Returning home.

The next day, there was quite a stir when my grandfather and Tess saw little Sylvie for the first time. Tess almost squeezed the little dragon to death in an overwhelming hug of affection. Fortunately, she managed to control herself and let go when she couldn't hold on any longer.

It was also explained why Sylvie had hatched. It turned out that Sylvie had emerged from her shell because Art had assimilated the first level of beast will the day before. Sensing her mother's will, Sylvie hatched.

One peculiar thing was that Sylvie didn't show any resistance when I held her in my arms, which made me very happy.

After that brief commotion, I quickly headed to a nearby forest with a clear objective in mind: to find a small fox. The character card I reviewed indicated that it should be implemented in any mana beast resembling a fox, so the search wasn't prolonged.

Soon, I located a small fox in the vicinity. This particular one had a beautifully striking sky-blue fur, being a newly born mana beast. I seized the opportunity to fully tame it.

Once the taming process was complete, I decided it was the right time to use the character card. It instantly fused with the small fox's body, and in the next moment, a luminescence enveloped it. I watched in awe as the small fox's body grew stronger, absorbing a large amount of surrounding mana, and finally, a second and third tail grew.

When the process finished, the small fox opened its eyes and looked at me curiously, then quickly ran to my position. Noticing this, I couldn't help but pick it up and stroke its fur.

ꟷGreat Sage, what would be the best way to strengthen little Kumara?ꟷ I asked as I walked back to the castle.

<<Received. The best way to strengthen Kumara would be let it absorb any type of mana-filled object, mana crystals, cores from other beasts, among others.>>

Seeing what was needed, I nodded and walked back to the castle with the small fox in my arms. After that little event and everyone being equally surprised by Kumara's arrival, we decided to continue training during the remaining four months we would stay in that place.

In the mornings, I joined some royal guards in combat, while in the afternoons, I strolled with Alea and Aya before having lunch. After saying goodbye to them, I headed to the forest to face some low-rank mana beasts.

There, I also let Kumara, always the most excited, hunt other beasts. I also released Diablo, who helped me in my training.

Although I practiced with the guards in the mornings, I tried not to stand out too much. I had learned from novels and anime that it was better to keep some trump cards to achieve the best results when I needed them.

Unlike Arthur, who could trust certain things to those he deemed valuable, I couldn't reveal my true nature or my connections to anyone, either because of the world I came from or due to some fear. I didn't feel comfortable sharing my secrets with Grandpa Virion, Arthur, Uncle Alduin, or the queen. I preferred to keep them hidden, even if it meant certain inconveniences when bringing them out to train or giving them freedom.

I didn't think it was so bad to have my reasons for hiding them, even if I didn't fully understand them at the time. I didn't worry too much since there didn't seem to be serious consequences for keeping them a secret.

Finally, at night, I absorbed the mana obtained from Sylvia's horn and sometimes played the guitar on my room's balcony.

.....

<4 months later>

ꟷAlex, remember that you will always be important to the family,ꟷ commented King Alduin, patting my shoulder.

ꟷYou will always have an open door here whenever you want to come back,ꟷ said the queen, hugging me.

ꟷThanks, Uncle, Aunt. Don't worry, I'll write letters daily and we'll see each other soon,ꟷ I responded, saying goodbye to them. Though I couldn't deny that I felt a bit melancholy leaving this place that had welcomed me with open arms from the very beginning.

ꟷLittle Arthur! Remember to be careful! We'll find a way to contact you to keep you informed. Take this in case you're ever in the Elshire Forest. Or maybe you'll find another princess to guide you,ꟷ Grandpa Virion said, winking at my brother as he handed him a small, oval silver compass.

ꟷUuuh... Grandpa!ꟷ exclaimed Tess, pulling on Virion's beard.

ꟷOw! Little one! I was just joking!ꟷ Virion shouted, rubbing his side.

ꟷDon't worry, cousin. I promise to charm all the girls so none of them have time to look at Art and he keeps his purity until he's older and you get married,ꟷ I said indignantly, patting Tess's shoulder and showing the "engagement" contract I had signed more than three years ago.

ꟷAlex, give that back!ꟷ Tess said, blushing with embarrassment, trying to take the paper from me, but I skillfully hid it.

ꟷOh, now that I remember, I also have a copy of that. I'll have to talk to their parents about it,ꟷ said Virion as he stroked his beard.

ꟷGrandpa, Alex, you can't do that!ꟷ Tess exclaimed, embarrassed and indignant.

But just as I was about to continue teasing Tess, I felt a soft hand pull my cheek.

ꟷHehe, little Alex, you're already forgetting your older sister even before leaving, with the clear intention of finding other girls outside. What a naughty boy, I don't know from whom you learned that,ꟷ said Alea with a strange voice that seemed angry, but her teasing eyes betrayed her.

ꟷAhem, ahem, Grandpa Virion told me that as a prince, I should have several wives,ꟷ I said confidently, with innocence in my eyes. ꟷSo, he told me to try and win over many beautiful girls with some status in the Sapin kingdom, to control the continent that way.ꟷ

Hearing those words, which could spark a political conflict between two neighboring countries, coming from the mouth of a supposedly innocent child with conviction in his eyes, left everyone speechless. Anyone who heard it would think it was a grand premeditated plan by the high-ranking officials of one kingdom to sabotage another, which could cause many problems. Seeing the atmosphere and how all eyes were on Virion, who had yet to react to the consequences of his words, I grabbed Arthur and quickly climbed into the carriage that would take us to Sapin, but not before saying goodbye to Alea and Aya, who had also come to see us off.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Queen Merial saying a few words to Virion, who seemed unjustly accused.

ꟷHeheheheꟷ I couldn't help but laugh a little at it, while secretly apologizing in my heart, assuring him that I would repay the favor in the future.

ꟷIt looks like Grandpa is going to get a reprimand,ꟷ commented Arthur with a smile as he looked out the window, showing a bit of sadness in his eyes.

ꟷAre you sad about leaving?ꟷ I asked, already knowing the answer.

ꟷAren't you?ꟷ Arthur responded, looking at me.

ꟷOf course I am, but I don't worry because I'm quite sure we'll see each other again,ꟷ I said, stroking Sylvie, who seemed to be observing her surroundings.

ꟷAnd is it true what you'll do in Sapin if you see a beautiful girl?ꟷ he asked, laughing.

ꟷOf course, even if Sylvie turns out to be a beautiful girl, I'll give her the chance to marry me,ꟷ I replied while continuing to stroke her.

ꟷDon't even think about it, pervert,ꟷ said Arthur, in an alert tone, taking Sylvie into his arms to protect her. ꟷI won't let you stain my little Sylvie.

ꟷWhy not? Little Sylvie, who am I?ꟷ I asked, pointing at myself.

"Kyuu," she exclaimed. Even though she couldn't form a word, I understood what she meant, so I nodded.

ꟷOh no, you're forbidden from calling him that, or Dad will get angry,ꟷ Arthur warned, looking at her seriously. She looked back at him with doubt in her eyes.

ꟷDon't listen to him, keep calling me that,ꟷ I said with a victorious smile, receiving a strange look from Arthur, as if I had offended one of the most important things in his life. We continued arguing and trying to convince Sylvie to call me husband until a cough caught our attention.

ꟷExcuse me,ꟷ said a soft but nervous voice.

We turned our attention to the other people who were going to participate in the tournament. Among them was an elf girl, a bit older than the other young people, including Feyrith, or Feyfey to his friends. It seemed they had been watching us during our embarrassing discussion.

Feyfey began reminding Arthur who he was, as Arthur seemed to have forgotten. Ignoring our discussion, I looked out the window and called the Great Sage.

ꟷGreat Sage, show me my status,ꟷ I thought in my heart.

<<Name: Alex Eralith>>

<<Sex: Male>>

<<Core: Orange (Solid; or Medium stage)>>

<<Unique Abilities: [Great Sage], [Predator]>>

<<Extra Abilities: [Language Comprehension], [Body Control], [Mana Rotation], [Magic Perception], [Restoration], [Regeneration], [Sword Mastery], [Fire Manipulation], [Air [Thunder [Wood [Soul [Fortification], [Dimensional Portal (suspended)]>>

<<Resistances: [Pain Resistance], [Poison Resistance]>>

<<Subordinates: Diablo [White Core], Kumara [Yellow Core]>>

<<Storage: Storm Sword, Gold Coins, Dragon Horn, ...>>

ꟷA lot has happened over these years,ꟷ I thought as I observed all the progress I had made during this time.

Regarding the color of my core, I had advanced quite quickly. The energy I had absorbed from Sylvie's dragon horn had allowed me to strengthen both my body and my core, making it larger and purer than the cores of normal people.

At this point, I should be able to take on someone with an early stage yellow core, it would cost me quite a bit that's for sure, but I sure as hell wouldn't die if we fought.

Although, I must say that this is mere speculation, I'm sure I can fight some light phase orange cores. 

When our carriage entered the teleportation gate, we were greeted by the familiar sensation of being in the middle of a fast-forwarded movie.

ꟷWe've arrived at Xyrus!ꟷ the driver announced.

I quickly looked around and noticed we were surrounded by a caravan of people who were politely clapping at our arrival. This tournament wasn't just a gathering of young talents; it was the building of a future where everyone could learn under the same roof. It was an exciting adventure led by the continent's leaders, but it was also filled with fear, knowing there would surely be disputes and hostilities.

The driver took us near a small space between two buildings after passing the crowd, indicating it would be the best moment to get off without being noticed.

The other elves inside the carriage bid farewell to Arthur, bowing as they said goodbye to me. Not paying much attention to that, Arthur and I got out of the carriage and blended into the alleys.

The city of Xyrus was grand, and I couldn't help but think that this place was truly floating in the air. After an hour of walking, we finally found the mansion where our parents were staying.

ꟷWe're home, Alex. We finally made it,ꟷ said Arthur, his tone filled with evident emotion.

ꟷYes, after almost four years, we've finally returned,ꟷ I replied, patting his shoulder. ꟷCome on, we've waited long enough for this.

We carefully climbed the entrance stairs before knocking on the door. I watched as Arthur brushed off his clothes, trying to remove every speck of dust he could find.

While he tidied up, I also removed the crystal crown I was wearing, storing it in my dimensional storage. Although I was considered a prince in the kingdom of Elenoir, it was different here. There was no royalty; I was simply Alex Leywin, coming back home.

When we were ready, I knocked on the door. A maid opened it alongside a small girl, who hid behind her upon seeing us. The maid looked at us curiously, evidently surprised to see two eight-year-old boys knocking on the door of a noble's mansion.

ꟷPleased to meet you, I am Alex Leywin, and this is my brother Arthur Leywin. We were informed that our family is currently staying in this mansion. Could we speak with them?ꟷ I asked respectfully, while my gaze settled on the little girl behind the maid.

ꟷShe must be little Eleonor,ꟷ I thought as I observed her nervously hiding.

When we saw our mother, Art unconsciously moved towards her, worried that she might not recognize him. Our mother, Alice, was stunned for a moment before she quickly ran over and hugged Arthur, with both of them crying. Little Eleonor also tried to console her mother, but ended up crying with them.

Witnessing that scene, I felt a knot in my stomach. I was happy to see them again, but for some reason, I felt redundant. I decided to set those thoughts aside and leave them alone. Perhaps Arthur had felt something similar in the elf kingdom, so I thought it best to disappear for a while.

With that in mind, and sensing someone approaching quickly, I simply decided to take a walk. Reappearing several meters away from home, I turned at the next block to stroll through the city for a bit. But it was strange—I still felt that sharp feeling in my heart.

ꟷWhat a bother,ꟷ I thought to myself as I turned my attention to my surroundings. ..... Seeing that a few hours had passed, I decided it was the best time to return home. Picking up the little fox that was walking beside me, I vanished from where I was and reappeared a few meters from the house.

Upon arrival, I noticed the commotion in the yard and quickly headed there, appearing beside my mother and sister, who were with the mansion owners, watching the fight between Art and his father.

ꟷKya!ꟷ Ellie exclaimed, startled by my sudden arrival.

ꟷHello, nice to meet you. I'm Alex Leywin, Art's older brother. Pleased to meet you,ꟷ I said politely, then turned my gaze to Alice, who was looking at me with tearful eyes. ꟷI'm sorry, Mother. I should have come with Art, but I forgot to buy some souvenirs, so I stopped to get a few.

ꟷIt's good that you're alright, little Alex,ꟷ she said as she took the items I handed her.

But as I looked at her, I could perceive a trace of doubt on her face, as if there was some discomfort, though she quickly hid it. However, I managed to notice it.

This made the pinch inside me intensify a bit more, but I quickly suppressed it and just smiled, changing the subject.

ꟷShe must be little Eleonor,ꟷ I said, picking her up. ꟷWhat a beautiful girl, although she has Dad's features. It's good she inherited Mom's beauty.

Hearing me, little Eleonor blushed slightly with embarrassment, but after the compliment, she simply smiled confidently and nodded.

ꟷLittle Eleonor, I'm Alex, your older brother,ꟷ I told her while giving her some stuffed animals and whispering in a tone that was anything but secret, as it was heard by everyone. ꟷAnd also the most handsome guy in the world.

My words made little Eleonor laugh, and those around us smiled too, restoring harmony to the atmosphere.

Looking to the side, I noticed how Ellie was eyeing the stuffed animals I had given my sister with a bit of envy. I decided to pull out a few more that I had bought. Although my original intention was to give them to some cute girl I met along the way, I thought it would be better to give them to Ellie so she could spend time with little Eleonor when Art and I weren't around.

ꟷAhem, thank you very much, Ellie, for spending time playing with little Eleonor while Art and I weren't here. I hope you accept this small gesture of gratitude,ꟷ I said while pulling out another large batch of stuffed animals and handing them over.

Soon, neither of the girls could be seen between the pile of teddy bears, lions, and other plush animals.

ꟷWe'll have to find a place to store all these stuffed animals,ꟷ commented Tabitha, Ellie's mother, with a laugh.

Reynold's voice once again drew our attention, and we noticed that he and Art had reached a stalemate in their fight. I observed the mana of both; although my father's mana was purer, in terms of consistency they were almost the same. However, Art's mana control was still insufficient, as he had considerable losses when using certain elements.

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Sorry if there are any spelling mistakes, I had to write this chapter in a hurry. Thank you for reading.