I started a routine, I would wake up, do some physical exercises, and go into the forest, I would collect some vegetables and fish, and then I would come home and train some more. During this time I saw Jasly once in a while, she was a friend of mine, and somehow she reminded me of Vespera, maybe because of her pointed ears.
I partly enjoyed her company, but I didn't have that much time, so I started to avoid her.
Until one day she stood in front of me and asked if we were still friends, and I said yes. I also said that I was busy and would find some time for her at some point.
I don't know if she believed me, but there was nothing I could do, I felt I was at risk, it wasn't uncommon for one brother to kill another. I made some mistakes by standing out, I just wanted to eat more protein and that ended up causing mistrust.
I still didn't have the power to kill anyone, but I could at least defend myself, even with some injuries, depending on the type of attack. As far as I know, none of my brothers use magic, so I would be attacked physically, perhaps with a sword or knife.
Or I wouldn't even be attacked like that, I could just be beaten or scolded by him shouting. There was no way I could have known about the dangers.
"The Count is back from his trip," my father said to my mother.
My older brother wanted to say something, I didn't know for sure, but I think he was interested in the Count's daughter, not because she was pretty, but because of the position he would gain.
We're poor nobles, so marrying her would bring a certain prestige to our family, but for the Counts, it would just be an embarrassment or something like that.
My brother was 16, well past the age for a bride, so he had to hurry.
I was relaxed with my almost 11 years, and when I'm old enough to be considered an adult, I plan to find a better future than getting married, I don't know yet what I plan to do, but getting married is not something I plan, at least not in this world.
The Count's daughter is just over nine years old, so my brother would have to wait a long time before he could marry her. But that will never happen, she has many suitors and many better suitors than my brother.
The days went by, I kept training, I was stronger and a bit better at practicing with spiritual energy, and gradually I found a bit of time to play with Jasly, she was a bit annoying, but at the same time I enjoyed her company, it was a bit strange that feeling.
I couldn't really explain it, but her voice and the way she gestured reminded me a bit of Vespera, but I didn't know if she really was her reincarnation who hadn't had her memories returned yet, or just a big coincidence.
"You look different," Jasly said, but this time I wasn't angry. "But that's a good thing, I don't know, but you seem happy."
I didn't know what to say, but it made me curious, what did it really mean?
"Happy?"
"Yes, I've never seen you laugh so much, now you're having fun all day and maybe it's because you're busy. Maybe you've found something you like doing and it's got you like this, that's good."
I smiled, in fact, from the memories I have, there were very few moments when I seemed to enjoy myself.
A carriage was in front of the house, it was adorned and looked very expensive, a woman got out of it, she was tall with red hair and at her waist she had a sword. The way she walked reminded me of someone, but I didn't know who.
The woman went to the carriage door and opened it, a man in green clothes came out, he was very well dressed, he was certainly a rich nobleman.
I approached them and the woman asked me to call my father, as Count Carl Mistborn was about to have a talk with him.
The woman's voice was kind, I thought she was going to treat me badly, but no. I went to call my father and invited them both in.
My house was considered a mansion by the standards of where we lived, it was very large and had many rooms, but it was untidy and had some parts that needed renovating. The Count didn't seem to mind.
My father bowed and then my mother and older brother bowed too. I forgot that I had to do this, but neither the Count nor his wife cared.
They went to my father's office and I went back to the front, Jasly was waiting for me.
She was curious, and so was I, but I didn't know what he had come to do, since all my life I had only heard of him, never seen him and I don't think he had ever come to my house before. So my curiosity was running high.
- - - ❖ - -
"I'll be brief, I want your son to marry my daughter, but so that there's no problem with the position, I'll take him to train at my mansion, and after a few months I'll make the announcement."
Caldor was happy, he had always wanted the chance to marry someone important.
"I'm glad to hear that, but I need to ask you a question. But are you sure? Caldor will be a Baronet, I know that position doesn't get much attention, so wouldn't that damage your image?" Zare was saying more than Caldor wanted him to, but he understood his father's view, as he had never done anything to attract the attention of someone as important as the Count.
Caldor was curious, but he wished his father had been a little more careful with his words.
"I'm not talking about Caldo, I'm talking about your other son, the one I met at the door."