A powerful ripple traveled across the grassland we were in.

From afar, I saw a giant green yet transparent dome enveloping an area within which three silhouettes could be seen amidst the smokescreen battling each other, or to be exact, two of them were battling the third one.

Amidst the smokescreen, a vivid explosion of color could be seen: chocolate, red, yellow red, and light yellow.

The ones battling were no one but Ramia and Mael against Uncle Matthew.

Over the years, I’ve been accompanying them for their training. I've grown used to the sight of them fighting under the pretense of training their magic, but today was different from any other day. The involvement of Uncle Mattew was the very proof of that.

Today’s training wasn’t just an exchange of blows between Ramia and Mael, but rather a whole fight between the duo and Uncle Mattew. fight which both sides were set on winning.

The sheer scale of the battle was different, from the usual stuff by a large margin; the scale of destruction and violence was on a whole new level, which explains the presence of the dome enveloping their battleground. It was there to limit the damage their fight would inflict on the surroundings.

It has been around ten minutes since the fight started. The battle has finally reached its climax.

Who would come out victorious?

I will soon get the answer.

Once again, a powerful explosion took place within the dome, but this time instead of being contained, it completely shattered the dome. A powerful blast spread in every direction, including mine.

I immediately summoned my magic, which I coated myself in.

Being a witness to their magic training, I over the years, grew decently good at using mine. Protecting myself from something like that was within the realm of what I could do.

It took a while for things to calm down and the smokescreen to dissipate.

Soon the silhouettes of the three of them could be seen. Regardless of who won the fight, I knew that it had ended. So, knowing that it was finally safe, I approached the three of them.

Though I couldn’t see their expressions because of the masks they were wearing, Ramia and Mael were both looking physically exhausted. Their breath was erratic , their clothes all torn off, their bodies bruised all across. Both were holding their respectable weapons of predilection, Ramia her two swords and Mael his pair of tonfas.

Uncle Matthew, on the other hand, up to this point, wasn’t holding any weapon of any sort. At the beginning of the fight, he was wielding a shield and a glaive, and wearing a mask similar to Ramia’s and Mael's, but there was no longer any trace of these three objects on him. Just like Ramia and Mael, his clothes were all torn off, yet unlike them, he did not have a single bruise on his body.

Who was the winner?

Well, the answer was simple: Ramia and Mael.

Why?

Once again, the answer was simple: because they were the ones who still had their mask on.

These masks they were wearing were magical items that activated when their wielder sustained a level of injuries that should have killed them, dispensing a powerful healing spell onto their wielder.

The fact that Uncle Matthew was healed meant that he had been dealt that much damage by both Ramia and Mael, yet he was all smiles looking at them.

"Well,... I don’t know if I should be feeling happy or sad, but... … Mael, Ramia… Felicitation, it was your win."

Upon hearing these words, neither of them jumped in celebration. They simultaneously sighed in relief, and left their bodies falling flat onto the ground in exhaustion.

"Uncle Matthew approached the two of them, then said, " You both did great, not only today, but for the past four years. I didn’t expect you guys to get this good. Even back in my time, at your age, I was nowhere close to your level, which caused me to often have my ass beaten by my teacher. Beating my mentor is something I never had the chance to do, so you both should be proud of yourselves. "

He retrieved something out of one of his pockets, then put it on both of their bodies, still laying on the ground.

"This is?" asked Mael.

"Consider this my felicitation, and my gift for your "Ascension". Though this is nothing compared to the gift, I’ve prepared for you two this afternoon."

Both checked the thing Uncle Matthew gave them, and both discovered something similar: a ring.

But it was easy to guess that it was no ordinary ring. It must’ve been a magic item of some sort, and that was confirmed almost immediately by Uncle Mathew next words.

"It's a single use item but it’s extremely powerful, it should be enough for both of you … to … you know…. Anyway from now on, the rest will be upon you. "

Both sat down, then looked at Uncle Matthew before simultaneously saying, respectfully and with a voice, I could tell was full of gratitude. "Thanks Uncle Matthew."

"Oh, come on, you’re going to make this old man cry and tear up. Besides, you two can call me Matthew. The uncle feels so out of place, now that I’ve been beaten."

He stood up, then headed my way, before putting his hand on my shoulder.

"You little Elliel, you’ll have to work hard to also be deserving of calling me Mathew. I’m looking forward to that day. Don’t disappoint me. "

" I’m afraid, Uncle Matthew, that I won’t live up to your expectations."

Don't you long for the day when I'll stop calling you "Little Elliel?"

"I certainly do."

"So make it happen."

"I will try."

"That’s the spirit," he said, before turning toward Ramia and Mael, and declaring, "What are you two waiting for? Heal up. We still have a party to attend. A party in your name on top of that.

A simultaneous sigh echoed from both of them.

Uncle Mathew was right, we still had a party to attend, a party in Ramia and Mael’s honor.

In fact, to perform this fight session, we had to stealthily slip out of the castle.

That party was to celebrate Ramia and Mael’s ascension.

Ascension to what?

To adulthood.

A noble is considered an adult by our standards when they reach the age of 15, and a ceremony is organized in that regard; this party is not only a feast for them having reached that age, but also a farewell party for the parent to their now adult child.

Once one reaches 15, a noble is required to attend higher education in the Aurora Academia.

Mael and Ramia, being nobles born from two of the most prominent families in the Duchy, were bound to have an immense party thrown for their ascension.

"Both of you?"

"Yeah-yeah, we’re arriving. Just let us have at least a small moment of respite." Ramia, complained.

"Well, I guess, it would be unfair for me to deny you that."