A year had passed since Hiro arrived at Mr. John's mansion, and the days blurred together between chores and training. The training ground was now a familiar place for him and Elysia. Hiro had grown stronger, both physically and magically, but he often wondered how much further he could push himself.
Today was different, though. Hiro could feel the buzz of anticipation in the air. Mr. John was back from his long trip as a merchant, a journey that took him across the kingdom. Hiro and Elysia were excited to see him again, their only source of comfort in this world of servitude.
As Hiro and Elysia waited in the dining hall, the grand doors swung open, and Mr. John strode in with a hearty laugh. "Hiro! Elysia!" he boomed, his presence filling the room. "Look at you two! You've grown so much!"
"Welcome back, Mr. John!" Elysia said shyly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Hiro nodded, his heart swelling with pride. "It's good to see you again, sir."
Mr. John took a seat at the head of the table and gestured for them to join him. "I've missed this place! The food, the company—everything feels right again. Now, tell me about your training. What changes have you seen in yourselves?"
As they ate a hearty dinner of roasted meat and vegetables, Hiro couldn't help but notice how Mr. John's eyes glimmered with pride. "I'm excited to see what more potential you can achieve. You both have been working hard, I can tell!"
Hiro and Elysia exchanged glances, smiles stretching across their faces. But then, suddenly, Mr. John leaned closer, his tone shifting. "You know, in other households, slaves and their owners rarely share a meal like this. It's quite a privilege."
Hiro's stomach twisted at the words. And thought something in his mind 'This old bastard, always pushing himself to appear kindhearted. Elysia and I said we'd eat in our own room, and now he's gaslighting us?'
After they finished their meal, Hiro and Elysia excused themselves, eager to retreat to their shared room. But before they could leave, they noticed Mr. John and Rose whispering in the corner, their faces serious. Hiro's curiosity piqued.
"Is everything okay?" he asked, but Mr. John waved him off.
"Just a little discussion, nothing for you to worry about," he said, but there was a hint of something in his voice.
Once they reached their room, Hiro leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "What do you think they're talking about?" he asked Elysia, who was sitting on the edge of her bed, her brow furrowed.
"I don't know," she replied softly. "But it seemed serious."
Meanwhile, in the dimly lit corner of the mansion, Mr. John turned to Rose. "What is it in the letter you sent? You said you saw something inside him, so I hurried back sooner than planned."
Rose looked serious, her eyes narrowing. "His mana, Mr. John. It's not normal for his age. I've never seen such enormous chaotic mana before." She sighed, a mixture of awe and concern in her voice. "I'm not too good at the theory or study of mana, so I don't know the right term for what I see."
Mr. John's smile widened as he processed her words. "Ohhh, what a monster I've got there! It looks like I'm caregiving a beast, huh?" His mind raced with possibilities. What kind of future did Hiro hold?
"Now, let's keep him in check and continue his training. But we mustn't let their heads get too big. They still need to remember that they're just slaves, fed by me. No slacking in their easy work!"
With that, Mr. John's gaze shifted back to the dining hall, a sense of pride and responsibility settling over him. He had taken Hiro and Elysia under his wing, and he would ensure they remained grounded while nurturing their potential.
As Hiro and Elysia rested in their room, the weight of their situation pressed heavily on them.