"Let's go, big brother."
Hiyori's small hand gripped mine, pulling me across the training yard with a confidence that belied her six years. When I looked at her face, I froze. She was wearing the most wicked grin I had ever seen.
A grin that promised intensity, focus and trouble.
Ever since we had turned six, our parents had been more attentive than usual. Guards patrolled the grounds with meticulous precision, servants whispered behind closed doors, and father's eyes never left us for long.
'I know what he's thinking,' I thought.
'Ensuring we're safe. That's all.'
Hiyori stopped abruptly and pointed ahead. "Here!"
We were in the training yard. Wooden dummies lined the edges, some split in half from previous exercises. Wooden swords were scattered across the ground. My stomach sank.
"Wait," I muttered. "You're not..."
She cut me off with a grin. "Trust me."
I frowned. And then I noticed it: a faint shimmer surrounding the yard. It was a barrier she had activated using one of the many advanced magic devices that where kept in store, forming a controlled field that isolated us from the outside world. I could still feel father and mother watching us, but the barrier ensured no one could intervene.
"You're serious about this," I said.
"Yes. I know you want proper training," she replied, her grin widening. "And this is the best way to get it."
The barrier also encompassed others students and trainees from the estate, waiting in the ring. Hiyori had already arranged for them to participate, making the training realistic and challenging.
"You and me first," she said, tossing me a wooden sword. I barely caught it.
"You do realize we're six?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Yes," she replied calmly, stepping back, raising her sword with fluid familiarity, and pointing it directly at me. "Fight me."
A soft, measured clap echoed from the edge of the yard. I turned. Father and mother stood there, observing... but neither moved forward. They could see us, but the barrier prevented interference.
"So," Caelan said, voice even, "let's see how talented my children really are."
Lithia diresed. "What will I ever do with you?" She groans
Hiyori's eyes sparkled with anticipation. The moment the barrier activated, the training ring became our world. And suddenly, the fight I had wanted was here—but with stakes higher than I had imagined.
Hiyori crouched slightly, wooden sword poised, her grin never fading. I tightened my grip on my own, feeling the weight of it in my small hands. The ground beneath us was packed dirt, perfect for movement, and the faint scent of iron lingered in the air.
The other trainees in the ring watched with wide eyes, anticipating the clash of two six-year-olds who were… not ordinary. Their own wooden swords were ready, but none dared approach us. Hiyori and I were the centerpiece.
"Ready?" she asked, tilting her head, eyes gleaming with mischief.
I nodded, heart hammering. "Ready."
The moment I lunged, Hiyori sidestepped with uncanny speed, her tiny feet barely kicking up dust. She swung her sword in a wide arc, forcing me back. I barely parried, the wooden blade shuddering against mine.
'Her control… she's practiced,' I realized. Every movement was deliberate, precise. The barrier amplified the sound of wood striking wood, echoing like a drumbeat across the enclosed yard.
I tried to counterattack, pushing forward, but Hiyori's grin widened. "You're slow, big brother." She flicked her wrist, and I stumbled over my own feet. The air shimmered slightly around her hands — a faint trace of her magic device subtly enhancing her speed.
I scowled. I didn't want to fall behind. Summoning a fraction of the mana I had been absorbing all these years, I felt a warmth flow through my limbs. Strength surged, just enough to keep pace.
Hiyori's eyes flicked toward me, recognition flashing for a split second. She narrowed her gaze. "So you're finally using it."
I gritted my teeth, pushing harder. Our swords clashed again, sparks flying from the friction of wood against wood — or maybe that was just the sheer force behind it. I could hear the other trainees whispering, impressed and intimidated.
Then Hiyori did something unexpected. She leapt back, spinning in midair, her sword slicing a clean line through the air. The device she had activated pulsed slightly, enhancing her balance and agility. The barrier hummed faintly, containing every shred of energy we emitted.
I jumped too, trying to meet her midair strike. For a moment, we were suspended, two tiny shadows locked in combat. And then I realized: Hiyori wasn't just training me. She was pushing me to use the mana she had taught me to harness.
I focused, drawing the energy I had absorbed over the years into my grip. My sword glowed faintly, not with magic per se, but with the energy coursing through me. When we landed, I met her head-on, parrying a strike I wouldn't have even imagined being able to block a week ago.
Hiyori's grin faltered ever so slightly. She nodded once, approvingly. "Not bad. Keep going."
The clash continued, fast and relentless. Every swing, every step, every maneuver was a lesson — Hiyori teaching with precision, while I learned the limits of my own strength. The other trainees cheered silently from the edges of the barrier, unable to intervene but absorbing the spectacle.
Minutes passed, maybe hours. I wasn't sure. My small body ached, sweat mingling with dirt on my face. But still, I fought. Still, I learned. Hiyori pushed me beyond what I thought possible, and with every strike, I could feel the mana in my core responding, awakening further.
When she finally lowered her sword, breathless but still smiling, I staggered backward, holding mine defensively. "Big brother… you've improved," she said softly, almost seriously this time.
I nodded, exhausted but exhilarated. The fight wasn't over, not really. But for the first time, I understood the promise Hiyori had made: we would train together, grow together, and one day, we would become unstoppable.
And as the barrier hummed faintly around us, containing the aftermath of our first proper fight, I realized this was only the beginning.
We circled each other warily, wooden swords raised. My arms ached, my small body trembling, but I refused to yield. Hiyori's grin softened slightly, no longer malicious but intent — she wasn't trying to hurt me, she was trying to teach me.
She lunged again, this time slower, her movements deliberate. I met her strike, and for the first time, I felt my mana flowing smoothly, guiding my arms, steadying my stance. The barrier around us amplified every movement, but instead of panicking, I drew strength from it.
Hiyori tilted her head, eyes shining. "Good… you're feeling it now," she said quietly. Her wooden sword slashed, not at me but at the air beside me, signaling a feint. I caught it, reacting instinctively, a small smile tugging at my lips.
The fight continued, each strike a conversation, each block a lesson. I could feel the energy in my core synchronizing with my movements, my body remembering every surge, every controlled release. Sweat dripped from my brow, dirt smeared my face, and yet… I was learning faster than I ever imagined.
Finally, Hiyori lowered her sword, stepping back, breathing hard. "Enough," she said softly. Her small hand reached out, gripping mine. "Thank you, big brother. Really… sincerely. You didn't give up." Her eyes were honest, free from mischief, glowing with pride.
I blinked, surprised by the sincerity. "I… it was nothing," I muttered, my own exhaustion making my voice rough. But inside, I felt something stir — a warmth at having fought alongside her, not against her.
We exited the training yard, the barrier dissolving as soon as our feet crossed the threshold. The mansion loomed behind us, its familiar halls quiet in the evening light.
"Come on," Hiyori said, tugging me toward the dining hall. The aroma of freshly cooked food reached us first — roasted meat, simmering vegetables, bread still warm from the oven. Our parents sat at the long table, smiling as we entered.
I hesitated, then asked carefully, voice small but determined. "Mother… Father… may I train more? With Hiyori, and… maybe… in ways that push my mana further?"
Lithia looked up, curiosity flickering across her eyes, while Caelan leaned forward, interest piqued. "You want to expand your abilities… outside of play?" he asked.
I nodded, feeling the weight of my own ambition. "Yes. I want to get stronger. To control my mana… properly. And I want Hiyori to help me."
Hiyori's hand squeezed mine, her smile wide and encouraging. "Then let's do it," she said softly. "Together."
The evening passed in warmth and laughter, but in the back of my mind, I could already feel the anticipation — the training ahead, the limits I would push, and the bond Hiyori and I would forge, stronger than any barrier.
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A/N: Sorry for the extremely sloppy chapter. Currently other thing have kept me busy and I found time to write but I needed to make haste with this one. And unfortunately I might not be able to write the 6th chapter next week. Sorry for the inconvenience.