The sun had barely climbed above the horizon when Richard Von Augustus, clad in a dark training uniform and radiating the energy of a man decades younger, stood in the wide training yard behind the Von Augustus mansion. Noah, still rubbing the sleep out of his crimson eyes, was already regretting his life choices.
"You're late," Richard said, cracking his knuckles. "Five minutes late. That's five lightning strikes."
Noah blinked. "Wait, what?"
BOOM!
A small bolt of lightning zapped past Noah's face, singing the edge of his shirt.
"Father! Are you insane?!"
"No. I'm your teacher now. And teachers get to abuse their students a little. Builds character."
"That's not how any of this works!"
But Richard was already walking toward the center of the yard. "Come on, boy. Show me what you've got."
Noah sighed and followed, his mana beginning to circulate. He called upon the wind, his elemental affinity responding smoothly. But lightning… lightning was wild, and it didn't like being called.
Richard raised a hand. "First rule of lightning. It's not your friend. It doesn't like you. It's angry, unpredictable, and violent. You can't 'control' it—you can only survive it."
Noah muttered, "That's encouraging."
CRACK!
A bolt struck right in front of him, sending him flying backward. He hit the dirt, coughing, clothes smoking.
Richard walked over, grinning. "Second rule: Never complain in front of a storm. It hears you."
"Are you trying to kill me?!"
"Of course not. That would mean I'd have to raise another son."
Noah groaned, pushing himself up. Again and again, Richard sent bolt after bolt of lightning, making Noah dodge, react, and absorb the feeling of raw energy. Slowly, painfully, Noah began to sense it—not through thought, but through instinct.
He raised his hand. A faint spark danced across his fingers.
Richard smiled, genuinely this time. "There you go. Now you're not completely useless."
"Thanks, Father. Your encouragement warms my soul."
They took a break by the edge of the training field. Richard handed Noah a cold water flask while flopping onto the grass.
"You remind me of myself, you know," Richard said, eyes squinting toward the sky. "Hot-headed, cocky, thought I knew everything. First time I tried lightning magic, I accidentally blew up my own room. Your grandfather wasn't pleased."
Noah chuckled. "And what changed you?"
"Got my ass kicked by your mother. Repeatedly."
Noah blinked. "Wait, seriously?"
"Oh yeah. She was terrifying. Still is. One time, I tried to flirt with a noblewoman at a banquet—purely for diplomacy—and your mother nearly froze my pants off."
Noah laughed.
"Which brings me to dad advice number one," Richard said, raising a finger. "Women are scary. Treat them with respect, or they will end you."
"Sound advice. Anything else?"
"Yes. Don't die before marriage."
Noah raised an eyebrow. "That's oddly specific."
"Son," Richard said, placing a hand on his shoulder, his expression solemn. "You're surrounded by beautiful, powerful, dangerous women. That is not a blessing. That's a trial from the heavens. One wrong move and you'll be buried in a scandal so deep even I won't be able to dig you out."
Noah snorted. "I'll… keep that in mind."
"Good," Richard said, rising again. "Now, enough talk. Time for you to take a real hit."
"Wait, what do you mean by—"
BOOOOOOM!
Lightning crashed down on Noah, sending him sprawling yet again. He lay in the dirt, smoking.
"Lesson three," Richard said cheerfully. "Lightning doesn't wait for your consent."
Noah groaned, twitching.
Somewhere from the mansion, Julia sipped her tea by the window, shaking her head. "Boys and their bonding."
Scarlett, Layla, and Lyra peeked from the side of the wall, watching the madness unfold. Layla grinned.
"Do you think he's still alive?"
"Barely," Lyra said calmly.
"He'll survive," Scarlett muttered, eyes focused. "He always does."
"Now then," she said, her voice laced with a playful edge. "It's your turn, girls."
The room turned cold—not from magic, but from pure tension. Scarlett gulped. Lyra stiffened. Layla slowly, almost invisibly, began to scoot her chair away.
"Where do you think you're going, Layla?" Julia asked sweetly.
"Uhh... bathroom?" Layla tried.
Julia was at her side in a blink, hand on her shoulder. "Don't you want to impress your future mom? Or are you going to run away from training?"
That hit something in Layla. Her eyes widened, then narrowed with determination.
"Tch. Fine. Let's do this. I'll blow your mind."
"Good girl," Julia said, guiding her along. Scarlett and Lyra followed with pale faces, whispering prayers.
And so, as Richard is beatin-..I mean training Noah, the three girls were swept away by the shadowy yet graceful aura of Julia Von Augustus.
To be continued...