Leom felt the subtle shift in Ivel's mana flow. It was calmer now—still a bit chaotic, but undeniably better than before. Suddenly, Ivel collapsed in the living room. Draining his mana twice in one day was bound to take its toll.
Leom shook his head, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "You really pushed yourself today," he murmured. Rising from his chair, he gently lifted Ivel and carried him to his bed. As he laid the boy down, Leom noticed how peaceful he looked, the strands of his long hair spilling across the pillow.
He might need a haircut, Leom thought with a faint smile as he left the room.
The modest house was quiet and cozy. Leom moved about, tending to the plants and brewing his tea. The home even boasted its own small library—a sanctuary of simple pleasures. He liked the idea of a simple life, free from the crushing weight of the world's demands. He liked not being burdened by millions of lives. He had fought hard to earn this peace, hardened by countless wars and battles.
In the end, he knew he had a happy family. But… he also knew it wouldn't last forever. His daughters were already on the battlefield. Though they were expected to return soon, who could say what they had endured? Leom knew all too well what they might have faced, but it was still too soon to tell.
The next day, the house trembled—not from an earthquake, but from strange sounds. Voices? Or perhaps a stampede? Ivel stirred, murmuring groggily, "Keep it down, will you?"
The noise grew louder, closer to his room. Disoriented, he sat up just as the door slammed open.
His eyes hadn't adjusted yet, but he saw two yellow shapes lunging toward him.
Wait, why are they lunging at me? he thought, panic rising "WAIT!".
Then, to his shock, two beautiful women with blonde hair and green eyes leapt at him, wrapping him in a crushing embrace.
"Oh, look at him! He's grown so much," one said with a teasing smile. "Have you finally shaped your core, little brother?" It was Aniya.
Ivel struggled to speak, but the strength of the embrace was overwhelming. "Le… let…" His pale face flushed purple, matching the color of his eyes.
"Aniya, I think you're choking him," Elia said calmly.
Aniya released him with a laugh. "I guess I was. Sorry, Ivel."
Coughing and relieved to be free, Ivel whispered, "Thank you, Elia."
Leom entered the room just then, shaking his head with amusement. "My goodness, you two barely got here and you were already about to kill the poor kid."
Elia pointed at Aniya. "Blame her, not me, Father."
"Huh, don't put it all on me. You were hugging him just as hard," Aniya shot back.
The sisters bickered playfully while Ivel sat in the middle, silently mouthing to Leom for help.
The house was alive again—lively and happy, even if Ivel was suffering just a little.
Weeks passed as the girls settled in. They trained alongside Ivel and Leom. The only one truly struggling was Ivel. His muscles ached in places he never knew existed, but he was improving. His swordsmanship was still unrefined, but with such excellent teachers, progress was inevitable.
Still, lately, he felt his growth stagnate. He often found himself zoning out, wondering how to break through the plateau.
One afternoon, as he lay on the grass after training, Elia sat beside him.
"What's got you so down, little brother?" she asked gently.
Ivel blinked, still distant. "I feel like my progress has slowed. Maybe I'm missing experience. I was thinking… maybe I should go to an academy."
Elia cut him off abruptly. "An academy? I don't mean to be rude, but that would be a waste of your time if you're just looking for experience."
Ivel frowned. "Why do you say that?"
"Honestly? Your swordsmanship is already far beyond most your age. The only people stronger would be the instructors. That's why I think it's pointless. Take it from me and Aniya—we went to an academy once, but we left quickly. It just wasn't worth it."
Elia's words made sense. Ivel's skill was exceptional for his age, and few would challenge him in an academy setting.
"So, what do you suggest?" he asked.
Elia smiled. "Simple. Go hunt monsters."
Ivel was dumbfounded. In what world is that easy? he thought.