*Interlude*

Graize Els Millson used to be a person who never choose anything for himself.

Being the eldest son of Graize family, he was forced to undergo harsh training to become the next heir's Royal Knight of Graize family.

At the age of five, Millson started learning how to fight, ride a horse and use magic. Each of those trainings was taught by separate tutor. For example, Kaina was the one who taught him magic.

Millson was born with Astral Level of 5 consisting of Fire, Water, Earth, Wind and Light basic attributes. However, training shows that he is especially adept in using Water basic attribute. He is so talented that he can use the magic with Advanced Attribute of Ice at the age of 7.

Advanced Attribute is the further technic in using magic. In order to use Advanced Attribute magic, one must meet certain requirements that involves the Basic Attribute.

In Millson's case, he required the Advanced Attribute of Ice after mastering the Basic Attribute of Water.

People cannot control the Advanced Attribute that they will get as it is a thing that will suddenly appear inside the magic user's mind.

Upon knowing that Millson acquired the Advance Attribute of Ice, the head maid Kaina was assigned to replace his previous magic tutor as per Victorious' order because she is the strongest ice magic user around.

Besides training time, Millson was taught on how to behave properly as a Knight and given proper basic education by private tutor for each lesson.

His only free time would be during meal, afternoon tea and sleeping time. For Millson, it was taxing to keep up with his schedule back then.

Her mother, Graize Els Lenora, was giving him all the emotional support he needed.

However, not too long after giving birth to Korsch, Lenora was attacked by a horde of monsters while staying at her parents' house.

According to the witnesses, the attacking monsters are calles Liodora, a lion-shaped monsters with skins made of steel and the size of a small mansion. A very dangerous monster that even one of them would be considered an A rank request for Guild Monster Subjugation Request. As a result, Lenora and her family lost their lives.

At the age of 7, Millson's mother passed away. Korsch was only 1 year old back then, so only Millson was emotionally hurt by that fact.

A funeral was held near the mansion. During the funeral, Millson looked at his father's face. He was expressionless as usual making Millson wonder if he even felt sad about her wife's death.

All other people showed their grief over Lenora's death except the one year old Millson. Especially Graize Els Shinotsuki, Millson's step mother, who is crying while her body is being supported by Nelsia.

On top of having weak constitution, Shinotsuki was pregnant back then. Therefore, Nelsia was assigned to support her on daily life basis.

As for Kaina, she was holding the sleeping baby Korsch. She's one of few maids that did not cry, but even she couldn't hide the grief on her face.

You can no longer meet the dead.

At this point of time, Millson learn for the first about the pain of losing someone dear to him. Not wanting to lose another family member, he continue to train and study as a Royal Knight apperentice to become stronger as fast as possible.

Ever since then, Millson continued training hard without much rest on daily basis.

His obsession with training made most of his family members worried. Many of them including her step-mother, Shinotsuki, tried to talk to him to reconsider his training schedule.

However, being burdened with the facts that he is the eldest child and the one who would eventually inherits his father's Crest Force, those concerns fall to deaf ears.

This routine continues even after Shion was born. At the age of 5, Shion finally heard the reason about Millson's obsession with magic training from the maids talking to each other in kitchen building of the Graize mansion area.

Before overhearing the story, Shion already heard her blood-related mother's concern over Millson's health many times already.

At that time, Shion was in the middle of researching plant materials to create the Graize Elixir. She always sneaked out at night to get the materials needed for her alchemy practice.

However she had trouble dealing with One-Horned Rabbits that always attack the moment they see her.

Shion who was not experienced yet in fighting monster can only run away at that time. Resulting in not much progress in gathering alchemy materials.

She did all that to help her mother's physical condition. However, it would be bad if her mother's mental condition also got affected by worrying about Millson's condition. That's the reason why Shion decided to do something about her eldest brother.

When Millson prepared himself to go to the forest not too far from the mansion for magic self-practice, he opened his room's door only to find the five years old Shion who was standing in front of his room.

"Where are you... going...?"

Shion cannot speak fluently because she's still learning it. But she can at least form sentences that other people can understand.

"I am about to go outside for training now. What's wrong?"

Millson smiled and crouched before he can talk with Shion on the same height level. Shion was an interesting little sister to Millson due to her weird behaviour. Shion was always regarded as problematic kid by the maids. She acts obedient in front of other people, but whenever the maids lost sight of her, the maids won't be able to find her until she decides to show up.

Shion always wander around the mansion despite having the tendency of getting tired quickly. This causes the maids to have headaches for so many times when it comes to dealing with Shion. Especially Kaina, the head maid.

"I heard that... Onii-sama is overworking lately."

"!"

Shion's statement surprised Millson a bit. Millson was aware that Shion was still learning how to talk. But he never expect Shion to be able to say that much at such early age.

Especially with the word "Onii-sama" which is not really a universal word but rather, a polite way of how Sanrock people refer to their older brother.

But now that he think about it, her step mother and some of the maids are people from Sanrock continent. So it's not really that surprising if Shion learnt the words from them.

"Oh. Are you worried? Thanks."

Millson patted Shion's head.

Shion definitely got annoyed but restrained herself from slapping Millson's hand.

She looks at Millson's face and talks to him instead.

"You're going for... training right? I want to... see your training!"

Shion wants to ask him to stop worrying her mother at first. However, if asking Millson to stop can solve the problem, he wouldn't still overwork himself till now in the first place.

So, instead of directly asking him to stop, Shion will try to figure out other ways. So she gather information about her brother's training first before forming her plan.

That was Shion's current plan. However...

"Ahaha. What are you talking about? Of course you can't."

With a smile on his face, Millson grabbed Shion's small left hand.

"Eh? W- wait!"

Despite Shion's plead, Millson brought Shion to the maids before heading off to the forest.

It's the normal thing to do. The forest is too dangerous for Shion. That's what Millson thought without knowing that Shion already had a habit of wandering in forest at night in order to search for the Elixir's ingredients.

However Millson did not expect that Shion to be such a stubborn.

Ever since then, Shion would always stop in front of Millson's room every time Millson was about to go for self-practice as if she know all about Millson's schedule despite Millson never telling her about it.

It became a daily routine of Shion asking Millson to bring her and Millson brought her to the maids instead.

Despite Millson asking the maids to keep an eye on Shion to prevent her from wandering around the mansion, Shion always managed to get away from them through various ways.

Some of the maids reported that they suddenly fell asleep when they are keeping an eye on Shion. Unbeknown to everyone that Shion is actually using a sleeping aroma drug that she created from her secret alchemy lesson. When she is acting like a kid playing on her room, Shion silently hold her breathing until the aroma made the maids fell asleep. That is only one of many methods that Shion used to get away from the maids.

Even Kaina herself cannot completely prevent Shion from running away whenever Shion uses the knowledge of the alchemy and the knowledge from her previous world to the fullest.

Millson got amused whenever he heard about Shion's 'beyond-being-naughty' behaviour from the frustrated maids. He gradually accept the fact that Shion will always ask him to take her whenever he is about to go for self-practice.

About one month after Shion's initial plan to stop Millson from praticing too hard, Millson found Shion in front of his room right before he went for self-practice again.

However, Millson did not bring Shion to the maids again this time. Instead, Millson crouched and talked to Shion.

"Alright, I'll let you come with me. However, only if you agree with my conditions."

Right after saying that, Millson handed over a small potion bottle with wooden lid that has blue liquid inside it.

"This is Luenade. A drink that can increase your stamina for few hours. If you drink this and agree to obey my words, I'll let you follow me for my practice."

Shion was hesitant at first because she thinks that Millson could have put something like sleeping drug inside that drink so that Millson can go for practice alone again.

But she has no choice but to drink it if she want to follow him. Therefore...

"I'll drink it... but only if you drink it a bit first."

"Hm? ... ohh..."

Millson was confused by what Shion meant at first. But he soon understand her intention. He opened the bottle of blue liquid while getting amused by his little sister's cautious attitude.

He drank a little bit of the blue liquid with his lips not touching the bottle and showed no sign of drowsiness and any other side effects.

"How is it? Can you believe me now?"

"..."

After looking at Millson's smile, Shion slowly took the Luenade bottle from Millson's hand and finally drank it.

"!"

After sour taste hit her tongue and flowed throught her throat. Shion suddenly felt that her body became lighter than before.

"It indeed increases your stamina. But that is just for precaution. You must not overexert yourself. Definitely tell me if you got tired, okay?"

After Shion agreed to Millson's conditions, both of them went to the forest.

On the way to the forest, both Millson and Shion encountered few hostile One-Horned Rabbit monsters. Millson quickly defeated all of them. Shion took note on Millson's way of defeating monsters in her mind so that she can use it as reference later.

Once they arrived at an open field near the forest, Millson decided to train there while Shion watching him under the shade of a nearby tree.

Millson usually train inside the forest. However, he thought that it would be too dangerous for Shion to enter the forest, hence the place change.

While watching her brother casting Ice magic spells for training. Shion compared her magic knowledge to Millson's application of the magic.

Knowing the basic magic formulas really helped Shion in understanding Millson's magic. After all, most non-basic magic formulas that people use are usually just the accumulation of basic magic formulas. Knowing the basic magic formulas can make it a lot easier for a person to understand the functions of most magic.

Magic formulas are shown throught the magic circles. So people can understand the magic and formula and how it works by looking at the magic circles.

Shion who studied about water magic can somehow roughly tell about what Millson is currently practicing for.

"Ice Shard!"

With Millson's shout, a light blue magic circle appeared on his left hand when he bring his right hand forward.

Three shards of ice were immediately formed and got fired towards a big rock in front of it. The ice shards immediately hit the big rock and broke.

Shion thought that Millson is currently tweaking the Ice Shard magic formula so that it can move faster with lowest mana consumption possible while the power output is within acceptable range.

One way to solve that problem is to use 'Chant'. A phrase that can be said to reinforce the mind of the magic user to achiever higher efficiency and power output of a magic.

The MM law, a fundamental theory that exists as the foundation of how people use magic. It stands for Mind and Magic. MM law states that people can use magic as long as their Mind and Mana connect with each other.

'Chant' is one way for people to reinforce their image of the magic in their mind. The stronger the image of the magic, the higher the output of the magic will be

For example, Ice Shard's chant: "Come forth, frozen spears that will pierce my enemy!"

It was a chant created by Kaina. Kaina uses it because that phrase is the most efficient way to reinforce her image of Ice Shard magic.

Millson learnt that chant from Kaina. Normally, a student mage took the tutor's chant as a reference and rephrase it in a way that the chant can reinforce the student's mind in the most effective way possible.

However, Millson did not plan to do the same. When it comes of real battle scenarios, it has a risk of the magic being predicted by the enemy. Unlike the magic circle who usually has 1 or 2 seconds duration before magic activation, the chant gives more time for other people to identify the magic formulas most of the time.

That is the reason why Millson won't use chant. Not many people can start using magic effectively without the help of chant. One of few exceptions would be Korsch who can use a magic that he learnt effectively without the usage of the chant.

On top of that, the magic formula that Millson used is a more advanced version of the magic formulas that Shion is currently learning. So Shion can't really help in that regard even if she wanted to.

So Shion was just sitting or stretching while Millson was training for hours. Shion finally understood why everyone was worried about Millson. He has been casting magic continuously for hours.

He did stop for intervals of few minutes, but that is because he is tweaking the magic formula inside his mind in order to find the most effective way to use "Ice Shard" magic. So his mind did not rest at all for hours.

Shion wanted to tell him to stop. But after seeing Millson's determination, Shion though that directly telling him to stop won't make him stop at all.

Therefore, she tries telling him indirectly.

"Ahh... onii-sama. I'm starting... to get hungry...."

Hearing Shion's attempt of speaking fluently, Millson stopped his training and look at Shion.

Millson then suggested going back to mansion, but Shion convinced him to go to the nearest town and buy snacks there instead. After all, if they go back now, Kaina might stop Shion from going out again.

When Shion and Millson went home. Millson explained the situation to Kaina resulting in Shion getting a light lecture from Kaina for about 30 minutes.

Henceforth, a new routine was added to Millson's schedule.

Everytime Millson went for self-practice, Shion will go with him in order to study about magic and how to fight.

Shion would find various reasons to stop Millson from pushing himself too hard with the training. After that, they would usually take a break at the Boorash Town, the nearest town from Graize Mansion. During the break, Shion and Millson talked a lot about the magic training. Shion learnt a lot from Millson due to his experience. Though of course they talk about things other than magic too.

After doing this routine for few times, Millson gave a light exercise for Shion to do hoping that it will improve Shion's physical condition as she grows up. Not only that, Millson would also slowly teach Shion on some martial arts for self defense purpose.

This is due to Shion's fast learning pace, she can immediately understand the reasoning behind training and move her body according to instruction with precision. Her knowledge about karate from previous world also helped reinforcing her foundation.

There two types martial arts that were slowly taught to her. One of them is bare-handed martial arts that every knight apparentices were taught since childhood.

The other one is the magic swordsman style move that was passed down by Graize family generation. The styles focuses on using the right hand to swing the sword while the left hand focuses more on casting magic.

Of course Shion can only learn the basics from Millson due to her physical limitation. But Shion still appreciated the things she got from Millson.

Millson, on the other hand, was slowly realizing that Shion is actually trying to prevent him from pushing himself too hard. He does not mind about it though.

He knew it all along that he won't get stronger if he neglected his own health. He understood that but he couldn't accept his own powerlessness. Or at least, that used to be the case when he lost his blood-related mother.

However, ever since he started talking with Shion, he slowly started looking at things more positively than before. He did not know what Shion is usually thinking, but talking with Shion is fun for him.

Before he knew it, Shion became an emotional support for Millson who was burdened by his own past and responsibilities.

.....

....

...

*knock knock!*

A door knocking sound wakes Millson up from his dream about his past trainings with Shion. He apparently dozed off while doing paperwork inside his office room. He looks around to find out that he is currently sitting on a chair while holding his quill pen near a brown paper on top of the desk.

Millson is currently at one of Graize family's villas not too far from the Brahmastra Kingdom.

After putting back his quill pen back to the ink box on the right side of the desk, he quickly reply to the knocking sounds of the door.

"Come in."

After Millson's statement, an orange-haired female maid slowly opens the door and bow at Millson. That maid is Trey, a maid who followed Victorious, Millson and Korsch to perform maid duties together with some maids from the main house.

"What's wrong?"

Millson asks that while looking at Trey.

"There was a messenger from the Kingdom. He said that Master Victorious won't be coming today because he has to stay at the Kingdom. The details are inside this letter."

After saying that, Trey hands over a white envelope to Millson.

"Got it. Thanks for the letter, Trey. You may leave now."

Trey leaves the room after bowing to Millson again.

Millson then takes the letter and the put his point finger on the envelope's wax seal. Then a small white magic circle appears on the wax seal.

Then Millson caress the white magic circle with some strokes from his finger. After 4 strokes, the white magic circle disappear. It was a magic called "Noble Seal" so that the person who knows the right way to caress the seal can open the sealed letter. Otherwise, the letter will burn itself the moment it is opened by force.

Millson opens the envelope to see what's inside it.

(... Direct King's Order huh. The letter does not tell anything about the details. But they will probably went back from Elverwad in about a month.)

Millson thinks that while reading the letter which is from Victorious' advisor, Elbehnna Orarorio.

Right after saying that, Millson puts his left hand near the letter. A small red magic circle appears on his left hand and brings out fire that burns the letter. It is a basic fire magic called 'Ember'.

Any letter from Kingdom is supposed to be disposed after the receiver reads it to prevent information leaking.

"Now of all time huh..."

Millson touches his forehead with his right hand while saying that. Currently, the Graize family is in a crisis because of incident that happened weeks ago. And for the head of the family to just go overseas even after what happened back then...

Millson looks at the big painting that is placed on the right side wall of the room. It is a family potrait of Victorious, Shinotsuki, Korsch, Shion and himself in formal party dresses.

While looking at that painting, Millson remembered the events that happened weeks ago. Right after the arrival of Korsch, Victorious and Millson, Trey reported that she cannot contact the maids in the main house using Tele-stone even though she wanted to tell the maids that they arrived safely in Kingdom.

I thought that the Tele-Stone is not working properly because it was already quite old. So Millson sent a messenger towards the mansion at the next day. On top of sending message, Millson also thought about using that sender to send new sets Tele-Stones to the main house.

However, the messenger contacted Millson with terrible news after few hours of his departure.

After hearing the news, Victorious and Millson hurried back to the main mansion... only to find a ruined house with no signs of people living there.

The mansion was conpletely burnt down and the people who should have been living there are nowhere to be found.

That's why Millson is currently handling the procedure of getting more search teams to look for the missing Shion and the maids.

However, after searching for weeks, there is no single clue to be found. People assumed that it is the works of the 'Demons' who has been killing the nobles in the Kingdom.

Victorious' previous order that asked him to go to the Kingdom was exactly about finding and exterminating the so-called Demons. However, there is not much progress in that mission either.

"... Shion..."

While saying that name, Millson hopes from the bottom of his heart that Shion and other maids are okay.

Even though they are part of his family, Millson once again cannot protect them. He can only clenches his fist blaming himself for being unable to do anything at the face of Graize family's current crisis.

*End of Interlude*