The image of A beautiful woman with black hair in a ponytail and cold sharp ember eyes came to my mind. It was unforgettable. It was, At least for me.
"If it's for her husband or her son, She will endure anything. And when I say anything, I man Anything" I told him in the most serious voice I could muster.
Hearing me, Boran stayed silent for a bit.
"True. But it's not like we can change the nature of the nobility. The game is rigged from the start, Vivi. We don't know exactly why the kid is so desperate for strength, but what we do know is that he needs it and we can give it to him. And so, It's our responsibility to fulfill that wish, is it not ?" Boran said
I quietly looked at him and admitted "as much as I hate to admit it... you're right."
"Yes. so, worry not. since We have four long years to train him." he said, cracking his knuckles. "And with what we have already seen, reaching C rank at the end of our four year session is perfectly doable"
I turned away my face from Boran to towards the sky. It was a Beautiful orange Evening sky.
"Yeah. A ten year old C rank huh.... Most people would laugh if they heard it." I said with a smile, looking at the sky.
I genuinely pray for you, Ty. May you find what you truly seek.
***
-Achoo!
I rubbed my nose as I walked through the Royal complex.
Is someone missing me? Are my super-strong teachers already mourning the absence of their super-talented, super-cute student?
I reached the gates of the Arbutus Palace, and Mike offered a final, respectful bow before heading back toward the Central Palace to continue his duties. I walked into the Arbutus Palace garden, the scent of blooming night-flowers washing away the metallic tang of the training field.
Mother was there, sitting on a stone bench. In her lap was a toddler—a round-cheeked boy of about two years old, happily munching on a piece of dried fruit.
I walked over and gave his chubby cheek a playful pinch.
"Sky," I said, dropping my voice into the scariest, most dramatic tone I could manage. "Eating too many snacks will make your teeth rot. They'll start to hurt, and then the Tooth-Devil will come for you while you sleep!"
The toddler froze, his eyes wide as saucers. "Mhm! Mhm! Bowder liv scawy!"
He meant 'Brother, leave. You're scary.' ...I think ? I am not familiar with Toddler's language, after all.
I don't know how well two years old speak. So, I have zero idea if his speaking level is considered good or bad.
"Don't scare Sky, Ty" Mother said.
This little guy is Skyler. Hilda and Mike's One and only son.
Normally, A queen, looking after her maid's child is an unacceptable Disgrace.
But Does anyone ever cares if his sitting or sleeping pose is embarrassing when he is inside the boundary of his own four walls house ?
"So? How was the first day of training ?" Mother asked.
"Very Very Tiresome!" I responded.
"I see," she said gently. "Go to your room and rest."
I know that She is being mindful of my tiredness by not dragging on this Conversation by asking me about all details and telling me to go straight for rest but....
Rest ? That's not an option ?
"Alright" after saying that and went to my room.
I went straight to my room and locked the door. Instead of collapsing onto the bed, I dragged my chair to the desk and pulled the library books from the shelf.
I have to compare what I learned and what's written in the books.
The best way to digest knowledge is by reviewing it right after you acquire it.
And with those thoughts, My study time started.
****
Hours passed. I thought it would be difficult for me to do hours long deep study like this, since the last time i did so was years ago.
But it seems the student's interest in the subject matters a lot more than I had thought.
After that, I looked at the window, The Night had already came. Eventually, the moon reached its zenith. I ate a quick, little chatty dinner with my Mother, practiced my water magic until my vision blurred, and finally crawled into bed.
Can't believe it has been barely four days since my memories have awakened.
A lot has happened. In less than a week, I had negotiated with a literal King of an entire race, survived a spar against an SSS-rank and last but not least performed magic of ten elements. Listing my own achievements made me realize once again, just how awesome I truly am.
Let's hope the future stays simple just like the past few days, I thought, the darkness of sleep finally pulling me under.
Heh... Who am i kidding? When has my life ever gone according to my plans in this accursed world ?
Let's just sleep tight, I thought, the darkness of my room finally closing in. I've got to survive that brutal training again tomorrow.
****
The next morning,
the Sun bled through the Arbutus trees, painting golden stripes across my floor. My body felt like it had been put through a meat grinder. Every muscle fiber in my legs twitched with a dull ache. All the pain from yesterday has finally kicked in and I am definitely not liking it.
After waking up, I pushed through the soreness, maintaining my routine with a stubbornness that, I am sure, would have made even my past self proud. I ate a quiet breakfast with Mother, watched Skyler chase a butterfly in the garden and did some mild slash training with sword.
But as noon approached, the familiar sound of rhythmic footsteps echoed on the stone path. Mike appeared, but he was early. Much earlier than yesterday.
No... My heart did a slow, heavy thud. Don't tell me that freaking brute of a trainer came early just to squeeze in more conditioning, to torment this innocent little me?
He hasn't, right ?
Please. Tell me he hasn't. That I am wrong.
"Your Highness," Mike said, offering a crisp bow. "The King is requesting your presence."
The king ? He has no reason to, Though. It can't be that Boran made some deal with the king or with Mike, right? Thinking that I quietly followed Mike.
I finally breathed a sign of relief when I saw Mike leading me towards the central palace and not the training field.
so it really was the king who summoned me ?
We walked through the central palace hallway and We reached the massive oak doors of the King's office. Mike stepped forward and delivered three precise knocks.
"Your Majesty" Mike informed while knocking on the door "His Highness, the third prince has arrived"
"Let him in," the King's voice replied—deep, resonant, and utterly devoid of the 'Gil' persona he had shown the day before.