Seraphina Ashvein

"Instructor Lyric, good afternoon."

Kael bowed his head and greeted politely.

Elira, who saw that, narrowed her eyes.

'Why does this brat greet everyone so politely but treats me like some random street performer?'

She still remembered how he greeted her with a 'Yo!' yesterday while he was lying on the floor, being healed by Althea.

The difference in tone felt like an insult to her dignity.

"Hero Kael."

While the Court Mage was busy with her thoughts, Lyric nodded back. Then, she pointed at the little girl next to her and,

"She is Seraphina Ashvein. You can call her Sera.

She just turned twelve two weeks ago and received her Second Bond. I have been helping her grow her new Bond quickly in her personal chamber but from now on,"

Lyric glanced at Kael and,

"You two will train together."

Kael nodded. Elira, on the other hand, had a different reaction.

"Did you say Ashvein?"

The Court Mage then glanced at Kael, and before he could say anything,

"And yes, in case you are wondering, Hero Kael's Almoner of Services is unwell, and since our dear Hero is such a hardworking and charismatic individual, I decided to assist him in her stead."

Elira 'praised' the Hero, avoiding the penalty.

"O-Oh."

Lyric was momentarily stunned, not knowing what to say. Elira, however, ignored her reaction and stared at the little girl before turning back towards Lyric with a questioning look on her face.

Since she decided to willingly praise him in order to inquire about her, Kael guessed that it was something important. 

And he was correct.

"Yes, Sera is Grand Marshal Varyon's youngest daughter."

Lyric confirmed, and this time, even Kael's expression changed as he stared at the girl in front of him.

She had a round face, and soft, wavy auburn hair. Her bright, amethyst eyes sparkled with curiosity and mischief, while her rosy cheeks and delicate features gave her a doll-like appearance.

'This adorable little thing is the daughter of the strongest man in the Kingdom?'

Kael was taken aback.

Sera caught him staring and pointed at him with her small finger.

"You are the Hero who can't bring his Bond out of the Sanctuary!"

She exclaimed.

"Pfft!"

Elira laughed out loud.

Kael momentarily blinked before he turned towards Lyric.

The Master Tamer just smiled.

There was no point in hiding this from the little one. She would have found out eventually.

"I decided to train you two together because I thought that having a companion to learn with might make your Fire Wyvern come out. It would also help you get a practical demonstration of what I say, and well,"

Lyric then patted Sera's head and,

"She also wanted to meet the Hero."

Lyric then glanced at Elira and chuckled lightly,

"Who knew she would also get to see the Court Mage? She has quite the luck."

Sera stared at Elira for a good few seconds before she cutely tilted her head. 

"You are the Court Mage? You are so beautiful, just like my mother."

Elira smiled at those words.

Right now, however, the Court Mage was in a dilemma. 

She wanted to talk to the girl and answer her back, however, the moment she said something, she would need to praise that brat, and just the thought of that annoyed her.

Her big amethyst eyes that were staring at her curiously didn't help either. In the end, Elira could only give in to the cuteness.

She crouched next to Sera and patted her head,

"Come now, I have seen Lady Elyndra."

She said with a soft smile.

"I am nowhere close to her when it comes to beauty. Isn't she the most beautiful woman in the world? And I see you have inherited her lovely eyes too, eh?"

And of course, before Kael could jump in, Elira continued,

"Even the Hero here is quite good-looking, don't you think?"

Yes, her mouth was constantly twitching as she said those words.

Sera tilted her head in confusion.

She was happy when she was compared to her mother, but more than that, her eyes shifted to Kael, who was barely able to control his laughter. Then, she glanced at Elira, after a while, her eyes shimmered with an intelligent glint and she pointed at Elira.

"You like the Hero!"

She exclaimed with an innocent look on her face.

Elira blinked in surprise, unable to believe what she heard.

"Pfft!"

Kael laughed out loud, unable to hold himself back. 

He, however, wasn't planning to end this just yet, so he crouched next to Sera as well and,

"Why do you say that?"

He questioned. 

If looks could kill, Kael would have died a thousand times with how Elira was glaring at him.

He ignored the Mage, of course. 

"Because she only talks about you!"

Sera answered excitedly as if she had uncovered a big secret. 

Then, she covered her mouth with her small hands and laughed. 

"Hehe~

The Hero already found his princess."

"N-No, that's not it, you are mistaken!"

Elira jumped in.

Kael stared at the Mage. This time, however, she didn't praise him. 

She was ready to take the penalty.

"I am mistaken?"

Sera tilted her head in confusion.

Elira nodded. She didn't wish to speak where she didn't have to.

"Does it mean you do not like the Hero?"

Elira nodded her head, confirming Sera's words.

Sera, however, misinterpreted her nod.

"So you do like him!"

Elira shook her head again, and this time, Sera just frowned,

"What are you trying to say?"

"I do not like him."

Elira had to give up and have her penalty increased again. 

Within just a few minutes, she was regretting falling for Kael's tricks.

"Then why did you call him hardworking and good-looking before? The Hero is exactly like the Heroes in the stories my mother reads to me, and they are all good. If you don't like him, does this mean you are a bad woman?"

In the end, Elira could only glance at Lyric, her eyes literally pleading for help.

Lyric frowned. She did think that Elira had been acting strangely ever since she saw her, but since this was nothing new, she decided to ignore it. 

Now, however, it all felt a little too strange, even for Elira.

'Does she actually have feelings for Hero Kael?'

Lyric thought inwardly as she stared at the two crouching together with Sera, and after thinking about it for a while, Lyric nodded in her head.

'It is about time.'

Elira was at the age where she would act like this. No, actually, she was already past that age. 

The Magic Genius had spent her entire life learning magic and fighting her brother, so she had no romantic interest in anyone, her brother's protectiveness didn't help in the matter either. 

It was about time she found someone, and even if the one she found was younger than her, Lyric was open-minded. 

Since both of them were old enough to think for themselves, she decided not to comment about the age difference and accept their choice.

So while Elira stared at Lyric, waiting for the Beast Tamer's help, Lyric raised her thumb, giving her approval with a bright smile on her face. 

"..." 

And Elira had no clue what this woman was thinking.