"So anyway, what exactly are we doing here?" Merlock asked, looking at the grand mansion with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.
Aaron glanced at him briefly. "Oh, I just came here to grab a fresh change of clothes. We're going to improve this domain, aren't we? There's no other way to pay off the debts." He raised an eyebrow as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Merlock's lips curved upward slightly, a light grin forming on his face. "Well, I must say, I never thought you'd even have that much common sense," he complimented with an amused tone.
Aaron puffed his chest, a little arrogance creeping into his voice. "Well, I am special, you know!"
Merlock shook his head. "Special, huh? I was just surprised you even had basic common sense. Who would've thought?"
Aaron grinned wider, looking up at the sky as he basked in his own pride. "Oh, I know you're embarrassed by saying the truth, but it's okay. I know my abilities very well, so your opinion doesn't really matter to me."
"Whatever," Merlock muttered, rolling his eyes. "Get whatever you need, but hurry up. We don't have much time. There's a swordsman we need to save." He paused, then added, "I'll explain the details on the way."
"Alright then, I'll be going," Aaron said with a mock salute, before jumping over the tall gate of the mansion effortlessly.
Merlock blinked in disbelief, watching as Aaron's figure quickly disappeared. "What's the point of having a gate, then?" he called out, raising his voice.
Aaron's voice came back, distant but loud. "It doesn't work!!!"
Merlock sighed, scratching his head. "What the hell is wrong with this boy and his domain? No, wait... what the hell is wrong with his life?"
A few minutes later, a figure appeared in the distance—a boy, around 14 years old, with white hair that gleamed as brightly as the moon, his eyes glowing an eerie purple, like amethysts that shone even in the darkest of nights. His pupils were dusted with fine white powder, and he was dressed in an outfit that looked as though it belonged to royalty—sleek black trousers, white stripes along his shoulders and wrists, with a mixture of gold and orange accents that caught the sunlight in dazzling ways. His boots were equally immaculate, matching the elegance of his clothes.
With a proud stride, he walked toward Merlock, declaring loudly, "Here it is, standing before you, the most powerful warrior in all the lands, the conqueror of continents, Aaron La Irotina!"
Merlock stood there, unimpressed, raising an eyebrow as Aaron struck an over-the-top pose. The sunlight fell across Aaron's face, creating a long shadow that stretched behind him—almost too perfectly, as though the shadow itself was made of concentrated mana, something Merlock had never seen before. Aaron looked like he could take on an entire army single-handedly, but... well, he was too clueless to do anything with that power.
Aaron's clothes were undeniably expensive, though—they were heat-resistant, water-resistant, curse-resistant, and probably could withstand anything short of a small explosion. But Merlock knew that none of that mattered if Aaron didn't even know how to use magic properly.
"Save the introductions for people who don't know you," Merlock said, unimpressed. "I know all about your 'legend,' but what I don't know is—what kind of spells can you cast?"
Aaron's grin didn't fade. "Oh, of course! Why not?"
Aaron stepped into the garden of the mansion and kicked over a nearby tree. The tree fell with a dull thud. He casually approached it, ripped off a chunk of bark, and brought the stick back to Merlock.
"So, what are you going to do with this?" Merlock asked, his tone skeptical.
Aaron smiled smugly, "Just wait and see!"
He blew on the stick, and a small flame erupted from his mouth, igniting the end of the stick. Merlock blinked, momentarily surprised.
"Wow, so you can do fire spells... Nice, nice," Merlock said, nodding. "But, uh, what exactly are you planning to do with that stick?"
Aaron paused for a moment, looking at the stick, then the burning tree. "Let me think... maybe I should burn that tree. Not that it'll catch too much fire..."
Merlock raised an eyebrow. "Burn? What does he mean by that?" he wondered, but before he could voice his concern, something clicked. He suddenly remembered the gossip he'd overheard at the café, how Aaron had burned down their establishment using a stick.
"Wait, you're going to bur—" Merlock started to say, but it was too late. Aaron had already thrown the flaming stick toward a nearby hut—one that belonged to a poor commoner. The flames began to spread across the thatched roof.
"DAMN IT!" Merlock shouted, his frustration boiling over. Without hesitation, he took flight, his robes fluttering in the wind. In a split second, he was over the hut. With a swift motion, he summoned an air pressure wave, cutting through the air and extinguishing the flames instantly.
Merlock landed back in front of Aaron, his voice shaking with fury. "That wasn't a spell, you idiot! That was just pure destruction! No wonder they call you a destructive moron!"
Aaron took a step back, laughing nervously. "Okay, okay, don't be upset, little guy! Chill! Nothing's burnt anyway." He shrugged, clearly unfazed by the destruction.
Merlock clenched his fists. "Whatever. Maybe I have to give you a grimoire, so you can at least learn something useful. First, we need to measure your magic type. I need to figure out if you're even a mage."
Aaron scratched his head. "I have a class-checking astermite in my mansion."
Merlock groaned. "We'll go there then. But, please, open the door this time." He let out a long sigh, clearly done with the boy's antics.
"Alright, you don't need to worry. We'll go through the gate," Aaron muttered in a slightly annoyed voice. But Merlock couldn't care less.
The mansion's front yard was adorned with a garden of red and blue spider lilies, their colors vibrant in the morning sun. A winding path led between the flowers, where two sitting areas were set up, each with a ceiling supported by four elegant pillars. The chairs on either side were color-coordinated—blue chairs surrounded by red flowers, red chairs surrounded by blue flowers.
The mansion itself was large and square-shaped, with four paths leading to each of the four doors. The center had a small fountain, and several windows dotted the façade. The roof was a stunning green, like a polished gemstone, casting a faint, ethereal glow. The doors were simple wooden ones, but they were sturdy. Inside, the walls were painted white, with accents of green—matching the roof's color. Vases adorned the hallways, and the rooms had plain wooden doors, giving the whole place a peaceful, minimalist feel.
"Welcome to my humble abode," Aaron said with a playful tone as they entered, though Merlock didn't share the same enthusiasm.