Marcus surprised Raul with how calmly and thoughtfully he handled the situation. He poured glasses of water for both Aisha and Raul, his demeanor more like a wise mentor than the carefree dad Raul was used to.

“So,” Marcus began, sliding the glass of water toward Aisha, “Raul here tells me you had a bit of trouble out there. And you,” he turned to Raul, raising an eyebrow, “decided to play the hero.”

Aisha looked up, her hands wrapped around the glass. “He saved me,” she said softly. “With his magic.”

Marcus leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin like he was some wise man. “Magic, huh? Well, you did good, Raul,” he said, his voice even. “But—” he held up a hand before Raul could feel too proud—“ Excess force is not the way.”

Raul winced at the reminder of his earlier pain but nodded.

“You’re talented, Raul. Not everyone is like you. You’ve got to learn to control your strength. Otherwise, you’ll end up scaring people—or worse, hurting them.” Marcus’ tone softened, and he added with a smirk, “But hey, you didn’t scare her off, so I guess you’re doing alright.”

Raul scratched the back of his head, feeling both scolded and oddly reassured. Aisha looked over at him, offering a small smile.

Just then, Faith walked into the house, carrying bags of groceries that looked ready to topple her over. She froze when she spotted Aisha at the table. “Oh!” she exclaimed, setting the bags down with a thud. “What’s Aisha doing here? Did something happen?”

Marcus quickly filled her in, summarizing the events with a proud undertone that made Raul squirm a little. Faith’s expression softened as she turned to her son.

“Well done, Raul,” she said, beaming. “That was very gentlemanly of you. You’ve made me proud.” She moved to the sink, pulling out a basket of vegetables. “Aisha, sweetheart, don’t worry. I’ll take you home once I’m done with these.”

To everyone’s surprise, Aisha stood up. “I can help!” she offered shyly.

Faith blinked, momentarily stunned. “Help? You? Oh, how sweet of you!” She shot a pointed look at Marcus and Raul. “You see this? Even a little girl knows how to pitch in. Maybe you two could learn a thing or two.”

Marcus let out an exaggerated sigh, standing up from the table and nudging Raul. “Alright, you heard her. This is our cue to make a strategic retreat. ”

Raul couldn’t help but laugh as Marcus ushered him out of the room. Faith too gave a laugh.

Reshia arrived at the home later in the afternoon, looking more energized than Raul had seen her in a while. Her steps were light, and there was a bounce in her movement. Raul, sitting outside under the shade of a tree, noticed her right away and stood up to greet her.

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“Hey, you’re back,” Raul said, waving. “Dinner’s already being prepared.” He tilted his head, noticing her unusually cheerful demeanor. “You’re looking... less tired than usual. ”

Reshia chuckled as she approached, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “ I actually got some peace for once.”

Raul smiled. “So,what are you teaching today master?” For some reason , he had missed her even though she’d only been gone for a few hours.

Reshia nodded with a smile. “Combat magic.”

Raul scratched the back of his neck, looking thoughtful. “Actually, I was thinking... maybe we could switch things up a little?”

Reshia raised an eyebrow. “Switch things up? How so?”

“Well,” Raul said, crossing his arms, “instead of explaining every little detail like usual, how about you just demonstrate the spells in action? Show me what they’re supposed to look like, and I’ll figure out the rest.”

Reshia’s lips parted in surprise, and she shook her head. “Raul, that’s not how this works. You can’t just skip the fundamentals! Magic isn’t something you can wing. It’s dangerous.”

“I’m not saying skip them,” Raul said quickly, raising his hands defensively. “I just think... maybe you don’t need to explain every single step.”

Reshia narrowed her eyes, folding her arms. “ Without fundamentals, you’re just cramming. What happens if you don’t really understand what you’re doing and a spell backfires?”

Raul shrugged. “I’ve handled a few backfires before.”

Reshia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Raul, fundamentals aren’t a waste of time. They’re the building blocks of magic.”

Raul tried to protest. “I’m efficient. I learn faster when I see things in action.”

“Efficient,” Reshia repeated, giving him a pointed look. “That’s just a fancy word for cutting corners.”

Raul knew when to give up. “Okay, okay, I get it. Fundamentals are important.”

Reshia smiled ,“Good, give me a few minutes to prepare myself.”

Reshia stepped into the house, the cool air a welcome relief after the afternoon heat. She found Marcus sitting at the table, polishing a small but sharp dagger. His focus was intense, but he glanced up when she entered.

“Reshia,” Marcus greeted with his usual calm demeanor. “Done with the day already?”

“For now,” she replied, sitting across from him. She hesitated, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve. “Marcus, I wanted to let you know... I’ll be leaving for the capital in five days.”

Marcus’s hand paused mid-polish. His sharp eyes locked onto hers. “The capital, huh? What for?”

Reshia took a deep breath, steadying herself. “To bail out my family. I’ve finally gathered enough money.”

Marcus leaned back, setting the dagger down. His expression was unreadable, but his tone was measured. “I see. That’s good news. But you didn’t get that kind of money from just working the program, did you?”

Reshia’s face warmed, but she held his gaze. “I earned it by teaching spells on the side.”

She did not tell him about the arrangement with Raul.

Marcus let out a low whistle, shaking his head slightly. “Smart. ”

Reshia nodded. “ Now I can finally get my family out.”

Marcus was silent for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly against the wooden table. “Are you planning to come back here after?You will not be needing this job anymore, right?”

“True,” Reshia said , “ But I also want to finish Raul’s training. He’s got so much potential, and I can’t just leave him halfway.”

Marcus’s expression darkened slightly, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Listen, Reshia. I don’t think you should come back..”

Her smile faltered. “Why not?”

“Raul will be fine,” Marcus said, his voice firm but not unkind. “The truth is, things are going to get... complicated around here in the next few months. Staying in the capital would be safer for you.”

Reshia frowned, leaning closer. “Complicated? What do you mean? Is something going to happen?”

Marcus’s lips pressed into a thin line, and he shook his head. “I can’t say much more than that. Just trust me on this. You’d be better off staying in the capital.”