The sun hung low in the sky as Faith, Raul, and Reshia arrived at the Bervet home. The modest cottage stood nestled among tall trees, its stone walls bathed in the warm orange glow of the evening light.

Faith opened the gate, still chatting with Reshia about her experiences in Viswall. Raul followed quietly, his mind half-occupied with the Console .

As they stepped into the yard, Faith froze. Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide with disbelief.

There, seated on the steps leading to the front door, was Marcus. His upper body was wrapped in blood stained bandages, and his normally confident posture sagged with exhaustion. His face was pale, his eyes heavy with fatigue, but he managed a faint smile when he saw them.

“Marcus!” Faith cried.

She dropped everything she was holding and ran to him, her composure forgotten. She knelt beside him, her hands hovering over his injuries as if afraid to touch him. Finally, unable to hold back, she threw her arms around him in a tight embrace.

Marcus groaned softly, wincing as her hug pressed against his fresh wounds. “Easy, Faith,” he said with a weak chuckle. “I’m in one piece... mostly.”

Faith pulled back, tears glistening in her eyes. “You idiot! You should have sent word. Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?”

Marcus reached up to brush a stray tear from her cheek. “I know. I’m sorry. Things didn’t exactly go as planned out there.”

Raul stood a few steps away, watching the scene unfold. He could see the raw emotion on his mother’s face, the relief and the love, but he couldn’t summon the same feelings himself.

Marcus was his father in this life, but Raul had already lived another. The connection didn’t feel as deep as it should have.

As he stood there, lost in thought, Reshia’s voice broke through.

“You’re very calm , mature” she observed, her green eyes studying him. “For a child, especially in a moment like this. Most would have run to their father already.”

Raul glanced at her, his usual composed expression shifting into a sheepish smile. “Oh, I’m just... shy,” he said, scratching the back of his head.

Reshia raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but she didn’t press the issue.

Faith turned to Raul, beckoning him over. “Come here, Raul.Hug your old man.”

Raul walked up to them, keeping his steps measured. “Welcome back,” he said, his voice polite.

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Marcus smiled at him, though his exhaustion showed. “Thanks, kid. Sorry I worried you.”

Raul nodded, saying nothing more.

As Faith fussed over Marcus, Reshia lingered nearby, her gaze flicking between Raul and his family. Though she said nothing, it was clear she found the Bervets intriguing in ways she hadn’t expected.

Faith helped Marcus into the house, her voice soft as she fussed over his injuries. Raul remained outside with Reshia, who stood quietly for a moment, watching the family disappear through the door.

She slipped off her emerald cloak and hung it over the branch of a small tree. Underneath, she wore a slightly baggy white shirt tucked into fitted trousers that accentuated her slim, athletic figure.

The combination gave her an effortless charm that made Raul a little uneasy. He found himself glancing away, his thoughts scrambling to focus on anything else.

“You’re full of surprises, Raul,” Reshia said, breaking the silence.

Raul blinked and turned to her. She had a pleasant smile, her green eyes warm and curious rather than intimidating. She didn’t feel like the stern, untouchable mage he had imagined when he first saw her on the stage.

“What do you mean?” Raul asked, trying to sound casual.

Reshia stepped closer. “That spell you used—Chimming Winds. It’s a high-mana spell, and yet you cast it so easily. I was impressed... but also curious.”

Raul tensed. Her tone was light, but her words carried weight.

She leaned slightly toward him, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I used a spell to measure your mana reserves. Don’t worry—it’s harmless. But according to my findings, you shouldn’t have had enough mana to pull that earlier stunt off.”

Raul swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay calm. “Maybe I just got lucky?”

Reshia tilted her head, amused. “Oh, it wasn’t luck. You modified the spell, didn’t you?”

Raul hesitated. Reshia’s gaze was steady but not accusatory. If anything, she seemed genuinely intrigued. He realized she wasn’t trying to trap him; she was fascinated by what he’d done.

Finally, he sighed. “Okay, yes. I modified it.”

Reshia’s face lit up, her curiosity deepening. “I knew it! That’s incredible, Raul. ”

Only the most advanced of mages that understood the fundamentals of spells could even dream of modifying spells , and that’s if they made a collaborative effort .

And for “Chimming winds” to be specific , it was one of the oldest spells. The basics and fundamentals that guide it had long been lost to history.

Raul rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to respond. “Thanks, I guess?”

She crouched slightly to meet his eye level, her tone gentle. “Tell me, what’s the new incantation for the spell? It must have changed with your modifications.”

Raul blinked, caught off guard. “Uh... what do you mean?”

Reshia sat down on a nearby bench, her posture relaxed. “When you modify a spell, it usually requires a new incantation needed to cast it. The words change to reflect the new structure of the magic. What did you say to activate your version of Chimming Winds?”

Raul’s mind raced. To him, the spell was still the same—he simply changed its source code. But Reshia wouldn’t understand that. Thinking quickly, he said, “I call it... Chimming Eddies.”

“Chimming Eddies?” Reshia repeated, her lips quirking into a half-smile.

She stood and stretched her arms, then clasped her hands together as if preparing to cast.

“Let’s see if I can make it work. Chimming Eddies!”

Nothing happened.

Reshia dropped her hands, laughing lightly. “Whatever the case, you’ve done something remarkable, Raul. Modifying a spell like that—especially one so old—is something only a handful of mages can do.”

She then held his hand , “ Well let’s not keep your parents waiting , I’m sure they are now ready for us.”