The Calm Before......

"Mr. Wolf, I need you to go to this location, and I need you to find a cave." I spoke.

Looking at the map for a few moments, the figure known as Mr. Wolf studied the location I had pointed out.

"Are you sure?" Mr. Wolf asked

"Of course. When you find the cave, message me using the message scroll, and I will head out there." I answered him

"If a cave exists, my eyes will find it." Mr. Wolf said as he got up, ready to head out

"One more thing." I began, "When you find the cave, don't enter it, or you may very well die." Finishing, I stood also stood up

"Cave of death, huh." That was all he said as he left

Mr. Wolf is a beastkin who served as a scout for the army until an altercation with his commander resulted in the commander's death. Being sentenced to death, I was able to rescue him, and he swore his loyalty to me. The funny thing about beastkins is that they are highly loyal to their pack, and he considered me a part of his pack.

The reason I save Mr. wolf? His eyes. The eyes of truth allowed him to see up to 5 miles away and through almost anything, including magical barriers and concealed doorways.

Walking out of the library with the dark spheres still swirling around my palm, I headed to my evening lessons with Lucia.

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(2 Days later)

The elf instructor had arrived for Liz yesterday, and she was ecstatic that she could begin learning nature magic.

Liz had grown in the past two years, and with the elf's help, I was lowkey scared of how powerful she could become. Even during training, Axton would comment on how scary she could be if she attacked instead of defending.

"My beloved already has his spear, so I need to be his shield." She would always respond as she looked over at Cas.

Not going to lie, but it took me a while to understand what she was talking about, but when I did, I was torn.

I had a feeling that Liz knew my feelings for Cas extended beyond master and aide, but what surprised me the most was that she never outright said anything to me. Honestly, I was glad she never said anything or made me choose because Cas would win every time.

"How is everything going, Liz?" I asked as I saw her for dinner

"Wonderful. Instructor Farqen is an excellent teacher; it's only been a day, but he has already explained so much to me." She responded. "I hope you enjoyed the food; I made it as a way to say thanks." She added after a moment

The dish was a roasted duck sauteed with mushrooms and onions, with a side of vermicelli rice and garlic-infused mashed potatoes.

It smelled incredible and delicious, but there was only one problem, I thought as I looked up at her and gave her a kind but defeated smile.

But before I could say anything, my angel in a bright white apron appeared before me with a plate.

'I'm sorry, master, it seems lady Elizabeth had forgotten that you detest mushrooms, and by the time I realized it was already too late to inform her. I made the same plate using the same ingredients as lady Elizabeth, so you can feel she still made it." My angel told me as she delivered the plate to me.

Liz spoke, looking at my angel for a moment before turning to me. "I'm sorry, my mind was occupied by the day of training in nature. I had forgotten you hate the taste of mushrooms." She finished

"I like the taste of mushrooms." I began as I sliced some of the meat. "I just can't stand the texture of mushrooms." I finished as I put the piece in my mouth. "This is delicious!" I exclaimed to no one in particular.

If I had been looking carefully, I would have noticed the defeated look on Liz's face and the triumphant look on Cas's face.

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(2 Weeks later)

"It seems that your control in your mana is improving." Lucia said to me

"It's only because I have the best sister in the world." I stated, as a matter of fact

It's been five years since I hired Lucia, and to be honest, if I knew then what I do now, then I probably would have stayed far away from her. She was a significant bro-con who saw me as her little brother.

In her twisted mind, the whole situation involving the earl she saw as a brother helping her older sister. Although how she made that connection, I have no idea. She was a powerful mage in public, but when it was just the two of us, especially during tutoring, she acted like my older sister and treated me as such.

Don't get me wrong; I allowed her to do so because I knew I needed to keep my pawns happy and not because I secretly enjoyed it.

"Good. Now we will begin on how to circulate the mana in your body so that you can boost your combat powers." Lucia said as she watched me swirling five dark spheres above my palm

"Sis," I began as I let the spheres dissipate, "I need to learn how to boost my endurance before anything."

"Little Ran, you know that is one of the hardest things to learn and the most dangerous, as it could easily fry your entire nervous system if you add too much mana." She said defensively

I would probably die of embarrassment if anyone heard what she had nicknamed me. Good thing it was just the two of us here.

"Sis Luci." I began as I showed puppy dog eyes. "I need endurance if I am to fight against anyone. With no affinity, I can't naturally enhance my body, and if I can't, how am I expected to survive the academy? If everyone at the academy learns my weakness, they will begin picking on me." I finished as I delivered critical shot after critical shot to her.

Watching her face morph with different emotions, I knew I would win, and sure enough, a moment later, with a heavy sigh. She agreed to it.

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(A month later)

Lying in bed, I was started as the scroll on my nightstand started glowing. After a moment, the glow died down, and I opened it up and began reading it.

I couldn't help but smile as I read it.

He finally found it.