25 The Secret

Kwang!

"Lucas, focus on your arm strength. Don't falter!"

Brook's instructional comment spread through the training field as he was now on the defending side from Lucas's strike, training him for stronger hits.

Kwang! Kwang!

The rough sound of metals clashing into each other barged out as both Lucas and Brook were using the real swords, not the wooden ones that they usually trained with. It was intended for Lucas to be able to get a hold of the real swords as there was a difference from the wooden ones and they were much heavier.

"That's good. Left! Right!"

Although Brook was not making any attack back to Lucas, he was moving here and there, making Lucas make more effort when he tried to strike him.

"Huff…. Huff….. Sir… I think I am reaching my limit…." Lucas groaned.

"Use healing magic, kid. Now, step forward!"

'I, somehow, regret telling him that way...'

Lately, Lucas found out a way to restore his stamina while using heal magic making sure that the usage of magic would affect the improvement he got during training. Repetitive usage of heal magic when he was lacking stamina made him to be able to last longer in fighting and as he used it again and again, he was like improving his mana at the same time.

As Lucas thought it was a good idea, he stated his plan to Brook and asked permission to use his magic which Brook allowed him to, telling that it was a good idea. But in order that his physical body build up would be able to last, he didn't use it when building up his body and at the two last phases of sword training.

Although this way made Lucas able to train like getting two birds stoned at once but he didn't realize that this would be too tiring. His training time also got doubled up and he was suffering from tiredness of both physical body and mana. But it was a great thing that Brook knew when to stop.

'In order to get more benefit, one should suffer more…..' Lucas tried to motivate himself as he activated his simple healing magic to fill up his stamina.

"That's better!"

A satisfying grin could be seen on that rough face of brook as soons as Lucas' strike got stronger with healing magic. Finally with the last two phases of not using magic anymore, Brook let him off the hook.

"You are tired already?" Brook's voice was as harsh and mocking as ever but compared to the glares that Lucas got him from the first day, it was considered nothing. And Lucas was already used to it.

"I shouldn't be?"

Lucas didn't care whether the ground was dirty or not, anymore as he dropped his sword, the one that Cassius gave him, and laid down flat on the training ground. The sun was shining so brightly on his face since it was near lunchtime.

"Well, at least you are much better than those lads of your age." Brook also sat down near Lucas, sheathing his large sword. "I suppose you at least inherit some blood of Duke Cassius."

"Thank you, teacher." Lucas was bloomed with happiness as he got complimented. For a person like Brook, it was his way of complimenting someone.

Not long after they had relaxed, there came Ryosuke who was dragging his leg from running around the mansion. To be exact, he was punished for getting distracted during the training.

'That idiot…. He must be thinking about Stella….'

Lucas couldn't believe that dancing with Stella would strike Ryosuke that much. After they went back to the mansion, Ryosuke was talking about the dance and how proud he was for not stepping on Stella. According to what he said, it also was the first time for Ryosuke to be able to dance with such a beautiful girl, too.

"Well, lad if you dare to not focus on fighting again, don't even think about stopping with 100 laps." Brook stared at Ryosuke who lay down beside Lucas, instantly as he stepped back into the training ground.

"Lucas…. Don't you want to heal this big brother to get rid of his tiredness?" Ryosuke sobbed while begging Lucas with teary eyes which made Lucas chuckle.

"Ask Sir. Brook. If he allows to, then I will."

"Why are you so heartless!!! You little devil….."

"Ouchhhh!!"

Lucas wasn't expecting to be pinched by his cheek which made him groan out and glared back at Ryosuke, who was saying that he deserved this. 'Seriously? Is he a 5 years old kid!?' Lucas couldn't help but think in depression from Ryosuke's childishness.

"How pathetic…." Brook murmured while looking at the pair. But at the same time, he also thought that it was not a bad thing to see Lucas and Ryosuke so close. He remembered that the king also ordered him to make these two kids to be able to synergize well for future purposes.

Brook also thought that the pairing was the best. When it came to sword mana and skills, Ryosuke was not lacking. In case, he was also showing some impressive results and at the same time, Lucas exceeded what children of his age normally could do.

'They have potential.' Brook gazed at the pair, imagining how these two would be able to surprise the others when the time came. Ryosuke, with the support of someone like Lucas, they would become a pair that was out of ordinary.

"The lesson is over. So go back to your mansion instead of lazing around here."

'It is not good for them to be out under such sun for so long…' Brook prepared to leave the training ground as soon as he ordered the two.

'Maybe, I should start making them fight against me together, tomorrow…' He also grinned as he tried to imagine what kinds of surprises these kids would bring him.

After the lunch, Ryosuke lazily stepped to his study room where Miss Lia would be teaching him more elemental magic as usual. Of course, for Lucas, he had a lot of spare time to do whatever he wanted, which was why he headed towards Edwin's room.

Today was the day Edwin would be going back to the Academy which was why he was busy with writing some reports that his teacher gave him as homework. Well, the royal academy was very famous for not letting their students relax and laze around, after all.

Lucas knocked the door as a formality and he could hear a groaning voice of 'Come in….' inside.

"Are you ok, brother?" Lucas felt pitiful to see Edwin whose head was lying down on the study desk with his eyes looking like a panda. 'He must be working hard….' Lucas couldn't sit still as he activated heal magic on his brother to lessen his fatigue. This magic was really a useful one, after all.

Edwin widened his eyes as he became fully awake and saw little Lucas came to his room which made him shimmer in happiness. Even without Lucas's healing magic, Lucas, himself, was an energizer for him.

"Thank you, little Lucas! Ahhhh you are such an angel~~"

Edwin pulled a chair near him for Lucas to sit down, being really sad that he would not be able to see Lucas for around six months. He wished that his final year would come to an end as soon as possible to be able to live together with Lucas.

"Do you miss your brother so much!? If it is for you I will even stop going to the academy!!"

'I appreciate your love but….. Do you have a screw loose?' Lucas couldn't help but frown.

"Don't even think about that…. Leaving the academy in the final year. You are going to get killed by father, you know ...."

"I don't care... Just can't see my brother being sad …."

'Just how old are you to be pouting!?'

Lucas was now really curious to know how his brother was doing in his social life. It could have been a problem if he maintained this personality of an elementary kid.

"Actually I have something to ask brother….."

"Yes, anything you wanted to ask, little brother."

"Tell me about the Ariasta family!"

As soon as Lucas stated this, the blooming smile on Edwin instantly disappeared and the room was surrounded by an atmosphere of seriousness. Lucas only knew about the Ariasta family from history records, and from some conversations here and there. So he wanted to know more after meeting Rachel but now Lucas even thought if he had made a wrong question.

"Lucas…." Edwin's voice was cold.

But that voice also seemed a little bit...….. Shaking?

"Yes...?" Lucas gulped down a bit not knowing what would come next.

"Are you in lov----"

"NO!"

Lucas wanted to hit his head to a nearby wall, saying how stupid himself for seriously considering his brother Edwin's aura which could always turn out into something unexpected.

"HOW THE HECK DID YOU LINK MY QUESTION WITH THAT!?" Lucas knew what his brother was going to ask next.

"You must be!! Then, why are you so interested in that family?"

"I just wanted to know because I just found a historical record of that family! If you are not going to answer, it's ok." Lucas immediately prepared to leave but Edwin didn't let him to, telling that he would answer his question.

"Well, I think you might know this already but that family is known for having proficient elementary mages. Their whole family record is filled with such mages so they are nicknamed mage family. They are also pretty famous for their friendliness and they also are strong in politics. Hmmm… what's next?"

"What about the magic ability record?"

"As I said before, they are pretty serious with elementary magic so even when they get married, they marry a partner of the same mana in order to protect the bloodline. So you know what to expect. All people in that family are possessing elemental magic. Why do you want to know that?"

"What about the current family?"

As Lucas raised the question, Edwin seemed like he wanted to cry but still he answered because it was rare for him to be packed with questions from Lucas and he enjoyed acting like a know-it-all brother.

"Count Rowan? Well, he is a fire magic user and his wife is proficient in earth magic. I think their first son, fire elemental and second son, water elemental and first daughter is a fire magic user. Well, your brother really knows a lot, right?" Somehow, Edwin had a proud smile on his face. "This is really hard to know for average people, you know! But I am the master of information!"

Lucas couldn't pay attention to his brother as his mind was filled with questions, now.

"First daughter? You mean, Rachel is a fire magic user!?"

"Yea? Come to think of it, that little girl magic was only known to others around a year ago. Normally most families announce it on the first birthday, right?"

'Rachel is the elemental user? Didn't she tell me that she owned weaponry mana?'

Lucas considered if he heard it wrong or not but it was impossible because he really heard it clearly. And it was no reason for Rachel to lie.

'Was it a second mana?'

Lucas found it possible. As Edwin said, they were a family who crazed over elemental magic and they cared about their image so they might want to cover it up and made Rachel only to use her secondary magic. That was the only possible solution that Lucas could get.

As Edwin was looking like he was going to have more misunderstandings, Lucas decided to stop pursuing the matter. They just spend the time while Edwin was talking about his experiences earnestly and Lucas following every topic.

"Are you really not interested in that girl?"

Edwin walked back to Lucas's room even though Lucas said it wasn't essential and there was Alisa and Eura accompanying him. Before Edwin leave, he still could not rest assure, throwing Lucas with questions,

"I am not, brother…."

'Seriously, how old I am to get worried by him for such matters!!' Lucas was already tired of his brother's questions but he was able to endure his brothers' concern. Why? Because he would still feel the same when his little sister from his past life was interested in some random guy.

'Patience, Lucas….. Be patient….'

After more assuring, Edwin finally left and Lucas was able to lie down flat on this bed comfortably as he felt mentally tired both from having a conversation with Edwin and thinking about Rachel. Finally he decided to let his thoughts go away and take a rest but his dream, only to be destroyed by Ryosuke bursting into the room, talking about the new magic skill he had learnt, making Lucas unexpectedly annoyed.

"What now!?"

For the first time in life, Lucas raised his voice against Ryosuke.

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In the night time, in the garden of the Ariasta family, a little girl in a white nightgown was walking down the path alone, enjoying the night breeze and the smell of the flowers.

As she thought back about the banquet of Prince Eldric, she couldn't help but smile a bit.

"Born with such abnormality and still being able to lead a good life…. How nice~" Her tiny voice chutter as she plucked up a small white lily.

"He must be thinking that life is such a happy one~" She grinned as if she wanted to mock someone.

"I think I won't be seeing him until we get to the academy~" The lily in her hand was crushed roughly suddenly as the little girl continued like she was having a peaceful conversation with someone else.

The night wind blew strongly again and she let the crushed lily to be blown away with the breeze.

"I can't wait anymore. What should I do, Lilith?"

Everyone might think that she was all alone talking by herself, until one looked at two shadows under the moonlight. One was hers and one was the one named Lilith.

Somehow, the night was terrifyingly chilly that day.