Virelle stood quietly in her room, her fingers gently holding the necklace her husband had once given her.
She had parted with it a few days ago—offering it to the priest who came to save her son's life.
Back then, she'd smiled and acted strong, pretending it didn't matter. But inside, her heart had shattered.
It wasn't just a necklace. It was a symbol of her husband's love—a reminder of the effort and care he poured into their relationship.
He had worked himself to the bone, taking on endless shifts, just to afford something special for her. All she ever said she wanted was something simple, even a necklace made from flower petals. But he had insisted on something better—something worthy of her beauty.
To her, the necklace held a meaning far greater than its price. So when she gave it away, it felt like giving away a part of her heart.
Still, nothing mattered more than Arthur's life at that moment. She let it go, never expecting to see it again.
And yet—here it was.
In her hands once more.
Her son had brought it back.
"Arthur really takes after you," Aston said with a soft laugh, placing his hand gently on her shoulder. "At that age, I was only worried about games and fun."
Virelle leaned into him, her eyes shimmering with quiet tears. "He's more than we deserve, Aston. The way he cares for us… the maturity he carries… I don't think he takes after either of us."
Aston smiled warmly, his gaze drifting outside to where their sons were training. "No matter how he grows up or what great things he does, he'll always be our child. That will never change."
…
Outside, Kevin bent forward, catching his breath, his hands resting on his knees. Sweat dripped from his face as he struggled to stay steady.
Arthur stood nearby with his arms crossed, watching him closely, his expression unreadable.
He felt a pang of disappointment. Kevin's control over mana was still too rough, too raw. Arthur knew it wasn't fair—Kevin was new to this, while he himself had lived a full life as a warrior before being reborn.
But still… this was the boy chosen by Lunara. The one who had seen the future of this world.
'Hey, Lily… are you sure he's the one?'
[There is no doubt, sir. Just like me, another angel under Goddess Lunara's command is guiding him.]
Arthur sighed through his nose. He had to stop doubting his brother.
"You're doing it wrong," he said, snapping Kevin out of his focus.
Kevin looked up from his system screen, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Doing what wrong?"
"You're treating mana like some kind of tool—something outside yourself. But it's not. It's part of you. Like blood. It moves with your will. Just like your heart beats harder when you run, your mana core responds when you use it with purpose."
Kevin frowned, still trying to understand. "But I am using it, aren't I?"
"You're wasting it," Arthur replied. "Throwing mana around doesn't make your core stronger. That's like spilling water from a bottle and expecting it to refill. It won't."
He took a step closer. "You have to show control. Intent. Even if it's just forming a small orb, shaping it, letting it go—do it again and again. When your core sees you're serious, that's when it starts to grow stronger. Slowly. Naturally."
Kevin gave a tired smirk. "'Core sees'? What, does it have eyes or something?"
Arthur turned away, clearly not amused.
Kevin quickly grabbed his ankle, clutching it like a lifeline. "Wait! Don't leave! I was just joking!"
Arthur sighed. "Then stop mocking what I say. If you want me to teach you, take it seriously."
Kevin scrambled up. "Alright, alright. But you gotta admit—imagining a mana core with eyes is kinda—SORRY!" He dove again, clinging to Arthur's leg as he tried to walk off.
That night, they trained for hours under the moonlight.
Arthur didn't try to push advanced techniques. He only focused on helping Kevin build control—because that was the foundation of all magic. From sharpening your senses to strengthening your body, control was everything.
Mana was powerful. But if mishandled, it could turn against the user in the worst ways.
As gentle as it could be, it was also merciless to those who disrespected it.
"Come back now! It's almost midnight!" Virelle called from the door. Despite their abilities, she still saw them as children—her children—who needed sleep and warmth.
"Ready to go?" Kevin asked, breathing hard. His face was pale, his shirt soaked in sweat, but there was a fire in his eyes—he wasn't giving up.
Arthur nodded, and together they headed back into the house.
And just like that, with each night of effort and sweat, three years passed in the blink of an eye.
*********
A/N:- Thanks for reading. Here comes a time skip. Arthur would be ten years old now, and we would meet new characters, some canon and some not.