The instant that Volcanus had left, the eyes of a predator had locked onto Urie. With a head full of red hair and a ferocious gaze, it was midway into a pounce but was mercilessly brought down to its knees by someone even higher on the food chain.

“Luca, dear. Behave!” With a much slender physique, the person held the beast down to the table with ease.

“Ngaaah!” The flexibility of his arm being tested, the pain cleared Luca's thoughts, “S-Stella! Let go, let go! It hurts!” Unsatisfied with the lack of response from the fire spirit, Luca rushed towards Urie to press him for answers. Stella, who sat by Urie's side at the table, grabbed Luca's arm and pressed it to his back with a bit of force.

Disregarding her husband's pleas, Stella instructed her brother, “Simone, go take the remaining bread rolls from the kitchen. We have important things to discuss.”

“Sure thing but...“ Pointing towards Luca, Simone requested,“I think you should let go of his arm, sis. It's sounding like it might give way.”

Stella eased her grip on her husband's arm and smiled innocently towards Urie. “Are you okay little Urie? Did this bad man scare you?”

“Can you teach me? Ma'am?” Rather than being scared, the boy's blue eyes shined with determination. How Luca was so easily incapacitated was just as quick and efficient as when his grandfather, Sacha, was once taken down by the headmaster.

“Hmm? Teach you? Do you mean how to bake bread rolls?” Stella asked, bewildered by the sudden question.

“No! I want to learn how you did that, what you did to that Uncle!”

“You want to learn how to fight?” Stella knit her eyebrows in surprise, while Luca spoke with his cheek still firmly pressed to the table, “Bah! Fighting's not a kid's business! In a few more years maybe, when you've grown some hair on that chin!”

“B-But...” Urie held back his words.

—This... This is exactly like back at home.

Urie yearned to be of help to his father at the northern wall. To be once again reminded of the obstacle of age, his shoulders drooped and so had his spirits.

Stella took note of his reaction and jabbed at Luca's back with her elbow. She felt she shouldn't immediately deny the child his chance. Curiously, she said, “Could you tell me why you want to learn? I believe you have a reason to ask.”

Urie recounted his earlier experiences with combat. How he struggled against a shadow wolf, was chased around by a rock drake, and his bout with the mystery monster clad in black.

“—Wait, you fought with one of the Nifyr?” Released and recovering from the pain in his arm, Luca reacted but was flicked on the head by Stella, urging him to stay quiet.

Urie continued and talked about how he wanted to eventually go and fight magic beasts at the Erden Wall to help his father and brothers.

“That's a lot of responsibility to take for a little kid.” Simone returned to the table with a tray full of bread rolls and spoke with a half-joking tone.

“Even so, I want to do it! I want to be strong enough so that father can come home!” Urie declared—determination overflowing from his small stature. If he could at least lessen his father's burden or even replace him, his father could return to his mother!

Simone was taken aback. Being faced with clear eyes caused him to take the child's words more seriously. “You heard what he said, sis. Maybe you could show him a thing or two?”

Stella pondered for a bit. She let out a light sigh before pointing her finger towards the table, “After breakfast.”

Urie beamed with happiness. He gulped a mouthful of milk from his cup, and took a few pieces of bread from the tray. The adults all took their seats at the table and began to eat.

Stella gave Luca and Simone a recap of her conversation with Urie from before they arrived—when Celeste transferred to the other side up to the point where Volcanus had interrupted them.

They were greatly relieved after hearing news of Celeste and also felt grateful to Urie. Luca, who was no longer agitated, brought up one of the things Volcanus had mentioned.

“Volcanus said you received his blessing?”

“He said so, yes sir. It was probably a year ago, just after I failed at awakening my mana roots. My seed wouldn't take in mana so I wouldn't have been able to use magic then.”

“Wouldn't take in mana?” Luca contemplated for a moment. He stood up and approached Urie. He explained to his wife who was getting ready to hold him down, “I'm just going to check on something! Don't look at me like that!”

Luca beckoned Urie, “Give me your hand, kid.” Without waiting for his permission, he took Urie's hand into his own and closed his eyes. Stella and Simone were curious as to why Luca's expression gradually changed into one of pleasant surprise.

“No wonder... Kid, come and close your eyes, try to get a sense for my mana seed.”

Urie did as instructed and shut his eyes. Spreading his awareness to the hands holding onto his, he saw thin red threads going up to the man's arms.

“What do you see?” Luca asked.

“Mana roots?” Urie replied, unsure if that was the answer Luca was looking for.

“That's right. Now compare them to your own.”

“They have the same color but look thinner than mine.”

Stella and Simone were surprised. Out of all the known adepts in Daerin, Luca's magic output was already the highest. If this boy trained his body a bit more, wouldn't he be capable of much more?

Luca continued, “And? What of my mana seed?”

Urie focused a bit more and followed the threads to Luca's chest where he saw a pale red seed.

“How is it? Yours looks much brighter, doesn't it?” Luca spoke with a smile. He turned to Stella, “The kid's gonna need magic if he's up against beasts. How's about we teach him how to be a proper adept as well?”

“Hmm...” Knowing what Luca meant, Stella rubbed her forehead but didn't protest.

—Is there something wrong?

Urie was slightly confused, but he didn't really mind. If Luca knew what was best for him, he couldn't complain. “T-Thank you sir and ma'am! I'll do my best!”

Stella smiled wryly, “That's alright little Urie, but isn't it tiring to speak like that?”

Luca and Simone thought the same. From the start, Urie had been speaking a bit too formally. It sounded off coming from a child. Stella landed her elbow on the table and propped up her chin. Then she displayed one of the most charming smiles she had ever had in her life.

She asked, “Why don't you call me mama instead?”