Arman: "Hey, kiddo."
Raynard: "Hi."
He said it with a cheerful smile that could melt anyone's heart.
The Grandmaster, watching his grandchild's bright face, couldn't help but think, So cute, a smile creeping onto his own face.
Arman caught him in the act and smirked.
Arman: So the old man has a side I was unaware of. Well, who wouldn't blush after seeing this kid?
He's so cute, he admitted to himself.
Arman sat down on the floor and called Raynard over, glancing at Valeria first to ask permission.
Valeria: "Go ahead."
Raynard plopped down beside him, and the two started their uncle-nephew chat.
Arman: "Hey, Raynard, how old are you?"
Raynard held up his fingers, counting carefully.
Raynard: "I'm four years old."
Arman: "So, you know who I am?"
Raynard: "Yes."
Arman: "Who told you about me?"
Raynard pointed at his mother.
Raynard: "Mommy told me. Mommy said you're my uncle."
Arman: "That's right. So, what do you like, Raynard?"
Raynard: "Swords! I like swords. I love it when Grandpa plays with swords."
Arman glanced toward the Grandmaster with an evil little smirk.
Arman: "So who do you like more — Grandpa, or swords?"
The Grandmaster shot him a glare.
Raynard: "I love swords, but I love Grandpa more."
The Grandmaster's eyes went misty. For a moment, he was the happiest man in all of the GAP SPACE.
Arman patted Raynard's head.
Arman: "Right answer. As a reward — close your eyes."
Raynard squeezed his eyes shut. Arman hid his hand behind his back.
Arman: "Okay, open them."
The moment Raynard opened his eyes, Arman brought his hand forward. A soft golden light spilled out of his palm, splitting apart into dozens of glowing butterflies that scattered into the air around him.
Raynard's eyes went wide with delight. He jumped up, chasing the butterflies in circles, laughing every time one slipped past his fingers.
After a few moments, the butterflies drifted back together, gathering into his outstretched hands and reshaping themselves into a small wooden replica of Night Slayer — Arman's own sword.
Raynard stared at it, thrilled.
Raynard: "A sword! It's a sword!"
Arman glanced at Valeria.
Arman: "Relax — it's just wood. There's a spell on it so he can't hurt himself or anyone else."
Valeria let out a relieved breath.
Valeria: "For a second I thought you'd actually gone dumb enough to hand a real sword to a child."
Arman: "Being dumb is your specialty, not mine."
Valeria shot him a look.
Arman: "Hey, Raynard — why don't you go show Grandpa your new sword?"
Raynard immediately took off, chasing his grandfather around the room, and the Grandmaster — laughing — played along, dodging every swing.
Arman stood, grabbed an apple from a basket on the table, and took a bite.
Arman: "Hm. So it's real."
Valeria: "Everything here is."
Arman: "Not everything."
Valeria: "What do you mean?"
Arman looked at her.
Arman: "You know exactly what I mean. You're happy to see me, but your mind's somewhere else."
Valeria sighed.
Valeria: "Can't hide anything from you, can I? Fine — if you're so sure, guess why."
Arman: "My guess is it's about Kyle. Something's keeping you two apart, and you don't like it."
Valeria's eyes widened.
Valeria: "How are you always this right?"
Arman smirked.
Arman: "Say my name."
Valeria stared at him blankly.
Valeria: "What — did you forget your own name or something?"
Suddenly—
BAAAMMM!
A loud crash echoed from the hall.
Arman and Valeria bolted toward the sound. At the same moment, Reina, Lisa, and her friends came rushing in from outside, drawn by the same noise.
When both groups arrived, they found the Grandmaster sprawled on the floor — with Raynard standing triumphantly above him.
Raynard: "I beat Grandpa!"
Valeria snatched him up.
Valeria: "What are you doing, standing over your grandfather like that?!"
Grandmaster: "Hey, don't yell at him — I just didn't see the stairs and tripped."
He winced, rubbing his back.
Grandmaster: "Ow, my back—"
Grandmaster: "Oh, Reina, you're here. Ahh."
Reina: "Are you all right, sir?"
Grandmaster: "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine."
Arman raised an eyebrow.
Arman: "What were you even thinking, old man, not seeing the stairs?"