Vanessa settled comfortably in her beloved’s arms, as they lay in bed, turning in for the night. Today had been a very, very long one. The start of a simple holiday turning to a semi-permanent relocation.

“How was the talk with Liz, my wife?”

Vanessa’s mood fluctuated for a very brief moment before returning to normal. Of course, Kyle didn’t miss this. He was about to ask if there was anything wrong when Vanessa spoke in response to the earlier question.

“Hmm, it was a bit surprising. She hid it rather well all this time. But, I don’t oppose to her liking Alex. As for Alex returning the feelings, I’ll leave it to the individuals themselves.”

“Haha, the boy’s going to have fun at the academy!” Kyle laughed thinking about treatment he’d get from Amelia after she finds out about his ‘personal maid’.

The couple laughed at the same time while looking at each other. Kyle leaned in for a good night kiss.

“Sweet dreams, wife.” Kyle smiled and turned off the mana lamp on their bedside table.

“Good night, dear.”

Vanessa’s slight discomfort went unnoticed this time around.

***

Trent Strand stood atop the mountain behind the capital. There was not much moonlight around. The harsh and fast winds blowing over the mountain bringing comfort to his rather bad mood.

The earlier encounter was not as he had expected it. That man was far too strange. Although, they had not actually fought a battle, he was sure that he would lose if they were to do so!

However! He could not find peace in the act of shirking due to a stronger enemy. He might have just been very good at manipulating space and his actual combat potential might not have been all that high!

Trent’s body started to shiver as one with the wind. His slumbering battle intent slowly rose up within him, just as it had been in his younger days, with a spear in his hands, on the battlefield facing terrifying monsters from an unknown realm!

“Hahahaha! I must be getting old!” The old man howled into the wind. The fast winds seemed to resonate to his battle intent and blew even faster around the mountain top.

“But, it isn’t the time right now. I must get into the right state-of-mind. I am far more likely to make mistakes as I am now.”

The old man muttered softly. Having calmed down somewhat, he sat down on the spot to come up with a plan to cope against Kyle’s prowess in the space attribute.

***

Alex walked along the road. He was alone. Liz had wanted to follow him but Vanessa had pulled her off to a random corner to have a girls’ chat.

While, mentally thanking his sister for it, Alex thought about what he should say to Amelia. Should he say that he wanted to go with his family, leaving the capital but couldn’t bear to since she was here?

If he asked, would she come? If she wanted to come, would her father let her? All in all, it was rather embarrassing since he couldn’t say anything of importance since it pretty much sounded like a roundabout proposal.

He also wanted to finish his study. It would stabilize his future, ensuring that he became a somebody.

As he agonized in his mind about the upcoming conversation, he finally reached the gates of the Duke’s mansion. The gate guards let him in easily, since it had not been the first time he had come to visit.

After being seated in the visitor’s lounge and as he waited for Amelia, Alex decided on one thing. He would simply say things as how they are. While Amelia may be special to him, he only had one sister in the entire world.

Who was to say he wouldn’t be able to find someone as special as Amelia later on? As a mage, he had a long life ahead of him. He shouldn’t worry about love so early in his life!

He reassured himself as he waited nervously in the large empty room. A door leading to the inner hallways swung open, waking Alex up from his thoughts.

A smiling Duke came out by himself, walking towards the boy in large strides.

“Alex! My boy! How are you! Have you eaten something this morning? Care to join me for morning tea?”

Alex was rooted on the spot from shock towards the Duke’s overly familiar greetings. As question marks popped in his head, and unable to answer to the Duke, he was dragged off with an arm around his shoulder towards the inner areas of the mansion.

After a short walk with the Duke making some small talk, almost all about his daughter, and with Alex replying in short words, still rather muddle headed, the two reached another lounge with tea and snacks ready.

As soon as the two entered the room, a shadow ran towards them and tackled Alex. The Duke, knowing the assailant just smiled shaking his head, seemingly not minding the display of affection before him.

“Alex! You are alright!”

Amelia screamed as she lay on top of the boy, hugging him tightly.

Alex frantically tapped on her back, as he struggled to breathe.

‘Uncle Edward, help!’ He formed those words to the Duke desperately, hoping that the man would save his life.

The Duke blinked a few times then realised that he should probably separate them.

“Umm, darling daughter, my dear, let’s go and have some tea and talk at the table. It’s going to get cold.”

Amelia looked up to see a green-faced Alex. Alex realised that Amelia had teary eyes, slightly red and puffy. He somehow felt really happy right at that moment, mixed in with feelings of guilt for having resolved to leave her behind.

Amelia wordlessly got up and helped Alex stand. The Duke sighed a bit, thinking that it was perhaps too late for his daughter. She’s been thoroughly taken away from him. He inwardly sobbed a bit at that thought.

Amelia didn’t speak much more over the tea session. Her heart was pounding loudly. She had always been close to Alex. Hugs and the likes were not uncommon, although one in front of her father was the first.

However, it was the first time she cried in front of the boy, and he saw it clearly! She felt troubled. What if her yearning was merely one sided? What if he thought her an easy woman? Her father had said that he’d talk to her mother last night about it. But, what if mother disagrees? Father has never gone against her mother’s words.

She was scared, and insecure. After tea, the Duke excused himself saying he had some work to oversee, leaving the two youths alone.

“Amelia.” Alex opened his mouth after taking a big breath. Currently, they were in a large garden in the back of the Duke mansion, sitting next to each other on a bench.

Amelia looked at Alex with her big pretty eyes. Alex, felt his mood sink at the thought of having to confess the following, after seeing those infatuating eyes. The girl was indeed one of the most beautiful he’d seen for her age.

“My family is moving away, from the capital.” Each word came out with much difficulty after this.

“I’m…not sure what to do…”

“I want to go with them…but……” Alex looked into those mesmerising eyes as he struggled to finish the sentence.

“Mmh!!”

Just as he made up his mind and was about to speak out, he was robbed of his chance.

Amelia hugged him closely and suddenly kissed the boy! Initially, Alex attempted to struggle. After a few futile attempts, he gave up resistance.

Who knew when he’d be able to enjoy such bliss again. Heck, if the Duke was to see this, he might actually be killed!

Unknown to the two, the Duke was indeed watching from the outer edge of the garden. He was currently trembling and was being held back by a beautiful mature woman, much like an older Amelia, who was giggling.

“Dear, let them be. Weren’t we also like that at when we were younger? Fufufu.”

After a full thirty seconds of kissing, Amelia finally released Alex, albeit still in a tight hug. As he looked back at her amorous face, he knew he’d been completely defeated.