Chapter 67. Teacher

“Teacher, what did you talk about with my dad?” Boulder asked.

Marvis looked at the boy standing before him and smiled. “You’ll know it soon.”

“Okay.” Boulder completely believed what his teacher said and nodded his head.

“I’ll be watching you at the festival.”

“I won’t let you down!” Boulder pounded his chest and stood in attention. He continued “But if I do, look away please.”

Marvis Klein smiled at the little boy before him and patted Boulder on the shoulder and continued to walk out of the estate. “I won’t look away. You’re my student. Do your best, show them what you’ve learned.”

“I will!”

It wasn’t some time later that Gran walked out of the house. His expression was hard to decipher. Roselyn immediately knew something was wrong when she saw him walk over to her. However, she didn’t say anything and calmly rubbed his back with her arm.

Gran turned his attention to everyone around him. “You guys are dismissed for today, there won’t be meditation tonight, so you guys can go freshen up and make your way to the Festival grounds. They should be getting ready already, you can walk around and have fun.”

“Thank you, Chief Gran!” Arthur exclaimed.

“Ahaha don’t thank me yet, tomorrow it won’t be Pebble training you guys, I’ll finish up your training.” Gran laughed at the boy.

The trainees gulped when Gran finished his statement. Two straight days of morning training with Gran? Give them Pebble and Cobble back! Heck give them both together instead of Gran!

Gran saw their frozen faces and smiled. “You’re fine with that, right?”

“Yes…sir.” Arthur sighed dejectedly.

“Ahaha, it’s just two days, I gotta make sure your father won’t blame me for slacking on my training of you four.”

“But my dad doesn’t even train me this hard…” Arthur mumbled.

“Ahaha! Alright, let’s make a deal. You guys head back to the Inn, Boss stay back for a bit I need to have a word with you before you go.”

Gran quickly hinted at Arthur and them to leave with his eyes. The trainees instantly got the message and scurried off faster than expected. Two shadows quickly trailed them from behind without anyone noticing.

“Wow, it seems like they hate your training more than mine.” Gran commented at the little boy who was quietly observing him.

Gran then turned his attention to his sons “Pebble, Cobble, Boulder you three can to the Festival grounds early to make sure everything is in order I’ll head over in a bit after I discuss something with Boss.

The three sons nodded their head to their father’s command and departed out of the estate. Dr. Galil saw that it was an important discussion and returned inside.

“Teacher tell ya about the King’s decree?” Boss asked.

“You know of it?”

“Of course, I’m a Galafray.”

“Ah, that’s good…I thought I might have to send them back to the Governor.”

“You know what else I know?” Boss asked.

“Hm?”

“The latest prophecy.” Boss eyed the baby in Roselyn’s arm.

His words caused Gran to freeze momentarily.

“Oh? So, you know of it?” Boss continued to ask after noticing Gran’s change in behavior.

“Yeah, I know of it. So what? There’s millions of us on this planet, everything happening here just a coincidence.” Gran returned to himself and replied calmly.

“Do you really believe that? After everything you’ve seen and heard?”

“I don’t want it to be right.” Gran replied. He then turned his attention to the gated entrance of his home. “I guess the kids should be back at the Inn by now…are you still going to train them today?”

“Nope! I’m going to the Festival! ~”

“Oh God, you’re not participating, are you?”

“Heck no, the food should be good though. Anyways if that’s all you wanted to ask, see ya!”

Boss quickly waved the two goodbye and ran towards the entrance of the gate.

Gran returned to look at Roselyn who was sitting beside him this entire time. He then turned his attention to the Lotus within her arms.

“May I hold her?” Gran reached out at the baby handed to him and looked down on the daughter of his. “She looks just like you.” He noted.

“She’s got your ears though.” Roselyn smiled and replied back at Gran.

“She does, huh?” Gran’s finger interlocked with the palm of his daughter. “I think this is the first time I’ve actually gotten a clear look at her.”

“It won’t be the last time either.” Roselyn leaned her head on Gran’s shoulder. “She’s going to be with us forever. No matter what trouble she causes, we’re on her side. Who cares about some little lightning whenever she opens her eyes…we…we just need to lightning proof our home…yeah, that way she can open her eyes whenever she wants. That’ll be fine right? She’ll be okay right?”

Sigh

“She’s a strong girl, if that boy says she can’t open her eyes until she’s older there’s definitely a solution when she’s older.” He continued, “Did you know, she used up all the water you have been storing in the back?”

“Mhm~ it’s connected to me, that water was something I’ve been slowly saving up to one day give everyone in the village a better chance at obtaining a power. But this is fine too, right? I can just start over for them.”

“Ahaha, we’re already old we shouldn’t use our powers whenever we want, especially you, you’re in bed for days whenever you put some in that pond.”

“Hehe, remember what I’ve said?” Roselyn asked.

“Of course, I know, you say it every time you drained yourself in front of the pond.

“Water is love; water is life.”

“Mhm.” Roselyn softly played with the small amount of hair on Lotus’ head. “She’s a greedy one, she wanted all that water for herself.”

“You’re a greedy one too, you wanted all our villagers to have powers.” Gran playfully reminded her. “Like mother, like daughter.”

“Hehe, she’s a little flower that needs all the water she can get.”

“She’ll grow to become the most beautiful flower.”

“She already is, Gran.”

“Ahaha, you’re right.”

The two relaxed themselves completely as they leaned against each other while playing with Lotus.

It wasn’t until later that Roselyn decided to ask her husband, “Is there anything else about Lotus that I should know about? Boss glanced at her when he mentioned some prophecy?”

Gran knew she was going to ask him this, he was prepared to tell her everything. Gran spent the next hour recounting the events of the birth all the way up until present. Roselyn remained quiet the entire time only listening until he finished. Her eyes closed, lost in thought the moment Gran finished.

“I’ll take Lotus back inside, you should head to the Festival now, everyone should be ready.” Roselyn calmly spoke and got up. Gran did the same handed Lotus who was fast asleep to back to her.

Gran nodded his head and walked his wife back to her room. He quietly left the room and closed the door behind him. Roselyn looked lovingly at the daughter fast asleep beside her. “If even the whole world sees you as a demon, to me you’ll always be my angel.”

…

“POE! I CHALLENGE YOU!” Boulder exclaimed while standing above the square shaped stage and pointed at Poe who was quietly eating a kebab from one of the many stalls set in place for the festival.

“It’s not even time yet, Boulder, here take a bite.” Poe sent a kebab from one the stall flying towards Boulder who quickly received it and started tearing it away from the stick.

“I’m just practicing what I’m going to say.” Boulder replied.

“You’re going to challenge me again this year?”

“Of course! I’ll never stop!” Boulder exclaimed while finishing the rest of the kebab.

“Shouldn’t you even be remotely worried at all?”

“Why should I? Everyone else is weak, I’m stronger than them.” Boulder confidently spoke up.

“Ahaha, say that when they’re here and I’ll believe you.” Poe remarked.

“I will!” Boulder hopped off the stage and rushed over to the vendor who had the kebab. He wanted another.

“Don’t eat too much, you’re going to have an upset stomach during the matches.”

“It’s alright, I won’t.” Boulder cleaned a second kebab in his hand and reached for a third.

Poe immediately turned his head around and gazed towards the direction of the entrance.

“What’s wrong Poe?” Boulder asked before doing the same, he was staring at the entrance of the Festival ground.

“Resonance?” A young man with dull red hair walked in followed by a magenta eyed person. “Check it out Mason, these must’ve been the kids Seth talked about.” Riley commented as he looked at the young man beside him. Mason calmly nodded his head and observed the 12-year-old boy who he felt resonance from.

“Can you be any less suspicious Riley?” Seth walked up; his familiar face immediately calmed the two boys before them. “They’re my friends, don’t worry about them, are we early?” Seth looked around there was only a handful of people walking around, everyone else was either a vendor selling merchandise or one at a stall selling food.

“Just a little bit, we’re finishing up preparations right now.” Poe replied to Seth who he had met back at the bridge and when helping restore Gran’s home.

“Anything you need for us to do?” Riley walked up and asked.

“That’s okay—”

“You can fight me.” Boulder interrupted and set upon his gaze at Riley who was looking down at him.

Poe immediately sighed when Boulder interrupted him. However, he was also feeling a bit competitive when he locked gazes with Mason who was smiling at him.

“For the Festival? Sure, if there’s fighting allowed.” Riley commented. This was his first time to Boulderville’s festival he didn’t know anything besides that there was going to be one and there won’t be scaring involved.

“Of course! It’s the main event!” Boulder exclaimed.

“Alright, cool I’ll see you on stage for the main event.” Riley smiled at the kid before him.

“Right now!” Boulder exclaimed.

Everyone gave Boulder a curious look, wasn’t he a bit too hasty in wanting to fight with Riley?

Poe sighed a second time and chopped Boulder on the head with his hands. “We can fight when the festival starts. Everyone should be coming soon.” He then turned his attention to the four others besides Seth. “By the way, may I know your names?” Poe asked.

“I’m Riley, this is Mason, Gerald, and Sampson.” Riley introduced himself and his friends beside him.

“Are you their leader?” Boulder asked Riley.

His words caused Riley to instantly wave his hands in refusal. “Heavens no, they’re my best friends. We’ve grown up together.”

“Oh, are you and Mason rivals?” Boulder asked.

“Uh, why would we be rivals?” Riley asked.

“Hm? Cause Poe and I am rivals and we’re best friends too.” Boulder answered.

“Uh… I don’t believe we are rivals, we’re just best friends.” Riley responded.

“Oh…” Boulder leaned over to whisper into Poe’s ear. “They’re going to be easy for us to beat, no rivalry means they’re weak.”

Poe shook his head after hearing that, he didn’t know what to say when it came to this ‘rival’ of his.

“Oh! Seth is here before us! And Boulder and Poe too! Hi you guys!” Arthur exclaimed the moment he entered and noticed Seth.

Everyone standing around heard the little 10 year old boy shout and turned their gaze upon the silver haired kid with emerald green eyes.

“Hey Arthur!” Boulder exclaimed and waved back at the boy. He then immediately saw Shelly and Julie who was slowly walking in from further back. “Hi Shelly~, hi Julie~” Boulder waved.

“Boulder, boulder~ Boulder~” Julie waved and did the villager greetings to Boulder.

“Ahaha, boulder boulder~” Boulder repeated and quickly ran up to the four who entered. “Come on let me show you around.” Boulder quickly pulled on Shelly and Julie’s hands around the festival grounds.

The two boys quickly followed Boulder who was showing the girls around.

“This is the vendors for trinkets and stuff, this is the stalls for delicious food, and that is the outhouse area for when you need to poop.”

“Over there is the…”

“…and over there is the…”

Boulder’s voice was out of hearing range for the guys remaining near the entrance.

“Mason, will you agree to fight me if I challenge you?” Poe asked the magenta eyed young man standing before him.

“Mm, we’ll see.” Mason smiled and replied back. “There’s no rush, I’d like to take a look around first before I choose to do anything.”

“Alright, I’ll see you guys later for if we fight.” Poe quickly ran after Boulder and the others who was following him around.

Sampson looked at Riley and Mason who was calmly looking at Boulder and Poe further away. “You’re actually not going to fight them right? They’re just kids.”

“Kids?” Riley smiled at Sampson’s remark. “It should be an honor to fight those who are as capable as us at such an early age. Don’t look down on those two, they’re already capable enough to match me and Mason here.”

“Are they really that capable?” Gerald asked.

“Mmm… in terms of experience Riley and I have the advantage, but those two definitely have talent and potential to beat us if we look down on them.” Mason calmly responded.

“I’ve seen those two fight, they’re very much capable.” Seth concluded.

“What do ya say Mason, fight em?” Riley asked.

“Of course, but let’s go look around first.” Mason answered.

Noise noise noise The sound of people started to gather near the entrance.

“Let’s go look around, a lot of people are coming it’s going to get crowded we stand around here.” Riley stated the moment he heard the sound of everyone walking towards the festival grounds.

“Let’s go!” The five young adults nodded and hurried towards the areas all around the festival grounds before it became crowded with people.