Vincent sat in his office writing in his book before he heard a knock on the door. "Oh Arthur! You just missed your father! He's at the Auction House right now." Vincent said noticing the young male Leywin outside his door. "Actually, I came here to speak with you regarding a certain matter. May I come in?" Arthur asked him with a smile on his face. "S-Sure..." Vincent confused by what he wanted to speak about.

"Would stuff like this really be appropriate for the 10-year anniversary event?" Alice asked Tabitha as they stood in front of a stall. "I'm telling you, a lot of the noble ladies absolutely adored the centerpiece you made." Tabitha said as she looked at Alice. "What? How did anyone even see those?" Alice asked staring at a necklace that she held in her hand. "I stole a few from the house and used them to decorate the private viewing room at our Auction House." Tabitha responded with a smile as she gave Alice a thumbs up.

"You did what?! Those were just cheap little ornaments I made in my free time! That's so embarrassing." Alice said as she looked at Tabitha surprised before hiding her blushing face. Lilia looked to the side noticing Eleanor kicking a rock with a bored expression. "Why are you pouting? Are you mad?" Lilia asked Eleanor as she poked her cheek. "Brudher didn't come shopping with Ellie." Eleanor said as she looked away from Lilia. "But I came here with you. I see now... I guess now that your brother is here, I'm not important to Ellie anymore..." Lilia said as she looked away from Eleanor.

"Wha? N-No! Lilia is Lilia, and brudher is brudher!" Eleanor said to her trembling slightly. "You said that you loved me the best, but now that your big brother is here, you can just throw me aw-" Lilia said as Eleanor stared at her about to cry. However she was interrupted by getting chopped I'm her head by her mother's hand. "Why are you giving Ellie such a hard time!" Tabitha asked her daughter as she stared at her sternly. "Oww! Mom! I was just teasing her because all Ellie has been thinking about these days is Arthur." Lilia explained pointing towards Ellie who had teary eyes staring at Tabitha.

"Really? Because to your mother, it looks like Ellie isn't the only one thinking about Arthur. Could it be that my daughter has her first little crush?" Tabitha asked as Alice stared at them surprised. "What are you even saying Mom?! He's just a big weirdo!" She shouted blushing as her mom laughed. "I thought you said kids my age couldn't be mages. That's why I'm still patiently waiting to awaken... But, Arthur... Arthur is already a mage that's stronger than a lot of adults. It's not fair... I want to be a mage too and make you guys happy." Lilia told her Mom as her eyes started to brim with tears. Alice and Tabitha looked at each other unable to speek before Mrs. Leywin walked to her.

"I know it's hard not to, but you shouldn't compare yourself to Arthur, Lilia. I'm sure you know from kids your age at school that Arthur is the one that's... different." Alice explained smiling at Lilia. "B-But how did he get so strong? Did you or Mr. Leywin train him and if you did, can you help me train too?" Lilia asked looking up at Alice. "Aside from the little sword training that Mr. Leywin did for Arthur, we didn't do anything." Alice said catching Tabitha by surprise. "Nothing? I get that he's a very gifted child, but aren't we missing pieces of the story here? Ah, sorry about that. I don't mean to pry." Tabitha asked shocked by what her friend said but also worried she may have offended her.

"It's nothing, I'm grateful that you guys care so much. To tell you the truth, Rey and I both know Arthur is hiding something from us." Alice said completely dismissing any concerns Tabitha had. "Then why don't you ask him about everything? Like how did he get so strong while he was away, and how even before the bandit attack, he was so skilled with the sword. If I'm this curious I'm sure you and Rey are both dying to know." Tabitha asked her curiously. "Of course, but I trust that there's a good reason why he's not telling us everything. I figured giving him space and supporting him until he's comfortable enough to tell us himself is what it means to be a parent." Alice patting Lilia's head who stared down sadly. Tabitha stared at her friend shrugging as they walked away.

A man with a cloak was watching them from behind a crowd of people before he turned walking into an abandoned area. "Inform Lord Sebastian that the Mana Beast wasn't with them today. A mage from Xyrus Academy has been placed to guard them, so I wasn't able to trail them extensively. However, the boy who is most likely the Master of the Mana Beast will be attending the 10-year Helstea Auction House Anniversary." The man informed a person hiding with a cloak.

"Then I shall inform Lord Sebastian that the best opportunity will be at that event." The person said before snapping their fingers as the bricks on the building made stairs as they hopped on them disappearing.

~with Arthur~

Vincent sat nervously staring at Arthur who sat in front of him drinking his cup of tea. 'What sort of situation is this... ' Vincent thought as he sat in his chair stiffly. 'And what sort of eight-year-old boy gives off such a strong presence that I'd be more nervous than when I was with the King of Saplin.' He thought nervously. "Thank you for the tea." Arthur replied placing the teacup down. 'He's so different compared to when he's with his family! Is this his true demeanor?!' He thought before he pushed his glasses up sweating nervously.

"O-Of course!" He replied as Arthur opened his eyes staring at him. "Anyway... The reason for my sudden intrusion is because I'd like to ask for you to retrieve a few items for me." Arthur told Vincent. "O-Oh? And what might those items be?" Vincent asked curious about Arthur wanted. "A protective cloak, preferably one with a hood, A decent sword for my size, and a mask capable of altering my voice." Arthur told him listing the required items. "The cloak shouldn't be a problem, but with the mask, only an artificer that's a deviant sound mage would be able to properly make one. I can definitely try but..." Vincent said pausing for a second.

'Wait... I'm already buried in work for the anniversary event. Why am I so eager to please this boy?' Vincent thought to himself. "Thank you..." Arthur responded gratefully with a smile. "As for compensation, while I don't have money, I did think of a way to repay you for your help." Arthur replied as Vincent stood up. "It's fine, it's fine! Your father has been a huge help ever since he started working for me. Thanks to him and the training he's providing for all of our guards, thefts and fights in the Auction house have been the lowest it's ever been!" Vincent told him.

"Still, one of the things I wanted to do was to help my sister hasten her awakening with a method that I discovered recently. While I'm helping her, I can help Lilia as well." Arthur explained as Vincent turned to him. "Excuse me?" He asked the younger male confused by his words. "I know that neither you nor your wife are mages, but... I believe I can help your daughter awaken as a mage and attend Xyrus Academy." Arthur said glancing back at Vincent.

The sound of a ball bouncing on the floor could be heard inside Arthur's room. Arthur looked at the ball as he had glowing marks under his eyes. 'Even after all this time, I can only use it for a few seconds.' Arthur thought as released a breath with sweat dripping down his face. 'It's not enough, again.' He thought standing up with a determined expression on his face. Arthur, after a few more tries sat on the floor with Sylvie staring at him from the bed. "You've been doing this for more than half an hour. The process you've made was so little." Alastair said staring at his cousin who peaked up at him.

"Besides, at least you are more than decent in hand-to-hand combat." His cousin said with a smirk that Arthur returned. "You aren't to bad yourself. But I would say I'm more than decent." Arthur earning a chuckle from Alastair. "You know. It was fun being here but not that great with a lot of females and no males around your age. And I never really had a lot of fun so that's saying something but... I'm glad you're back, Arthur." Alastair said with a soft smile causing his cousin eyes to widened before returning the smile. 'Whether it's my past life or this life... I need strength to protect the people I love.' Arthur thought glancing at his cousin who was rubbing Sylvie's stomach.

~flashback~

Young Grey was running through the wet alley from the rain that suddenly came. He held his books in hand getting soak and wet. He dropped the bag as his books fell out and he made it to a clearing where he saw people crowding around someone or something. He made his way through the crowd and stared at the covered the faces of the bodies on the ground. From where young Grey was standing, however, he could easily see their faces and recognized them as his parents. He cried, screaming and reaching out for them as the police pulled him away from the scene.

He did catch a glimpse of a gun that was put inside a baggie to make sure nobody messes with the evidence. He got further and further away and the tears never stopped.

~end of flashback~

'This time, I'll get strength, not to avenge, but to keep them safe.' Arthur moving his hair from sticking to his face because of sweat. "Gyu!" Sylvie said looking down at Arthur from Alastair's lap. "You're right, looks like they're back from their errands." Arthur said as he rubbed Sylvie's neck. "You know that's so cool how you can understand her." Alastair said as he got up heading to the door. "Now let's go greet Auntie and the others." Alastair said as Arthur got up changing the soaked shirt he wore following his cousin. The walked down the stairs before they noticed Alice in front of them.

"Arthur? What's this about you making Lilia a mage? Even as a harmless joke, it's a little insensitive to-" Alice said to her son as Alastair stared at him. "What does she mean?" He whispered to Arthur who glanced at him. "I'll tell you later." He whispered back as Tabitha looked back at him. "If this is some kind of prank, Arthur. I think you went a bit too far!" Tabitha told him defensively as Lilia was being hugged by Vincent. "I would never joke about something like this. I proposed a deal to Mr. Helstea and he accepted." Arthur explained to her. "That's right, he said he'll show us once you guys got back, so let's go to the living room!" Vincent said as Lilia looked annoyed inside her papa's arms.

Alice and Tabitha looked at each other as Arthur dragged Alastair with him to the living room. Lilia sat with her face facing Eleanor and Arthur between them facing their parents and Alastair. "Good, now I want you to breathe in the way I tell you." Arthur told them his hands on both their backs. 'Mana is sensed best during slow and deep breaths that are in precise rhythmic patterns. Hopefully, this explanation will be easy for them to follow.' Arthur with a smile glancing at Eleanor. "The first step is to breathe in a special way." Arthur said to them. "A-A special way?" Lilia asked him confused glancing back to him. "Ellie can bweathe easy..." Ellie said confidently causing Alastair to snicker.

"This isn't just any breathing, Ellie. If you can do this, you'll be able to become strong like your big brother!" Arthur told her with a big smile. "S-strong?! Strong like bruhder!" Ellie said happily as he looked at her nervously. 'Hopefully, she'll be able to understand my instruction.' Arthur glancing at Ellie. "Anyway. The breathing goes like this. Take a deep breath through your nose until you can't breathe no more. Then once you can't breathe anymore, you open your mouth and breathe in just once more. After, you let out your breath in small bursts, about fifteen times." Arthur explained as they did exactly as he said.

"Great! Now do it again with your eyes closed until you see pretty lights floating around in the darkness." Arthur explained as they closed their eyes. Vincent and Tabitha was watching the hold thing nervously hoping this would help their daughter. "Pretty lights! I see-- Aww they gone." Ellie said as her mood changed from happy to sad. "It's because you stopped the special breathing." He told her. "I-I still can't see them! Is there something wrong with me?" Lilia asked nervously still doing the special breathing. "No, it's okay. Neither of your parents are mages so I expected this." Arthur told her. "Honey, can you at least tell us what you're trying to do? I know you mean well and I won't question your skills with magic, but teaching a child to awaken as a mage is unprecedented, it should happen naturally." Alice told her son as Alastair rest his hand on her shoulder.

"Well, I'm going to help them do what I did to awaken at the age of three. And the only reason I think I can do this is because of my affinity with all the elements. I've worked it out in my head, but we'll know for sure after trying. Just watch." Arthur said before he closed his eyes. 'Okay. Let's see if this works as well as I theorized.' Arthur thought and started to concentrate. "Ellie, Lilia, your bodies might feel a little hot, but keep breath9the way I told you to." Arthur said as rainbow colors was shown from his body connecting to his core. "I-I see them!" Lilia said a small blush and smile on her face. "So pwetty." Ellie responded having the same look as Lilia.

"Now... with your thoughts, try gathering the white specks together." Arthur told them. "Gadur?" Ellie asked him confused not knowing what that word meant. "Those little lights are friends, and they need to be together to be happy. Can you do that for me, Ellie?" Arthur asked his little sister. "Kay~" She responded as she followed his words. After awhile they were sweating a lot as Arthur breathe tiredly. "I think that's all I can do for today." He told them staring at them. "So, how is it? Will our Lilia be able to become a mage?" Vincent asked him hoping she could. "It'll take a few years, but if I can do this with them for the first few months to get them on their feet, Lilia shouldn't have a problem becoming a ma-" Arthur sid before he was cut off by Tabitha giving him a hug.

"I'm sorry for doubting you! Thank you, thank you! Because of you, my baby will have so many opportunities that we weren't given because we weren't mages. Thank you." Tabitha said crying as Lilia smiled at her mom softly. She looked to her left noticing her dad with tears streaming down his face happy at the news. "So Arthur, this what you went to Vincent's office to talk about?" Alastair asked his cousin who shook his head. "This was just something I decided to do as compensation of what I asked him to do for me." Arthur said as Alastair hummed staring at his cousin. "Ah, my chummy lovesick cousin will soon start to show. You miss her, right?" He asked Arthur referring to Rosalia as he slightly blush.

"It's not just me who misses her, Sylvie does as well. Haven't you seen her feeling down every once in awhile? They became so close in a span of a day. She would always be near her or run to her when she walks into the room." Arthur said reminiscing the times Sylvie and Rosalia used to hang out. "At some point, her grandfather kept joking that Sylvie wouldn't be my Mana Beast no more. Which I of course told Sylvie who used to get sad at what I said. Rosia would just scold me like a mother. You would honestly love her and her sister." Arthur said glancing at Alastair who smiled and looked away. "Yeah... I'm sure I'll meet them soon. Not now though." He said before he smiled hugging his cousin.

"You grow up too fast. You have to enjoy your youth while you still have time." Alastair told his cousin who nodded and returned the hug. "Oh, don't worry. I plan to." He said getting his hair ruffled from Alastair as he went to Ellie. 'After that, was able to fall into a comfortable rhythm. I'd spent every morning training and then helping my sister and Lilia get closer to awakening.' Arthur thought as he sat behind Lilia and Ellie helping them to awaken. Then shown him practicing his ice abilities outside. He sat at the dining table smiling at his family as Ellie held the pot cover and a stick as a sword and shield. 'Even with my impatience to get stronger, I still made sure to spend time with everyone, knowing that I wouldn't have many more opportunities like this in the future.' Arthur smiling as Alastair smiled ruffling his hair.