"How can I do that?" Shin complained.

"Okay, I'll show you."

Roger squats and closed his eyes, he looked like he was meditating. Well, technically, he was meditating. Shin watched Roger closely and a few seconds later, Roger's aura disappeared. It felt like Roger wasn't there even though he is. The moment Shin blinked, Roger disappeared and was suddenly behind Shin.

Roger tapped Shin's shoulder and shin was startled. Roger opened his mouth, "That's what it's like to not to think."

Giryu opened his mouth, "Well, I can say that you will pass that training if you can hit me."

"Can you do that too, Uncle Giryu?"

"Yes, a piece of cake."

And so, Shin started to train, a few hours later, Shin was able to pull of what Roger did earlier. However, he was different. Shin was focusing all his magic power on his body and it was a dense and pure magic power that was being rained down on the Plaza. Everyone was looking at Shin dumbfounded expressions.

However, there is only one person who wasn't surprised but was threatened. Giryu looked Shin with bloodlust. Giryu whispered, "That brat."

On the split second that Giryu looked away at Shin, Shin was already in front of him and was about to hit him in the face with the intent to kill Giryu.

Giryu quickly grabbed Shin's arm and threw him on the ground. Giyu thought, "This brat. Did he just used flash step?"

Shin grunts and opened his mouth, "Ugh, so close."

Giryu opened his mouth, "Well, you failed to hit me kid."

"Yeah, but I managed to get this." Shin showed Giryu's ring.

"What? When did you do it?"

"When you grabbed me. Hehehehe"

"It seems like I was the one who lost huh?"

Shin grinned and returned Giryu's ring.

Roger approached Shin and tapped his head, "Let's go home, your mother is gonna scold us again." Roger then looked at Zeff who was training with everyone, "Zeff, let's go home!"

Zeff shouted back, "Yes!"

They all went home and when they got inside, Elfie and Ariel was preparing their lunch.

Roger quickly sat down, "Nice! Food! Food!"

Zeff and Shin then sat down also.

Shin opened his mouth, "Wow, this all look good. Did you help mother cook, Elfie?"

Elfie replied, "Y-yes."

"Well, she's a fast learner and also, the dish in front of you was prepared by Elfie." Ariel said.

"Wait, what? Am I gonna be your lab rat?" Shin said with a teasing tone.

"You're mean! Shy don't you just eat my food and judge it? Hmp!"

They all sat down and started to eat. Shin took a bite to Elfie's dish and Elfie is gulping while watching Shin eat her food.

"Wow! This is actually good. You're gonna be a great wife someday Elfie."

"H-huh?! What are you saying you idiot!"

Everyone started laughing.

~~~~~

"Hey, Shin. G-good luck on your training." Elfie said while blushing.

"Huh? Are you not gonna send your older brother Elfie?" Zeff said while looking gloomy.

I just bowed my head to Elfie and smiled at her.

As we headed to the Plaza, I saw a mysterious person wearing black robe, he has a lot of magical power and he seems to know Giryu. They are talking and when they saw father, father reacted like he knows the mysterious person.

I grabbed father's hand and opened my mouth, "Father, you know him?"

"Yes, he was an acquaintance of mine."

"He's a little bit a suspicious guy."

"He's a good guy though. No need to be alarmed." Father looked at Zeff, "Zeff, lower your weapon."

Zeff puts his weapon on the sheath.

The mysterious person talked, "Oh my, Roger, long time no see huh? These two your kid?" The mysterious guy looked at Zeff, and started to laugh. Zeff's veins on his forehead bulged, "What are you laughing at you bastard?!" Zeff said with and angered tone.

"Oh, I'm very sorry, I might have offended you. I am called 'The Greatest Mage, but you can just call me Rick." Then he smiled.

Zeff was surprised, Shin looked at Rick with astonishment.

Rick then started talking again, "But still. Bwhahahahahahaha.. Hey Roger did you really did it with Sylphiette? Even though you already have a wife? What was her name again?"

Zeff was surprised once again, "Wait, you know mother?"

Shin is just observing on what is happening.

"Well of course."

"Stop talking nonsense Rick." Roger said with an annoyed tone.

"First of all, This kid is not mine. He might be Sylph's son but he's not mine. Well, because of the demon attack on the Elven Village, he is now loving under us."

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"Well, that's true. No one would've guessed that something like that will happen just a year after Sylph's death. It seems like they have waited for her death."

Zeff was confused by what they are talking about, "Wait, what's happening? Uncle Roger, how come this guy knows about mother and about her death?"

Rick looked at Roger with a serious face. "You didn't tell him?"

"I never had the chance."

Rick sighed and opened his mouth, "When we were still adventurers, your mother, Sylph, me, and Roger was in the same party. We were a 4 man party. We were called the 'Guardians'."

"Four? Who's the other one?" Zeff asked.

Roger opened his mouth, "He is called Crimson."

Rick then continued talking, "We all have an alias. As I said earlier, I was called the 'Greatest Mage', Sylphiette was called the 'Nature's Mother', Crimson was called the 'Strongest Swordsman', and Roger was called the 'Guardian of Humanity'. That's just the gist of it."

Everyone went silent for a minute and Roger opened his mouth, "So why are you here? You're going to help with the war?"

"No, even if I help, nothing would change. The same 'fate' will happen. So this is your kid?"

"Yes."

"I see." Rick patted Shin's head and said, "Well, become stronger for the next generation, okay?"

Shin looked ay Rick. "I will!" Then Shin grinned like he was a kid that was praised. Well, he was a kid to begin with.

~~~~~

After a couple of hours, Rick left the village. He said he was just on a mission and passed by. Though, I know why he didn't stay here for a little longer. He might be called the Greatest Mage, but not the strongest.I noticed something when he was talking to father, he kept on looking at one certain person but I'm not sure who. Amidst all the people training in the plaza, I can't pinpoint who he kept looking at. Did he notice something? Or am I just overreacting? He clearly didn't say anything to father. Seems like he is not sure himself on what is he seeing.

I shrugged at my thought and returned to my training. I closed my eyes and crossed legs and meditated. While I was meditating, someone called me.

"Shin!"

I opened one of my eyes and peeked at the person calling me, it was Elfie.

I quickly went down and asked, "Is there something wrong?"

"I told Auntie Ariel that I'd cook for dinner but there's no ingredients in the house so I told her that I'll go get some but she told me that I can't go unless I'm with you."

I scratched the back my head and said, "Let's go then."

As I am walking with Elfie around the village, I asked her. "Why are you so passionate about learning how to cook?"

"Well, basically, I am girl so it's only necessary to learn how to cook at a young age."

"I see. Because to me, it looks like you want to please someone."

I added, "Are you thinking of getting praised by Zeff?"

She was flustered and just kept on yapping, "P-p-praised by my Brother? No! Why do you think I would want his praise? Are you an idiot? Why can't you get any of the signs?!"

"Signs?"

"Nevermind, you idiot!"

She started walking fast, leaving me behind. I followed her. We stopped in a meat shop.

"Good afternoon Mr. Shop Owner, I would like to buy this meat."

The owner looked at Elfie then turned his gaze towards me, "Ahh, you don't need to buy these, just get what you like."

"Hmm? Are you sure?"

"Yes." He laughs nervously.

I stepped up and opened my mouth, "Uncle Benjie, don't mind us. This is your business, we can't take anything without paying."

"But..." I stopped him from talking. "Right now, your business is in danger you can't just give away these for free now right?"

The owner looked away and hen opened his mouth, "Fine, but I'll sell these for lower prices."

"That's better." I smiled at him.

We bought some meat and left the meat shop. Elfie asked me, "Why did you insist on buying it, he wants to give it for free. You even took the bracelet for free though."

I looked at her and opened my mouth, "We will be escaping the village as soon as the war starts, life outside the village will be harder. You know money is everything in this world right? Without these things, we can't live the way we want. And also, his daughter is sick, he needs to get his daughter checked by doctors from the capital."

Elfie kept on staring at me as I said those words, I looked at her and asked, "Why do you keep staring at me? It's embarrassing you know. Do you want to say something?"

She was flustered and said, "W-well... You're just kind. And I admire you for that. No wonder why, you have the blood of a prince."

"I ain't no prince. Let's go to Grandpa Ferdinand."

Elfie smirked, "Fine, then. But still, to me you are a prince."

I scoffed and went straight to Grandpa Ferdinand.

We got the veggies and fruits rather late so we went straight to our house. As we entered the house, mother was waiting.

"Mom, sorry we're late."

"It's okay, well I'm sorry for asking you to go with Elfie even though you're tired from training."

"It's okay mom. Well, I would still accompany Elfie even though you don't ask me."

Mother and Elfie went straight to cooking. As I was watching them, something came to my mind. What will happen to everyone after the war? And why should we evacuate as soon as the demons attack us? Shouldn't we relocate now?

Father looked at me and asked, "Is there something troubling you?"

I looked at him, "N-nothing."

We went silent again and Zeff as usual, minding his own business.

Two days have passed and nothing happened. Is this what they called, 'The calmness before the disaster'?

As I was meditating, something came to my mind. What if we make traps for the war? But what kind of traps though? As I was thinking of possible traps that I can set up for the demons, I saw mother training her holy magic. Holy magic is strong against demons, what if we use that?

I approached mother and told her my plan, she was intrigued about my plan and helped me out. We went around the village setting the traps.

First, I went to the jewelry owner and bought some magistone. Though, I got some of them for free. I got a plenty of them, enough to make a couple of traps. Then, mother casted a holy magic in the magistone which it absorbed her magic. Then we placed it in the ground and I set up the illusion magic to hide it and a barrier that detects a demon's presence in which when a demon enters, it releases mother's magic.

We went around the village and planted a total of 56 traps. It was a lot considering how powerful this traps are. When we got home, Elfie has already prepared for our dinner. Mother was surprised by how Elfie prepared everything herself.

Mother then said, "Ho, you're really passionate huh, Elfie?"

Elfie blushed and said, "P-passionate? N-no it's like that."

I opened my mouth and teased Elfie, "This looks appetizing, you'll really make a great wife. To be honest, I envy the one who will marry you someday."

I thought I was able to tease her but her expression changed instantly as I said those words. She suddenly said, "Don't touch my food. Go cook for yourself."

She was so cold that it felt like the whole house has frozen. Well, I just did what she said, I cooked my own food. As they were eating, they smelled the dish I'm cooking.

Mother asked, "Shin, what are you cooking? It smells good."

"Secret, just eat the food Elfie prepared."

Father, and Zeff was silently eating and Elfie is till not talking. Well, I might've upset her by what I just said, I don't know what part though.

After eating dinner, I went straight to my room. Why did Elfie suddenly became like that? Is she being sensitive? Is it her time experiencing "that" already? No! No! No! She's still five years old. Guess, I can't settle this without talking to her, I'll apologize to her first.

~~~~~

Why is he an idiot? How dare he say something like that? He's really a kid. *sigh. I'll just go out and get some fresh air.

I went out and sat on the yard. Suddenly, some idiot sneaked up to me and sat beside me. Well, of course I didn't say anything, he's at fault. And even if he apologizes to me I won't talk to him.

Shin looked at the sky and said, "Isn't the moon lovely?"

Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Why did he just suddenly said that? No I gotta act cool, calm down Elfie, calm down.

Shin then added, "Your eyes really looked like the moon, it's shining even though it's night."

I moved away and said, "Wait! Wait! That's foul! Foul! How can you just casually saying those things?"

"Why? I can't praise you now?"

"Do you even know what you said earlier?"

"What? About the moon?"

"Yes- no! No, it's not about the moon. About that thing you said at our dinner."

"Well, it's true. I would really envy by the person that you will marry, since you chose him. I don't really care about that person though, but let me just say one thing, make sure that this person would be better than me."

My eyes widened and I ran away.

~~~~~

Welp, there she goes. Her face is like riped tomato, hahaha. I looked at the sky and lied down.

I want to protect her. But realizing those words I just said... That was really embarrassing. How can I say that with a straight face? No! What do I look like while I'm saying those words? Argh!

~~~~~

How can he say those things so causally. He's too straightforward! That idiot!

[11 days left before the Demon Attack]