Before the Ordeals Start

The three already woke up earlier than usual. Elenea had begun cooking breakfast as Aranea sliced some chives to put in their omelet.

"What would you like to add to the omelet, Leonel?"

"Oh! Ham," Leonel answered, going towards the refrigerator to get the ham.

He got a spare knife as he also started cutting the ham, putting it on the platter beside the chives.

The three had woken up at around 6:30 in the morning. Despite the two, Leonel and Aranea, only having a few hours of sleep, both of them felt energetic as they helped Elenea in preparing for their breakfast.

The scent of garlic and onions being sauteed wafted in the kitchen. Elenea already started cracking the eggs as Aranea gave her the platter that contained the chives and the ham that she and Leonel sliced.

"Mom is so prepared. She even filled the fridge with all the food and drinks that we need," she said, Elenea giggling as she started putting the other ingredients in the pan.

"Of course! You know how mom is," she replied, Aranea already getting some mugs to put hot water in for their hot cocoa.

"Do you like hot cocoa?" Aranea asked Leonel as she put choco powder in the mugs, but not on the third as she was waiting for Leonel to answer.

"Sure. I prefer hot choco than coffee," he answered, making Aranea put choco powder on the third mug as well as Leonel got his mug then stirred his share.

With their breakfast already prepared, the three of them set the table and sat on their respective chairs as they started eating their morning meal, conversing with each other as they start talking about the trials that they are about to face.

"Soon, we would already be facing our trial," Elenea said, sighing slightly as she put a small piece of her omelet in her mouth, and chewed.

"Mmm..." Aranea's face showed worry as she furrowed her brows. "I don't know how I should do my trial even with the help of Leonel," she mumbled, but it was enough for the two to hear.

Elenea's ordeal was to heal any comrades that needed help. She is to stay by Aranea's side, specifically, making her heal her and Leonel.

It was an easy task if one could look at it, but it would take a toll on her mana if she was to heal a lot of people with her musical singing powers.

As for Aranea, her task was to hunt down one beast. She is not aware of what the beast is, but she knew she would have to search for it.

Even though she knew that she would have Leonel's help, she would also have to rely on herself, too, in order to pass her ordeal.

Seeing the worry on her face, Leonel smiled at Aranea as he put a comforting hand on her shoulder, patting her for encouragement.

"No matter what it is, I will help you and we would overcome the trial because it is my responsibility to serve and protect you," Leonel said, making Aranea's heart flutter as she heard his words.

"Thank you, Leonel," Aranea thanked him as Leonel ruffled her hair playfully as if she was the familiar rather than the master.

Getting their attention, Elenea took a sip from her hot choco before she spoke.

"Are you going to train later, Aranea?" she asked, making Aranea nod her head in an instant to answer her.

"Yes. I would have to train myself in using the bow rather than completely rely on Leonel. As a Summoner, I have to depend on my own strength, too," she said, making Leonel widen his eyes.

"You use a bow?"

Aranea nodded, "Yeah! Since I was young and there was no sign that I had magic yet, I had decided to train myself physically in a weapon I find interesting--which is the bow," she added, making Leonel smile at her motivation to improve herself.

He knew that most of the people would rather give up if they had found out that they had no magic.

With Aranea not knowing that she has magic, and

with her believing that she won't ever have one, she chose to learn how to use a bow so she could have something that she is good at.

"That's not the only thing that she's good at, though," Elenea said, Aranea embarrassingly scratching her cheek as she felt shy that her twin sister was complimenting her. "She is also good in physical combat, even without the use of her bow. Although if she is against humans--I wonder with beasts."

Aranea chortled, "Of course, only against humans if I am harmed! I can't attack beasts--they might chomp my head off first!"

Hearing their conversation, Leonel laughed a little as he propped a hand under his chin, looking at the two sisters before them.

"Then shall the three of us train later? I could also teach you a thing or two, Aranea. I could combat with you. I could also teach you about resonation," he said, the sisters looking at each other as they blinked their eyes, lost about what he said in the latter part.

"Yes, we could all train later... but what do you mean by resonation?" Aranea asked, the sisters' attention on him as they waited for his reply.

"Oh, resonation, is I get to mix my elemental powers with yours. For example, if you shoot an arrow, since my element is water, we could add an elemental attribute to your attacks."

"Woah!" There was excitement in Aranea's voice. "We could do that?"

Leonel nodded as he smiled, finding her enthusiasm inspiring.

"Yes! But it would take a lot of mana from you as well. But first, we have to make our manas in sync because in order for me to add water attribute in your attacks, we have to match our manas."

Aranea cocked her head to the side in wonder, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Match our manas? How is that possible?"

Leonel took another bite of his egg before replying.

"We have to train together first and see how we can fight side by side. If we make our movements one with how we move, then our manas can be in sync."

"Hmm..." Elenea slightly furrowed her brows, "Sounds difficult for the both of you," she added, making Leonel nod in agreement.

"Yes. We have a few days before the ordeals start and we would have to train to our hardest by then," he said, Aranea grinning as she felt pumped up.

"Okay then! After an hour rest, we could start with our training!"