Everyone stared at Arthur surprised at the lightning. Well, except Sylvie. She stared at the scene with an unamused expression. "Arthur's a d-d-dev...." Vincent said surprised when he saw the lightning. 'Deviant.' Reynold thought as he smirked at Arthur. Arthur leaned forward a bit before dashing once again towards Reynold. He appeared besides him as Reynold raised his hand to swing at him but he dodged it. Reynold quickly turned to his other side as he raised his foot, stomping on the ground Arthur was in. Arthur jumped backwards as he skid back avoiding Reynold attack.

He quickly dashed forward throwing a punch to Reynold who blocked it with his arm. As a yellow, orange and purple colors formed around them. "Wow! This is such a show! Should have brought popcorn." Alastair said as he pouted slightly besides Alice. Arthur aimed his fist with lighting surrounding his arms with his father copying his actions but instead fire surrounded his. Once their fists collided a loud explosion was heard as the guards that were training was able to see a bright light shining. The power from the attack drove Reynold back into some trees.

That was before he jumped forward about to punch Arthur who blocked it with both his arms. Reynold threw another one which Arthur parray with his hands. His father continued to throw continuous punches to which Arthur dodged but not without difficulty. 'As expected of my father! His punches are getting sharper and he's leveraging his longer reach so I can't get close.' Arthur thought when the punch his father threw grazed his cheek. Just as they punch neared him, get quickly ducked down and slide between his arm that he was using to punch him.

He raised his arm to punch Reynold face, while Reynold went to knee him in the side. Everyone stared shock and surprised except Alastair and Sylvie. Sylvie yawn as Alastair clapped his hands humming as he recognized how much potential his cousin has. "Hahaha! That's some trick you learned, son!" Reynold said as he threw his arm around Arthur's neck. 'Lighting was by far, my most successful deviant affinity, but I still had ways to go. Ice was unstable and I hadn't even gotten to unlock sound or gravity.' Arthur thought as he remembered practicing ice before getting hit with Elder Virion's cane. Rosalia who was watching him laughed while petting Sylvie.

'But still... It felt good to brag to my parents.' Arthur thought as he smiled with a small blush on his cheeks. "When did you learn that? How did you learn it? What else do you know?" Reynold asked his son as they walked towards Alice and the others. "Not long ago, and I can barely control it. I can't do much else..." Arthur said as Eleanor and Alice ran towards them. "Ellie! Don't run! Be careful!" Alice shouted after Ellie because of the fire that was on the ground. "Papa! Are you oh-kay?" Ellie asked her father as she neared him.

"I need a drink." Vincent said as he took off his glasses and held his head. "What an extraordinary child..." Tabitha thought as she stared at Arthur. They turned around to enter the house as some of the guards carried buckets of water to out out the fire.

"Rey! Do you... Do you realize what kind of future your son has, Rey?" Vincent asked slamming down his wooden cup on the table. "Of course I do! I knew ever since he awakened when he was three!" Rey told them proudly as he ruffled Arthur's hair. "What?! Awakened at three?!" Tabitha asked them shocked by what they said. "He blew up most of our house in the process..." Alice told her sheepishly as she held Eleanor in her lap. "Haha! Good times!!" Reynold said as he leaned towards Eleanor. "Papa? Are you oh-kay?" she asked her father poking his cheek. Vincent leaned backwards exhausted by what he's seen and heard that day. That was until something struck him.

"Rey! What if we enrolled Arthur in Xyrus Academy?!" Vincent said a she leaned forward quickly slamming his hands on the table scaring his daughter. 'Xyrus Academy?' Arthur as he ate his food with Eleanor feeding their dad. "Seriously? But he's only eight and Xyrus Academy is the most prestigious magic institution in the continent!" Reynold exclaimed as Eleanor grabbed the fork pulling upwards as Reynold's mouth moved with the fork. "My drunk husband does make a point though, Rey, Alice. With his level of talent, it would even be worthwhile for us to sponsor Arthur so you won't have to worry about tuition costs!" Tabitha told them as Vincent but on his glasses that flew off earlier.

"We couldn't do that to you... After everything you did for us already, to have pay for our son's schooling is just... And besides, he's only eight, I'm sure they won't even consider him..." Alice told Tabitha as Vincent chuckled. "Fufufu... I happen to do a lot of business with the famed director of Xyrus Academy herself! I can talk to her and--" Vincent told them before he was cut off as Arthur rest his fork on his plate. "Excuse me. Seeing as this will affect my future... May I say something?" Arthur told them as he stared at them.

Eleanor layed in her bed fast asleep with Sylvie and her fork from dinner in hand. "I still can't believe you're here with us! All grown up into a handsome boy." Alice told her son as she rest her hand on his head. "I've changed a lot since you last saw me, right?" Arthur asked as he looked at him Mom. "No matter how much you've changed, you're still our son. Even after finding out you were a deviant mage capable of perhaps becoming one of the strongest mages in the future, that was still only the second best news today." Reynold said his hands around Arthur's shoulder.

Alice resh her hand gently over her husband's hand and the other on Arthur's other shoulder. "Your father is right." Alice told him with a happy smile on her face. "But now you're probably too grown-up for your old mother to give you a goodnight kiss, huh..." Alice told Arthur sadly as she stared at the ground. Arthur looked away from her with a blush on her face considering if he should kiss her cheek. He let out a sigh as he turned around and kissed her cheek brightening her mood. "Good night, Mom, Dad. I missed you both." Arthur said as he laid down on the bed.

"Come on, let's let Arthur get some sleep." Reynold said as Alice leaned on him touching her cheek as she stared at her son. "Oh, I almost forgot! Let's go shopping with your sister tomorrow! You need some new clothes and it'll be a good chance for you two to bond." Alice said as they were almost to the door when she told Arthur. "Sounds good." he replied as he raised his thumb up. "And, Arthur... Don't hold it against Vincent for being so excited earlier. He means well." Reynold told Arthur as he turned to face him.

"With all due respect... I have just reunited with my family today. May I spend some time with them before deciding whether to leave them again to attend this academy or not?" Arthur asked Vincent as he stared at Vincent with a serious expression. "O-of course, you're right... I'm getting a bit ahead of myself." Vincent said nervously as he looked back at Arthur. "I seem to be a bit more tired from the spar than I thought. Please excuse me." Arthur said as he stood up and exited the dinning room. Lilia watched as he leaves before following him.

As Arthur left he saw two paths in the hall as he looked left to right trying to figure out which one to take. "If you head that way, you'll wind up in one if our cellars." Lilia said from behind Arthur who flinched in surprise. "Come on, I know a better place." Lilia said as she pointed in a direction as Arthur looked back at her. "Hey, everyone! Hope you don't mind a guest today!" Lilia told the servants as they entered the room. He looked out from behind her as he stared at them. "If it isn't the lady that burned half of the lawn I worked so hard to maintain...?" Maria asked as Arthur laughed sheepishly.

"My apologies for the trouble I've caused..." Arthur apologized as he smiled at her. "Don't mind this one, young 'un. She's just teasing you." The man told Arthur as he smiled at him. 'She was pretty quiet before, but I guess this is what she's usually like.' Arthur thought as he sat down on the chair by the table as he watched Lilia personality change. "Do we have any duck meat left?! The fatty parts?" Lilia asked as she held up a fork and knife in her hand.

"Be careful, Lilia. Madam Helstea has been getting suspicious lately because you've been gaining weight recently!" Maria told her as she rest a plate in front of Lilia. "Maria, I thought I told you you're not allowed to talk about that?!" Lilia said as she blushed in embarrassment cutting her food. Maria and the male stared at Lilia with large smiles. "Lady Lilia sneaks here often when he's feeling stressed." The maid said as she leaned down near Arthur's ears. 'Stressed? Stressed about what?' Arthur thought as he watched Lilia and Maria talked.

"Sir and Madam's greatest wish is for their daughter to awaken as a mage despite either of them being one themselves. Lilia wants to be a mage as well, of course, but it still is a lot of pressure on a little girl..." The butler said as Arthur glanced at Lilia who was eating happily. Suddenly the image of Lilia was replaced with an image of Rosalia happily munching on her favorite dessert with a cute smile on her face. 'It's barely been a day and I already miss Rose... I wonder if she's pranking Gramps right now.' Arthur thought with a smile on his face.

"Don't worry, I can tell the Helstea family are nice people who mean well." Arthur told his father as he smiled at him. "Good night, son." Alice told him as she smiled at him before leaving and closing the room door.

~in the morning~

It was finally morning and Sylvie was already up and made her way to Arthur. Sylvie licked Arthur's cheek causing him to wake up. "Haha, I'm up, Sylvie! You're excited, aren't you?" Arthur asked Sylvie as he left her in his hand. "Kyuuu!" Sylvie exclaimed excitedly as Arthur sat up. 'I wonder... how Rose is doing?' Arthur thought as he remembered Rose's smiling face as she snuggled against Sylvie and laughed happily while looking at Arthur. Suddenly Arthur started to smell something as he stared at Sylvie.

"Looks like I'm not the only one taking a shower today." Arthur said as he held Sylvie away from him, walking to the bathroom. Once they made it to the bathroom and to the tub that was filled with water, Sylvie stared as he screamed horrified. "Kyuuu!!!" He shouted as he neared the water. "Come on. It wasn't that bad." Arthur said once they were finished bathing as he looked at Sylvie who laid on his pillow tired. "Coming!" Arthur shouted when he heard someone knocking on the door.

"Well hello there, Ellie." Arthur said as he opened the door and stared at his sister. "G-G'morning, bruhder. Mama said... wake you up." Eleanor told her brother shyly as she stared at the ground. "I see... Then can Ellie take us down to see Mama?" Arthur asked a she outstretched his hands to his little sister. "Kay! We eat breakfast, then go shupping!" Eleanor told her brother as she grabbed his hand as they ran to the dinning room.

"So this is Xyrus City!" Arthur exclaimed happily as he looked around being a head of the others by a bit. Alice was behind him feeding Eleanor a piece of chocolate with Tabitha, Alastair and Lilia following behind him. Arthur looked inside one store eyes wide in amazement as he saw monster heads on the wall. "What sort of shop is this?" Arthur asked as he looked back at them. "Those small orbs are called Beast Cores. They're magical cores extracted from Mana beasts to power you up, although the effects between cores can vary vastly. A bit of a gamble to spend hundreds of gold on. But if you're lucky, one might even contain a beast will." Tabitha explained to Arthur as he stared at her.

"Hundreds of gold?!" Arthur exclaimed shock as Tabitha smiled. "If not thousands." She said as Alice looked away with Alastair sipping on some type of juice. 'I'm good with my beast will, thanks.' Arthur thought not getting over the news. "Our Helstea auction house receives quite a bit of beast cores and even infant Mana beasts. You're welcome to take a closer look at those when you get the chance." she told Arthur who stared at her. "I'd appreciate that. Thank you!" Arthur told her with a large smile. "Come on. There was a place I wanted to take you as soon as I saw you." Lilia said as she started to push Arthur forward who looked back at her confused.

Suddenly he was sitting in a chair with a man standing behind home holding his face in one hand and the other holding a scissor. "I-Is this necessary?" Arthur asked nervously as he stared in the mirror. "Arthur, dear? Your hair is atrocious." Alice said as Alastair started to laugh at his cousins face expression. "Don't worry, ma'am. I'll make your son shine~ Like the flawless gem he is~" the barber said as Arthur's head was pressed against his crotch. Arthur looked back alarmed before the man winked with his tongue sticking out and a small blush on his face. Arthur turned white as he screamed internally while Alastair couldn't stop wheezing.

"I feel ridiculous." Arthur said as they turned towards him. "You look perfect, honey." Said told him as he turned towards his cousin who gave him a thumbs up. "Good enough to be Ellie's brudher now." Eleanor said as she turned away from him. "Ellie's right. You finally look like a civilized man." She told her son who blushed rubbing his cheek embarrassed. As they were walking Arthur looked to his left and noticed these kids laugh at the stall owner who was son his knees in front of them. "They're students of Xyrus Academy." Lilia said when she looked where he was staring.

"Huh? Oh, I wasn't really..." Arthur started to say when he noticed her besides him. "It's sort of a status symbol to be able to wear that uniform." Lilia said leaning on the rail with Arthur following her. "They look like jerks to me." Arthur said as he stared at them. "A lot of them are. They are almost considered loyalty around here though." she said as Arthur looked around before he noticed something. "What are you two talking about?" Alice said walking to where Lilia was with Tabitha and Ellie besides her. "We were just talking about the school..." Lilia said as she turned to look at Arthur only to notice he wasn't there.

"Huh? Where-? He's like a puppy." Lilia said as she noticed him hopping away from them with a tail appearing behind him. Alastair following behind him just as excited as he was already knowing where he was heading."He's usually so calm and mature, it's refreshing to see him so excited like this. It's a bit comforting for me to see him more like a kid, especially after last night's... spectacle." Alice said as they remembered his face expression when he and a brawl with Reynolds. The females looked down thinking remember his expression.

Alastair and Arthur walked inside in awe upon seeing all of the amazing weapons. They moved left and right viewing all the armor and weapons closed up. "Can I help you? This is not a place for kids, young man. Please leave while I'm asking nicely." A man said as they looked back at him. Alastair expression shifted from excitement to annoyance quickly as he glared at the man. "That thing you're looking at is a dangerous weapon. Do you understand what that means? This isn't like the toy swords you have at home, brat." The man said as they just stared at them before Arthur rolled his eyes at him.

"There's a candy store just outside the---" the man said about to rest his hand on Arthur's shoulder. He hit his hand away just before he touched him. "We're well aware of what a sword is. Our apologizes for getting in your way." Alastair said gritting his teeth and he pulled Arthur with him to the door opening it. "Hold it, you brats! What house raised such a rude--" the man started to say but he was cut off. "Get your hand off my son and nephew!" Alice shouted as the man glanced at them annoyed. "What do you think you're doing? My name is Igastus from House... H-Helstea?!" The man said when he recognized the females in front of him. Alice was annoyed as she tapped her fingers on her upper arm.

"Igastus? You're from the branch family of House Ravenpor. Would you like me to revoke you and your family's participation in the Helstea Auction House?" Tabitha asked staring at the man who immediately went on his knees. "Please! I-I had no idea this br--child was with the Helstea House! My sincere apologies!" The man apologized as Arthur stared down at him. "Thank you for getting me out that situation." Arthur told Tabitha with a smile on his face. "Truth be told, I was more afraid of what you'd do to that man." Tabitha said as Alice laughed at her statement.

"Well-" Alice said as a man wearing a hood looked down watching Sylvie run after them. It was getting dark when they finally made it back to the Helstea's house. "Ah! You guys are finally here! Arthur! This way! There's someone I'd like you to meet!" Vincent said waving his hand calling Arthur over to him. "You must be Arthur. Vincent told me much about you." The woman said as Arthur looked in her direction. "My name is Cynthia Goodsky. I am the Founder and Director of Xyrus Academy." The lady said as she stood and looked at Arthur.