As Yasu was gardening with his mother, he accidentally cut his finger while using a sickle. The sight of his blood made him a little uneasy, but before he could panic, his mother quickly came to his side, soothing him with a comforting tone of voice.
"It's alright," she reassured him, as she gently took his injured hand in hers. "This isn't serious, see?"
Placing her hand over his injured finger, a faint green light began to emit from her palm. Yasu watched in awe as the cut slowly started to close, the pain subsiding.
"What...what did you do?" Yasu asked, still in awe at the sight of his healing finger.
"It's just a little magic," his mother replied with a smile. "I have a talent for healing magic, passed down through our bloodline. It's a handy skill to have, especially when your father is constantly getting himself into trouble."
Yasu, still holding his now fully healed hand, looked up at his mother with a puzzled expression. "I thought you needed to recite incantations or chants to cast magic," he said, his curiosity piqued.
His mother chuckled softly, a warm smile playing on her lips. "Most mages do need that, yes," she explained. "But those from our bloodline have a special talent that allows us to cast certain spells without the need for incantations. It's a rare skill, passed down through the generations."
Yasu was impressed by his mother's abilities, and a small sense of pride swelled within him.
"So...I might have this skill too, right?" he asked, a glint of hope in his eyes.
His mother chuckled once more, her gaze growing affectionate.
"There's a good chance that you may have inherited this gift," she replied. "Only time will tell, but I have a feeling that you'll surprise us both."
Yasu's mind was buzzing with excitement at the possibility of inheriting his mother's magical abilities. He suddenly felt a sense of responsibility, as if he was destined for greatness.
However, before he could delve any further into these thoughts, his mother playfully tapped him on the forehead.
"Don't get too carried away now," she teased. "You're still too young to be thinking about destiny and greatness. For now, let's concentrate on finishing up this gardening, shall we?"
Yasu chuckled sheepishly, realizing that he had been getting ahead of himself.
"Right, right," he agreed, nodding slightly. "Gardening first, destiny second."
While Yasu worked side by side with his mother, his thoughts drifted to her incredible abilities once again. He thought to himself, "Kasumi Yamamoto, an A-rank prodigy mage with the ability to cast spells without a single chant or incantation. Her mana level is said to be twice as large as any ordinary adventurer. How could someone possess such power and still stay so humble?"
He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, her calm and graceful demeanor belying her incredible strength. There was something almost effortless about the way she moved, as if everything she did came naturally to her. It was both awe-inspiring and slightly intimidating, leaving Yasu with a mixture of admiration and unease.
"Amazing..." he muttered to himself, his eyes tracing the subtle glow of her mana, which seemed to surround her like an aura.
But his amazement was soon interrupted by the sound of his mother's gentle voice. "You're staring, you know," she said, a hint of amusement in her tone.
Yasu blushed slightly, realizing that he had been caught ogling. "Sorry, sorry," he quickly apologized, averting his gaze back to the plants.
Kasumi chuckled softly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"You're just like your father, you know that?" she said. "He used to stare at me the same way."
Yasu's cheeks flushed a little redder at the mention of his father, and he tried to play off his embarrassment with a shrug.
"I guess some things are just inherited," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.
Kasumi laughed gently, seeing right through his attempted nonchalance.
"You're growing up too fast," she murmured, reaching out to tousle his hair affectionately.
"One minute you were a little boy, and the next, you're almost taller than me."
Yasu couldn't help but grin at his mother's words, his earlier embarrassment melting away.
"I'm nearly 12 and went straight to towering over you," he teased, standing up a little straighter to emphasize his height.
The mother shook her head, a mixture of amusement and mock frustration in her eyes.
"Watch it, you're still 9. I might as well start calling you 'Giant-su' instead of Yasu from now on."
Yasu chuckled at the playful threat, enjoying their banter.
"Alright, alright, I'll behave," he promised, sticking out his tongue slightly.
He went back to his gardening, feeling oddly content in this moment. His mother's words and the familiar surroundings seemed to soothe his anxieties and doubts. In this peaceful bubble, surrounded by nature and his mother's comforting presence, everything felt right in the world.
Mean while during the daily training.
Yasu faced off against his father on a wide, open field, both of them armed with wooden swords.
The air was filled with the sounds of their clashing blades, each strike echoing against the silence of their training ground.
The father, with his muscular build and sharp eyes, lunged forward, aiming a well-timed attack at Yasu's left side.
But Yasu, agile and quick, effortlessly sidestepped the blow, his wooden sword countering with surprising speed.
Raeleanore smiled, his eyes filled with pride and admiration.
"You're getting faster," he remarked, stepping back to assess
The young boy's progress.
Yasu, slightly panting from the exertion, grinned. "And you're getting slower," he replied, his tone playful.
Raeleanore chuckled, a sly gleam in his eyes. "Cheeky, aren't you? You'll pay for that comment, son."
In the next moment, Raeleanore vanished from Yasu's sight, moving with lightning-fast speed.
Before Yasu could react, his father appeared behind him, longsword raised to strike.
The sound of the wooden blade cutting through the air was the only warning Yasu received before a powerful blow landed on his back, causing him to stumble forward.
"You need to stay vigilant," Raeleanore advised, stepping back once more. "Your opponent won't always attack you from the front. Learn to be aware of your surroundings and anticipate their every move."
Yasu nodded, rubbing his sore back slightly. He knew his father was right, but it was still a struggle to keep up with his incredible speed and accuracy.
"I know, I know," he muttered, regaining his balance. "It's just...you're fast. I can't even see you when you do that flash step thing."
"That's the point," Raeleanore replied, a hint of a smirk on his face.
"If I telegraphed my moves, you'd easily avoid them. The element of surprise is crucial. And besides, the flash step is a technique I mastered over many years of training. But it is prone to fatigue, especially after overuse. You'll get there one day, if you keep working on your speed and reaction time."
Yasu grimaced, feeling both determined and frustrated. "It feels like it'll take forever before I can match your level," he mumbled, his eyes narrowing in concentration as he gripped his wooden sword tightly.
"Easy for you to say, Rael. I've always been useless throughout my whole life." He expressed his thoughts as he thinks of his past life.
Raeleanore chuckled once more, noticing the boy's determination.
"Aethelgard wasn't built in a day, son. Greatness takes time and patience. You'll get there eventually, trust me."
Yasu's smirk widened, a newfound confidence swelling within him. "You can bet on it, Dad," he replied, his voice filled with determination. "I'll keep training, learning, and growing stronger every day. And one day...one day, I'll be the one standing above you."
Raeleanore raised an eyebrow, an approving glint in his eyes. "That's the spirit," he encouraged, adopting a defensive stance. "Keep that fire burning, and you might just surprise yourself. Let's test your limits, then."
As the two resumed their practice match, the sound of wooden blades clashing against each other echoed through the field once more, the father-son duo training relentlessly under the open sky.
Hours passed, and the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the training grounds in a warm, golden hue. Yasu, dripping with sweat and his body protesting, collapsed onto the ground with an exhausted grunt.
Raeleanore strolled over, grinning at the sight of his son's weary state. "Had enough?" he asked, amused at the boy's exhaustion.
Yasu nodded weakly, unable to form a coherent response. His breaths came out labored and shaky, muscles protesting every movement. "Yeah...I think..." he managed between breaths. "That's...enough, Dad."
Raeleanore chuckled, his gaze softening as he knelt beside the boy. "You did well today," he encouraged, gently ruffling Yasu's hair. "Better than yesterday, even. You're improving steadily."
Yasu managed a small smile, his chest swelling with a mixture of pride and exhaustion. Hearing his father's compliments, despite his current state, made the grueling hours of training feel worth it.
"I just...need a break," he muttered, shifting to sit up, albeit with some effort.
"My muscles...feel like noodles"
Raeleanore chuckled, understanding the boy's plight.
"That's normal. You pushed yourself hard today. Rest and recover, and you'll feel better tomorrow."
He extended a hand to help Yasu to his feet, supporting him as the boy unsteadily stood up. "Come on," he said gently. "Let's get you home and get some food in your stomach. You earned it."
With his father's help, Yasu slowly limped his way off the training field, his body screaming in protest with every step. He knew the soreness would hit him even harder tomorrow, but for now, the thought of food and rest was all that kept him going.
As they walked, Raeleanore wrapped an arm around his son's shoulders, keeping him steady. "You'll be sore tomorrow," he teased, nudging Yasu gently. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
"Yeah, I know," Yasu groaned, a mixture of pain and amusement in his voice. "You said that like a hundred times already."
He leaned against his father's side, grateful for the support. Despite the exhaustion and soreness, he couldn't shake the sense of accomplishment. He had pushed himself to new limits today, even though he was far from his father's level.
"Just making sure it sticks in your head," Raeleanore replied with a smirk.
"I don't need you complaining about not being able to get out of bed tomorrow morning."
The two continued their slow journey home, Yasu's exhaustion slowly being replaced by the anticipation of a hot meal and a comfortable bed.
While they were walking, Yasu glanced at the wall wondering what was lingering in the forest.