008 Unbreakable Bonds: Family Ties and Magical Moments (1)

The next day, Damian approached Marcos to formally forfeit the duel. Even though Marcos already knew about his loss, Damian felt it was important to uphold their agreement. "I'm sorry, Marcos. I can't go through with the duel. I'm leaving home," he said, his voice filled with a mix of sadness and resignation.

Marcos nodded solemnly and clasped Damian's shoulder. "I appreciate your honesty," he said. "We watched the duel last night, and I know it couldn't have been easy for either of you." Together, they headed into Damian's room to start packing.

Meanwhile, Fenris awoke later than usual, still feeling slightly groggy from last night's events. As he got out of bed and opened his door, he found his little sister Lilianna waiting for him at the doorstep. Her golden hair framed her bright blue eyes as she tackled Fenris playfully, pushing him back onto his bed while giggling with delight.

"Whoa there!" laughed Fenris in surprise but also happy to see Lilianna in such high spirits.

As brother and sister sat upright on the bed together, Lilianna grabbed hold of Fenris' hand with both of hers. Beaming with joy and curiosity, she asked him earnestly, "Fenris! What happened during the duel last night? Why were you so mad at Damian?"

Fenris hesitated for a moment before deciding how best to explain things given her age. "Well," began Fenris slowly, "Damian and I had some disagreements over time. We needed to settle our differences."

Lilianna looked worried but nodded thoughtfully before replying, "I'm glad it's all settled now. Is this why Damian is moving out?"

"That's right," confirmed Fenris gently patting her head affectionately. "It was one of our agreements."

Relieved by this resolution between brothers yet concerned simultaneously regarding potential implications arising thereof, Lilianna hugged Fenris tightly, embracing him warmly before releasing her grip and stepping back, allowing Fenris space to get off the bed.

Lilianna sprang out of the bed, her hand still clasped tightly in Fenris's grasp. Her excitement was palpable as she urged him to join her outside. "Come on, big brother! Let's go outside!" she exclaimed.

Before Fenris could even respond, Lilianna pulled him out of his room and into the hallway, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she challenged him to a game of tag. "I bet I can outrun you!" she teased.

Fenris felt his inner child awaken at her challenge, smiling confidently. "You're on," he agreed wholeheartedly.

The siblings raced through the mansion, their laughter echoing off the walls as they zipped past maids who watched them with bemused expressions. Despite Fenris's lean but muscular build giving him an advantage in speed, Lilianna proved to be a worthy opponent.

Once outside, Lilianna employed a sneaky maneuver to tag Fenris—tackling him from behind and forcing both siblings onto the soft grass below. Surprised by her sudden burst of energy, Fenris couldn't help but ask, "You're more energetic than usual today! What's going on?"

Lilianna grinned widely as she sat atop her brother. "Well," she began with excitement in her voice, "I want to learn more about magic from you before you leave for Lodonea!"

Fenris couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm. It warmed his heart that Lilianna wanted to spend time learning from him. He nodded in agreement: "Alright, little sister, I'd love to teach you some of my magical knowledge."

Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she leaped off Fenris and helped him stand up. Both siblings were eager to embark on this new journey together strengthening their bond through the shared love of magic.

Fenris, still amazed by the vibrant color displayed by the mana crystal, couldn't help but ask Lilianna about her elemental abilities. "So, what elements can you manipulate?" he inquired with genuine curiosity.

Lilianna placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest proudly. "I can manipulate four elements: Fire, Earth, Water, and Wind!" she announced with a beaming smile.

Fenris's eyes widened in surprise at his little sister's immense magical potential. He couldn't help but grin from ear to ear as he realized just how talented Lilianna was. "That's incredible! I'm so proud of you," he praised warmly.

Feeling encouraged by Fenris's enthusiasm, Lilianna continued eagerly: "But I only know some basic spells like 'Incendio,' which lets me cast a fireball."

Fenris's smile didn't falter upon hearing this; instead, his determination to support his sister grew even stronger. "Don't worry," he reassured her kindly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We have six months together before I leave for Lodonea Academy—I'll teach you everything I can during that time!"

Fenris leaned closer to Lilianna's ear and whispered, "And maybe you can talk to Marcos about getting personal tutors, just like he did for me and Rifa. It could really help you develop your magic even further."

With Fenris's guidance and support, Lilianna felt her confidence grow as they embarked on this new chapter of their lives together—strengthening not only their bond but also unlocking the hidden potential within her.

As they continued their conversation, Lilianna noticed how Fenris began to refer to Marcos informally. Her curiosity piqued, she raised an eyebrow and asked her brother directly: "Why are you calling him by his first name? I thought we were supposed to call him 'Father'."

Fenris hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much he should reveal about the changes in his relationship with Marcos after last night's duel. He decided it was best not to delve into too many details at this point.

With a casual shrug and a grin, he dodged the question skillfully: "Ah well, things change as we grow older. Let's just say that our bond has evolved over time." Patting Lilianna on the back reassuringly, he redirected their focus back onto her magical education.

Lilianna seemed satisfied with Fenris' response for now but made a mental note of this intriguing shift in dynamics between her brothers. She could sense there was more beneath the surface—perhaps something she would learn more about as she grew older herself—but for now, she was content focusing on honing her own magical abilities under Fenris's guidance.

Fenris sat cross-legged on the grass, his eyes closed in deep concentration as he visualized the fireball spell in his mind. Lilianna watched him with rapt attention, eager to learn more about the theory behind magic and the different techniques that Fenris used to cast spells.

After a few moments, Fenris opened his eyes and stood up, facing the targets that had been set up in the field. "Watch closely, Lilianna," he said, his voice filled with confidence. "I'm going to show you how to cast a spell silently."

Lilianna's eyes widened in surprise. "Silently? I didn't know that was possible!" she exclaimed; her curiosity piqued.

Fenris explained the process to her in detail, and Lilianna listened intently, soaking up every bit of information. With Fenris's guidance, Lilianna successfully cast the fireball spell without speaking, her face lighting up with joy as she watched the target burn to a crisp.

As the day progressed, the siblings continued to practice different spells and techniques. However, despite their best efforts, there were a few mishaps along the way that sent them into fits of laughter.

When Fenris tried to show Lilianna the Light and Dark elements (even though she didn't have them), he made a mistake and accidentally changed her hair color to green. Lilianna pouted and crossed her arms, but she forgave her brother after he quickly fixed the mistake and apologized profusely.

Their magical mishaps continued throughout the day, with Lilianna accidentally setting a bush on fire and Fenris briefly turning himself into a frog. Despite the setbacks, they continued to practice magic together, their laughter echoing across the field.

After a day filled with magical mishaps, Fenris and Lilianna returned to the mansion, their faces beaming with joy. As they walked towards the house, Lilianna looked up at her older brother with a newfound admiration. She had always looked up to him as a role model, but today's events had given her a sense of attachment that she hadn't felt before.

"Thank you for teaching me magic, Fenris," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

Fenris smiled down at her. "You're welcome, Lilianna. I'm happy to teach you," he replied, his voice gentle.

The next day, a carriage arrived at the mansion, waiting for Damian to depart for the military. Fenris, Sophia, and Lilianna stood outside, watching as Damian and Marcos finished packing his things. Despite Damian's haughty attitude, Marcos wanted his son to learn proper discipline and earn good money, but he also warned him to be careful of the dangers that lay ahead.

"Be careful, Damian. We'll miss you," Lilianna said, her voice soft.

Damian rolled his eyes, but Fenris could detect a hint of sadness in his stepbrother's eyes. "I'll be fine, Lilianna. Don't worry about me," he replied, his voice gruff.

As the carriage pulled up, Sophia and Lilianna waved goodbye to Damian, wishing him the best of luck in his endeavors. Fenris, although still harboring some resentment towards his stepbrother, respected his decision and waved him off with a small smile. He hoped that Damian would return a changed person, with a newfound sense of humility and respect.

With Damian gone, Fenris and Lilianna began to spend more time together, with Fenris teaching her the art of magic. As they practiced, Lilianna's bro-con tendencies became more apparent, and Fenris found himself enjoying their time together more than he expected.

One day, as they were practicing spells in the garden, Lilianna turned to Fenris with a serious expression on her face. "Fenris, can I tell you something?" she asked, her voice soft and hesitant.

Fenris looked at her with concern. "Of course, Lilianna. What's on your mind?" he replied, his voice gentle.

Lilianna took a deep breath before speaking. "I don't know what's happening, but I feel this strong sense of attachment to you, Fenris. I don't know if it's because of all the time we're spending together or something else, but I just wanted to tell you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Fenris smiled warmly at her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Lilianna, you're my little sister. It's natural for you to feel attached to me," he replied, his voice soothing.

Lilianna's face lit up with relief, and she threw her arms around Fenris in a tight hug. "Thank you, Fenris. I was afraid you'd think I was weird," she said, her voice muffled by his shirt.

Fenris hugged her back, feeling a deep sense of love and protectiveness towards his little sister. "You're not weird, Lilianna. You're just growing up," he said, his voice filled with warmth.

As they continued to practice magic together, their bond grew stronger. They spent their days exploring the various types of magic and honing their skills. Lilianna's determination to learn magic impressed Fenris, and he was proud of her progress.

One day, as they were practicing a particularly difficult spell, Lilianna let out a frustrated sigh. "I can't do it, Fenris. I'm not good enough," she said, her voice filled with self-doubt.

The spell that Lilianna and Fenris were practicing was a complex elemental spell that involved controlling the four elements - earth, air, fire, and water simultaneously. The spell required precise movements and a deep understanding of elemental magic, as well as a strong connection to the elements themselves.

The goal of the spell was to create a beautiful, swirling vortex of the four elements that would dance around the caster in a mesmerizing display of elemental magic. This was a highly advanced spell that required years of training and practice to master, and even experienced magicians often struggled with it.

For Lilianna, who was still relatively new to magic, the spell was especially difficult. She had to focus all of her energy into the precise movements and incantations required, while also maintaining a strong connection to the elements themselves. Despite her best efforts, she kept faltering at the critical moments, causing the elements to spiral out of control.

Fenris knew that this spell was challenging, even for experienced magicians. It required precise movements and a deep understanding of elemental magic. He placed a reassuring hand on Lilianna's shoulder. "Don't give up, Lilianna. You're capable of so much more than you realize," he replied, his voice filled with encouragement.

Lilianna looked up at him with a determined expression. She knew that she could do this. With a deep breath, she focused her energy on the spell, moving her hands in intricate patterns. Fenris watched in amazement as the elements responded to her commands, swirling around her in a beautiful dance.

But just as she was about to complete the spell, Lilianna faltered. The elements began to spiral out of control, threatening to engulf them both. Fenris quickly stepped in, using his own magic to stabilize the elements and bring them back under control.

Lilianna looked up at him, her face filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Fenris. I couldn't have done it without you," she said, her voice filled with awe.

Fenris smiled down at her. "You did most of the work, Lilianna. I just helped a little," he replied, his voice filled with pride.

As the sun began to set, they decided to take a break and sit by the fountain in the garden. Lilianna leaned her head against Fenris's shoulder, feeling a sense of comfort in his presence.

"I'm glad we get to spend so much time together, Fenris," she said, her voice soft.

Fenris smiled down at her. "Me too, Lilianna. You're my favorite person to practice magic with," he replied, his voice filled with affection.

Lilianna's heart skipped a beat at his words, and she snuggled closer to him. She knew that her attachment to him was growing stronger, but she didn't know how to express it. For now, she was content to bask in his warmth and enjoy their time together.