14. Kal: Love at First Sight...?

  Kal couldn’t believe his eyes.

  The young woman was breathtaking.

  And her long, flowing hair? It drove him mad. In a good way.

  After the arc snapped and nearly crushed him, after he was saved by the young mage, the festival was abruptly canceled, and the beginning of the school year was delayed by three days.

  Kal never got the chance to play for the Baron.

  But, somehow…

  He didn’t care.

  He was just glad to be alive.

  Dying twice in six years sounded both terrible and pathetic.

  Reinar and Elara were mad with worry but just as equally grateful to the mage who saved him. So much so that they invited her into their home to properly thank her.

  When Reinar learned that the young woman was actually the mage sent by the Ministry to help with the crop situation, he was genuinely stunned.

  “It’s fate!” He declared, holding Lucas in one arm while pulling Elara – and Kal – into a hug with the other.

  Kal caught the young woman rolling her eyes at that comment.

  And…he got it.

  ‘She’s probably an atheist too.’ He thought.

  Elara, still holding onto Kal like she refused to let him go, looked at her. “How can we thank you, Miss…?”

  The young woman straightened, grinning proudly. “Azmira. Azmira Morvain.” Then, her grin widened even more. “Only the youngest certified mage in all of Stulan’s rich history.”

  Elara nodded, not caring about the last detail, still clutching Kal tightly. “Thank you, Miss Morvain.”

  Azmira waved it off, though her expression betrayed how much she wanted more praise.

  Kal noticed.

  “How old are you?” He asked, finally breaking out of his love-at-first-sight trance.

  He had to make sure.

  Since he died at eighteen and reincarnated immediately as a baby, he still saw himself as an eighteen-year-old – despite technically being twenty-four in total across both lives.

  “I’m eighteen.” Azmira replied, her grin still intact.

  ‘Perfect.’

  Then he squinted, taking another look at her small frame.

  “She does long younger because of her height.”

  The room went dead silent.

  Azmira’s eye twitched.

  “I’m not short!” She jumped from her chair, fists clenched.

  And that’s when Kal realized his thoughts hadn’t stayed in his head.

  He actually said it out loud.

  He was ruining his chances with her.

  “I’m sorry!” He blurted, panic rising fast. “I didn’t mean to!”

  Reinar coughed loudly, trying to calm the situation. “So…Miss Morvain, since you’re here to assist me with our barley crops – and a lot earlier than expected, I have to add – especially after saving my son, I feel like I must make sure you are comfortable during your stay. A proper place to stay, meals, whatever else you need. Please let me know if you already paid for accommodations here – we’ll reimburse you.”

  Azmira eyes widened instantly. “W-what do you mean ‘earlier than expected’?”

  Reinar rubbed the back of his head, looking a little sheepish. “You see, I’m used to the Ministry responding to my letters way too late – long after we actually need their help. So, this year, I decided to send my request much earlier than usual, thinking it would take them just as long to respond.”

  Reinar sighed. “But…you arrived on the day of the Festival of First Harvest. We just finished collecting our golden rye, and we won’t even begin switching to barley until next week.”

  Azmira blinked. “…Okay? So?”

  Reinar cleared his throat. “So…there’s really not much for you to do at the moment. We won’t actually need your help until we’ve planted the barley and it reaches the crucial preservation stage – when we need to prevent mold before sending it away. It’ll take anywhere between three to four months.”

  Azmira’s entire face fell.

  Then, her eyes widened even further, like she was about to explode.

  “YOU MEAN I NEED TO STAY HERE FOR FOUR MONTHS?!”

  ***

  Despite clearly wanting to escape Terenhill as soon as possible, Azmira had no choice but to stay in the village until she finished her assignment.

  She could have stayed in the village’s only inn, but since she was going to be stuck here for four months, that wasn’t the best option.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  Regardless, Elara outright refused to let her stay there, doing a 180, insisting that after saving Kal, Azmira was basically family and needed to be treated as such.

  And that’s how Azmira ended up living with them, staying in the guest room - much to Kal’s satisfaction. ‘Thank you, Mom!’

  The first days were…awkward.

  It was painfully obvious that Azmira wasn’t used to village life.

  Her facial expressions alone gave her away – especially whenever the smell of cattle was heavily present in the air.

  She visibly suffered from the stench of livestock and the overwhelming odor of manure fertilizer.

  And worst of all? She had absolutely nothing to do.

  So, for the first two days, she spent most of her time reading novels – romance novels, at that.

  Kal noticed her nose constantly buried in a book, and his curiosity got the better of him.

  “So, you like reading this stuff?” He asked.

  Azmira rolled her eyes, barely sparing him a glance. “Yes.”

  Kal smirked to himself.

  ‘I like romance too.’

  He was a musician, after all. He had to be a romantic at heart.

  “I like it too.” He said.

  Azmira snorted, still not looking up from her book. “Kid, I’m pretty sure you can’t even read.”

  Kal felt like he had just been struck by an arrow - Cupid's arrow.

  And, just like that…he fell for her even harder.

  “I’m a musician.” He added, hoping to impress her.

  Azmira finally glanced at him, but her expression was clearly bored. “That’s cute.”

  Then, she immediately went back to her book.

  ‘How did brother make it look so easy in my previous life?!’ Tristan wondered.

  Kal vowed that day that he would make Azmira fall for him. No matter how long it took.

  ***

  Kal wasn’t sure how much progress he had made with Azmira.

  But then, one evening – exactly three days after she saved him, and a day before he started school – something unexpected happened.

  Azmira requested to speak to his parents.

  ‘I’m a bit too young for you to ask my parents for my hand, my beautiful Azmira…but I’ll allow it.’ He grinned internally.

  But unfortunately, that wasn’t what the conversation was going to be about.

  The entire family – outside of Lucas who was sleeping in his crib – was seated at the table for tea when Azmira finally spoke.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Varren, I have something I must tell you about your son. About Kal.”

  Elara stiffened immediately, her expression growing worried.

  “What is it, Miss Morvain?” She asked.

  “Oh, no, it’s not something bad.” Azmira quickly tried to reassure her. “And please, call me Azmira.”

  Still, Elara’s hand instinctively reached for Kal, pulling him closer. “Then, what’s wrong?”

  Azmira shook her head aggressively. “There's nothing wrong!” She sighed deeply, looking frustrated, as if she couldn’t believe she was about to say what she was about to say.

  “It’s just – Kal…I’ve been watching him for the past three days, ever since I arrived. I don’t understand how, since both of you told me you’re not mages, but Kal…”

  ‘She’s been watching me?!’ Kal got excited.

  She took a deep breath before continuing. “…He has an immense mana pool. He’s a mage. There’s not a doubt in my mind.”

  Kal’s heart stopped. ‘Wait, what?’

  Reinar exchanged a glance with Elara.

  A long silence followed.

  Then, suddenly, he burst out laughing.

  Azmira stared in disbelief. “…Huh?”

  Reinar wiped a tear from his eye, shaking his head. “Miss Morvain, I think you know better than I do that magic is hereditary. There’s no way Kal could be a mage when neither my family nor my wife’s ever had a single mage in our bloodline.”

  Elara nodded, holding Kal closer. “That’s true. No one in our line was ever a mage. At least not in the past two centuries.”

  Azmira’s eye twitched. It looked like she was about to suggest something but quickly silenced herself and said something else.

  “Then, it might’ve been before that!” She snapped. She looked like a child throwing a tantrum – one that hated being treated like a child. “I know what I saw!”

  Kal’s parents exchanged another glance, both of them startled by Azmira’s outburst.

  She noticed their surprise immediately and sighed, trying to salvage the situation.

  “Listen, I’m no expert, but I’ve studied Magical Genetics extensively, and many scholars say that while magic is always hereditary, it doesn’t have to pass down from every generation. Sometimes, even an ancestor from half a millennium ago who was a mage is enough for someone to be born with magic.”

  She crossed her arms, her confidence shaky. “No one really understand how it works…It’s just guesses, really…”

  Reinar and Elara looked at each other again, still unconvinced.

  Elara began. “Still, I don’t think – “

  But Azmira quickly cut her off.

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Varren, but like I said – there’s no doubt in my mind.” She said firmly, her green eyes burning with resolve. “On the night of the festival, it was Kal’s magical aura that made the arc snap. It went violent. I saw it with my own eyes.” She leaned forward, growing extremely serious. “That’s why I was there to save him. Because I saw it coming.”

  Reinar and Elara kept exchanging glances, unsure what to say.

  Meanwhile, Kal finally snapped out of his trance.

  ‘Wait a minute…did she just say I crashed the arc?’

  Azmira continued, her voice growing more urgent.

  “At first, I thought I had imagined it, but…like I told you before, I’m the youngest mage in Stulan’s history. I know a thing or two about the magical aura a child should have. Even if it’s a prodigy like myself.” She gestured toward Kal. “But Kal…his mana pool is already larger than many of my adult guildmates! He could be a genius mage who needs his talent nurtured – “

  “Wait, wait, wait,” Reinar lifted a hand, stopping her mid-sentence. “I’m sure you’re exaggerating things…” He said slowly. “Let’s say I entertain the idea that a distant ancestor of ours was a mage. Still, so many years later, their blood should be so diluted it wouldn’t hold enough magic to make Kal’s mana as strong of that of an adult.”

  “That’s definitely not how it works.” Azmira disagreed, shaking her head.

  Elara ignored her, nodding in agreement with her husband. “As much as Kal is a genius, magic is a whole different thing.” She leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss on Kal’s head.

  Kal, meanwhile, still wasn’t sure what to think of it all.

  ‘I’m a magical prodigy?!’

  His heartbeat quickened. He had hoped he could use magic. He had no idea it was hereditary. But hearing Azmira he got extremely excited.

  “Can I use magic?” He finally blurted, unable to stay quiet any longer.

  Azmira nodded eagerly. “You should – after we open your Inner Eye.”

  “…Inner Eye?” Kal echoed, tilting his head.

  Reinar shook his head, letting out a deep sigh. “Listen, Miss Morvain, I’m grateful that you came to help with our crops and for saving my son. We’re forever indebted to you. But…my son is not a mage. He can’t be.”

  “But, I just want to check some things – “ Azmira tried, but Reinar remained unyielding.

  “No.” he said. His voice was final. “My son is not a mage. And he starts school tomorrow.”

  Elara looked torn, glancing between Azmira and Kal, uncertainty visible in her expression despite what she said next. “That’s right. Kal cannot be a mage. That’s impossible.”

  Kal’s excitement dimmed. Confused by their outright rejection of the idea. He couldn’t understand why they were so against it.

  Luckily, Azmira wasn’t giving up so easily.

  “Please, Mr. and Mrs. Varren. Just let me check.” Her voice softened. “I won’t be able to live with myself if I end up leaving Terenhill without confirming whether I was right about Kal or not.” She clenched her fists, her expression suddenly turning gravely serious. “We mages…We’re a dying breed. If Kal is a promising mage, and I missed him – if no one helps him – then I’d feel like I failed all mages worldwide.”

  Reinar sighed heavily.

  Elara looked at Kal, her eyes filled with warmth and love.

  “I want to try, Mom.” Kal said softly, hoping for her approval.

  Reinar looked at him as well, shaking his head.

  But Elara has already made up her mind.

  She turned to her husband. “Honey…Miss Morvain is staying here for four months regardless. What’s the harm in letting her check? We do owe her for saving Kal, after all.”

  Reinar clicked his tongue, looking like he wanted to protest. But those last words silenced him.

  After a few moments, he exhaled sharply and rolled his eyes. “Fine…”

  Azmira’s face instantly lit up with excitement.

  “Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!” She cheered, practically bouncing off her seat.

  Then, she turned to Kal, her grin widening. “Oh, this will be so much fun!”

  His heart skipped a beat. ‘You had me at ‘oh’.’