Have a little spar

Looking bewildered and stunned, Iode watched the little creature rest at the center of the dining table, it ignored the people present, whether they are eating or picking food to eat.

' what is that thing doing out here in the open, and in the middle of all these people, don't tell me the Zenivia family are used to it presence'. Iode thought.

"What are you staring at, if you want some pork you can take it, no one is stopping you". Edwin said as he noticed that Iode was staring at something, but his eyes were laid on the food that is before him.

"Huh? Oh thanks but I don't really need it, I'm ok with what I have". Iode regained his composure.

"Don't be shy, you can take". Laura said.

' but I really don't need it, tch '. He thought.

He picked up a knife and begrudgingly attempts to cut part of the deep fried pork. As his hand was about to reach the meat, the little creature jumped and chomped on his fingers.

"Arrrrgh!!!". Iode let out a loud scream and suddenly jumped away from his sit, which startled everyone in the room.

"Is everything alright Iode". Jarnathan asked seeing this spontaneous reaction.

*Scoffs* "he did as if something bit him, tsk, peasants, always looking for ways to get attention". Laurence said.

"That's because something did bite me, that little demon spawn bit me for god knows what!". Iode points at something near the pork plate.

Everyone turned their attention to the spot however, all they could see was nothing but a plate full of pork meat.

"He's scared of meat? Tch, can he be anymore dramatic". Laurence said irritated.

They all _ most of them looked at him worriedly. Iode was speechless.

' are they pretending not to see it or they really can't? '. He thought.

"You guys don't see it, that little shit making fun of me?". Iode asked.

They stared at him seemingly oblivious to whatever he meant.

"Oh, I see". He smiled, then he stretched over to Vivian. He reached out to her hair and brought out a glass doll and showed it to everyone. "Ta-da!".

"Uh? A gift for me? I love it, it very cute heeee". Vivian said as she held the doll tightly.

"What about me, me, me ". Edwin said excitedly.

"You? Huh it's in my room upstairs, I'll get it when we finish breakfast ". Iode said nervously.

"Yay, I can't wait to see what you bought for me ". Edwin said.

"Oh Iode you are such a jester, you scared me a little hahaha ". Laura said.

"Thanks hehehe ". Iode smiled half-heartedly and sat down to continue eating. Laurence looks at his reaction, he stared at him and frowned.

Later, in Iode's room, he laid down on his bed and thought about the incident that occured at the dinning. None of them could actually see the little creature, it was invisible to them including Jarnathan.

It made Iode remember what Jarnathan told him, that the successors of Barbara and the others were born with the power. This means that the little creature is the one who determines anyone who is worthy to wield the power and merges with them at birth.

' so nobody, as big as the Zenivia family is, is worthy of Barbara's power, well they are lucky, they wouldn't be in pact with Valier '. He thought.

Using this logic, this also means that the little creature that entered him found him worthy of Igor's power. ' Tch '.

"Squeak!". Iode heard a sound beside him and it turns out to be the little creature that taunts him.

"Sigh, you little thing, you almost made me look like a mad person down there, if not because of the pocket space in my stigma and the thought of buying gifts for Jarnathan and his wife, I would have been smoked".

The tiny humanoid creature stick it tongue out and points to Iode then it made an imitation of a scary entity and it points to itself.

"I don't understand what you are trying to say". Iode said.

The creature got down from the bed and brought a wooden tablet and wrote:

"You attacked me with the intention of harming me".

"Oh, I see, you brought out your vengeance on me... Frankly I never expect you to be this intelligent". Iode said.

"But I still stand by my choice".

Annoyed, the little creature jumped and bite Iode at his nose.

"Aaargh! You little shit, that's the second time!!!".

* * *

It's dusk, Iode had walked round the main mansion to explore. He found out that the Abode is divided into two parts, the East wing and the West wing.

The East wing contains the living room the dinning, kitchen and store rooms. The West wing is entirely made of bedrooms.

In the twilight, Iode went to the backyard of the mansion.

"It's been a while since I've sword practice". He said. He brought his left hand forward and thought of a short sword. His stigma glowed purple and light shone, it scatters then gathered together and formed a solid metal sword.

"To be honest, I've almost forgotten about the feeling of sword handling". He held the sword tightly and made a simple thrust forward.

He slashed and gashed repeatedly several times. After numerous practice, his face was drenched in sweat and he was panting heavily.

"I don't think I have the physique of a swordsman, my stamina drains rather quickly, I have a long way to go if I wanna become a magic swordsman ". He said squatting.

Few seconds later, he collapsed on the ground to regain his strength. Later, he got up, sat and drank water. He had regained a considerate amount of energy.

"Practicing in the night, are we?". Someone said behind him.

Iode turned around to see who spoke, it turns out to be Laurence.

"Practicing alone won't increase your strength that much moreover, it not fun. How about you and I spar a little, I'm quite intrigued, a wizard learning the arts of weapons, how would you fare in a real combat". Laurence said.

Iode was surprised to hear Laurence say such, whatever, he would be glad to spar a little himself.

"Alright, it's indeed boring practicing alone, let's do it". Iode smiled.

"Let see what strength a peasant from the low wizard city possess, I'm gonna crush you irrespective of the power you have ". Laurence said as an aquamarine grimoire opens and floats above his hand.