CHAPTER 12.5

MY DAUGHTER’S FIRST TRAINING

Today, it would be the first training for my cute daughter.

As usual, Cassie would be conducting the first explanation of magic. She’s a prodigy in magic, and she has been gifted with her intelligence ever since she was but a small child, based on what I heard about her childhood. I didn’t personally know her until we met as adults, in case you’re wondering.

“…Do you get it so far?” she elaborated.

“Err, Cassie… again, isn’t it too complicated for a 3-year-old to understand?” I reluctantly asked, “I thought you’d devise another way after you tried explaining it to Alt.”

She also explained it like that with Altaire. Back then, Altaire would just smile and said he’d understand. But, it was apparent that he didn’t fully grasp the theory!! I thought she’d get that and won’t make the same mistake again.

What surprised me that time was the fact that Altaire quickly understood the theory Cassie was explaining while he practiced.

Altaire is quite similar to Cass. He is undoubtedly, gifted. Although personality-wise, he is more like me in comparison to Cassie.

That’s why…

“Uhm, can I know how was Alt-nii back then and how far he can do it now?” she asked.

There it goes.

“Lyra.”

I put on my serious face to her, for the first time ever.

I don’t know how fast she’ll master this skill in comparison to Altaire. It doesn’t matter to me if she can learn it quickly or slowly. But, she might be burdened to be as good as her big brother. And that will not do good for her. I just want her to be herself, and continue to smile. I don’t want her to lose herself and her smile while chasing after the shadows of her big brother.

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“W, what?” she stuttered.

“Listen,” I put my hand on her tiny shoulder, “you are you. Altaire is Altaire. No need to compare yourself. Even if you are siblings, you are still different from each other. So, just do things with your own style and pace.”

At that time, I saw her exasperated expression, and how it gradually turned into a smile.

Then, Cassie teased me about how I told Lyra that because I also experienced that “being-compared-to-your-sibling” thing.

Yeah, that plays a role in it, too.

I’d hate being compared to my older brother. I’d also hate it when anyone had a prejudice about me because of who my father is.

How I used to be a rowdy and rebellious child compared to my brother who behaved as the perfect noble. How I hated it when the others talked bad about me and fawned my two-faced brother. He was arrogant and merciless towards commoners. Exactly my father’s carbon copy, well needless to say, he was going to be the heir at that time.

I hated when people compared me to my father and concluded I was also the same as him.

That was why, back then, I…

Oh well, everyone had their respective dark past. I shouldn’t linger in mine for too long.

Anyway, my cute daughter looks cuter when she is trying her best, facing the mirror.

“Here I go!”

Ooh, she sounds pretty confident this time. I’m waiting for her to turn to me in anticipation.

And then… I can’t believe my eyes.

The image of my daughter, who’s changed her eye color, is overlapping with my mother’s image.

My mother, who I haven’t seen for so long.

The one who I’d like to meet for one last time, again.

To whom I made a promise that I couldn’t fulfill…

So, you’re not completely gone from my life, Firis.

You’re here, in the form of my daughter.

“Thank you, thank you for being born…”

I hugged Lyra tightly. I can feel my eyes brimming with tears. But I can’t cry in front of my family. I’m the head of the family. I must be strong.

But then, Lyra started crying.

I was worried I hugged her too tight, but she said that wasn’t the case.

I can’t think of why she cried, though.

Although, her cries made my tears spill.

And so, my daughter seems to be able to do well in her training. She might be gifted, as well. But I don’t want to sound like an oyabaka. I might be biased since she is my own daughter.

That night, I cannot sleep.

I opened the memento from my beloved mother, Firis, which is none other than her favorite pocket watch. I proceeded to open the inner layer of it, to view the hidden part, containing a picture frame.

In the picture, there were Firis and the small me, laughing happily.

If I remember correctly, Chloe took this picture in the flower garden of the old house. I was around 9 years old. At that time, her condition hadn’t worsened yet.

“Cyan, are you reminiscing of the past?” Cassie probably noticed that I couldn’t sleep.

“Mmm, yeah…”

She then hugged me.

“Would you like to share it with me…?”

I placed my hand on her slender arm.

“Won’t you get bored if I repeated the same story? I think I have told you most of my childhood stories, so…”

“Haha, not a chance. Go ahead, dear.”

I’m lucky to have her by my side. And to have Altaire and Lyra around.

“Alright, then it’s about this picture here… Back then, it was when…”

Firis, I’m… happy.

I wish you could have seen Cassie, Lyra, and Altaire.

But then again, if you were still here, perhaps I wouldn’t be able to be here as I am right now. I would totally take a different course in life.

Nevertheless, I am happy with my life as it is.