Steel and Mana

Chapter 397 – Fila’s True Nature

It was late at night, and I was sitting at a table with my twins way after everyone else in the place had gone to sleep. The dinner was already over, and while we gathered around the table, I saw how Mirian's daughter, Fila, was barely keeping herself sitting straight, fidgeting, her eyes moving rapidly. It wasn't hard to tell she had a head full of thoughts, and she wasn't focusing on eating but sorting through them, similar to how Galahad used to behave.

"Father, she is exceptional..." Arthur explained, sitting to my right while I listened with a slight smile. "She conjured the second layer before I even finished the first. That means she can match our speed, which is incredible! I only know of Merlin having a similar proficiency—not even Morgan can do that!"

"Not yet," Leyla said, half-laughing, half-scolding. "Don't count out our little sister just yet! She simply doesn't focus on her own gifts."

"I don't require any of you to do anything you don't like," I said as I raised a hand, setting the topic of Morgan aside. If she didn't want to focus on spells, I won't force her to do so. She is still a child, and I want her to enjoy being one. "So, I assume you both like the little one, eh? I got the feeling from how you all looked when getting back from the trip. I am surprised Mirian wants to marry such a girl off to us."

"Probably exactly why," Arthur added with a sigh. "She's brilliant, Father. Truly. You should have seen her face when I showed her an anti-gravity formation. She corrected my sequence. Politely, too! And she was right; she only missed the fact that it was weakened intentionally; otherwise, it would have turned everybody around me weightless."

"That does sound serious," I hummed, chuckling, because I did remember the little imps playing around with that, using it to try and fly. It caused a ruckus when half of the furniture in their room floated out of the palace. "Leyla?" I asked, looking at her on my left.

"She's shy, but she's listening to everything and watching even more. She is like Galahad in that regard, but not as perceptive. I mean, Galahad notices all the details, but Fila only notices the points regarding magic. Anything else she looks oblivious about or shows a natural disinterest that makes her look... aloof. Her mind probably ignores it."

"Is that so? Then," I mused, pursing my lips, "She is the opposite of Galahad, no?"

"Maybe?" Arthur added, leaning forward, "But they are also very similar. If Galahad could use magic... he would be fearsome! And Fila can..."

"Maybe that's why you and Galahad can't use magic." Leyla said jokingly, looking at me, "You would be too powerful, and the Gods didn't want that."

"Like if the Gods had any say in that!" I laughed while reaching out, rubbing their heads, "You two are just as powerful, or am I wrong?"

"Yet you don't let us go with Mom..." The two grunted, pouting. "But you sent Lancelot? Makes no sense."

"I have plans for you here," I added quickly, but didn't explain more, even when I saw the sudden excitement in their eyes. Lancelot has been preparing for a long time, so it's time for him to serve in the army and gain actual experience. "Now," I continued, letting go of their heads, "Let's get back to the point. Fila. What are her negative traits?"

"The same as her positives." Arthur shrugged. "She flinches a lot and gets lost in her own world. She for sure needs guidance or could do something that backfires, and if it does, while casting something dangerous..."

"She can go boom," Leyla said, exaggerating with her hands. "But they would make a great team with Galahad."

"I agree." Arthur grinned. "She liked all of us, as far as I could sense it. But Father, she indeed needs proper instruction. Real training. I know that Mirian is good, and Ishillia has a lot of experience in training mages, but I still believe we are better at it."

"We are." Leyla nodded, full of confidence. "There is no other country that teaches runes and magic to people who can't even cast one! Only our university does that! Maybe Mirian also thinks the same; that's why she let her come with us, all alone?"

"Or because she knew you would show her spells." I grinned, watching their face suddenly realize the obvious, "Mirian is not stupid. She knew you would flaunt your own strengths, and Fila would latch onto it like a curious little octopus. Anyway, I don't mind. As long as you say the girl is fine and trustworthy, it is all good. I did steal a lot from Ishillia, so our base of knowledge comes from the same source. We only differ in executing and morphing that knowledge."

"So..." Arthur muttered after a brief silence, "You want her to stay."

"Not right now," I explained quickly. "She'd never agree, and she is still a kid. She still hides behind her mother's sleeves and flinches when someone laughs too loudly. I noticed it at our first meeting. But in a year or two? Maybe four? When she's a bit older?" I looked at the two, "She should come to the university. She belongs here."

"So you will marry her to one of us?" Arthur asked, surprised.

"Marriage?" I grunted, "Only if it happens organically. I am not into arranging your future! I'm only opening the doors for all of you, and whichever one you find enticing, you can pick and choose to go through. That's all! As your parent, I am paving the way, but I'm not pushing you along it. It is up to you to choose the path and walk it."

"I think they would look good together with Galahad!" Arthur mused, making me smile and shake my head.

"Don't force it," I warned them.

"There may not be much need to force anything!" Leyla grinned, and her tone turned conspiratorial. "You should've seen Galahad. He smiled at her."

"Just consider it," Arthur continued. "Maybe that is what Mirian is also aiming for... Merge the two and boom, you get, well, you, Dad, with magic!"

"Okay, enough buttering me up, kids! It's late; let's get to sleep. Mirian will stay for a few more days, so you will also need to be in tip-top shape, entertaining her and the kids."

...

..A little bit earlier..

......

Steam curled in thick spirals toward the vaulted ceiling within Leon's palace's grand bath. Fila, still feeling excited from today, seeing spells being formed in an unconventional way, dunked her head beneath the water's surface, then emerged with a gasp, shaking droplets from her hair and trying to calm her mind. Of course, she wasn't alone as her mother watched from the edge of the pool, sitting neck-deep in the water, relaxing.

“You had a fun day, I assume?” she asked warmly, knowing full well when her little girl was excited, troubled, or bored. This time? She was just as excited as when she first managed to cast a spell.

"Yes!" She nodded as she paddled over, cheeks pink from the heat. “The twins are very interesting, Mother! They can cast formations in a way I don't understand...” She flicked a handful of water at her mother, grinning when Mirian dodged it by just moving her head. Only at times like this... when nobody else was around, did Fila fully bloom, showing a side of her that only Mirian knew. One that was hidden from even Veron, her older brother.

“Mm. I am happy to hear that. So, which one do you like the most?” Mirian asked, tilting her head.

"Hm..." Fila didn’t blush, but she also didn't think too much of the question either. She spun in the water, sending ripples across the pool, humming more and more before finally stopping, her thoughts put into order. “Arthur talks too much, but when he draws formations, it’s like breathing for him. No pauses, no stutters. Same for Leyla. It is not even drawing them because they don’t need incantations or putting them together; it comes out in full. I bet there is a trick to it!” She tapped her temple. “They must see or form the patterns before they cast it... I want to learn that. So they are interesting, but a bit frightening too, Mom. They are... too good.”

"Hm, I got the feeling too. I don't think Leon ever showed anybody what his kids can do. But the feeling I got from them was also the same, that they are... special." Mirian’s fingers trailed in the water, stirring the steam. “And the others? Lancelot, Morgan and Galahad?”

"Hm." Fila stilled, furrowing her brows. "Lancelot is... normal? Probably a good warrior. I don't know... Morgan. She is lazy, Mom! I could tell! She could be strong... but I don't think she is good at it."

"Hah..." Mirian chuckled, watching her daughter pout, knowing that if nobody was as devoted to learning magic as Fila, despite having the gift, she would deem them slackers. Of course, saying it out loud would never happen, not until they were alone like this. "Don't underestimate them, Fila. Never. That leaves us with Galahad. What about him?"

"Okay, I won't..." She nodded as she sank to her chin, bubbles escaping her lips. “Him... He’s quiet. I know he has no magic, but he could still read the formations just as quickly and understand them.” She hesitated, furrowing her brows, “He even recalled and noticed things faster than I did... It was frustrating...”

"He has a special head on his shoulders," Mirian’s smile deepened. "I guessed so much, but Leon was tight-lipped about it."

"About what?" Fila narrowed her eyes, thinking. “Mom, you’re doing that thing again.”

“What thing?”

“The ‘I’ve-planned-every-step-ahead’ thing.” Fila splashed her again. “You planned it, don't you?”

"What am I? An Atuvian merchant?" Mirian caught her wrist, tugging her closer, hugging her daughter.

"Sometimes." She mumbled.

“Cheeky. I like that they recognize your worth,” she soothed, rubbing her head. “The Ishillian blood is strong, Fila. But, seeing Avalon’s achievements? They are stronger in the ways that will matter in the future. They are the new age's Vasas, who have returned. Their magic is bred into the bone.”

"Vasas?" Fila wrinkled her nose. “You sound like the texts of the old Emperors. ‘Bloodlines this, bloodline that.’” She pulled free and dove under again, resurfacing near the pool’s center. “I just want to learn!”

“And you will.” Mirian leaned back against the stone again, watching her daughter through the steam. “But knowledge isn’t the only power, dear. The right marriage can be a keystone to—”

"There it is," Fila groaned, flopping onto her back to float. “Ugh, Mother, I don't want to marry! It's yucky!”

"You don't want to marry yet!" Mirian laughed, watching her daughter with a warm smile. “Fine. I’ll spare you the politics. For now.” She reached out, creating a formation in the air above the water; it glowed gold before dissolving into the steam, sending small waves forward, rocking her daughter back and forth, making her giggle. “But mark your mother's wisdom, Fila—Avalon will shape the next age. And you, my brilliant girl, will stand at its heart.”

"I can do that without marriage stuff!" Fila exclaimed before sinking until only her eyes and the top of her nose stayed above the surface, mischievous and bright. “Or,” she said, voice muffled by the water, “I’ll just steal all their spells and run away to a magical tower somewhere, like in the fables.”

"You little imp," Mirian’s gaze softened. "Only if others would know you can be like this~!"

"Isn't that what you always said?" She grinned, stood up, and showed her mother a V-sign: "Don't let others know your next step ahead of time! Especially not when you are an heir to an empire!"