A few days after the elemental test, life in the Lavande household had returned—mostly—to its familiar rhythm.
Some years later...
It was late afternoon, and the golden light of the sun filtered through the windows as laughter echoed through the house.
“Abel onii-chan! Found you!” Jojo shouted, triumphantly pointing at the tall stack of pillows wobbling in the living room corner.
Abel emerged with a sheepish grin.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI52xmbS07m
“H-hey! I-I only let you win this time, okay?”
Jojo laughed. 36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJBtw1mgtc
“You say that every time!” he teased, his little fists on his hips.
Abel sighed.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6tdQWDXX3
“Just hurry and find the others, will you?”
He turned and muttered to himself, “Abelheid is probably in the library again.”
He slipped away quietly and made his way down the hall. Sure enough, behind the farthest bookcase, sat Abelheid, cross-legged and camouflaged so well his outline flickered like air over fire.
“Found you, Hakuto!”
Abelheid winced. 36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0LVsyM3LS
“Yeesh—stop calling me that! What if someone hears you? Whatever. How did you find me?”
“How I found you?” Abel smirked. “Easy. I detected your mana flow.” 36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn3qmqSrly
Abelheid’s eyes narrowed. 36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2lmfHWtdb
“New technique, huh?”
“Of course,” Abel replied, clearly proud.
“Is it the one that lets you see mana threads?”
Abel froze. 36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXyVRddMTv
“H-how do you know that?”
“I read that last week.”
“You’re always five scrolls ahead, you geek.”
“Let’s go find the others.”
“Don’t ignore me, geek!”
Still grumbling, Abelheid followed. But as they stepped out into the hallway, they were met by Jojo—triumphantly flanked by Adele and Adelheid.
“I found them!” Jojo announced, grinning ear to ear.
“Isn’t Jojo smart?” Adele and Adelheid said together, then giggled.
“I said that first!”
“No, it was me!”
“Just shut it!” Abel snapped, arms crossed.
“Aww, onii-chan’s too wicked!” they chimed in sing-song voices.
Abelheid looked from face to face, then turned away, shoulders shaking.
“Hm...hm........hm...haha...hm—”
“What are you laughing at?!” the others shouted.
“You can't even hide your laughter, can you?" teased Aika.
"Can!" said Abelheid, visibly embarrassed.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZFnDjeRjE
"Can't!" chimed all the others together.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4GF49iN1f
Before Abelheid could answer, their mother’s voice rang from the kitchen.
“Lunchtime!”
Naturally, chaos ensued as five children sprinted to the dining room.
They piled around the table as Marsillas sat down with a quiet smile, watching the controlled storm of siblings settle in.
“Itadakimasu!” the family said together.
Dinner passed with warmth and laughter, like sunlight after rain. For a while, no one spoke of magic, affinities, or divine power. They were simply a family.
And that was enough.
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