Eril was looking up at the Moranor and Enora as they couldn’t find the right words to say. Enora cleared her throat and said. “You see Eril…” The young elf quickly moved her focus onto her as Enora went silent for a couple of seconds, she continued. “Mora and I had this conversation yesterday. She was brave enough to go first.” She ignored the glare Moranor was giving her, Enora thought. I’ll never be good with kids. Moranor saw Eril turning her head to look at her as she quickly erased the glare on her expression.
Eril looked up to her with puppy dog eyes still on her face. Moranor smile turned awkward while Eril took a bite of her comically large glazed doughnut while maintaining her puppy dog eyes. Moranor said. “You see, Eril…” She thought. How am I supposed to… From the corner of her eye, she saw a stall selling ice cream, Moranor said. “I-Ice cream!” Eril cutely tilted her head sideways as her puppy dog eyes slowly vanished. Enora glanced in the direction of the stall as she let out a sigh of relief and thought. Good thinking Mora.
The young elf turned her head at the stall as her eyes sparkled at the sight, Moranor stood up from the fountain and said. “Let’s get in line.” Eril quickly stood up from the fountain, she grabbed Moranor’s hand. Eril said. “Then we should hurry before the line gets longer.” The young elf started walking toward the stall, after a few steps she couldn’t take another step and tried to pull Moranor who stood in place. Moranor was holding onto her apple fritter using her index finger and thumb as she held out her hand at Enora who had a hint of confusion on her face.
Enora looked up to her and said. “What?” Moranor let out a scoff, she said. “I need some coins for the little one.” Enora raised a brow while Eril was still playfully pulling on Moranor’s arm. Eril said. “Pretty sister, two more got in line!” Enora took out a powdered doughnut filled with whipped cream, she said. “Last time I checked you make two platinum coins a week. Now it’s four platinum and you’ve been doing a terrible job at being my personal guard.” Moranor’s expression didn’t change, she said. “One, you told me I could keep my current training. Two, you made me your personal guard because you thought it would make keeping an eye on me and Reiki easier.”
Enora pondered for a moment, she thought. Oh yeah… She took out a gold coin from her pocket and flicked it at her, she said. “Make sure mine is large.” Moranor rolled her eyes at her and said. “Yeah yeah.” She started walking toward the stall selling ice cream as Eril excitedly walked alongside her. The two of them got in line as Moranor felt the young elf pulling on her dress, Moranor looked down at her. Eril said. “Pretty sister, now can you tell me who you like?”
The young elf took a bite of her large glazed doughnut while keeping her gaze on her, Moranor thought. Shit… Gotta think fast! She looked around as the elf in front of them took a step forward as someone in front got their order. The young elf and Moranor took one step forward. Moranor said. “Young majesty and I don’t like anyone at the moment…” She thought. All we have to do is to make sure she doesn’t meet Reiki. Eril was in the middle of chewing while Moranor tried her best to put on a casual smile.
Moranor continued. “You see, young majesty is busy learning the ropes on how to be a ruler. While I’m too occupied with my training, not anyone can be a guard for the royals…” She faked a laugh while Eril nodded as she thought for a moment. Moranor let out a sigh of relief, she thought. Finally… This topic is done… Eril brightly smiled at her and said. “Then can you tell me who you liked in the past?” Moranor felt the sting of the young elf’s voice, she thought. Please child, can’t you just eat your doughnut in peace?
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Ketsueki’s House
~Two Hours Later~
Namida was holding onto a tall glass of ice cream bear float, inside the glass was a straight metal straw. She took a big sip using the metal straw while Ketsueki stared at her and thought. … So that’s why she was so insistent on using her own glass… She was holding onto a large bowl of strawberry ice cream with a spoon in the bowl. Sachi made her way to the living room as she was carrying a large bowl of chocolate ice cream with her preferred toppings and sat on the couch.
Sachi placed her bowl on the coffee table and said. “Of course, he went for a root beer float.” With a wave of her hand, a spoon appeared in her palm and she smelled a familiar scent in the air. Sachi continued. “You already had god knows how many beers during lunch.” Namida let out a long satisfied exhale, she said. “This is completely different.” Ketsueki had some ice cream in her mouth, she gulped and said. “How so?” Namida held the tall glass by the top to show it to them, she said. “This is a dessert. Completely and utterly different.”
She drank the thick beer float by the rim of the glass while Reiki made his way to the living room with a large bowl of vanilla ice cream in each hand. He sat in between his older sister and Sachi on the couch as he moved one of the bowls closer to Namida, Reiki said. “What did I miss?” Ketsueki placed a hand on top of her younger brother's head, she caressed it and said. “Nothing, we were just talking to a future drunkard.”
Reiki pulled out a couple of spoons from his pocket with both of them being meticulously wrapped in tissue, he placed one of them near Namida’s bowl while his gaze was glued onto the float. Namida finished her big glug of the float as she had a white mustache on her upper lip, she said. “That hits the spot.” She placed her glass on the coffee table while ignoring Ketsueki and Sachi’s laughter. Namida picked up the spoon that was wrapped in tissue as she the tissue to whip her mouth clean, she noticed Reiki staring at her drink and said. “Wanna try it?”
Reiki was in the middle of scooping some ice cream into his bowl, he stopped and said. “Really?” Ketsueki’s pupils faintly glowed as she glared at her friend, she said. “What are you doing!?” Sachi watched everything unfold with a smile on her face, she thought. This could be good. Namida took out an empty can of beer from her pocket and casually threw it toward Ketsueki who caught it mid-air. Namida said. “This can has a zero point zero five percent alcohol percentage. Even a lightweight would need eight to ten beers to feel slightly tipsy.”
Reiki thought. Most if not all low percentage alcohol tastes like shit. Sachi ate a spoonful of chocolate ice cream with some pistachio nuts while Ketsueki stared at the label of the beer can at the back. Ketsueki said. “It’s still an entire can's worth of beer in that glass.” Namida picked up her bowl of ice cream from the coffee table, she shook her head sideways and said. “Not really… I think there’s less than one-fourth of it in the glass. It’s mostly ice cream which made it a bit hard to stir using the metal straw.” Sachi almost spat out the ice cream in her mouth as her entire upper body started quivering from suppressing her laughter.
Ketsueki’s brows furrowed, she said. “Then where did the rest of it go?” Namida ate a spoonful of vanilla ice cream as she used her hand that was holding onto the spoon to gently pat her stomach. Reiki thought. … With her love for alcoholic beverages… I could use her for a business… The corner of Ketsueki’s eye twitched, she moved her gaze onto her younger brother who already ate half of the vanilla ice cream in his bowl. Ketsueki said. “... Reiki, what do you think?” Reiki didn’t say anything for a couple of seconds, he said. “I’m just curious about how it tastes, I don’t mind if you say no.” He thought. Please say yes, this might be the only time I can taste alcohol until I’m eighteen.
Sachi lips curled into a slight frown, she thought. Boring… I expected a show… She ate a spoonful of chocolate ice cream with some whipped cream while Ketsueki pondered for a moment, she thought. Should I?... Reiki’s only ten… But, if he doesn’t like the taste that’s one worry I can cross off in the future… Ketsueki let out a sigh, she said. “You can have one sip. But, I have to taste it first to be sure.” Reiki thought. It’s not even one percent but I’ll take it. Namida passed her tall glass to Ketsueki as she took a sip of it using the rim of the glass.
She thought. … It tastes like melted ice cream with a hint of carbonated water… Not even good-tasting water too… Reiki placed his large bowl onto the coffee table as Ketsueki passed him the tall glass of beer float, she said. “One sip.” Reiki took the glass from his older sister’s hands, he said. “Yes, Onee-chan.” He took a sip using the rim of the glass, Reiki thought. … Yeah… It only tastes like ice cream… And it has that hint of terrible aftertaste all low percentages alcoholic drinks have… I would kill for a fifty-five macallan lalique.
Sachi was using her spoon to mix the whipped cream, nuts, and chocolate ice cream in her bowl. She thought. Wouldn’t it be ironic if this is how he becomes an alcoholic? Reiki passed the glass to Namida while Ketsueki had a hint of unease in her expression, she said. “... What do you think?...” Reiki picked up his bowl from the coffee table as he pretended to think, he said. “The ice cream tasted good, but it had a terrible aftertaste. If that’s how all beers taste I’m not interested in drinking.”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Ketsueki quickly placed a hand near her friend as she covered Namida’s head with her hand, she quickly said. “That’s right, all beers taste the same.” Namida took a sip of her beer float as she glanced at her friend using the corner of her eye, she thought. He’ll think differently when he grows up. Sachi shook her head sideways as she ate a spoonful of ice cream with some crushed pistachio nuts, she thought. The lengths she’s willing to go through.
Ketsueki noticed her little brother glanced at the glass Namida was holding. Ketsueki said. “Reiki, what’s got you so interested in her drink?” She thought. Please don’t tell me you want another sip. Reiki said. “I’m fairly sure we don’t have a glass like that in the cabinets…” Namida placed the tall glass of beer float on the coffee table, she let out a satisfied sigh and said. “That’s because I own this tall glass.” She gestured at it, Namida said. “I use it for my good drinks.”
Reiki nodded as he glanced at the toppings on Sachi’s ice cream, he said. “I’m guessing she also brought her own whipped cream and pistachio nuts?” Sachi nodded as she used her spoon to scoop some chocolate ice cream, she said. “You guessed correctly.” Ketsueki’s brows furrowed, she said. “So you two always have your tall glass, whipped cream, and pistachio nuts?” Sachi and Namida spoke in unison, they said. “Only when visiting your house.” Reiki stood up from the couch as he made his way to the kitchen, Ketsueki scooped some strawberry ice cream in her bowl and said. “Reiki, are you done with ice cream?”
Reiki let out a chuckle and said. “No, I’m getting another bowl and heading into my room to practice some magic.” He made his way to the kitchen fridge while Ketsueki wiped some ice cream on the corner of her lips, she said. “Make sure to use small amounts of mana.” Reiki waved his hand at her as he opened the fridge and inside were the mango bravo and black forest cake, he thought. … Looks like Onee-chan is filling the fridge with ingredients after every meal.
He opened the see-through bottom drawer that had three large plastic tubs filled with vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice cream. Reiki took out the tub of vanilla ice cream as he heard the girls' conversation in the living room. He picked up the ice cream scooper in the sink and started washing it, from the living room Reiki heard the girls’ voice. Namida said. “Mom decided to continue the conversation about you two dropping by the house again.” Reiki finished washing the ice cream scooper as he opened one of the drawers with the drying cloth.
From the living room the conversation continued, Sachi said. “She’s still yelling at you when this topic is brought up, doesn’t she?” It was quickly followed by Namida, she said. “Yep.” Reiki took the lid of the tub of ice cream off as he started making large round scoops of vanilla ice cream, he heard his older sister’s voice from the living room. Ketsueki said. “So, when do get to visit?” Reiki quickly filled the large bowl with more ice cream, he thought. Already halfway through vanilla. He started to wash the ice cream scooper, from the living room Namida let out a long sigh and said. “... Soon…”
Reiki finished drying the ice cream scooper as he placed it in one of the drawers, he picked up his bowl of ice cream and made his way up the stairs. The girls' conversation was slowly getting softer as he made his way to his room, he thought. All right Ender, what’s on the menu? He opened the door leading to his room, turned the lights on, and closed the door behind him. Reiki made his way to the bed and lazily sat on it without bothering to take off his white indoor slippers.
Reiki heard Ender’s voice in his head. [First up, mana control.] Reiki ate a large spoonful of vanilla ice cream, he thought. That’s it? You’ve watched my memories so you’re more than familiar with what I’m capable of. He heard Ender snicker in his head, he said. [Ah yes, a fully grown man who had been through wars killed countless people fighting against a baby bore who was two months old.] Reiki used his spoon to swirl the ice cream in the bowl, he thought. … That bore wasn’t two months old… It was easily twice my size and three times my weight in muscle.
He continued his train of thought. I’m still wondering how I even managed to eat all of it in one sitting… Ender let out a soft scoff, he said. [Do you even know how ridiculous that ‘fight’ looked to me? In my eyes, it was the same as watching a grown man fight a newborn over that five hundred yen coin.] Reiki ate more vanilla ice cream and thought. Thanks, that’s an image that’s going to stay in my head for the next six months or so.
Ender continued. [If that bore knew how to use its most simple skill charge. You would’ve been a meat patty.] Reiki nodded, he thought. Monsters are born with skills?! He ate more ice cream while Ender’s voice rang in his head. Ender said. [I’ve scanned everything on this planet and only a handful of monsters have skills innately.] Reiki was about to eat a spoonful of ice cream but stopped, he raised a brow and thought. Wait, you scanned everything?... Ender ignored Reiki’s thoughts and said. [First, you’re going to try to manipulate mana-.]
Ender suddenly went silent as the door opened revealing Ketsueki who was carrying a stack of three boxes of pizza. On top of the boxes of pizza were a few large paper containers that still had steam coming out of the small gaps, Ketsueki said. “Reiki.” She saw her younger brother sitting on the bed with his white indoor slippers still on, she continued. “What happened to magic training?” Reiki used the spoon he was holding to point of the bowl of ice cream, he said. “I didn’t want to end up with a bowl of ice cream soup.”
Ketsueki’s gaze wandered to the bowl, she said. “Yeah, I can agree with that.” She made her way to the bed and placed the pizza boxes along with the paper containers on top of it, Ketsueki continued. “These are for you.” She moved the large paper containers off the boxes of pizza and opened a box along with one of the large paper containers. Ketsueki gestured at the pepperoni pizza and one of the containers of gyoza, she said. “The pizza is from Namida and the gyoza is from Sachi.” Reiki stared at the large slices of pizza and thought. I don’t remember a place that sells pizzas this big.
Reiki moved his gaze to his older sister, he said. “I’ll be sure to thank them before they go back home. Make sure to take some-.” Before he could even finish Ketsueki’s arms blurred as she took the box of pizza she opened, she opened another box of pizza along with a container of gyoza. Ketsueki said. “In that case, I’ll accept your offer.” She took half of the gyoza in one of the containers and placed it into the container she opened earlier. Ketsueki gave her little brother a smile and said. “Thankfully, I came prepared.”
She snapped her fingers as the container that was overfilled with gyoza floated toward her, a plate appeared on top of the box of pizza she held with one hand. Reiki thought. Ah yes… I completely forgot about sister tax. Some of the pizza flew onto the plate as Ketsueki made her way to the door, she said. “Thanks, Reiki.” Reiki glanced at what was left and thought. She took exactly half of everything… Yeah, that sounds about right. He picked up one of the gyoza and threw the whole thing into his mouth, Reiki continued his train of thought. … Pretty good… This would go well with beer, I’m surprised Namida wasn’t the one who bought it.
He threw another piece of gyoza into his mouth while Ender’s voice rang in his head. Ender said. [Manipulate mana on your own and then I’ll take over your body to show on what to do.] Reiki placed his bowl of ice cream on his lap, he thought. Manipulating mana is easy, I’ve already done it so many times. He raised his right hand and tried to manipulate his mana… Half a minute passed as he couldn’t control mana, Reiki spoke to himself and said. “Lemme just… Concentrate…”
The mana around his hand started to slightly move as he tried to condense it, he thought. This… Is… Taking… A… Lot… More… Focus… Than… Last… Time… His breathing was getting more erratic as the mana around his hands was constantly expanding and shrinking by the millimeter. Ender’s voice rang in his head, he said. [Keep this up and you might pop a blood vessel in your brain.] The mana around Reiki’s hands couldn’t stabilize, he placed his spoon in the bowl of ice cream as he grabbed his left wrist with his right hand. Reiki thought. I just need to…
The mana around his hand continued to barely stretch and kept on convulsing from the improper control. Reiki heard Ender’s voice in his head, he said. [Just tell me when you want me to take over for a moment.] The mana around Reiki’s hand instantly thinned, he thought. I did it! It was followed by Ender’s voice, he said. [I would recommend stretching your hand as far as possible.] Reiki thought. Why-? The mana around his hand started violently trembling as he reflexively stretched his hand out and turned his upper body to look away.
[System: User has received 301 Damage.]
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Living Room
The girls were in the middle of having a conversation. Namida was holding onto a slice of pizza and said. “So, I managed to get my hands on some information about-.” She stopped as the three of them heard a muffled explosion from the second floor, they vanished from the living room and reappeared in Reiki’s room as they saw him sitting on the bed eating ice cream. Ketsueki had a worried look on her expression, she said. “Reiki, what happened?” Her little brother smiled at her and said. “A small mishap of an altered explosion spell.”
Sachi raised a brow at him, she said. “That explosion sounded too muffled to me.” Reiki let out a laugh, he placed the spoon in the bowl and showed his hands to them. Reiki said. “The explosion spell is mainly used for distraction more than anything, see? I still have all my fingers. No blood and no mess.” Ketsueki glanced at Namida as she slightly tilted down her glasses to look around the room, her sharp brown eyes gave the area a quick scan. She gave her friend a nod while Ketsueki tapped her foot on the ground a couple of times while staring at him.
Namida thought. That was supposed to be a distraction? It sounded like an incomplete spell… Ketsueki let out a sigh and said. “If you’re planning on casting that spell again do it outside, understood?” Reiki gave her a wry smile, he said. “Yes, Onee-chan.” She nodded at her little brother as the three girls made their way out of the room. The door closed as Reiki closed his eyes to listen to the sound of footsteps getting farther, when he faintly heard the conversation on the first floor Reiki let out a long sigh. He thought. Note to self… Don’t forcefully manipulate your own mana… You could lose a limb…