Nox and Tilda were seated, waiting for their son to explain himself.
On the way home, Nox had already briefed his wife about the matter. At first, when Nox admitted that he was the reason Déon had ventured into the forest, she was angry. But after thinking it through, she eventually accepted that their son had grown up.
Even though they knew part of the story, some things remained unclear. They didn't know how Alexia had managed to convince Déon to enter a portal. Tilda didn't particularly like the idea of her son being manipulated, but before making any judgment, she needed to hear the facts from his own mouth.
...
It was the first time Deon had seen his parents so serious. But deep down, he could understand their concern. So he took a deep breath before starting to recount everything to them.
By the end of his story, Tilda, who hadn't spoken for a while, turned to her husband with a questioning look. But to her surprise, he too seemed a little shocked. It was rare to see Nox caught off guard, as he usually anticipated every scenario.
"Take out the hydra's body so I can see it."
"But we're in the living room, that might—"
Déon hadn't finished his sentence before realizing he was no longer in their living room but in another dimension.
"Don't be too surprised. Mirror Dimension, one of my skills. Now, bring out the creature's body."
It was only when he brought out the hydra's body that an indescribable expression appeared on Nox's face.
Tilda was shocked by what she saw.
"Déon, you killed it by yourself?"
"Yes, mother," he said, nodding.
Nox had doubted Déon when he said the hydra had three heads, but it was true. The hydra lying before him had indeed three heads. His son had defeated a Rank D creature while being only Rank F. It was an achievement worthy of a legend.
After retrieving the hydra's body, Nox ended his skill before continuing the discussion with his son.
"Son, that wasn't the creature I sent you to kill. The creatures I listed for you were all Rank F and posed no threat to your life. And a Rank F hydra only has one head. You've far exceeded my expectations."
At first, Nox had planned to scold his son, but now he found himself praising him. His accomplishment was extraordinary—he had not only soloed a creature that outranked him, but also closed a Rank D portal.
But what intrigued him the most was the aura he had awakened. Only the greatest warriors awakened aura, and he couldn't explain how his son, who hadn't even reached sword comprehension yet, had managed to awaken his.
"My son is a genius," Nox thought.
"Now that he has two energies in his body, what do you think about giving him some elixirs, Nox?" Tilda commented.
"Yes, you're right. Having both mana and aura in one body isn't always a blessing. We need to strengthen his constitution to avoid problems in the future."
Tilda had never wanted her son to walk such a dangerous path. Sure, she knew he had the ambition to become a Guardian, but knowing he would have to risk his life in every portal was disheartening. Despite that, she knew Déon had enormous potential, and it would be a waste to clip his wings.
"Now tell me, what were you doing in the Nyr girl's house?" Nox asked with a half-smile.
"Nyr? You mean Alexia? Uh… nothing, she just brought me to her place while I was unconscious," Déon replied, blushing as he remembered Alexia's scent and pretty face.
"Déon, you need to be careful with girls… and especially control your reactions. Naivety can cost dearly. And above all, never enter a portal again without being fully prepared," Tilda commented before leaving the two men to continue their discussion.
"The Nyr girl, huh?" she murmured to herself, recalling some memories.
Déon didn't know how to hide his expressions, which was why his parents could read even the slightest change in his emotions. If his parents could read him so easily, there was no reason to think his enemies—or anyone else—wouldn't be able to do the same. And in this world, where any weakness could lead to death, not having full control over his emotions could cost him his life.
"Is it even possible to control all your emotions?" he asked his father.
"It's possible, but very difficult. You don't need to suppress your emotions—let them out from time to time. What you need is to stay rational in every situation. Only by staying rational will you survive in all circumstances."
"The coming-of-age ceremony is approaching. Do you still plan to leave the village?" he continued in a calm voice.
"Yes, but I'll come back. I plan to go to the Academy and return after I graduate."
"The Academy, huh? Sounds like you've done a lot of research at the library. The day's been long, and you must be tired. Go eat and get some rest."
Nox gave Déon a faint smile before leaving to join his wife.
...
"Hmm, so he was that strong?"
"Yes, without his help, it would've been hard to close the portal. And he even sensed the guards."
"Seriously? And what magic did he use?"
"I don't know. So, he's a mage?"
Madame Jeanne was eager to find out about Déon's abilities, but Alexia hadn't told her anything concrete. So she eventually gave up.
"Can you give me some blindness and confusion scrolls? It's for training."
Jeanne stopped for a second to stare at Alexia. She was so surprised she wondered if she was dreaming.
Alexia normally never asked for help. Jeanne had forced her to accept help with daily training, but it always ended in refusal. And now, here she was, asking for something.
"Is this because of that boy?" Jeanne asked suspiciously.
"What boy?" Alexia replied with a pout.
"You'll get your scrolls tomorrow," Jeanne said before leaving the room.