The next two years passed in the blink of an eye. Zaos was already big and strong enough to keep running for quite a while, thanks to the fact that his garden was so big and he could exercise earlier in the morning and late in the afternoon. At the same time, he already could read most of the ordinary words, and his progress with the magic books had also reached an advanced stage… even though he had yet to use a single spell.
Health: 08/08
Mana: 38/38
Stamina: 08/08
Strength: 04
Magic: 19
Endurance: 04
Resistance: 19
Focus: 01
Sorcery Lv 03
During those two years, his sorcery level increased by two times, and thanks to that, he concluded that his man would increase by ten points whenever that happens. As for his health and stamina, those increased once a year by two points, but just like sorcery, he would be able to increase them by learning how to fight. However, Zaos wasn't in a hurry to do that since he liked his current life. While Laiex was always absent, talking and studying with his always smiling mother was more than enough for Zaos, but it looked like things were about to change.
While Zaos was running around the garden kicking an old iron helmet since it was pretty round and that felt strangely familiar, he suddenly heard the entrance gate being opened. That was odd. No one used the gate at that right time. Zaos froze when he saw his father, and he was about to kick the helmet. While that was trash, playing around like that certainly wasn't something nobles were supposed to do… even though his mother never tried to stop him and was watching everything while smiling like usual.
"You are going to hurt your feet," Laiex said.
His father's words surprised Zaos. He didn't look angry even in the slightest, so it looked like Zaos was at fault there since his impression of his father was too low.
"For how long have you been here?" Laiex asked.
"For about half an hour," Lyra replied.
"For how has he kicked that?" Laiex asked.
"Since the very moment we arrived," Lyra replied.
Laiex crossed his arms and studied his son from head to toe, he still obviously was going to grow up more, but he already had a decent physique, so he nodded to himself for some odd reason.
"I think it is time for him to start his sword training," Laiex said.
"… Isn't it a bit soon?" Lyra asked since she obviously didn't like that idea. "Most kids don't start until they are five… at least."
"He is strong enough to exercise for this long, and he is smart, so it shouldn't be a problem," Laiex said. "Do you think he is not ready?"
"I think a harsh training might have made him hate what he is supposed to do for the rest of his life," Lyra replied. "Zaos is too curious. If he holds a weapon too soon, maybe something will happen, and…"
"He isn't going to hold any weapon. He just needs to get used to training," Laiex said. "Besides, the earlier he starts learning, the more dangerous his life will be later."
It didn't look like in that conversation, Zaos's opinions mattered all that much. Still, he was pretty curious about this training. After all, he has been doing several things hoping that he would hear that weird voice again, but ordinary physical activities didn't increase his health and stamina.
"If something happens, you will be here watching," Laiex said. "You can use healing magic, after all."
"… Yes," Lyra said.
That was a term that Zaos felt pretty interested in, but in the end, he did his best to keep his poker face. Getting over-excited about some things might make him look suspicious or cause several other types of problems.
"Tomorrow before lunch, I will teach him to run while holding a sword. After that, we will see how things will proceed," Laiex said, and then he turned around and began to walk toward the mansion's door, but he stopped without turning around. "Also… one of my men died recently. In order to avoid future problems, I promised him that I would look after his family. So, from tomorrow onward, a new servant and her daughter will live here."
"Okay?" Lyra said while frowning.
That topic was completely irrelevant, so Zaos couldn't care less about it, even though the place's staff never changed in those three years. Lyra also didn't seem that interested; she was worried about Zaos. Despite the fact that she mentioned many times that he would become a warrior like his father.
"You don't have to worry, mom," Zaos said. "Nothing bad is going to happen."
"… I think I should be the one to tell you this," Lyra forced a smile. "You are fearless, just like your father."
After saying that, Lyra relaxed a little more and just made sure that they would enjoy the rest of the day as much as possible. Lyra wanted to believe that she knew Zaos enough, but even though he was just a three years old boy, even Lyra couldn't say if something inside him would change once he starts to follow the path to become a warrior. She feared that Zaos would become like his father in other senses, like putting his duty above all else and his family second from the very beginning. Still, she decided to trust her son since he managed to copy one of her trademarks: the smile that he always showed when they were looking at each other.
Zaos waited patiently for the next day. While he didn't know how much things would change after that, he had a feeling that several things would change forever. He recalled those words again. He had brought to that world to protect someone, but to protect someone, one needs power, and Zaos didn't have that, nor did the voice granted him that. He had to obtain it by himself.