Flint arrives early evening and sees his parents on the veranda having a moment. He feels awkward watching, "Ahem" his parents are startled as they try to act natural. John breaks the awkward moment. "Didn't know you'd return so soon." He sits straight. Patricia smiles, "How was your lesson dear?" She gets her seat on a chair this time.
Flint stares at them and looks away, "It was great. Though I'm yet to make progress." He goes to the house. John walks to him and pats his back, "Don't worry son. The first time is always the hardest." Flint nods and enters the house, he meets Aku sitting on the couch asleep. Flint smiles and heads to the kitchen, he sees 2 bowls on the table and Licia sitting on a chair also sleeping. "She slept trying to wait for me. She hasn't finished her food, so cute." He walks up to the Licia and gently woke her up. "I'm home Li."
Licia rubs her eyes, "Welcome home big brother." She yawns, "Dinner is ready." She looks over at the table. Flint takes a seat beside her, "Were you waiting for me so we eat together?" Licia nods and yawns again. Flint feels warm from the sight though one bowl is half empty. Flint takes a bowl, "Then, let's eat. Thanks for the food." He digs in as Licia follows although sleepy. Flint finishes and carries Licia to her bed in her sleep.
Aku wakes and goes to wash the dishes, Flint arrives just as she's washing them. "I thought you're asleep." Flint leans on the door post. Aku rinses her hands, "You're not exactly stealthy with your footsteps." Flint chuckles, "Sorry." Silence prevails for a bit as Flint looks outside into the dim streets. "Pretty peaceful, isn't it?"
"It sure is." Aku agrees, "It makes me want to think that days like this will last forever." Aku sits on a chair and signals Flint to sit with her. Flint agrees also, "Me too." Aku plays with her fingers then she asks. "Can you introduce me to your girlfriend?"
"Wha?!" Flint's jaw drops, "She's not my girlfriend, she's she's she's, my teacher." Aku grins as she stares at him, "Ohhhh." Flint blushes, "Why do you want to meet her anyway?" still red. Aku giggles, "I'm hoping she could show me how to be a knight." She rests her head in her hand. Flint raises a brow confused, "But she's a mage, how will she know how to knight?" Flint finds it odd.
"Well," Aku leans in the couch, "She's from the city and obviously seen how knights behave. I want to become a knight but there aren't any trainers around to help me. I feel like if I don't take a step towards my dream, I might not fulfil it." Aku sighs.
Flint stares at his sister. "Okay, let's go tomorrow after breakfast. I'm sure she won't mind with you tagging along." Aku jumps with joy and hugs Flint, "Thanks lil bro." she gives him a kiss on his cheek and heads to her room, "Good night bro." Flint smiles at this sight and gets up to go to bed. He looks outside and sees his parents being close, he averts his gaze and pretends not to see anything as he heads towards his room.
Flint wakes up the next day, he stares at the roof for a bit before getting out of bed. He dresses up and heads downstairs to wash up before heading to the kitchen. He sees his mother Patricia preparing food. "Hi mum."
"Hi sweety," Patricia smiles brightly for some reason, "Did you sleep well?" Patricia goes back to cooking in a joyous mood.
Flint looks around, "Yes, is everyone up?" Patricia chuckles, "You're the last one up." Flint mumbles, "And I thought I woke up early." He sees his mother cutting fruits and remembers the herbs. "Mum, right I nearly forgot."
He goes to his room and brings a bag with him, "I got these herbs from Twenny, apparently its good for all of us." He pulls up a bundle of herbs and gives it to Patricia. They're ordinary herbs but with a crystal touch to it yet soft as herbs.
Patricia takes them and observes them though doubting if edible, "Ok~ay, I try boiling them and adding it to our breakfast." She gets to work on cutting and cooking the EP crystal herbs. Flint heads out, "Thanks mum." He sees Aku sweeping and she gives a thumbs up to him as he returns it.
Flint goes to the backyard and gets water for the donkey as he sees Licia learning from his father. He finishes his chores as all the family gathers around the dining table to have breakfast. Patricia serves porridge with bread, the porridge has a blue color which causes them to give strange gazes. "Don't look at me, I just added herbs Flint brought back." Patricia gave the new recipe out.
John sighs, "I guess nothing bad will happen then." They all take a sip as they get woozy a bit but return to normal, they stare at it. They thought it strange but then they felt strong a moment later and continued to have breakfast. Flint gets up and goes outside to wait for Aku as she finishes clearing the table, he sees his dad lift the donkey. His jaw dropped as his thoughts, "I knew the herbs were good but I didn't see this coming! Appraisal." He appraises his father and it even shocks him more. "Level 2?! Just from porridge?!"
John flexes his muscles a bit before before Patricia then heads off to farm. A screen appears before Flint.
[INFORMATION MAGIC DISPLAY LEVEL 6
MISSION 2#: Devour EP crystal herbs. COMPLETE.
MISSION 3#: Get Twenny to teach you Runes/Magic. COMPLETE
REWARDS: Level up, Skill upgrade. COMPLETE.
END]
"Ohh, I finally finished the mission. As for the skill to upgrade…..I'll go for Physical Enhancements. I hope this will make training easier. But before that, APPRAISAL". The screen changes.
[INFORMATION MAGIC DISPLAY LEVEL 6
Name: Flint Barimah
Race: Human
Title: SSTM DC Wielder
Level: 2
Stats:
-HP (Health Points): 20 > 25
- EP (Energy Points): 0 > 10
- SP (Stamina Points): 10 > 15
- SoP(Soul Points): 5
Physical Stats:
- Strength: 2 > 1
- Endurance:3 > 4
- Agility: 5 > 6
- Intelligence: 0 > 1
- Wisdom: 1 > 2
Skills:
Information Magic (Level: 6 Bonus skill)
Physical Enhancements (Level: 2)
Dragon Kin (Level: 1)
Rune Mastery (Level: 1)
MISSION 4#: Learn the basis of combat.
REWARD: Skill: ENERGY MANIPULATION. Book: Rune for dummies.
END]
Flint stares at the screen and points at himself, "Uhhh a book for dummies. Does that mean I'm a d- "Flint gets interrupted by System DC. [It's for beginners.] Flint doubts, "It clearly says book for dummies. Even if I can't read it doesn't mean I'm a du- "He gets interrupted again, [It's for beginners. If you can't read, I can read it to you.] Flint shook his head and sighs, "Maybe I'll ask Twenny to teach me to read and write."
A few minutes later, Aku walks out with a proud smile. She has the air of a knight around her, a proud knight capable of facing against 100s of foes. It would have been perfect if her choice weapon is a sword…..and not a rolling pin. Flint stares without words. Aku is confused, "What? Why the stare? Is something on my face?" Aku looks into a basin of water and checks her face.
Flint finally snaps out of it, "No, it's nothing. I think I'm just seeing things. Let's go." Flint's thoughts with worry, "That's a rolling pin, right?! No, there's no way she'll take that to go and train. Maybe the System DC is covering my eyes." System DC interrupts, [I've done no such thing.] Flint continues to be delusional, "Yeah, System DC did something."
With that, they leave for Twenny's house. They walked for about 10 minutes before arriving at her house, they see Twenny by the window reading a book. "Good morning, Teacher." Flint says with a wave and Aku also greets, "Good morning, Miss Twenny." Twenny looks out the window and sees them, "Good morning, guys." Twenny notices the rolling pin. "You gonna bake or?"
Aku replies although nervous, very nervous. "Nononono, umm. I uhh actually, well, I uhh." Flint jumps in, "This is my elder sister Akua Barimah. She said she wants to be a knight so she was hoping to get some lessons from you."
Twenny raises an eye brow, "Strange choice of weapon. Of course. I don't know much about knighting but I can teach you to be a mage knight." Their eyes get starry as they repeat after her, "Mage~Knight!"
Twenny chuckles at the sight, "You guys are easily impressed. Mage knight is a knight who uses magic though different from how mages use theirs. Let me finish up inside so we can begin with the lesson. So, Akua my name is Twenny Alcore. You should fantasize about being a mage knight." She points to Flint, "Start practicing." Twenny goes back into the house leaving the 2.
Flint sits down and starts to activate skills while observing how EP flows through his body, Akua….. has her head in the clouds.