Myrmidon and Dark Mage [1]

"Uhmm ..., why you two are sitting on that side? Petra, Venetia?" the valiant looking army general of a father, Martinus asked.

The origin of this question was because of the seat arrangement. In this living room, there was a pair of the long sofa and a small cushioned chair. The purple-robbed and the cheongsam-attired woman used one of the sofas. 

And in front of them on another long sofa, it was used by Marth in the middle and Petra with Venetia on both of his side. Moreover, they were too close as if their body swallowed his tiny stature completely. Drowning on their thicc-ness.

Actually, the seat arrangement wasn't anything near this before. Martinus sat in front of them as this was the main chair with Petra on his left side. But that soon to be changed when Marth entered the room, for some reason his wife Petra pushed him around to sat on the lone sofa over there and occupied this one to themselves.

"Hmmm~... Is there something wrong? Nothing, right ..., dear husband?"

"I don't know why father asking that, but isn't it natural for me to sit down with Marth-kun?"

Was what the answer from the mother and daughter duo.

"O-okay then ... sigh" Martinus let out a tired sigh while rubbed the temple of his brow. But the decisive critical hit comes after that, it was his youngest daughter, Sicilia, who sat down on top of Marth's lap, "Sicilia-chan ..., even you, huh?"

With teary-eyed unlike his extraordinary bearing as the general of the kingdom army, he sighed once again.

While waiting for Rosetta to pour a new cup of tea for Marth, Petra asked. "Oh my, Rosetta-san, you're surprisingly fast ..., to think that you'll go to this place that very night. Aren't you too impatient to meet my Marth-kun?"

"I cannot disagree with that, Madam." Rosetta smiled wryly unable to come up with an excuse.

"I'm not particularly pointing your fault or anything, you know? After all, you're the closest person to my Marth-kun, right?"

"I am really blessed with this life." Rosetta bowed her head deeply and withdraw while pulling the dish train.

"Fufu ..., let's see," there was a dangerous spark lit up from Petra's eyes.

And since a while ago, Venetia also glared at the blonde maid as if meeting her natural enemy.

'There's no way my mother and Venee-san turn into a yandere ..., right?'

Marth shook his head to get rid of that scary thought, he then glanced at the two people in front of him. Because right now Sicilia sat on his lap, he must hug this little sister closer to him to be able to see them. She was two year younger, and both of them almost of the same height.

"Let's not dilly-dallying anymore ..., and let me introduce you to them. Marth-kun, these two women are Mother's comrades back then when I'm still a rebellious young girl. Uhm.., they are something called party members."

"..., rebellious young girl?" though the Chinese-looking person looked like in her early twenties, just how old are they if they are his mother friend from when she was a girl?

"That's right, back then when mother was young, she was an [Adventurer], you know? Well, your father also did that ..., but he never rank up and stuck at F-rank until now, he pretty sucks at it.' she glanced at her husband seated lonely on the side.

"Unlike you, I have troublesome matters regarding my title and territory. Besides..., life as an [Adventurer], is not that profitable." was Martinus' answer to her teasing.

If he could, he really wanted to enjoy such an adventurous life. Free without worry, that was a period when he didn't need to stress his body for his territory and family. In fact, he met with Petra was also when he was roaming in the wilderness and enjoying the freedom of being an adventurer.

"However, it's fun right?"

"I have no time nor luxury to enjoy such a thing." Martinus shook his head in pity.

"However ..., it's fun, right?" Petra once again asked with the same question but in a different tone.

"I have nothing to say to you ..., you're right, it is indeed joyful memories." it was bittersweet precious memories of his youth.

"Fufufu ..., you aren't honest at all." she shook her head slightly and then turned her attention back to the two-person in front of her, "Well, forget about the past talk. Oy, you two! Why don't you introduce yourself to my son?"

"To suddenly change your manner of speaking like that, your temper hasn't changed at all yano~, Petra-shi ..." said the thin-eyed cheongsam lady while letting out a thin smile.

"To summon us with the [Red Flare Stone]..., how foolish I am to think that there is an emergency situation in your place. My [Teleportation Crystal] ..." the purple-robed woman said with hoarse voice. Is her throat alright? That just sounds like someone who contracted influenza.

"Oyaoya, Nagi-dono didn't you said that you owe me one favor back then before our party disbanded? And ..., there's no need for me to remind you for what happened back then, right ..., Lin-dono?"

The cheongsam lady and purple-robed woman exchanged gaze for a moment, and they let out a sigh simultaneously.

"Then, let me introduce myself, my name is Lin Yue. I come from the Shui tribe in the Redirt Plain yano~. Pleased to meet you, erm ..., Petra-shi's husband, son, and daughters." the cheongsam lady bowed her head slightly.

'Weren't they come into this mansion with father's convoy? Why is she introducing herself to father as well?' was what Marth's thought still puzzled with the cheongsam lady introduction.

And then, the purple-robed woman also took off her hood. Beneath those hoods were a pair of beautiful obsidian eyes with the faces covered with purple muslin gauze up to her nose. She has long straight black hair with bang covered most of her forehead.

"I am called by the name of Kassandra Nagi. A humble magician ..., from the sandy desert of Hastem. Pleased to meet all of you ..." she bowed elegantly while some strand of her hair cascading from one side of her head.

'Wow, her voice changed! Is it because of her hood? What kind of enchantment she put on that robe?'

"I am the husband of your friend, Petra Grossvelg, Martinus Zwarteschwan. My wife has inconveniencing you, Lin-dono, Nagi-dono ..."

"Ahh, not at all, Petra was..., eh, she's not inconveniencing us at all." Lin Yue wanted to say something, but stopped and just answered out of politeness.

"Truly, Mr. Zwarteschwan, she's an excellent mage in our party. ..., though, she's a binge eater who made our financial situation in red," said Kassandra while muttered halfway throughout the sentence.

"Hehemmm ....?" 

Mother Petra put out her smiling face with closed eyes, Marth from one side could see some blue vein popped out from her pale forehead. Before she burst out in anger, the boy introduced himself to his mother's former comrade.

"My name is Marth Zwarteschwan ..., seems like my mother really troubled you two, aunty Lin, aunty Nagi."

"A-aunty he said!!" Kassandra Nagi widened her eyes and let out a surprised voice.

"Ma, with the age difference, he's indeed close to being our nephew yaka~? What's wrong Nagi-shi, your face is pale yano~?"

"Aunty ..., unmarried, aunty ..., single, old woman..., aunty he said!? Son of my friend, aunty." Kassandra murmured with devastated eyes.

"I'm the first daughter, Venetia. Please to meet you two, aunty Lin, aunty Nagi."

"I'm Sicilia desu! Etto, youngest daughter~? Nice to meet you, aunty Nagi, aunty Lin!"

"..., aunty ..." Kassandra seems to have a hard time accepting this new reality.

"Accept it Nagi-shi, isn't Petra-shi youngest daughter really cute yano~?"

"But Lin! Am I really that old?"

"If you aren't faking your age, then we are old people indeed."

"That's impossible ..." Kassandra held her head in despair.

To gather the guest's attention, Petra clapped her hand and said, "Now, now ..., please stop the incoherent rambling both of you. The reason why I call you into this city, would you like to hear it now?"

"...,"

"..." 

Both of them looked at Petra, with Kassandra still unable to get rid of her troubled face.

"It's simple ..., I want you two to teach my son, Marth-kun over here."

"Us ...? I mean, I'm a sword wielder while Nagi-shi is a dark magician right?"

"Does he even have the aptitude?"

"I don't know about dark magic, but if it's elemental magic ..., then he can use it." Petra took her youngest daughter from Marth's lap, "Marth-kun?"

Today he hasn't used his magic power to synthesize a thing, so his MP reserve still in full tank, "[Fire]!"

A greenish kindle fire lit up from his palm. There was two different reactions from them, those who surprised, and those who don't. Those who didn't surprised were Martinus, Venetia, and Lin Yue. Lin Yue actually showed a slight reaction by opening her thin eye-slit, but it was unnoticeable. 

As for the other side, 

"Oh! It's different from before! It's amazing, Marth-kun! It's green fire!"

"Waa!! Onii-sama, sugoi! You can use magic!"

"This is ..., interesting, is this still in the [Elemental] magic system? There are some unknown properties inside the spell. Poison ..., negative, then, what is it? Further observation, needed."

There was also the maid Rosetta stationed at the back who also shown a surprised expression, but she was no importance at the moment.

Petra looked so smug as if boasting 'look here, this is my son, amazing right?' to her friend. Well, having a genius son was something for a parent to boast about, after all. Sicilia's reaction was pure admiration of a child. And Kassandra, she immediately transformed into analyzing mode.

Marth put out the green flame spell of kerosene complete combustion reaction and asked his mother, "Is this enough?"

"Yes, so how about it, Nagi-dono? Do you want to teach him your trade?"

"This is indeed something intriguing, however, Petra ..., if he's this excellent in [Elemental] magic system, why don't you teach him yourself? You are a Mage yourself, right?"

"That would be the best, but, you see ...," Petra glanced at Martinus at the side as if indicating something.

"Is it because there is something that you as the [Noble] of Osterreich must do?" inquired Kassandra once again.

"Something like that ..., my husband work has piled up, and without me, he's really hopeless when it comes to the domestic affair. I wonder whether he will survive without me around him."

"P-Petra, I ..." Martinus looked like he wanted to convey something to Petra.

"Husband ..., I know, so please ...," Petra stopped him before finished the lines, but her next word was merciless, "..., don't carelessly sign a document if you haven't read it thoroughly until the end. Just how would you add my workload, sigh ... this is why I can't let you alone in the study room. How bothersome ...,"

"Petra ...," Martinus had this apologetic face on his, that it was unfit with his valiant full of beard face, the next word he said was something unexpected depending on the situation, "I love you."

"I know that, just consult everything with me, nee~?" Petra looked away, hugging Sicilia while pouting, "...-ou too." she said something, albeit inaudible.

"O-okay ..., I don't know what kind of work is that, but it seems [Noble] in this country ..., really busy. Then, I'll be his master in magic, is that what you're saying, Petra?"

"Yeah, you can tell me your condition for this. As far as I know ..., you are also busy in your tower, right? I can't steal my friend's precious time without paying adequate prices." Petra looked at Kassandra with her deep green iris.

And the purple-robed woman just waved her hand in a nonchalant manner, "Nah, I'm also bored these few days. There isn't anything fun in there ..., so, yeah. I'll be staying in this place for a while. And you also don't need to pay anything, as long as there is enough food and let me sleep comfortably, I'll be fine."

"Really! Thank you, thank you Nagi-dono!" Petra bowed her head in gratitude.

"Don't worry about this, Petra. This is how I repay what I owe you back then." her obsidian eyes were smiling, "What about you, Lin? Are you also going to stay?"

Lin looked at Marth for a moment, before asking, "I see that you have talent in magic yano~... However, boy, how far can you reach with the sword?"

"I don't know if I don't try it."

"A fool is those who don't know anything yet try to do everything. So, what differentiates you from them?"

'These lines ..., it sounds so familiar. Wait, isn't this the question asked by Shui Ying at the end of her route? Though, it's a bit different..., but, it sound similar. Is she related to her? Her name is different ..., but she said she was from Shui tribe.'

While he thought about some unnecessary things regarding one of the [Golden Ark]'s heroine, he copied Roman's lines from the game and altered a little bit to match his personality.

"I'm a person who likes to experiment. Even if it ends up in failure, I don't know what's the result if I don't try. Trial and failure, that's what make me smarter and stronger."

The original lines from the protagonist Roman were, 'Me? I'm not that bright in the head, and I know sometime I would fail. I'm a foolish indeed, that's why I don't know what's the result if I don't try it.'

He didn't want to said something self-deprecatingly like what Roman's(of the game) said. But he really took one of his sentence.

"Hmm ...," she narrowed her already narrow eyes slit, it could be seen from the creases on her brow. "Well ..., I also have some debt with Petra-shi. And there was also the matter of my child back in the home ..., sigh, I guess she'll be fine with my blockhead husband. Alright then ..., I can stay a year or two."

"Then..., I also ask this to you, Lin-dono!" Petra bowed her head.

"But if he can't withstand my hellish training, That'll be the end of the deal, and I'll return to my homeland."

"That's ...," Petra was taken aback with her word.

"So, what about it, boy? Can you persevere? Or, do you want to give up now before it even started?" Lin Yue put up a smirk with canine teeth on her lips.

'That carnivorous smile as if a lioness gazing on its prey ..., there's no doubt about it, this is, she is ...'

Somehow her visage reminded him of a certain someone. No, it was unnoticeable at first, because how they differentiates. But Lin Yue face was overlapping with Shui Ying, the Swordswoman of Redirt Plain.

And yes ..., Shui Ying was one of the 24 heroines in the game.

'But if it yes, that Shui Ying is a relative to this Lin Yue, then it probably be the best to learn from her. She has said that there is a person who she admired and wanted to reach but unable to. I hope that person was this Lin Yue.'

Marth shuddered while gazing deeply at her face. To think that he would find someone who was related to her. Is this Lin Yue her relatives? 

Although he wanted to make sure about this, he couldn't just ask it. That would be too suspicious, and he wouldn't be able to explain how he could know the existence of Shui Ying when he never went out from this territory.

Nevertheless, Lin Yue's origin was never that utmost importance. Most of all, he got his swordsmanship master. So he should be feeling grateful to his mother for bringing this plainswoman.

"I'll learn the way of the sword from you! Please take me as your disciple, aunty Lin! No, Master Lin!" Marth kneeled and kowtowed in front of Lin.

This gesture shocked Lin greatly. Like, her eyes that were narrowly thin like a person who was sleeping now widened in full view just like normal people. And for Kassandra and Petra herself who has known Lin since 20 years ago, was surprised seeing Lin showing expression like this.

"You don't need to do that to me, yakarano~," she put the palm of her hand into her face, sighing, "But, I'll accept it..., I'll teach you the way of the sword. If you decided to give up on my teaching, that'll be the end of our relationship as master-disciple. How about it, do you accept it, yaka~?"

"Hai! Certainly, Master Lin!" Marth smiled in a full (seemingly)honest smile.

Lin Yue crossed her hand on her modest chest and nodded, "Fumu ..., let's see if you can keep your word." 

"H-hey, what about me..., Marth-kun, me, can you call me something like ..., Teacher Nagi, or maybe Tutor Nagi?" Kassandra appealed, asking Marth with a cute made-up voice that was unfit with her age.

"Hai, please let me learn from you, Teacher Nagi!" the boy nodded his head and answered.

"Yes! Let's stick with that way of calling! So don't call me with aunty anymore, okay!?" she was at the period when she was sensitive regarding her age.