In the lands of Sphera, Mana was once used by Druids and Fiends alike.

However, after the 'Divine Sword Disappearance Incident', the Mana residing in the bodies of both Druids and Fiends became more scarce. It didn't really matter much to Fiends because of their strong physiques, but for Druids that mostly relied on their Magic, it became a fatal weakness.

The Druids at the time of the incident were stronger than the Fiends, so they came up with a reason to resolve their conflict with the Fiend Race in order to buy time for them to heal from their loss, which was by creating a magical contract that forbid both races from starting any full-scale wars. The Fiends accepted the contract unwillingly, but the condition that they put forth before signing the contract was that the Druid Race was forbidden from ever entering their Holy Lands, which was gladly accepted by the Kings of that era.

Now after hundreds of years, society has become less reliant on Magic and more reliant on Martial Arts. A new form of Mana Manipulation was crafted by a genius Heroic King of the Human Race that were starting to replace the ancient Druids of the past.

The genius Heroic King of the past created a technique known as Aura Manifestation to make up for his Mana Origin's lack of purity and one day publicised the godly technique for all to learn. The Aura Manifestation technique became the stable foundation that human society is now built upon due to his generous heart.

In the Human Lands of Sphera, I myself am merely a servant of Duke Swordwick's noble household. A thirty-year-old maid who was born with a childish-looking face. My last name was once known as Greenlock until I married my husband named Fredrick Rainglow, the Head Butler of the Swordwick Household and former companion in my days as a mercenary.

Hah... Just remembering those days of adventure really makes me nostalgic. I can even imagine myself at the time with a rapier in one one hand and an emerald Magic Circle in the other. The speedy style of combat that was unique to Wind Specialists is something that was ingrained into my muscle memory.

As an adventuring Mercenary with a C Rank License Card, my days as a freelancer was a lot better than most after I left my family to pursue my dreams. The cage of responsibility they trapped me in was something I ripped apart myself so I could experience the wider world. There were times I was put in danger after adventuring as a Mercenary, but my positivity never waned considering how everything from that point was my own decision.

I had never felt there was anything missing in my life until I found my soulmate, Fredrick. We hated each other at first due to a Hunting Request that went terribly wrong. The amount of injuries we received because of our terrible cooperation was enough to almost take out lives. However, it was only after the incident did I realise that it truly was my own arrogance that got in the way of our teamwork. As a Wind Specialist I had thought myself to untouchable, but reality was really cruel as the Outsider we faced had a deep understanding on how to counter those who used Wind Magic to boost their speeds. Oh just remembering how my handsome knight in shining armour saved me from death really makes me fall for him all over again!

We experienced so much together after becoming our partners to the point we were one day willing to settle down and become a normal family again. Well, I might say that it like we were the ones who made the choice to stop adventuring, but the truth is that the Duke of the Noble Household we now serve is the actual reason we settled down. If it weren't for him, we'd all be dead rather than getting off with permanent injuries that will never heal.

Not that I'm complaining though. I may have experienced many joys in my time as an adventuring Mercenary for the Guild, but nothing in the past has ever made me as happy as today: The day I gave birth to my precious son.

It was a painful process but everything was well worth it, because now I can see my child's lovely smile. My heart was filled with surprised when I first saw my son open his eyes and found that he wasn't fidgeting or crying straight after waking from his sleep. He looked at me in wonder in his eyes as he opened his mouth to make cute noises and sounds. A smile was on his face as he played with my hair.

I found his every action to be extremely adorable! However, after he fell back asleep, I found that there were a lot of strange things about his behaviour.

I don't know if I was imagining it or not but I remember that deep in his eyes was a unfamiliar kind of calmness, as if he was watching my each and every movement with a hawklike focus.

He didn't pull my hair whilst he was playing with it, nor did he try to move his entire body to crawl out of my grasp. It's strange how he just quietly laid in my arms like an obedient child while speaking incomprehensibly.

Maybe I'm just thinking too deep into this, it isn't like all children are full of mischievous straight after birth. He might be just tired. I looked at his sleeping face and gently kissed his forehead once more before putting him in his own little bed. I feel a warm and fluffy feeling within the deepest parts of my heart whenever I think of the bright future ahead of my adorable child!

"Samantha, what will you name your child?" A maid who I was most familiar with asked in curiosity. I turned back and saw a tanned and rough-skinned beauty waiting at the door. Her eyes filled with expectations for my answer.

"We've decided beforehand that the name of our child would be named Simon if he's a boy and Merilin if she's a girl." I said happily with a blushing face. This is the happiest day in my life!

"My child's name will be Simon Rainglow from this day forth. It's nice name, right Anna?" I continued whilst asking the muscular maid in front of me. Whenever I look at her well-proportioned figure I couldn't help but let out a sigh in envy. Unlike my somewhat skinny figure, Anna's was strong and robust but didn't lose any of her natural womanly charms.

"It's a nice name." Anna praised wholeheartedly with a sincere smile.

I couldn't help but feel emotional again after seeing her full of joy. We had been part of the same Noble Household for a long time but it was only in recent years that Anna had warmed up to me.

I remember how detached her personality was when I we first met and how she slowly opened up to me in these peaceful days of working together. The Anna I could remember from back then and the Anna standing straight in front me seem to be two entirely different people if one judged entirely by her appearance or attitude.

I never knew Anna could be so fond of children. I let her hold Simon for a moment and found that she seemed like someone who wanted to spoil him but didn't know how one does so. It was funny and adorable to see how she was trying to play games with Simon.

Time passed slowly as I affectionately raised dearest son with all the love and attention I could give. Fredrick also made time from work to be there for Simon in these precious years of his childhood. When Simon reached the age of three, he was blessed with a beautiful little sister. I was worried inwardly that he would be jealous due to me not giving him as attention I did when he was younger, but to my and Fredrick's surprise, he didn't complain even once. He even helped the two of us take care of Merilin by coming to inform us whenever she started to cry.

"I want to treasure my sister and spoil her to my hearts content." Was what my son said at the age of four. His voice was so high and cute as he said something so heart moving. I couldn't help but give him a big hug for his keen perception and understanding.

Now that I think about it, Merilin was a lot more 'normal' while growing, since she cried like any other child her age would whenever she was upset.

What am I saying...? Calling my own child abnormal... There must be other reasons I haven't seen him cry ever since he was born. Maybe that was just the natural personality he formed over time. I mean it's not like all children are the same while they're growing up.

At first I thought he wasn't as smart as normal children his age because even the Dukes daughter was able to speak fluidly at the age of three. I was worried that my son wouldn't be able to keep up with the children of his age but it seems that those worried feelings were for naught. He was able to quickly surpass those his age in terms of formal etiquette and mathematical studies. By the time he finished learning how to speak, he became as fluent as others his age without needing much support.

My child is so adorable! Yet why do I always find his actions to more mature for his age? He never even once argued when I asked him to help with chores.

He never cried when he hurt himself after accidentally falling and I'm sure I would have thought he was a young-looking old man if I hadn't been the one to give birth him. Just look at that mature expression he always has on!

"Merilin, you have to remember that you must walk if you can't run. Don't make me worry. Oh, and at least try to be more independent by putting on your own clothes. I don't care if you can't do it right now, practice doing it yourself for the future. You can't always have Mother helping you." Simon nagged many complaints like this to the only two-year-old Merilin every morning. I'd think he's serious if it wasn't for that mischievous light in his eyes as he played with her cheeks.

"Stop acting like an old man. It's creepy." I pretended to put on a face full of disgust and berated him whilst brushing his teeth. A luxury like brushing teeth could only be reserved for nobility like Barons and those well off like us. I mean, as a Head Maid that keeps charge of the once mercenary servants, my pay is quite good. That's not even mentioning the pay from Fredrick's job as Head Butler.

"Mother, can't you be more gentle? You will break my weak little heart~" Simon casually lies through his teeth after I finished brushing his teeth. This habit of his must be from his father!

"You're almost five years old. It's almost a good time to start training swordsmanship with your father. So stop nagging Merilin and acting like an old man." I reprimanded strictly. This is rare! It's the first time I found a reason to reprimand Simon twice! It must be my lucky day today. Though I hope my luck rubs off on Simon since the hardship he's going to experience from now on is going to be torturous.

Why is it I think that way? Well, it has to do with my son's poor innate talents despite being both my own and Fredrick's son. In this magical world where Beasts and Humans had to form an alliance to resist the invading Outsiders, weakness is itself a sin.

Is it my fault that my son was born with a poor innate aptitude for Magic? I don't really know the answer to that question myself. All I know is that the enemies I and Fredrick made in our time might one day catch up to us, and if they do then we need Simon to be strong enough to protect himself when that time comes. The first lesson everyone learns as Mercenaries of the Mercenary Guild is that only the strong are eligible to control their own fate. If that is true then there's no need to hold back on training Simon to become someone who could one day independently stand on his own feet.