Warm sunshine enveloped the garden, and the breeze carried the fresh scent of blooming herbs, creating a very special morning for all there.
Under the shade of a shady tree, Elexon looked worriedly at his student. "I told you to stay seated, Yosan. You haven't fully recovered yet. It's not good to exert yourself like this," he said as he quickly approached Yosan and held his arm which had been helped by the young healer.
Yosan just smiled gently, trying to reassure his teacher. "I just want to get some fresh air, Uncle," he replied in a calm voice.
Elexon sighed and shook his head, not understanding his student. His current tenacity and stubbornness reminded him of the demon children he had trained, and also of one of his best friends.
And it seemed, too, that Yosan had been affected by hanging out with Reina, Nils, Lia, and Beile. The demon children were tough, brave, and never afraid to face danger, even on the battlefield.
Their influence clearly brought about a great change in Yosan. The man's development and courage had become more prominent since he had become close to them.
Even so, deep down in his heart, Elexon felt grateful and proud of them.
On the other side, the palace physician who was sipping tea chimed in. "It's alright. After all, she needs movement to make the recovery process go better," he said casually, calming the atmosphere.
Elexon just nodded slowly, giving in to the fact that his student would not change. "Alright, but if you feel tired, tell me immediately. Don't let me have to carry you back to your room," he joked in a half-serious tone.
Yosan chuckled softly. "Take it easy, Uncle. I'll be careful."
"So how are you doing now? Are you feeling much better, or do you have any other complaints?" asked Elexon, patting Yosan's shoulder gently as he helped him sit up slowly.
"I feel much better than before, Uncle. It's just that occasionally my chest feels tight, especially if I've been running, moving too much, or lifting heavy weights," Yosan replied. "For other activities, I think there is no problem."
Hearing that explanation, Elexon and the palace physician nodded in understanding. "Good then," Elexon said.
"By the way, how long do you estimate it will take her to start training again soon?" asked Elexon, eager to start training again to the palace physician.
"He's not fully recovered yet, but you're already thinking of inviting him to train again?" The palace physician looked at Elexon with some surprise. "Do you want her to die again from your extreme training?"
"Hey! I'm just asking, after all I will be much more careful and gentle in training Yosan in the future. What do you think I am, a monster? I'm not that cruel you know," replied Elexon, in a lighter tone despite a hint of annoyance.
"I'm just asking, what do you think I am? A monster? I'm not that cruel you know," sneered the palace doctor, repeating part of Elexon's previous sentence.
Hearing the conversation between Elexon and the palace physician, Yosan could not help but chuckle. The originally serious atmosphere turned more relaxed, as he saw the two men arguing with each other in a half-serious tone. Yosan's gentle laughter made the two men pause and look at him.
"That's fine with me, as long as it makes me better and stronger. I'm ready to train whenever it is," Yosan said, smiling confidently.
Elexon chuckled and embraced Yosan proudly. "Good, this is my student!" he said as he gave Yosan a light pat on the back.
Yosan looked down, holding his breath for a moment. "However, it looks like I'll have to start training all over again," Yosan said softly, wincing slightly at the thought of how hard his training had been. Lately, he had to skip training and rest more to recover his body as much as possible.
Elexon who understood Yosan's meaning immediately corrected his position and confidently said, "But not for that. You've already proven yourself, Yosan."
Yosan smiled, his heart feeling lighter at Elexon's words. He felt accepted and appreciated.
The palace physician who listened to the conversation in confusion, finally could not help but feel curious. "Hhh... actually, what are you guys discussing? I don't understand the direction of your conversation which is so confusing," asked the palace physician with a puzzled face.
Elexon and Yosan stared at each other for a moment, then unexpectedly, they laughed together. Their laughter was so loose that it made the palace doctor feel even more confused.
"Let that be our secret," Elexon said, placing a pointer finger in front of his lips while blinking one of his eyes.
After the light conversation between Elexon, Yosan, and the palace doctor, the atmosphere relaxed again. Everyone enjoyed the snacks and drinks while telling stories. The sound of laughter and interesting stories echoed in the garden, creating a rare warm atmosphere.
However, the atmosphere changed when Reina suddenly appeared near them. Her graceful figure immediately caught everyone's attention. Elexon, who was enjoying tea, gasped and almost dropped his cup. Reina herself looked surprised at Elexon's presence in the place. Her face instantly changed, and she quickly averted her eyes, reluctant to look at the man who had injured Yosan some time ago.
Seeing the queen's arrival, everyone immediately stood up and gave a respectful greeting. Lia, the most enthusiastic, immediately ran to hug her mother warmly. "Mum!" she exclaimed happily.
Reina, though initially upset, smiled gently at her daughter. Her anger slowly melted away. She took Lia in her arms lovingly. "Don't run like that. You might fall. Do you want to give your mum a heart attack?"
Lia, who was scolded by her mother, just laughed, then kissed Reina's cheek. That method, as always, managed to melt her mother's heart.
Yosan who saw the scene also laughed. "That won't work, Your Honour. This child of yours will not listen."
"Hey, he's your son too, not just mine. You should remind him too," Reina retorted, looking at Yosan with annoyance.
Suddenly everyone immediately laughed at Yosan getting a scolding from Reina. Except, Elexon.
Yosan sighed and offered a small smile as he pushed his hair back. "Yes, yes, he is my daughter too. But, as his father, I often don't listen to him. Do you think I've never warned him, Your Highness? I've repeatedly asked him not to run around, but the result is still the same."
Seeing the petty quarrel between her parents, Lia gave a sour look to her face. Her eyes then fell on Elexon, who had been looking down in silence. Suddenly, Lia spread her arms and called out to her grandfather, "Grandpa! Mum and Dad are being annoying again!"
Elexon immediately looked up, confused by Lia's sudden complaint. Lia asked her mother to put her down and rushed over to Elexon, complaining to her grandfather.
Reina, who witnessed her daughter getting very close to Elexon, had to hold back her irritation to keep it from showing. Carefully, she walked over and sat beside Yosan. She let out a long sigh, allowing herself to enjoy the company. Although there was still fatigue from royal duties, the warmth of being with family made her feel lighter.
However, Reina could not ignore Elexon's presence completely. Although she tried to act natural, there was an awkwardness in the air that was hard to escape. Whenever their gazes almost met, Reina quickly diverted her attention, focusing on Lia or Yosan. Lia, who was sensitive to the atmosphere, tried to make her mother and Elexon feel more comfortable with her funny stories.
Elexon, who could not stand the tension that was still felt even though it was thin, finally decided to say goodbye. "I have to go. There's still some business to be done," he said as he stood up.
Reina did not hold back, only bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement. Meanwhile, Yosan looked at his teacher with some concern. "Uncle, are you sure you don't want to rest first?" he asked.
Elexon smiled slightly. "It's alright. You don't have to worry." With that, he stepped away, leaving behind an atmosphere that was slowly returning to calm.
Yosan stared at Elexon's back as he slowly walked away. Something felt strange. There was something unusual about Elexon, the man really seemed different from usual.