"Eh? But all I did was heal a wound… It's not that impressive…"
"No, it is impressive!" Thomas insisted. "Most people can only close small wounds. But completely erasing a wound requires a special ability! That means you truly have two magical affinities!"
With a broad smile, Thomas placed his hands on Rafayel's shoulders and explained further.
"I see…" Rafayel murmured. "But… what if people get scared of me for having two affinities?"
Even though he had only suspected it before, Tama's shocked reaction had confirmed that his healing magic was unusual.
However, Thomas, Thalia, and Greyson all reassured him.
"That won't happen!" they said in unison, lifting his spirits.
Still, Rafayel couldn't completely shake off his worries.
The more unique someone's abilities were, the more they tended to stand out—for better or worse.
"Raffy, when you enter the academy in the future, there will be an opportunity to measure your magical abilities," their father said. "When that time comes, we can request a private evaluation. Officially, you will be registered as a Water magic user. Then, when you find true, trustworthy friends, you can decide whether or not to tell them about your Light magic. There are all kinds of people in this world… I will speak with the academy's higher-ups, so you'll have support if anything happens. In return, I want you to use your abilities to help your teachers and friends when they need it. Can you promise me that?"
Rafayel hesitated for a moment before nodding. "…I promise."
Rafayel's father gently asked him a question.
Determined to do his best for the family that loved him so dearly, Rafayel made a firm resolution in his heart.
...
My name is Thomas Delmare.
I was born as the eldest son of the Marquis Delmare family and recently turned I'm just turned fourteen.
Since the age of ten, I have been living away from my parents and siblings in the dormitory of the knight order.
I have two younger brothers, Greyson, who is two years younger than me, and Rafayel, who is eight years younger than me.
I also have a younger sister, Thalia, who is one year younger.
Of course, I love all my siblings, but among them, Rafayel is by far the most precious to me.
With his silver hair inherited from our mother and his deep blue eyes, he is beautiful beyond words.
His gentle and calm demeanor hides an unshakable inner strength.
He possesses both mental and physical resilience, which only adds to his charm.
I was certainly surprised when I discovered he had not one but two magical affinities.
But in the end, I simply accepted it as another part of what makes him so special.
Even at a young age, he shows remarkable consideration for others, which has always drawn me to him.
When Rafayel was first born, I already found him adorable, partly because of our significant age gap.
But as time passed, my affection for him only deepened, and I eventually realized that it wasn't just because he was younger.