Consciousness gradually returned, and Tike slowly opened his eyes.
Yesterday, Grammi dissuaded Aquarius, who wanted to lose her temper. Afterward, she not only kept Tike for dinner but also let him stay overnight.
Grammi had originally planned to prepare a guest room, but Tike stated that he could just sleep on the floor and immediately performed a "fall asleep upon hitting the ground" act.
Seeing that Grammi and her daughter were still sound asleep on the bed, Tike left the house quietly, preparing to do his daily morning exercises on the nearby mountain while it was still early.
Arriving at an open space in the mountains, Tike took a deep breath of the slightly cool morning air, feeling the unique tranquility of the mountain forest and the freshness of the vegetation.
In the next moment, his gaze sharpened suddenly, and his hands formed seals rapidly.
"Water-Make: Water Dragon!"
Water vapor condensed at a speed visible to the naked eye, instantly transforming into a majestic blue water dragon, roaring and galloping through the mountain forest.
Immediately after, Tike's hands flew, quickly forming new seals.
"Wood-Make: Wood Giant!"
The ground shook, and trees grew wildly, forming a huge wooden giant several zhang high, standing tall in the clearing.
As soon as the two behemoths created by magic appeared, they began a fierce grapple.
The agile blue water dragon swam swiftly around the wood giant, occasionally spurting high-pressure water jets from its mouth, impacting the wood giant's sturdy torso violently, making muffled puff puff sounds.
The huge wood giant continuously waved its massive arms made of thick tree trunks, whipping up gusts of wind, trying to crush the slippery water dragon.
After grappling for a while, the blue water dragon accelerated abruptly. Its entire body suddenly turned into a high-speed rotating water arrow, piercing through the wood giant's thick chest instantly, flying forward with undiminished momentum.
Just then, Tike suddenly glimpsed an old man with white hair and beard standing on the mountain path not far ahead.
"Danger!"
Tike's heart tightened. He hurriedly tried to forcibly control the water dragon to deviate its direction to avoid hurting the innocent.
However, the old man just calmly raised a finger and tapped lightly at the onrushing water dragon.
In the next second, the water dragon, which condensed a significant portion of Tike's magic power, dissipated into droplets of water vapor on the spot.
(My magic was nullified by him?)
Realizing the person before him was definitely not ordinary, Tike quickly ran to the old man, bowed respectfully, and apologized: "Grandpa, I didn't notice you were here just now! I'm really sorry!"
The old man stroked the snow-white long beard under his chin, wearing a kind smile on his face. He waved his hand, signaling Tike not to be so nervous.
"No harm done, this old man isn't that fragile. On the contrary, you, child, at such a young age, can master Maker Magic to this extent. This magical talent is outstanding even among the many young wizards this old man has seen."
"Can't compare to you at all."
This wasn't Tike being modest. He could feel the unfathomable magic power on the old man, even much stronger than Master Makarov whom he respected. He was considered the strongest human Tike had encountered so far.
"No need to belittle yourself. You are still young and have infinite possibilities in the future."
Pausing, the old man stroked his beard again and threw out an olive branch with a smile.
"This old man has somewhat of a reputation in this country. I wonder if you are interested in learning something with me?"
Tike shook his head and refused.
"Thank you very much for your kindness, but I can't stay in this place for too long. I have to return to Ishgar in a while."
"Oh?" The old man didn't show the slightest displeasure or disappointment, remaining kind and gentle. "You came from the Eastern Continent? Did you come here for a trip with your parents?"
"I came alone."
"Alone?" The old man frowned slightly. "Do your parents feel safe letting such a young child run to such a faraway place alone?"
"My father passed away before I was born. As for my mother..." Tike paused, images of Ur and Selene surfacing in his mind. "I left a letter for her. This isn't the first time I've run out by myself; she's used to it."
"..." The old man was silent for a while, looking at Tike with more pity in his eyes. "Since that's the case, how about this: during the time you stay here, learn some things with this old man until you want to return to Ishgar. How about it?"
"Uh..."
Tike hesitated.
He could smell the scent of strife and blood emanating from the old man, but compared to that, there was an even richer gentle aura on the old man, almost covering the scents above. Therefore, Tike felt a somewhat wondrous fondness for him.
Seeing Tike finding it hard to decide immediately, the old man didn't force it, just smiled faintly.
"No need to rush the decision. This old man will wait for you here for a day. If you change your mind or need anything, use this to contact me."
Saying this, he took out a communication lacrima from his wide sleeve and handed it to Tike.
Tike took the lacrima and responded, "I will consider it carefully. Thank you, Grandpa."
The two said no more and walked down the mountain together.
Just when both thought they would part ways at the foot of the mountain, they coincidentally walked in the same direction and finally stopped in front of the same door—it was exactly Grammi's slightly simple cottage on the street corner.
Tike couldn't help turning his head to look at the old man beside him, whose expression remained unchanged.
"Such a coincidence? You are coming here too, Grandpa?"
The old man nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the closed door.
"This old man is here to pick up little Bran and persuade the mother and daughter to move to the capital. The environment there is safer for them."
"Eh?" Tike's eyes widened suddenly, then he reacted. "Could you be the Grandpa August that Big Sis Bran mentioned yesterday, who is coming to pick her up today?"
"That's right, it is this old man." The old man, August, admitted frankly, then asked back, "What about you? What are you to their family? A relative?"
Tike shook his head and answered honestly, "No, nothing at all. I just came to bring a message to Aunt Grammi yesterday, accidentally disturbed them, troubled them for a night here, and thought about mooching another breakfast today before leaving."
"Mooching breakfast?"
August's expression couldn't help becoming somewhat peculiar.
(This child's focus is really somewhat unique.)
Seemingly unaware of August's subtle change in expression, Tike added with a trace of aftertaste, "Aunt Grammi's cooking is delicious! It has the taste of Mom!"
August was slightly stunned, then laughed: "Then this old man will have to be thick-skinned and join you in mooching a meal today."