The morning light streamed softly through the windows of Aiden's room, casting a warm, golden glow over his face as he stirred from his sleep. He blinked, groggy at first, but the sudden sound of a soft knock on his door brought him fully awake.
"Young master," came Greta's familiar, slightly nervous voice from the other side of the door. "Breakfast is ready. Shall we go to the dining hall?"
Aiden sat up, running a hand through his unruly hair, and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. As he opened the door, he was greeted by Greta's ever-dutiful figure, standing neatly with her hands clasped in front of her. The moment their eyes met, a faint blush bloomed across her cheeks.
"Good morning, young master," she murmured, lowering her gaze shyly. "Let's go to the dining hall for breakfast."
Aiden chuckled softly, her flustered demeanor always managing to amuse him. He stepped out, following her as they made their way down the hall. Like always, Aiden found his gaze drifting to Greta's back as she led the way. There was something endearing about the way she moved—modest, yet with an unconscious grace that caught his attention. Greta seemed to notice his gaze, as she glanced back briefly, her cheeks growing even redder. Though flustered, there was a hint of a small, pleased smile on her lips.
As they reached the dining hall, they found Fiona already seated, sipping tea with a relaxed air. She looked up as they entered, her lips curving into a teasing smile.
"Aiden," Fiona began, setting her cup down, "I just received a message this morning. My little twins will be arriving tomorrow."
"They are?" Aiden asked curiously, taking his seat at the table.
"Yes," Fiona said, her tone playful. "They're quite eager to meet you—the next young prodigy." She chuckled lightly, her sharp eyes observing Aiden's reaction.
Aiden smiled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Well, I'm also excited to meet someone my age, especially from the capital. It'll be nice interaction."
Fiona nodded approvingly as breakfast was served. The conversation turned to lighter topics as they ate, with Aiden growing more animated at the thought of meeting the twins. After finishing his meal, he stood up, brushing crumbs off his shirt.
"I'll be heading to the library," he said to Fiona, glancing at Greta, who was already waiting to accompany him.
As they walked down the corridor, Aiden found himself in an unusually good mood. An idea struck him, and a mischievous smile spread across his face. Quietly, he muttered a basic wind spell under his breath, creating a subtle updraft behind Greta as she walked ahead.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the corridor, lifting the hem of Greta's skirt.
"Kyaa!" she yelped, her hands flying down to hold her skirt in place as she blushed furiously, her head whipping around in confusion. "Where did that wind come from?"
Aiden trailed behind, his expression the picture of innocence, though his eyes sparkled with mischief. As she struggled to recover, he snuck a peek beneath the skirt and caught sight of a pink fabric. His smile widened.
"So, she likes pink," he mused silently, nodding to himself as if confirming a universal truth. "Just like all girls her age."
Greta turned back to him, still flustered. "I'm sorry for screaming like that, young master. The wind caught me off guard."
Aiden's grin turned into a reassuring smile. "It's fine, Greta. Strange things happen sometimes."
Her blush deepened as she noticed his amused expression, but she said nothing, quickly resuming their walk to the library.
Once inside, Aiden bid her farewell, a determined look replacing the mischievous glint in his eyes. The library was his sanctuary, a place where he could immerse himself in knowledge without interruption. Today, he had one goal in mind: mastering time magic.
Settling at a desk, he pulled out a tome on the subject, flipping through its pages with anticipation. "Let's try this again," he murmured to himself, determination lacing his voice.
From within his shard, he retrieved a golden seed, pressing it against his forehead. The seed dissolved into his skin, and immediately, a wave of clarity washed over him. Colors appeared sharper, sounds crisper, and most importantly, he could sense the flow of mana around him with newfound precision. Wasting no time, he dove into the tome, absorbing its teachings.
Hours passed unnoticed as Aiden practiced the incantations, his focus unbroken. Eventually, he began to chant a spell, his voice steady and rhythmic. As he completed the incantation, a strange sensation overtook him. The world around him seemed to slow, each movement drawn out as if time itself had been stretched thin.
Though he could perceive the slowed flow of time, he found himself unable to move within it. It was a strange, disorienting experience, but also exhilarating.
"So, it's just my perception that's affected," he thought, observing the sluggish motion of a falling bookmark. "Interesting."
The continuous use of the spell, however, drained his mana rapidly. His excitement was tempered by the growing strain, but he was thrilled to have succeeded in casting even a basic time magic spell.
At last, his mana reserves ran dry, and the golden seed's effects wore off. A sharp headache hit him, forcing him to lean back in his chair. "Here we go again," he muttered before collapsing unconscious.
From the shadows of the library, a figure watched him with unblinking golden eyes. Ciara, ever enigmatic, observed him silently before curling up for a nap, as if nothing of importance had occurred.
When Greta arrived later to check on him, she found Aiden slumped over the desk. Unlike the previous day, she didn't shout in alarm. Instead, she hurried to his side, gently checking to ensure he was unharmed. Satisfied that he was simply exhausted, she carefully lowered his head onto her lap, her fingers brushing his hair as she began to pat his head softly.
A shy smile spread across her face as she whispered to herself, "Young master always pushes himself too hard, doesn't he?"
When Aiden finally stirred, his eyes opened to the now-familiar sight of Greta's blushing face hovering above him.
"You really like doing this, don't you?" he teased, sitting up slowly. "Maybe next time I should try giving you a lap pillow instead. How does that sound?"
Greta's face turned scarlet as she averted her gaze, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "Th-that would be…" she mumbled under her breath before trailing off. Gathering herself, she stood up quickly, pretending she hadn't heard his suggestion. "Young master, it's lunch time. I came to call you."
Aiden chuckled, standing as well. "Alright, let's go."
On their way back to the dining hall, Aiden couldn't resist replaying his earlier prank, watching with amusement as Greta reacted with the same flustered surprise. Her awkward attempts to regain composure only made the scene more entertaining.
By the time they reached the dining hall, Aiden's mood was lighter than ever. Greta, despite her embarrassment, found herself smiling as well, secretly enjoying the young master's playful nature.
Though Aiden knew his time in the mansion was limited, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction. The day had been filled with progress, laughter, and just a hint of mischief—an unforgettable chapter in his journey.