Kya~

Fun day, yesterday. 

We had a feast to celebrate Roxy's first day, and everything. That marked the first day, since I've been able to walk, where I didn't just move on to the next goal, but actually took a breather, and lazed around.

It's weird.

Not unpleasant, but odd, like…

Well, it doesn't matter. It was just a little reprieve for our guest of honor.

Anyways, Paul and Zenith really went out with Roxy's welcoming party. We don't have refrigeration, so we had to finish it all in one day.

Although, we do have Ice magic in a way, if we ask nicely that is. Thoughts for later.

For now I should focus on the present.

Swing. Clang, clang, dodge. Swing. Clang, clang, dodge. Swing, dodge… repeat and repeat.

Sword training has been quite a fruitful avenue. 

During the 4 month wait for Roxy sensei, me and Lilia have been training and sparring day after day. I've gotten down many forms, and we've taken turns in attack and being attacked, as the water god style, is first and foremost a counterattack style.

I've gotten down the forms into a subconscious level that I don't have to think about them, but…

Poke. I 'stab,' lilia with my 'sword,' stick you perverts, over the chest, right over the heart, making my win.

It's my win… but it feels hollow.

Getting the forms down to this level, ingraining them into my subconscious, has been superfluous. It makes it so that when I go into the zone, I can react without thinking, it is what I wanted, but I also end up taking advantage of Lilia's right side at those times.

She's weak at that side.

I try not to take advantage of her handicap, but in the heat of the moment, and when you are moving faster than you are thinking, I am unconsciously moving to her right side, and making it harder for her to defend.

I understand now why she had to throw away the sword. Although her understanding of techniques is still at intermediate level, her body can only perform at that level for so long. It wouldn't be inaccurate to say that she is an intermediate swordsman, who can only fight like a beginner. 

Can't say I know what exactly is wrong with her leg, but her movements become sluggish if she has to turn or pivot on that leg too abruptly. 

A second delay can mean death on the battlefield.

"It is your win once more, master Rudeus."

Hardly.

"Sounds like sarcasm, coming from you Lilia. That is my win to your 7." We have made it a habit of ending on her 'defeat,' but calling it my victory feels false. In the end, all I'm doing is outlasting her, and attacking her weakness.

I'm just tiring her out.

"A win is a win master Rudeus, that is something to be proud of."

We sat outside, just enjoying the morning dew. 

With Roxy taking up my foreseeable future with magic training, I can't afford to go by the lake anymore, it's a bit too far from the house, and as such could mess with my self-imposed schedule of magic training in the afternoon. 

So instead, so I don't miss my lessons, me and Lilia now train outside the house, rather than the half mile distance of the Pond. Taking a break, I go to the wall surrounding our house, and rest against the cold bricks, enjoying the cool feeling of the rocks on my back as I embrace the sun from the front.

It's a good day.

It's a good thing Paul is hungover. I wonder what I'll do tomorrow.

Lilia is massaging her injured leg as she sits by a chair, leaning by the fence.

"Come sit with me Lilia," I ask her to sit by my side on the wall.

She simply obeyed, and walked to stand by my side, a meter between us. I also noticed the slight hubble, as she stepped off.

Am I an asshole? She's functional most of the time that I don't even notice her handicap, but she has one, and I'm having her spar with me.

It's time I address the issue.

"Lilia, can I see your leg please?"

…

She hesitates, for a moment, "why?"

"Do you trust me?"

…

Another, moment's hesitation, "I trust y-"

"I'd like the most honest answer. It's really important if it's a yes or a no, if it's a no i won't be offended,"

"...I would like to trust you," she answered.

Not quite a yes, but not a no. 

Well, I'll take what I can get.

"Can you please show me your leg?"

She pulls up her apron a bit, and reveals her leg. Her good one.

"The other one,"

She lets her garb down, and slowly reveals her bad leg. She blushes a little, while looking away. Revealing, a slightly bruised leg.

You're more embarrassed showing your injured leg, than showing your perfectly healthy one.

"Can you sit on the wall for a bit, keep your leg revealed please."

She does as ordered. Sometimes being dutiful is good at times like these. I get on one knee, and contemplate.

There's a concept I've been entertaining for quite a while now. Before I came to this world I was a huge fan of all things anime, specifically fantasy, and that means magic, and the one that sticks to my core more than most is that of the Nasuverse.

In essence; everything in that universe is magic. Humans magic, inner, and outer. The world; magic. Other realities? Magic. Space; magic. Everything is magic.

And in this world there is healing magic, and Toki as well. It might not be viewed as magic, but it most certainly is. There are characters in fiction that performed superhuman feats, but aren't magic, like captain america, master chief and the hulk, but they are balanced around the fact that they don't completely break the rules of physics to do so. They consume more energy(food/fuel). they expand their muscles, they are placed on pressure, they have an altered biochemistry, etc.

Paul does not achieve any of these negatives, not that I can see. The act of splitting a rock with a sword, should at least split the sword, before it would split the rock.

So I lay my hands on her leg, and, "Trace on," place my magic in it.

Magic is everything. 

It is healing, it is her leg, it is our Toki, it is her curse. And I am magic, so If I have it, sure I can do something about it, right?

Huh?

I took my hand away from her leg for a second, and looked up at Lilia, "ha…ha…" she is breathing a bit roughly, but alright it seems.

"Lilia are you alright?"

"...yes… master Rudeus…"

Well, if everything is ok.

"Tell me if you feel a lot of pain. A bit of pain is ok, but if it gets too much just tell me to stop."

She nods.

That was weird. Let's try that again. Trace on.

I poured my energy into her leg again, this time starting a bit further from the purple bruise injury, and tried to make my way down, from the base of her knee to it. My energy flows steadily, then it slows down, and then stops. 

It stops.

This is weird right?

I try for something more direct. I start applying the healing spell, start from the base of the knee, and slowly go down to the discolorate area once again. Same feeling happens.

Alright, let's be even 'more,' direct. 

This technique is something I've been experimenting with, but I'm confident in its results. Alright…

I try to apply healing energies through my hands once again, trying to let the energies flow through my thumb, while applying a circular massaging motion with it, down the knee, and-

"Nnn…" I heard Lilia make a sound.

"...Lilia, you ok?"

"Y-yes, master Rudeus." She answers flusteredly.

Alright, that was… unexpected.

I lost my concentration. Where was I?

I repeat my previous actions with the massage, and healing,

"Ha...nnh…hnh…" some quiet moans are entering my ear. It's distracting.

I keep the technique going, and now focused on the key area specifically, and-

Nothing. 

Everything is magic. I should have felt something, no? A feeling, a tug, isn't that how these things go. I stand up, and-

"W-woah," almost fell back to the ground. "I'm more tired than I expected. That consumed more mana from me than I thought." 

Ooookay, so something is definitely happening. I just don't know what. This was my first time healing someone, but it shouldn't have been so costly. Probably. 

Further experiments are needed.

"So, how are you feeling, any feelings of pain or discomfort?"

"No… I am feeling fine. I feel better than I was a moment ago," she caresses her skin a bit, before letting her dress back down.

I breathe out a sigh. If nothing else, she at least got a free massage out of this.

"Was that master Rudeus's intention?"

"Uh, I was trying to heal your injury," I sheepishly turned my head to the side. Even I'm a bit embarrassed at my arrogance.

I honestly thought I could do something.

Pat.

Eh?

"Good work Rudy," she smiles as she pats my head. I think this is the first time she's done that.

When's the last time she called me Rudy?

I look at her smile, and "beautiful," I mumble. Noticing my little slip of the tongue I quickly corrected myself. "This world that is. It really is beautiful." I said unable to look at her face.

Got a little gobsmacked there for a second.

…

"...Master Rudeus, is my presence  still required?" She asked as I'm looking away.

Absolutely.

I turn to her, at my side, and then look at the beautiful scenery in front of me.

"Definitely. Good friends, good company, makes a good life," I say to her.

"...I see…" 

…I wonder.

"Hey, Lilia, can I have a massage?" She curls an eyebrow.

Admittedly it is a bit forward, but you can't deny the effects of a good massage. Ever had a massage after exhaustion or fighting. It's the best!

"Such things would be inappropriate of a young master," she answered.

As tempting as it would be to point out the hypocrisy in that statement, I'll be the bigger man.

"Is that so? I really need it though, and asking mama would be troublesome," she is slightly confused. "You sure you can't give me a massage? I haven't told mama about our training, so…" 

She squints her eyes in confusion.

Guess I'll clear it up. 

I unbutton my shirt a bit, and reveal my naked torso, making the message clear. My body having a few bruises.

Nothing heinous, but can easily, misconstrued as bullying.

Not technically untrue.

I do ask Zenith to heal me from time to time, so she can show me the 'pretty lights,' (plagiarize her healing abilities). But If I did that everyday, she'd know something was up.

It's not a big deal, but Zenith is a bit of a worry-wart.

"I think it i'll be a bit of an awkward thing, if she found out about my training like this,"

She opens her eyes widely in realization, "O-oh, oh, that… is true… um, does master Rudeus really require a massage?"

I just stared dumbly. What do you think?

But seriously, you can't deny the effects of a good massage. 

The fact that it's being done by a cool beauty is coincidental. Coincidentally, I tell you.

"The most important part about training is recovery sensei."

"...That is true, sigh, very well. But master Rudeus still has a full day of lessons ahead, we'll continue this-

"Please~" I used puppy dog eyes.

"Fine," she gave in. It's super effective. 

Hope I can turn this into an everyday thing. 

For health reasons obviously.

///

As time passes, I've settled into a new routine. It has now been four months since Roxy's lessons began, and I more or less have gotten used to it.

Wake early; exercise by myself. Mornings; train with Lilia. Followed by a study session with Roxy in the afternoon. Try to help out around the house a bit in the afternoon, then finally night comes and I can rest, and if I'm a little too sore to rest… Well, nothing a good old massage session can't fix.

Rinse and repeat. 

My muscles are aching quite a bit though, I hope I make some progress in healing magic for my sake as well as Lilia's.

I guess this is where my everyday slice of life days begin. I'm dying of boredom. I finally understand the phrase drama is just life with all the boring parts cut out.

"AH! DEAR!" Loud moans are heard.

Well mostly boring. I wish I could cut this part out, but those two are enjoying their own little slice of life in their own way.

Now if only it didn't cut into my sleeping time.

"They're being loud again." I grumbled. 

Four years, and those love birds love life is still going strong.

Kudos to them. Now finish up.

My everyday boring days would be mostly complete, if it wasn't for their… intimacy acts.

Oh, joy, I'm sooo~ happy for you…

For the first three months after Roxy's arrival they were quiet enough, actually being attentive to our guest. 

This month though, nope, not a bit.

I swear they're making up for lost time. 

One of these days I'm just gonna walk in there, and ask them why they are 'wrestling.'

With that train of thought, I stop my reading, and go down the hallway.

"Ahn, dear, not so rough~" a feminine voice goes down the hallway.

"Just a bit," Paul's voice follows. 

I can hear them a little too well. Which if I had to guess, means they left the door open. Again.

Raiju explode! But seriously, at least close the door. 

Making my way down the hallway, I'm preparing myself to close the door quietly, and get out of there, maybe even make some noise of my own signaling I'm wandering the hall. 

Kya? Mama… papa… why are you fighting?

While thinking such nonsensical thoughts, I hear heavy breathing once again.

Right outside my parent's door that is.

"Hah… hah," some quiet restrained moans can be heard.

Walking closer and closer, in this silence it's easy to make it out, even if the breathing is low, and I follow it to its source.

To a very lightly dressed blue-haired girl.

There is my sensei, she beat me to the punch as it were and is… 'enthralled' from what she sees in Paul and Zenith's bedroom. Breathing unsteadily, face flushed, and her hands are… well… moving vigorously in certain locations. One on her breast… continuously going in a circular motion, and the other… going down her robe… between-

Riiight~ this happened.

She continues her motion, again, and again.

Is she unbuttoning her robe?

A gentleman would turn away now. A gentleman should turn away.

Yep, a gentleman definitely would…

I continue watching for a bit, as she moves her hands down an opening in her robe, still stuck in her own world, before finally she looks away from the door, and… looks down the hallway.

Our eyes met.

Standing in still silence, Roxy's hands are still stuck in place, while she stares at me with wide open eyes.

Well… this is awkward.

"Paul!" 

"Zenith!" And of course those love birds are still going to town.

Alright, that's enough of that. 

I walk up the door where Roxy is still kneeling, grab her by the shoulders, and shove her, just a little so that she's not by the entrance.

Caught off-guard, she falls over herself, landing on her elbows, as she gives me a slightly bemused look. 

"Mom! Dad!" I yell out, my sensei starts panicking a moment, adjusting her robe, and waving at me. At the same time I hear some panicking sounds coming from the bedroom. Ignoring both their confusion, and Roxy's, I continue, "YOU'RE LOUD!" before closing the door hard on them.

"Close your door!" I yell from behind the door.

Roxy sensei just continues to blink at me repeatedly gobsmacked at what just happened. Her mouth opened over and over, but no words came out.

Are you a fish?

Don't care, I'm too tired for this shit. Let me sleep.

Ignoring her looks, I turn my back to her, and go back to my room. I throw myself on the bed, and get ready for a good night's sleep.

…

…I can't sleep.

///

Oops.

It has come to my attention that I don't make the best decisions when tired.

I didn't exactly get a good night's sleep, but at least I'm doing better than the silent trio.

"..." x3. 

The awkwardness is palpable 

Well, at least the food is delicious as always. "Delicious food Lilia,."

"It's the same as always young master," well atleast Lilia is still the same as ever.

"U-um, Rudy, about last night-ghk!" he gets interrupted. The sound of the table jittering is heard.

"Dear, not in front of our guest," Zenith says sweetly, while pointing out Roxy at the corner table.

Well, if you don't want to address it, that's all fine by me. 

She's already more or less already seen your 'front,' and probably your 'back,' by now.

Why she hasn't gone outside for her morning walks I have no idea, but awkwardness loves company. 

That's how that expression goes right?

"A-ah, don't mind me, ah I- I mean can I borrow Rudy for today's morning lesson? I want to show him around the village, I-I'd like to show him some practical application of magic today, and our neighbors are most active in the morning."

"O-of course, isn't that right dear?" Zenith asks.

"Absolutely!" He exclaims, "I mean, ahem," he coughs into his hand. "Sure, why not. You're his teacher you know best," he finishes coolly.

Yeah right. Get rid of your facade of cool parents, it's hilarious. Then again… it's hilarious, keep it going!

"But what about my les-" whoops, almost let it slip that I've been training with Lilia recently. I turn my head towards the maid. She smiles meekly at me.

I guess sword training is canceled for the day. Well, maybe I can tease Roxy a bit, that feels like it gives me a good laugh.

Slice of life comedy here I come~

///

[Roxy POV]

"Pfft-" 

I threw myself onto the bed.

Ah, what a day. I spent the whole day showing my student around the village, and showing him some practical ways to use magic, until I could work up the courage to breach the topic.

I did not.

After roaming the village, we studied by the book, and never once spoke about 'IT.'

Although, I swear he smirked at me once or twice. That child is the devil.

"Alright," I got off of the bed. Gotta put a stop to this while I can. Don't want him accidentally asking his parents what Roxy sensei was doing watching his parent's 'wrestling.'

Walking down the hallway I head towards my student bed, and prepare myself.

I wonder what I'll say?

"Mmm. mmm… Ah… yeah…right there, ah…"  suddenly I heard some noises coming from outside.

What?

"Ahh, ah…" more moans are coming from the yard.

Did I make a mistake, are the noises coming from inside-wait no that's not what's important it's just been one day, what is master Paul doing already?!

"Rudeus… can you please stop making such sounds?"

"But it feels so good~"

"Even so…"

"You know, the reason this body is under so much stress is because of you, you know? You're just- Aaahhh… right there… please continue, right you're, just relieving the pressure from the marks you gave me."

"My humble apologies."

"It's fine, no pain no gain, besides this is the best~ If I knew it would be this good I might have let you hit me more- OW!"

"...Sorry master Rudeus, I placed a bit too much pressure."

wha-wha-WHAT AM I HEARING?!

She said Rudeus right?! As in the young master? Wait, how old was he again? No, wait he's too young! Should I report this to the master-no wait first thing first.

I take out my staff. Blast open the door with a bit of wind magic, and-

"What are you!" I start before my exclamation dies in my throat. "...doing?" 

Once I came to my senses, and blasted the door of the hinges, the sight that laid before me was… different then what I expected.

A young shirtless boy getting a massage under a towel by the maid.

What?

"Sensei? Did you forget something? No wait, the door…" Rudy simply looks at the door confused, while the maid in question is quizzically looking at me, tilting her head to the side, while I'm holding my staff in the air.

"Eh, what…"

"What is going on?!" Master Paul hearing the commotion comes to the room to figure out what's going on.

"Um, I thou- thought…" Ah, ah, I don't wanna say it. What was I thinking? Ofcourse it was a misunderstanding. What the hell did I think was happening outside, with a young child? Am I getting fired?

"I was…" not knowing how to respond, I wonder if i'd get fired before

"Rudy what are you doing?" Luckily his attention was diverted to his son. 

Yes, please, give me a moment to recover.

"Oh…um, I was…sigh," he seems to be struggling to say something "... I was getting a massage."

An eyebrow raise appears on Paul's features. "Why?"

"'Cause I need it?"

"Hmmm… hey Rudy, show me your hands."

"Honey, what was that noise all about?!" Zenith comes down the stairs, in what appears to be adventure gear.

"A moment dear. Well, Rudy, show me your hands?" Paul asked.

All of us are a little confused at the situation, but in any case Rudeus complies, standing up, and showing Paul his palms.

I'm not sure where this is going, but it seems I'm no longer the source of attention anymore.

A smug smile started spreading across Sir Paul's face. Not a really pleasing look in my opinion. It is shortly followed by the father taking his Son into his hands, and screaming in joy.

"Haha, that's my son! Not even 5 years old and already a swordsman," he says as he hugs him tightly, and waving him back and forth. "We can start your training immediately."

"Dear?" Zenith questions. 

I am extremely confused as to what's happening, thankful, but confused nonetheless. 

"Look at this," he holds the boy with one hand and uses his other to reveal his son's, "these are the blisters of a swordsman, and these," he points to bruises around the arms and shoulders, "these are the bruises of someone that's sparring. That's it isn't it?"

"Rudy?" Zenith questions.

The boy in question simply turns his head towards the maid, silently pleading something.

The parents in question turn their heads towards her as well. "Yes, it is true," she confesses with a light bow, much to the young boy's shock.

"A swordsman, and a mage, swordsman and a mage~" he continues waving his child about in his arms.

"...please stop swaying me…" a whisper goes unheard.

…Um, I'm not sure what is going around, but the parents seem to be quite happy. So all's well it ends well.

"But why was the door broken anyway?" The young boys mother asks.

Ah… 

"I was shocked about the child's bruises, and misunderstood," I deflect the situation, "A young swordsman, Sir Paul, must be so proud."

///

After which followed the scene of a doting father talking back and forth with Zenith, with the occasional interruptions of Lilia, where they decided on what to do with the young child, and how to move about his future.

…I have managed to keep my job. This little devil, always causing me troubles. 

Thinking as such, I breathed out a sigh of relief as I saw his displeasure at being used as a ragdoll.

I'm not taking any pleasure in this… not at all.