Aleric and Tatia kept going outside and Aleric would always leave her whenever they go out. Aleric no longer saw the bracelet he bought for her and when he asked about it, she said she lost it. He got her another one and she lost it again and it made Aleric angry for he felt that Tatia was losing it because he wasn't an important person to her. He decided not to think about it and was glad that Tatia didn't tell his mother about the way he was always leaving her.

Months passed and Aleric started learning about combat style and he was progressing. He also felt his first mana while wearing the bracelet but it was just for a moment. 

"That's it for today." Sawyer stopped the day's training early because he knew that the boy need some breather.

"Alright." Aleric could go some more hours but he knew better not to question his master.

He left and wandered around since it was not yet time to meet up with Tatia. As he was wandering around he got a glimpse of Tatia sitting alone beside a tree. He wanted to leave her but figured he shouldn't. He walked up to her and Tatia never noticed him coming.

"Tatia" he called and she raised her head to see Aleric standing before her. "What's wrong?" Aleric's voice was filled with concern when he saw the tears streaming down her eyes. He knelt to wipe her tears.

"Nothing." She muttered. Aleric knew something was up but decided it's best not to ask her about it for now.

"Come, let's tour around." The anger he held towards Tatia disappeared and all he felt was the urge to protect her. Tatia accepted and they walked around the town together for the first time. Just like always, Aleric was drawing attention and the beautiful girl beside him was drawing the same attention.

"It's true what they say. Birds of the same feather flocks together." Aleric turned to see Nero, Gavin, and the rest of their friends who he never bothered remembering their names.

"Tatia, we have been waiting for you?" A girl that is older than them and not someone that should address the young lord in such a manner.

"My sister wanted to ask if you have any more bracelets." The girl said showing the bracelets she was wearing, it was the bracelets Aleric bought for Tatia.

"Is that?" He muttered and then noticed that Tatia has hidden behind him. It didn't take him long to understand that Tatia was being bullied by them

"When did it start?" Aleric asked Tatia but she kept numb "I will ask again, when did it start?" There was a wave of certain anger laced in his voice that made Tatia answer him.

"The first day we came outside after you left me I bumped into them. I thought they were nice but I thought wrong."

"They took the bracelet from you?" She nodded "They are the reason why you were crying?" 

"Yes, I went back to beg them of the bracelet because I noticed you hated me because I told you I lost it. They refused to give it back and said if only I bring more beautiful one." 

Aleric cursed himself for being the reason for Tatia's situation. He didn't want to punish the bullies just yet because it might expose his secrets but they have angered him.

"I hope you all are ready for what is about to come." 

"What are you going to do? Run to your daddy?" Nero mocked him and the rest of them laughed except Gavin. They never knew Tatia was in any relationship with Aleric, they only bullied her because she was a new kid that looked weak. If Gavin knew that she was related to Aleric, he would have never joined his friends.

"No, that would be mercy. I would mob the floor with you guys." Though Aleric doesn't have access to mana right now, his physical prowess is above his peers and his combat experience is high above them.

"Look who grew some balls." Nero laughed and stepped forward to teach Aleric a lesson.

"Tatia, step back." Aleric instructed and Tatia obeyed. They were six of them so they clearly had the advantage in number but for some reason, Tatia believed in Aleric.

"You are trying to be a man because of the lady beside y..." Before Nero could finish Aleric sent him flying with a powerful punch. It was unexpected so they froze at the action and Aleric took the opportunity to engage them in combat. None of the kids have gotten their manner core so it was easy for Aleric to overpower them. Even when Gavin tried to beg, he struck him down. The only person he didn't touch was the girl among them but she was too petrified to run or do anything. Aleric made sure to instill fear into their body by repeatedly smashing their faces.

"When you go home and your parents ask you what happened, tell them you fought among yourselves. Well, it would be less embarrassing to tell them you were trashed by the weak young lord." Aleric knew he didn't have to tell them that because they wouldn't want to be a disgrace to their family.

"Let's go Tatia."

"I need my bracelets back." She walked past Aleric and took her bracelet from the girl and slapped her twice as retribution for all the times she suffered in her hand.

"My Tatia is a Feisty one." Aleric remarked with a smile and Tatia blushed. She loved the fact that Aleric addressed her as his.

"Your Tatia forgives you for abandoning her." She smiled and Aleric returned the gesture.

After the incident, Aleric decided to always bring Tatia with him to his training with Sawyer. He asked her to keep it secret and he knew she would since she never told her mother about the times he left her alone.

The two grew closer together and Aleric got stronger as years passed. Tatia stopped coming with her after she forced her mana core and started training as a healer. They only spend time together after dinner and tell each other about their day. Aleric is almost ten and he can now perfectly sense and store mana while wearing the bracelet. Old man Sawyer was rendered speechless when he told him about it. He figured Aleric must have trained hard to be able to achieve such a feat,l. He would die of a heart attack if Aleric ever tell him where his mana core is, Aleric has never told anybody about it and he didn't plan on doing that.

"200." Tatia said as she was sitting on Aleric's back and the latter was doing push up.

"I feel like I can do more." 

"They do more." Tatia persuaded him as she also enjoys the rising and falling experience. Aleric did 50 more then stopped.

"How is your training going?" He asked her as he wiped his sweat. It's morning and they would soon be having breakfast. Tatia would always sneak into his room to help him with his morning exercise before breakfast.

"Fine, my master said I would definitely be among the best when I get enrolled in the academy." They get to enroll in a prestigious academy once they reach 13 years old.

"I am sure you will?"

"What of you?"

"Fine." Aleric shrugged and Tatia pouted.

"Why don't you tell your parents you are able to feel the mana, in fact, you got your mana core before your peers." Tatia was among the two people that knew of Aleric's secret.

"Not yet." 

"If you don't get enrolled in the same academy with me, I will not forgive you." Tatia stuck out her tongue before leaving Aleric to prepare breakfast. "By the way, it's high time you cut your hair." She said before closing the door.

Aleric looked at his reflection in the mirror and smiled at his uncut hair. He knew his mother would be the next person to complain about it.

"Aleric, your hair needs to be trimmed." Lady Brienne complained about the hair just like Tatia did in the morning.

"Sure, I will do that later. For now, I have to go." Aleric ran out before his mother could say anything else.

"Where is it he has been going for the last few years?" She looked at Tatia.

"Tatia dear, you must know." Tatia cursed Aleric in her heart for leaving her alone.

"Sorry mother, I am already late for training." Tatia left as fast as she could and Lady Brienne pouted and decided to find her husband where he was. Whenever Lady Brienne is in such a mood, she wouldn't leave her husband until she milks him dry. 

Aleric was swimming in the mud Sawyer made to build up his muscles. It was hard but the results are tremendous. Sawyer watched the boy swimming and remembered what he said when they first met. "That he a genius born once in a generation and he will shine the brightest." Looking at him now, Sawyer is convinced that he is not a genius but a monster that has never appeared before.

"Hi, old man Sawyer." Tatia greeted as she approached.

"Hello, Tatia. Long time no see."

"I have been busy, I will certainly make out time to come see you." She promised.

"So you didn't come to see me now?"

"No, I came to call Aleric, his father asked of him." Sawyer nodded and called Aleric. Aleric was covered in mud and Tatia found it funny. 

"Your father is requesting your immediate present." Aleric washed out the mud in his body but because he didn't it in a rush he didn't wash it all well. After he dried up he was looking like a boy that played in a sand castle and dusty area.

"Is everything alright?" He asked Tatia as they left Sawyer.

"I don't know." Truly she didn't know, they only sent her to call Aleric since she was the only one that would know where to find him. Sawyer watched them leave and wondered if it would be good to introduce her granddaughter to Aleric. Sawyer knew without a doubt that Aleric would one day be the most important person in the world of Jusavia.

"He would certainly treat my granddaughter nice."

Aleric and Tatia went to join his father in the great hall where he was receiving a visitor. Aleric saw the expensive carriage the visitors came with and knew they must be important.

"Son, why are you looking like this?" Lady Brienne asked as she saw her son looking like someone that has been playing in the mud.

"I was playing around, mother." He answered and glared at Tatia for not telling him he didn't wash up well. Tatia held her lips and tried her best to hold her laughter.

"Son, this is the Brom family, they are the family in charge of the state of Naria." Enzo said in a serious tone and Aleric knew something is up, he cursed Tatia for allowing him to make a fool out of himself.

"Welcome." Aleric bowed and also noticed the beautiful girl among them. She has a white hair and her eyes were gray. Aleric felt a chill run down his spine as their gaze locked.

"And that is Morgana, your fiancee." Aleric's eyes widened and Tatia gasped.

"Ex fiancee." The woman beside Morgana remarked.