"Tomorrow will be our last lesson. Even though we were appointed to teach you, it feels like you taught us for the past two and a half years." Mina said during our break after training.
Arisa nodded. "I also have nothing left to teach you now. You're like a sponge—you absorb every bit of knowledge instantly. Honestly, at first I thought Lord Amane was exaggerating about your skills, but now… he wasn't exaggerating at all."
"It was all thanks to your teaching, teachers," I replied, though I felt sad.
"There's no need to be sad, Rio. We'll meet again in the future," Mina said gently.
"Yeah! I have a feeling we will meet again. Till then, become a great swordsman and mage," Arisa added, patting my back—probably trying to cheer me up.
I wondered what I should give them as a farewell gift.
"What happened? You look down," Aurelia asked.
"Well…" I explained about Mina and Arisa's departure and how I wanted to give them something meaningful.
"That's easy! Remember two years ago when you got on your knees and begged me to teach you healing magic? You've mastered it up to the intermediate level."
"Yes, I remember. What about it?"
"As of right now, you can use healing magic. I'll help you create an artifact that heals its owner. You can only use basic healing on it with a cooldown, so it won't be too extraordinary but still very useful."
I was shocked. She actually used her brain this time.
"You! You little—!" After some quality fun time (mostly her bullying me), we started making two pendants as farewell gifts.
---
"…Arisa teaching Rio has been an honor. I would like to extend your contract, but I don't want to hinder your growth. Here, take this," Mother said, handing them an emblem with the Ardewyn family crest.
"Mi-Milady, we can't accept this!" In three years, it was the first time I saw Arisa flustered.
"No, you must accept it. It will help you on your journey. And this is a gift from a mother to her son's teachers," Mother said with a gentle smile.
"Very well… Thank you for the gift. Rio, continue to study and be a good boy," Mina said softly.
"Wait, Teacher. I also have something for you."
I took out the two pendants—one red, one blue—matching their hair.
"This is my gift. It will help you. Please keep it."
"Why… why am I sensing mana from this!?" Arisa exclaimed.
"Oh, that. I embedded some of my mana in them. If you provide mana, it will heal you. It also auto-heals you once, but it has a cooldown of one hour after that."
Mina froze. "Rio… do you know what you've made?"
"Well… no? Why?"
"An artifact like this would be considered a national treasure. People would fight wars for even a fragment of this pendant."
"Oh, don't worry. You two are marked as the masters of these pendants. If anyone else tries to use them, it will drain all their mana and seal their spells."
Mina swallowed. "Now it's even more than a national treasure… Please, either keep them or destroy them."
"Nothing will happen. Please accept them," I said, almost pleading.
"Fine… Mina, he must have worked hard on these. Let's keep them," Arisa said, finally calming down.
"Alright… Thank you, Rio."
They hugged me tightly.
---
That night, Mother called me.
"Rio, tomorrow morning your father is coming back from the royal capital. Be ready—some guests are coming with him."
"Huh? Who's coming?"
"It's a surprise."
Who could it be…?
Whoever it was, it wouldn't affect me much. I needed sleep.
I drifted off quickly.
---
In the dream world, Aurelia was waiting.
"Rio, today is our last lesson for now. So let's just talk."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"If I teach you anything more, your body won't be able to handle it. You must strengthen your body first."
My body was already overflowing with mana. If I absorbed any more, it would tear me apart.
So we spent the time talking.
"Rio, about the guests coming tomorrow… be ready. They will play a major role in your life."
"Huh? Wait—how—"
But the dream collapsed.
---
After breakfast, I continued my daily work until a guard informed me that Father had arrived. I went to the front gate where the carriages had stopped.
As expected, Father stepped out.
But then—
"The one who rules this kingdom—His Majesty is here!" the gatekeeper announced.
Everyone kneeled.
So did I.
Huh!? His Majesty!? Why is the king here!?
Father and the King were chatting casually. I also noticed a girl standing behind Father.
"Oh, Rio, Your Majesty—this is my son, Reikotar," Father introduced.
The King nodded. "Rio, I am Edward Van Esford, the ruler of this nation."
He then gestured to the girl beside him.
"And this is my daughter, Princess Tesselia Van Esford."
Tesselia.
The girl I saved during my first outing into the forest.
And she was staring at me with wide eyes.
END OF VOLUME 1