Chapter 27
After taking twice as long as the previous trip from Toulebolle, making slow detours along the way, the Child of Fire returned to Oldequia.
This time, there was no schedule to keep. Reasoning that since he had lived in Toulebolle, he might as well take the opportunity, he spent time strolling through the city streets and buying snacks from street stalls in Toulebolle specifically. He thought it would be sad if, when asked about his memories of Toulebolle, the only thing he remembered was the inside of the church.
His family welcomed the Child of Fire back with open arms, having returned unexpectedly early.
His younger brother was especially overjoyed, staying by the Child of Fire’s side constantly outside of study hours. He’s probably at that age where he wants to act like a cool older brother.
A new life in Oldequia began.
As if to make up for the lack of aristocratic education he had received until now, the Child of Fire was given time to learn manners and speech.
While he had learned basic manners as the Divine Child in Toulebolle, they were lax compared to the nobility, where a single misstep could be seized upon. His speech, while Wi-O had been somewhat strict, was also insufficient. Having been teased at the tea party after his debutante, the Child of Fire applied himself seriously to his lessons.
Then, one day, the Child of Fire lost control of his magic. It hadn’t happened since he was three years old and burned his sister.
I saw the entire incident unfold before my eyes, but I did not suppress the fire spirits.
“Luca! Ruje, please!”
‘Your brother is fine. So let him regain control himself.’
The younger brother in front of me is safe, protected by my barrier. Wi-O would be fine even without a barrier; the ice spirits were already on alert, ready to protect him.
To prevent the room’s contents from burning, Wi-O expanded his magic power, freezing the entire room.
“Luca, calm down. It’s alright. You must suppress your magic power yourself. Luca.”
“Uncle, please help Luca! Please, help Luca!”
Flames gathered around the Child of Fire, making it look as if he himself was burning. The Child of Fire was stunned by his own loss of control, standing there in a daze. Meanwhile, his magic power continued to pour out; he might exhaust himself before he could regain control.
Then, his sister-in-law, having heard the commotion, rushed into the room.
“Luca!”
“Sister-in-law!”
The sister-in-law reached out towards the Child of Fire, touched the flames, and burned the tips of her fingers. Even so, as she continued to reach for him, the flames vanished.
“Luca, your burns? Are you alright?”
“Mother… your hand…”
“Luca, are you okay? You’re not burned?”
“Sister-in-law, the caster doesn’t get burned. More importantly, let’s treat your hand.”
“Thank goodness. So you’re not burned. Thank goodness…”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Held tightly by his sister-in-law, the Child of Fire wept and apologized.
As Wi-O dispelled the ice in the room, the younger brother, having regained his senses, also apologized to the Child of Fire. The incident had started when the younger brother, seeing the pendant matching the Water Child’s, had teased him about it. The younger brother probably didn’t like that the Child of Fire seemed closer to the Water Child than to him.
After a while, the Child of Fire fell asleep as if he had lost consciousness. His physical stamina couldn’t keep up with the massive expenditure of magic power.
The burn on the sister-in-law’s hand healed cleanly without a scar after a potion brought by a maid was applied. In reality, I healed it in tandem with the potion. Since the burn was minor, unlike with his sister, she would probably believe the potion alone healed it.
In the evening, his older brother, who had rushed home after hearing the news, confronted me.
“Did you let him lose control on purpose?!”
‘No. I just didn’t stop it. I ensured the safety of everyone present. However, I didn’t expect Sister-in-law to reach out like that, so for that, I’m sorry.’
“Adilos, calm down. It’s wrong to blame Ruje.”
“But!”
I never thought she would reach out, so she passed through the barrier I had erected, touched the flames, and got burned.
I feel sorry for that, but I don’t really understand why the older brother is so angry.
‘What are you angry about?’
“Ruje, Big Brother is just upset. Please forgive him.”
‘That’s not it. I have no intention of stopping his outbursts in the future either.’
Huh, even Wi-O looks surprised. There seems to be a difference in perception here.
The Child of Fire said he was afraid of losing control and burning someone. That’s why I protected the younger brother but didn’t stop the outburst itself.
Letting the sister-in-law get burned was my mistake, and I won’t let it happen again, but I have no intention of stopping the outbursts themselves.
It’s practically impossible for me to keep suppressing the Child of Fire’s outbursts forever. If I did, Wi-O would never be able to leave his side. Wi-O would have to stay at school the entire time the Child of Fire is there. Therefore, even if he has an outburst, he needs to learn to control it so it doesn’t harm those around him. If he never has an outburst, he can’t practice how to deal with one.
“But that means the child will get hurt!”
“Ruje, can’t you make this place like the facility in Toulebolle?”
‘I can.’
“Then—”
‘I can, but if we make it so he can’t have outbursts here, what about school? Will we do the same for the school? If so, then no one will be able to use attribute magic there. And what about after that? What about the future?’
If that is Wi-O’s wish, I will simply grant it.
But you all need to think carefully if that’s truly for the best.
If we make this place like Toulebolle, how do we explain it to the Child of Fire, who doesn’t know my true identity? If we suppress him without explanation, telling him not to leave, the Child of Fire will grow distrustful. That’s probably not what you all want, is it?
I know you’re probably too upset to be calm right now, so we can discuss and decide what to do once everyone has settled down.
