Kazu wakes to the soft, rhythmic breathing of Anna, still deeply asleep and nestled against him. The early morning light filters through the curtains, casting a gentle golden glow across her peaceful face. He leans down, his lips brushing her forehead in a tender kiss, and whispers, "Good morning, beautiful. Welcome to tomorrow."
Anna, still hovering between sleep and wakefulness, mumbles incoherently, "Beautiful to you morrow too… what? wait… I mean… Good morning… to you, too." Her words are a drowsy, endearing jumble that makes Kazu chuckle softly.
"Wake yourself up, and I'll get the twins," he says, his voice warm with affection. Anna nods, her eyes still heavy with sleep.
As Kazu moves to the twins' rooms, he suddenly realizes he's forgotten to put on his shorts. The morning's casual intimacy and the upcoming family bath make him shrug off his nudity. He enters Felix's room, gently rousing the boy, then moves to Felina's room. The moment he opens her door, Felina, in her eagerness to wake her brother, collides with Kazu. She bounces off his bare stomach and lands on the floor with a small, surprised yelp.
Immediately, Kazu is by her side, his large hands carefully brushing away imaginary dust, helping her up and thoroughly checking her for injuries. Apart from a slight pinkness on her tiny bottom, she appears unharmed. Her resilience and quick recovery bring a relieved smile to his face.
The trio makes their way back to Kazu's room, where they encounter Lina at the top of the stairs. She stands frozen, arms laden with neatly folded towels, her mouth agape in a mixture of shock and embarrassment. The sight of Kazu's unclothed state has rendered her momentarily speechless.
"Good morning, Lina. Are you okay this morning? You look like you saw a ghost," Kazu says casually, suddenly remembering his state of undress. With characteristic nonchalance, he adds, "Ummm… We are heading to bathe. If you want to, you can join us… We are all family here."
Lina struggles to regain her composure, her cheeks burning crimson. She manages to meet Kazu's eyes, her words tumbling out in a nervous rush. "Thank you, sir. Maybe next time, not that I don't want to, I just have a lot to do this morning. Enjoy. Bye." She hastily hands the towels to Felix and scurries downstairs, stealing glances back at Kazu with each step, her blush deepening with every backward look.
The bathroom becomes a scene of familial chaos, with the twins animatedly recounting their encounter with Lina. Anna can't resist teasing Kazu about "traumatizing the poor maid," her laughter echoing off the tiled walls. Their playful banter is interrupted only when the twins begin asking questions that Anna is decidedly not prepared to answer.
A sharp knocking from downstairs breaks their bathtime revelry. Peering through the windows into the foyer, Kazu announces, "Looks like Tara is here. I guess it's time to get out of the bath and get ready for the day."
As Kazu enters his room, Tara bursts in mid-sentence, "Are you ready to lear… Woah, mama…" She whirls around, stammering, "Sorry, Kazu, I didn't mean to see your… you… ummm… wow… yeah… let me… leave… so you can… get dressed."
Kazu's sardonic humor rises to the occasion. "Is every woman I know going to see me naked today? I guess I should just call Rask in here to finish the set," he says with a laugh that dies abruptly as Rask enters, declaring, "Ma'am, you can't just run up here. This is the master's roo…m…" Her words trail off as she takes in the scene. Lina, attempting to prevent their entry, hovers behind Rask, adding to the comical tableau.
"Game, set, match…" Kazu says, his sardonic laughter echoing through the room, a mixture of amusement and mild exasperation dancing in his eyes. "Anyone want to take a good look while we are all here?"
Tara, caught between embarrassment and unexpected curiosity, begins to reply, "Well, since you are offering, I'll…" But before she can complete her thought, Lina swiftly intervenes, grabbing Tara and Rask by their arms and pulling them out of the room. Tara cranes her neck, continuously looking over her shoulder with a blend of shock and reluctant fascination as she is forcibly extracted.
Anna, still draped in a crisp white towel that clings to her damp skin, can't contain her mirth. Her laughter bubbles up, rich and uninhibited, at the absurd scene unfolding before her. The twins, their young minds untainted by social conventions, tilt their heads in genuine confusion, unable to comprehend why everyone is making such a fuss.
Stepping closer to Kazu, Anna's eyes sparkle with playful curiosity. "Why are you not embarrassed?" she asks, her voice a mixture of amusement and genuine wonder. "Almost everyone you know has seen you undressed at this point, and yet you do not seem affected at all."
Kazu's smile is warm and confident, a reflection of his unshakeable self-assurance. "Why should I be embarrassed?" he responds, his tone matter-of-fact. "I am comfortable with how I look, and everyone here is someone I trust and care about. You are all Family now… Get used to it."
Felina, moved by his words, rushes forward and wraps her small arms around him in a tight hug. "Y lyke how you look too, don't change..." she chirps, her childish pronunciation endearing. "Well, you can get dressed, just don't change... as a person." A giggle escapes her lips, pure and infectious.
With a tenderness that speaks volumes, Kazu lifts Felina, enveloping her in a warm embrace and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Go and get dressed, kitten," he murmurs. "Those who want to try to learn earth magic, meet Tara and me in the backyard in 10 minutes." Setting her down, he watches as the twins scamper out, their excitement palpable.
Anna drops her towel into the laundry basket with practiced ease, then moves to the dresser she has claimed as her own, selecting her clothing for the day with casual grace.
Minutes later, they descend the stairs together, their footsteps synchronizing. As they reach the first floor, a low murmur of female voices drifts from the living room. Anna, intuitive and playful, places a finger to her lips and signals Kazu to stay silent, a mischievous glint in her eye.
The three in the room were engaged in a hushed, conspiratorial conversation about Kazu, their voices tinged with a mixture of admiration and disbelief. "Okay, I know… I didn't mean to barge into his room while he was undressed, but damn, he was not just fit—he was absolutely sculpted. He could probably carry everyone in this house all day and not even break a sweat. But what surprised me was his..." Their intimate gossip was abruptly cut short by the thundering footsteps of the twins racing down the stairs, their childish energy shattering the private moment.
Anna and Kazu enter the living room, the twins bouncing energetically behind them, their earlier whispered conversation hanging unfinished in the air. A playful, knowing smirk dances across Kazu's lips as he turns to Tara. "Are you ready to come with me so we can do it?" he asks, his tone laden with intentional ambiguity.
Tara's cheeks flush a deep crimson, her composure momentarily scattered. "Do what? Oh, earth magic… the reason I came by. This time," she stammers, both flustered and eager.
Kazu and Tara lead the impromptu procession to the backyard, with the rest of the household trailing behind like an expectant audience. Once safely away from the house, Kazu addresses the group, his voice clear and instructive. "Today, Tara is going to teach me earth magic. You are all welcome to quietly watch, and if you want to learn, we can work on that afterward."
To his surprise, earth magic proves remarkably similar to the metal manipulation magic he had previously taught himself. The techniques flow naturally, almost intuitively, making the learning process seamless. Reciprocating the knowledge, Kazu demonstrates metal magic to Tara, who absorbs the skill with impressive quickness.
Two hours of intense magical training pass, revealing varying levels of aptitude among the group. Anna, Tara, and Rask emerge as the most skilled practitioners, their magical energies responsive and controlled. Felix shows a natural talent for metal magic but struggles with the nuanced techniques of earth manipulation. Lina manages both magics, though her execution remains somewhat clumsy and uncertain.
Felina, however, stands apart—her magical attempts yielding nothing. The frustration and disappointment etched on her small face threaten to dissolve into tears. Recognizing her distress, Kazu gently draws her aside, his approach compassionate and patient.
"When we were showing you the magic energy flow, could you feel it?" Kazu asks, his voice soft and encouraging.
"Yes, Y can feel yt," Felina responds, her childish pronunciation revealing her emotional vulnerability, "but Y could not match yt."
"Try to flow your magic in your hands so I can feel it," Kazu instructs, his tone a blend of gentleness and professional curiosity. "I want to see if I can figure out what types you can use."
As Felina gently placed her small hands on Kazu's, a soft, almost imperceptible energy began to flow between them. Kazu closed his eyes, concentrating deeply on the intricate currents of magical essence swirling beneath her skin. Minutes passed, the backyard growing quiet save for the subtle vibration of magical potential.
Suddenly, Kazu's eyes snapped open, a mixture of surprise and intrigue dancing across his features. "Well," he said, his voice thoughtful, "you cannot use elemental magics. Instead, you seem to possess a far rarer and more extraordinary magical affinity. Your energy signature suggests you are a beast tamer and summoner - magical disciplines that are incredibly uncommon and powerful."
Felina's eyes widened with childlike wonder. "What are those? Y've never heard of eyther," she lisped, her curiosity palpable. Turning toward the group standing five meters away, she loudly queried, "Have any of you heard of a beast tamer or summoner?"
Tara, her brow furrowed in concentration, was the only one who offered insight. "I once heard about a guy who could command birds and small animals to do his bidding. Is it something like that?"
Kazu's explanation was rich with detail and excitement. "That's merely the most basic manifestation of such magic. As a beast tamer, you can not only command animals, but you'll develop the ability to see through their eyes, communicate telepathically, and forge deep, almost symbiotic bonds. The potential grows exponentially with your strength. Imagine if you became powerful enough, you could potentially tame something as magnificent and terrifying as a dragon. And that's not even touching on your summoner abilities - the power to call forth mythical creatures. The most skilled summoners can even invoke celestial beings like angels to fight alongside them."
"What's an angel?" Anna inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Kazu's response was contemplative, drawing from some distant memory. "An angel, if my understanding is correct, is a divine, ethereal being in service to a higher celestial power. They are renowned for their extraordinary protective magic and their capacity to unleash wide-area attacks of immense power. With sufficient training and the right summons, Felina could potentially become a one-person defensive force capable of protecting an entire capital city."
Overcome with maternal pride, Anna swept Felina into a tight embrace. "I knew you were going to make us proud," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Felina, ever pragmatic despite her youth, giggled and responded, "Y styll need to learn yt and get stronger."
Releasing her, Anna smiled warmly. "We'll help you any way we can. Well, most likely Kazu will guide your training, but I'll be your biggest supporter."
Kazu turns to his companions, his voice calm and deliberate. "Rask and I will wait for the builder to arrive. The rest of you can practice your magic or explore as you wish. I'll be experimenting with earth magic to prepare a foundation for our new smelter and forge."
Rask, Felix, and Tara exchanged intrigued glances before deciding to stay close and observe. Felina's eyes light up with childlike excitement as she darts towards the orchard, her small frame weaving between the fruit trees in search of potential animal companions to practice her newfound magical abilities. Anna, ever protective and supportive, follows the young Felisneko, keeping a watchful eye while offering gentle encouragement. Lina, practical as always, retreats into the house to continue her daily household tasks.
Kazu approaches the designated building site with a purposeful stride, his entire demeanor focused and intent. Dropping to his knees, he places both palms flat against the earth, closing his eyes in deep concentration. The ground beneath his hands begins to ripple and shift, as if alive and responsive to his magical touch. Loose soil flows like a liquid wave, methodically clearing the building's footprint and revealing the solid granite bedrock four meters beneath the surface.
A subtle tremor passes through the ground, almost imperceptible yet unmistakably controlled. The granite slab begins to rise, responding to Kazu's magical manipulation with an almost organic fluidity. Displaced earth repositions itself strategically, creating a stable foundation as the massive stone settles. With precise, measured movements, Kazu adjusts the slab's position, raising it partially above ground level while maintaining perfect balance and alignment.
When Kazu finally stands, surveying his handiwork, he finds the builder and Rask watching in stunned silence. Breaking the moment with a warm, disarming smile, he extends his hand. "Hello, I don't believe we've met. I'm Kazu."
Va'mel, the builder, recovers from his astonishment and clasps Kazu's hand, his expression a mixture of professional admiration and barely concealed wonder. "What you've just done would typically take my team three full days of backbreaking labor! Can I hire you to handle foundations for all our future projects?"
Kazu chuckles, his response pragmatic yet generous. "If my schedule permits, I'd be happy to help. Better yet, I could teach an earth magic user on your team how to accomplish this themselves. It's a skill that could revolutionize your construction methods."
The discussion with Va'mel, the builder, was a meticulous affair. They pored over architectural sketches, discussing the intricacies of the proposed structure—its dimensions, material requirements, and potential challenges. Va'mel's weathered hands traced lines on the parchment, his expert eye catching nuances that would escape a less experienced builder. After an hour of deliberation, they reached a mutually satisfactory agreement, with Kazu's innovative earth magic techniques significantly reducing the projected labor and time costs.
As they concluded their meeting and prepared to see off the builder and Tara, two wagons rumbled through the estate's front gate. The wagons creaked and swayed, filled with gleaming metal sheets and ingots. The delivery team, seasoned workers with sun-weathered skin and calloused hands, efficiently unloaded the materials under Kazu's precise instructions. The metal was meticulously arranged in the work shed, each piece sorted by type and potential use.
By the time the last wagon wheel rolled away and the dust settled, the golden light of sunset painted the sky in warm hues. Kazu and Rask walked back to the house, their conversation a low murmur of reflections on the day's accomplishments.
Inside, the living room buzzed with animated chatter. Felina, her eyes sparkling with excitement, regaled her brother with the tale of her magical breakthrough—how she had coaxed a curious squirrel closer and, with newfound confidence, convinced it to fetch a ripe fruit from the highest branches of a nearby tree. Nearby, Anna and Lina were engaged in a hushed conversation, their glances occasionally darting toward Kazu.
As Kazu entered, his presence seemed to fill the room. "Lina," he called, his voice warm and inclusive, "I need your help."
Lina's cheeks flushed a delicate pink. "Yes, sir. How can I help you, master?"
Kazu's gentle smile softened her formality. "You are family now. It's just Kazu. I'm incredibly proud of everyone's efforts today. Let's make a special dinner together. Felina, you're joining us too."
The kitchen became a canvas of culinary creativity. Ingredients were a treasure trove—aromatic dried spices, soft flour, vibrant fruits and vegetables, various baking powders, fresh eggs, hearty potatoes, and three plump chickens. It was then that Kazu realized the absence of modern refrigeration, a stark reminder of the world's technological differences.
Ramen would be their feast. With practiced hands, he mixed kansui, flour, salt, and water, transforming simple ingredients into a complex dance of textures. Lina and Felina watched, captivated, as Kazu's fingers worked the dough—flowering, twisting, folding with a rhythm that spoke of countless practiced movements. The noodles took shape, each strand a testament to his skill.
While Lina prepared the chicken with growing confidence, Kazu seamlessly shifted into a teaching role. Felina observed intently, her young mind absorbing every detail. In a moment of creative inspiration, Kazu crafted chopsticks from worn wooden spoons, breathing new life into discarded tools.
The kitchen became a classroom, a playground of culinary knowledge, with Kazu as the master and his eager students hanging on his every word and movement.
The kitchen erupted with anticipation as the rich, savory aroma of freshly prepared ramen wafted through the house. Like a culinary siren's call, the scent drew everyone from their various activities, converging in the dining room with barely contained excitement. Lina, her movements precise and practiced, carefully arranged the steaming trays of ramen, each bowl a work of art with its carefully layered ingredients. She methodically set out utensils, placing a fork and spoon at each setting with meticulous care.
Kazu followed behind her, his hands moving with practiced grace as he positioned elegant wooden chopsticks beside each bowl, their surfaces smooth from his careful whittling. The family gathered around the table, their eyes fixed on Kazu with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.
With practiced ease, Kazu demonstrated the delicate art of using chopsticks, his fingers moving with fluid precision. The others watched intently, mimicking his movements with varying degrees of success. Felix's chopsticks clattered awkwardly, sending a noodle sliding back into his bowl, while Felina's tiny hands gripped her utensils with adorable determination. Anna chuckled softly, her attempts both endearing and clumsy.
Kazu's patient explanations turned the meal into an impromptu cultural lesson, his voice warm and encouraging as he guided each family member through the nuanced technique. Gradually, laughter replaced initial frustration, and the dining room filled with the sounds of slurping noodles and shared joy.
As the evening wound down, the day's magical exertions caught up with them. One by one, they retreated to their rooms, muscles pleasantly tired and spirits lifted. On the second floor, Rask and Lina completed their evening routines before retiring to their respective rooms. Anna and Kazu's bedroom became a cocoon of warmth and intimacy, her body molding against his, her hand tracing gentle circles on his chest as they drifted into a peaceful, contented sleep.