The kids perspectives

The next day...

"I need the potions and pills to be ready by the time my niece wakes up, and she will wake up in four days. Can you get everything ready?" Aunt Frisca inquired, her voice echoing through a magical ball as she conversed with an alchemist.

"Of course, Madam Frisca. I will bring them in three days' time," assured the alchemist.

"Alright, good," Frisca acknowledged.

With that, the magical ball returned to its inert state, signaling the end of the conversation with the alchemist.

Frisca sat in her office, heaving a sigh of exhaustion, when Emersia walked in.

"Frisca dear, you look terrible," observed Emersia as she settled into a chair.

"How can I look good right now? Everything is going wrong. The family gathering was supposed to be fun and amazing, but it turns out my sister and her daughter suddenly don't like Giselle, and now Giselle is in a deep sleep," Frisca lamented, her hands falling to her face in despair.

"Darling, everything is not going to go the way you want them to, but everything happens for a reason," consoled Emersia, offering a glimmer of solace in the midst of turmoil.

"Yes, you're right, Mama. Anyways, have you talked to Brother Henry? You should try to comfort him, Mama," urged Frisca.

"Well, I haven't spoken to him since he arrived. Anyways, he's the one who's supposed to talk to his mother first," Emersia retorted.

"Mama, please, not now... You know what you said to him made him sad, and that has caused the relationship between you and him to be rocky. This is what the family gathering is for, to make up," Frisca reasoned.

"Ahh, fine. Since I don't want to make you stressed anymore, I will talk to him," Emersia relented.

"Thank you, and make sure you talk to your grandkids too," Frisca reminded.

"Fine," Emersia acquiesced as she got up and left the room.

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"I'm bored. If Dimwit were here, she would've entertained me," remarked Anco, her boredom palpable as she tossed a small ball into the air and caught it.

Saori heard what Anco said and then spoke up. "You would've bullied her until she would likely attack you."

"Hahaha, she would lose anyway. Remember that time she attacked me out of the blue, and I beat her ass? Then she suddenly fainted when she saw her own blood. That was classic," Anco reminisced, chuckling.

"I'm sure once she gets older and stronger, she'll take revenge on you," said Saori, her eyes still on her book.

"Never in a thousand years will that be happening," Anco asserted confidently.

"Sure... Anyways, when she wakes up, don't try anything that'll make her sad or upset," Saori advised, returning to her reading.

Anco turned to look at her, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "No can do. That's my job. My job is to torment her for life."

Saori sighed and continued reading her book.

Henry then walked in. "Hey, girls, want to explore the city together?"

"Huh, all of a sudden, pops?" asked Anco, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, I mean, everyone is kinda down since Giselle fainted and stuff, so I want to liven up the mood," explained Henry, his tone hopeful.

"That's a good idea," chimed in Saori, nodding in agreement.

"I'm not going. I gotta go read more about swordsmanship," dismissed Anco, already engrossed in her own plans.

"Anco, get up off your lazy ass," scolded Saori, her frustration evident.

"Pfft, hahahaha, so Giselle isn't the only princess who has a dirty mouth. I didn't know saints could curse," Anco retorted, mocking Saori.

"Saori, sweetheart, calm down," interjected Henry, trying to diffuse the tension.

"I will not become a mockery tool for her father. Anco, I may look like a saint, but there's only one thing that ticks off a saint, and that is a devil, and I'm standing right in front of one," Saori declared, her tone firm.

"Tch, whatever. I'll go. And thanks for the compliment," Anco replied sarcastically before heading out, clearly unimpressed.

Saori rolled her eyes, and Henry could only smile awkwardly, unsure of what to do when his daughters clashed.

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"Thorn shield!" shouted Abby, her voice filled with determination.

As she spoke, sharp thorns began to form, creating a protective barrier around her.

Abby was currently in the backyard, immersed in her practice of plant magic. With a satisfied nod, she commanded, "Dispel."

The magic faded away, leaving her standing in the quiet garden. "Ahh, I think my plant magic is getting better. Hmm, let's try another spell," she mused to herself.

Her eyes lit up as she found the perfect spell. "Dorren! Please come and stand right before me, not too close though," she called out.

Dorren, the butler, who Abby dragged outside to be her practice tool, responded promptly to her summons, ready to assist her in her magical practice.

"Ahh, yes, milady," Dorren replied, positioning himself before Abby, his demeanor respectful and attentive.

Abby smiled appreciatively before uttering her next command, "Entangling embrace!"

Large tree branches burst forth from the ground, wrapping tightly around Dorren, immobilizing him completely.

"I can't breathe," he managed to stutter out, struggling for air as the branches constricted around him.

"Huh, who cares? You're just a butler just do your job as my target. Anyway It seems this spell is quite helpful. Thank you, grimoire," Abby remarked casually, her tone indifferent to Dorren's distress.

"Release," Abby commanded, her voice firm, causing the branches and plants that were suffocating Dorren to loosen their grip.

With a relieved gasp, Dorren collapsed to the ground, clutching his throat, desperate for air.

Abby skipped away with her grimoire, leaving Dorren behind, still struggling to catch his breath.

Jenny, who had been watching from the window, observed the scene with a shake of her head. "No wonder Mom adores you so much, Abby. You're no different from her, hurting people because they're either lower or better than you. It's a shame we're related. Now the only question that I'm still confused about is why do both you and Mom wish for Giselle to die?" she muttered to herself, her expression clouded with concern and confusion.

"Sigh, anyways, I must go study about sensing mana so Mother won't eat my head off," Jenny sighed, resigned to her fate.

As the second daughter of Chad and Dominca, Jenny had always lived in Abby's shadow. While Abby was celebrated for her beauty and talents, Jenny's own potential often went unnoticed. Despite having similar abilities to her sister, Jenny lacked Abby's confidence and high self-esteem, making her feel insignificant in comparison.

Determined to prove herself, Jenny headed to the library, where she selected books on how to sense mana and familiarize herself with its properties.

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James, the son of Richita and Kevin, sat in his room, polishing his sword with meticulous care, preparing for his daily practice session. Swordsmanship was not just a hobby for James; it was his passion, his dream, and his aspiration. Every book he read, every dream he had revolved around mastering the art of the blade. His ultimate ambition was to become a knight of high standing, revered and respected by all.

Despite his dedication to his craft, James found himself somewhat isolated. His singular focus on swordsmanship made it difficult for him to connect with others, especially during his time at the academy. His exceptional talent often drew jealousy and resentment from his peers, leaving him on the outskirts of social circles. While James didn't mind being alone, his mother Richita worried about his lack of companionship.

Unlike many boys his age, James had little interest in dating or socializing. He preferred to channel all his energy into honing his skills, much to the concern of his mother. Although he longed for friendship, his intellect and talent made it challenging to find peers who could relate to him. However, amidst the sea of indifference, James found a glimmer of camaraderie with his cousin Anco, who shared his passion for swords and combat.

"Alright, time to start practicing," James declared, his determination unwavering as he headed outside to begin his rigorous training regimen. Swinging his sword tirelessly, he lost count as he reached around a thousand swings, a routine part of his daily discipline.

Meanwhile, Cion, James's younger brother, sat by his mother's side, munching on cookies as they enjoyed a moment of quiet companionship. Cion idolized his older brother, viewing him as a paragon of strength and skill. His ultimate goal was to follow in James's footsteps, becoming a formidable protector for their family.

As the Lynette family gathering unfolded, each member navigated their own journey, some finding solace in companionship while others pursued their individual aspirations.

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Harry, unlike the other members of the Lynette family, felt like an outsider. Despite attending the family gathering at Dominca's invitation, he couldn't shake the sense of alienation that clung to him like a shadow. Being told you're part of the family is one thing, but feeling like you belong is an entirely different matter. Surrounded by the Lynette family's extraordinary talents and charms, Harry often found himself struggling to fit in.

Admiring Abby from afar, Harry harbored a secret crush on her. To him, she epitomized beauty, strength, and intelligence, qualities he couldn't help but admire. Similarly, Saori's grace and allure captured Harry's attention, leaving him awestruck in her presence. Every member of the Lynette family seemed to possess remarkable talents, and none of them lacked in physical attractiveness. Among the girls, Harry couldn't help but notice that, compared to the others, Anco seemed less conventionally beautiful, though still far from ugly.

Despite feeling like an outsider, Harry longed to be part of the Lynette family's world. His dreams of marrying into the family one day drove him to aspire for greatness. With no father in the picture and his mother struggling financially, Harry's only hope for a better future lay in the magic academy, a path that Dominca generously offered to support him in pursuing. Harry knew that to make his dream a reality, he needed to become strong, not just for himself, but to earn the respect and acceptance of the Lynette family.

"I must become stronger," Harry resolved, his determination burning brightly as he gazed out the window, envisioning a future where he could stand among the Lynette family as an equal.