---
"Well, shit," Astrid whispered, firing off a large stream of fire toward a hog-like beast. The flames engulfed it entirely, roasting it into a crisp slab of charred meat before it collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
"I'm tired," he thought with a long, exhausted sigh. "But at least I'm done. Meaning—training's over. For today, at least!"
"Well, you've finally used magic on your own. That's good progress," Lia said calmly, walking over to him as she deactivated the shimmering barrier around the field. "You're still rough around the edges, but your growth is promising."
"Thank you very much," he replied smugly, rubbing his nose like a proud peacock.
"Are we doing this tomorrow?" he asked, hopeful.
"No."
Astrid sighed in deep relief. Finally, a break from the nightmare training sessions that always seemed more like monster survival boot camps. Who in their right mind made a ten-year-old fight beasts that smelled like death and looked like nightmares?
"But instead," Lia added, pausing for dramatic effect, "we're going on an excursion."
Astrid blinked. Then blinked again, slower this time. "What... what do you mean excursion?"
"To Duskwood," she finished with a bright smile.
His face went pale. "Duskwood? Are you trying to get me killed?!"
"No, of course not," Lia replied with complete seriousness. "It'll help you learn to cast magic more efficiently under real pressure."
"I was already facing real pressure with this damn training!" He screamed in desperation.
She floated gently upward, hovering like a smug angel of doom. "Don't worry! Beth survived. You can too!"
"Beth? Beth is built different!" Astrid yelled, eyes wide with horror. But Lia had already turned, flying off toward the mansion.
He stared after her, hopelessness settling in like a fog. "I need to find a way to escape... and it has to be today."
---
"Ughhh... what am I going to do?" Astrid groaned as he rolled around on his bed, limbs flailing like a fish out of water. "I'm not ready to become beast chow! I mean, what the hell are those monsters going to enjoy about eating a small kid?"
He held up his hands, staring at his tiny fingers. "Look at this. I'm snack-sized!"
"Beth should've warned me about this woman. Damn it, mom's insane!"
His stomach growled in protest. "Alright, fine. Food first. Then I'll plan my escape."
He dragged himself off the bed, yawning as he shuffled toward the door, half-asleep and fully annoyed. His feet made a lazy thump-thump sound as he descended the stairs.
"Alright! Prepare the car. We're leaving now!"
That unmistakable deep voice boomed from downstairs. Astrid froze mid-step, his head slowly turning toward the sound.
'Was that... Dad? Leaving the house?'
The gears in his mind shifted from lazy hunger to full-blown scheming in a matter of seconds.
'Wait... wait, this is it. This is divine intervention! Salvation! A golden lifeline sent straight from the gods themselves. This is my escape!'
He turned sharply, tiptoeing with the grace of a desperate fugitive toward the stairs. He peered over the railing to spot his father, Orion Ethera—decked in a regal long coat and navy ensemble, golden buttons glinting like badges of superiority. The man looked like he was on his way to bully a council meeting into submission.
"Is the paperwork for the Main Ethera Clan ready?" Orion asked one of the maids, who bowed and handed him a sleek black folder.
Astrid's eyes lit up.
'Main Ethera Clan. That's it. That's the mission. That's my ticket. No smelly beasts. No death forest. No Duskwood. Just political small talk and noble people pretending they don't hate each other.'
Astrid bolted back into his room, faster than he ever moved during training. He yanked open his wardrobe and pulled on a clean tunic and black pants, brushing his long blue hair hastily. It looked chaotic and windswept—ironically making him look even cooler.
He sprinted down the stairs, slowing his pace just enough to look nonchalant as he cleared the last step.
"Dad!" he called out, feigning surprise like an actor gunning for an Academy Award. "You're heading to the Main Ethera Clan?"
Orion glanced at him briefly, raising an eyebrow. "Yes. Why?"
Astrid clutched his chest like he'd been struck by fate. "I was just thinking... I haven't really connected with the rest of the clan. You know, as the next generation of Ethera blood and all..." he trailed off, giving a subtle, thoughtful nod. "It would be... meaningful. For bonding. Also, Mom did say I should learn more about the clan history."
Orion stared for a moment, clearly trying to gauge his sincerity. Astrid threw in a dash of puppy-dog eyes for effect. Not too much—just enough to look 'mature and determined' rather than 'please help me I'm going to die.'
"Hmph," Orion grunted, turning back toward the car. "Fine. Just don't cause any trouble, like you usually do." he finished, his eyes squinted in annoyance.
Astrid almost let out a victory howl on the spot.
"Yes, sir!" he saluted with mock military precision and dashed toward the car before anyone could stop him from going—especially a certain floating menace who might drop in unannounced like a boss-level mini-boss.
The doors shut with a soft click, and the vehicle hummed to life. Astrid leaned back into the luxurious leather seats of the Ethera family car, heart pounding with adrenaline and relief.
'Freedom. Sweet, delicious freedom. Take that, Duskwood. You and your lovely man-eating beast buffet can choke on my absence.'
As the car rolled out of the mansion gates, Astrid allowed himself to glance at the training field one last time. It was empty now, the faint shimmer of residual mana lingering in the air like a ghost. He could almost hear his mother's voice echoing in the wind:
"Don't worry! Beth survived. You can too!"
He shivered.
'Beth probably cried for seven days straight. And you know what? I would too!'
He turned his attention back to the inside of the car. Orion was already absorbed in his tablet, reviewing reports or plotting the downfall of lesser nobles—either was likely.
Astrid smiled innocently.
'I'll play the dutiful son for now. Listen to some boring clan history. Eat a couple dry pastries. Anything but fight another hog-beast that smells like it died twice before I killed it.'
"Time for a little family reunion!" Astrid whispered mischievously with a smirk.
---