The next morning at the Thorne estate, Ian could be seen in front of the mirror, changing into his blue Thorne Family training uniform, which featured an insignia of the family with gold coins over a book on his chest.

​"I haven’t really used a mirror since I got here, but this body sure has a handsome face, at least," Ian said, chuckling while rubbing his chin.

​BANG!

​Just as he said that, his door was thrown open abruptly.

​"Why is it that every time I come to your room, I hear you saying something weird?! Damn, the cringeness... I can feel it in my bones!" Emily shouted from the doorway, dramatically shivering and rubbing her arms.

​"Y-you should fix that eavesdropping habit of yours, and you need to learn the concept of knocking!" Ian shouted back, his cheeks flushing red with embarrassment.

​"No, it’s your fault! You should really lock your door when you sleep!" Emily yelled back. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

​"I don’t lock the door because Trevor is always on guard, and normally, no one would dare come into my room. But I’m starting to see that he is completely useless against you," Ian responded, pointing an accusing finger at Trevor, who was standing awkwardly behind Emily.

​Ugh, they are at it again. Please, Young Master, don’t involve me in your sibling squabble, and don’t provoke the young miss. You yourself know better than anyone that it won’t end well for you. Trevor thought, cold sweat quickly forming on his face.

​"Anyway, what do you want? I’m kind of busy, as you can see," Ian said, trying to shift the conversation fast.

​"Ooh, Mr. Handsome doesn’t have time for his little sister," Emily teased. "I just wanted to tell you I broke through, but it’s fine, no big deal. Where are you going, anyway? I see that you have changed into a training uniform."

​"Congratulations on the breakthrough, sis," Ian said with a smile on his face. "Sarcastic much, you act like you kinda knew that I broke through before I even told you," Emily said, looking at Ian suspiciously. "Anyways, I’m going to the guards’ training ground. I want to test something," Ian said, his tone turning serious.

​"Can I come along? I’ve been curious about how the guards train around here," Emily asked with genuine curiosity.

​"I guess, if you want to. I don’t see the harm in you coming along," Ian said as he walked out of his room. "Ah, by the way, where is Emma? Did you happen to see her?" he asked with a concerned expression.

​"Ah, her. She will be sleeping in all day. Let’s just say she got a taste of her own medicine since she started it last time... hehe," Emily said, giggling like a little villain.

​Yesterday, when Emily broke through, she ran straight to Emma’s room to brag about how great she was. All night long, Emma had to suffer through Emily’s endless bragging. Emma became so desperate for peace and quiet that she actually slipped a mild sleeping powder into her own drink this morning, just so she could finally sleep and wouldn’t have to hear Emily’s rambling anymore.

​You definitely did something to her, didn’t you? I shouldn’t keep asking, or I will end up involved. I’ll just check on Emma after training, Ian thought, staring at Emily. He wisely decided not to continue that line of conversation.

​"What?" Emily asked.

​"Nothing, it’s nothing," Ian replied, scratching his head.

​"We should get going then," Emily said.

​At the guards’ training ground, five kids were wearing the same training uniform as Ians, and they were around the same age as Emma and Emily. They were the only ones training seriously in the massive yard. They were swinging their wooden swords so intensely that no one was speaking. Meanwhile, the adult guards were slacking off; some were drinking, while others were fast asleep on the benches.

​"Ever since the Master of the house passed, we’ve been living an easy life," one guard remarked.

​"Yeah, you’re right about that. We even get paid double the normal rate just for sitting around doing nothing. Best job in the kingdom," another guard laughed.

​"YEAH, TO THE BEST JOB IN THE KINGDOM!" another yelled, raising a bottle of alcohol.

​"CHEERS!" they all shouted, chugging their drinks at the same time and laughing.

​"Look at them, they are at it again," a girl with short grey hair said from the training platform.

​"Don’t they have any shame at all? The Master died, and instead of grieving, they are cheering. They make me sick," a strong-looking boy replied, gripping his wooden sword tightly.

​"Dennis, don’t waste your time on them. They are at their limits. They know training won’t improve anything anymore, which is why they slack off. I’m sure the Madam knows about this, and she will do something about it soon," said a boy with long blue hair, who seemed to be their leader.

​"But David, it still pisses me off how they talk about the Master, and even if they can’t improve, they have to at least show some discipline," Dennis said, looking at him.

​"I know it also pisses me off about how they do things here. The Master took us in, and if it weren’t for him, we would be dead on the streets right now. But what can we do? They are Aura Users. Some of them are even second-Stage Aura Users. We are still non-Aura Users. Even if we all ganged up on one of them, he would beat us to death. That’s exactly why we need to be patient and get stronger to protect the Master’s family, and maybe one day we could become knights," David said, smiling reassuringly at the group.

​"I understand," Dennis agreed, and they returned to violently swinging their swords.

​"Hey! You, kids, are making us old forks look bad with all that sword swinging! Can’t you do it somewhere else? You’re ruining the mood for us," one of the drunk guards shouted, waving his bottle.

​"There goes Alvin, messing with those punks again," another guard laughed.

​"This is going to be a good show to watch."

​"I just hope the brats don’t run away and take a beatdown like real men," the guards muttered to each other, getting ready to enjoy the spectacle.

​When Dennis heard them, he was so furious that thick veins popped out on his forehead.

​"I’m not running today! Come at me, you old hag!"