Seven years had passed since the day the city was saved.
Seven years without war.
Seven years without another rupture.
Seven years of peace.
Children had become youths.
Adults had become parents.
The manor itself had changed together with the people who called it home.
Lucas, once the wandering knight burdened by regret, had reached the age of twenty-eight. Beside him stood Maria, now twenty-five years old, graceful as ever and already a loving mother. Eva, also twenty-eight, continued serving the household—not as Head Maid, but as the woman who devoted herself to serving only her husband. Karly, now twenty-eight, remained the beloved doctor of the manor whose smile never failed to reassure those around her.
Former Lord Ascirick had turned forty. Though he had relinquished many of his responsibilities, his wisdom continued guiding the household from behind the scenes.
The children had grown as well.
Bereshith was now sixteen years old.
Levanah had become a fifteen-year-old young lady.
Yareach had grown into an energetic eight-year-old girl.
Their childhood companions had entered adolescence.
Renasu was now seventeen.
Cyte had become eighteen.
Cyse was sixteen.
Lexy had reached fourteen years of age.
Meanwhile, within those peaceful years, two more children had been born into the family.
Little Mia, the daughter of Lucas and Maria, had become a lively five-year-old.
And Peter, Lucas and Eva's youngest son, had recently celebrated his first birthday.
The manor had become livelier than ever.
Although seven years had passed, Lucas had personally trained Bereshith for only the first three years.
During the final year of that training, Cyte had finally earned Lucas' approval after relentlessly requesting to become his disciple.
Lucas had eventually accepted.
Only for a year.
After Mia was born, Lucas gradually stepped away from formal instruction, choosing instead to devote more time to his growing family.
Even so...
Bereshith never abandoned his routine.
Every sunrise found him training.
Every sunset found him improving.
Without relying on swords or spears, he mastered the art of fighting with his own body.
Blocks.
Parries.
Counters.
Dodges.
Throws.
Disarming techniques.
Against fists.
Against blades.
Against spears.
Against multiple opponents.
His body remembered every lesson Lucas had ever taught him.
Meanwhile, Cyte became Bereshith's constant training partner.
Every morning, the two could be found sparring until sweat soaked the earth beneath their feet.
Their senses sharpened.
Their movements synchronized.
Their physiques matured into those befitting future knights.
Broad shoulders.
Lean, defined muscles.
Steady breathing.
Calm minds.
They no longer looked like boys.
They looked like young men preparing to shoulder the burdens of the future.
More importantly...
They had become brothers in arms.
A friendship forged through bruises, sweat, and countless defeats.
Neither doubted the other.
Neither intended to abandon the other.
Not every relationship within the manor had matured quite so peacefully.
Levanah and Lexy had somehow become both friends...
...and rivals.
The rivalry, however, existed only because of one person.
Bereshith.
One pleasant afternoon, beneath the shade of the manor's old oak tree, Lexy approached Levanah while carrying several thick medical books tightly against her chest.
Levanah looked up from the embroidery she had been practicing.
"Oh. Hello, Lexy."
Lexy hesitated.
"...Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
Lexy took a deep breath.
"...Do you like Bereshith?"
Levanah blinked.
"As a brother?"
Lexy shook her head.
"No..."
She lowered her voice.
"...As someone."
Levanah remained silent.
She looked down for several moments before answering honestly.
"...Yes."
Lexy's eyes widened.
Levanah smiled softly.
"I like him."
"He helped me when I had nobody."
"He protected me."
"He stayed beside me."
"If one day he falls..."
"...or reaches his lowest point..."
"The only thing I can do..."
"...is stay beside him."
"And support him."
Her gentle answer carried no hesitation.
No embarrassment.
Only sincerity.
Lexy's grip around her books slowly tightened.
"...No..."
she muttered quietly.
"...He's mine..."
Levanah failed to hear the whisper.
Before she could ask—
Lexy suddenly pointed at her.
"I won't lose to you!"
Then she turned around and sprinted away with her books pressed tightly against her chest.
Levanah stared after her.
"...Eh?"
Only after several seconds did realization finally strike.
"...Wait..."
"She meant..."
"...that kind of like?"
Her cheeks immediately turned bright red.
"Me?"
"Liking that air-head?"
"That dense idiot?"
"No way!"
She quickly crossed her arms.
"He's a complete sis-con!"
"But..."
Her voice gradually softened.
She remembered every moment Bereshith had stood before danger without hesitation.
The way he smiled.
The way he treated everyone equally.
The way he always placed others before himself.
A tiny smile unconsciously appeared.
"...He's..."
"...kind of cool."
"And..."
"...strong..."
She covered her face.
"...Maybe..."
"...that's why Lexy likes him."
A longer silence followed.
"...Maybe..."
"...that's why..."
"...I became aware of my own feelings..."
"Lady Levanah."
A familiar voice suddenly spoke behind her.
Levanah jumped.
"Wah!"
She quickly spun around.
Standing there with his usual graceful smile was Cyse.
Now sixteen years old.
Already recognized as one of the manor's finest butlers despite his age.
A young gentleman admired by countless daughters of noble families.
Gifted with extraordinary magical talent.
Already earning the title...
The Youngest Genius Magician.
Cyse bowed elegantly.
"What are you doing here all by yourself?"
Levanah's expression immediately changed.
Her embarrassment vanished.
Replaced by annoyance.
"...Nothing."
"I was simply thinking."
"And it's none of your business."
Cyse placed a hand dramatically over his chest.
"Ouch."
"I merely asked because I was worried."
"And somehow your answer already sounds like I'm the villain."
He sighed theatrically.
"Why are you always so harsh toward me?"
He smiled brightly.
"Come here."
"Let me hug you."
"I'm sure it'll ease your anger."
Without waiting for permission—
He stepped forward and wrapped both arms around her.
Levanah froze.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three.
Then—
STOMP!
Cyse's right foot was mercilessly crushed beneath Levanah's heel.
"AAGH!"
Before he could react—
BONK!
Her forehead slammed into his.
"OW!"
Immediately afterward—
THUD!
Her fist buried itself into his stomach.
Cyse doubled over.
His eyes nearly rolled backward.
Still...
She wasn't finished.
With one swift movement—
WHAM!
Her knee struck directly between his legs.
"...!!"
Cyse folded onto the ground without even managing to scream.
Levanah pointed furiously at him.
"This!"
She stomped once more.
"Is exactly why!"
She pointed again.
"Leave me alone, you freak!"
"I can't believe girls actually think you're a gentleman!"
"Gentleman my foot!"
"You're nothing but a shameless pervert!"
Cyse, still clutching himself in agony, somehow managed to force out a smile.
"I..."
"...am only like this..."
"...because..."
"...I love you..."
Levanah looked down at him with complete disgust.
"...Die."
"You pervert."
She turned around.
Her long hair swayed behind her as she walked away without another glance.
Leaving Cyse lying alone on the grass...
Staring at the sky.
After several painful breaths...
He weakly raised one thumb.
"...Worth it..."
Before collapsing flat onto the ground once again.
Meanwhile on the other side of the manor.
The morning lesson had finally come to an end.
Maria gently closed the book that rested upon her desk before smiling at the two young girls before her.
"That will be all for today."
Yareach immediately stood from her chair and bowed politely.
"Thank you for today's lesson, Lady Maria."
Beside her, Mia copied Yareach's manners almost perfectly.
"Thank you, Mama!"
Maria smiled warmly before patting both of their heads.
"You've both done very well. Now go enjoy yourselves."
The two little girls looked at each other.
Then...
Without another word...
They bolted out of the study room together.
"Elder Brother Bereshith!!"
"Let's play!!!!"
Sarah, now twenty-six years old and the manor's Head Maid, quickly followed after them with a helpless smile.
"Young Lady Yareach... Young Lady Mia... Please don't run through the halls."
Neither child slowed down.
Their cheerful laughter echoed throughout the manor.
Meanwhile...
At the training grounds...
The rhythmic sounds of wooden swords colliding continued without pause.
Clack!
Clack!
Thud!
Bereshith and Cyte exchanged another series of strikes under the watchful eyes of the veteran warriors, knights, and city guards assigned to supervise their daily training.
Seven years had transformed the two boys into remarkable young men.
Every movement they made was disciplined.
Every strike was controlled.
Every dodge was instinctive.
One veteran knight folded his arms proudly.
"They've grown."
Another nodded.
"They're worthy of wearing armor already."
Just then—
"Elder Brother Bereshith!!"
"Let's play!!!!"
The familiar voices echoed across the entire training yard.
Every knight...
Every warrior...
Every guard...
Immediately stopped what they were doing.
Then smiles naturally appeared across their faces.
One elderly warrior laughed heartily.
"Hahaha!"
"They're here again."
Another senior knight shook his head with a grin.
"I don't think those two girls have missed a single day."
One of the city guards looked toward Bereshith and Cyte before crossing his arms.
"Alright, you two!"
"Your today's training is over!"
Another warrior waved his hand dismissively.
"Go and play with your sister and Young Lady Mia!"
Several others chuckled in agreement.
"We'll continue tomorrow."
"Children grow up fast."
"Don't make them wait."
Bereshith and Cyte exchanged tired glances.
Both sighed almost at the same time...
Before smiling.
They bowed respectfully toward every senior present.
"Yes!"
"Thank you for today!"
"Please excuse us!"
The veterans nodded approvingly as the two young men left the training grounds, their bodies still glistening with sweat after hours of relentless practice.
Only moments later...
Bereshith and Cyte stepped into the corridor leading toward the courtyard.
There—
They spotted two familiar little figures running straight toward them.
"Brother!"
Yareach called happily, her bright smile lighting up her face.
"Elder Brother Cyte!"
Mia shouted just as excitedly, waving both of her little hands in the air.
The girls were only a few seconds away from reaching them.
However...
Bereshith immediately raised one hand.
"Stop!"
"Yareach!"
His voice wasn't angry.
But it was firm enough to make both little girls freeze in place.
Only three meters separated them now.
Yareach blinked in confusion.
"Hm?"
Mia tilted her head.
"What happened?"
Bereshith pointed toward himself and Cyte.
The girls looked carefully.
Only then did they notice...
Both young men were completely shirtless.
Sweat covered their upper bodies.
Their skin was coated with dirt from rolling across the training grounds.
Their hair clung messily to their foreheads.
Bereshith smiled apologetically.
"Yareach."
"Behave yourself and wait here."
"Cyte and I are going to wash ourselves first before we take you girls outside."
"Understood?"
Yareach immediately nodded.
"Yes, Brother!"
Mia copied her.
"Yes, Elder Brother Bereshith!"
Cyte smiled.
"Good girls."
Sarah finally caught up behind them and bowed slightly.
"We'll wait here."
Bereshith nodded gratefully.
"We won't be long."
Without another word...
Bereshith and Cyte turned around and headed toward the training bathhouse.
The sounds of running water echoed inside the stone bathing room.
Buckets splashed.
Fresh water washed away sweat, dirt, and dust accumulated from the morning's training.
Cyte poured another bucket over his head before exhaling comfortably.
"That feels much better."
Bereshith laughed softly while drying his hair with a towel.
"I don't think Yareach would've hugged me if we stayed like that."
Cyte grinned.
"Young Lady Mia probably would have."
"She's fearless."
Bereshith smiled.
"...That's true."
After changing into clean clothes, both young men stepped outside once more.
Gone were the sweat and dirt from moments ago.
Their hair was neatly combed.
Their clothes were fresh.
A faint scent of clean soap lingered around them.
Waiting exactly where they had promised were Yareach, Mia, and Sarah.
The moment the girls saw them...
Their faces lit up.
"Brother!"
Yareach happily ran forward this time without being stopped.
She immediately hugged Bereshith around his waist.
"Hehe..."
"You smell nice now."
Bereshith laughed as he gently patted her head.
"I told you we'd be quick."
At the same time...
Mia happily wrapped her arms around Cyte.
"Elder Brother Cyte!"
"You smell good too!"
Cyte chuckled before gently lifting her into his arms.
"Thank you, Young Lady Mia."
Sarah watched the four of them with a warm smile.
"I'm glad you didn't keep them waiting."
Bereshith looked toward the large gates of the manor before smiling at everyone.
"Well then..."
He extended one hand toward Yareach.
"Shall we go?"
Yareach immediately grabbed his hand.
"Yes!"
Cyte shifted Mia comfortably in his arms before looking at Sarah.
"Head Maid Sarah?"
Sarah nodded gracefully.
"I'll accompany all of you."
With cheerful laughter filling the peaceful afternoon...
Bereshith, Cyte, Yareach, Mia, and Sarah left the manor together, heading toward the lively streets beyond the estate to enjoy a quiet day that none of them knew would one day become a treasured memory.