Chapter 8

Two more years slipped by, and Roya Greyrat had successfully found a wife for Rudeus—Sylphy. After bringing the somewhat bashful Sylphy home and letting Rudeus start his training regimen, Roya reflected quietly to himself, "You've already got one now, so don't go stirring up trouble."

On top of his regular practice with magic and swordsmanship, Roya began paying closer attention to the passage of time. Why? Simple—he was waiting for Roxy.

Rudeus already had a wife, so Roya, as the eldest brother, figured it wasn't unreasonable to hope for one of his own, was it?

When Rudeus turned four, Roya started making sensible requests to Paul and his wife. "Father, Mother," he said one day, "I think Rudeus and I could benefit from a magic teacher to guide us."

Not long after, a girl with azure hair stepped down from a carriage. "My name is Roxy. It's a pleasure to meet you," she said. She was a petite, charming girl dressed in a brown, magician-style robe, her light blue hair tied back in a neat pigtail. She appeared to be around the age of a young teenager—small, polite, and delicate. Her half-closed eyes and slightly weary demeanor lent her a cool, detached air as she addressed Paul.

A little girl with sleepy eyes and a frosty attitude—that was the impression she left on everyone.

The instant Roya laid eyes on Roxy, he pulled Rudeus aside without a second thought. "Rudeus," he said gravely, "have I been good to you?"

Rudeus, though confused, nodded. Truthfully, despite his older brother's aloof exterior, Roya was a sincerely kind person.

Roya leaned in close to Rudeus's ear and whispered, "I like this girl."

Rudeus's eyes widened. He stole a glance at the adorable Roxy, then back at the strikingly handsome boy before him. The idea of them growing close sent a flush to his cheeks, his imagination spinning with a flood of wild possibilities.

As if concerned Rudeus hadn't caught it, Roya repeated, "I like this girl."

Rudeus gave a knowing nod. Leaning in, he whispered back, "So, what's the plan?"

"What's the plan?" Roya shot Rudeus a puzzled look. "What else could it be?"

Rudeus broke into a sly grin, a mischievous glint in his eye. Roya instinctively stepped back as Rudeus murmured, "You know—that! She's adorable. Don't tell me you haven't thought about it."

Roya paused, considering it for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully. Rudeus clapped him on the shoulder and called out, "Sylphy, come over here!"

Paul, growing irritated with their hushed exchange, snapped, "Roya, Rudeus, get over here and meet your teacher!"

Roxy glanced at them with mild curiosity. Adjusting the brim of her hat, she turned to Paul. "I heard you have two boys who want to learn magic. What about the other child?"

Paul, with a faintly amused expression, pointed to the tall boy beside him. "This is my eldest son, Roya Greyrat." Then he gestured toward a yellow-haired kid nearby. "And this is my second son, Rudeus."

Roya, accustomed to introductions, dipped his head politely. "Are you our teacher? It's nice to meet you. I'm Roya Greyrat—you can just call me Roya."

Roxy blinked, momentarily thrown off by the charismatic boy standing before her. Pointing at him, she asked, "You're… a boy?"

Roya's eyebrow twitched. He was well aware his appearance often led to mix-ups—who could fault them, given how he looked? He nodded, and Roxy offered an awkward smile, her eyes darting between Roya and Rudeus.

"So, these two are my students?" she asked.

Rudeus raised a hand hesitantly. "If it's alright, I'd like Sylphy to learn with us too."

"Huh? Me?" Sylphy faltered. "I'd love to study with Rudy and Brother Roya, but… is that allowed?"

Rudeus flashed her a warm, reassuring smile and waved a hand as if to say, "Don't worry, I've got this."

Paul rubbed his forehead in exasperation. "Hey, you two don't get to make that call on your own. We agreed it'd just be the boys."

Roxy's smile tightened. She glanced at the shy Sylphy, let out a soft sigh, and said, "You can stay and listen. But aren't you all a bit young? One's six, and the other two are four."

Rudeus and Sylphy's smiles faltered.

Paul puffed out his chest with pride. "All the boys in our family are geniuses."

Roxy sighed in resignation, massaging her temples. "Fine," she murmured. "Let's begin with today's first lesson."

The four of them settled into an open spot in the courtyard and sat down. Roxy pulled a thick magic book from her bag, hesitated, then set it aside. Facing the three children seated cross-legged before her, she said, "Let's start with this magic textbook… No, hold on. First, let's see how much magic you already know."

Rudeus opened his mouth to respond, but Roya interjected with a calm, steady voice. "We've only picked up some basics from books."

Roxy's delicate features betrayed a faint "I figured as much" look. She exhaled softly, glanced around, and addressed them all. "I'll demonstrate first. Watch closely and try to follow. May the great blessing of water come to the place you seek, and let a cool shallow stream appear here—Water Ball."

A fist-sized orb of water materialized in her hand, swirled briefly, and then launched forward. With a gentle splash, it struck the ground near a railing, leaving it damp.

"Did you see that?" Roxy asked, her tone flat, clearly not expecting much from them.

"Amazing!" Rudeus cried out with exaggerated awe, shooting Roya a quick wink.

Sylphy tilted her head, puzzled. Didn't they already know how to do this?

Magic was extraordinary. The ability to summon wind, fire, water, and earth from nothing was nothing short of breathtaking. Yet it was also notoriously challenging, requiring precise control over magical energy.

Today, Roxy had unknowingly crossed paths with three remarkable talents.