Chapter 7- Uncle Phillip

My vision slowly began to return to me. I caught a few glimpses of a very familiar looking ceiling before I weakly turned my head around to observe the environment. 

'Seems I'm back in my room..'

"...oh..you're awake…"

A stern and strict voice echoed in my ears and the familiarity made me shudder a little. I looked towards the door to find my mother in silver Paladin armor. 

'Seems I slept for quite a while'. 

"...you really are a handful…nearly killing yourself…." 

She walked up to me sitting down on the chair next to another one. I had not noticed all this while. A little girl's body laid soundly asleep on top of my chest. 

'This girl…she could have at least laid down on the side next to me and not on top of me !' 

"Don't mind Morganna, she insisted you'll wake up faster this way" 

'....well..she has a point". 

"You…..are you my son ?" 

My pupils dilated at the sudden question and I felt a bit of a cold breeze creep up on me but soon I regained my normal expression. 

"What sort of ?" I muttered weakly.

"Well…..you've done absurd things that have worked for you so far and you're extremely talented even for a Jun this is absurd". 

I smiled at her a little. "You worry too much, Mother...I am your son…it's just that…they are something's that require the only son of the Jun family to achieve in this life…" 

My mother stared at me with a baffled expression. She caressed my hair. "That's not something a 10 year old should be saying…seriously…you sound older than me sometimes you know…" 

'Now that I think about it….I didn't live as long as my mother in my past life….how regretful….' 

"I'm just…trying to get as strong as I can….surely this world has much more powerful unknown forces out there…I just don't want to be at the losing end" 

She stared at me silently and sighed. 

"Your father's younger brother is in his study with him. They're discussing some official matters…." 

"The demon subjugation is today….guess it's no surprise…I've been unconscious for a week now?" 

"To be precise 11 days…." 

"Oh…." I sighed. "But…I seemed to have achieved what I wanted". 

My mana heart and mana star were both stable. 'And it seems I've formed a 3rd circle….as I thought….my mana circle and mana star are connected…if one grows so does the other….it will be faster to reach the peak of a Grand Great Swordsman at this stage' 

"Yes….I can only fathom the depths of your abilities in the future…" she smiled as she got up. "I look forward to it….and try not to kill your sisters with anxiety…..especially Thalia…you have no idea how worried she's been these few days" 

'Well…I'm sure of it that little girl is a big softie' 

"I shall be on my way then.." 

"Good luck … mother…and come home safe". 

She stared at me with a surprised expression. She smiled, giving me a reassuring feeling. 

"Of course…." And she left. 

I sat up, slowly pushing Morganna to the bed. "She must have stayed by my side this whole time…."

Even in my past life, I was the closest with her. Now, my mother's safety is ensured since my dad would be going as well unlike the past so all that's left….is the assassination attempt between this evening and the next three days. 

'I already have a plan for that….as for Uncle Phillip' 

"Raffaello!" 

I turned towards the door and a smile exuded my lips. "Thalia…you seemed to have formed a 2nd circle…talent at its finest". 

She stared at me shockingly as she shuddered with immense emotions. 

"You idiot….that's not something a 10 year old should say" 

'They keep reminding me of my age' 

I chuckled as we embraced each other.

"Enhhhh ? What's all this…". 

We turned towards the bed to find Morganna slowly waking up. 

"Oh…..You're awake….YOU'RE AWAKE !" She jumped off the bed unto me and we both fell down. 

"Sister ! Get off me !" I cried out as she hugged me tightly. 

"Shut it ! Do you know how much stress you've put me through these past few days" 

Thalia chuckled. 

"We better go meet the rest of our sisters….they're waiting for us down stairs" 

"Oh right….the monster subjugation should be today". 

Morganna muttered letting me go when I nearly died of suffocation. 

"Let's go !" She pulled me along with her as we headed down the stairs ignoring the maids that were probably sent to attend to me. 

 We rushed to the main entrance where my elder sisters were waiting with my father, mother and...that traitorous man. Uncle Philip. 

"Oh ! Looks like you're awake !" Phillip yelled out the moment he saw us. He looked just as much as my father though he had rough hair unlike my dad's neat hair tied to a ponytail and a much bulkier body. He was wearing gold armor with the symbol of the imperial family. A dignified stork. 

"Raph…" Rebecca called out as she walked towards me. 

"...hah…I'm fine…Rebecca". 

She held up my cheeks and stared at me with a fearsome expression. 

'Oh..wait…she only does this when…'

As if she could hear my thoughts, she slammed her head on mine causing this insanely prickly migraine that made me cry out 

"SISTER !" 

'Shit ! This little girl ! Why do all my sisters show their affection in violent ways'

"Don't make us worry like that ! You idiot". 

I could hear my family laughing at my sudden state. 

'Are they sadists ? Seeing me fluster in pain ?' 

"Guess he's still a 10 year old after all" Philip muttered chuckling. 

"Alright, we'll be taking our leave now…" father said as he tapped Philip's shoulder. 

"Have my back and protect my kids for me". 

"Of course brother" he nodded. 

'Liar' 

My dad walked out with my mum and they got on their horses as they headed out with a battalion of 50 soldiers armed in armor and on top of war horses. 

'....in my past life, 30 died…and all 30 were from our personal army unlike the 20 sent from the imperial palace….the whole thing was sketchy….I hope my dad can handle it….though…they probably don't know he had reached the 11th star at this stage' 

Phillip sighed as he turned around to face us. 

"So…is there something you would like to do since your parents are gone now ?". He smiled.

His smile. I never liked it, actually none of us did. 

I turned around to walk away and my sisters followed after except my eldest. 

"I apologize on behalf…they probably have training to do". Gloria said with an amused expression trying to wave it off. 

He laughed out as well.

"...well…I'm sure they would". 

NORMAL POV. 

Phillip stared at Raffaelo as he walked up the stairs with his sisters. A devilishly impulsive smile curled from his lips as he turned around and walked out of the mansion to the courtyard. 

All this while Gloria watched his every action. 

Gloria was 19 now and had reached the peak of the 8th star. The process of climbing from the 5th star upwards is much  harder compared from the 1st to the 5th since a broader understanding of the sword is required but for her age it was still a wonderful feat. 

She had reached the master of the sword and she was fully able to feel the emotions people emitted through their mana and she felt the cold and devious feelings he gave off as he walked out. 

'He….' She glared at him and slowly turned around to walk up the stairs. 

Phillip walked down the courtyard quietly then stopped when he got to a tree at an end close to the walls surrounding the complex. 

"This noon…aim for their son…eliminate him first". 

The leaves of the tree rustled and a satisfied smile curled from his lips. 

'Slowly brother…I shall take everything you have built'.

****

Gloria stopped at the hallway when she noticed her siblings standing in the middle while staring at her. 

"Oh..where you guys waiting for me ?" She asked as she walked closer to them. 

"Raph suggested something that I think you need to hear". Fiona said nodding her head to her question. 

There was never any obvious conflict between the sisters and they respected each other unless it came to personal matters. 

"Which is ?" She asked as she got to them. 

"I think…it would be best if we slept in the same room…until dad and mum come back" Raffaelo replied.

"...hmm…what for ?" 

"Uncle Philip.....even you felt it didn't you…" Rebecca replied. "He doesn't have good intentions…I don't trust him…" 

Though Rebecca wasn't in the realm of a master, she was at the 7th star now. A level away from the master but through her unique trait, soldier of light she is able to tell malicious intent just from the aura they give off as well.

"....true…" she sighed. 

"Alright…let's decide on a room". 

"Of course it will be Raph's". 

They all turned towards Raffaello with expressions he couldn't afford to refute. 

"...o…o..of..of course…". He had a weary expression on his face. 

'This sisters of mine'. He chuckled as he turned around. "Let's go".