Elias Leywin POV
The grass was cool beneath my bare feet. I curled my toes into the soil as I tried not to stare too obviously at Arthur. He stood a few paces away near the old oak tree at the edge of the Helstea's back garden. Sunlight broke through the branches, turning his hair almost golden.
Watching him like that, when he was quiet and focused, always made me smile. He looked so cool. I want to be cool like him.
"Elias," Arthur said, causing me to flinch. His eyes found mine. They were steady, like he could see through my head to everything swirling inside. "Are you Ready?"
I nodded hesitantly.
He motioned for me to sit cross-legged on the grass. "We'll start slow, like how we did yesterday. Feel the air, not with your hands, but with your core." He tapped his own chest.
I closed my eyes as he had instructed. The breeze caressed my cheek. leaves whispered around us.
"Be sure not to hold your breath," Arthur said softly. "Breathe in slowly. Try to feel the mana in the air mixing with your own as it flows through your veins down into your core."
I did as he said.
In.
Out.
Tiny threads of warmth drifted past my nose, sinking through my chest. They fizzed along my ribs like bubbles.
"Yes. That's it. Keep going," Arthur murmured.
I peeked, opening my right eye slightly and peering through my eyelashes. He was watching with a small smile tugging at his mouth.
Something snagged along the way to my core as my concentration waned. I tightened my eyes as, in response, I tried to pull more mana in. That had the opposite effect, causing the mana and the threads to unravel all at once.
"Ah!" I gasped, opening my eyes. My hand drifted to the right side of my chest.
I let out a groan as Art knelt in front of me. "Hey, hey. Easy. Don't force it. It's like coaxing a shy animal, you can't just grab at its tail."
"But you make it look easy."
His smile widened just a little. He ruffled my hair, ignoring my weak attempt to duck away. "That's because I've been doing it longer. And because I'm amazing."
I huffed out dismissively, which only made him laugh.
"Alright. Once more. Just feel it and invite it in. We have as much time as you need," he placed a hand on my shoulder and offered me a soft smile, "I'm not going anywhere."
Arthur stayed close until my breathing slowed again. When he was sure I was alright, he stood up and stepped back onto a patch of sun-dappled grass.
"Good," he said, nodding once, that calm teacher's voice back again. "You're getting the feel for it. Let's try something new."
I perked up immediately, wiping my palms on my trousers. "New?"
He smiled faintly and stepped back to a clear patch of grass. "Your mana is more unique than that of a normal person-"
"Because I'm a deviant."
"Yes, exactly." He smiled. "I'm glad you remember."
I nodded furiously at his praise.
"I want you to try inverting the process you have been doing. I want you to push out your mana so we can get a feel for what it can do."
I tilted my head.
"Oh, right... You wouldn't know how to do that..." He took a moment, he paced slightly before returning. "Close your eyes and imagine those brilliant Golden lights leaving you. Oh, and you should stand up and hold an arm out so you have an idea of where to gather it."
I climbed to my feet as my toes once again dug into the soft soil. A breath left me as I closed my eyes. Looking inwards, my core radiated a magnificent gold.
"I found it, Big Bro," I said with a smile.
"Focus on that sensation and commit it to your memory, before guiding it out of your body."
I extended an arm before me as I reached deep within me. I caressed the warmth and pulled across its light. Mana flowed from my core down my arm and towards my open palm.
"That's it..."
I opened my eyes at his words. Light emanated from my palm in a small sphere where arcs of mana erupted from its form.
"Wow... it's so-"
"Wait, Lias, don't-" My brother cut me off.
The mana grew wilder under my distraction. Its shape swelled, causing the arcs of plasma to grow more erratic.
"Release it, Lias!" he shouted at me.
"I-I don't know how." It continued to inflate, now standing nearly as tall as I stood.
"Just push it out of you!" he snatched my wrist and pointed it upwards.
The Golden sphere shot free from my grasp and sailed towards the heavens. For instance, this world gained a second sun as in the very next instant it imploded high above the floating city, illuminating the morning sky a myriad of colours.
"Art!" I whispered, my voice cracking as I fell onto the grass.
He laughed, his face beaming with pride and delight. He raised his hand to my head and ruffled my hair so roughly that my head bobbed forward. "That's it. See? You did it, I knew you could."
Arthur settled beside me, folding his arms behind his head. He turned to grin at me, his eyes shining in the dappled sunlight.
---
Just as the sun began to eclipse the horizon, I found Dad. The steady thock of wood being axed filled the air. I lingered near the garden's side entrance as I watched him hammer down on each log.
I hugged the wall, my thumb picking at a loose thread on my sleeve.
'Just ask him. He won't laugh. He's Dad. Just say it, say it, say it.'
I stepped onto the cobbled path.
He stopped mid-swing as he looked over his shoulder at me. He slung his axe over his shoulder. "Lias," he said with a warm smile, "Is everything Okay? Lilia and Ellie aren't forcing you to play dress up again, are they?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "No, they've stopped doing that now since Art got here. I just... um. Wanted to watch."
He turned back to the log he had set and brought the axe down one more time, where he then leaned it against the chopping block. A thin line of sweat ran along his temple as he turned to face me, wiping his hands on his trousers.
"I see," he said, looking at me as he sat on the large stump. "I didn't think I'd see you after your training with Art today. Did you wear yourself out already?" he asked with genuine concern.
I shrugged, suddenly unable to meet his eyes. My fingers fiddled with the hem of my shirt, twisting the fabric tighter.
"I... I came here because I wanted to ask something."
He raised a brow, his smirk growing wider. "Go on then."
The words tangled in my throat.
"Since Art is teaching me Magic, I was wondering, since you taught him how to use a sword, you could maybe... that you would teach me how to use a sword?"
I kept my head down, bracing myself. Not that I thought he would laugh, but maybe he would say I was not ready. Or that I was too young. Or that he had no time.
"You want me to teach you?" he barked out with a laugh
I looked up quickly. His eyes were wide, and his mouth hung open.
"Uh... y-yeah?"
His face broke into the widest grin I had ever seen on him.
"You want me, not your Brother, to teach you?" he asked, almost repeating himself.
"Y-yes..."
He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a big, bright laugh. "You serious?"
I nodded, blinking. "I think so."
He laughed again, rubbing the back of his neck. "Of course you are. You wouldn't ask otherwise. And here I thought none of my boys would need me to train them."
He reached over, clapped a hand on my shoulder, and squeezed it so firmly I nearly tipped forward.
"Wait here." He said as he strode off to the shed like a man on a mission.
I stood frozen, still stunned by how happy he looked. I don't think I had ever seen him move that fast, except when Art came home.
A few moments later, he came back holding a short wooden sword. It was a little nicked along the blade's length, but the handle looked solid, wrapped in old leather. He held it out to me like I was a dog and this was a bone.
"Go on, take it."
I did, taking the short wooden blade that was obviously designed for a child in hand. It was heavier than I expected. The weight sat low in my hands.
Dad stepped back, motioning me into the dirt patch where he usually practised by himself.
"Careful there! It's heavier than it looks, eh?" he said, his lips still cracking a smile.
I straightened up fast, gripping it tight so I wouldn't drop it. My fingers ached already, but I didn't dare complain.
Dad circled me once, muttering to himself with a goofy smile plastered on his face. He tapped my ankles with his boot, guiding my feet apart.
"Right foot forward a bit. Left foot back, angle it so your toes point out. Knees bent not too stiff, not too loose. Think of a tree, its roots, its feet, are steady, but its branches, its arms, are ready to sway."
I did my best to follow, though my legs wobbled every time he nudged me. The sword dipped toward the dirt. Dad caught the tip with two fingers and lifted it back up.
"Always hold the point high. Even a blunt edge is dangerous and can break noses if you do it right." He held a finger high before, in a panic, he added, "or mess up, don't tell your mother I said that."
"O-okay," I said awkwardly.
"Alright, Lias." He exhaled. "The First swing I want you to do is from over your shoulder and down past the opposite hip, in one nice and smooth movement. Don't use too much force, just control the sword's momentum, whilst using your shoulders and hips too to control its fall."
I sucked in a breath, lifted the sword over my right shoulder, and swung. It sliced through the air with a weak whoosh and nearly dragged me forward with it.
"Relax your grip just a bit. You want to control it, not choke it out. Otherwise, you'll wear your arms out in two minutes flat."
I nodded again.
He stepped around behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders to guide my stance.
---
I sat cross-legged on the soft rug in the living room, trying not to tug at the collar of my nicest shirt. Mum had already combed my hair three times that morning, but I could still feel a stubborn strand standing on end.
Arthur was by the window, pacing like he always did when he was too excited to stand still. Every few steps, he would peek outside, then turn back with a grin that made him look so sure of himself.
Across the room, Mum was fixing Ellie's ribbon for the third time. My sister giggled and batted at Mum's hands, which made the bow come undone again.
Dad's voice boomed from the upstairs landing. He was laughing about something from his adventuring days with Uncle Vincent, who was clearly amused by whatever my father was telling him in his story.
Sylvie was curled like a little black loaf by my hip. She lifted her head once to look at Arthur pacing, where she subsequently huffed and went back to sleep. I reached out and rubbed between the tiny horns, causing the little cat to let out a slight purr.
"Arthur?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I tugged at the cuff of my sleeve again. "Where... where are we going?"
He turned, a grin on his face that made him look so sure of himself. "We're going to the Tenth anniversary auction at Uncle Vincent's auction house, remember?"
"Ah," I said as a loud knock rattled the door, causing me to flinch so hard my knees bumped my chin.
Art let out a slight laugh at my expense as he made his way towards the door.
"I'll get it!" he called out as he left the living room.
"Who's ther-OOF!" Arthur's voice squeaked out of him as he was abruptly muffled.
I leaned forward on my knees as I was able to peek through the doorway. A woman with long blonde hair hugged Arthur so hard his feet lifted off the ground. Her shoulders shook as she cried into his hair.
"Oh my goodness! You were alive! Look how big you've gotten! I'm so sorry, I couldn't protect you! I'm so glad you're alive!"
Arthur's arms flailed helplessly at his sides as she continued to hold him tightly to her chest. "Mmfph! Mmmfph!"
A big man standing behind her, so broad he almost blocked the front door, let out a deep and gentle chuckle. "He won't be if you keep that up, Angela, I don't think he can breathe..."
The blonde lady, Angela, gasped and set Arthur down as if he were made of glass.
"It's really good to see you again!" Arthur coughed as he rubbed the back of his neck.
I sank lower onto my elbows as the big man stepped past her and clapped a huge hand on Arthur's shoulder. His eyes crinkled up, as if he might cry.
"Hey, who's this little fellow?" he asked, pointing at me with a curled up Sylvie on my lap.
Arthur grinned and gestured an arm out towards me. "You don't remember? This is my little brother, Elias."
"Ah, how could I forget?" The big man crouched and offered a hand down to me.
I set my brother's bond down where I had sat and hesitantly made my way towards the friendly giant.
'Please don't eat me, please don't...'
Up close, I saw his eyes were kind. He patted my head so gently that I almost forgot to flinch.
"Nice to meet you, Elias. You've gotten so tall." He smiled. "You look just like your Father, whether that's for better or worse is up to you."
'Worse'
Behind him, a man with messy crimson hair and a sly grin pushed forward and flicked Arthur's ear. "Yo brat! Do you know how worried we were? Vanishing like that! Ha!"
I stared at him. He laughed so loud my ears rang.
A woman with shiny black hair and sharp eyes came close. She carried a bow on her back and a quiver at her hip. She knelt right in front of me, her eyes sparkling
She stroked my hair in the same way the gentle giant had. "Last time I saw you, you were a baby in your mother's arms. Hm... You're going to be a Handsome one, I can tell, just like your big brother." She pinched my cheek slightly, then winked at Arthur before standing back up.
I just nodded in confusion as it felt like the right thing to do, my cheeks flushing red at her words.
'What is this beautiful lady on about...'
A soft sound made me look up. Another lady stood near Arthur now. She had a long, sleek ponytail of dark hair. She didn't say anything; she just embraced my brother, pulling him into her shoulder.
Arthur patted her head, like he did to Ellie whenever she cried. The dark-haired lady pulled away fast, her face red like a tomato. She bowed her head quickly and stepped behind the big man again.
Sylvie decided she was curious enough now at the sudden ruckus that had awakened her from her slumber. She crawled out of the living room into the hallway. She stretched, then hopped onto Arthur's shoulder with a flick of her tail.
The messy-haired man let out a high-pitched shriek at the sight of Sylvie climbing up upon her master. "WHAT is that?!"
Arthur let out a laugh as he began scratching Sylvie's chin. "This is my bond, her name is Sylvie."
The man practically howled, clutching his hair. "A bond already?! Lucky brat! I've been trying to find one for years!"
I hid a giggle as Sylvie flicked her tail proudly.
A loud thump came from the stairs. Dad appeared, still wearing his guard uniform, a grin splitting his face in two. He strode down and pulled the big man into a back-slapping hug.
"Look at you lot! It's been way too long!" Dad's laughter boomed through the room.
Mum came behind him, leading Ellie by the hand. Ellie peeked out, her eyes wide at all the strangers.
"Oh my goodness!" the blonde lady cried again, rushing at Mum this time. "Alice! Your daughter, she's a little you!"
Ellie squeaked and hid behind Mum's skirt.
---
Hello everyone, Rius here,
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. See you tomorrow for Chapter 7.
Thank you to Lancelot Dragonroad for beta-reading and editing.
Rius Out.