"to answer your first question... To be honest there nothing wrong with you."
paul said that.
but his face is saying other thing.
his face was dark.
"Nothing wrong with me? you lying to my face right now?"
"N-no lucy we not lying or any-"
"Then what is it? my hair?"
when i cut him off and mention my hair his face stiff up.
it seem to have something to do with my hair after all.
"..."
i stare at paul for a while but he not speak anything.
then zenith who stay silent the whole time look at me.
"We really meant it when we said there nothing wrong with you lucy. it just..."
"People's view on thing."
people's view on thing?
what do you mean?
seeing my confuse face paul continue to speak.
"To answer your second question The Superd is a race in the demon continent,They have a gem on their forehead and an emerald green hair..."
emerald green hair... the same as me.
but why did roxy faint?
while thinking about that paul continue to speak.
"During the Laplace war, they are the race that serve demon god laplace. During the campaign they gain fame as warrior in the war but then the suddenly they start to kill everything even their own race..."
paul said with a grim face.
the laplace war that happend around 400 year ago.
so there was a race like that.
"So that why my hair scare her so much huh.."
"And for the third question..."
paul look at me waithing to see my reaction.
but well i already know the third answer so it not really that important.
"It ok i think i know why now."
"I'm sorry i should told you this much sooner."
"Stop with that look dad, i know you do it for my own good."
well paul expression is much brighter than before and zenith is still has the same gently smile.
we talk about a lot of thing for a while when we heard explosion sound.
we rush to the backyard and see that zenith beloved tree snap in half.
zenith quickly rush to scold roxy for using her tree as a practice target.
when paul and i saw that we laugh together.
it seem this fun time will continue.
[Paul perspective]
It already been a year since roxy come to our family.
Lucy is turning 7 and rudy is 4 now.
it seem that rudy magic progression is going well but his swordmanship is still just at the beginner phase.
but for lucy it a different story, her swordmanship is already catch up to me if not for my well develop body and experience i may already lose to her.
Her magic training which she receive occasionally is also going well she already advance in water magic and she learn all the healing and detoxification magic from both roxy and zenith.
lucy is really a genius, she matures faster and alway open about everything.
she may figure out that we not her real parent...
But she still call us dad and mom which I'm really grateful for.
She should have more opportunity than this, more than this little village can give her.
I got a letter from Philip that they found a Sword king ghislaine as their bodyguard and that his daughter is turning six this year.
maybe he looking for a playmate for his daughter by sending me this letter.
should i sent lucy there?
with ghislaine there she should be able to polish her swordmanship better than here.
And as much as i hate to admit it that meathead is stronger than me.
but what should i do?
should i keep her here or sent her out?
i don't know what to do anymore..
"What are you think so hard about?"
"Zenith?"
"Hmm Is that a letter from Philip?"
"Yeah."
i show her the letter and she let out a giggle sound.
"It seem he want to boast about his daugther to you."
"Yeah...,Say zenith what do you think about lucy?"
when i ask that zenith face stiff.
Then she change her expression to that of a gentle one.
she sit next to me and put her head on my shoulder.
"She...Is a blessing to us. She genius and have gut ready to do everything. maybe this little village don't have anything to offer her."
"So you think like that too huh..."
alright i decide it.
seeing my expression zenith let out a little giggle before going to bed.
Clang cling Clack!!
metal sound rang through the front yard.
two sword hitting each other.
"hyaa!!"
lucy rush at me from the front and she seing her sword upward.
i dodge to the left and kick her But she bent her body backward and avoid my kick.
She improving so much just from seeing my attack for the first time and she already prepare a counter measures against me.
This time i rush at her and in the blink of and eyes i already in front of her.
She didn't panics her grip tightens and look at me as i swing my sword downward.
when my sword about the slash her head a Clank sound come.
My sword didn't slash her head, she use her sword and parry it and hit me with the handle of her sword.
"Arg!"
"Ha..ha..haaa...I-i did it!!!"
"I hit dad for the first time!!!"
she cheer loudly.
ahhh i finally got hit by my daughter...
lilia who was watching from the door hand me a towel.
"here you are master."
"Thank lilia"
with that little exchange lilia walk toward lucy.
when lilia about to hand her a towel lucy went in to hug lilia.
lilia make a surprise expression but she soon change to gentle one and hug back.
it seem the two of them is becoming closer.
but maybe this time won't last much longer.
i get up and walk toward lucy.
When she saw that her face quickly change from a joyful one to a smug one.
"Did you see that! i hit you today like i promise Hahahaha!"
"yes yes my daugther is really strong!"
i play with her head a bit but perhaps sensing my feeling she ask.
"What wrong?"
"..."
i get down on my knee and match my gaze with her.
"Listen carefully lucy, do you want to get stronger?"
seeing my expression she change her as well.
"...Yes i want to get stronger."
"Why do you want to become stronger?"
Hearing my question her face frozen.
she keep open her mouth and close it again for a while.
She keep think while looking around.
then she found rudy who reading what roxy give him to read.
her face change.
"To protect Rudy and everyone And that includes you too dad."
it was and answer that i was half expecting.
"Even if you have to leave this place for a while?"
"...Yes!"
okay i decide.
i pull her close and give her a hug.
"Pack you thing lucy and you will leave in three day..."
she make a surprise expression but then change to joyful one.
"I understand dad!"
she quickly ran inside the house and leave me behind.
"It going to be lonely without her around..."
"...We should go in as well master, the weather has been cold lately.
i nod at lilia commented and went inside.
[lucy perspective.]
Thud thud thud.
the sound of my footstep rang in my ear.
i was at the front of my house.
At the gate that will open to the village.
ever since i was born here i never leave this gate once in my life.
but it seem my first time leaving this gate is here and i can't come back for a while.
maybe two or three year?
"Ready to leave lucy?"
paul standing next to me.
his face is that of a painful one.
it seem he really regret his decision to let me go.
"Um i already pack everything."
"right..."
we stand next to each other but no word come out.
it was still dark outside.
i chooses to leave when everyone is still sleeping.
but it seem paul know it and with for me.
i reach my hand for the gate when i heard a footstep.
i feel a hand warping around me.
a warm and gentle hug from behind.
"She really did take after you huh..."
a gentle voice that belong to zenith.
she hug me tightly without saying anything.
and then she let go of her hand.
when i turn back i saw lilia standing next to her too.
she is holding something.
she walk up toward me and hand me a cape.
it was big but in a few year it should fit me perfectly.
she didn't say anything.
and just step back to her position.
i take the cape and put it on me.
i smile at lilia and turn back to the gate.
"huuu...fuuuu."
after a deep breath i open the little gate in front of me.
With just a tiny step i walk out.
the outside that i dream of.
it was quite and refreshing.
i continue to walk forward without looking back.