3rd Pov
This morning, Dawn had worried everyone by arriving late and injured at breakfast.
He was quickly taken to the doctor for a checkup and ended up in his bed with the order of staying there until restriction lifted.
So now he was having a difficult talk with his mother...he had to reveal at least some of the truth to not get suspected for sus activity.
Anyway, after long hours, he was finally left alone or so he wished.
Dawn : Can't you let me rest...i'm not in the mood.
Sola : How did you know I was there ?
Suddenly appearing from behind the room, Sola made her majestic entrance.
Dawn : Well, it was just a guess...(Did she just use Illusion magic?)
This gave him some flashback of last night but he covered it well with his poker face.
Though he couldn't help but notice how fast Sola had progressed in a few days...and it seems she got the gist of magic manipulation.
Dawn : Your control over magicule has improved...
Sola : I know right ! I followed some lessons with your mother, she is quite a mage you know !
Dawn : My mom ? (I didn't know that...i guess the famous genius blood of the Arceid run in her vein too.)
He smiled slightly proud of his own mother.
Sola : Anyway, you went to the forest alone ! Why not call me !
Dawn : You're too slow.
Sola : Ugh...
Sola took an imaginary hit and held her chest as if an arrow just pierced it.
Sola : So mean...well at least I didn't get scolded.
Dawn : Don't remind me that...
From the fight to death last night, to his hellish training with Chloe...Dawn still concluded that his mother's scolding was worse.
She was like a true demon, her kind nature totally gone...
Dawn : Brr, I hope I never get into her scolding again.
Sola : Pffhahaha !
Dawn : Tch.
Sola : Sorry sorry, but still how did you get out of this ? And your statue has changed.
Suddenly switching to a serious tone, Sola was genuinely curious...right now she could see a few differences in Dawn's stats window.
But those new things are like his second unique skill, blurred and impossible to see through.
Dawn : Well, it's for me to know and you to find out.
Sola : ...you're annoying.
Dawn : If you say so.
The atmosphere dropped down to a amical one, as they discussed a little Sola went on her way after.
She still has a few things to take care of for the academy.
As for Dawn, he rested for a short while before getting up...he wasn't very tired but his wrist hurt a lot...it was broken and should take a few weeks to repair.
But with healing magic, it was already in a normal state and of use...just Dawn wasn't used and his child body was reacting badly.
Dawn : Ahh...I really need to grow up...
As a child, there was a limit of what he could do...and his physical restraint were one of those limits.
Dawn : I should force on my wrist right now...
Sighing, he decided to let go of today's training and just went back to bed, by tomorrow he should be fine going out again.
Though, he doubts he will be allowed outside the mansion...this didn't mean he couldn't train though.
The next day, Dawn got up early in the morning and went toward the back of the mansion where a few maids were doing the laundry.
Dawn Pov
The fight two days ago had left more trauma on my mind than I thought...but it also helped me think and question myself.
I guess inside, I was never truly ready to take another life...another human life.
I thought I would be able to support it but the moment I finally did it, I felt miserable and disgusted.
This has no change, I can't live and survive here without removing this fear of killing.
That's why, I decided to correct this now...killing will be the foundation of all my future actions.
Waiting further would just lead me to more moments of hesitation and traumatism.
Dawn : I would like you to teach me assassin art.
Interrupting one of the maids who was working, the brown haired servant froze on the spot before turning to me.
Felpheona, a maid that for as long as I remember worked under mother...since I grew stronger I now can feel and see things I couldn't before.
Felpheona is strong...if she was the one taking care of the slave trader 2 days ago, they wouldn't have lived past 3 minutes after the start.
I haven't seen the royal knight, but this maid in front of me is at least at their level.
Felpheona : Excuse me young lord ?
She was trying to deny the reality, the reality that I, a 7 years old kid, managed to see through her disguise.
Dawn : Don't act like a fool, I already know you are one of those assassin maids, right.
I had learned about this term only a few weeks ago when Sola mentioned it...the assassin maid is a unit serving the king directly.
They are overtrained individuals who excel in assassin art, the way to kill swiftly...in a direct fight they aren't as efficient as the knight, in a distant fight they can't match the mage.
But if given a killing mission or protection mission, they are the best.
Felpheona : I see...it seems I had underestimated the blood of the Arceid, I guess the young lord is one of those geniuses, huh.
You're wrong, I only ever had suspicion since your magicule count was bigger than the other...it was only because of Sola and the intels she gave me that I'm now standing in front of you.
But that's not something you need to know.
Felpheona : Why would the young lord want to learn this ?
Her tone was passive aggressive, if my answer doesn't satisfy her she might consider eliminating me.
Dawn : I...in the noble world killing is normal, I want to prepare myself for that.
Felpheona : How wise...what would lady Lara think of that ?
She is trying to dissuade me now...at least it doesn't seem she is going to jump at me for now.
Dawn : Mother doesn't need to know, I'm doing this for myself not her.
Felpheona : You surely are interesting, to think a kid would think like that, anyway it's no i don't intend to do more than my mission suggests.
Dawn : I see...
Sadly for her, she can't refuse...i looked down letting my bang cover my eyes, before looking back at her.
A cold shine was released from my eyes.
Dawn : It would be a big problem for you if i were to reveal your identity to everyone, right.
And as expected, she narrowed her eyes...the previous atmosphere totally switching a tense one.
Her left hand was rigid ready to attack.
Dawn : Don't even think about killing me.
Felpheona : Why not ?
Dawn : I had already Sola known that I went to meet you, along that dozen of letters hidden in my room stating that you killed me, if I died it would just lead to your doom.
Felpheona : You think I will fall for that ? I just have to eliminate the young lady Sola and remove all the letters.
Dawn : But you won't know for sure if all of them are gone, and if unfortunately one was left..you will get discovered and you know how an assassin maid who had failed her mission ends up, right.
Smirking, Felpheona finally realized...she was fully trapped in my web, her fate was residing in my hand and her only escape would be to agree to my condition.
Through i couldn't know how she would react so this is also part bluff.
Felpheona : Y-you...
Dawn : Just train me in assassin art and I won't be a hindrance for you.
Her mission is surely to protect my mother, the current head of the Arceid household who held a good relationship with the royalty of our kingdom.
Felpheona : Ahh...i really got tricked by a kid, sure young lord i'll comply with your request.
Finally abandoning, she lifted her hand to the sky and sighed...finally dropping the act I too sighed.
But this wasn't for long as suddenly my instinct screamed and i got out of a sudden steel hard hand, Felpheona just tried to stab through my neck with her hand...
Damn, she is seriously dangerous...her entire arm is like a sword.
Felpheona : Heh, you dodged that, impressive !
Smirking, she softened her arm and clapped her hand.
Felpheona : Fine, you win this, I can see a lot of potential in you.
Dawn : You say that but I surely would have died just there if i didn't react in time.
Felpheona : The path of an assassin is ruthless, if you would have died from that then it means you just weren't suited for that...before take it as your first lesson from me, never let your guard down.
Sweet dropped from my forehead as I nodded, we then concluded that we would train everyday after midnight in the garden of the mansion.
A place far away enough to not be heard by the sleeping resident.
3rd Pov
Months passed since then, Dawn could see his body getting stronger and stronger everyday.
It wasn't particularly in strength or raw speed but more centered toward agility, he had also seen one of the main abilities of an assassin.
The degraded version of shadow movement, a sort of burst step that gives the illusion of moving along a shadow.
But Dawn was convinced he could actually learn shadow movement with burst steps at its base.
The usage of burst steps was limited for a child as the bigger your body is, the larger your step becomes.
For that, the efficiency he could apply on burst step was limited.
Anyway, for now Dawn was getting ready to say goodbye to Sola as she will finally leave for the academy.
He had to dress properly for the reason that the whole main family was there to tell her goodbye...including Dawn's brothers and sister in law.
Felpheona : Are you ready young lord ? The viscount Lavane and his family had arrived.
Dawn : I see, make sure to watch them...
Felpheona : Very well.
As time went on, Felpheona started to see Dawn as a true student, at first she went rough on him so he could abandon quickly.
But he never backed down and went on with the training, even if it meant pain and suffering.
At the end, he gained both her respect and sympathy...Felpheona was in a way accepting him as a worthy master.
Something that only Lara had achieved in Felpheona's 28 years of assassin maid career.
Felpheona : By the way, young lord, I had heard that a dark elf that could read your future was in town.
Dawn : Huh ? Why mention that so suddenly ?
Felpheona : Well my guts just tell me you are into this kind of thing.
Smirking, Dawn sighed before thinking about what she said...a dark elf that could read your future.
Dawn : (Is it perhaps the ancestor of that dark elf that could see your destined one?)
His interest was now picked but this had to wait, now his next destination was the main hall where a lot of people were waiting.
And none of them released a trustworthy presence...
Dawn Pov
Reaching the hall, I grunted as before I could even enter the room that a group of nobles walked toward me...
3 males and one female...I immediately recognized them, not because I had met them before but because they were the exact image of my father.
The oldest son Luc Lavane, the oldest daughter Nisoi Lavane and a pair of twins Ray and Lay...they were talking loudly while mocking this mansion's state.
Luc : Pfffhahaha ! Imagine living in such a crappy place !
Nisoi : Yeah, I can't imagine that but trash deserves nothing more.
Ray : Nee-sama is right !
Lay : Yaa ! They can't even afford personal servants for us !
The oldest son and daughter already finished their school life, being respectively 18 and 17 while the twins are 14.
They soon noticed me and stopped dead on their track...
Heh, despite being older they are weak...so weak that even without magicule i would defeat them...I guess they do follow their father's example.
Ending fat like a pig enjoying the luxury of nobility while neglecting what's truly important.
Luc ; Well well, if it isn't that lesser younger.
Flashing his cocky smile, he approached me...the other followed his lead.
Dawn : It's nice to finally meet.
Biting my lips, I decided to lay low for now...bowing my head slightly, my eyes showed pure emptiness.
Nisoi : At least you know your place but that's not enough !
Placing her hand on my shoulder, she suddenly started to apply pressure along that some sort of gravity spell...though it was totally incomplete and weak.
Her magicule capacity is that of a child...also her control over it is just ridiculous for a graduated student from the kingdom's best academy.
At least I know, she passed through corruption...also gravity magic ? Do they teach that to anyone ? No, gravity magic is not something they should teach to the public...maybe a magic passed down on the family ?
Anyway, unfortunately for her this kind of power doesn't work on me...you'll need more than that.
Nisoi : What ?!
Standing my ground, I didn't flinch as I felt some light weight on me...I was still looking down, a smirk forming on my lips.
I decided to scare them a little....
Dawn : (You can do it Snowie.)
I thought and unleashing the beast, a cold aura forming around my body...the siblings's face morphed into terror as they felt first hand a small portion of Snowie's death cold magicule.
Paralyzed in fear, they didn't dare move or talk...their eyes locked on an invisible figure behind me...rather than a figure it was the physical materialization of Snowie's aura.
A sort of dragon made with aurora mist, the form was surely terrifying but I didn't care anymore...I wanted to lay low but continued like that.
These trash would just continue to step on me, I would rather let them know how dangerous I am now than later.
Dawn : I see, if my half-sister says so next time I will make sure to show proper respect.
Looking up, I stared into her brown eyes...she was shaking in cold as I walked past her, a never leaving smirk. I was sure she wouldn't show her face to me on her own will anymore.
Dawn : (Thanks Snowie, you were great.)
Snowie : (Anything for master.)
3rd Pov
30 minutes later, everyone that needed to be present were in the hall.
Sola was frowning, forced to talk with her family while the Arceid just stayed on the side...though Sola couldn't help but notice the strange behavior of her siblings.
They were all looking down, their faces blue of fear...Sola glanced at Dawn who just kept a poker face but for her, she immediately understood that he did something to them.
Sola : (Well i hope they are less annoying now...)
Finally done with that and under the request of his first daughter, the viscount departed...this just showed everyone that despite being a genius, Sola wasn't his favorite.
He was more proud of his first children who took more after him...some could say he was jealous of his own daughter's talent.
Now gone, Sola sighed in relief and approached the one who took her in for the past few months.
Sola : I would like to thank you too, Lara-san, you not only let me stay here but also taught me magic, I will forever be grateful.
Lara : You don't have to worry about that, it was a pleasure for me too.
Shaking hands, Dawn smiled on the side...the scene was like a teacher and student having their goodbye.
But more than that, Dawn somehow knew that the two saw each other more as a daughter and mother.
Sola : Please take care of yourself, aunty.
Lara : I will.
Smiling, they gave some last round of goodbye before Sola approached Dawn.
Sola : Anyway, I guess this is where we parted.
Dawn : It's only temporary.
Sola : I know, by the way, promise me we'll go on an adventure far away from this place one day.
Dawn : Are you that disgusted with your family ?
Sola : Ugh...being a noble is good money wise but the rest is infuriating if you're not in a good family.
Dawn chuckled but could understand, they were whispering so no one heard them.
Dawn : Sure, we'll go on an adventure one day.
Sola : Then everything is good !
Finally done, Sola backed away and grabbed her bag...some servants followed her taking care of her remaining luggage.
Sola : I'll go now !
Waving her hand, Sola left without looking back...hiding her tears she in reality didn't want to leave.
The Arceid family wasn't the richest or the most productive nobility of the kingdom yet they had this kind of warmth she liked.
A sort of whole different world compared to the other noble house...something Sola didn't experience for years...
She felt more alive in a few months than the whole first 10 years of her life.
Now inside a carriage, Sola was staring at the moving background through the window...her right hand tightly squeezing the necklace she had received.
She knew this was just the start of her adventure toward her goal.