Although there were various processes and inquiries involved, it didn’t take long to finalize the adoption of Flann into the Ruzena household. It was a late-august evening when they heard news that the process had completed, and Flann officially took on the surname of Ruzena. Despite the uncertainty behind his background, he had been registered as a former commoner born in the same year as Clarette, and now as a legal citizen with noble status. That night, to celebrate his entry to the family, the four of them went stargazing in the land behind their manor, bringing a blanket to sit on and an assortment of snacks to enjoy. 

“When you first arrived, Flann, you said something about liking the sky, right?”

Amandine set down the blanket and flattened it, motioning for the children to sit beside her. 

“...I did, didn’t I?” Flann thought back to that time, and found himself a little flustered recalling the language he had used. 

Sitting between them, Clarette clasped her hands over her knees, gazing at the sky. “What did you see that left an impression on you?” 

The memory replaying in his head, Flann revisited the emotions of that day. “I saw… the blue afternoon sky turn dark… the deep red of the sunset… and the twinkling of stars overhead.”

“...I thought the colors and lights were so beautiful… I gazed at them all night.”

Amandine nodded in response. “Indeed, they are. Especially in the summertime, the sky is clear for all to see.”

Setting down the tray of snacks and tea, Kelsus took a seat beside her, diagonally from Flann and Clarette. “Well Flann, from today on, you’re a Ruzena.”

“So this sky, this land, and the people that live on it, you must love them dearly.”

Flann gazed at Kelsus for a moment, taking in the image of the lord of the land who was now his father. Then, he said, “...I don’t think that will be an issue.”

He peered out over the edge of the horizon, where the dangling stars began to shine. “Since the first day I was here… I think I’ve already fallen in love with it.”

Kelsus poured four cups of tea, and picked up one, extending it towards Flann. “Then, you’re on the right track.”

Flann picked up a cup with both hands and held it out, tapping it against Kelsus’. A soft sound rang out, and then he brought it to his lips and took a small sip. The taste was sweet and warm, similar to how the Ruzena estate felt to him. He smiled, savoring the aftertaste that lingered on his tongue. 

“As long as you are able to care for the land and its people, that is the most important thing.” Kelsus, too, took a sip from his cup before setting it back down on the tray. 

Hearing this, Flann felt a sense of nostalgia, but couldn’t quite understand what the feeling was. It faded in a moment, and he didn’t try to grasp onto it, but instead decided to relish the present before him. 

He took another sip of tea, the cup warming the tips of his fingers. Staring at the vast sky above him, the stars seemed to welcome him into his new role as they shimmered from afar.

***

The summer sun shone hazily through the curtains on the window, illuminating Flann’s silky white hair. 

“You’re going to learn all of that in school, you know?”

Clarette stood at her desk, her back leaning against the wood. Sitting across from her was Flann, who was earnestly reading an introduction to magical theory. 

“Are you that excited that you can’t wait until then?”

Flann peered up from his book, making eye contact with Clarette. 

“...I just thought… it sounded interesting,” he said. “...You would often read books on magic as well…”

Clarette pulled out her chair and sat down, shaking her head slightly at his hopelessness. “I review the text to keep it fresh in my memory, but it’s still schoolwork to me.”

She then pointed at the stack of books next to Flann, all on magic theory. “Unlike you, who has already gone through so many just for fun.”

“So?” She asked, propping her chin on her hand, “What have you learned?”

Flann looked down at his book, then at his stack of books, before turning back to Clarette. “...It’s just in theory, so… I don’t know if I’d be able to do any of it.”

“I mean, that’s why they usually teach the text interspersed with practice.”

“...Can I… try?”

Clarette thought for a moment, her brows furrowed. “It’d be best if you start out somewhere with proper guidance… though, if you make sure to imagine something very, very small, I suppose you can try it.”

Getting up, she walked over to him and glanced down at the page his book was open on. “What did you want to try in particular?”

“Ah… not that.” Flann closed the book and looked up at Clarette. “Just… the flame from last time… I want to try controlling its size.” 

“I see.” Clarette nodded. “Go ahead, then. Since you’ve done it once before, it’ll probably be safer than anything else.” 

She sat down next to him, watching him carefully. “I’ll watch over you.”

Flann nodded, and then closed his eyes. This time, it didn’t take him long before he could feel the mana flowing within him, and he easily found a spark and guided it towards his palm. Lifting his palm up in the air, he could feel the tingling of the energy right beneath his skin, but a feeling of nervousness overtook him. 

Was this safe? Could he make it smaller this time?

He didn’t know. 

After a lingering moment of silence, he suddenly felt a brush against his forehead, and he immediately opened his eyes, losing the feeling of mana. 

“What…!”

“Oh, sorry,” Clarette exclaimed, shocked by his intense reaction. “It’s just, your expression looked very uncomfortable… Did you have some issue with it?”

“I… was a bit afraid,” Flann replied, gazing down at his open palm. “...What if it comes out like last time? …What if it actually goes bad this time?”

“I didn’t know… how to release it properly.”

Clarette looked at him with a gaze of understanding. Patting him on the back, she said, “I doubt it. You’ve read up so much on it, I’m sure you can do it!”

She grinned, her face beaming under the luminescent sun. “Just remember what you’ve read. Give it another try!”

Hearing her confidence in him, Flann began to feel a little more at ease. He recalled the passages he had read a while prior, and again closed his eyes, feeling for the spark of mana. Leading it towards his palm, he envisioned a flame, one so small it could fit on his pinky finger, and released the spark. 

The light reflected in his closed eyes, and he opened them to see the results of his work. On his palm was a flame perfectly fitted for it, flickering in the light.

“You did it!” Clarette patted Flann triumphantly on the shoulder. “It’s a little bit large, but much more controlled than last time.”

Feeling a little proud, Flann gazed at the flame dancing on his palm for a short while, and then extinguished it.

“Did you envision it the same size as last time? How did you fix the difference in output?”

“Oh, I… imagined one the size of my pinky…”

Clarette stared at him for a moment, speechless. Then, she broke into laughter, bending over her legs. 

“I see! So that’s what it was!”

“What… what is it?” Flann glanced at her nervously, feeling he had done something wrong.

“No, it’s fine,” she said, catching her breath. “It’s just that your whole scaling is off, so it’s a bit funny. If it works for you though, I don’t see the problem.” 

“...Really? Is it really alright?”

“Yes, it’s fine, so why don’t you try again? This time even smaller…”