章 23: Still Peaceful Life
1st POV:
I am sitting on my bed. It has been a month and I tried to comprehend Aether's eye... Keyword: "Tried"
I took off my eyepatch and opened my eye. That way, my Aether Eye will activate— there is another way to activate it with my own will.
I closed my right eye as I started to see with my Aether Eye. A purple magical particle is what I can see. While it seems like I can see normal things with my Aether eye other than the weird particle, it restrained my left eye.
I need another way to use Aether Eye, but for now, I should keep Aether Eye hidden for now until I find a way to control it.
I deactivated Aether Eye and my left eye turned back to a blind state. It's time to train, so I put on my eyepatch.
* * *
"Why is he here?" I asked master.
Master sat on her usual chair while I- I mean, "we" sat down on the ground.
"What is wrong? Arthur will join our training session. Do you have any objection?" Her usual expressionless face asked me back.
"I hope you are okay with me joining in." He smiled, he seems eager to train.
I sighed, "Well, whatever."
"Alright, since Alex does not have any objection. We will begin training right away." After master said that, I quickly tensed up.
"Dodge!" I shouted.
Arthur, who had his guard down, was kicked in the abdomen by master. She sent him flying forward, but Arthur, with his quick reaction, was able to minimize the damage by reinforcing his abdomen with mana.
"W-What was that?" Arthur stood up.
"Welcome to my lessons, Arthur. Pain will make you stronger and I am sure that you will never forget my lessons." Master smiled graciously.
"Damn it!" I ran to Arthur's side, "Here is a wooden sword, but don't use it to fight her, just defend yourself until we survive this."
Arthur's face was horrified, but he shook his head and grabbed the wooden sword.
Readying our stance. The hellish training began.
* * *
Seeing the sunset, I breathe heavily as I lay down on the ground beside my brother.
"Training is over. You two need to take a bath and rest." She calmly announced.
She is not sweating at all. She is a monster... When did a woman have such stamina? I could not comprehend her strength or abilities at all. How many times have I been beaten? I don't know anymore.
Master then left as she has some matters to attend to.
"So, you've been doing this for the past four years, huh?" Arthur said, feeling exhausted and beaten.
"YeP" I gave a curt answer.
But to be honest, it is quite nice to see someone getting beaten up with me. Especially when they first smirk about it. His face is really funny to see.
"I know what you are thinking. You thought that my face was funny to you." He deadpanned.
"Of course, seeing your face panicked as the master chased you gave me joy." I smirked.
"You are an ass." He stood up but fell to the ground as he realized that he was too weak to stand.
"Kekeke, don't worry. You will adjust to the training later or sooner. After all, you only ran and were too scared to defend yourself." Seeing that his face was planted on the ground, I chuckled.
"How am I supposed to fight her?! She is more ruthless than Gramp Virion." He shivered.
"She may ruthless when it's training but she won't go overboard by breaking your bone. At least, bruises every day."
"I don't think this is training anymore... This is hell." He gave up.
"Then welcome to the so-called hell, brother." I stand up and help him walk back to the manor.
* * *
"How's the training today, sweetie?" Mother asked as I put Arthur down on the couch.
"Pretty exhausting, Arthur will take a while to adjust to the training." I sighed.
"That is natural. The first time Lucy goes too hard on you, you run to me and cry while complaining." She smiled.
"W-Wait, mom!" I felt my cheeks redden as Mom exposed my secret.
"Eh? Really, Al is a crybaby?" He smirked even though his face is planted on the couch.
"Of course, while you are away, Alex really loves it when he gets spoiled." Mom continues to smile.
"Mom..." I covered my face with a pillow as I hid my embarrassment.
"But after Arthur came home, you started avoiding me spoiling you. Is it because of Art?" Then I realize something. Mom is smirking.
"I-I..." I am speechless.
Both of em were smirking, I knew it.
"Payback, bro." His voice is muffled.
"But one thing that is important for you two to remember. You need to focus on the positive rather than the negative. I know that the training may be too exhausting for you two as children, but if you look at the negative, then that is all you will see." Mom lectures us wisely.
"When did mom become so wise?" Arthur asked, his face staring at the ceiling as he changed position.
"I don't know." I shrugged.
"You two, your mother reads many books after all. At first, I thought both of you inherited more traits from me, but then I realized that Arthur inherited some of Reynolds' traits whereas Alex inherited more of my traits." Why does Mom appear so pleased?
"I don't understand?" I tilted my head in confusion.
"That means that you are similar to me, whereas Arthur is similar to Reynolds, despite your two looks being the opposite." She smiled.
"Ah... I am more well-versed in swordsmanship like dad, whereas Al is more like mother?" Arthur said.
"Bingo, while I don't want to be a bad parent by showing favoritism, of course, when it comes to picking someone who is similar to me, I will pick Alex and your dad will pick you."
Now that I think about it, I did inherit more traits from mom. I read a lot of books because of how uneducated I was when I was still Alastair Manikas and even though I will have the chance to attend Xyrus Academy, I still want to gain some knowledge, even though it won't be important that much.
"Dad is home!" I heard dad's voice.
"Reynolds, welcome back." Mom greets dad.
Dad embraced Mom and kissed her cheek as he got back home.
"Ah... They are so flirty in front of us." Arthur said as he took a glance at them.
"Umu," I said, nodding.
"Reynolds! There are kids in front of us." Mom stopped Dad from further kissing her.
Dad looked at us, who were resting on the couch. Our faces are pretty much expressionless as we were dead tired.
"Haha! How's the training today, boys?" Dad asked.
"Awful." Arthur answered.
"Like usual." I answered.
"You will adjust to the training later, Art. Now, you two better take a bath since you are sweaty."
"What a lame excuse to be alone with mom." I stand up and started to leave but...
"Hey, Al. You forget me, I can't walk yet." He held out his hand.
"You lazy bum, I'll drag you to your room." I held his hand as I dragged his body.
"Wait, you are not going to just drag me like this to the second floor, aren't you?" He nervously chuckled.
"Who do you think you are? You are no princess, so don't think I will pick you up, I'm tired too." I keep dragging him.
"W-Wait! Let me go, I will rest here for a few minutes before going to my room." He pleaded.
I turned my face to him, "No~" I revealed my smirk as I said that.
"You sadistic brother! Nooo!" He tried to let go of my hand, but I gripped tightly as I chuckled.
"Remember to take a bath, Alex! Art!" Mom reminds us.
"Got it, mom!"
This... felt more alive. This peaceful life is the one I desire most. We are enjoying our lives despite being unique.
Art being Art despite his previous life.
And I, Alex being Alex and not Alastair, I am just a child living his life to the fullest... So, it doesn't matter if fate doesn't want me, I will create a place where I can belong.
- To Be Continued
(A/N: Sorry for the late chapter, I am finally settled and live alone from now on but that doesn't mean I will have more writing to do, I will be pretty busy since I will be entering university
Warning: I haven't proofread this chapter so you may find some grammar mistakes or issues since I'm in hurry to sleep)
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