A Family's Love

A flash of attacks emanated from the training grounds of Tempest Academy. Wind strikes, earth spikes, fireball, and water jets.

A small sparring session was taking place in the training grounds of Tempest Academy. Aerith was battling against a second year student of the Tempest Academy. The second year student was an Earth Element user.

Aerith's opponent formed an earth armor around himself with the intent to charge at Aerith. With his bull rush, Aerith stood calmly and gathered mana. When her opponent was only a few meters away from her, she unleashed four different spells of different elements at him.

BOOM!

An explosion was seen in the middle of the training ground. As the smoke faded, her opponent could be seen collapsed on the ground. Aerith's opponents final charge was useless. He was unable to defend against the multi-elemental attacks coming from Aerith.

"Victory goes to year one student, Aerith!" shouted the referee.

Aerith smiled and raised her fist in the air.

The watching crowd clapped and cheered for Aerith.

"Queen of the four elements!"

"Marry me Queen!"

"You are the greatest!"

"Tempest Academy will reign supreme under Queen Aerith!"

"Aerith! Aerith! Aerith!"

Aerith, under the guidance of her family, the Tempest family, she was quickly able to grow and establish herself at Tempest Academy. Although she was only still in the Foundational Novice Stage, her abilities were quickly being acknowledged by evertyone. Not only had Aerith managed to successfully use her four elements, she was gifted with an extremely large mana pool. Aerith could launch her elemental attacks without worry of mana consumption. With an huge supply of mana, Aerith was one of the top notch damage dealers amongst people her age. Her grandfather had equipped her with many high damage dealing spells.

Amongst all the cheers, Aerith thought to herself. "I wonder how those two are doing now. I truly do hope we can all meet in a year."

------

At the back of the inn, Eden was putting the finishing touches on the sculpture he had started creating for Marth. When he saw the little girl Abbie and her mom Eliza, Eden immediately thought of a sculpture that he wanted. This commission became very personal for him at this point. Eden sculpted away with the vision of family in mind and the bond that lasts forever. He was thinking of the love he grew up with coming from his mother and father. A parent's love was one of the greatest things one could have and he wanted this sculpture to exhibit that.

"I must say, you truly have a talent for sculpting my child" said headmaster Oak. Headmaster Oak who was meditating opened his clear blue eyes and admired his student's work. "It has only been a few weeks and you have already passed my own talents in sculpting."

Headmaster Oak only learned sculpting when he was younger to increase his mana control, once he felt he had adequate mana control himself, he only continued to sculpt to maintain his ability. Despite this ideal, Headmaster Oak's skills were definitely not lacking, he simply did not want to become a renowned sculptor or anything of the like.

It was different for Eden. After having his sculptures and figurines bought he felt that he obtained a certain joy seeing when others admired his work. He wanted to continue improving and take on sculpting as a skill.

Headmaster Oak taught Eden a new trick when he was sculpting something new. It would be drawing a symbol somewhere that could be his artist's mark. All great artists leave a mark on their works so that it could be attributed to them. Headmaster Oak taught Eden that he could embed his mana into the symbol that he created. When it comes into someone questioning the validity of the owner, he could input his mana and the symbol would light up.

Every elemental user's mana is unique and different, every individual had a different mana signature that identifies with them. There have been zero cases of elemental users having the same mana identity. As a result, no one could lay false claim and say that one of Eden's sculptures belonged to them.

For those artisans that lacked elemental ability, there were businesses that worked with these sculptors to pair them with an elemental user so that they could use a unique mana branding for themselves. Alas, life was simply much easier for those who have elemental abilities. This was one truth of the world.

For Eden's signature, he drew a rose to represent his plant trait and a crescent moon behind the rose to represent his moonlight trait. Eden wanted this to be his symbol moving forward, any sculpture he would have this insignia would be used for it in the future. Eden sculpted this figure into the base of the sculpture.

With the final touches added, Eden threw a cloak over the sculpture. He was proud of his work.

------

It was the day of the anniversary, Mr. Marth had Eden as well as his headmaster picked up in carriage. Mr. Marth also had two workers bring over the sculpture to his manor in Border Town. Headmaster Oak and Eden had arrived at Marth's manor.

Marth's manor was laid out beautifully with a well kept garden in the front, in front laid many different flowers. At the center of the garden was a beautiful pond. Adorning the garden were many different sculptures several that left Eden awestruck.

"I did not think that Mr. Marth was so rich" murmured Eden.

"Asking around Border town, Mr. Marth, who's surname is Grisebach, is the head of the Grisebach Company which owns several businesses and auction houses around the kingdom. Maybe if your work is approved by Mr. Marth, he'd have your work in the future at a Grisebach Auction House.

Making their way to the entrance of the manor, Marth was standing by dressed in a white suit and black tie.

"Eden my boy, when I saw your small stone figurines of animals, I truly believed that I have seen a new talent blooming." Mr. Marth cheerfully said. "I hope that your work lives up to my expectations of you."

"I don't know if I will be able to meet your expectations Mr. Marth. But I do know for a fact that I put my entire heart and soul into this sculpture." Eden humbly replied "I can only hope that you will appreciate and enjoy this statue as much as I have sir."

------

The statue was brought into the lobby area of the manor. Marth's wife, Eliza, as well as his daughter Abbie, were standing by.

The manor was adorned with two large arching staircases that led to the top level, in between the staircases were two doors that led the main dining floor. Eden's sculpture was placed at the base of the stairs at the center of the lobby.

Eden and Headmaster Oak were standing by the sculpture, that was still wrapped at the center of the manor lobby.

Marth looked at his wife,"Eliza, my dear, we have been together for five years and it has been blissful every moment that we have been together. This sculptor, Eden, was someone that I hired to make your anniversary gift."

Marth kissed his wife and turned towards Eden.

"Before you unveil your sculpture, does it have a name?" asked Marth.

Eden didn't really think of a name, but he decided to be as blunt as possible with the name.

"A family's love"