TYND 55

“The rumours were real. His Grace really does dote on Lord Rothy, just like everyone says.”

“But is this acceptable? When Lord Rothy was born, His Grace was sixteen. That’s fucking criminal.” 

Theon almost tightened his grip on Rothy’s hand and when Rothy cocked his head and looked up at him, he quickly pulled Rothy into his arms. 

Behind them, Zey could be heard grumbling, 

“Lord Rothy has a pair of legs, you know…” 

But Theon ignored her. 

“Yeah, it’s pretty fucked. When you see him in person, Lord Rothy looked way too young to be sixteen. But what can we do? This is Lord Yolone’s will.” 

“You’ve got a point there.”

“Exactly, you idiot. Besides, what does age even mean to an Aura Master anyway?”

“Hey, I think he sees him like a son. He took him as his consort because of that last will thing, but if you look at it, it’s more like a godfather-godson thing.”

“Yeah, makes sense since Lord Rothy’s so small and pretty… How the hell is he sixteen? My younger brother’s sixteen, and even if he shaves in the morning, his face’s covered in stubble by afternoon. He’s like a fucking ape. You know those hairy fiends called Haderterl? That’s exactly what he’s like.”

“Maybe he’s actually not sixteen? Maybe they just say he’s sixteen because he couldn’t marry if he was any younger than that.”

“Come to think of it, they haven’t had a wedding, yeah? When do you think that’s happening?”

“Please let it be during the holidays. I really want to go.”

“What am I going to wear though? My mother won’t buy me new clothes ‘cause she says I’m still growing.”

“Hey, same here. She always gets me oversized stuff. Never anything that actually fits.”

Their conversation drifted from one topic to another, eventually concluding that the pocket money their parents gave them was too little and wondering how they were supposed to live in this world with such a tiny amount. Theon, who’d been listening to them the whole time, felt relieved when the subject changed. 

Rothy’s small and pretty.

Rothy’s age was already a problem, but looking younger than his age made it worse. He silently weighed Rothy in his arms and felt that he was still as light as ever. If he were to put him on a scale, would he be just around eight or nine grams? 

At this rate……

How long will it take for him to grow up like in that dream? 

Rothy wasn’t particularly tall either in the dream, but he looked at least ten centimetres taller than now. Even though their age gap would remain criminal even if he grew… Theon still wanted Rothy to grow taller and fill out fast. Just then, he spotted a skewer stall nearby, and Theon’s steps naturally led him towards it as if pulled by an invisible string. 

Meanwhile, Rothy……

Does he sees me as his son because I’m too small…?

“I think he sees him like a son… it’s more like a godfather-godson thing.”

He hadn’t heard most of the students’ conversation, but that part came through perfectly to his ears. It caused his excited mood from moments ago to plummet. 

It’s true. I’m too small. Too skinny and small.

Rothy had seen many sixteen-year-olds, including Aeruhen, and he was the smallest of them all. He wanted to grow quickly.

I need to eat more.

There was no helping his slow growth, but apart from that, there were ways to build his physique. First, he’d eat more food. Right as he thought this, Theon handed him a chicken skewer. 

“You don’t have to eat it if you’re full.”

“No, I’m eating all of it.”

Even though he was already full, he took the skewer and polished it off. Afterwards, he kept eating every snack Theon gave him, and was left with an agonising stomach ache that night. 

Theon’s special lecture at the academy was a hands-on practical instead of a theoretical class. Standing in the middle of the training ground, he held a wooden sword. Around the perimeter, students from the swordsmanship class sat in a tight circle, looking ready to break into a fight at any moment. 

“Hey you, at the front, sit down! I can’t see!”

“I’m sitting, you crazy bastard.”

“Why’s that fucking guy’s head so damn big?”

“There’s a mage here! Some trash mage has snuck into our class!”

“Mages should get lost!”

Because it was a special lecture from Theon Detre Falsen, the training ground was packed to the rafters. 

“Calm down! What’re you, a bunch of wild colts?! Didn’t you learn that to become a knight, you must stay composed anywhere, anytime?!”

“His Grace would be disappointed seeing you lot acting like this, you rascals!”

The professors barely managed to rein the students in. Once the training ground, which’d been as loud as a marketplace, finally settled down, Theon nodded his head. At that, a boy who’d been waiting outside hurriedly stepped into the centre. With his head held high and his nose practically in the air, it was none other than Aeruhen. They’d announced there would only be two sparring matches against Theon in the special lecture and he’d managed to secure one of the slots. While there were murmurs of nepotism, most students understood. The two sparring matches were decided by rank—first and second in the swordsmanship class—and Aeruhen was that second-ranked student. 

“I should check if your form has improved.”

“I won’t disappoint you!”

Back at the estate, Theon had reviewed Aeruhen’s form several times. The confident way he was carrying himself showed that he was positive he’d corrected all flaws. 

Aeruhen leapt first. 

Whooosh!

The wooden sword he was wielding sliced through the air. Landing on one foot, he rotated halfway and swung backward. He used to have a habit of stiffening his wrist when cutting mid-spin, but after Theon’s correction, he’d fixed it perfectly. 

Bang! 

The wooden swords clashed, ringing out like iron rods clanging together. The force sent Aeruhen stumbling backward. Lowering his stance, he aimed for Theon’s legs, but Theon simply kicked away the incoming wooden sword and swung his own. Aeruhen barely dodged and adjusted his grip before swiftly moving to Theon’s rear with his light footwork. 

Swish!

He thrust his sword at Theon’s back but the only thing he managed to cut was air. 

Crack!

Somehow, Theon had reappeared at his side and struck, breaking his shoulder guard. Aeruhen’s mind went blank. The use of aura was prohibited in the match. Both of them were wielding wooden training swords but his armour, which could withstand aura-infused strikes, had broken.

Just how strong was Theon?

“Match paused! Armour replacement needed!”

The professor’s shout made Theon step back, sword still in hand. 

WOOOAAAAAAH!

Cheers erupted from the crowd, echoing around the training ground. Theon’s sword was heavy but fast. The brief exchange was enough for everyone present to feel his overwhelming might. The boys and girls who aspired to become Aura Masters cheered loud enough to bring the roof down. 

Meanwhile, the rest of the entourage was watching from the VIP seats with Rothy. 

“Lord Aeruhen has good instincts. If the second rank is this good, the academy standards must be high.”

“If he builds more muscle, he’ll be a swordsman with both power and skill.”

“Hey, muscle freak. Don’t say that in front of Lord Aeruhen. They say if you focus on building muscle at sixteen, you won’t grow any taller.”

Zey and Xeon started bickering but there was no one to stop them since Chungnip was giving a special lecture to the mage class. As for Rothy, he was looking down at his spouse with sparkling green eyes.

“Theon’s really so fucking cool……”

“……”

“……”

Zey and Xeon’s bickering died instantly. They both swivelled to look at Rothy, creaking like unoiled droids. 

“Lord Rothy, what did you just say…?”

“Hmm? I said Theon’s really so fucking cool.”

“……”

Zey and Xeon exchanged a quick glance. 

‘Did you hear that?’

‘Damn, the kids’ way of speaking has infected him already.’

‘This is going to be bad…’

Would they have been able to prevent this linguistic corruption if they’d brought Ultje along? Both Zey and Xeon felt a little dismal at the thought. Rothy, who’d unintentionally ended their squabble, continued to watch Theon with sparkling eyes. Just then, Theon looked up, his eyes meeting Rothy’s directly. The students who’d been fixated on Theon turned their heads in unison, following his gaze until they spotted the white fairy with his round, fluffy eyes.

“……”

Theon’s mouth softened into a slight smile. The warmth spreading across his typically stern face stood out like the first spring bloom on winter ground. Catching Theon looking directly at him, Rothy jumped, checking left, right, and behind himself. When he realised the smile was meant for him, he returned it with his own grin.

The watching students’ cheeks flushed at the scene.

Aeruhen returned with fresh armour, and the sparring resumed. Since this was also a lecture, Theon paused frequently to point out mistakes and suggest improvements. Being repeatedly corrected in front of so many people could’ve been a blow to his pride, but Aeruhen didn’t mind at all and even showed growth during the match. He really carried himself like the future head of House Falsen.

Next came the eighteen-year-old who ranked first in the swordsmanship class. In his excitement, the student accidentally released his Aura, but Theon blocked it with practised ease, preventing any injuries.

“Thanks to Your Grace’s special lecture, our students at Aephys Academy will be able to make great progress. We’re sincerely grateful.”

After Theon’s special lecture ended, Baron Nymphea, the mayor of Aephys, stepped onto the training ground. He thanked Theon, then smiled and looked around the audience. Theon noted how that smiling face resembled those of mages who set traps while wearing pleasant expressions.

“Students, how can we let an Aura Master go just like this? Wouldn’t it be a shame?”

YEAAAAAAH!

“Your Grace, please take a look at the students who’ll one day lead the future of the North. They all expect so much. Could you perhaps grant them just one more match?”

Theon simply nodded, his face betraying nothing, as if he’d anticipated the Baron’s actions. 

WAAAAAAAAH!

The students erupted in response, their excited shouts nearly becoming screams as chaos broke out among them.