Efemare territory was remarkably well off, although they did not bother themselves with trying to organize knight training. Simply said, they knew better than to compete with Perserios territory and their top-of-the-lines instructors that were known to host private lessons for high nobility.

What the Efemare family would do instead was get their knights trained in their neighbor's territory and create a friendly relationship. Because of that policy, the previous head of the Efemare family became friends with the previous head of the Perserios family.

In short – Efemares were smart and sneaky.

If only they had a male heir that was close enough in age to the daughter of the Perserios family, they would definitely receive an offer of marriage – they were just that close.

And if that scenario would be the case, then having the Perserios family lend some of the instructors to the Efemare territory could not be easier.

Yes.

In the end, despite seemingly not being interested in hosting the knight training, the Efemare family wished for that sweet sweet revenue but didn't want to risk the loss that a direct competition would bring.

But alas, forget about the direct male heir close to Rokiana's age, the Efemare family didn't have an heir at all...

...at least not officially...historical

-----

"Young lady Perserios! Welcome! It is such an honor for you to visit us! What brings you and your servants here?"

A jovial-looking light magician welcomed the trio at the door himself, there was no doubt that the servants informed him ahead of time about their arrival.

"Lord Efemare, it is an honor for you to greet me personally. I happen to encounter those two on my way back from a little errand for my grandfather and chanced on meeting them two. A father and son with remarkable talent that I want to support in receiving knighthoods."

Rokiana curtsied and explained after a short greeting.

"...ghy...! Ghy...!"

Zoemi shivered and let out a muffled cough into his father's torso.

"As you can see, the boy ended up getting a bit sick... pardon me for being so bold but could I ask you for a warm bed and some medicine for the child?"

Rokiana glanced at the shivering boy with pity and asked.

"..."

For just a split second the jovial expression of the gold-haired man turned into a scowl.

~You're asking me to waste my money on some lousy brat?~

...that kind of face...

Although the head of the Efemare family became all smiles again as soon as the blue-haired girl turned back to him.

"But of course! If a daughter of the Perserios family believes him to be a talent, we simply cannot risk the boy's health!"

The gold-ahired man declared and his voice exressed only the purest of intentions.

"I'll send for a medic right away."

"I would be much obliged."

He added, to which Rokiana breathed out in relief and curtsied again.

Was there a need for such theatrics in the first place?

That was the question both Rokiana and Mizoe asked when Zoemi explained his plan the moment he felt his throat getting sore.

That's right – Zoemi actually got sick, that part wasn't an act at all.

He developed a sore throat, headache, and so on. In the end, the second star level of the law of Aquarius did not protect him from illnesses. Although... he could have gotten rid of all those symptoms with his one-star level of the law of Virgo.

But, it was that exact sickness that got him a rather nasty idea.

Nasty for the people on the other end of it, of course.

Although there was something that Zoemi didn't account for...

"It was a good call for getting the child to see a medic. If you kept traveling, the boy's life could be in danger."

"...?!"

After checking up on the child, the medic explained to Mizoe and Rokiana who both got shocked – still, it was Zoemi who was the most surprised.

"I will prepare the medicine that should help, made sure that the boy stays in bed and drinks a lot, the fever is both good and bad for his body right now. But if he gets hotter than now, make sure to cool him off."

The green-haired medic instructed the worried light-blue-haired man who nodded his head in a tense expression while the blue-haired teenager looked at the flushed face of the black-haired child.

"...are you sure that you will be fine...?"

Rokaina asked, sitting by the boy's bed.

"Phuaah...! Of course, why wouldn't I? It's just a sore throat."

Zoemi breathed out releasing the star power that he kept active for close to forty minutes by that point – as he did, his body temperature returned to normal in no time.

"Eh...?"

Rokaina let out a surprised voice and looked Mizoe...

"How did you even do that?!"

...who was just as shaken as she was – the light-blue-haired man was really worried about his son after all, especially after hearing the medic's words.

"If I keep the star power active for long enough, my body will heat up – it's not as bad here because of the mana that keeps suppressing the spiritual energy though. I guess I mistimed the activation... it would be bad if the medic wanted to see me a second time."

The black-haired boy shrugged his shoulders and explained before furrowing his brows and looking at the window.

It was still early afternoon, it was impossible for him to act out his plan.

Although, he had plenty of time to check things out...

"In case he wants to check again... ghy...! Ghy! I-it must be no earlier than thirty minutes from now, okay? Law of Sagittarius."

Zoemi declared even though he had a coughing fit in the middle of his sentence.

The fever might have been a lie, but the other symptoms were not.

"Seriously, why do you keep worrying us like that? It's not funny!"

Rokiana complained, sounding a lot more familiar with the black-haired boy than he ever did before, there was almost something motherly about her tone.

"I'm sorry, but now - shhh... I'm listening for where she is."

Zoemi smiled and apologized but then put his index to his lips and shushed the blue-haired girl.

"...I hoped that she will have a good life, but... she is still trapped here. Roiso."

The black-haired boy breathed out in worry and closed his eyes.