Standing there with a fluffy cloth fox plushy is a small girl about 9 years old. She has curled red brown hair and bronze skin. Her eyes are silver with flecks of red and she is dressed in a simply decorated red dress with gold embroidered thread. She is tall for her age and while standing in what is the proper courtly manner for ladies the expression on her face ruins it. Why are you looking at me like I am a new toy to be played with, look even Cade and Brad are standing to the sides trying to not be seen. Why are you not trying to cuddle Cade she looks more cute, I should look exactly like a mini version of the male family in the portraits except with mum’s blue/black hair and grey eyes with flecks of blue. Is my poker face not scary enough, wait that is having the opposite effort, why do I feel like running. Please don’t drool...are you an S...You are 9 why do you look like an S with that face. This is giving me a serious headache, alright how do I avoid this plans I need plans. Hmm what can I distract her with or is she too stubborn, alot of factors to consider and all hinging on what she is like.

And to think that this was supposed to be a simple introduction with much of the household waiting out by the entrance while the ducal family is visiting for an introduction. The maids and footmen were standing in two lines by the entrance and the family was standing in the middle of the two lines. We did not have overly fancy or embroidered clothes but neither were we in work clothes. I was in a jacket of blue-dyed cotton with an ascot and red thread embroidery. My shirt was a white cotton shirt and my pants were black cotton. Moms and Dad were also in the house colors with their respective jackets and dresses. Soon after we lined up off in the distance you could see the outline of a carriage coming, beside it were several knights with one holding the banner of the ducal house.

The carriage and escort came up to our assembled group and Landon opened the door. Out came first the Duke himself in a well tailored robe/jacket and trousers while helping his daughter exit as well. After everyone gave their introductions during which she refused to stop looking at everything with glimmering eyes and a devious smile. I would try to reform her over time but, those types of people don’t change unless something drastic is done. Something I cannot possibly do for real. Well now that the initial greetings are over Dad and the Duke are hugging and yelling insults at each other about being weaklings while laughing. Azalia the daughter is being led to the manor by my mothers and I am walking behind her, we enter the manor and head to one of the small sitting rooms.

“Take a seat now dear, we can dispense with formalities here”.

“Yes ma'am, is he my future knight” she says while pointing at me with a smile on her face.

“Yes he is, the third son of the family. He is already skilled in basic swordsmanship and martial arts along with having started his mana training”.

“Really?, I have started my magic training, I already know some spells”

“That is splendid, what kind, as a natural mage you should have several already learned”

“I know how manipulate already present elements, I managed to use them already in actual practice but still can’t get any real force” she sighs while saying this, well at least she does not seem to be trying to brag excessively.

“That is fine already dear, once you find the element you want to use first you can train with it. Once you get better you can then move onto other elements and train over time. As it is now you are already quite skilled from what I remember when I visited”.

“Yes when we visited you last time you had already managed to knock over the training dummy with a ball of dirt, that is very good for your age since you have not matured yet”

“But I want to do better, I want to be able to do that flashy magic that the guard mages can do, even just the spells that the knight spellblades can do in the duchy capital”

“Well then they learned through years of practice which you are already working towards”

“Actually how about you practice with our son, teaching others improves yourself. He could certainly use the instruction as the only mage we have is busy with work or his apprentice. The others are at the forts or castle so we do not have many magic users here”

“Really I can play with him then?”

“Yes you can dear, just don’t hurt him such that he can’t recover. He is entering the next stage of his training now”

“Don’t worry I know basic healing magic, it is not regeneration either!”

“Really then he is in good hands my dear. Have fun but don’t slack off now you both need to work hard”

“Yes!”

Well shit, I was not only locked out of that conversation but now I am the new playtoy. Why are you throwing me to the wolves mothers why, well shit. How am I going to survive this, this is worst case scenario right now. I can’t deflect this since that is too cruel for Cade and Brad to face, the other servants are probably not going to be on her radar regardless of what I do bar drastic measures. Looks like I better grit my teeth now since things are not going to be good in the future, sigh I would wish for magic but that would likely blow up in my face. If magic is anything like college then I can’t ask for anything and expect to instantly get it, still gotta rack my brains on how to survive. If i get migraines now, I don’t even know what to say well think about that.