Spending time with the insects

Four years had now passed. Raul, now at the age of six, was an energetic child who would constantly run around the manor looking for anything fun to do.

He would pester the maids, run around and prank the knights that keeps the Valin estate safe. After living for how many years alone Blaze found it fun doing things he did not do before. Sometimes he wanted to kill this humans but Blaze thought that it would get boring if he does it quickly. [Why not observe how pitiful this humans live their life first?].

Blaze couldn't understand this insect-like sister he has who keep on tailing him like a lost pet. It reminded him of Magnus, his extremely beautiful powerful dragon he tamed in his previous life. He would constantly beat it if it goes against his orders. Whenever Blaze gets irritated he would suppress his strong killing intent. [Why would I waste my power to this small insects?] Blaze thought.

"Hey, big brother Blaze, can you read me this book, please? It's about knights!" "Big brother, let's go outside and play!" Blaze can't believe his die hard crazy obsessed enemy from his previous life would cling on him all day. [I am so not used to this kind of Raul]

"Big brother, can you tell me a good night story? I can't fall asleep." Needless to say, Raul greatly valued Blaze, and would always come to him when he found something new or when he was misses Blaze.

Blaze finds all this new things amusing. Sometime he would secretly use his magic and sends his sibling floating. He tried everything to scare little Raul but this little insect kept on that innocent laugh and amazement. Emma and the servants would always think that the two brothers are bonding well, and this left a smile on their faces. Not knowing that any mistake can take Raul's life away. [Don't worry. I won't try to kill him as much as possible.] Blaze chuckled secretly.

Blaze really wanted to just snap Raul's neck and leave his body in the woods so that the wild beasts eat it.

"Big brother, can you show me what this is?" This time, Raul brought Blaze a book on which it said: "The History of Gramuel". "Oh, a history book. How unusual of you to pick up something other than children's stories about knights."

"Well, it has a lot of colorful pictures." Raul responded with a smile as he handed the book to Blaze.

[Of course, I should have expected as much from a child.] "So, you want me to read it for you?" "Yes!" Raul excitedly replied and dragged Blaze off outside.

"Are we yet again going to that tree?" Blaze asked, and Raul fiercely nodded. "Yes, yes, I love when you read me a book under that tree. It's the best place for reading a book in the entire world!"

Blaze didn't share Raul's enthusiasm. [It's a horrible place for reading a book. But since this grandpa has nothing to do for now I'll spare my time.] Blaze allowed himself to be pulled outside.

It was now summer. The sun shined brightly, the chirping of birds filled the surroundings and the people that worked outside were in a good mood.

Raul was on very good terms with the servants because he always preferred being outside and spending time around them. The servant could only be thankful since the other brother has been nothing but cruel and naughty to them. Sometime they would feel something sinister from Blaze' cold observant eyes.

...............….

It was summer. After greeting the gardener and the guards, Raul and Blaze arrived in front of a relatively big tree that was a little farther from the manor.

The two of them sat in the shadow of the tree and Raul immediately urged Blaze to begin reading the book. "Alright, alright, how about I browse the pages and you tell me what you want me to read for you?" "Mm, mm." Raul nodded.

Blaze began browsing the pages of the thick book, and once Raul pointed at a picture of a woman colored in yellow light, he asked. "Big brother, this lady is very pretty, who is she?"

"She is the goddess Aria, the creator of the world. It is said that she created this world over many millennia ago. She is also the object of worship of the Church of light, the most widespread religious organization on the continent." Blaze lazily answered. [Tsk. A useless goddess.]

He then looked at Raul's face which expressed confusion. He couldn't take all that information in all at once. "Moving on."

Blaze didn't care about that and proceeded to move on to the next page. When he flipped the page, a map that spread over both pages greatly captivated Raul's interest.

"Woooww, what is all this? There's so many castles around." "This is a map of all the kingdoms on the continent. This here is our kingdom, the Valera kingdom."

Blaze explained as he pointed out the Valeria kingdom, surrounded by four other kingdoms. Raul wanted to know what these other kingdoms were, so Blaze further explained all the kingdoms that exist on the continent.

"These kingdoms surrounding our borders are Lamarvus Kingdom, Silvester Kingdom, Maxim Kingdom and Ryia Kingdom. There is also Wu Kingdom, but they are further away. There are five human kingdoms in total on this continent, including ours. We mostly occupy the western side of the continent, while the other races occupy the eastern side. Did you understand?"

"Kinda." Raul scratched his head.

"Do you wanna know why I said "mostly occupy"? Don't we occupy the entire side? Like how it's drawn here?" "Forget about that, I just wrongly expressed myself."

[There's no way that humans could control the entire side of the continent. They are simply too weak to do so. But then again, the other races wouldn't stay silent if the secrets of the west were released.] Blaze remembered how he traveled the continent under various guises and identities for a hundred or so years.

On his travels, he found many world shaking existences on both sides of the world. When he was young. After his master let him go and see the world. Blaze discovered a lot of things. He was surprised. Humans were not the only insects in this world. The most surprising was he found some races that were a little bit on par as his skills and power. Sometimes due to some unforeseen circumstance. He would barely escaped from their clutches many times and was always horribly injured by them. Blaze would then eradicate their races after recovering.

"Young lords, it's time for lunch. The lady sent me to escort you back." A man in his sixties interrupted Blaze's thoughts. "Ah, I see. Please do so, Marcus." Blaze replied politely while getting up. "Of course, young lord."

Marcus is the Valin's family butler. The most trusted man of Jacob, he usually helps Emma with managing the Valin family territory, which occupies over a dozen villages and a city while Jacob is working in the army as a general. He is a friendly, chubby old man with grey hair and moustache.

After returning to the manor, Blaze and Raul sat in the dining room, a wide decorated room with a chandelier and a long table in the middle. Emma was sitting on the left side of the table and was getting served by the maids.

Raul sat next to his mother, while Blaze sat on the opposite side of the table. "It appears that sister hasn't returned from her visit yet?"

Blaze asked formally, with no interest. "Oh she has dear, she is now bathing. Would you believe that one of Emily's friends used earth magic to prank her and throw her into a mud puddle? Really, what a weird lady that girl is."

Emma replied, but not in anger, just in surprise. "I see." Blaze answered with no interest, yet blaze find himself irritated while eating his meal.[ This food doesn't taste good] Emma carefully observed his table manners, and she was greatly surprised.

[My son uses the fork and the knife just like an experienced old noble. How strange. I even heard that he mastered polite speech and mannerisms in a single day, and he even knew how to dance before the teacher even began the lesson. I remember that Emily took months to learn and master these things.

But I've never seen him practice, all he does is read books all day either in his room or in the library. Did he perhaps read a book on manners? But I don't think we have a book like that in the library...]

"What's wrong? Mother your food will go cold." Blaze noticed her eyes on him and decided to stop it. "Ah, silly me. Though I wish you would call me mom like Raul and Emily. Mother makes me sound old." Emma replied.

"Surely you jest, mother. Old does not make a sound"

Emma: "...…"

"Anyway, I have thought of sending you to one of the noble children gatherings." Upon hearing those words, Blaze inwardly sighed.

"I see. I better prepare myself then." "Oh? You took that better than I expected. I thought you would refuse and that I would have to force you to go. "Emma sounded surprised.

"When do I go?"

"Next week, there will be a birthday party at the Morris house. Their daughter is now celebrating her tenth birthday.

It would be good for you to go and socialize a bit. Get yourself some friends, you're spending too much time in the house." [Well. It seem I was brought back to time to meet all the dead ones.]