Under Attack?

It was already evening when Ace returned to his house, training those disciples was actually more enjoyable than he thought.

The way the girls blushed in embarrassment when he praised them, and how the boys' eyes would burn with determination and will to improve with just one of his advice, he was actually quite impressed and enjoyed it.

Not only them, even Sophia, who was fighting 2 mages at once improved tremendously, though she still won't stand a chance against Maya.

"Papa!"

As he returned, Ace was greeted by his little nightingale jumping into his arms with a big bright smile hung on her face. Ace's smile brightened as he quickly embraced the jumping nightingale into his arms before kissing her on her forehead.

"That sure was one hell of a long meeting," Maeve muttered.

"Hm? No, not really, the meeting ended quite a while ago, Mr. Kalm asked me to train the disciples for the upcoming Sect Meet and I agreed" Ace answered.

"What? Papa is training others? But… But shouldn't Papa train me instead?"

"What are you talking about little Gracie, isn't mama training you already?"

"But isn't Papa the strongest? How will I beat them if they are trained by Papa?

Nooo! I don't want you to train them!

Train me instead, I'll be a good girl, I promise!" Gracie complained with moist eyes as she tightened her grip on Ace's robes.

"Oh my sweet little child, Gracie is already plenty good girl, you don't have to worry, once you are ready and have enough Qi to start the training, I will train you double the amount I train them. Okay?" Ace answered as he patted her head.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Okay! Then I'll go and train now!

I wuv you!"

With a little kiss, she hopped down from her father's embrace and ran into her room, and sat cross-legged.

On the other side, Maeve sighed. Just how little of her does that little girl think of her?

She was really regretting not coming out strong from the start and acting like a housewife. Not that she wasn't enjoying her life like this, but in the end, it was still a little boring compared to the thrilling and dangerously adventurous one she lived before.

Yup, she was fighting freak alright.

Well, not that it matters now. Now that they planned to rule this world, her time to shine was coming close, she could feel it.

"So, what did you find?" Maeve questioned as she glanced towards Ace.

How could she not know why he accepted the request? Ace was someone who won't move an inch if it doesn't profit him or his family in any way. When was he so generous to accept some weakling's request and train some brats?

"Well, I think our little girl has a high chance to win the contest if she somehow reaches what they call 4th step in this world"

The average level of competition in this contest should be around 4th to 5th step mage but to win, one needed to be a 7th step mage. Of course, Maya was on a different league of her own, with the strength of an 8th step water mage and a brilliant level of control.

If she was born in Herferd that has a better level of Qi density, there was no way she would not be a well known existence.

Well, Of course, it wasn't like Gracie has to defeat her to enter the Imperial Academy of Magic, all she had to do was to defeat others, Sophia, for example. Though she was a strong 7th step lightening battle mage, if Gracie is trained well then there is no way she would lose against her in close combat.

That was why, though Gracie doesn't know, the training she is going through with her mother would give 100 times better result then what she would gain after training with Ace.

The common misconception that physical training is not important for a mage was common not only in this world but Herferd as well. So mages are mostly weak against close combat. That was why, physical training Gracie was going through was one of the fastest and sure-shot ways to improve as a mage, or as a warrior.

"4th Step? Aren't you taking them too seriously?"

"Nope, Sophia is somewhat stronger than what I expected, according to my calculations, even after achieving the 4th step, the victory would not be simple. After all, our little nightingale is just 8 years old with no prior experience."

Maeve nodded in understanding, since she was very strong considering the standards of this world, perhaps her calculations and views were a little off.

…

At midnight,

"Fuu, she is finally asleep." Maeve sighed as she brushed Gracie's hair softly.

"Mhm, even though she trains so much, she would never sleep until the story is over, I don't even know where she stores that much energy inside her little body" Ace replied as he stood up, carried Gracie, before placing her into the crib beside their bed.

"You know, now that she is training her Qi, we won't be able to fool her by saying her Qi leaked causing her to teleport into the crib while she was asleep. Why don't you talk to her? It's a high time she gets her own room." Maeve questioned.

"Haa? Do you even remember the face she made when I asked her last time? She nearly cried asking, 'Do you not like Gracie anymore?' How am I supposed to answer that!? I, Ace Vorste, have no weakness other than that face she makes."

"Fuu… You have really spoiled her to no extent…" Maeve muttered as she shook her head.

"She's so nice that she deserves to be spoiled. Hmph!" Ace snorted as he lied beside Maeve on the bed. Before long, he hugged her from behind and closed her eyes.

"Good night, love"

"Good night"

Maeve replied but just as they were about to sleep, Ace frowned and then smiled. Honestly,

That smile...

It looked…

Quite frightening.

"Interesting"

He muttered and as if on cue, a disciple barged into the courtyard and shouted.

"Elder Ace! Elder Ace! Help!

The Sect under attack!"