The Regal Siblings

The third day since he welcomed the stray named Sena into his home also marked the beginning of his bi-weekly routine: five days of rigorous duels and discipline sessions with his students.

Idris rose at dawn, his movements precise as he prepared for the day ahead. He indulged in a steaming warm bath, the water easing the lingering stiffness of sleep, and meticulously shaved away any trace of a night's growth. 

Back in his room, he reached for his sparring attire. The familiar weight grounding him. Each motion, from fastening the cuffs to pulling on his boots, settled him into the rhythm of the day.

Idris moved with the quiet grace of someone who understood every line and curve of his own strength. 

His white, long-sleeved tunic was meticulously tailored, its fabric hinting at durability, yet fluid enough to accentuate his V-shape contour and broad, defined shoulders. 

Along the neckline and cuffs, intricate sapphire blue embroidery stood out, a subtle yet rich embellishment that caught the light, almost appearing embossed. 

His forearms were encased in black leather bracers, snug and functional, hinting at the power contained within his muscular arms, where faint, almost pinkish scars contrasted against his cream skin. 

Below, black leather pants, cut tight to his form, emphasized the lean power of his legs, flowing seamlessly into black leather boots that rose just below the knee. 

His black, mid-length hair, slightly tousled but textured, framed a face that held both dignity and profound discipline. 

Every element of his attire spoke of a man dedicated to his craft, embodying strength, precision, and an understated aura of nobility.

He gave a final brush to his shoulders, ensuring no stray dust lingered, and then continued with purpose.

His next destination was the kitchen, where he planned to prepare a hearty welcoming meal for Kishi and Kanon, a spread also intended for himself and Sena. 

Opting for dishes that would sustain energy and were rich in protein, he began his preparations.

Four plates were soon arranged with practiced care, each topped with tender steamed chicken breast and a warm bowl of oatmeal brimming with a colorful mix of berries and crunchy nuts. Alongside a small blueberry bagel, generously slathered with cream cheese, completed the nourishing offering.

And just before he settled onto the couch nearest the door with his coffee, Idris heard the familiar sound of creaking, clacking, and rattling from a carriage, accompanied by the strong, powerful stride of the one at its reins. 

He placed his mug of coffee by his side of the table and headed towards the front door to welcome his students.

The light kiss of sunlight touched his skin along with the gentle breeze of the morning. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the crisp scent of earth and nature.

Kanon eagerly leaped from the carriage, not waiting for Kishi to fully remove the reins from his back. She rushed towards Idris, eager to hug her dearest teacher after two whole weeks apart.

"Mister Noorgareeethh!!!!!!! I missed you!!!" she yelled excitedly, pushing herself forward, expecting Idris to catch her.

Idris let out a long sigh, "Haaahhhh..." catching her just in time, a slight smile curving on his lips. 

"It's too early for you to be causing such a ruckus, Kanon. You should be more proper and act like the lady you are," he said in a tone befitting a teacher.

Sena's eyes fluttered open as streaks of sunlight touched her lashes and cheeks, kissing her good morning. She also heard the loud "I miss you" yell from downstairs. She pushed herself to sit up, scratching her hair and cheek.

Kishi, finally removing the rein from his back, shook off any lingering dirt from his fur. He fixed a sharp stare on Idris, then his eyes landed beyond him, scanning the interior of the house, sensing another presence inside.

One of his eyebrows arched, disdain plastered in his eyes, a sense of irritation already growing within him.

"You should revert to your human form, Kishi," Idris advised, sensing his continued non-human state. "I have a stray that might be startled looking at you like that," he added as a warning.

Upon hearing this, Kishi's ear twitched, the earring dangling from his left ear swaying slightly. With startling speed, he leaped and dashed inside Idris's house, heading straight for the upstairs bedroom.

With a swift, subtle movement, Idris sidestepped, his good reflexes never faltering as he kept Kanon securely in his arms. 

Kishi rushed upstairs, his powerful, silent strides barely audible. 

As he landed on the upper floor, a low, guttural growl vibrated in his chest. He stalked, a shadowy, feline form, towards the last door nearest the balcony, his movements unnervingly fluid and precise.

Stopping just outside the third door, his nose twitched, flaring, as it caught an unfamiliar scent emanating from within. 

His eyes, already gleaming in the dim light, dramatically intensified, becoming twin pools of predatory green. They reflected his heightened state of awareness and unyielding intent, sharpening his vision to an almost supernatural degree.

With all four legs tensing, muscles coiling and enhancing beneath his fur, he pushed backward. Then, with a deceptively light but intensely powerful thrust, he burst through the door, ramming it open with splintering force.

He landed squarely atop the unknown woman, who was still half-yawning, her arms stretched towards the sky. One of his massive paws pinned her down, its weight crushing against her voluptuous chest. 

Slowly, deliberately, his claws began to retract and then unsheath, glinting mere inches from her jugular.

Sena lay stunned, her eyes wide with shock and terror. She stared up into that intense, dark green pair of eyes, mesmerized as if gazing into polished emeralds, but from them, pure killing intent emanated. It choked her breath, paralyzing any reaction.

Upon sensing the tiger's claw pressing down, unsheathing slowly and nearing her neck, she swallowed hard, a dry, desperate sound caught in her throat. 

With a low voice, barely above a whisper, Sena managed to mutter, "S—stop."

Her right index finger twitched.

In that instant, Kishi was slammed back out the door, his body hitting the floor with a hard thud in one swift, unseen motion. 

His intense, predatory gaze instantly transformed into a look of stunned bewilderment. He lay there, utterly disoriented, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Downstairs, Idris gently set Kanon down in the middle of the living room. As he closed the door behind him, he moved with an easy grace towards the commotion upstairs, calmly brushing back a stray lock of hair. 

Sensing Kishi's bewildered silence just outside Sena's room, Idris paused, wondering if she had somehow managed to shove him with such force. He bypassed the stunned Kishi and walked directly to Sena.

"That's a very neat passive defense," Idris uttered, a slight smile gracing his lips as his hand reached out to pat Sena's head.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his smile directed at her even without direct sight.

Sena, still processing the baffling sequence of events, slowly looked up at Idris. Her eyes, wide with shock moments before, now softened, and she felt no tremor. A profound wave of comfort washed over her as Idris's warm, comforting pat settled gently on the back of her head.

"Sena, come downstairs when you're ready and join us for breakfast," Idris urged as he left the room and closed the door behind him.

Idris offered a hand to Kishi, helping him up from the floor. 

Kishi, now in his human form, flicked Idris's hand away and clicked his tongue, biting the side of his lips in utter disapproval and clear angst. 

Still slumped on the floor, not looking up at Idris, he managed to ask, "What the hell is she doing in that room?" Each word was laced with curiosity, yet tinged with palpable disgust and distrust.

Idris sighed, a small smile curving the side of his lips. "I'll tell you once we share breakfast." 

Pivoting his head, he called out to Kanon, still downstairs. "Kanon, be a dear and settle you and your brother's stuff in your respective rooms. He's having one of his tantrums again," he advised with a soft chuckle escaping him.

Turning back to Kishi, who was still fuming, Idris simply lifted him. His hands went under both of Kishi's armpits, just as one would a kitten, and he placed him effortlessly on his shoulders as he headed back downstairs, lightly patting Kishi's behind. 

"There, there," he said gently, stroking Kishi's back. Kishi slumped and limped against his shoulder, trying his best to wriggle off Idris's hold, but his efforts were futile. Idris held him as easily as a towel draped over his shoulder. Kishi finally let out a dejected sigh.

"Make sure to apologize to her once she joins us for breakfast, okay?" Idris advised, his tone gently coaxing him into submission. "Think about your actions just now. That warrants a hundred push-ups."

Kishi didn't answer, his only response a pout, as Idris finally sat him down at one of the chairs by the dining table. He waited patiently for the others to join them.

Not too long after, Kanon finally arrived in the dining area, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Haha! Look at your face!" she chimed, teasing her brother's obvious pout as she gracefully settled into a chair beside him.

Sena slowly crept into the dining room. Her eyes widened slightly as she saw Idris calmly sipping his morning coffee at the table, now joined by two unfamiliar faces. 

The question of where the large tiger had gone flickered through her mind. "Uhm… Good morning, Idris," she began, her voice a little hesitant. 

She then glanced at the two guests and offered a slight bow of her head. "Good morning," she murmured, before heading towards the only vacant seat.

Beside Idris.

This simple act ignited a fresh surge of anger in Kishi. 

Seeing them seated side by side, and the sheer audacity of this "stray" to call Mr. Noorgareth by his first name, made his irritation flare. 

Just as he was about to retort, he suddenly felt his sister's hand grab his, squeezing tightly. A clear, silent reminder to keep his composure… or else.

Idris cleared his throat, lightly brushing the front of his shirt as if dusting it off. "Sena, these are my students," he uttered calmly, gesturing towards the siblings across the table. 

"This is Kanon Regal," he indicated the girl directly in front of him with a nod. "And this is Kishi Regal," he then pointed to the angsty boy seated opposite Sena.

"P—Pleased to meet you… Uhm, I'm Sena Yukari," she replied shyly, offering another small bow to both of them. 

She was met by a beaming, open smile from Kanon, and a dismissive, utterly snobbish "Hmpf!" from Kishi. This quiet defiance, however, made a small smile play on Sena's lips. She felt a flicker of warmth, meeting new people who seemed to be around her age.

"Let's eat, the food's getting cold," Idris urged, his voice breaking the brief silence. Kanon was practically fidgeting, itching to bombard Sena with a multitude of questions, but Idris, sensing her barely contained excitement, preempted her.

"Kanon, she's a wanderer I found three days ago. You can get to know her more after breakfast," he advised gently. His voice then grew a bit sterner, clearly aimed at Kishi. "Come on, eat up, both of you."

"Oh! Come on, Mr. Noorgareth…" Kanon giggled, holding back her excitement as she began to dig into her plate. "Can you at least tell me why she's being so casual with you?" 

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. 

"Hey, Ms. Yukari, are you Mr. Noorgareth's girlfriend?" she asked, grinning from ear to ear. Idris, mid-sip of his coffee, visibly choked back a gasp, trying his best to maintain his composure.

"Hey!" Kishi yelled in sharp disapproval, slamming his fist lightly on the table.

Sena blushed deeply at the blunt question, casting a quick, embarrassed glance at Idris. 

He was intently focused on his food, not denying nor answering Kanon's question, but she noticed his ears and nape slowly reddening, a clear sign of his fluster. She couldn't help but chuckle softly at the thought of how easily he could be teased.

Kishi slammed his hand down on the table again, protesting vehemently. "She can't be his girlfriend! Mr. Noorgareth isn't like that. She's nothing but a stray he picked up!" he seethed, his face contorted with anger.

Sena, maintaining her calm, offered him a small, placid smile as she confirmed, "Yes, I'm just a lost stray, and it has been a delightful experience being invited to stay here temporarily by Idris… I mean, Mr. Noorgareth."

Idris's ears twitched almost imperceptibly at Sena's sudden formality. 

"You can drop the formalities, Sena. They call me Mr. Noorgareth because I'm their duel and discipline teacher. You don't have to be so formal with me," he stated matter-of-factly. 

His voice then hardened a little bit as he pivoted slightly, allowing him to fix his gaze on Kishi without moving his head completely, raising one eyebrow. 

"And Kishi, mind your manners before you break the table. Or do you want to add more punishment to your regimen later?"

Kishi protested inwardly, his ears practically fuming with agitation, but he remained silent.

"Ms. Yukari, how old are you if Mr. Noorgareth allows you to be informal with him? I'm eighteen, and Kishi, my younger brother, is seventeen. Mr. Noorgareth is around thirty, I think?" Kanon asked, placing a finger on her temple as she pondered her guess aloud.

Idris let out a long, dejected sigh, shaking his head. "Haaahhhhh… Kanon, I am twenty-five. Please keep that in mind."

"Hahahaha! I am so sorry, Mr. Noorgareth! I thought you were older since Doctor Ashriel said you guys were the same age, and he looks like he's fifty! Hahahahaha!" Kanon couldn't help but clutch her stomach, savoring the moment as she thoroughly enjoyed teasing her teacher.

"Kanon, your ignorance is shining right now. Mr. Noorgareth and Doctor Ashriel are the same age," Kishi interjected, shaking his head at his sister's perceived foolishness. 

"Having an Ashriel bloodline, it's normal for him to look more aged since their divinity is tied to this land."

"Hmm, is that so?" Kanon mused, a hint of relief in her voice. "Glad we don't have that much divinity then, if we were to dedicate our life force blessing Azarette even as we walk." She seemed genuinely content not to carry such a blessing… or burden.

"So, Sena, can I call you Sena? How old are you? Where are you from? Do you have any siblings? Do you like living here with Mr. Noorgareth? He's nice, isn't he? He's funny too, and we can tease him all we want but he never gets angry. Unlike that one time when Kishi did something really bad that Mr. Noorgareth made him do five hundred push-ups, hahahahaha!" Kanon's questions spilled out one after another like an armalite, barely pausing for breath.

Sena chuckled, smiling fondly at her newfound acquaintance. She answered as best she could. 

"I don't know how old I am, and I don't remember where I'm from. I don't have any siblings. And yes, I like living here. I think Idris is nice, I think Chase is nice too, and I think you're nice too, Kanon." 

She then cast a brief glance at Kishi before adding, "I hope we can get along too, Kishi."

But her words were met with complete silence from Kishi, who pointedly ignored her. 

Sena didn't take it to heart, though she did briefly wonder if they were truly safe right now, having been rudely awakened by a forceful white tiger.

Idris remained calm, quietly minding his business and finishing his breakfast. 

"Kanon," he interjected softly, "she has yet to meet a female physician by the Royal Hospice. She has short-term memory loss, you see." 

Kanon's face immediately fell into a sympathetic pout, feeling sorry for Sena.

"By the way, what happened to the white tiger that tried to attack me earlier? I hope it's okay, are we okay?" Sena looked at Idris, a hint of genuine worry in her tone.

Kanon couldn't help but burst into uproarious laughter, slapping Kishi's lap. "Ahahaha! Oh, that tiger is fine!" she guffawed. "The only thing hurt with that tiger was his ego, Ahahahaha!"

Sena tilted her head in confusion, her thoughts boggled, until Idris interrupted her bewilderment. 

"Kishi is the white tiger. Pardon his actions; he takes joy in intimidating people sometimes. It's not the first time he's tried to attack the strays I've picked up wandering and lost around these woods." 

Idris said, gently patting her head. "Forgive him if you can. Did he hurt you? He must have been heavy in that form."

"Oh, uhm…" 

Sena blushed deeply, her words catching in her throat before she could explain further. "It didn't hurt. It's just that… He, uhm… leaned on my chest, is all," she finished, looking away as she covered her mouth, trying to conceal her fluster.

Kishi abruptly stood up, his face as red as a tomato. 

"I DIDN'T DO THAT ON PURPOSE!!!" he bellowed, fuming, as he spun on his heel and stomped outside, slamming the door behind him. 

Idris let out a heavy sigh. 

"Haaahhh… I'll go after him," he murmured, standing to stack his dishes. Kanon snarkily chuckled at her brother's humiliation, doing her best to finish her meal amidst her amusement.

"Kanon, kindly clean up the table and prepare for the day. And just a reminder: the 'Discipline' part of this course means keeping your composure intact. Think about your actions so far," Idris advised, then walked towards the door.

"Yes, Mr. Noorgareth," Kanon uttered with newfound lady-like composure, straightening her back to acknowledge her teacher.

Sena, on the other hand, finished her breakfast in silence. She hadn't meant to humiliate Kishi, and she felt genuinely bad about his reaction. She resolved to find a way to patch things up with him later.

Kanon waited for Sena to finish, maintaining a quiet, almost formal demeanor. Once Sena was done, Kanon began clearing the table. 

Sena reached out to help, but Kanon gently waved her hand. "It's okay, Ms. Yukari. You heard Mr. Noorgareth. This is all part of our course."

With a final, polite nod, she headed to the kitchen to wash the dishes and prepare for the day.