SSS Rank Sword Mage: Awakening Starts with Weakest Mana Affinity Chapter 60: The Taste of Home

His cloak whipped in the wind, his shadow stretching long across the stone.

My throat tightened. "…Father."

For a mont, the world halted in my eyes the air thinner, the training field fading away as I saw my old man. Months. It had been months since we'd seen him.

He stepped closer, his boots barely lifting off the grasses, a smirk on his face. His eyes scanned the ground and the lingering trails of mist in the air.

"You two... did all this," he stated. His voice was smooth as ever.

Then his gaze caught Astraya. The faintest smile flickered on his face. "You've improved. I saw everything you guys did. It was amazing."

Astraya instantly ran towards him as if she'd been pulled by a magnetic force, pride glowing through the sweat still drying on her skin. "Father! Welco back. I've missed you… so glad to have you back!"

"Hahah, so glad to be back," he said, hugging her tighter.

For a heartbeat, his eyes softened.

Then he noticed Morad. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn novelꜰire

And the softness exploded. His pupils dilated, his jaw dropped, and his entire composure disintegrated.

"Is.. that… a fish…?

Wait astraga does that an?…

my research!" His joy was palpable. "I— I did it! ? waiy that's even if I knew what or how I did hahaha he repeatedly laughed

"Wow! A Mana Beast! A—fish type—with Dragon Seed! So body pinch !" Just like that, he got his wish as Astraya pinched him.

"Ouch, Not literally, Astraya!"

All this made smirk. "Welco ho, Father. Yes, this is a Mana Beast. Your research paid off."

"Astraga, co on, tell your old man what you really did, hmmm?" he asked.

Well, I couldn't tell him everything, but I could at least say what I had done. "Well, Father, I discovered that only two fishes a koi and a carp recovered perfectly, and luck would have it, one of their eggs laid Morad."

He understood imdiately. "Hmmm, so you an selective breeding! I see. I tried that, but I think your using those two made the final golden goose egg, hahahaha."

"Well then, Astraga, that was a smart move from a young man, already thinking like a Manomancer, just like your old man."

He dropped to his knees in front of Morad, his cloak fluttering wildly.

Morad blinked, his scales capturing the sunlight at that mont. "Uh… hi, sir?"

"It can talk also! This would make training him easy as he can be responsive to stimuli! They said I was crazy, hahahah! Whose crazy now?"

Morad replied like he had never heard the words before. "Huh, stimuli?"

Father was already fumbling through his coat. "Where— where is it, where is it— ah! asuring tape!"

He snapped it open, muttering numbers under his breath. "Length, dorsal fin ratio consistent— facial structure— scales patterns, it's beautiful! A perfectly healthy Mana Beast! Will still need to run so more intense tests, might hurt a lot, but all in the na of knowledge, hahaha!"

Morad imdiately retreated behind . "Brother, your father scares !"

Father heard him. "Brother? It appears to be very fond of you, Astraga. Have you grown a strong bond?"

"Yes, Father, we have linked," I replied.

"What? Already? Incredible, my son! Most Mana Beasts are hesitant to do that, as they never find their masters worthy that easily. In fact, the outside world beyond this barrier is a ss…" His voice sounded cold, and then he imdiately reverted back to his jolly self. "Nothing is going to ruin this mood, hahaha! I did it!"

"Daddy, you an you and Astraga?" Astraya chid in.

"Oh, sorry, dear, hahah! We did it, hahah! I'm so happy."

Astraya covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Father circled Morad twice like an overexcited child, scribbling notes he seemingly pulled out from his cloak.

"A Dragon Seed in a koi fish? Do you have any idea what this ans? This could redefine Dragon Seed paths in Mana Beast research… my theory! I will definitely get the Nobel dallion now, hahaha!"

"…Dad?" Astraya finally cut in.

He froze, halfway through asuring Morad's tail fin again. Slowly, he straightened, brushing dust off his knees. His expression softened again, exhaustion catching up with him.

"Right. Right. Forgive ."

He reached out and patted both our heads. His hands were warm.

"Seeing you two with this much progress... it makes every trip worth it."

Astraya looked up at him. "Dad, what about my teacher? They were supposed to return with you, right?"

He smiled faintly, adjusting himself. "Ah, yes, dear, don't worry. They're beyond the barrier, well, not quite directly there now waiting, more like, staying in the town close by. We'll see them tomorrow. Do not worry for now. I just missed you guys so much, decided to co on my own."

Then his gaze slid sideways slowly, inevitably back to Morad.

Morad's fins twitched. "…Why are you looking at like that?"

Father's eyes glead. "Because, my dear fish, I have so many questions. And even more experints."

Morad began trembling, inching backward through the shallow water. "A-Astraga, help he's got that look again"

Astraya sighed. "Dad, please don't dissect him."

"Dissect? Of course not," Father said, waving a hand dismissively. "At least… not today."

I decided to remind Father who had missed him the most. "Father, why don't we focus on getting ho first? Mother misses you."

He got himself back on track. "Oh, your mother! I missed her also."

As we all headed for ho, it was long overdue.

----

The mont we stepped through the door, the sll hit first rich, smoky, and impossibly warm. It was just all food.

"Welco back!" Mother's voice rang out from the kitchen, soft and happy the kind of tone that could make even a commoner feel like royalty.

The table was covered completely. Steaming bowls of rice, roasted venison, stew thick enough to drown in, and at that shimred golden under candlelight.

Father froze on the spot, almost pale.

"Oh no," he whispered.

Astraya leaned close. "What's wrong?"

He gulped. "She… cooked everything. That only happens when she's either really happy… or ready to kill ."

Father was right. Mother was soone who believed food was the best way to settle things, especially before she whipped your butt for so weird reason. Her logic was that you would have enough energy to remain alive when you were on the receiving end. I still rember when I broke that vase, my butt was red hot. Sigh.

But for Father, I was sure it was because she was happy.

Before I could laugh, Mother appeared apron tied neatly, her hair flowing down her shoulder. One look at her, and you'd never think she was born of royal blood. No crown, no jewelry. Just warmth, and a wooden spoon that might as well have been a divine weapon.

"Welco ho, dear," she said again with a smile sharp enough to slice glass.

Father chuckled nervously, "Honey! You… didn't have to prepare so much"

"Oh, nonsense! Months gone, only one letter, but I'm happy you're ho," she said, rushing to hug him. "I was so scared sothing terrible would happen to you," she said genuinely, touching his arm.

Father could only apologize, as it appeared Mother and Father knew the problems of the outside world more than us.

"And now," she said, "you have co back ho safely! But where are the guests? I also made food for them as well?"

"Hahah." Father rubbed the back of his head. "They aren't here today; that would be tomorrow, hahah. I see, so that's why you made all this food! Sorry about the miscommunication there."

Astraya, already seated at the table, asked, "So, who is going to eat all this now?"

Father replied, "Haha, I'm sure we can find sowhere to keep it."

"Eat all that?" Father stamred.

"Yes, dear. You need all your strength, do you not?" Mother replied, her voice dangerously sweet.

Astraya was already giggling behind her hands. Morad floated beside . "Wow, Astraga, I never knew your family was this lively! I love it… Brother, your mother might be scarier than your father."

"Shhh, don't let her hear you," I whispered back.

Dinner started warm and loud.

Father told wild, fun stories about old journeys. Astraya and I got to understand a few things, though I could tell his stories weren't completely told. Regardless, Astraya and I kept cheering at every bit of the tale. I just listened, half-lost in the comfort of it all the laughter, the clatter of dishes, the steam fogging the windows. For a mont, the world beyond the barrier didn't exist; this was my family, this was my ho.

Then Mother asked it, her tone gentle, but with that edge only mothers have.

"So, dear… what exactly happened to the teacher and the condottieri?"

Father froze with a drumstick halfway to his mouth.

"Ah, yes, that. They're both fine. They stayed behind, beyond the barrier

resting in the nearby town. They told it was best to let them stay there, as both of them made it clear they will not take up the role unless Astraya and Astraga show them they are worth it."

Mother was taken aback. "Worth it? What do they an by that? Aren't they getting paid large amounts of gold?"

"To be honest, I didn't spend a penny to get them," Father said bluntly.

"Huh? What do you an?" All of us looked confused.

"I spent gold on people who knew how I could find them," Father said, feeling he had lost a lot. "Who knew they would do it for free, but finding them was so expensive."