife and one of his daughters on him. The chief butler Viktor than came to save his Master even if it meant sacrificing that opportunity for father and son bonding. "Milord and ladies, might one of you take young master Rhine out to read today and the other can monopolize tomorrow with him?"
The two ladies in question started whispering back and forth nearing an agreement, until Rhine remembered something. "Mama! Ma ... gic? Sis bwooks?" Another period of whispered deliberations ensued and the two eventually nodded both satisfied with the agreement the three leaving the office leaving behind a nearly depressed Geralt who stoked his motivation to finish up early so he could arrange time to have that father and son bonding maybe even teach him to swing a sword. Such delusions were the only thing keeping his mind strong causing Viktor to let out an exasperated sigh especially considering Geralt had been through this rodeo many, many times already.
A happy Siena led Rhine to the library holding his hand and keeping her other hand behind him ready to catch him in a moments notice. Once they arrived at the library his mouth opened up wide as his glimmered at the forest of books. "Hurry! Sis! Let's go!" His first target was the geography and history books resulting in Siena's expression faltering not having expected that so she instead would often just talk about the maps and say the names of the nation and important people. "Vi-on?" Rhine tilted his head to the side with his golden ears twitching and tail swaying back and forth as he mentioned the name of the Kingdom his father served. Siena was covering her nose desperate to not get a nose bleed from the cute gesture not out of concern for the books, but her pride as the big sister. A short while later the explanation was able to resume and he was able to learn that his father was a Viscount and that the nobility power structure was follows:
Knight > Baron > Count > Viscount > Marquis > Duke > Ruling King / Queen
"That is right father is the Viscount of Varn he gained the title after his service as a legendary mercenary who led his own band. Father answers to Marquis Heinz and Marquis Heinz answers to Duke Krainz.* Siena suddenly had an oh crap face as she thought she explained more than Rhine could have understood and while he was staring at her blankly she didn't feel like he was dozing off or not paying attention. In a little test she grabbed some pieces of paper and marked each of them with, King Vion, Marquis Heinz, Duke Krainz, and Viscount Geralt.
"Rhine can you stack these papers with the person who orders them on top of them? Big sis knows you can do it!" Rhine for his part nodded and spread the papers out he had learned how to mostly read the language with all the books he had been read by his family. He put his father down first followed by the Marquis followed by the Duke and finally the King. "Done!"
Siena quickly checked the pile and gave a brilliant smile to Rhine patting the top of his hair and rubbing the tufts of fur on his ear which he nuzzled into his tail thumping against the table rhythmically. "Correct! You are such a a smart boy Rhine! Big sis knew you could do it!" Rhine would let out a cute laugh enjoying the praise combined with the headpats as he pointed to books this time on magic to which Siena gave a wry smile to Rhine.
"Rhine you should let your Mama teach you magic. We Dark Elves can't use magic, in fact most magic doesn't work with us." Once again Rhine would tilt his head to the side with a pout forming on his lips. "Why not!?" Rather than being a yell it came out more like a high pitched squeal, but there was already the thinnest line of blood flowing down Siena's nose as she couldn't take the cuteness overload combined with that pout for her sake.
Siena made sure she was looking Rhine in the eyes and got down to his eye level inadvertently exposing the blood trailing down her nose. "Big Sis!? Ouchie?" Pointing at his own nose Siena quickly realized what happened and blushed to the tips of her ears before whiping the blood away with a handkerchief. "I'm all fine see? You see Dark Elves repulse magic well the mana behind it that is."
Rhine nodded with a frown on his face and puffing his cheeks pointing at a smithing book. "Make things for hewo?" His big sis took out some of the smithing books simply reading them aloud as evening arrived at the library and Siena put back the last book she had just read and Rhine still had a sparkle in his eyes wanting nothing more than to be old enough to be able to attempt to make things for his beloved family in this world. "I ... Make things for Mama ... Papa ... And big sis!" Rhine smiled so brightly he almost threatened to outshine the sun and Sinea hurriedly covered her nose with the handkerchief in a rush to stop more blood from escaping as Rhine heard a familiar boop.
[Quest: Learning with Sinea completed. You have leveled up!]
"Hweh? Dizzy ..." Leveling up at such a young age caused Rhine to encounter a dizzy spell almost falling onto the ground and when he was caught in Siena's arms he fell asleep then and there causing a very panicked Siena to rush back to his room and set him down. A medical expert quickly examined him and determined it was just exhaustion and that he would be better with some rest. The whole time he was asleep Sinea stayed by his side tears in her eyes that she hadn't noticed it before he collapsed.
Once Rhine woke up after a few hours he heard Siena mumbling I'm sorry over and over again like a broken record and he pulled up his status focusing on his stats.
[Level 2]
[Stats]
[Strength: 55 Endurance: 45 Vitality: 70 Dexterity: 80 Resistance: 70 Magic: 120
HP: 210
MP: 475]
After shuddering at his stats that had exploded he started lightly tapping Siena who woke up from her mumbling pulling Rhine into a tight hug practically suffocating him for a few seconds.
"I'm so glad you are alright! Big Sis won't let you push yourself like that ever again! Rhine tell me whenever you start to feel tired at all okay? Can you do that for me?"
Rhine gave a big nod as Siena kissed him on the forehead as his body racing with thoughts of all he learned eventually pulled him to sleep once more bringing a curtain on this day of learning and setting the stage for him to learn some magic and possibly finish one of the less problematic quests he has.