By evening, the Takeda house had become unusually lively.
Warm lantern light glowed across the yard and through the windows of the house. The quiet street that normally saw little activity was now filled with the soft sound of voices, laughter, and clinking cups.
Aiko had clearly not been joking when she said she wanted to celebrate.
Several neighbors and a few of Haruto's closest colleagues had gathered inside the house. Most of them worked in the regional administration offices or the archives, people who had known Rei since he was a child.
Rei stood near the doorway, watching the scene with the expression of someone quietly questioning his life choices.
He hadn't even been home for a full day.
Yet somehow there was a party.
"You should smile a little."
Haruto said it while passing by him with two cups of drink.
Rei looked at him.
"Why."
"It's a celebration."
"I didn't ask for one."
Haruto laughed and handed one of the drinks to a guest walking past.
"Your mother did."
Rei looked across the room.
Aiko was currently surrounded by several women, happily talking while explaining something with dramatic hand gestures.
He sighed quietly.
This was not avoidable.
Across the room, Lumi stood awkwardly beside Aiko.
Earlier that evening, Aiko had insisted on giving her a dress to wear.
It was simple but elegant, light colored with soft fabric that moved gently whenever Lumi shifted her weight.
The women around them were talking enthusiastically.
"So you came all the way here with Rei?"
"That must have been exhausting."
"Did he at least help carry your things?"
Lumi nodded quietly.
"…Yes."
"Well that's surprising."
"He was always such a quiet boy."
Another woman smiled warmly.
"But he was very polite."
Aiko nodded proudly.
"He still is."
Lumi listened quietly while holding a small cup in both hands.
Most of the conversation flowed around her rather than through her.
She didn't mind.
It was easier that way.
A little later, Lumi stepped outside for some air.
The garden behind the house was quiet compared to the crowded rooms inside.
Lantern light spilled softly across the grass.
Rei was sitting on a wooden bench near the tree at the edge of the yard.
Of course he was.
Lumi walked toward him.
"You escaped."
Rei glanced at her.
"Yes."
She sat beside him.
From inside the house came the loud laughter of several men.
"Your father?"
Rei nodded.
"They started drinking."
"They've been drinking for hours."
Another burst of laughter echoed from inside.
Lumi looked down at her dress for a moment.
"…Your mother gave me this."
Rei looked at her.
He studied the dress briefly.
Lumi waited.
And waited.
Nothing happened.
"…Well?"
Rei looked away.
"…You look more than decent."
Lumi stared at him.
"That's it?"
Rei shrugged slightly.
"Anything more would be out of character."
She puffed her cheeks slightly.
"…You're impossible."
Rei didn't argue.
The party continued.
Inside the house, the men had become increasingly loud as the drinks continued to circulate. Several of Haruto's friends were now arguing passionately about historical records and regional politics.
Meanwhile the women gathered together near the table, chatting about families, daily life, and the growing chaos among the men.
Occasionally someone would step outside for fresh air before returning to the warmth of the gathering.
The celebration lasted late into the night.
Eventually the lanterns burned lower as the sky turned dark.
By the time midnight arrived:
The men were drunk.
The women were still talking.
And Rei remained in the garden, quietly watching the night sky.
Beside him, Lumi sat silently.
The house behind them glowed warmly with laughter and voices.
For the first time since leaving the academy—
Things felt peaceful.
The night had grown quieter.
Most of the guests had already left, thanking Aiko and Haruto before disappearing into the dark streets of the town. The house slowly settled back into its usual calm.
From inside came the sound of Aiko calling Lumi.
"Lumi, come help me for a moment."
Lumi stood up from the bench.
"…I'll be back."
Rei nodded slightly as she walked back toward the house.
Soon the garden fell silent again.
A few lanterns still glowed faintly near the porch, casting long shadows across the grass.
Rei remained seated on the bench.
A few minutes later the door slid open again.
Haruto stepped outside.
He looked around briefly before spotting Rei sitting in the garden.
"There you are."
Rei immediately spoke.
"Don't sit."
Haruto ignored him completely and walked over.
He sat down beside his son.
Rei sighed quietly.
"I said not to sit."
Haruto leaned back comfortably.
"You say that every time."
"And yet you keep coming."
Haruto smiled slightly.
"I know you don't mean it."
Rei didn't answer.
The quiet night stretched around them.
After a moment Haruto spoke again.
"So."
His voice was calmer now.
"Are you alright?"
Rei glanced at him.
"With what."
"The awakening."
Haruto's tone was gentle but direct.
"Did it bother you?"
Rei thought about the question for a second.
"…Not really."
"No disappointment?"
"No."
Haruto studied his face for a moment, as if trying to see whether his son was hiding something.
But Rei's expression was the same as always.
Calm.
Haruto eventually nodded.
"Well."
"That's good."
The serious tone faded quickly.
A small smile returned to his face.
"So…"
He nudged Rei lightly with his elbow.
"Anyone you're looking for at the academy?"
Rei blinked.
"…What."
"You know."
Haruto gave him a knowing grin.
"A girl."
Rei stared at him.
Haruto chuckled.
"But judging by the way you live…"
He shrugged.
"There must be no one."
Rei's lips curved slightly with faint amusement.
"…Then why ask?"
Haruto laughed quietly.
"Fair point."
Then his gaze shifted toward the house.
Through the window, Lumi could be seen inside helping Aiko move dishes.
Haruto tilted his head slightly.
"…She's not bad."
Rei followed his gaze briefly.
"…She's a child."
Haruto chuckled again.
"Everyone grows up eventually."
Rei didn't respond.
Before Haruto could say anything else—
The door opened again.
Aiko leaned outside.
"Dinner is ready!"
She looked at both of them sitting in the garden.
"And you two, stop hiding out there."
Haruto stood up immediately.
"Coming!"
Rei rose a second later.
The quiet moment ended as the two of them walked back toward the warm light of the house.
The four of them gathered around the table a few minutes later.
The dishes were simple but warm—fresh rice, grilled vegetables, soup, and the remaining bread from earlier. After the noise of the party, the quiet dinner felt almost peaceful.
Aiko placed the last bowl on the table and sat down.
"There," she said with satisfaction. "Now we can actually eat."
Haruto picked up his cup.
"Much better than listening to my friends argue about archive classifications."
"They started that again?" Aiko sighed.
Rei quietly began eating.
Lumi sat carefully beside him, still slightly nervous sitting with Rei's parents.
After a moment Haruto looked at his son.
"So."
"You mentioned earlier that you joined the Adventurer Guild."
Rei nodded.
"Yes."
"For now."
Aiko frowned slightly.
"Isn't that dangerous?"
"Sometimes."
"That's not reassuring."
Rei shrugged slightly.
"It's temporary."
Haruto leaned back in his chair.
"And you came home just to visit?"
"Yes."
"For a few days."
Haruto nodded slowly.
"Well," he said, "we'll take what we can get."
Aiko smiled gently.
"You should visit more often."
Rei didn't respond, which both of them took as the closest thing to agreement they were going to receive.
After a few moments Aiko's attention shifted to Lumi.
"So, Lumi…"
Lumi looked up.
"Yes?"
Aiko spoke gently.
"You said earlier you traveled with Rei."
"Yes."
"Where are you from?"
Lumi hesitated.
Her hands tightened slightly around the bowl she was holding.
"…I used to live in a village near the border."
Haruto listened quietly.
"What happened?"
Lumi lowered her eyes.
"…My father died two years ago."
Her voice was calm, but soft.
"He was an adventurer."
Rei paused slightly while eating but didn't look up.
"He went on a mission and… never came back."
Aiko's expression softened immediately.
"I'm sorry."
Lumi nodded slightly.
"I lived with my mother after that."
For a moment she stopped speaking.
Then she continued.
"But six months ago… she disappeared."
Aiko frowned.
"Disappeared?"
Lumi nodded.
"She left the village one day and never returned."
Haruto leaned forward slightly.
"Did anyone search for her?"
"I did."
Lumi's fingers tightened around the bowl.
"I looked for a long time."
Her voice dropped a little.
"But I couldn't find anything."
The table fell quiet for a moment.
Then Lumi glanced toward Rei.
"…Then I met him."
Rei continued eating calmly.
"He helped me."
That was all she said.
But everyone at the table understood the rest.
Haruto glanced at his son with a small approving look.
Aiko reached across the table again and gently placed a hand over Lumi's.
"That must have been very frightening."
Lumi didn't respond, but she didn't pull her hand away either.
Aiko smiled gently.
"Well."
"If you ever need anything…"
"You can come here."
"Anytime."
Haruto nodded.
"Our door isn't closed to you."
Lumi blinked, clearly surprised by the sudden kindness.
"…Really?"
"Of course," Aiko said.
"And Rei clearly trusts you enough to bring you here."
Rei quietly took another bite of food.
But he didn't deny it.
And for Lumi—
That was enough.
The conversation at the table continued for a while longer.
Aiko asked Lumi about small things—what food she liked, how the journey had been, and whether the academy cities were very different from the quiet towns near the mountains.
Haruto occasionally joined in, mostly listening while adding a comment here and there.
Rei spoke the least, answering only when someone addressed him directly.
Eventually the night grew late.
Aiko stood up first.
"Well," she said with a small stretch, "it's getting late."
Haruto nodded.
"You two must be tired after traveling."
Rei finished the last of his tea.
"Probably."
Aiko smiled warmly.
"You can use Rei's old room tonight."
Lumi blinked slightly.
"Oh—thank you."
A few minutes later they walked down the hallway.
Aiko opened a wooden door near the end of the corridor.
"This used to be Rei's room."
The room was simple.
A desk stood near the window, its surface still covered with a few old books and papers. Shelves lined one wall, filled with worn notebooks and rolled maps.
A small bed stood near the corner.
Aiko smiled.
"Make yourselves comfortable."
Then she closed the door behind them.
For a moment, the room was quiet.
Lumi slowly walked inside, looking around with curiosity.
"So this is where you grew up."
Rei nodded slightly.
"More or less."
Lumi walked toward the desk, running a finger lightly across the wooden surface.
"You had a lot of books."
"Yes."
"That explains a lot."
Rei sat down near the wall.
They talked quietly for a while.
Small things.
Stories about the town.
Rei mentioned how he used to spend hours inside the archive building while his father worked. Sometimes he would read old records or maps until Aiko came looking for him.
Lumi listened quietly.
Eventually the conversation slowed.
Rei stood up and closed the door.
Lumi watched him for a moment.
Then she smiled slightly.
It was strange.
Seeing Rei in the place where he had grown up.
As usual, there wasn't much discussion about sleeping arrangements.
Lumi took the bed.
Rei pulled a mattress from the side of the room and placed it on the floor.
Nothing about the routine had changed.
Lumi lay down first.
Rei turned off the lantern.
The room fell into quiet darkness.
Outside the window, the night was calm.
And inside the old room—
They slowly drifted to sleep.
The house had fallen completely silent.
The lanterns in the hallway had long been extinguished, and only faint moonlight slipped through the window of the small room.
Lumi stirred slightly in her sleep.
For a moment she wasn't sure what had woken her.
She turned slowly in the bed.
The room looked different in the pale silver light of the moon.
Then she noticed Rei.
He was standing near the window.
His back faced the room, his silhouette framed by the faint moonlight outside.
Lumi blinked sleepily.
"…Rei?"
She didn't say it out loud.
Something felt strange.
His hand was raised slightly in front of him.
And around his palm—
Something moved.
A dark flicker of energy.
It twisted slowly in the air above his hand, faint and unstable.
Lumi frowned slightly.
That… wasn't right.
It didn't look like fire.
It wasn't water.
There was no wind moving around it.
And it certainly wasn't lightning.
None of the elements she knew looked like that.
The energy seemed darker than the shadows in the room, almost like a small piece of night swirling above his palm.
For a moment she watched it silently.
But her mind was still half asleep.
Rei didn't have a Divine Mark.
Everyone knew that.
Without a Mark, people couldn't use magic.
So what she was seeing didn't make sense.
Her eyes slowly grew heavier again.
"…I must be dreaming…"
She turned on her side and pulled the blanket closer.
Within a few moments—
She was asleep again.
Near the window, the dark energy above Rei's hand flickered once more before quietly fading into the night.
Morning light slowly filled the room.
Lumi stirred beneath the blanket and slowly opened her eyes.
For a moment she didn't remember where she was.
Then the wooden ceiling and the quiet room brought everything back.
Rei's house.
She sat up slightly.
The mattress below the bed was empty.
Rei was already gone.
"…He woke up early again," she murmured quietly.
From outside the house she could hear faint voices.
One of them was deeper.
Haruto.
Lumi blinked, still half asleep.
After rubbing her eyes, she climbed out of bed and stepped into the hallway.
The smell of food drifted through the house.
When she reached the kitchen, Aiko was already there.
She stood beside the stove preparing breakfast while humming softly.
Aiko turned when she noticed Lumi.
"Oh! Good morning."
"Good morning…"
"Did you sleep well?"
Lumi nodded.
"Yes."
Aiko smiled warmly.
"Rei and Haruto are in the garden."
"They've been out there for a while."
Lumi tilted her head slightly.
"In the garden?"
"Yes."
Aiko stirred the pan before glancing toward the window.
"Rei said he wanted to show his father something."
Lumi blinked.
Show him what?
Curiosity slowly pushed away the last of her sleep.
"…Can I go look?"
"Of course."
Aiko waved her toward the back door.
"Just don't stand too close. His father gets a little excited when practicing things."
Lumi nodded and stepped outside.
Rei stood near the far side of the yard.
Haruto stood a few steps away, watching carefully.
"So," Haruto said, folding his arms.
"You wanted to show me something?"
Rei nodded.
"Yes."
Lumi quietly approached the edge of the yard.
"What is it?"
Haruto asked.
Rei lifted his hand slightly.
"For a while I thought it was nothing."
He looked at his palm.
"But it's not."
For a second—
Nothing happened.
Then something flickered above his hand.
Dark energy twisted into existence.
Not fire.
Not lightning.
Not wind.
A strange, unstable swirl of black energy hovered above his palm.
Haruto's eyes widened.
"…What is that?"
Behind Lumi, the door opened.
Aiko stepped outside just in time to see it.
Her expression froze.
The dark energy pulsed once.
Then again.
Lumi stared.
Her mind instantly returned to the night before.
So it wasn't a dream.
Rei didn't speak.
He simply watched the unstable energy moving above his hand.
Haruto suddenly stepped forward.
"Enough."
He grabbed Rei's arm and immediately pulled him toward the house.
"Inside."
His voice had completely changed.
No longer relaxed.
Serious.
Aiko moved aside quickly as the two of them entered the house.
Lumi stood frozen in the garden.
Her heart was beating faster now.
Whatever that energy was—
It definitely wasn't normal.
Haruto pulled Rei inside and closed the door behind them.
"Explain."
His voice was calm.
But there was no trace of the relaxed tone from earlier.
Aiko stood near the table, her expression filled with worry.
Lumi lingered near the doorway, still trying to process what she had just seen.
Rei spoke as if the situation were ordinary.
"I can't use atmospheric mana."
Haruto frowned.
"I know that."
"So I trained my personal mana instead."
The room went silent.
Aiko's eyes widened.
"…You what?"
Haruto stared at him.
"Personal mana?"
Rei nodded.
"Yes."
Haruto ran a hand through his white hair.
"Rei…"
His voice dropped slightly.
"Do you understand what that means?"
Rei didn't answer.
Haruto exhaled slowly.
"For marked mages, personal mana is something we avoid using."
He placed a hand against his chest.
"It's tied directly to the body."
"To our life."
Aiko nodded quickly.
"When you use it, you're not drawing energy from the environment like normal magic."
"You're burning your own vitality."
Lumi's eyes widened slightly.
Burning… life?
Rei remained calm.
"I know."
Haruto's expression hardened.
"Then why would you use it?"
Rei answered simply.
"Because it's the only magic I can use."
The room fell quiet again.
Aiko shook her head immediately.
"No."
"Rei, that's not worth it."
Her voice carried real fear now.
"Risking your life just to use magic?"
"That's not something you should be doing."
Rei looked at her.
"If I don't train it, I have nothing."
Haruto leaned forward slightly.
"How did you even increase it?"
Rei answered without hesitation.
"I exhausted it."
"Repeatedly."
"Every day."
Haruto's eyes narrowed.
"…How many times?"
Rei shrugged slightly.
"Until I collapsed."
Aiko inhaled sharply.
"You collapsed?"
"Yes."
"And you kept doing it?"
"Yes."
Haruto stared at him for several seconds.
Finally he spoke again.
"Rei."
His tone was firm now.
"You are not using personal mana again."
Rei shook his head.
"That's not possible."
Haruto frowned.
"Why?"
"Because it's the only path available to me."
Aiko stepped closer.
"But it's dangerous."
"It drains your life."
"It could kill you."
Rei remained completely calm.
"I know."
Behind them, Lumi stood frozen.
Every sentence felt heavier than the last.
Life force.
Collapse.
Burning vitality.
All for magic.
She looked at Rei again.
He spoke about it like it was normal.
Like it didn't matter.
And that somehow scared her more than anything else.
The room remained quiet for a long moment.
No one had a good answer.
Except Rei.
And his answer was the one they feared most.
he silence in the room stretched.
Haruto was still staring at Rei.
"You are not using personal mana again," he repeated.
Rei didn't answer.
Instead—
He raised his hand again.
"Rei—"
Before Haruto could finish, the dark energy flickered into existence above Rei's palm.
The same unstable black swirl from the garden twisted slowly in the air.
Aiko took a step forward.
"Rei, stop."
But Rei simply held his hand out.
"Look."
Haruto moved immediately.
He reached forward and grabbed Rei's wrist, trying to close his hand.
The moment his fingers touched the dark energy—
Something went wrong.
Haruto suddenly pulled his hand back.
"…What?"
He looked down at his palm.
A strange sensation ran through his arm.
Not pain.
Something worse.
His mana felt… unstable.
Like the structure he normally used to control it had suddenly been disturbed.
The energy around Rei's hand flickered once more before fading away.
Haruto stared at his palm for a moment.
Then at Rei.
"…That wasn't normal personal mana."
Rei lowered his hand.
"No."
Aiko looked between them nervously.
"What happened?"
Haruto flexed his fingers slowly.
"It disrupted my mana."
Lumi watched the exchange with wide eyes.
Haruto was a marked mage.
An experienced one.
And yet he had reacted like that.
Rei looked calm as always.
"That's why I need to train it."
Haruto frowned.
"Explain."
Rei spoke simply.
"If I increase my personal mana reserves enough…"
He raised his hand slightly again.
"…the strain will decrease."
Haruto stared at him.
Rei continued.
"If I train it properly…"
"…it won't be life threatening."
The room fell quiet again.
Haruto's expression remained serious.
But now it wasn't just worry.
It was curiosity.
Because whatever Rei was producing—
It clearly wasn't ordinary magic.