Under the gentle morning sun and calming breeze.....
An eleven-year-old boy sat in a lotus position in the country yard. He looked relaxed, yet not a single part of his body was moving. If not for the gentle rise and fall of his chest, anyone seeing him would have mistaken him for a statue.
His chest expanded slightly, stayed like that for a moment, and then slowly sank again. As it sank, a mist-like dense air escaped from his nostrils and mouth, swirling softly before fading into the air.
The cycle repeated. He was fully absorbed in his practice.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from inside the house.
"Derek, honey! How long are you going to train like that? Breakfast is ready! Freshen up already!"
And the boy sitting outside in a perfect lotus position was none other than Derek.
Ten full years had passed since Rudeous left.
No explanation. No letter.
At first, Martha had completely broken down. Newest update provided by novel-fire.ɴet
Tears, sleepless nights, endless sobs. She went through it all.
Arthur and Daisy were no better. Despair filled their house, which felt empty without Rudeous.
They searched everywhere, asked anyone who might have known, and traveled to different places.
But it was like Rudeous never even existed in the first place.
Only one person knew the truth.
Derek. The secret was like a weight he carried silently, shaping his determination in ways unseen by others. Sometimes, in the quiet moments of his practice, his eyes would flicker with an emotion only he understood, hinting at the burden of his knowledge.
After Rudeous disappeared, life hit them hard.
There was no money. No support. No protection. Oliver still helped many times whenever he could.
However, it’s not as if they could rely on others for everything for the rest of their lives. So Martha had to step up, whether she wanted to or not.
She was only a low-tier mage with an earth attribute.
No powerful spells. No flashy titles.
But still, she worked hard, day after day, using her magic to help other families, repairing walls, and building stuff.
Whatever she earned wasn’t much, but it was enough to survive.
But when Daisy’s talent started to flourish under Florence, things got a little better.
She trained hard and eventually began helping others as a healer.
She still trained under Florence, but now she also treated people.
That took a big load off Martha’s shoulders.
And then came the biggest relief.
Two years ago, Arthur finished his training at the Arcadia Hunter Academy.
Now he was officially a D-class Auran.
Every month, he sends money home without fail.
It was more than enough to keep the house running.
Enough to make sure Martha didn’t have to work for others anymore.
He had grown up a lot. He had continued his training every day and night.
Hearing Martha’s voice, Derek slowly opened his eyes. "Coming, mother." He shouted. With that, he got up and went inside the home. After that, he went to take a shower and came out quickly.
Martha had already set the table for breakfast. The warm aroma of freshly cooked food drifted through the air, filling the small house with a sense of comfort.
Just then, the door to one of the rooms creaked open and Daisy stepped out.
She was twenty-one now.
She was tall and graceful, moving with quiet confidence. Her long black hair fell down her back, making her green eyes stand out. Even after all they had been through, her eyes still had a spark.
She still looked as caring and lively as she did in the past...
Just more mature now.
A woman who had learned to smile through hardship.
She pulled out a chair and sat down.
Derek leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.
"Good morning, sister," he said with a soft smile as he pulled his own chair next to hers.
Daisy smiled back, dimples forming on her cheeks. "Good morning, little one." She said in a sweet voice.
Just then, Martha emerged from the kitchen with the last dish in hand and joined them at the table as well.
The three of them began to eat together.
Between bites, Daisy suddenly spoke up.
"So, Mother... when are we going to the city? Derek’s entrance exam at Arcadia Hunter Academy is next week, right?"
Martha nodded as she chewed, then swallowed before answering. "Arthur sent a letter. He said he’ll come pick us up the day after tomorrow."
She paused, placing her spoon down, and then looked toward Derek.
"Derek, honey... are you sure you want to take the Academy test now? You’re only a cultivator. The test is tough. Even mages usually wait until they’re at least twelve before attempting it." She asked in a soft voice. "But you want to take the test now, why?"
Derek looked up. "Yup," he said, casually popping a piece of bread into his mouth.
Then he smiled. "Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll pass for sure."
Daisy placed a hand on Derek’s shoulder and looked at Martha with a grin.
"Yes, Mother. I think Derek is going to wipe the floor with every single opponent out there. And even if by some miracle, he fails, there’s always next year."
Martha let out a soft laugh, shaking her head with a sigh.
Her daughter’s overflowing confidence in Derek never failed to amuse her.
Derek, too, smiled awkwardly. Because he could already tell what their mother was thinking.
Martha then turned to Daisy.
"And how’s your training going with Miss Elowen, sweety?" she asked gently.
Daisy let out a tired breath, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "It’s going well... but honestly, it feels like there’s no end to learning with her. The more I learn, the more it feels like I’ve only just touched the surface." Her voice carried a note of defeat, but also admiration.
Martha chuckled softly. "Well, that’s Florence Elowen for you. Even if she lived in the cities, her reputation wouldn’t be any less. Probably even higher."
"True," Daisy nodded.
Then, almost as if a thought had just struck her, she looked up and said, "Why don’t we all go visit her before we leave for the city? It’s been ages since you last saw her, Mother. Not since we went for my test to be her apprentice."
Hearing that, Derek looked up from his plate, still chewing quietly. And for a brief moment...
A memory flashed through his mind.