After sorting trough most of the items, Anna, Alice and the others help me bring them to my room. There are quite a lot, and some of the material are even put into the study and workshop to stay. Especially the metals and magical-liquids, as Uncle Black says that them being in my room is too dangerous.

I do heed his warning and place everything at their respective location, but I do write my name on a paper nearby, writing down what's mine and that it can only be taken with my permission.

Anyway, after everything is stored, the whole group returns to the lobby, where currently the royal family is resting while talking and drinking tea. I don't know how they manage to drink already when we had lunch not long ago, but seeing the sun, it appears I was busy unpacking presents for longer than expected.

With the sun already long having past the highest point, I urge Uncle Black outside, as I really want to test the new weapons I got. Sadly, Uncle Black can't neglect his guests, so I take Cyan with me instead.

It doesn't take long until we arrive in the garden again, still littered with the thrown up earth that was created while we played around. Well, trying to make a jump-start with earth-magic may have been a mistake, but it was a fun one. Cyan actually looked at us funny when he saw the remains of our games, but seeing everyone's 'innocent' smiling expression, he drops it easily.

With me, both Anna and Alice, as well as Elrion and Saria come along. In the middle of the field, both me and Cyan face each other, while the others take some distance. While Cyan uses the reinforced training sword and shield, I pick up the staff given to me by Scyrra, connecting it and swinging it around a few times. Due to the staffs height, it will be hard to make attacks with over-head swings due to my size, but it should work out.

The staff itself is shining in a mat silver color while golden and black lines run along it's body from the middle-piece onto the two ends. The lines are thicker and also slightly different on the upper part, but that is because the hidden magic-crystal is installed there.

Uncle Black said that the crystal is within the staff, but surrounded by a spatial field directly around it, allowing me to swing the staff without having to worry about damaging it. The staff can also grow bigger, with it's smallest size being 1.5 meters and the biggest being 2.5 meters in length.

Uncle Black also told me that the staff has various features I wasn't explained yet, but I am sure I will find out over time.

Readying my stance, I look at Cyan in front of me, standing at a ten meter distance. His stance is with his shield raised and the sword ready behind it, a more defensive stance, focused on counterattacks.

Honestly, it has been long since I had a match with my older brother, but I guess we will see how far both of us grew in the last months.

With my concentration rising, I then kick the ground and rush towards Cyan, let the battle begin!

---POV-Change: Anna---

Seeing Arin ready his staff, I begin to worry. While playing I realized that Arin by now has completely healed legs, no, even stronger ones than myself. But I can't help and worry about him, seeing as he weighs the staff in his hand like it is natural.

Maybe because I can no longer protect him like I did before, maybe because of that?

While asking stupid questions within my mind, I see Arin prepare himself while taking a stance with his staff. The stance has a certain elegance to it, showing that it isn't the first time he wields a staff, but seeing this I nearly become terrified. I don't want Arin to fight, but before I could say anything, Arin' eyes become unnaturally sharp and he suddenly kicks the ground as he runs towards Cyan, who by now prepared himself with his sword and shield.

If I didn't misunderstand Arin, then Cyan is his contract-partner, but he treats him more like family, as seen before, but I am unsure... Is it really alright?

While my mind goes adrift again, I suddenly feel a hand touching my shoulder, revealing Alice as she smiles at me.

“You worry too much, calm down.” (Alice)

Saying so with a motherly smile, Alice looks me in the eye, probably trying to tell me something. But, I can only clutch the hem of my shirt and keep watching.

Meanwhile, Arin already long reached Cyan and released a flurry of attacks. If I am not wrong, then they aren't using magic for this round, but still... Maybe Alice is right, I worry to much, but I can't have my little brother become hurt...

“Peng!”

Snapping back to reality, I see as Cyan blocks an sweep-attack coming from his right, before slightly redirecting the shield and causing the staff to slide off. He then takes a step forward and attacks with his sword, stabbing towards Arin. Arin on the other hand quickly realizes the danger, and instead of blocking, retreats a step, escaping from the attacks range.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

But seeing this scene play out in a matter of moments, I begin to question my motives. Can I really protect him? Or is it him in the end protecting me?

Still asking such questions, my eyes are glued on Arin's body as he runs around Cyan to attack from behind, at a speed I have trouble following.

But to my surprise, Cyan calmly turns his body, using his sword to deflect the first blow before parrying with his shield. Arin also attacks, but after several exchanges, he has to take distance once again. By then, I believe Cyan to have practically won because Arin can't break through his defense, but then I could see Arin smile, while sweat started to form on Cyan's forehead.

“So, Arin didn't use his all, only attacking to exhaust Cyan as he has heavier weapons. Quite a good tactic, Cyan should learn to cope with this. Minimal movement in order to preserve stamina, that should be a good lesson to him.” (Elrion)

The one who spoke seems to be the mansions butler, who goes by the name of Elrion. He has a stout build while being nearly two meters tall, while also having a light green tail which shares the color with his hair and horns. His aura is menacing yet calm, like the sea before a storm. A much as I heard about the mansions personal from Arin, the butler seems to be a former commander of the Dragon-Guard, something like the army of the dragons living here.

He is also the teacher for Cyan as much as I could understand, so maybe he is here to evaluate their growth?

Anyway, in that moment, Arin once more charges, but this time, a lot faster. His speed is quicker than anything else I have ever seen, making both me and Alice become astonished. Elrion and Saria can seemingly still follow the movements, but even they are astonished by the speed Arin runs at. I mean, is something like that even humanly possible without magic?

While contemplating the situation, I watch as Arin and Cyan clash with each other, but this time at a speed where I can no longer recognize what they exactly do.

Arin seems to focus more on putting pressure on Cyan's arm holding onto the shield by continuously attacking it, but I can't seem to notice much more. It didn't take long, but after only about two minutes, I could see both Arin and Cyan coming to a stop, with Arin holding his staff to Cyan's throat, and him holding his sword right in front of Arin's chest.

There is a strange silence for several seconds, before both Arin and Cyan retract their weapons and begin laughing. Cyan's laughter is rather forced, as he seems to still have problems steadying his breathing, but Arin only giggles like he was successful with a prank.

It was then that Saria, the maid, suddenly showed up with a tray with two glasses of water on it. When did she even have the time to get them?

Slightly confused about when she had left to get them, she offers both Arin and Cyan a glass each, who then quickly drain it before breathing out once.

Both Arin and Cyan stay there for a while, resting and looking at each other with smiles on their faces. It was then that I return to reality and step towards Arin, asking him if he is alright. Checking his body, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong, aside from the bit of sweat he had built up.

Well, as soon as I finished checking, I ended up forcing him on my lap while stroking his hair, wanting my repayment for making me worry about him. But Arin doesn't seem to mind, as he closely inspects his new staff, probably trying to ascertain what he learned in the previous fight.

Well, slightly pouting, I just begin making small braids in his, by now nearly shoulder length, hair. Actually, couldn't I make him a new hair-style... and maybe dress him up...?!

Remembering what I did sometimes with him back in the orphanage, I suddenly feel motivation to try it out. It has been long since I last dressed him up in something. Back in the orphanage, I would sometimes use my free time to try various clothes and costumes on Arin when he was still in his wheelchair. He wouldn't complain, and sometimes even draw pictures of him as the being I dressed him up as. I dressed him up as a cop, pirate, fireman and many more, I even stuffed him into one of those cute bear-suits / pajama thingies, causing the word adorable to be nearly an understatement. One time I even tried to make him wear a dress, but he strongly refused, which was a shame...

I even remember a drawing he once made of himself as a mighty pirate, even if he looked too cute to be seen as a bloodthirsty pirate at that. Anyway, with those ideas suddenly coming back, I suddenly feel the need to try and dress Arin up once again...

Fufufu, I wonder, what would be a good costume...?!?

---POV-Change: Arin---

After the duel, both me and Cyan began laughing. It was fun, even ending in a draw. Saria also brought two glasses of water, allowing both me and Cyan to wet our throats. We then started to exchange about the result, telling each other what we learned, about ourselves and the other.

It seems that even though I am fast, my attacks lack strength behind them, causing impacts to cause barely any damage. Meanwhile, Cyan is making too much movements, causing him to get tired easily. He is a defender, meaning he should be able to gain great results with barely any effort.

Still, after the exchange, we both start to smile, happy about our little bout. Is this the feeling when brothers acknowledge each other? I don't understand it, but I like this feeling.

Anyway, at that moment, Anna runs towards me, checking if my body is alright. She seems to have been worried, so when I tell her that I am fine and she worries too much, she sat down and pulled me onto her lap. She begun pouting and holding onto me while playing with my hair.

Anyway, after she begun playing around with my hair, is start checking some details I understand about the staff.

There are some interesting magic-channels imbued into the staff, but I don't understand what they do yet.

Just as I am about to channel some of my mana into it...

Ouch! Anna accidentally ripped a few hairs out. It isn't that bad, so I only flinched a little, but it still hurts. It is then that I suddenly feel a chill run down my back. Looking behind, I could see Anna making a weird face while staring at me, making me uncomfortable.

“Uhm, Anna?” (Arin)

Suddenly opening her eyes wide as though she just awoke from a nightmare, she realizes that I am staring at her with cautions eyes. Thus, making a lightly troubled smile, she opens her mouth...

“Hmm, Don't worry Arin, I was only remembering the times where me and the others dressed you up, and I kind of miss those times.” (Anna)

Looking away, I understand what she means. Back in the orphanage, being dressed up by the girls was kind of one of the things I did when nothing was going on, or I had too much free time. Sometimes they would just paint my face or give me simple costumes, and I had fun as well, as normally I couldn't leave my wheel-chair often.

Especially that large Bear costume with only a hoodie with ears on it, Maria and the others loved it, saying stuff like cute and adorable to me. I was embarrassed back then being praised like that, but I enjoyed it. But all that came to an abrupt end when the girls went too far and tried to make me a girl, which I definitely didn't want. I have nothing against being dressed up, but now I can move freely, and so have more things I could pass my time with... so I am not sure If I really want to be dressed up again...

Making up my mind, I look back at Anna and state my demand.

“No girly things!” (Arin)

Saying so with a strict tone, I could see Anna frown for a second before she nodded and smiled. I am not sure what she is thinking about, but seeing her calm smile, I also smile.

Finishing up, I then stand up to return to the mansion, until Saria calls out from behind.

“Young master, nice little braids you have. Also, did I hear dress up?” (Saria)

The moment I heard this, my whole body froze.

I have a feeling that this is going to be a long day...