Ardent continue creating his Mana Core, but it is hard to pretend he did not notice the gathering around him. In fact, he can detect the second 2nd Circle Mage of the village, Catlin's father.
'Why did he come here?!' he thought anxiously, before his senses allow him to detect the presence of more people.
'Wait, is the parents of the other students here? Well, they don't come back so it make sense.' Ardent mused in his head. But knowing did not help the crowd from dispersing.
He try to act calm, but it rather hard with the crowd. He could even sense his parents, his mother holding little Runa in her arms.
-x-
Said parents were wadding through the crowd, pushing the other adults as they try to find the teacher of the Magic Lesson. Rowan and Grace soon spotted the older man, next to the other Mage of the village.
Rowan hesitate slightly. While he is worried for his son, he could not just rush towards the Mages, both having higher status than him while being more powerful as well. It might result in them causing trouble to him.
His wife did not share such concern, however. The brunette walked towards the two Mages, stopping in front of Alfon with a stern gaze.
"Mage Alfon, why is my son did not come back home yet?" Grace said with a stern voice as she stared in an almost defiant manner to the village's strongest Mage.
"Dear, don't cause trouble for the Mage." Rowan told his wife, not wanting the man to become angry towards her.
Fortunately for them, Alfon, and Cross realized the time a long time ago and not angered by Grace's action.
"Miss, actually, is your son's name is Ardent?" Alfon asked, curiosity lacing his voice,
"Yes, did something happened to him?!" Grace asked in panic.
Alfon shook his head, "Nothing wrong with your son. In fact, your son is taking his first step as a Mage right now." he pointed at the sole boy, who was the subject of attention for the students of Magic Lesson and some of the Mages who looked at the commotion.
"Taking his first step as a Mage?" Rowan and Grace said at the same time before looking at their son, who look to them in closing his eyes while sitting. The only difference being they could sense something coming into him.
"Yes. Your son is creating his Mana Core. Though you probably don't know what it meant, so, let me tell you first." And so, Ardent's parent receive a brief but much needed lesson in magic.
-x-
"I see. So that's what happened." Rowan said, his worry dissipating. Though, he was both proud and miffed. Pride from how his son become a Mage. Miffed due to his son no longer able to help him in the garden, as he will no doubt taking more lesson from the village's Mages.
"What will happen in the future? What he will he do then?" unlike her husband, Grace's worry did not went down, and in fact may have risen.
It could not be helped as he never have a Mage's relative and so the workload of a Mage is unknown to her.
"In the future, he will take lesson by village's Mages. His apprenticeship will be under me. When he manage to carve his first Magic Circle, his lesson will be taken by a Mage who share his attribute." Alfon explained.
"And, what will he do? Will he follow the village's Mages in their job?" Rowan asked. While he never see the Mages in their work time, he knee they protect the village along with the guards. In fact, Mages are greater deterrent compare to guards as they can destroy a group of bandits and pack of wild beasts should the need rises.
Alfon could understand the worry. After all, this is no doubt the first for the parents. However, he did not plan on sugarcoating it for the two people.
"Yes, but he will be keep at the back. He might even join some of the weaker Mages on patrol." weaker Mages meaning Zero Circle Mage, though he doubt the two could tell any difference. For regular villagers, even a Zero Circle Mage is an entity they did not wish to anger.
"... I see." Rowan sighed. He knew he could not do anything about it, with his son showing such great potential. At least, he knew his son will be relatively safe compared to the regular Mages.
" ... at least he will have a better future." Grace also sighed. She could not help but worried for her eldest but same with her husband, she knew there is nothing she can do about it other than praying for her son's safety.
"As long as your son grow as a Mage, nothing in the vicinity of the village could harm him. In fact, he might be as strong as I am when he already have his first child." Alfon exclaimed, getting a smile from the parents.
While the trio talked, Cross make sure he is close to them. After all, with his daughter liking the boy, maybe an engagement is possible. While the boy might not be able to become a 2nd Circle Mage, and that is very low, he will likely become a 1st Circle Mage in the future, and that is his lowest prospect.
'Maybe I will discuss it with them tomorrow, or atleast when the boy is not home.' Cross decided.
-x-
While the adults are scheming, Ardent focused more on hiding his Magic Circle more than pretending to create his Mana Core.
Oh, he was still doing the latter but his focus is more on hiding his Mana Core. It will be bad if they realize he already have 10 Magic Circle on his Mana Core.
'Though, will the adults get away already!' Ardent thought with annoyance. The presence of the crowd, who did not plan on dispersing too soon put a damper into his concentration. Though, it did not cause much trouble for him other than being pesky.