Vol 7. Chapter 49: Just a Bit of Wind and Frost

One week after Leon resigned and returned home, it was finally time for Muse’s elemental awakening ceremony.

Unlike Moon and Aurora, who were attended by numerous female staff on the day of their ceremonies, Muse’s case was different. Only her parents would be present with her. If Muse really turned out to have no elemental attribute, it wouldn’t be that big a deal if the maids saw it. But with so many outsiders around, it would definitely inflict a deep psychological blow on her. She was still young, mentally immature, and it’d be easy for her to spiral, leading to a warped personality or worse.

Neither Leon nor Rosvisser wanted that.

So that afternoon, the three of them—mother, father, and daughter—headed to a secluded cave in the back mountains, a place where no one would disturb them. With Leon and Rosvisser each holding one of Muse’s tiny hands, they walked into the cave together. Before the awakening array, the two parents knelt down side by side.

"Don’t be nervous, Muse. In a moment, you’ll step into the array and just guide your mana like you’ve practiced."

Rosvisser’s voice was soft and reassuring.

Muse nodded.

"Okay, Mommy."

"And don’t be scared. Your mother and I will be right beside you the whole time," Leon added gently.

"Mmhmm, I know, Daddy."

Leon gave her shoulder a pat.

"Alright, let’s begin."

Muse took a few deep breaths, then walked into the center of the array.

Immediately, the lines beneath her feet lit up with golden light. Above the array, the five elemental symbols—Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, and Lightning—floated silently. Once the ceremony began, the symbols would vanish one by one. The last one remaining would be her awakened elemental attribute.

Noa’s had been Lightning. Moon had awakened both Fire and Lightning. Aurora had Fire.

Before their ceremonies, each of the three sisters had shown signs of magical talent. Only Muse was different.

Rosvisser gazed at the small figure inside the array, concern visible in her eyes.

"You know... Muse hasn’t shown any elemental affinity since very early on. I’ve read countless texts and haven’t found a single precedent. If she really doesn’t have one... what then?"

Leon stood with his arms crossed, expression solemn. He thought for a moment, then spoke slowly.

"No matter what, we have to make sure Muse grows up happy and full of joy. In a rich and fulfilling childhood, she’ll eventually find her own path and direction."

Leon had known about Muse’s elemental issue earlier than Rosvisser, so he’d had more time to think it through.

And honestly—by now, he didn’t really care whether she had an /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ attribute or not.

Just like he told her that night: no one said she had to be a mage. She could be anything she wanted. Become whatever she wished to become.

With Leon, Rosvisser, and her sisters supporting her, Muse would never lack food or shelter. In the end, it was all up to the child herself.

How long would it take her to find her way? How long until she walked out of that shadow?

As they pondered, Muse began channeling her mana. The array activated and began to glow. A breeze stirred. Both parents held their breath, nervously watching their daughter, hearts clenched.

Muse stepped forward. A faint magical wind tousled her hair. Strands of mana flowed from her body, weaving through the array’s lines.

Soon, the water symbol above the array dimmed... and disappeared.

"Not water," Leon noted.

Aside from the Sea Dragon Tribe, most dragons didn’t awaken to or specialize in water magic. In fact, there hadn’t been a single water-type sorcerer among the elders since Weir’s generation.

So this was expected. Next to vanish were Earth—and Wind.

With those gone, only two elements remained: Lightning and Fire.

Would it be her father’s Lightning? Her mother’s Fire? Or like Moon—a dual awakening?

Or...

As her mana continued to circulate, as she kept guiding it through the array... the last two symbols didn’t stabilize.

Instead—they faded.

Just like the previous three. They vanished. All of them.

That meant... Muse truly had no elemental affinity.

Compared to the silence before, this moment felt absolute. The surrounding magic dispersed instantly, and the small figure within collapsed to the side.

Luckily, both parents reacted fast and caught her immediately.

In Rosvisser’s arms, Muse weakly opened her eyes.

"Mama... what happened?"

Rosvisser gently caressed her daughter’s cheek, smiled, and shook her head.

"Rest for now, Muse. Mommy will explain everything after you’ve had a nap."

Too exhausted to press further, Muse drifted into a deep sleep against her mother’s chest.

Only after confirming she was asleep did Rosvisser lift her head to look at Leon. Even though they’d been prepared, now that it was certain—Leon still felt a pang of disappointment.

Not because his daughter had no element—but because as a father, as a warrior, he hadn’t passed on any of his abilities to her.

He used Rosvisser’s knee to support himself as he stood.

"Let’s head back."

"Mhm. Okay."

That evening, Muse learned she had no elemental affinity. She didn’t take it well. She skipped dinner entirely.

The next day, Aurora said Muse had sat on the balcony all night, staring out at the stars. Her favorite harmonica sat by her side... but she never once lifted it to her lips.

After that, Muse remained downcast for quite a while. Only when summer vacation arrived—without the strict schedule of the academy, and without the unspoken pressure from her peers—did her mood slightly improve.

That day, Leon decided to take the girls hunting in the back mountains. Because despite having no attribute, Muse had excelled in the academy’s “outdoor training” programs. She’d crushed every exam with top scores.

So Leon thought: better to let her practice hunting during the break than stay cooped up at home and sink deeper into gloom.

And naturally, Muse was eager to do something she was good at.

Noa, Moon and Helena had already planned to go sketching outdoors and halfway through painting, they probably decided not to come back.

That left only Aurora, idle and aimless, who was dragged along as a sparring partner for the hunt.

The rule: no magic. Pure archery only.

Father, daughter, and daughter. Each with a bow and arrows.

They quickly found a suitable spot.

Muse was bouncing with excitement. Leon, watching his daughter no longer brooding, felt deeply relieved. Aurora, on the other hand, was wondering how to make this boring hunt more entertaining.

"Dad, there’s movement in that bush! I’m going to check it out!"

"Okay, be careful."

"Mmhmm!"

Muse aimed her arrow into the grass. Soon, they heard a rustle—and she emerged holding a wild rabbit.

"Look, Daddy, Third Sis! I got a rabbit!"

The hunting arrows had specially blunted tips—they wouldn’t kill, only stun.

Leon had made it clear: hunting wasn’t about getting food—it was about experiencing something new.

He didn’t want his daughters killing so young.

The rabbit in Muse’s hand had cartoonish swirls for eyes—clearly knocked out.

"Hahaha, nice job, Muse!"

Leon praised her while taking off the bamboo basket from his back and placing the rabbit inside, planning to release it once it woke.

"I’m gonna go check over there!"

Muse was full of energy.

Barely two minutes later, she returned with two more rabbits—rare species known as Anlan Rabbits—also stunned by the special arrows.

Even Aurora, who didn’t usually give praise, was genuinely surprised.

"Wow, Muse, your archery classes really paid off. That’s crazy accurate."

Aurora had tried the arrows earlier and found the dull tips hard to aim with. Yet even under those conditions, Muse hadn’t missed a single shot.

Little Muse grinned and stuffed the bunnies into the basket.

"Let’s keep going~"

"Alright."

The hunting resumed.

But Aurora quickly grew bored.

Muse’s accuracy was too high. Every time a target showed up—thunk, arrow out, bullseye. And then it was time to cheer again.

But no matter how much Aurora looked around, she couldn’t find anything challenging. Eventually, she slowly raised her eyes—and locked onto her old man.

After a brief break, Aurora cleared her throat and suddenly pointed toward a tree hollow.

"Dad! I saw a rabbit run into that hole just now! Go take a look for me!"

"On it!"

Leon put down his bow and trotted over. He knelt by the hollow, gripped the edge with both hands, and peered inside.

"I don’t see anything, Aurora. Where’s the rabbit?"

"Look carefully, Dad~ Don’t rush. Take your time, slowly"

As she spoke, Aurora nocked an arrow, pulled the string, and aimed the dull arrowhead directly at her old man’s upturned backside.

...

...

"Aurora, why are you walking like you’ve got your butt stuck out?"

That evening, after the three returned home, Noa frowned at the weird posture her little pink-haired sister was walking in. She was pretty sure she hadn’t smacked Aurora’s butt lately—so why was it sticking out like that?

The troublemaker clutched her butt and grinned through clenched teeth.

"It’s nothing, Big Sis.

Compared to your spankings, this is just... a bit of wind and frost."