Chapter 21 - For Them (1/2)

Chapter 21: For Them

LILIA HELSTEA’S POV:

I’m shopping with Mommy and Lady Alice and Ellie. Ellie seems a little bit disappointed that her brother didn’t want to join us so I’m holding her hand to comfort her.

“Hey Ellie. Do you like your big brother that much?”

“En! But he’s a meanie for not shopping with us. I wanted to dress him up more.” She just pouts.

“Do you like me better or your big brother?”

She just says, “Umm…I like both!”

“Kukuku. Lilia, what are you asking Ellie?” My mom asks, pulling my other hand.

She continues, “Lilia, what do you think of Arthur?”

“Uuu he’s a little scary. How is he so strong Mommy? I thought kids like us couldn’t be mages until we’re all grown up?” It wasn’t fair. I’ve always dreamt of becoming a mage and making Mommy and Papa happy.

My mom looks at Lady Alice, “I guess it’s because he’s a very gifted child. But Alice, do you really have no problems with everything he told you? I don’t mean to b.u.t.t in on your parenting but doesn’t it just seem a little too weird? How did he get so powerful during this time? You’ve told me that he was pretty good at fighting even before the bandit attack.”

I see Lady Alice just shake her head. “Of course I know he’s hiding a lot of things. He probably doesn’t know but it’s pretty obvious when he’s lying. He tends to focus his gaze on one point and his voice turns monotone when he lies. It’s pretty cute how he thinks he’s being sneaky actually. ‘Sigh’, Tabitha, I know he’s keeping things from us and so does Rey, but we agreed on giving him some s.p.a.ce until he’s comfortable enough to tell us himself. I guess that’s just what it means to be a parent. I know he doesn’t mean any harm so all we can do is just support him until he’s ready.”

“Lying is bad!” Little Ellie declares.

I just agree with her on that. “Yeah Ellie! Lying is bad!”

ARTHUR LEYWIN’S POV:

I start concentrating on my mana core. I’m getting too impatient with my training. I want to hurry up and get to the previous level in my past life but that isn’t happening as fast as I want it to.

The little fight with Director Goodsky made it all too real for me. I’m too inexperienced and weak. It didn’t really affect me until now, but I’m not used to fighting Conjurers. The fact that there were nothing like Conjurers in my previous world makes fighting one now a lot more difficult.

My concentration wavers while my mind flashes back to my past life. The scene on that foggy night when the orphanage’s head caretaker, the closest thing to a mother figure I had, was shot. I was still young at that time, but if I think back now, that was probably the reason I started training like a madman. Head mother was the one that picked me off the streets, giving me a steamed bun. After that, she took care of me, taught me how to read and write, scolded me and taught me manners.

I didn’t want to become a King; I just wanted vengeance. I just wanted to be strong enough to kill the ones responsible for the death of the person that took care of me… that loved me. It’s never as simple as that though. It turned out that the ones responsible for killing the orphanage head caretaker, along with other leader figures of the various orphanages, was the military from another country.

I realized that no matter how powerful an individual is he’s still just one person. I needed authority along with my power. Becoming a King then served its purpose. The first thing I did when I was appointed King was destroying that country. I bloodied my hands with the corpses of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and millions all together. The cruel thing, though, is that no matter what kind of revenge is taken, it doesn’t change what happened to her. She still died an unjust death.

This life was going to be different. I’m not going to let the ones I treasure suffer.

Sylvie nudges her wet nose at me, a concerned gaze fixed on my eyes. ‘I’m here, feel better’ is what she seemed to say to me.

Petting her head, I stir myself out of those d.a.m.nable memories.

I wash myself off, laughing at the crying Sylvie who still hates getting wet. I’m glad I had her by my side. It’s not healthy for me to be alone thinking by myself for too long.

Just on time, the girls get back from their shopping trip by the time I finished dressing up. I hop down the stairs to greet them.

“Hmph! Brother is a meanie!” My sister just puckers her lower lip with her arms crossed.

“Is it because I didn’t go shopping with you Ellie? I’m sorry.” I pat her turned head, which makes her tense her face as she forces herself to keep from smiling.

“How was shopping Mom, Lady Tabitha? Did you guys buy a lot of stuff?” I ask, my hand still on my sister’s head.

“We didn’t buy much, just a couple of new outfits for Ellie and Lilia.” My mother responds.

At this time, I hear footsteps storm into our direction. Vincent arrives next to us with an excited look on his face. His eyes are a little red and he has an uncontainable smile on his face.

“You guys are finally here!” He says picking up his daughter and kissing her cheek.

“Honey, why are you so fl.u.s.tered? Have you been crying? “What is going on?” Tabitha has a bewildered look on her face from confusion and worry. Vince does look a little crazy right now.

“You didn’t tell them yet Arthur?” He faces me, a smile still on his face.

Shaking my head, I chuckle, “I just got down as well. I was about to tell them.”

“Tell us what baby?” My mother has a look of concern as well. Mothers never liked not knowing what’s going on.

“I discussed with Mr. Vincent about teaching Ellie and Lilia mana manipulation starting today. Of course, only if Lady Tabitha is okay with it.”

Tabitha just shakes her head, looking at her husband. “W-wait, hold on. Is this some sort of prank? If it is, it’s not funny.”

“No ma’am. I know both you and Sir Vincent aren’t mages but it is possible for Lilia to become one.” I give her a stern gaze, indicating that I’m not joking.

“N-no way. I’ve never heard of a method for teaching someone mana manipulation. I’ve been taught that it’s up to the child’s innate talent to awaken by herself. Why haven’t I heard anyone else teaching kids then?”