Chapter 9: Family Dinner And Isabella’s Night Treatment [R-18 Contents]
"My cute little brother!"
I crashed into her embrace with the enthusiasm of a genuinely excited brother, and Rosaluna hugged me back with fierce affection. Her arms tightened around me as if she was reluctant to let go, and I could feel the lingering warmth of magic that always seemed to radiate from her skin these days. She smelled of woodsmoke and the crisp scent of winter air that clung to the forest around Isadora’s tower.
"Did you miss me?" She asked, pulling back just enough to look down into my eyes with a grin that was both affectionate and slightly mischievous.
"I missed you, yes," I nodded earnestly, allowing genuine warmth to color my voice. Despite everything else, my feelings for Rosaluna were uncomplicated—she was my sister, and I really loved her, present in my very short list with Isabella.
She laughed delightedly and lifted me bodily from the ground, her strength enhanced by months of magical training. Then she settled onto my abandoned stool, pulling me onto her lap as if I weighed nothing at all. At eight, Rosaluna was growing rapidly—not just physically, but in magical power and mental acuity as well. The shy girl who had accidentally set fire to the barn was becoming quite a girl under Isadora’s teachings.
"You’re quite late, Rosaluna," Isabella observed mildly, not looking up from where she was carefully wiping down her worktable. The day’s preparations were finally complete, dozens of small vials and pouches arranged neatly on wooden shelves for future use.
"Master Isadora kept me longer than usual," Rosaluna explained, unconsciously straightening her shoulders at the mention of her mentor’s name. There was respect there, but also a hint of wariness that hadn’t been present when her training first began.
I tilted my head back to look up at her, making my eyes wide with curiosity. "Did you learn new magic today?"
Rosaluna’s expression shifted, becoming more guarded even as she maintained her smile. "I did learn quite a lot, actually," she said carefully. "Master Isadora has been teaching me advanced flame manipulation techniques."
"Can you show me?" I asked, injecting just the right amount of eager anticipation into my voice.
"No, no, no," Isabella intervened quickly, finally turning away from her now-spotless worktable. "No magic demonstrations at home, and certainly not right before dinner. We’ve talked about this."
The memory of the barn fire was still fresh in everyone’s minds, even months later. Rosaluna’s control had improved dramatically, but Isabella wasn’t taking any chances with their modest home. The wooden walls and thatched roof would provide little protection if something went wrong.