The parents sat together in the large living room, the space wrapped in a quiet, heavy calm.
Soft lantern light spread across the polished marble floor, reflecting faintly off its smooth surface. Thick velvet curtains hung beside the tall windows, barely moving. A fire burned low in the grand fireplace, its steady crackle filling the silence and casting slow, shifting shadows along the walls. Fresh flowers rested in ornate vases, their scent faint but present.
Dean, Kumi, Azrea, and Memei sat across the long couches, their voices low and expressions far from relaxed.
Dean rubbed his chin, eyes narrowed in thought.
"We still don't know who that fake marquess was. There's no trace of him at all."
Kumi leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his brows drawn tight.
"And that artifact... it doesn't make sense. Something like that shouldn't even function without a mana source nearby."
Azrea lowered her gaze, staring at the floor for a moment before speaking. When she did, her voice was quiet but firm.
"It's clear now. The target was Azrean and Sumi."
Her hands tightened slightly in her lap.
"We can't take risks like this again. Next time, we will increase security even further. And if it comes down to it... We protect them ourselves. I don't care who gets in the way."
Her eyes lifted, cold and steady.
"This could be someone who still holds a grudge against us... or an organization we destroyed in the past."
Memei let out a breath, frustration slipping into her voice.
"We let our guard down. We drank too much and got careless... That was too close. If Invanne hadn't been there..."
Her words trailed off. Azrea didn't look away.
"No matter what happens, our children come first. Even if it means stepping back onto the battlefield."
The air grew heavier. Dean raised his hand slightly, his tone calmer, trying to ease the tension.
"For now, there's nothing we can do. No clues and no trail to follow." He exhaled slowly.
"All we can do is strengthen ourselves."
Kumi nodded in agreement.
"And make sure the kids grow strong enough to protect themselves too."
Memei leaned back slightly, her shoulders easing just a little.
"They've already started training today..."
Azrea gave a small nod.
"They'll grow strong. I know they will."
There was a quiet certainty in her voice now.
"They're not ordinary children. They have multiple magic aptitudes and they carry the blood of the Lumonging and Hana families."
Dean leaned back fully against the couch, his eyes drifting up to the ceiling.
"Now we just have to wait a few more years."
Silence followed filled with unspoken thoughts. Then, slowly, Azrea's expression softened into a faint smile.
"I'm looking forward to that day."
Memei closed her eyes for a brief moment, then spoke just as quietly.
"So am I... Let's just hope things stay peaceful until then."
Kumi let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.
"Peaceful, huh... Easy for you two to say. We're the ones stuck working every day."
Dean didn't move, his gaze still fixed above.
"That's the point." His voice was steady.
"So they won't have to."
Azrea and Memei stood up and moved closer, sitting beside their husbands. Their expressions softened, the earlier tension fading into something warmer. Together, they spoke gently,
"That's why we love you."
Evening settled slowly over the training grounds.
The sky melted into shades of soft orange and deep purple as the sun dipped behind the distant walls. A cool breeze passed over the wide field, carrying the faint scent of grass and dust. Azrean and Sumi lay side by side on the ground, arms spread out, staring up at the fading light.
Around them, the knights and soldiers began wrapping up for the day. Armor clinked, wooden swords were stacked away, and voices rose in excited chatter.
"That was incredible… I've never seen anyone last that long against Ms. Invanne."
"I swear, I'm gonna become a swordsman like Sir Jaek someday."
"Then stop talking and train harder. He's teaching us now too, right?"
Their laughter drifted across the field.
Far off to the side, Jaek had already claimed a bench for himself. He was fast asleep, arms crossed over his chest, snoring softly without a care in the world. Standing right beside him, Invanne had already changed back into her usual neat maid uniform. She looked down at him in silence, her expression tight, clearly unimpressed.
Sumi stretched her arms above her head, letting out a long breath as her body relaxed into the grass.
"I didn't think he'd push us into physical training like that."
Azrean wiped the sweat from his forehead and let his hand drop back to the ground.
"Yeah... and it's definitely not a one-day thing. We're going to be doing this for a long time."
Sumi grinned, eyes still on the sky.
"I'm gonna build six-packs and huge biceps."
Azrean let out a quiet laugh.
"I'll naturally have it anyway, so this will just give me an extra boost."
They fell into silence again. Above them, the sky darkened little by little. The first stars began to appear, faint at first, then clearer as the light faded.
After a while, Sumi shifted closer. Not much—just enough for her side to brush lightly against his.
Azrean noticed immediately. His eyes flickered toward her, surprised, but he didn't move away. Sumi kept her gaze on the sky, her voice softer than before.
"From now on... we're going to get closer and closer to our dream."
For a second, Azrean said nothing. Then a small smile formed on his lips. He looked back up at the sky and gave a slow nod.
"Yeah, we just have to keep going and give it our all."
Sumi raised her hand, curling it into a small fist.
"Then let's work hard together until that day comes."
Azrean lifted his own hand and lightly bumped his fist against hers.
"Yeah. Together with everyone."
He spoke quietly, but there was a steady warmth in his voice.
"With our parents... with the maids and butlers... with everyone protecting us... with Sir Jaek and Sis Invanne."
Sumi pushed herself up and sat beside him, looking down with bright blue eyes and a wide smile.
"With you and me."
Time didn't slow down after that. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. They trained every single day. Mornings filled with magic practice—learning control, pushing limits, discovering new ways to shape their power. Afternoons spent in the training field, swords in hand, bodies pushed to exhaustion under Jaek's watchful eye. Evenings passed quietly with books spread out in front of them, discussing everything they could learn, questioning, arguing, understanding.
They grew stronger. They grew sharper. And without even noticing it, they grew closer. Then, before they could truly feel how much had changed—
Five years passed.