Chapter 26 – You Did it, Bear!
Arnold and Aina were having a serious conversation.
"Today, I told Gail to try using healing magic on a patient at the clinic." (Aina)
"You did that?" (Arnold)
"I was a little concerned about something, so to confirm it, I told him to cast healing magic to heal a girl's scrape." (Aina)
"No way, did Gail...." (Arnold)
"That's right. Gail successfully healed the girl's scrape." (Aina)
"That's amazing! You showed him healing magic for the firs time just yesterday, right?" (Arnold)
"Despite that, he can already cast healing magic without any problem............... and chantless." (Aina)
"Huh!? What do you mean by chantless?"(Arnold)
"It's just as I said, Gail healed the girl's scrape without chanting any incantation." (Aina)
"In front of everyone...?" (Arnold)
"Yes, he did it in front of everyone." (Aina)
"That's very bad." (Arnold)
"I know. I've told everyone present to keep it secret. However, there's still a chance that it gets leaked to somewhere by accident." (Aina)
"You were very careless, Aina," (Arnold)
"I'm sorry. I just want to confirm that it was Gail who healed Misha's finger. I've never imagine he would cast healing magic without incantation." (Aina)
"Ah, no, I'm not blaming you. Even I would have never imagined such a thing would happen." (Arnold)
*knock* *knock*
"This is Dan." (Dan)
"Come in!" (Arnold)
"Please excuse me." (Dan)
"Sorry to bother you at this hour, Dan." (Aina)
"No, no problem. It's an important matter, after all." (Dan)
"I'm glad to hear that. Now then, about Gail...." (Arnold)
"Master, there's something I'd like to report before that" (Dan)
"What? Is it that important?" (Dan)
"Yes, it's something related to Young Master." (Dan)
"Okay, let's hear it first." (Arnold)
"Thank you very much. This might be quite shocking so please prepare yourselves. Actually............" (Dan)
"Actually?" (Aina)
"Young Master can already talk normally. He also can understand everything we say like a grown-up." (Dan)
"W-What do you mean by that?" (Arnold)
"It's just as I said. Young Master has been talking to me and Misha normally, like what we are doing right now." (Dan)
"S-Since when?" (Aina)
"I don't know exactly when it started. I only found out about this when I escorted Young Master and Misha to the town for the first time." (Dan)
"I see." (Arnold)
"Why did you and Misha keep it secret until now?" (Aina)
"I'm sorry. Young Master is worried that Master and Madam will think he is a creepy kid if you find out that he can already talk like an adult." (Dan)
"He's been using baby talk on purpose, after all." (Arnold)
"There’s another thing...." (Dan)
"There's more!?" (Aina)
"Yes, this would explain why Young Master can already speak like an adult and use chantless magic." (Dan)
"What!? Say it quickly!" (Arnold)
"Young Master seems to have received a message from the Goddess when he was six months old." (Dan)
"A-A message from the Goddess?" (Aina)
"I almost fell off my chair when I heard it, but considering the fact that Young Master can already talk like an adult and use magic, I was convinced." (Dan)
"So, what was the message?" (Arnold)
"According to Young Master, the Goddess told him that he has an amazing talent for magic and he should use it for the world." (Dan)
“An amazing talent for magic....” (Aina)
Aina pondered after hearing that.
"Master and Madam, please don't scold Young Master or Misha for hiding this. They just don't want to startle you. Young Master was planning to tell you everything when the time comes." (Dan)
"How long has Misha known this?" (Aina)
"I don't know the details, but it seems she already knew long before I did." (Dan)
"I see...." (Aina)
"When the three of us went out for the first time, Young Master and Misha were already so close that they looked like a real family." (Dan)
"A real family, huh.... Misha has been with Gail the longest since he was born, after all. This makes me a little lonely, though." (Aina)
"Speaking of Misha, she also said something strange." (Dan)
"Something strange?" (Aina)
"When I said that the two looked like a father and child, she thought I was referring to Young Master as the father and she was the child." (Dan)
"Gail is the father? What do you mean?" (Aina)
"Umm, well, it was probably just Misha's misunderstanding with no deeper meaning whatsoever." (Dan)
"That was an outrageous misunderstanding." (Arnold)
"I have to ask Misha about it next time." (Aina)
"Well, I think it's simply because the thought of being a mother hasn't crossed her mind at all. You don't have to worry about it too much, Aina." (Arnold)
"I have one more thing I need to tell you...." (Dan)
"There's still more!?" (Aina)
"Yes, this is about magic.... Misha can also use a little fire magic and also chantless." (Dan)
"What did you say!?" (Arnold)
"Today, Misha showed it to me in Young Master's room for the first time." (Dan)
"Misha can also use chantless magic...?" (Aina)
“When I heard that Young Master used healing magic without incantation, I was surprised, but he told me that incantations were not absolutely necessary to cast magic." (Dan)
".... and then?" (Arnold)
"I couldn't believe it so Young Master told Misha to show me her fire magic. After that, Misha stared at her fingertip for a few seconds and a small fire really came out from there.” (Dan)
"Since when can Misha use fire magic?" (Aina)
"Ever since she was a child. Misha said that one day, fire really came out when she was imagining herself using magic to lit the hearth." (Dan)
"So that's how it is. Even though it's nothing compared to healing magic, Misha can also use magic without incantation. That's why she didn't find Gail's chantless magic strange." (Aina)
"I can't give you a more detailed explanation as someone who can't use magic. However, I think we can conclude that magic doesn't really require incantations." (Dan)
"If magic doesn't require incantations... then all the chanting we've been doing..." (Aina)
"You're going to be surprised again and again when it comes to Gail. But why did you suddenly decide to tell me all about this?" (Arnold)
"It's just as I said at the beginning, Young Master is very worried that Master and Madam will think he is a creepy child if you find out about this. But when I told him that Master and Madam will accept him no matter what, he finally allowed me to tell you all about this." (Dan)
"I see that Gail really trust you." (Arnold)
"Young Master just don't want Master and Madam to hate him. Also, there are things that children find it hard to tell their parents directly." (Dan)
"You are right. I also had things like that." (Arnold)
"Me, too." (Aina)
*silence*
"Got it. Tell Gail that he didn't have to worry about it anymore." (Arnold)
"Young Master would be very happy to hear that." (Dan)
"How do you think we should treat Gail from now on, Dan?" (Arnold)
"Young Master is only two years old. He can use healing magic without incantation.... and probably the other magic, too. If this information is known to public, I'm afraid some people will start targeting him." (Dan)
"That's right." (Aina)
"Therefore, I think it would be better if we treat Young Master like usual and pretend that nothing happened. Of course, we have to make Young Master promise not to use magic in public." (Dan)
“Can I hear the reason?” (Arnold)
"Because if we suddenly treat Young Master differently, this will make people to wonder if something happened instead. Especially Young Master Bent." (Dan)
"Certainly, Bent would be so concerned." (Aina)
"We still don't know if what happened today at the clinic will leak to somewhere. But to be safe, I think Master should talk to Master Abrick about this in advance." (Dan)
"Talk to Abrick?" (Arnold)
"That's right. If there's possibility of something going out of the control, it would be the kingdom's army." (Dan)
"I though so, too." (Aina)
"Then, would it be very reassuring to have Master Abrick keep an eye on the kingdom's army so they wouldn't go out of control?" (Dan)
“Hmm, I see. I will tell Abrick about Gail later.” (Arnold)
"I'm sure Master Abrick won't let anyone put Master and Madam's children in harm's way." (Dan)
"Dan, how much do you know about Arbick?" (Arnold)
"I only know that you all belonged to the same hero party." (Dan)
"Well, let's leave it at that. Don't say something unnecessary to Gail." (Arnold)
"I don't know what Master is talking about, but I understand." (Dan)
"You're a real prick, you know that?" (Arnold)
"Then, is it okay if I continue as Young Master's bodyguard and sword instructor like before?" (Arnold)
"Yeah, sure." (Arnold)
"We are counting on you, Dan." (Aina)
Thus Gail was spared from house arrest.