Chapter 7 A Soul Tested by Fire

A few days had passed since the incident, and Lily had begun to acknowledge David as part of her family. It was a subtle shift, but one that meant a great deal. Her previous routine of frequently venturing into town had come to a halt. Lily spent most of her time at home, her scars—both physical and emotional—too heavy to bear in public. Everyone noticed, especially Emma, but despite their concern, no one knew how to break through.

Meanwhile, David reached an important milestone. He had finally reached the Adept level, unlocking the ability to use multi-casting and elemental magic. His speed was remarkable—far faster than most students, who took years to progress past the Initiate stage. Morgan, watching from a distance, couldn't help but be impressed.

"Ah, how beautiful," she thought, her gaze fixed on David as he practiced his wind and support magic. "This child's rapid learning speed… If he learns properly, he could reach the Magus stage by his twenties. How powerful he could become." But a cloud of worry hung over her. "Yet, it still worries me about his second heart. It's been almost a month, and I don't have even the smallest clue."

She could see the potential in him, the spark of greatness that could either save or burn everything. "If he becomes powerful enough, he could be the hero of entire countries—or the one who stands in ash," she mused. Her gaze softened as she observed David with growing affection and concern. "I must ensure he is socialized properly… Perhaps sending him to an academy when the time comes would be a good idea. Once he turns the right age, I'll ask him."

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As David stood, having completed another round of practice, Morgan allowed herself a brief smile of approval. His growth was nothing short of extraordinary, and the prospect of what he could become both excited and terrified her.

Soon after, Parzival, Gus, and Emma returned to the house with a new companion. A young woman, possibly in her twenties, with black hair, dressed in a dark blue wizard's coat, and carrying a staff as tall as she was, followed behind them. Emma shouted as she entered the front yard, announcing their return.

"We're home, Master!"

Morgan nodded gently, acknowledging their arrival. As they gathered, David greeted everyone, but his gaze landed on the woman behind them.

Morgan, ever formal, asked, "Who is this guest accompanying you?"

Emma replied, "She's a new member of the Dark Phoenix, an arcanist specializing in fire magic."

Morgan nodded and turned to the woman, who introduced herself with a polite bow.

"My name is Eliza. I'm Emma's magic teacher, and this is David, Emma's brother."

David understood the situation now—Eliza was clearly someone important in the magical community, a mentor to Emma. But there was one more introduction to be made. The woman behind Emma stepped forward.

"My name is Hakuren. I am from the Asahi Kingdom. Please take care of me."

The Asahi Kingdom, a small island across the sea, was known for its unique magical practices and systems, quite different from the continent. It was rare to meet someone from Asahi, and Morgan felt a sense of doubt creeping in, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

Morgan invited the group inside for dinner, asking David to speak with Lily about preparing food for their guests.

"David, could you kindly ask Lily if she can prepare a meal for us?" Morgan requested, maintaining her formal tone.

David nodded and made his way to Lily's room.

Knocking gently on the door, David called out, "Sis Lily. It's me, David. Can I come in?"

Lily, with a calm yet warm tone, replied, "Yeah, come in. What's up?"

David smiled as he entered, feeling at ease around Lily, whose presence had grown more comforting as time passed.

"How's your body?" he asked with concern.

Lily smiled gently, her warmth shining through. "I'm alright, thanks to you. I'm feeling much better now."

David grinned. "I'm glad to hear that. By the way, Master asked if you could prepare a meal for our guests."

Lily nodded. "Of course. Tell Master it'll be ready in thirty minutes."

David nodded, "Got it, Sis Lily." He left her room and returned to Morgan.

Meanwhile, inside, Parzival was chatting with Emma, doubting David's abilities.

"Emma, there's no way that kid learned magic in a month. Even if he did, it can't be anything too impressive."

Emma, clearly frustrated by the comments, was about to respond, but Morgan stepped in.

"If you doubt his abilities so much, Parzival, would you be willing to test him in a mock battle?"

Parzival raised an eyebrow. "A mock battle? With a kid? Master, I know he's got some skills, but he's still just a child. It's too risky."

Morgan, her eyes gleaming with amusement, smiled gently. "If you're so confident, perhaps we can make it interesting. If you win, I'll help you with Emma's side. But if I win, you'll be David's sparring partner."

Parzival hesitated for a moment before nodding. "You're serious, huh? Alright, no backing out once I accept."

Morgan's smile widened. "Of course, no backing out. Do you accept?"

David entered just then, overhearing the conversation.

"Master, Lily said the food will be ready in thirty minutes."

Parzival, not missing a beat, turned to David. "Well, if there's time before dinner, how about we have a mock battle? I'd love to see what all the hype is about. Emma's been talking nonstop about how strong you are."

David turned to Morgan, who gave him a gentle nod.

David: "Alright."

David and Parzival stepped into the yard, wooden swords in hand. Parzival, knowing David was skilled with magic, suggested, "I'll fight with one hand tied behind my back. No magic for me. You can use everything you've got."

David, a little nervous, agreed. Gus, standing off to the side, asked Emma with concern.

Gus: "Are you sure about this, Emma? He's still a kid. He may be strong, but this is risky."

Emma smiled proudly, reassured. "Don't worry about him, Gus. David's strong enough to take on magical beasts. Just the other day, we ran into an ogre. He took it down all on his own. Trust me, he's no ordinary kid."

The mock battle began, and Parzival moved at lightning speed, his wooden sword swinging toward David. But David, almost effortlessly, dodged to the side, his face expressionless.

Before Parzival could recover, David swiftly formed a fireball and shot it directly at his opponent. Parzival, caught off guard, dodged backward—but he stepped right into a trap. David had already cast a firewall beneath him, and flames surged around Parzival.

Morgan shouted, "Stop! Parzival used magic power—David wins this round!"

Parzival narrowed his eyes, stepping over the remnants of the trap. "Magic traps, huh? Clever, but a bit underhanded."

Morgan, her voice calm yet firm, replied, "Parzival, it was a double spell. David used a fireball and followed it up with a firewall. It was strategic, not pre-prepared magic. You fell into his trap. Take it as a lesson. Be more careful next time."

Parzival, still standing within the dissipating flames, let out a deep breath. He hadn't expected David to outmaneuver him so quickly. Lowering his wooden sword, he turned to face the boy, studying him with a mixture of disbelief and newfound respect.

"Hah... You really got me," Parzival admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "I underestimated you."

David remained quiet, his expression unreadable, but there was the faintest flicker of satisfaction in his golden eyes.

Emma, arms crossed and grinning, nudged Gus with her elbow. "Told you. He's a monster in the making."

Gus, who had been tense throughout the fight, exhaled sharply. "I get it now... That wasn't just raw power. He played Parzival like a damn fiddle."

Morgan, observing from the sidelines, gave a pleased nod. "You doubted him, Parzival. Now do you understand?"

Parzival chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. Kid's good." His lips quirked up in a grin before he extended a hand to David. "Alright, I'll be your sparring partner. But next time, no tricks. Let's see how you handle a real fight."

David, after a brief hesitation, shook Parzival's hand. "Alright."

Emma pumped a fist into the air. "That was the best thing I've seen all day!"

Gus sighed, muttering under his breath, "She's going to brag about this for weeks…"

With the tension finally easing, Morgan clapped her hands together. "Now then, let's not keep Lily waiting. Dinner should be ready soon."

Later that evening, the group gathered for dinner. The delicious smell of boar stew and freshly baked bread filled the air. As they ate, the conversation turned to the upcoming quest.

Parzival, still a bit grumpy, asked, "So what's the next mission?"

Emma, eager to share, explained, "We've received a request from a small village near Narshia. They've been having trouble with a troll. It's attacked merchants and travelers. Trolls have powerful regeneration abilities, but we know two ways to defeat them. We can either destroy the magic stone inside them, or we can use fire magic to burn them until they can't regenerate."

Morgan then asked Emma, "Why don't you take David along? With his power, the troll will be an easy target, and he'll gain valuable experience."

Emma agreed, but she needed to check with Parzival first. After getting his approval, they all agreed to leave the next morning.

After the meeting, David was immersed in his studies within Morgan's dimension, absorbing information about monsters. But after a while, he needed a break. He stepped outside for a brief walk, seeking solace in the quiet surroundings. He found a peaceful spot beneath a large tree, the fading sunlight casting a golden hue over the world. He sat there, lost in thought, as the evening air wrapped around him.

Lily, who had been spending more time with him lately, quietly approached. She sat down beside him, her movements gentle. The silence between them was comforting, but there was something unspoken in the air. After a long pause, she spoke, her voice softer than usual.

Lily: "David... are you really going with Emma?"

David glanced at her, sensing the worry in her tone. He gave a small, reassuring smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

David: "Yeah, I think it'll be a great experience. Why?"

Lily hesitated, her fingers nervously twisting together as she searched for the right words. Her eyes, usually so calm and composed, betrayed the concern she felt.

Lily: "I know you're strong... but please, be careful. You may be powerful, but you're still human. Don't push yourself too hard... I... I don't want to lose you."

Her voice quivered slightly, a mix of fear and deep care behind every word. David's heart tightened at her vulnerability. He could see how much she worried, how much she cared for him, despite the distance she often kept. It made his chest ache in a way he hadn't expected.

He turned to face her fully, his expression softening. Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder, a quiet promise in his touch.

David: "I'm not going anywhere, Sis Lily. Don't worry about me. I'll come back. No matter what happens, I'll always come back to you and Emma. I won't leave you."

Lily looked at him, her eyes searching his face as if trying to read the sincerity in his words. She nodded slowly, but there was a lingering sadness in her gaze, as if she couldn't fully erase the fear that clung to her heart.

The moon rose higher in the sky, casting a silver glow over the two of them. They sat in silence for a while longer, the quiet moment wrapping around them like a soft blanket. The world seemed distant, and for a brief moment, it was just the two of them, sharing an unspoken bond, even in the uncertainty of the future.

David had no idea what awaited him on his journey with Emma, but one thing was certain—he wasn't going to let anything happen to those he cared about. Not now, not ever.