Chapter 4 : Red in Woe

"What's this commotion?!"

Someone entered the room,that must be the head of the house,and her wife.

I know she's not dead, it's just not a good sight if you see your daughter beaten up by a stranger in your own house.

"You...Excellent!"

"Wha–?"

"Paul is right about you,you can even go toe-to-toe with our daughter! No,you even defeated her! Just when I thought I lost all hope!"

Eris woke up and dusted herself.

"You... You're worthy of teaching me."

"S–sure, it's my pleasure."

What's happening?

I thought I'll just teach her in academics. If it's like this why not hire father instead?

Well,father...He probably thinks this is good for my training...I just answered my own question.

Moving on,they let me set my luggage in my room,and went on a little tour of their manor with a maid, she explains my duty on our way.

Wait,is that Eris I see covered in bondage?Sheesh...If looks could kill,feels like she wants to devour me whole.

_

Day 4 in this manor,they didn't let me see Eris for 2 days because she's still in the progress of healing,but it's more like so that she won't attack me at first sight and overexert herself,I just knew it.

And here she is,facing me. Bold and proud.

What?Wanna fight again?

"Show me your magic."

"Huh–?Alright."

Turns out she's having difficulty when it comes to magic.

So I figured she'd learn best if I did the same method as I did with Sylphy.

"Here,hold my hands."

"Gross!"

"Stupid, It's not like that!"

"Ouch,why your hand is so cold?!"

"Wha–?!My arm is freezing,but I don't feel it at all!"

That's better. It may seem easy the way I do it,but trust me it's more complicated than that.

But why ice?

Well,I just thought it'd help her cool-off her attitude.

But of course,I won't tell her that.

_

1 month later, we're having another mock battle.

It resulted in my win.

*Sniff–Hicc*

Wait... She's crying?

"Why–Why I can't win?!"

Oh...

"After all those years of hardwork, and it all just amounted to this?! I'm faster, I'm stronger! But when it comes to you I can't even land a hit!"

"*Sniff*–I just don't want to disappoint everyone!"

Ah... We're not so different,then.

I won't offer my hand to get her up, that's an insult to her pride...And she probably don't want to hear anything from me,not like I have anything useful to say.

Just let her be... She's strong,she can take care of her own.I respect that.

She stumbles upon her mother as she left, she didn't meet her eyes as to not show her tears.

"E–Eris,dear!"

She's constantly wiping her tears away to no avail.

"Rudy,have you gone too far this time? What happened?"

And explain I did.

"I see...Are we putting on too much burden on her shoulders?..But it's the best for her,for her future."

I and Eris really do have a lot in common.

"Ugh,this heat is stressing me...Let's go have a seat at that table."

...

"So...How's your family back in your village?"

"They're doing fine,but I do imagine them itching so much to shout "Rudy,go back here and practice!",haha–!"

"Are they really that strict?"

I showed her my wrist full of scars.

"Oh Gosh–! Why are they abusing you like this?!"

"Calm down,Ms. Hilda...All of these are just results of my training."

"But still,this is too much."

"Yes...Every scars will deepen the rift between the child and the parent."

She didn't answer, contemplating...

"P-perhaps you're right."

I didn't reply, I think that's the limit of how far I can meddle with their family affairs.

I said goodbye and left.

But my day isn't done yet, a manor this big won't be sleeping even at midnight. So I help doing some manual labor for some extra pay,then my day is done.

...

It's so peaceful tonight as well...Sylphy,I wonder what she's up to these days?

If she's not training, that's fine too. Not like training is the only thing there is in life,a kid her age has so much time in their hands,they don't worry what comes next.

Chapter 4 End.