-Sylphiette-

  Five years after learning about the Greyrat family's situation, I was getting lessons alongside Paul's two daughters. Aisha's maroon hair and round face made it clear she was Lilia's child. Norn, on the other hand, took after Zenith. Despite her troubles with conception, they had given birth to daughters at nearly the same time. While Norn inherited her mother's delicate features and blonde hair, she was more morose than her mother. Meanwhile, Aisha was far more devious than I expected of Lilia's child.

  “Sylphiette, it's time for sword practice.” Norn was quick to abandon her magical studies when given the chance, picking up her practice sword and dashing for the door.

  “Alright.” I found a good stopping place and made to follow her.

  “Hey!” Aisha shot up, still holding the book she was studying. “I still need help with learning this fire spell!”

  “Sorry, Aisha.” I grabbed my sword as well, ready to move onto the second set of lessons for the day. “I have to be fair. We studied all morning. Why not ask Zenith for help?”

  “She's only good at healing magic.” Puffing her cheeks out, she tossed the spell book onto the table. “This is hard! We need more time!”

  “We'll get back to it tomorrow.” I made to leave the house. I knew Aisha was frustrated, but there wasn't much else I could do. We'd struggled to learn magic from books alone, but it was our only option. “For now, practice beginner spells. Stepping away from the Intermediate Tier magic might help you get a fresh perspective for tomorrow.”

  “Fine.” Aisha gave up the fight. As selfish as she could be, I'm sure she knew how important sword practice was for me and her sister.

  In the Greyrat's yard, I sparred with Norn. She had taken after her father, learning the sword from as early as she could remember. I had years of experience to pull from, but the early start made her techniques feel more refined. Even though I barely held back, she still won most of our matches. I was glad to have someone closer to my level. It made learning the basics a bit easier, since Paul had a bad habit of going all out against me.

  “Stop holding back!” Norn shouted after another win. “It's not good practice if you aren't taking it seriously.”

  “I was being serious.” This was Norn's major flaw. She thought I was far more skilled than I was, or perhaps she believed she wasn't so talented. In truth, the only thing I restrained from using was magic, simply because it wasn't fair. Norn had never had the knack for spell craft. “I want to make sure you at least reach Advanced Tier before using my North God Style against you. You'll need a battle aura to avoid getting hurt.”

  In general, Norn didn't stick to any one style. Like her father, she used all three to adapt to situations. The Sword God Style was good for quick and precise attacks meant to end fights before an opponent could act. The Water God Style was adapt at defense and responding to attacks. The North God Style used any means to attain victory. This was my specialty, and Norn's weakest. It required clever thinking and a range of skills. I'm certain she would one day become adapt in it as well.

  Unfortunately, splitting her attention meant she wasn't able to refine any one technique. If she had trained in one school, she might have learned to control her battle aura faster. As she was, she could only tap into its potential infrequently. Even I struggled to get consistent results from it. Once she had mastered her battle aura, she'd be able to use her mana to increase her physical strength and defense. It was the greatest necessity for combatants the world over. Mastering her battle aura would make her an Advanced Swordswoman. Then, I'd fight her with all I had.

  “Good job, Norn. Now, take five. It's time for Sylphie and I to spar.”

  “Fine!” Norn looked annoyed. She also wanted to spar with Paul, but he coddled her, so she knew she'd just suffer the same frustration as when she fought me. When it was time for us to spar, it always took up the rest of the lesson, which added to her displeasure. While I enjoyed the privilege, a part of me was envious of that gentle touch he showed Norn. It was a softness I never received. Right before going back inside, she shouted at her father. “Don't go too hard on Sylphiette! She's still a girl.”

  “I always do!” Paul readied himself. I never believed him when he said he was holding back. I hadn't won a single match with him since he started training Norn. Any time I made progress, it was only by inches. I was irritated with how he still treated me like a son after all these years, but at least it meant I never rested on my laurels. “Ready?”

  “Yes, sir!”

  As soon as I started sparring with Paul, I began casting magic. It was a difficult style of swordplay. Spells needed incantations to work, and a free hand to channel the mana, so it took time and concentration to use. Add onto that attacking, blocking and parrying blows, and it felt almost senseless to rely on it. However, once the spell was cast, I had an advantage.

  I had a knack for wind magic and found many ways to use it to my aid my swordplay. Depending on my position when the chant ended, I'd adapt the spell to fit the situation. If I was striking, I could throw Paul off balance or add greater force to my swing. If I was defending, draping my sword in wind aided me in deflecting strikes. Most importantly, I could maneuver with great speed if I sent the magic to my feet. It was the purest form of the North God Style, changing tactics at a moment's notice to claim victory.

  There was one problem: Paul was a ruthless opponent. While I had tripped him up the first time I'd added magic to my repertoire, he had adapted just as quickly to counter it. He was even more skilled in North God Style, as you'd expect from an Advanced Tier swordsman. He knew when to ground himself to avoid losing his footing. He would strengthen his guard when my strikes were given greater weight. The only thing that still threw him off was when I moved in unnatural ways.

  Our current duel ended with my latest attempt at tricking him. I made to circle around to his left, where he often left small openings. Seeing this, Paul started to slash across my path. Whether I sped up or kept my pace, I would be within the arc of his sword. Instead, as I finished my spell, I used it to redirect myself. Pushing my body to his right, I swung under his arm, ready to finally claim my victory.

  But, I was still too slow. Paul stopped his swing mid arc, slamming down with his elbow. He bashed my wrist a moment before my attack found it's mark. The pain caused me to drop my sword. Having left me disarmed, he put the wooden blade to my throat, claiming another victory.

  “Good job. You nearly got me.” Paul lowered his sword and rustled my hair. I kept it short all these years, so it wasn't like he was messing it up, but it still irritated me. He was still treating me like his son. “I'm sure you'll get me next time.”

  “Yes, sir!” I was closer than I'd been in months. Maybe I would get him next time. I just needed an extra little edge. “So, what do you want to talk about today?”

  “That's a good question...” Over the years, I had heard every story Paul had about the Fangs of the Black Wolf. Recently, even Norn was starting to notice the tales of his adventures were being repeated. So, when it was just the two of us, we simply talked. “How about this: Do you have a crush?”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “What?” I was surprised to hear Paul wanting to talk about romance. “Why bring that up?”

  “Well, you're getting to that age. Surely you have someone you want to spend time with. You know, besides my family.”

  “Not really...” I thought of all the people in town. Most were married couples, with a few elders watching over the village in their old age. I had learned the three boys were lying about having more friends. They were the only other children in town. While I didn't hate them like I used to, I hardly saw them as anything more than brats. Aside from my father, Paul was the only man I really respected. “There's no one in this town worth looking up to besides you.”

  Paul was quick to shoot down that idea. “Hold on. You shouldn't have a crush on me or anyone like me.”

  “I know. Lilia told me about how you assaulted her.” I gave him a cold stare. What he had done to his second wife when they were both young was disgusting. “I will avoid boys that remind me of you.”

  “That's fair. You didn't need to be so blunt about it though.” Scratching the back of his head, Paul looked towards his house. Despite his sins, he was a loving husband now. “Just make sure whatever girl you find is going to treat you right.”

  I sighed, disappointed with the usual mix up. “You confused me with a boy again.”

  “N-no I didn't. You could get a girlfriend. You're certainly dashing enough.”

  “But Girls are supposed to like guys.”

  “Hold up. Let me stop you there.” Paul stopped panicking and sat on the ground across from me. Looking me straight in the eyes, I knew he had something serious to discuss. I folded my legs under me and sat up straight. “You remember Talhand and Elinalise?”

  “Yes. They were your party members.” I was already confused. Why were we talking about his old adventure stories again?

  “Well, just like me, they didn't have the type of relationships you usually see in Buena village. Talhand was a dwarven man, but he preferred the company of other men.”

  “So, he had a husband?”

  Paul went pale for a second. He took a second to respond, seemingly trying to dance around a direct answer. “Well, not husbands. More like boyfriends?”

  “Okay?” I didn't really understand the difference, but it was clear I wouldn't get a straight answer out of him. “And what about Elinalise?”

  “Right, she had a ton of, uh, boyfriends too. She would keep company with anyone who caught her eye.”

  “So she was a skirt chaser like you?”

  “Uh, I think short chaser would be more accurate, but close enough.” Paul seemed to be getting distracted, but collected himself after a few seconds. “Anyways, my point is there's all types of ways to find love. Whether it's a Dwarf finding a man, an elf with her own conga line of boys, or a scumbag like me having two wives. Don't worry about what other people consider normal. Just find someone who makes you happy. Boy or girl.”

  “I get it.” That all made sense. Ever since finding out about the Greyrat household's unique situation, I had felt like things weren't as black and white as people liked to think. Seeing things that way was how the boys in town ended up treating me like a demon, so I was more than happy to throw away whatever others considered normal. Still, that wasn't addressing the real problem. “But that doesn't change how you keep treating me differently.”

  It was Paul's turn to look confused. Did he really not see what he was doing? “What do you mean?”

  “You don't treat me like Norn or Aisha. You coddle them and keep them from getting hurt.”

  “That's different!” Paul rose his voice. He was starting to get defensive.

  But I wouldn't back down. I needed to get this off my chest. Years of frustration were boiling inside me. “I'm a girl too, you know!”

  “They are my daughters!” Now Paul was screaming.

  I rose to my feet, letting my emotions explode, and screamed in his face. “And I'm not Rudeus!”

  …

  Everything went quiet. Paul lowered his head, unable to look me in the eyes. I knew I had gone too far. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-”

  “How do you know that name?”

  I hesitated. I could tell he was mad. I didn't want Lilia-

  “How do you know that name!?”

  “Lilia told me. Back before she was pregnant.”

  Paul rose to his feet, sword in hand. “Break time is over. We're sparring again.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. I was worried he would hate me for bringing up his lost child. If we could just forget about it and go back to training, I would be happy. “R-right!”

  For the first time, Paul scared me. All these years, I had assumed he was going all out in our sparring matches. When he came at me that day, I knew I was wrong. He defeated me in seconds. I didn't even have time to cast a single spell. Where his hit landed, it was far harsher than any time before. Even with a training sword, he nearly broke the bone.

  “Heal yourself. We're going again.”

  I was scared, but also felt reassured. He had been holding back. He hadn't been treating me like a son. He was holding back as much as I did with Norn. He was treating me fairly. However, I couldn't let this chance go to waste. If he was going all out, it meant I had greater chance to improve. After healing my wounds, I took up my sword again. “Yes, Sir.”

  This went on for the rest of the day. I tried to fight back, but the gap was too large. Every time I thought I could cast a spell to gain the advantage, Paul would cut me off and finish the match. He was toying with me. I lost count of his victories, but the defeats didn't discourage me. It was like a field had suddenly become a mountain, and I was excited to climb to its peak.

  The greater challenge helped me understand my battle aura better too. I used to not feel the mana when it failed to form an aura, but now I felt it leak out of me, struggling to stitch itself together. It was the first revelation I had in months. By the end of our lesson, I was more excited than scared.

  On the other hand, Paul seemed depressed. His look of anger slowly turned to one of remorse. When our final bout was finished, he threw his sword to the ground, following it down. Arms on his knees, he avoided looking at me.

  Taking up my sword, I faced him and bowed. “Thank you for the lesson, Mister Paul!”

  “Sure...” He couldn't look at me, frustration clear on his face. After thinking for a few seconds, he continued. “Look, I'm sorry I blew up on you like that. I know I was using you when we started training. When I saw you, I couldn't help but see Rudy. But, it's different now. I may treat you like a boy sometimes, but I know you're a girl. I know you're Sylphiette.”

  Hearing him use my full name, a girl's name, filled me with joy. It may very well have been the first time. It is a memory I'll always cherish. “Yes, sir!”

  “I don't know why you treat a guy like me with so much respect. A scumbag who takes his anger out on a girl...”

  “I know you're a scumbag. I know you weren't going all out for my sake either...” I couldn't forget the anger in his eyes as he defeated me over and over. “But, you also gave me the power to defend myself. You, Zenith and Lilia welcomed me into your home like I was your child. Norn and Aisha are like sisters to me.” I crouched down in front of Paul, forcing him to look at me. “I didn't want to be your son, but thank you for treating me like your daughter.”

  “Heh...” Paul chuckled, then stood, ruffling my hair again. I guess it was too much to expect him to change all his habits. “Thanks for keeping us company.”

  “Now!” Having settled all that, I was ready to get back to training. “How can I improve my form?”

  Paul scratched his chin. It seems redirecting the conversation took him off guard. After a moment of contemplation, he replied. “Well, I hate to say it, but I think you'll just need to keep working on the basics until you can form your battle aura. Trying to divide your attention to work on Sword God or Water God style would only stall your progress.”

  That made sense. I wasn't like Paul and Norn. I needed to focus on my strengths. “What about my spells? Is there a way I could use them more effectively?”

  Paul sighed, before looking down at me. “Not that I know of. They help a lot, but they are too easy to predict. The long incantations mean anyone familiar with magic will try to stop you from casting. In the worst case scenario, they'll recognize the chant and use it to their advantage.”

  “Oh...” That took the wind out of my sails. If the problems were with the chants, then it wasn't one that could be solved. Whether I took my time or rushed through the incantation, I'd end in the same place, with my intent clear to my opponent.

  Behind me, I heard a door open. Paul looked to the house with a sly look on his face. “You know, I think I may have an idea about that.”

  Following his gaze, I saw Aisha coming out with her spell book. “Daddy, can Sylphiette stay late? I want help with my magic.”

  “I have a better idea.” Lifting her into his arms, he turned to me. “Aisha, it's almost your fifth birthday. How about we get you a magic tutor?”

  “Really!” Aisha lit up, giving her dad an awkward hug as she held onto her tome. “Thank you, daddy! I love you!”

  “Can... would I be able to join the lessons?” I sheepishly asked. I felt bad imposing, especially after putting Paul in such a bad mood earlier.

  “That's the id-”

  “Of course you will! We're in this together!” Aisha cut off her father, but it seemed like they had the same idea.

  I could feel my eyes sting. I couldn't keep the smile off my face. The Greyrats were so nice to me. They gave me more than I could repay. The least I could do was give them a proper reply. “Thank you!”