The Magic Twins Ch. 7: Conditioning and Confessing
Shortly after Chin's little escapade, Shin's group decides to get a headstart and separate in order to continue the training exercise. Although, things aren't quite peaceful on Chin's end...
"Hey heeey, Chin, why are you moping over here? Stop looking so stressed or your complexion will rust, if you get what I'm saying…?" Yuri seductively advised, but not budging through Chin's serious composure.
"Geez Yuri, cut it out already. It may be short, but he did get what he is looking for. Just stop pestering him and make some space," Thor intervened while aligning his glasses.
"Oooh really? What was he looking for?" Yuri questions.
"He was–!"
"Another word from you and you'll get more than just a bath," Chin interrupted Thor with "Water Spray" while hiding his blushed face.
"Pwhew," Thor sprays water out of his mouth while wiping his glasses clean.
"Ho ho, so that is how you're going to play hmmm?" Yuri pondered, giving Maria from afar a cold chill.
"Hey you guys! It's time to get a move on! Break is over!" Alfred calls along with the student knights' advisor.
"Yes sir Alfred!" Chin called after standing up to stretch his arms again before using "Windy Breath" to cool and dry Thor's clothes.
"Thanks I guess," Thor replies while aligning his glasses.
"It's nothing really. It's my fault in the first place anyways. So, sorry 'bout that," Chin apologizes.
"Hey! Hurry up slowpokes!" Alice called from afar.
Now as the team travels deeper into the forest, Chin asks Sir Alfred concerning why he transferred to their team and swapped with their advisor before they start their turn in the joint exercise.
"Sir Alfred, would you mind me asking something?" Chin asks.
"Oh? What's the matter?" Alfred responded.
"Why did you and that female advisor of ours swap teams before we entered the forest?" Chin asks.
"Well, to put it bluntly, she said that she was scared and slightly hesitant to monitor someone with enormous magic power after having experienced such a person from being a proctor during the enrollment period," Alfred points out, making Chin realize what may have happened when he and Shin entered the enrollment examinations.
"Ahhhh, I see," Chin responded with his face downcast.
However, he quickly switches his gears the moment he detects malevolent auras with his search magic and warns Alfred and the knight's squad about demons approaching close.
"Everyone, I'm picking up the chills right now. Get ready to–"
"Shut up Bowen, let us knights do the fighting!"
The knights arrogantly bark in protest to silence the wary Chin, preventing the female magicians—along with Thor and Chin—from lending any sort of assistance, despite the stern warning of Alfred and an instructor from the Knight Academy with them. The students of the Knight Academy recklessly charge into the fray against a pack of rabid wolf demons that appeared out of the bushes. And consequently within moments later, the arrogant swordsmen were becoming a vengefully satisfying entertainment show for the students from the Magic Academy as they were completely taken down and displaying their total inexperience in real combat against those demon fledgelings. However, the awful display was already irritating rather than entertaining that it angered the student magicians that have had it with their leers and jeers.
"...grgh! That's it! No more!" Alice roars in a fit of rage as she projects a pair of massive fireballs towards the pack of wolves along with the student knights that are currently preoccupied with them.
"I shall freeze you!" Yuri follows up with an icicle-thorn spell.
"...I think I...can't control it…." Lyn warns in monotone while summoning erratic lightning in the environment, which is obviously frightening to all that is currently in the range of a possible explosion.
"Eeeek! Chin!" Yuri calls out desperately in fear of getting her vain beauty messed up all for naught.
"Quick!" Alice yells like a frightened kitten.
Chin quickly summons and condenses a foamy fluid—similar to the chemical mixture of fire-extinguishing foam—then swiftly sprays directly towards Lyn and puts her spark out to cool her head down.
"One more second and we would be in for a dry sauna," Chin deadpans as he carefully aligns his glasses and then turns to the troubled knights displaying an embarrassing show of knighthood against the demon wolves. With that, he enters the fray and attracts the demon wolves with his magic aura, drawing them close enough for Chin to use "Bubble Bomb" to project a sphere made of water towards the demons and lets it explode instantly upon contacting with the wolves, killing all of them while consequently having a small shower due to the huge amount of steamy water scattered from the explosion and the hot vapor emitted in the area.
Next Location: Upon arrival at the gateway to the Capital…
"Well, it appears that others were able to establish good relationships with the students from the Knight Academy… So what happened you guys?" Shin wonders depressed upon looking at his classmates in drenched and soggy appearances as if they came back marathoning while fighting. Some of the girls were even covering themselves, embarrassed at their drenched and haggard appearance thanks to Shin's brother's recklessness.
"Ehehehe, well, we tried to blow off some steam while flexing our powers, but then the moment we unloaded...well…"
"The Knight Academy students bummed us out, and…"
"We got carried away...well, mostly Chin did," Lyn points to the shamed Chin.
"Ehehehe, did not get to estimate my power usage and hastily did it. My bad," Chin apologized, embarrassed while scratching his hind temple and blushing from Maria's excessive laughter upon being seen by her in his current condition and appearance.
"Uh-huh, but what about him?" Shin deadpans, referring to the angry student knight, who is glaring Tony from afar.
"Just a rift between two teenage boys," Mark straightforwardly answers.
"Huh?" "But at the end of the day, we did manage to defeat the demons though," Julius assures the confused Shin.
"How did things go for you, Wolford?" Olivia kindly asks.
"Well, our team um…?" Shin trails off.
"We had both Shin and Sizilien get cozy with each other in our exercise…!" Maria teases, surprising Shin and causing Sizilien to flare up in embarrassment.
"Well, if it wasn't cozying, then I can't wait to see what you two do consider cozying?" August taunts, shocking Sizilien as her imagination suddenly halts due to embarrassment.
"Aug?!" Shin protests, making both Chin and Maria laugh out loud in response.
"Anyways, Maria, how are you in my absence after I left? Was something up?" Chin inquires with that gentle and vibrant smile, blinding the guilty Maria with his bright person.
"A-a-ah no! Not at all! Totally fine, completely swell! Nothing went wrong! Honest, hehe," Maria stutters, trying to futilely hide her guilt while remembering her touching conversations with Siegfried.
"Um...okay?" Chin thought out loud until Sizilien protested.
"U-um Chin, I-I do recall seeing Maria with a bright red face after having talks with Siegfried so—"
"Gyaaagh! Sizilien! Betrayal!" Maria embarrassingly barks with a bright red face. Suddenly she feels a dark suffocating aura emanating around Chin after hearing the truth from Sizilien.
"Hm, hm, that so? Thank you for answering Sizilien. Now I ought to have a short conversation with Big Brother Siegfried for a moment. So if you'll excuse me for a moment..."
"No! No! I-t wasn't anything like that sort, Chin! I swear! I just idolize him as a magician!" Maria halts Chin in his tracks from doing anything rash with a tight embrace behind his back. "If anything, you are better than h—?!" Maria suddenly pauses, numbly losing her grip with the sheer embarrassment of consciously knowing what else she was about to blurt out in front of her classmates and Chin with her head burning as bright as the same feeling Sizilien experienced.
"Haaah? What else were you going to say, Maria?" Shin teases cheerfully while speculating of her supposed response.
"Mmmmm geez Louize!? It's all your fault now that I'm cornered!" Maria blames Chin for her current predicament, making everyone in the group laugh out loud, which has embarrassed her even more if not for Chin's comforting hug in the end.
"My apologies, Maria. I actually pay not much mind to that anyway, knowing Big Brother Siegfried. So it is alright," Chin assures while stroking Maria's hair gently until she quickly pulls away from his embrace to save herself from the embarrassment. "Hehehe, but I am wondering though: how are you guys doing in your exercise group?" Chin wonders.
"Haaagh, all kidding aside: with your brother backing us up, our joint exercise went pretty well," Maria briefly answered.
"And for a change, Shin was the one holding us back," August adds humorously.
'For a change huh?...Still, was he right about that…?' Shin thought with his eyes looking down at the ground in deep thought.
"What's the matter brother?" Chin notices.
"Yeah Shin, does something have you down?" Alice wonders curiously.
"Well, Shin feels that he's responsible for everything that has happened to us lately," Maria swiftly answered.
"Responsible?" Alice responded.
"How so?" Thor asks.
"This is a good time to tell you all, too: those of us who are all in the Ultimate Magic Study Group, excluding Shin and Chin, will be placed under national supervision after graduation and will probably be placed in a special unit under my direct control. Chances after that, it will attract attention from other lands," August carefully explained briefly, depressing the twins for their impacting contributions in their group.
"I'm sorry, guys. We've changed the course of your lives," Shin apologizes.
"Yeah, we tried playing safe, but perhaps we just make more trouble for everyone as well," Chin adds.
"No you guys! You didn't!" Alice protests cheerfully, confusing the twins.
"Now our futures are secured!" "Amazing!" "Privileged to be strong like you!" "I can't wait to tell my parents about this news!"
Some of them protested and thanked cheerfully rather than being depressed about being as strong as Shin and Chin, and apparently are excited for the things to come as they continue studying together in the future.
"Huh? You guys are really happy with it?" Shin was very much surprised from their responses.
"Are you guys not even in the least bit worried of the implications we might've caused?" Chin wonders anxiously before feeling a light tap on his shoulder.
"As long as we don't misuse our powers, they'd become the hope of saving our world," August assures the puzzled twins.
"Yes Shin, Chin. Both of you can be the hope of the world!" Sizilien adds, enlightening their spirits.
"If we're going to be a special unit, we'd like it if you could continue teaching us more!" Lyn requests eagerly.
'Yeah, I guess they're right. The crisis could be averted if we all become stronger,' Shin thought with Chin partially speaking his mind.
"Well, hope you all could continue learning with us, I guess," he adds while nervously scratching his cheek.
"Yes, but as long as I'm here, there are limits to be observed to keep things in check. I believe we're clear with that?" August interjects.
"Ahehehehe, right right," "August, I'm beginning to think that you could actually read my mind," the twins reacted to their dismay.
"Well, it's not only that actually," Sizilien deadpans nervously.
"Part of it is because you two are so easy to read," Maria adds.
"Really?" "It's that obvious?" the two confused boys look at each other in embarrassment.
Next Location: In the wilderness, several days later after the joint exercise…
In the same site where Shin and Chin test their magic capabilities under Merlin and Melida's tutelage, the two of them decide to help train their clubmates in the Ultimate Magic Study Group, through various exercises on using their magic of varied and coordinated elements accompanied by teamed-combo strategies.
"Looks almost like an actual live-fire exercise by the national magic division. We can never let anyone see this," August broke the silence to alert Shin of what he and Chin are doing for their study group's training sessions.
"This is a location that I've used for a long time along with Chin and Grandpa, so we don't have to worry about being seen.
A few minutes later after August and Shin spectate the training grounds that are monitored under Chin's watch, they stop to rest by the stony ledges to recover their mana and take a short break.
"Are you alright?" Alice asks Lyn.
"It hurts, badly," Lyn answered while holding the swollen bump on her forehead.
"Everyone, we need to talk," August calls everyone to huddle around for a serious meeting. "We've received new information on the demonoids. Information that has not been known to the masses."
"Wait, you're spilling state secrets?" Shin and Chin nervously clarify.
"Your Highness, Shin and Chin are not the only ones here," Maria points out anxiously upon hearing this.
"I know, I'm just already saying that you guys here no longer part of that "general" population. Once we're at war with the demonoids, you'll be an important part of our forces," August briefly explained with sternness, sturgeon anxiety in the hearts of his classmates, excluding the monstrous twins.
"Now that you put it that way, it just came to us that we're all really different from others now," Alice notices.
"So we're finally a special unit now huh?" Yuri adds.
"We're gonna need to learn more magic now…!" Lyn nervously thought out loud.
"So August, what is the new information then?" Chin wonders.
"According to recent reports, the demonoids are running riots in the empire. The destruction and immense damages caused to the villages and towns were utterly disastrous. Every single person, both commoner and of nobility, are all killed. Since these are demonoid that we are talking about, others should not take this lightly. Our nations must form a coalition if we are to defeat them, or we won't stand a chance," August relays the current situations, stirring the atmosphere with his heavy words.
"So, even after all that misery, all we can do is sit back and watch," Shin adds with worry.
"That's right, and what's worse is that there are more demonoids after each attack," August strictly points out, shocking everyone in the group.
"It appears they're able to swiftly multiply, or turn others into demonoids, like Kurt's case," Chin thought out loud with loitering thoughts on the matter.
'Schtrom, just what is your plan in all of these atrocities? That settles it…' Shin trailed off in his thoughts. "Chin, I think we have to put our plan into motion."
"Glad you brought that up, 'was hoping to ask you about it," Chin follows up.
"What plan do you guys have in mind?" August asks.
"We're holding a training camp!" the twins gleefully replied.
"A training camp!?" Everyone exclaimed in ambivalence.
"I was thinking that you two might say that," August worriedly deadpans.
"Yes! I'm all in! This is gonna be exciting!" Alice rejoices with stars in her eyes.
"Well, summer break is approaching already so…?" Chin points out.
"Ah I see, so an enrichment camp of sorts," Tony understood.
"Yeah! We're going to need more training and experience if we wanna stop those demonoids," Maria agrees with the idea.
"So we're going to work out butts out to get stronger, sounds good!" Lyn eagerly replies.
"Okay then, where are we going to train?" Yuri wonders, making the twins look at each other in deep thought.
"Well, we can do magic exercises here and then have somewhere else to stay and rest after sessions," Shin wonders with his thoughts out loud.
"In my opinion, I'd highly prefer a place that could ease everyone's moods after long tiring days, to also maintain morale somehow," Chin maturely spoke.
"Chin, no offense, you talked like an old guy just now," Maria teasingly deadpans, shocking Chin and making everyone burst in laughter.
'Well, I do recall that he usually goes to the public baths and hot springs back in Japan, so I can understand that,' Shin nervously kept in his thoughts.
"Chin, actually that can work out, just ask someone here if we could lodge in their lands," August recommended.
"Lands?" Chin asks for clarification.
"Nobles generally have their own private lands," August answered.
"My parents' place is a district for craftsmen," Thor replied.
"Mine is a seaport, so it's not really a place to kickback," Maria answered.
"A seaport? So you guys have lots of fish then? Mind if I stop by there sometime?" Chin eagerly asks with motives at mind.
"Ah—well, not sure…? I think you can, why?" Maria wonders, looking at Chin's face deep in his own thoughts.
"My place has a resort area!" Julius straightforwardly answered.
'A warrior coming from a resort town?' the twins silently wondered in confusion.
"How about there then?" Shin asks before getting a tap on his shoulder by Chin.
"I don't think that's a good idea brother," Chin sternly advised.
"Why?" Shin asks.
"A demonoid scare in a resort area?" August retorts, taking Shin aback upon realizing this.
"Oh! Then Sizilien's place will work right!?" Maria slyly suggests, getting the attention of Sizilien and the twins. "Her family owns a hot spring area!"
"Wait really?!" Chin eagerly and excitedly asks for clarification upon hearing his nostalgic dreams coming true.
"Yes, if it is ok with everyone…" Sizilien answered.
"Then by all means, yes please," Shin kindly asks for Sizilien's permission.
"Of course!" Sizilien gladly replied back.
Next Location: At the Wise Man and the Guru's manor…
"Oh? A camp?" Melida wonders from Shin and Chin's bold suggestion.
"Hoho, well, given the circumstances, I don't find any problem seeing that you should be equipping them with hard training," Merlin replies.
"Well, putting that aside, what are you going to do about supervision?" Melida asks with concern.
"Oh about that, I trust Chin with handling and managing some of our training activities to—"
"I did not mean "that" kind of supervision?! Do you not know that you are all going out with boys and girls that are of age and travelling into a foreign environment under the same roof by yourselves!? I will not allow it! I cannot allow it!" Melida sternly scolded at the twins with her grandmotherly instinct.
"W-well, now that you mention that, we do have Aug with us, a member of the royal family," Shin nervously deadpans.
"B-but Grandma, we promise to give it our all to protect our classmates. I'd hate to lose them after being in their company as a class and a merry study group," Chin nervously reassures.
"Ho? Are you sure you really hate to lose all of them? Or one of them to be exact?" Melida slyly pries into Chin's squeamish complexion, making him blush deep red and making Merlin burst loud in laughter. "Well, I can see from where you're getting at Chin. But I still am against leaving you two and your classmates with yourselves without adult supervision. Hence, I shall make it my duty to oversee your training and company."
"What?! Really Grandma!?" Chin excitedly asks.
"Of course don't forget me! I'm coming too!" Merlin crashes into the scene, irritating Melida in the process with his hasty and carefree decision.
"Really?! Thanks you guys!" Shin gratefully replies.
"That's because nothing good ever happens if I leave you two alone after all, even if one of you has a more sensible mind," Melida frightens both Shin and Chin with her menacing parental stare.
"Wa-wait! We're learning to be more careful already…!" Shin nervously replies with Chin staring at him in annoyance.
"Is that a fact?" Melida wonders sarcastically.
"Even I cannot side with you," Merlin agrees with the strict Guru.
"But of course since he took after you," Melida sarcastically deadpans with her sharp tongue, stinging Merlin's old pride.
"There there Gramps," "It's fine Gramps," the twins comforted their depressed grandfather.
Next Location: Outside of the manor of the Wise man and the Guru during the beginning of school break…
"Whoa! The Wise Man and the Guru!" Alice exclaimed excitedly.
"Ah, morning," "How do you do?" Melida and Merlin formally inquired.
"Good morning!" The entire S-rank classroom greets and bows in respect to the legendary magic-wielders in the kingdom. "Thank you very much for this!"
They all swiftly gathered and went to their respective carriages to head to their camp destination in the Klodes' estate. However, as they slowly departed from their meeting point…
"Hey, it will take two days to reach our camp on horses, won't they get tired along the way?" Shin wonders.
"Wait, those glowing stones, could they be—?"
"Oh good, so you've noticed, Chin?" Melida interjects. "They are enchanted harnesses, and I think you can guess the enchantments that are working."
"Now that's awesome! We won't need to worry about detours then!" Chin admires their wise teacher of a grandmother.
"Oooh," Shin responded in monotone awe.
"Hey hey, do you even realize who developed these?" Maria deadpanned sternly.
"Wait, did Chin—"
"Wrong," Chin points to Melida, astounding Shin upon realization.
"Initially, enchanted items were generally used for combat, but Mistress Melida is focused on developing enchanted items for everyday use," Sizilien explained. "By improving and influencing the lives of the people, everyone calls her the Guru, as a sign or respect."
"Oooh, is that so?" Shin and Chin, feeling intrigued, look to Melida, who appears to be flustered while holding her head high with pride for her achievements.
"What are you staring at?" Melida notices shyly.
"Just wondering out of realization that you are an inventor, is all," Chin plainly said, confusing their grandmother with the term.
"Inventor? What is that?" Melida asks curiously.
"It describes a person who creates useful everyday things that improve people's lives. I once planned to aspire in becoming one, but never thought that Grandma would actually be one," Chin deadpans.
"Oh shut it!" Melida barks, making their whole coach explode in laughter.
"Well, you're really something else, Granny," Shin cheers.
"Th-that was a long time ago! Enough already," Melida responded.
"Hoho, well, she's never been able to gracefully accept a compliment," Merlin briefly explained.
'W-we can imagine that...' the twins thought to themselves.
"All of you! Enough is enough!" Melida barked, scaring everyone in the coach.
Next location: Halfway on their trip to the Claudes' estate...
Everyone is dead tired on their continued trip while resting on the coach to save their strength. However, that peaceful moment was gone after…
"Pst, Chin, Chin get up," Shin nudges on Chin's knee to get his attention.
"Huh whaha? What's going on?" Chin groggily responds as he realigns his spectacles and wakes Maria in process, who was drooling over his shoulder.
"Sh, do you feel that?" Shin warns.
"...yeah, some eerie presence is nearby," Chin quickly realizes.
"Demons again," Maria and Sizilien responded.
"Yeah, and they're medium-sized ones," August adds.
With haste, the carriages and the coaches have all halted by a nearby mountain pass, to meet with their unwanted enemies. The demon wolves that were waiting for their next dinner as dusk rolls in. The drivers are all shivering with cold feet from sighting upon the sheer numbers of the medium-sized demon wolves, whereas the rest are merely calm with an unexpected thought.
"So, who would like to take them?" Thor straightforwardly asks.
"I want to!" "I would love to!" "I'd like to go!" Alice, Yuri, and Tony eagerly responded.
"Wait, let's use these instead," Shin plainly suggested as he takes out a bundle of sticks in a cup out of his dimensional storage compartment.
"Really, right now?" Chin wonders with a slight hint of annoyance while scratching his head.
"What are you doing with those in your storage?" Maria adds.
"Being ready for anything," Shin plainly answered, making both Chin and Maria to sighly hold their faces.
Everyone manages to get a stick out of the cup and prepares to reveal their chances.
"Who's up!" they cheered for their chances.
"Yes! I won!" Lyn excitedly replied.
"Aw, I lost!" Yuri lamented.
With all that is said, Lyn, as a reward for winning, faces off with the pack of demon wolves that are blocking their way to their destination. Meanwhile, August, Shin and Chin are at the forefront to make sure things go well.
In a split second, the demon wolves start to charge right onto Lyn, while she swiftly summons bolts of erratic lightning and then forcibly projects them that it manages to control gusts of wind and blow the demon wolves up sky high before flaunting her short hair with a satisfied smug on her face.
"Ahhh, piece of cake," Lyn sighs with content.
"You finally learned to control your power. You get an A plus for your effort," Chin compliments.
"True, but if you put more control in your magic power, you may be able to engage it faster," Shin advised.
"I can? Okay, noted. I'll pay more attention next time," Lyn accepts.
"Th-those medium-sized demons…" The drivers were left in awe of what just happened to a pack of those demons and seeing the others enter the fray in "torturing" the demons blocking their path.
"It appears that everyone has improved," Merlin points out cheerfully.
"I'll say…" Chin continues as he leans onto the carriage while waiting for the battle to subside.
"I still can't believe that we're doing this to other people's children," Melida lamented, making both Chin and Merlin softly laugh in response.
Next Location: Entering the City of Klode…
Finally, at dusk, they've arrived in the city where the Klode estate rests, the destination of their training camp.
"Welcome to the city of Klode!" Sizilien welcomes.
"Whoa, it really is a hot spring town!" Shin looks over the window, seeing the oriental looking infrastructures, the clean heated waters by the sidewalks, and the numerous bath houses around the vicinity. "Hey Chin! Chin?"
Unresponsive, Chin merely looks over with nostalgia upon seeing the hot springs from the fleeting memories of his past life, uncontrollably shedding tears, which worried Maria for a moment.
"Hey! Chin! Are you...alright?" Maria asks with concern.
"Wha-oh yeah, never better. I'm just...overjoyed to see these hot springs once again…!" Chin sobbed lightly.
"Don't worry about him, he just really loves dipping in hot springs," Shin assured.
"Ooohh, I see," Maria sighs with relief.
Next Location: Outside of the Klode Manor…
"Everyone, we have arrived!" Sizilien welcomes.
"Welcome back, Miss Sizilien!" The maidservants and manservants of the Klode household greeted at their doorstep.
"I've missed you all!" Sizilien replies to the servants.
"Welcome, Prince August, Mistress Guru, Master Wise Man. It is an honor to meet you," the servants welcomed their esteemed guests. "And a welcome to all of your schoolmates as well."
"To one of our new heroes, Shin Wolford," the servants suddenly got Shin's attention. "Please offer our Miss Sizilien a long and happy life together."
From this, everyone was taken by surprise, more so for Shin and Sizilien.
"W-w-w-what are you guys talking about!? W-we haven't said anything about anything!?" Sizilien pleads with her servants.
"Oh nevermind about that, now come right on in and enjoy your stay, everyone!" The servants let all in their class, along with the Wise Man and the Guru, into the mansion.
"Wh-what are you looking at?!" Shin wonders, looking at the silly grins on August, Melida, Maria, and Chin.
"Nothing, you must all be worn out from today's journey, so why don't we all rest tonight. Camp shall commence tomorrow," Merlin and Melida advised, trying to change the subject.
Next Location: In the residential hot spring…
All the members of the training camp enter the hot spring baths separated by genders as they indulge in relaxation in the steamy herbally-infused waters, rejuvenating their tired spirits from the long trip in the carriages.
"Ahhhh! Onsen is the best!" Shin sighs in relief while holding a cold wet towel over his head.
"Ooooh yes, I feel reborn…!" Merlin lets out in relief from the relaxing bath. "Everyone, thank you for palling around with my boys, Shin and Chin."
"Grandpa?" Shin wonders why he says that.
"You see, they both never had friends their age. I've always felt sorry about that. However, I'm delighted that no sooner did they start school and then find their way into the hearts of so many good friends. For that, I am very much grateful," Merlin thanked everyone that was able to put up with the monstrosity of the twins.
"No, not at all, Master Merlin. I'm the one who should be thanking you," August replied in return. "As the first prince, I never had a friend who saw me as an equal. I'd given up, thinking that it wasn't meant to be. But when I met Shin and Chin, they treated me informally like a cousin, or another brother perhaps. And for that, I should be thankful."
"Auggie…" Chin murmured in a realizing response before wiping steam off of his spectacles.
"Bowen! Wolford!" Mark called for their attention. "You two have done so much for me and my father!"
"Mhm, being you, there were barely any dull moments, and it was fun," Thor replied.
"The nobility also only took notice of me, but you treat me as one of your own," Julius replied.
"You two have a unique perspective after all. I prefer the company of girls, but I appreciate guy friends too," Tony replied.
"You guys...Grandpa!" Shin calls for Merlin's attention."We are grateful, for raising us and teaching us with great care. Without you, we would not have been who we are right now."
"We also made friends along the way, Thank you Grandpa," Chin thanked.
From hearing those heartfelt replies, Merlin's tears of joy exploded like sprinklers with utter gratitude.
'Ah, we made Gramps cry again,' the twins thought.
"Hmmmm, I wonder what she is doing right now? More importantly, when can the open air hot spring be open for the guys…" Chin sighs in disappointment, neglecting his loose glasses that submerged into the hot pool.
Next Location: In the women's bath…
"Whoa! It's spacious!" Olivia marvels at the open air bath before immersing herself in the rejuvenating pool with the other girls.
"I can feel my fatigue melting away…!" Yuri sighs in relief.
"Ah...it warms me right down to my bones! I understand now why Chin was eager to experience this feeling…" Melida sighs in relief.
"I am glad you like it!" Sizilien responded.
"Hm? Is something the matter?" Melida notices Maria staring at her.
"Ah no! I was just admiring at how you have a nice figure," Maria replied embarrassingly.
"Ah, I was using some exercising equipment that Shin made," Melida answered.
"What I did was walking and running on a moving belt that moves on its own. Although, there was an embarrassing moment where Chin pulled a fast one on me and tinkered with the equipment that once made it unusable for a time. He was quite a handful back then, maybe because that old fool took care of him and taught him many things in my absence," Melida adds, making Merlin, Shin and Chin, sneeze and wonder if it's time to exit the pool, whereas the girls—more specifically, Maria—explode in laughter about an embarrassing past.
"Oh! Can I try using it!?" Alice eagerly asks.
"Yeah yeah! Can we?!" Lyn also asks.
"Well, I don't mind, but from what I've been told by those two: If you work out too much, you could end up making your breasts smaller," Melida advised, scaring the two eager ladies.
'Wait, I recall a certain set of recommended meals that they've formulated for such cases, but oh well, I'll leave them to their own to figure it out,' Melida thought to herself. "However, if you want to learn how to attain an ample bosom, you should refer to those two," she adds, pointing to Sizilien and Yuri.
At an instant, the envious of the group released all of their inner frustrations as they eagerly harassed and targeted the two defenseless muses, along with Olivia, for only a moment until they are satisfied—all the while, making the boys from the indoor pool a tad uneasy from the erotic noises coming from the open bath.
"So, why does exercising so much make your breasts smaller?" Alice broke the silence with her curiosity.
"Well, from what Shin says, when you move a lot, you burn fat right? So, when you exercise too much, you lose the fats in your breasts as well," Melida briefly explained.
"Heeh, how did Shin know about something like that?" Maria asks.
"Oh those boys, they've done a lot of experiments behind my back, some of which are quite eccentric. Maybe that was how he found it," Melida replied. "However, it dawned on me that those two never had anyone to call them friends. That is why I am grateful that all of you are his friends."
"Mistress Melida, I'm the one who's truly thankful for having met Shin," Sizilien replied.
"Me too! Things got more lively with those two around!" Maria smirked.
"Yes, I especially thank you, young ladies, for making my boys' faces light up," Melida teased, making both Maria and Sizilien blush bright like tomatoes.
"The both of them taught us all really cool magic and stuff!" Alice adds.
"We're the ones that gained the most," "Very lucky indeed," Yuri and Lyn replied.
"You girls...okay, that settles it!" Melida gets fired up with a bold declaration. "We're going to properly train you all in this training camp, too!"
"You and Master Merlin!?" "You really mean it!?" Yuri and Maria were left in awe.
"Yeah! And in return, you're all going to need to work hard! So you better get ready!" Melida warns, getting a loud "yes" from the girls in return.
Next Location: In a dimly lit corridor of the von Claude residence…
Maria blankly stares at the clear night sky in her warm bathrobes, sipping on hot warm milk shortly after a jolly party for their arrival at the camp's destination. However, as she tries to relax herself, troubling thoughts are lurking at the back of her mind.
'When will this war end…? When will peace return to us…? Will I even be able to get married…!? Will Chin even reciprocate my feelings for him!?' Maria thought to herself, gradually blushing brighter from her own train of thought.
"Maria?"
Suddenly startled, Maria turns back to see Chin with a tad anxious look in his bare eyes, wearing his spectacles hanging on the collar of his bathrobes.
"Maria, is something the matter? You seem troubled," Chin asks with concern, reassuring Maria.
At that point, Maria musters up her courage to speak her heartfelt condition to her first love.
"Chin!" Maria got his full attention. "Actually, there really is something troubling me, but I only want you to hear it."
"I see, go on. I'm open," Chin assures her as he cleans his spectacles and then wears them for a clearer vision.
With a deep breath, Maria stares seriously at Chin with these precious words:
"Chin...I...love you…"
Chin, taken aback with his eyes wide open and a flustered complexion in response, asks in confusion for confirmation.
"C-c-come again?"
Maria looks straight at him again and then tackles him into a tight hug as a way to ensure her chances of having her love reciprocated.
"Chin, I love you, I've never felt much joy from having met a guy like you. You are the first boy that made me feel this way, and I'm not kidding!" Maria stares straight into his eyes with her feelings spilling out in the form of tears dropping from her rubylike eyes.
In return, Chin hugs her back tightly with his tears leaking and dripping over his spectacles, knowing that his love was not left unrequited and responded to her confession
"Maria, do you really feel this way? For me?" Chin, trying to fight his tears, looks straight into Maria's eyes.
"Idiot, why else would I tell you that I like you...if I never did," Maria pouts and turns away while embarrassingly tries to hide her blushing face, lying on Chin's well-toned chest that is partially covered by his bathrobes.
"In that case, will you accept my love, Maria? I wish to confess, I too love you dearly, and treasure you deeply. But I was worried that you only see me as a brother or friend. To think that this is not a dream, but reality...I don't know what to say," Chin adds while warming Maria with his embrace.
"Yes...by the way, Chin, what are we going to do with the others? Should we let them know?" Maria contemplates.
"Hmmm, well, we can do that, but does not necessarily have to be soon. Let's just absorb this moment for a while longer," Chin assures an overjoyed Maria, ignoring someone who has watched over her cute grandson maturing up faster than expected before being called out by the others.
After that, the night ended on a good note for everyone, preparing them to rest for the next day to start their training.
-To Be Continued-
A/N: Bubble Bomb is a spell found from "In a Different World With a Smartphone," wherein it is a concussive water spell in the appearance of an explosive and gaseous bubble that explodes upon contact with the power of at least a hand grenade.