Elias Leywin POV
The grass felt cool against my bare feet. I curled my toes into it just to feel something solid, trying 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 turning his hair almost golden.
I liked watching him like this when he was quiet and focused. He looked so cool, like he was able to see and hear something the rest of us couldn't.
"Elias," Arthur said, and I flinched a little when his eyes found mine. They were steady, like he could see through my head to everything swirling inside. "Ready?"
I nodded. Sort of.
He motioned for me to sit cross-legged on the grass. "We'll start slow, like yesterday. Feel the air," he commands as he continues, "not with your hands, but with your core." He tapped his own chest, right over where I knew my mana core was, too.
I closed my eyes as my Big Bro instructed. The breeze touched my face. I could hear leaves whispering, and far away, the faint clink of porcelain from inside the house where Mama or a Maid was probably making tea.
"Don't hold your breath," Arthur said, voice softer now. "Breathe in. Slow. Try to feel the mana in the air mixing with your own as it flows through your veins down into your core."
I did what he said.
In.
Out.
For a moment, I felt... something. Tiny threads of warmth drifting 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, peering through my eyelashes. He was watching me with arms folded and a small smile tugging at his mouth.
My head felt floaty, though in a nice way, as if I could feel the world herself. Until it didn't.
Something snagged along the way to my core as if there was a knot in my belly. I frowned, trying to pull more mana in. Instead, it slipped sideways, and the threads unravelled all at once.
"Ah-!" I gasped, opening my eyes. My hand drifted to the right side of my chest.
It Hurts-
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 it."
I pouted, even though I knew I shouldn't. "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, which only made him laugh.
"Alright. Once more. Just feel it. Don't pull, invite it in. We have as much time as you need," he places a hand on my shoulder and offers 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. He crouched low, pressing his palm flat against the ground so I could see.
"Watch what I do closely." He looks to me for a moment before looking back at his hand. "Earth is patient. It won't jump when you shout at it, it's far too rigged. You almost have to listen to it first, before then asking it to let itself be shaped." He states before quickly adding, "Though that's due to your core not producing pure enough mana yet, once it does, it will obey any command you set it to, within reason, of course.
Under his hand, nothing happened at first. Then the soil cracked softly, lifting into a small, neat mound that pushed a smooth pebble up through the grass. Arthur lifted his hand, the mound hovering just below his palm as he does.
"Like this. Just feel the weight under you. Let your mana sink down and gather, and then tell, No command the ground to rise."
I nodded eagerly and scooted forward. I pressed my hand flat into the grass the same way as he had and closed my eyes. I breathed in deep, picturing the warmth from my core flowing down through my arm deep into the soil.
I pushed it down hard, willing the ground to move, to break open like his did.
Nothing happened.
All I felt was just the faint tingle of mana in my palm and a stubborn ache in my belly from the tensing of my core muscles.
I gritted my teeth and tried again, shoving harder with my mana.
Damn you stupid rocks...
I let out a groan as the same result persisted. My shoulders hunched, and my eyes stung a little, but I blinked it back.
Art crouched beside me again, voice soft but firm. "Hey, you're forcing it again. Remember what I said, Earth will listen and obey your commands, but only if you speak its language and give it a clear instruction."
I looked at him, frowning. "But I did what you did..."
He chuckled, brushing his thumb over the back of my hand to calm me. "No. You pushed. Watch."
He pressed his own palm down next to mine so close I could feel his warmth. His breathing slowed, long and deep, and I felt the calm weight settling under his hand.
"Feel the ground under you," he murmured, like he was telling me a secret. "Breathe your mana down, not too fast now, almost as if it's like the roots of a plant. Let it spread until the earth notices you. Then lift it."
I swallowed, squeezing my eyes shut again. This time, I copied his breathing exactly. In... out... soft, steady. I imagined the warmth drifting into the dirt, curling slowly under my hand like tiny roots searching for a stone.
A heartbeat later, something deep under my palm seemed to hum back at me. It felt heavy but gentle, offering a weird sense of calm. I held my breath, barely daring to peek.
I begin to hear a faint crackle. The grass trembled under my fingers, then a small bump lifted through the blades, cracking the soil like an egg hatching.
"Art!" I whispered, my voice cracking from how hard I was grinning.
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."
I flopped back into the grass with a breathless laugh, staring up at the sky that seemed bluer than ever.
Arthur settled beside me, folding his arms behind his head. He turned to grin at me, eyes shining in the dappled sunlight.
~~~
I found Papa out back behind the house, just as the sun started sinking behind the old stone wall. The steady thock of wood splitting filled the air, then a grunt, then another thock. I lingered near the doorway of the side yard, peeking around the corner. He was out by the stump again, chopping firewood with that usual calm, like each swing had its own rhythm. The late afternoon sun glinted off the edge of the axe as it came down, clean and solid.
I hugged the wall, thumb picking at a loose thread on my sleeve.
Just ask him. He won't laugh. He's Papa. Just say it, say it, say it-
I shifted from foot to foot on the packed dirt, toes curling in my slippers. He didn't look up at first. I wasn't even sure why I was so nervous. Maybe because it was Papa.
I stepped onto the path.
He didn't stop swinging, but I saw his ear twitch slightly as he turned his head to face me, slinging his axe over his shoulder.
"Lias," he said with a familiar warm smile, "Is everything Okay? Lilia and Ellie aren't forcing you to play dress up again, are they?"
I rubbed my hand against the back of my neck. "No, they've stopped doing that now, brother's here. I just... um. Wanted to watch Watching."
He brought the axe down one more time, 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 says, looking at me as he sits on the large log the axe is now resting on, "I didn't think I'd see you after your training with Art today. Did you wear yourself out already?" He says 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?"
There. Said it. Sort of.
I kept my head down, bracing myself. Not that I thought he'd laugh, but... maybe he'd say I wasn't ready. Or that I was too young. Or that there wasn't time.
The yard went quiet. A breeze rustled the drying herbs Mama had strung up by the kitchen window. I counted three heartbeats before he barked out a laugh that bounced off the garden walls.
"You want me to teach you?"
I looked up quickly. His eyes were wide, and his mouth hung open a little like I'd asked if I could ride to town on a wyvern.
"Uh... y-yeah?"
Then his face broke into the widest grin I'd ever seen on him
"You want me, not your Brother, to teach you?" he says, wanting confirmation of his delusions
"Y-yes..." I was confused by his tone.
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'd ever seen him move that fast outside of work or when Big Bro returned home.
A few moments later, he came back holding a short wooden sword. It was a little nicked, 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." He says, holding out to me.
I did taking the short wooden blade obviously designed for a child in hand. It was heavier than I expected. The weight sat low in my hands, solid and awkward all at once.
Papa stepped back, motioning me into the dirt patch where he usually practised by himself.
"Careful there! It's heavier than it looks, eh?" he says, his lips still cracking a smile.
I straightened up fast, gripping it tight so I wouldn't drop it and look like a baby. My fingers ached already, but I didn't dare complain.
Papa circled me once, muttering to himself with a goofy smile plastering his face. Then 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 I blinked. The sword dipped toward the dirt. Papa caught the tip with two fingers and lifted it back up.
"Hold that point high. Always. Even a blunt edge is dangerous and can, or rather will, break noses if you do it right, or mess up, don't tell your mother I said that."
He stepped back, hands on his hips, studying me like I was a riddle he was eager to solve.
"Alright, Lias." He says, exhaling, calming himself before he continues his instruction, "First swing. 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, use 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 sit cross-legged on the soft rug in the living room, trying not to tug at the itchy collar of my nicest shirt. Mama had already combed my hair three times this morning, but I could still feel a stubborn bit sticking up at the back.
Arthur was by the window again, pacing like he always did when he was too excited to stand still. Every few steps, he'd peek outside, then turn back with that grin that made him look so sure of himself.
Across the room, Mama was fixing Ellie's ribbon for the third time. My Twin sister giggled and batted at Mama's hands, which made the bow come undone again.
Papa'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, then 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. He didn't hear me at first, so 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 say as a loud knock rattles the door, causing me to flinch so hard my knees bumped my chin.
Art lets out a slight laugh at my expense as he makes 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 squeaks out, muffled.
I lean forward just enough to peek through the doorway. A woman with long blonde hair is hugging Arthur so hard his feet lift off the ground. Her shoulders shake as she cries 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 flap helplessly at his sides as she continues to hold him tightly to her chest. "Mmfph! Mmmfph!"
A big man standing behind her, so broad he almost blocks the front door, lets out a deep and gentle chuckle. "He won't be if you keep that up, Angela, I think he can't breathe..."
The blonde lady, Angela, gasps, "Eep! Sorry, sorry!" and sets Arthur down like he's made of glass.
Arthur coughs and rubs his neck but laughs, his smile bright as ever. "It's really good to see you again!"
I sink lower onto my elbows when the big man steps past her and claps a huge hand on Arthur's shoulder. His eyes crinkle up, like he might cry too.
Then he spots me, curled up with Sylvie, half hiding behind the living room door.
"Hey, who's this little fellow?" he says. His voice rumbles as he asks my Brother.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Sylvie lifts her head just enough to flick her ear at him.
Arthur grins at me and gestures. "This is my little brother, Elias."
The big man crouches and offers a hand down to me.
I hesitantly make my way towards the friendly Giant.
Please don't eat me, please don-
Up close, I see his eyes are kind. He pats my head so gently that I almost forget to flinch.
"Good to meet you, Elias. You look just like your Father, whether that's for better or worse is up to you."
Behind him, a man with messy Crimson hair and a sly grin pushes forward and flicks Arthur's ear. "Yo brat! Do you know how worried we were? Vanishing like that! Ha!"
I stare at him. He laughs so loud it makes my ears ring.
A woman with shiny black hair and sharp eyes comes close, she carries a big bow on her back, almost taller than me. She kneels right in front of me, her eyes twinkling.
"So this is Elias? Hm. You're going to be a Handsome one, just like your big brother." She pinches my cheek slightly, then winks at Arthur before standing back up.
I just nod in confusion as it feels like the right thing to do, as my cheeks flush red at her words.
What is this beautiful lady on about...
A soft sound makes me look up. Another lady stands near Arthur now; she has a long, sleek ponytail of dark hair. She doesn't say anything, just wraps her arms around Arthur's shoulders and hides her face against him. Her back trembles.
Arthur pats her head, like how he does to Ellie when she cries. The dark-haired lady pulls away fast, her face red like a tomato. She bows her head quickly and steps behind the big man again.
Sylvie decides she's curious enough now at the sudden ruckus that awakens her from her slumber, and she crawls out of the sitting room to the hallway. She stretches, then hops onto Arthur's shoulder with a flick of her tail.
The messy-haired man lets out a high-pitched shriek at seeing the creature? Climb up upon its master. "WHAT is that?!"
Arthur lets out a laugh as he begins scratching Sylvie's chin. "This is my bonded beast, her name is Sylvie."
The man practically howls, clutching his hair. "A bond already?! Lucky brat! I've been trying to find one for years!"
I hide a giggle as Sylvie flicks her tail proudly, like she knows they're jealous.
A loud thump comes from the stairs. Papa appears, still wearing his guard uniform, a grin splitting his face in two. He strides down and pulls the big man into a back-slapping hug so hard I hear the air whoosh out of him.
"Look at you lot! It's been way too long!" Papa's laughter booms through the room.
Mama comes behind him, leading Ellie by the hand. Ellie peeks out, eyes wide at all the strangers.
"Oh my goodness!" the blonde lady cries again, rushing at Mama this time. "Alice! Your daughter, she's just a little you!"
Ellie squeaks and hides behind Mama's skirt.
The black-haired lady peeks too, blinking once. "...Cute."
WC – 3309
Thanks for reading this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it. 😊
All Criticism and feedback are welcome. Any suggestions for the story or plot are also more than welcome.
Thank you all so much for hitting the 10 like goal on the last Chapter. I know it's only by a few Hours, but I hope you all enjoyed getting this chapter early.
I've finally run out of stored Chapters, so uploads might be slightly slower. I'll keep the like goal as extra motivation to ensure I don't slow down.
The next chapter is out at 10 Likes or Sunday.
Rius out.