***Aaron POV***

I kept debating when was the right time to bow my head to the brat, but I couldn't get myself to move. It was humiliating for me to lower my head to a five-year-old, and my ego kept getting in the way. I had reached prime middle age. If it weren't for that stupid truck sliding on thin ice! I would have bought a house, and eventually retired before forty!

"Haven't you dealt with bosses before? Didn't you deal with annoying managers? How is this any different?" The difference was my managers were adults like me, but Darius was five. I pumped myself up for it.

"It's for magic, Aaron! It's for magic!"

***Darius POV***

A firey whip made of the purest hot flames stealthily flew toward me at a speed difficult for a mortal to comprehend. Well, in my eyes it reached forward in slow motion.

I ran straight toward the whip and rolled to the right dodging it at the last possible second before leaping right back to my feet and running toward my father's sitting position.

"Flame Spear!" A spear made from blue-white flames formed in my right hand. I sprinted forward in a lunging motion before pulling back my arm and shoulder and throwing my spear in perfect form.

"Earth wall! Two Layers!" Two earth walls attempted to block my spear but were pierced through like shattering glass, leaving my father defenseless. Or so it seemed. A second whip which was wrapped around his body unfurled itself before binding my spear and stopping its seemingly unstoppable momentum.

"You can do better than that, can't you?" His jovial smile was meant to incite retaliation. I was happy to oblige.

"Yah!"

Over a dozen spears made of earth and covered in fire formed faster than the time it took to blink. They hovered over my head each one angled at different points. Each spear shot from multiple directions as they aimed to strike the Red Tower Master from every possible blindspot.

"Earth Fortress! Earth wall! 5 Layers!" A fortress made of earth surrounded dad as walls blocked all of the spears aiming at him from every direction. My father quickly realized the strategy I was trying. "Hiding, huh."

I dashed behind the broken walls of the fortress he had created himself, sneaking with the utmost silence. I crept out of father's line of sight. Using the shattered remains of earth walls. I managed to get closer until I heard my father say, "Tremor Sight."

Suddenly the earth shook with a slight rumble, and a whip soon followed. I moved before the whip could capture me.

"Argh!"

I smashed through the earth wall in front of me, sending shrapnel in my father's direction before covering myself in flames like a human cannonball. Father smiled, "Checkmate." The earth moved beneath my feet while only two whips came at me from my right and left. He left me with one possible direction to follow. Only moving forward was an option, and the earth opened up in front of me in an eager attempt to eat me whole. I cast as many spells as I could form in desperation, but my father blocked everything easily.

I was caught by the flame whips only 4 meters away from father.

"No fair! You said you'd only use 4th Circle magic!" I glared at my smiling father as though I'd been wronged.

"I did only use 4th Circle magic. I never you how many I'd cast."

"That was fun! Can we go again!" My hands were sweaty from excitement, as I leaped up and down. I meant it. Facing my father or mother in duels where I couldn't win was far more fun than facing the knights. I hadn't even scratched the surface of what my father was capable of, and that meant I still had a lot of things to learn.

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"Let's go inside. I need to talk to you and your squires about what we're doing this week."

I was a bit disappointed, but I quickly followed after my retreating father. Father spent about two minutes casting spells to clean up the training ground before we went inside the manor.

"Rhea! Come here for a moment!" We waited patiently, and in less than a minute Rhea came bounding up to us. "Yes, my Lord!"

"Get my wife and the squires organized and presentable. I want them in my office in thirty minutes."

Rhea bowed her head before running off in the direction of the manor's library, where my squires were currently undergoing lessons.

"I'm not too good at wind magic, but I can make do." A small vortex of wind wrapped around my father's self-carriage, and he literally flew up the stairs. I always thought it was impressive to see my father fly like that when he wasn't a wind mage. Usually, flight magic was reserved for 4th Circle spells, but I guess I wasn't one to talk either. The usual doesn't fit our family very well.

I lept up the stairs, following right behind him. "Son, this is why you should learn a good variety of spells. You'll never know how they can be useful to you later on. Though I'd prefer my son stay healthy. I can't imagine my child becoming a cripple."

I ran a little faster to meet my father's eyes as I said, "Well, just so you know, father. I'm going to find a medicine that can fix you! Whether it be in five years or ten, I'll find a cure. I'll find one no matter what! And if I can't find one... I'll just have to make one." My father met my gaze with his usual stoic expression.

Looking at father's eyes which looked as hard as a stone and strong enough to bear any burden, I could see a glint in the depths of his eyes and soul. What was it? I didn't have to question it too deeply as I'd seen it before.

Love.

It made me all tingly, so I looked away.

What a strange thing.

He opened to door to his study. The place I had learned magic for the first time all those years ago. Well, only a little over three years ago, but for me, it felt like a long time ago. He rolled himself to his desk and spoke, "Son, let's talk about... well I'll wait till everyone comes in. Let's just talk about something else till then. How have you been managing? Are you well?"

We talked for a good thirty minutes. It was the type of talk one would have with a neighbor. Small talk as they say.

It was the first time since he woke from his coma that we got a chance to spend time together. It was strange. A part of me wanted this more than anything else.

It was nice. I was snapped out of my daze when the door opened behind me.

"I'm here, Lord. Lady Elaine is with miss Ella and said she'd stop by later."

I turned around to see Rhea walk in with my squires. Aaron didn't arrogantly walk to the front anymore. He was a bit too annoying. I was starting to think he had his head hit by a mule when he worked at his family's farm.

"Thank you, Rhea. You can head back down."

My father turned to look at the squires before looking at me and saying, "We will be going to the Capital, Avia, later in the afternoon. We will be staying with Mrs. Northwood's father tonight. I'm suspecting that is the reason she is being standoffish."

"Father?"

"There is a Royal Ball. We are officially attending to congratulate the Princess. She is your age Darius which means she's chosen her own squires as well. Last week actually. It took over a month to gather all of you, but for Royals or high nobles, most of the knights are children from other noble families, so it's a quicker process."

"How is that possible? Isn't that too much of a coincidence?" I thought it was strange that we just happened to get our squires at the same time. I could smell an eventual headache.

"It took her less than a week to gather her squires, Darius. It could have taken a day, but there might have been some political posturing for all I know. Politics have never been my forte. James probably waited until I finished finding all of my candidates before announcing his hunt. He's a bit too considerate."

"So we will be going to the Capital today? We have no time to prepare?" I looked at the group of misfits behind me and raised a brow. This wasn't going to end well.

"We are going today, but the Ball doesn't start for another three days. Elaine and Rhea will get you all up to speed on etiquette and manners and all of those useless things that nobles like to do. The only real problem is your grandfather."

"Mine?" I was confused. I hadn't even met my grandfather yet.

"Aren't you curious why you haven't met your grandfather at all yet? He's wanted to meet you since you were born, but your mother and him. Well, she hasn't quite forgiven him. It was my suggestion to accept his proposal of having us over. Your mother accepted for the first time in a decade. This will be your first time meeting him."

My curiosity had flared. No one had ever talked about my grandfather. As though he were some forbidden subject. I was unsure of their background story, but I'm sure I'll find out.

My father pointed at the kids and said, "Just make sure the four of you behave. This won't be like home where the three of you can do as you please. I am lenient, but the nobles can be wolves in sheep's clothing." He stared especially hard at Aaron who looked down at the ground. "Go. Find Rhea and she'll dress you. We leave in an hour."

"Yes, Lord!" My squires all bowed their heads and did their best to run as gracefully as they could. Let's just say they failed. "Hey watch it!" "I'm sorry."

They bumped into each other as they raced down the hall. I shook my head at the sight before turning to my father, "What kind of guy is my grandfather?"

"When your mother grew up he was strict, and now he's the opposite. He's similar to your mother when she's being playful." My father only smiled at my confusion. "Now go get ready."

"Yes, Father!"

No point in worrying.