Chapter 5

The second storm raged that night.

Our family's dinner is usually with the Zeb family.

After the usual meal and cleanup, when the Zeb family members were about to return home, Louise started to fuss.

Since Louise had rarely been capricious before, Irma and the others were more perplexed than scolding her.

Especially, the content of her fussing was the problem.

"I'm not going back! I want to live here with Ein and Kyle! I'm a big sister now!"

Everyone was at a loss with her unprecedented stubborn attitude.

Zeb looked like he was about to cry.

Seeing no progress, Irma tried to persuade (physically) her, but Kyle spoke up.

"Louise doesn't want to fall behind in her studies. I always move ahead with my brother, so she gets anxious. Please don't scold her."

It wasn't a lie.

While it wasn't the only reason, today's situation showed that Louise had been quite concerned.

However, no one expected her to be this desperate.

Temporary solutions wouldn't work.

After some coaxing, with a bit of dirty adult persuasion about the need for preparation even if they were to live together, Louise reluctantly went home.

She clung to Zeb's shirt, hiding her face, filled with regret.

In the end, Louise's cohabitation was allowed.

Since they already spent their days together, it wouldn't drastically change their lives, and it would make babysitting easier.

Since I was partly responsible for the cause, I tried to persuade her parents with Kyle.

We subtly included things like "I want to study more together" and "I've always wanted a big sister" in our conversations.

Louise also fought her own battle.

She didn't back down even from Irma's scolding and pushed through with her will.

In the end, she was allowed on the condition that she follow a few rules.

In return, Irma started staying over a few days a week to take care of the children.

Poor Zeb, I'm really sorry. I'll definitely repay this debt someday.

In any case, our cohabitation began.

"Feel the flow inside your body. I'll speed it up and slow it down gradually, so let me know when you can tell."

Right now, I'm in the middle of our special training with Louise.

We hold hands and slowly circulate Louise's mana.

Kyle is smiling and watching us.

While Kyle could do it too, the majority vote decided that I would teach.

"I don't really understand... but I feel warm and energized."

Perhaps due to Irma's instructions for starting cohabitation, Louise started speaking in a more formal manner to us.

While I think it's a bit early for manners, Louise is trying hard.

Personally, I feel a bit lonely with the distance, but now is the time to focus on the training.

"Then don't forget that feeling. Practice until you can do it on your own. We'll repeat this for a while."

The time when the adults aren't around isn't long.

We repeat the training whenever we can.

Louise didn't get it right away, but she practiced patiently.

Repetitive practice without seeing progress can be boring.

I think it's impressive that she can keep it up at her age.

Seeing her effort, I can't give up either.

I also trained her diligently.

After about a month, she could grasp the strength of the circulation, and after a few months, she could do it on her own.

The first time she succeeded was especially moving.

It felt like my child had successfully done a backflip.

With Kyle, it just happened naturally...

Even after she could circulate on her own, she asked to continue the hand-holding training.

She still aims higher.

I don't mind hard workers.

Around this time, we started to be taken to the port town occasionally.

Elise and the others seem to be quite popular in town, often greeted with smiles.

We were also very satisfied with all the interesting things we saw.

Especially, what we found today was great.

A dark gray stone board about the size of a tatami mat and a piece of chalk-like stone.

It's essentially a blackboard, though the color is a bit different.

I was so excited that I touched it all over, and Elise talked to the shop owner and bought it for us.

An easel adjusted to our height will be delivered to our house later.

My excitement must have been obvious.

The shop owner was smiling, but that's fine.

With this, we can do a lot more!

Later, because I used the blackboard so much, it was moved out of the children's room, but that's another story.

In the fall of her fourth year, we started attending a school in town during the agricultural off-season.

It's like a temple school, apparently promoted by Papa Cruise, and it's right next to the magistrate's office.

It's convenient to drop us off on the way to work.

Cruise, who loves his children, seems excited too.

I'm looking forward to it, and Kyle is usually smiling, so he's in a serotonin overdrive state.

On a clear autumn day, we finally started school.

The school has three classrooms, roughly divided by age.

Considering our reading and writing skills, which Cruise had informed them about, we were to take a simple academic test first thing in the morning.

The youngest class starts with basic things like reading and writing, so it's natural.

A kind old man with a white beard sat in front of us.

After a brief introduction, we took our seats.

"I'll ask you a few questions. Answer what you can, and it's okay to say you don't know. I won't get angry."

He smiled at us and started asking questions, starting with me.

Since we're young, the questions weren't difficult, covering simple arithmetic with fruits, the order of the calendar, and the names of nearby countries.

After confirming these, he stood up with a serious expression.

"You said you can write. Can you come here and write your name, your favorite food, and the name of the neighboring town?"

Since we couldn't reach the board, we were lifted onto chairs to write.

We did as instructed.

"Wow, you're really impressive... Just one more question for you. It's okay to say you don't know if you can't answer."

He pointed at me for a question about the time difference in arrival for boats of different speeds leaving the port at different times.

It wasn't too difficult, and I explained the process.

Kyle and Louise should be able to explain it too.

However, it might be a bit challenging for pre-schoolers.

Impressive, both of you.

The teacher, nodding while listening to my answer, rubbed his eyes and said softly,

"You'll be in the 'Sail' class. The other students are older, so you might be surprised, but you'll be fine. Follow me."

We were led to a classroom with about thirty students.

They looked like middle schoolers to us.

Just as the class was about to start, the old teacher explained something to the class teacher, who seemed confused but then seemed to make a decision and turned to us.

"I'm Amicus, the teacher for the 'Sail' class. For today, please sit at the back and listen to the class. If you have any questions or don't understand something, let me know."

We were led to the back of the classroom.

I stopped the teacher from lifting us onto the chair and said,

"It's okay, teacher. We can't always trouble you."

After a moment of surprise, he said,

"I see. But remember, teachers are here to help students. You can always ask for help."

That's a great attitude, especially for a job that can be troublesome. Adults are impressive.

The class content was quite interesting.

While much of it was familiar, it was good for review.

It was also a good level for the other two.

A lesson on how to write a memo for buying goods from the neighboring town was especially useful, and I wished I had writing materials.

Yes, we don't have writing materials.

Paper and pens might be too expensive for everyone to use.

There were no lectures that assumed taking notes and reviewing.

They've put a lot of thought into it.

At noon, all the lectures ended, and everyone started to leave.

Some students went to ask questions of Mr. Amicus, showing a high level of learning awareness.

While watching this, we headed to the magistrate's office to meet Cruise.

However, we ran into him just outside the classroom.

He seemed to have come to pick us up.

"Where were you? I didn't find you in the 'Sea' class. Did you end up in the 'Wind' class?"

He said, looking happy.

"No, Dad. We're in the 'Sail' class! We're all together."

Hearing Kyle's response, he looked surprised and said,

"All three of you in the 'Sail' class!? Is that true?"

Realizing he had spoken too loudly, he lowered his voice and added,

"Sorry. Can you all come with me to the principal's office?"

He led us to a room at the back.

Cruise knocked and entered the principal's office.

The old teacher from the morning was writing something.

He was the principal.

He looked at us and said,

"Hello, Cruise. Are you worried about your children?"

Cruise looked embarrassed, a rare expression for him.

"Can you tell me about their performance today? Is it true they're in the 'Sail' class? I'm worried if they can keep up."

From the flow, it seems the classes are divided in the order of 'Sea', 'Wind', and 'Sail'.

A bit of a clever naming system.

"I decided to put them in the 'Sail' class. It shouldn't be too difficult for them. How was it for you? If it was boring, you can say so."

He turned to us and asked.

"Learning with everyone is fun. Especially, the lesson about monsters was interesting!"

Kyle loves animals.

In his past life, he might have been an entomologist.

The lesson about monsters in the area was very practical and directly related to life.

The principal smiled, seeing our enthusiasm.

"Then, let's study together for a while. I'll also give lectures sometimes."

Seeing us nod, Cruise seemed satisfied and continued,

"They're still young. We might cause some trouble, but please take care of them. If anything happens, please send a messenger to our house."

The principal smiled and nodded.

We left the room with Cruise and headed to the magistrate's office.

It was our first time inside, though we knew the location.

There weren't many people, probably because it was lunchtime.

We entered the office, and Elise and Irma were waiting.

They had prepared lunch boxes.

Let's enjoy a fun lunch together.

We carefully ate the sandwich-like food made from thinly sliced multigrain bread.

The filling was some kind of smoked meat, seasoned with salt and spices, and it was delicious.

Elise and Irma are both great cooks.

The conversation naturally turned to school.

We talked about our class, and Elise and the others were surprised, and Cruise praised us.

"Are the pens Dad uses expensive? It would be convenient to use them in class."

"I think so too. Bird feather pens might be affordable, but it's hard to gather enough paper..."

It seems the cost of writing materials is the issue.

Feather pens are relatively cheap.

"What about the blackboard we use?"

"That's a bit expensive for everyone to use."

"I see..."

"Actually, I've been thinking about using wax tablets, which sailors use..."

According to the explanation, wax tablets are memo pads where you scratch the wax with a stylus.

They can be used on ships because the wax doesn't get wet.

Quite useful.

"I'm talking to the craftsmen to see if we can prepare them using scrap wood during the off-season. Once we have enough, we'll start with the 'Sail' class."

His enthusiasm for education is impressive.

I decided to praise him.

"Great, Dad! We want to use them too!"

I also asked for one for myself.

Cruise, while saying the teachers and staff are excellent, seemed pleased.

Thanks to the school, our world has expanded.

Thinking about how Kyle and Louise will grow is very exciting.