School Begins

VIVIAN THE LIBRARIAN

"Oh! You're right Vivian, if I add more density to the mana skin it's stronger than creating layers of mana skin." Says Danton, happily. Compared to the first time this kid started training he has become less arrogant than he used to be.

"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Miss Vivian?"

*sigh* This kid.

"Anyway, It's getting late, you kids should go home. Remember, you're starting school tomorrow." It is a few minutes after five o'clock, and I need to stop by the library before heading home.

"Says the person that forced us to train instead of resting the day before school starts. Hmph!" Danton shrugs and speaks in his never ending arrogant and spiteful tone.

"Danny, don't say that! Miss Vivian just wants what is best for us." Even though she is reprimanding Danton, Elise still speaks in her cute and caring tone.

"I support Miss Vivian's decision! I want to grow stronger!" And Ben, the youngest and the most enthusiastic about growing stronger. His actions are always plain, without much thought; he is like an open book.

Their rate of growth is extraordinary. Elise uses water magic to create whips now; she added the battle tactics and fighting skills Danny taught her into her fighting style putting her in the enforcer mage-class. Despite that she has still created skills pertaining to sorcery using her wand and placing her in the caster mage-class; making her a dual class-mage. And let's not even speak lightly of her large mana capacity.

Ben, the most mysterious among them. He is a year younger than both of them, but he can beat both Danton and Elise hands down at the same time if he went all out. He tries his best to become stronger for reasons unknown to me. Furthermore, he has so impressed me with his control over wind magic, he can cover up to 9 metres in a second by amplifying his blazing speed with wind magic; and I noticed he jumps up slightly and stands on a plate of condensed air he makes, so the ground won't break from the launch force. His strength and speed is just out of this world. I don't know what kids nowadays are being fed.

And finally, Danton, the smartest and most skilful among them. He's a beastly type-magic user, so he can't perform any outer magic and can only reinforce his skin and muscles with mana to either increase his strength or speed or gain impenetrable skin by adding density using mana.

It may sound cheesy, but I've quite grown to love these kids like they were my own. We laughed, joked around, trained and bonded. The saying 'nothing brings people together the most other than hardship' is true.

"Ok Miss Vivian. We're going." Says Elise as she and Ben were just a few steps in front of Danton, who is 5 steps in front of me. We're still training at the open ground area in the forest, although we've opened it some more due to the rigorous training sessions.

Ben and Elise started walking, but Danton didn't move from the spot he was on. He is looking up yonder in the direction Ben and Elise are walking.

"Vivian. Thank you, for these two months. It was a great experience for me." I am not surprised the arrogant Danton can say 'thank you', but I'm surprised about his last words, he's the second person to say that to me.

He started walking and soon enough he caught up with the other two.

"These two months were the best time of my life." I said out loud but in a way no one could hear.

I'm not lying, these two months were actually the best time of my life. I am 200 years old, and I have only ever loved one man. The first time I saw Danton when he entered the library I thought I was dreaming, I was happy I've finally met him again. The only man I ever loved, the man I sold, the man I betrayed because I wanted to please 'them'; even after all those things I did, all he said was 'it was a great experience for me' with his alluring meek smile. Danton looks like him nearly perfect naturally and most perfect when he smiles. All the past emotions even after 135 years, just like closed wound opened up and became fresh once again.

I knew Danton was his son when I met Danton's mother when she came to check up on him during the first month of the training. She has that strong resolve I had that made him fall for me. No, hers is even stronger because I've heard rumours he died two months ago.

I will cherish this last happiness I have with these kids till my death, which I see fast approaching. I know my 'vision of the future' is near.

After checking up on the library I started heading home, knowing my days are numbered.

***

DANTON STONEHEAD

"Ben!!! Be quick! Or we'll miss the carriage!" I shouted from the parlour while wearing my shoes.

"I told you kids to get ready last night but no, you started sleeping!" Mom is shouting at the tip of her tone from the kitchen as she made a makeshift breakfast.

"What the?!... You wanted me to dress up and stay up the whole night!.... Who does that?" That's actually what she wanted me to do.

"You have no excuse for disobeying your mother young man!" She's still blaming me, and 'I am' the one giving excuses.

Zeus and Hades who now look like medium-sized dogs, just laid on the floor near the entrance like there is no care in the world.

We were rushing to meet up for like 30 minutes more before we heard a knock on the door.

I ran to the door and opened it, it's the coachman. He is wearing an elegant suit with a top hat and looks like he just entered his twenties. His black silky hair showing at the side of his head and pale skin made him look handsome, plus he's a bit muscular.

"Greetings young master, your carriage has arrived, and I am your coach--" I slammed the door back before he finished speaking and started yelling at mom and Ben to be quick.

Ben finally finished dressing up and is annoyingly walking out from the our room majestically, like he has all the time in the world; while mom if finishing up with packing of our lunch since we can't have it as breakfast now.

Opening the door back, I can see the coachman who is still bowing in a 90 degrees position.

"I am your coachman Gil--" I am not the one that interrupted him this time, it is Ben.

"Sorry for the long wait. Let's go."

"*clears throat* I am your coachman G--" Once again he was interrupted, although he's bowing I can still see the bulge grow on his head.

"Heeeeyyyyy!" Elise is shouting, so we can hear her, since she is still a bit far away. Walking beside her, I can see Vivian the librarian and that old maid, Veronica.

*Pants*

"Why did you come? We could've picked you up from your house." I asked Elise who is currently panting from running to us after she spotted us.

"The girl is just trying to show you the love of her young maiden heart." Says Vivian with a pained expression as she is pressing her folder hands above her chest.

Elise used her hands to cover her face that is already flushed red.

"You old ha--" I stopped, realizing mom was just standing right behind me.

"Good day to you Master Danton. What Vivian here meant is: Madame Elise didn't just want to bother you." The old maids voice is still as cold and unrelenting as it can be.

"I AM YOUR COACHMA--" Oops! He's interrupted again; this is becoming fun.

"Hi! I'm Danton and Ben's mother." Says mom, shaking Veronica's hands with so much force.

I turned to go get Zeus and Hades, and I can see Ben harbour an awkward smile, likely because mom is classifying him as her son.

I got the twins and went back out. I can see the old maid smile for the first time as she, mom, Vivian with Elise chat; well of course, I'm sure the coachman who is still bowing and being ignored is trying to get their attention.

"Everyone meet our coachman, Gilbert." I put my hand on his shoulder as I introduced him to everyone. I already used Omega Eye to inspect him. He looks like he already wanted to cry before now. He has an expression of appreciation on his face as he looked at me.

"Well aren't you a handsome youn--" I stopped Vivian from spouting her nonsense by pushing the coachman to the carriage.

We had our laughs and everything, and I told mom Ben and I will always be back during the weekends. Ben, Elise and I bid them our farewells, and we set the road.

We are currently in Bridth, the merchant town and the nearest magic teaching institution is in Drimble, a city. We're lucky because General Magic High is one of the well-known magic teaching institutions around the continent. It is a two-hour drive in a carriage from Bridth to Drimble. In between the two cities we will have to pass Forklore, a minor town and Chelfester, one of the major cities.

Ben and Elise were sleeping and since I'm at the rear end Elise is resting her head on my shoulder. Zeus and Hades are lying down on the seat in front of me. I can't sleep because ever since yesterday after the training I have been feeling uneasy; like I am forgetting to do something, or I am leaving something behind.

I was immersed in my thoughts and unbeknownst to me, we have already arrived in front of the school gate.