The first time I had met the Imitheos family's Young Miss was when she was five years old. I was being formally introduced to Master Hakoda's family after we had finalized that I was to be one of his few apprentices. As a precursor to my training, I was to teach Young Master Virgil offensive water magic, for he had noticeably been neglecting it in favour of only learning about healing techniques. While convincing (and getting along with) Virgil to learn offensive water magic was easy enough, since all I had to tell him was that broadening his magic experience would be helpful in magic research, it would seem that trying to get along with his younger sister was something that I could not easily do.
"Go on and introduce yourself." Master Hakoda urged with a gentle expression.
With a practised smile, I followed his instruction. "Good afternoon. It is my pleasure to be able to meet and introduce myself to you all. My name is Cain Alvar."
As I introduced myself, the Young Miss stayed half hidden behind her Mother. Her eyes clearly showed distrust and apprehension towards me. As someone who almost always got along with people, especially females, that kind of reaction was surprisingly refreshing. While I did try to strike up a conversation with her, she was incredibly unwilling... And so, our first meeting ended with her having not said a single word to me.
I taught Virgil for a year before I could gain another proper opportunity to meet the Young Miss. Master Hakoda told me on a certain day that he had decided to have me teach the younger girl water magic.
"It would be an honour, but is that truly alright, Master? She is, after all, the heir of the Imitheos family. I do not believe that I am well qualified to teach her." I questioned my Master's decision.
With a knowing smile, he brushed aside my apprehension. "It should be fine. You have taught Virgil well, therefore, having you teach Velloa should be no problem. You should not doubt your own capabilities... In any case, it will only be until your graduation from Yohso Academy, for you will be officially accepted as one of my emissaries once you have finished your academic studies."
With a small bow, I spoke. "I understand, Master. I thank you once again for this honour."
With that, it was established that I would be the Young Miss' magic temporary teacher.
This is unexpected...
I was on my way to the Imitheos Palace's training hall when I had happened upon the Young Miss alone and unaccompanied. Her large cerulean eyes were filled with curiosity as she met my gaze. It had been around a year since I last saw her, and, as expected, she had grown up quite a bit. It had surely been nearly a year when we last met, but for the shy and unsociable young girl to change this much seems rather... odd. As I looked into her clear and curious gaze, there was no sense of apprehension, but rather this sense of maturity thinly veiled by childish innocence. It was nothing like those naïve and quiet eyes that I first gazed at when we first met.
How strange...
With a friendly expression, I greeted her. "Good afternoon, Young Miss. It has been a year since we properly met like this. I wonder if you remember me?"
I saw her tilt her head in thought, moments passed, and she simply shook her head. "I'm sorry. I don't remember." She said with an apologetic expression.
Chuckling, I placed a hand atop her head without much thought. When I had realized what I had done, I braced myself for a negative reaction, but I never got one. Her expression was normal as she stopped my hand from seemingly ruining her hair, but she didn't push me away.
Bending down to her eye level, I reintroduced myself. "Well then, it is my pleasure to once again meet you, Young Miss. I am Virgil's second magic instructor, Cain Alvar."
Her eyes twinkled with excitement. "You're Virgil's magic teacher?! The person that Father talked about?! The one who will also teach me magic?!"
With an amused smile, I replied. "Yes, indeed. I will be in your care."
Taking hold of my hand with both of hers, she beamed. "Then it's nice to meet you, Cain! Are you on your way to Virgil's magic lesson? Let's go! I'm on my way there too because I want to watch!"
With our hands as such, we accompanied each other to the training grounds. "You still go to Yohso Academy, right? I thought I could meet you earlier but were you busy because of school?" The younger girl questioned.
Keeping my smile, I answered. "Yes, I am currently in my second year. Unfortunately, I was preoccupied by quite a few things in the Academy, which was why I could not be the one to teach Virgil's magic lessons for the past few days." I cannot exactly tell her that I was participating in a dangerous training mission, at least not until she's old enough...
The Young Miss's clear, cerulean gaze met with mine. For a moment, I suddenly felt as if she was able to see my thoughts, but her innocent and childish smile re-appeared, and she nodded at my response.
Interesting...
It has nearly been a year since I have begun teaching Velloa, and I must say that she was quite an amusing one. Watching this younger girl reveal her genius was, rather admittedly, clumsy. While she seemed to be able to handle theory lessons calmly, practical lessons revealed a more reckless part of her. It was as if, when it came to theory, she was aware of the process, but when it came to things like magic, she seemingly skips quite a few steps, and yet she was capable of achieving a good result far exceeding what was to be expected. Not only that, it would seem that I was correct in realizing that she had matured quite a lot ever since that day I first met her.
Previously, I was very much aware of the strain between the Imitheos siblings. No one had told me, but I could see it clearly simply due to the lack of interaction between the two of them, sadly, it would seem that the adults around them had paid no heed to that. However, throughout this past year, I watched as the Young Miss strived to change that.
Velloa's efforts were bold and entertaining; safe to say, even the girl herself would also agree. That maturity of hers was only cleverly veiled from her Brother. While Virgil has noticed her changes, it can be seen that he was only perceptive to a few of them. Although, I will admit that while I can see many ways in which she has changed, I am sure that I do not know of all of them, but at least I am more aware as compared to a certain sibling of hers. As such, I get to see quite amusing reactions from both of them.
"Velloa, have you realized that you make a mischievous grin whenever you are about to tease Virgil?" I smirked.
The younger girl visibly stiffened at my words. She stopped walking and turned to me with a slight frown. "Is there any particular reason why you're saying this now? Especially when we're about to go to meet Brother for our magic lesson?"
Ah, she went right to the point and threw away her childish façade...
My grin widened. "Do not worry I won't tell a single soul. I am simply curious as to why you have decided to change and act like this."
She did not show apprehension, but instead, her gaze felt like she was passing down judgement onto me. This is a similar feeling to when Master was deciding whether or not I was going to be one of his apprentices...
"Is there something wrong with how I am now?" She uttered with an inexplicable expression that wasn't fitting for a young girl her age.
My expression softened. "No." Thinking back to her scheming expression, I couldn't help but chuckle. "There's nothing wrong with how you are. I just have to admit that it's rather amusing."
She hasn't answered my question, but I guess there's no need to push this kind of thing... For now.
With a firm gaze, she spoke. "Then you promise not to say a word about how I truly am?"
I knelt down onto one knee and placed a fist over my heart. "I swear that I will keep this secret unless you tell me otherwise."
Her eyes widened at my actions. "It's not good to make promises like that so easily, you know. I wonder how many hearts you've broken so far." Ah, so she was aware of my 'playful' ways... She suddenly placed her hands on either side of my face and titled my face up to directly look into her cerulean eyes. "But I guess I'll thank you for all the help you've done in teaching Brother and in helping me get closer to him."
Amused, in fluid motions, I lifted Velloa up and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. "Aren't you being too trusting?" Looking down at her flushed expression, I couldn't help but find it pleasant.
"Your character is slipping, actually, it's more accurate to say that your deviant nature is showing. Please put me down. You're acting improper." Velloa said as she tried to hide her embarrassment.
She's right, however...
"There's no sense in hiding how I truly am in front of you at this point." I decided to not keep much of my true thoughts from her.
Looking rather aggrieved, she complained out loud. "What happened to the gentlemanly magic teacher that I knew?!"
Chuckling as I made our way to the training hall, I quipped. "What happened to the shy and immature Young Miss that I knew?"
With those words, Velloa opted to quietly glare at me throughout the entirety of our walk as I carried her in my arms.
----------CHAPTER END----------
Word Count: 1697
What is consistency? Is it edible?