The 1.000 year Great Sage ---> COMPLETED STORY

Princess Heiji punched Arys in the head, before addressing the couple that had their mouths wide open after hearing that.

- Shut up, you crazy woman! Don't you trash talk about my amazing Big Brother! You don't need to worry, Seya is truly amazing, he always takes good care of everyone around him and he tries to help as much as he can.

Arys was rubbing her head.

- Yeah, go say that to the 3rd-years of our school that he always bullies!

- Well, you can't deny that it's funny, seeing them running from Seya!

- Yeah, that part always makes me cry of so much laughter! Eheheheh!

- Yeah, remember last time when he called them leeches? It was so funny! Ahahah!

The journey to the Baron's house was a laughing one, with everyone remembering the previous blunders of Seya. He was hearing all that, and he just smiled or shook his head from time to time. The CatKind young couple was hearing all that, and instead of being worried, their admiration towards that Marquess just grew stronger.

Soon, they reached the Baron's house and while Tomas was taking care of the horses, Seya guided the two CatKind to inside the house, to meet Baron Frank and Milady Margaret. Following Milady Margaret Magic Flow, Seya found them in the meeting room, talking with Mary.

- Hello, we are back. We came a little early because I wanted to talk with you two a little, before dinner.

They got up and they kneeled, in the presence of the Royal couple, just to hear the Queen complaining.

- Please stop that, at least for today! Let's seat, I want to hear this crazy boy!

With that remark, Milady Margaret and Baron Frank had to hold the laughter. They didn't want to upset the Marquess. But Seya was smiling and he just shook his head.

- This Queen of mine will be my ruin, one day…

- What? I think I've heard something stupid!

- It was just the wind, my Queen, just the wind! Well, let me talk a little about these two that I have here. I've already found a job for their parent's and since they used to work as servants in a Noble's house of the Empire, I was hoping that you agreed on having them working here, with Mary and Tomas. With our group here, Mary and Milady Margaret are having a lot of work, so, I thought they could be a great help.

- Milord, it's no work, really, it's a pleasure.

- Milady, I'm glad that you think that, but it's still too much work. With them here, Milady can relax more, for sure you are very tired, because of your work as a Teacher. I also want them to be trained by Mary and Tomas, I have another idea that I want to fulfill later on. But for now, what do you think of having these two working here?

The Baron looked at his wife and they both smiled. Milady Margaret nodded.

- Milord, I was talking about them with my husband and Mary. I hope they enjoy working here. It will be a pleasure of having two beautiful CatKind with us. Mary had already prepared two rooms for them. In fact, we were already waiting for them. Please, follow Mary into the kitchen, she will guide you.

- Yes… thank you… Milady…

After some stuttering, they followed a happy- waving tail that belonged to Mary.

- That girl really likes CatKind people… Milady, I had another reason for wanting them to work here. I was hoping that they could replace Mary and Tomas because I have another job for them.

Seeing the worried face of Milady Margaret, Seya quickly gave an explanation.

- Don't be alarmed, you will not lose them. It's just that I know that Mary is making a huge success with her tea, biscuits, and cakes. I saw at the New Inn, the way that her biscuits were disappearing from every table in the dining room.

- Yes, the Innkeepers made a huge order today, Mary was busy most of the day with that!

- Well, I also know that for the tea that she makes, she uses the plants that you both planted on the garden on the back of this house. So, we need to increase the size of that garden, for planting more of those plants. I also want to build or change an empty building in the Capital, preferably, near the Inn. I want to make a Tea House, and having Mary and Tomas working there, has owners. I hope that Milady can give some advice to them so that their business can be a huge success.

- A Tea House? What's that?

- Well, just a place with a big open room with a lot of tables and chairs, well decorated and with a cozy atmosphere, so that a family can go and relax a little while eating some of Mary's delicious cakes and biscuits and drinking some tea. It can also have a room next to that open room, with a counter to sell cakes, biscuits, and tea in small bags that people can buy and take home. I thought that in the corner of the Tea House, there could be some tables for the new games that I created. The children could be there, playing, while the parents were relaxing over some tea.

- Milord… Do you mean that my sweet Mary will have her own business? Really? And… do you think it will be a success…

Milady Margaret was crying, happy for the future of her beloved young maid.

- I'm sure it will be a huge success. With the quality of her tea and with those tasty biscuits and cakes, I bet it will be as packed every day as the New Inn was today.

Baron Frank had an idea, and he interrupted Seya's conversation with his wife.

- Milord, there's one empty house right in front of the Inn! Do you think it can be used for that?

- Yeah, Baron, I saw it when I was using that Magic to make the New Inn. I wondered why it was empty. It was in a bad shape, but that can be fixed.

- That house has a sad story, actually. The couple that used to live there was killed by the guards of the Tax Collector from the Empire. The woman was young and beautiful and the Tax Collector wanted her to make him company at night, every time that he came here. They refused and one day, after leaving the Inn with too much wine on his stomach, he ordered his guards to get the woman. The couple was dragged to the middle of the street, and before anyone could do anything, they were killed. And the guards wrecked the house, afterward.

- That's… really horrible… maybe it's better if we find another place.

- I think it would be best to change that house and those memories, into happy ones. I'm sure that couple would love to see their house being turned into a Tea House, where people could relax and enjoy life. It would be a good way to honor their memory.

- I see your point. But… can you ask one artisan to make a plate with the name of that couple, so that we can hang it on a wall? I think it would be a nice gesture.

- Yes, Milord, of course. I still can't believe, Mary and Tomas, running a new business… it's really wonderful your idea, Milord!

- Yeah, I wanted to make that Tea House for quite some time, but I didn't have anyone to replace them in this house. Now we have. It's just a matter of fixing the house for that.

- Milord, I can go talk to the artisans tomorrow morning. They are building some new houses but if Milord thinks that Teat House is a priority, I can send them there.

- Do that, then. Since we are getting a lot of new visitors, it's better if we have the Tea House ready as soon as possible. I could do it, but tomorrow I have one other thing that I want to try.

The Queen was silent until that point, just smiling because she was already imagining that new Tea House.

- Seya, that's a very good idea. If you want, I can send here some people to help you decorate it.

- Thank you, my Queen, but it's better not. At least, this time. I'm sure the people that you send would do a very good job, but I think that they will also make it to the likes of the Nobles. I don't want that. I want a simpler thing, for my people. Of course, the Nobility can also go there, but many of them prefer places richer or that look more expensive.

- I see your point… well, they can also do that, you just need to explain to them what is your objective.

- Then, I will humbly accept your offering, my Queen.

Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard from the entrance of the dining room. Seya turns his head to the door and Mary was next to a very smiling Hina.

- Hello, did you miss me? Heheheh!

- Look who's back! So, did the Dwarfs survived?

- Of course, they did, Seya! Those guys are tough! Thank you, Mary, at least someone was listening to the Communicator Device! I was calling and calling and no one answered! And King Barunger gave me a gift, this!

Hina raised in the air an enormous Battle Ax, as big as she, actually. How could she lift that up so easily?

- I bet it's made from a very special alloy, hard and light, right? Or else you wouldn't lift it up like that!

- Yeah! Seya, it's so strong! I could easily cut some big rocks with it! I normally use a sword, but this will quickly become my favorite weapon! Look how cool I am with this! Ahahah! Oh, and King Barunger also gave me this sheath that I can use to keep the Battle Ax on my back. And it's very easy to grab it from there and start using!

- Yeah, just like a Dwarf. Weird, you stay one day with the Dwarfs and you already look like one! Minus the beard, of course. Ahahahah!

- Yeah, I really look like one, don't I? Eheheh! They were amazing! I fought with a lot of them, eat with them, heard one absurd story about a young boy that knocked out Minister Igneel and shaved him… Ehehehe!

- Yeah, and they told you what Igneel did, to get that punishment?

- Igneel said that he didn't do anything, and the King punched his head for being a liar! Seems that Igneel slapped that boy and he got himself knocked out and turned into a punching bag, pinned to a wall! You were terrible when you were younger, weren't you? Ahahahah!

- You have no idea… I was quieter when I was with Princess Heiji, but when I traveled alone, most of the times I got myself into some weird mess… Oh, talking about a mess… Baron, regarding the Coliseum, I think that all of our Village Chiefs could be in charge of it. If someone or even a group of people wants to perform in the Coliseum, they can talk with them, for choosing a date or a price for the entrance. And part of the money can go to the Capital's safe. Or the Village Chiefs can also try to invite some performers to do a show.

- I see… I'll contact them tomorrow to discuss that, to see if we can count on their help to take care of the Coliseum.

While Seya and the Baron were still talking, Hina placed her Battle Ax against the nearest wall and she seated next to Ryn.

- So, tell me what you did today without me around to catch you every time that you faint. Heheheh!

- Hey, I didn't faint! I cried a lot, but that was expected. Seya bought two families of CatKind slaves from a Slave Trader that came here from the Empire and they are now free people. A CatKind boy and a girl around our age are working here now. They are in the kitchen with Mary, helping her. Seya has an idea for a strange business and he's going to give that to Mary and Tomas.

- Really? That's so cool… Oh, I noticed one thing, when I was fighting with the Dwarfs. Well, I got the same feeling when I was in the Coliseum, fighting Duncan, but today I was certain of it. The amount of Magic that I can use and the power of it went up, like, three times more! I think I understand why Seya told us that we were getting more powerful with our Magic. I had to be really careful today, I almost killed two Dwarfs and made a cave collapse!

- No way! But you were already so powerful with your Magic!

Without anyone noticing it, John returned and he was seating on the other side of Ryn, and next to Princess Heiji. He gave a light kiss on the forehead of Heiji and he leaned on the table to get near Ryn and Hina because he heard the last part of their conversation.

- I got the same feeling today. I was teaching Magic Control to the two Healers in the Healing House, and the amount of Magic that I can gather now scares me. One farmer went there, injured with a deep cut on his hand. I healed him in a matter of seconds, leaving no scar what so ever and I didn't feel a little bit tired!

Zak lowered his voice. He was seated next to Hina and he also had something to tell, that he noticed recently.

- When everybody was at the beach, I went near some rocks. I used my Earth Magic and I made a bunch of new ones, similar to the ones already there, but even bigger. I still had enough Magic to shoot a powerful 'Wind Slash' into the ocean that opened the water until 50 meters away! And I didn't even sweat! I could never do that until now!

Ryn was nodding her head, thinking.

- So, it's not only me… I used one Crystal with Earth Magic and I've made some pieces like that Hnefatafl game. And I used my Water Magic to polish it and to make the details like Seya did when he made that New Inn. I've made a bunch of pieces that look exactly like my father and my mother. It seems that Seya was right when he told us that we were becoming more powerful. Maybe we really need to think about what we are going to do, from now on…

They all stayed in silence for a while, at least, until the food was served. Then, while they were eating, they were happily talking about their day.

…

After dinner, everybody went for a stroll in the Capital. The Queen was marveled with the way that the Capital looked at night. And since it was full of visitors doing the same, it was even more amazing. All the shops were open, there were a lot of street vendors on improvised stalls, and there was also a Minstrel, playing the sitar in a corner.

Because of their show in the previous evening in the Coliseum, the Queen, Heiji, Hina, and Duncan were gathering all the attention. The visitors, as soon as they recognized the Royal couple, kneeled and bowed at them, surprised for seeing the rulers of the Kingdom in the middle of the street, walking, just like they were doing.

…

In his room, Seya was checking his Automatic Production Lines, and placing the Crystals already done, inside his Compressed Dimension, when a familiar voice was heard.

- Well, I'm still waiting for an explanation for that kiss on my ear and an invitation to a certain party!

When Seya turned to face his bed, Aria was seated in the edge, fixing the frails on her dress.

- Hello, my cute little Goddess. Don't tell me that you are still thinking about that kiss? It was nothing much, you should wait for my kiss on those lips of yours. For that, I will for sure put a lot more effort!

A blushing Aria was pointing his little finger towards Seya.

- You… you pedophile! I'm a little girl!

- I'm sure that you are like that just because you like to mess with me. Or do you think that I forgot that on my endorsement you appeared like a full-grown woman? A very beautiful one, if I recall…

- Knnya… knnya… knnya… you are really a smooth talker. One of these days, I'm going to grab you and kiss you for real! Let's see how you would react!

Seya walked slowly to get near the Goddess, kneeled and he gently holds one of Aria's hands.

- On the day that you do that, I could die happy, my beautiful and kind Goddess…

Aria had her mouth wide open. She tried to speak, but she just blushed even more. She slapped Seya's hand that was holding her's.

- Stop… Stop messing with me… I just came here to get an invitation… it wasn't for you to mock my maiden heart!

- I'm not mocking you. I never did and I never will. You didn't need to come here, you know that I was expecting you to go to my party. I also hope that you can bring the Mermaid Queen and one of her daughters. Except for Ariel. I may kill her if I see her again. And I don't want to upset you, my beautiful Goddess.

Seya gently caressed the soft and red cheek of Aria, from her eyebrow to the chin, going to the ear and playing with his fingers with her curly hair. Aria smiled and she slowly grabbed Seya's hand, keeping it against her cheek.

- For a mere mortal, you are very kind, my young Seya. Even now, you don't cease to surprise me. Any other man wouldn't dare to approach me like that, and here you are, flirting with me… it's kind of refreshing, actually, I never had a man flirting with me like this. At least, one that knew my identity.

- So, that means that sometimes you change your appearance and you seduce a man?

- I'm not going to confirm or deny that… but I must go, I need to take a look at that dreadful Demonoid Island and place some more barriers around it. If I stay here any longer, I may do something stupid…

- Ok, but if one day you want to be a little more grown up and a little 'stupid', you know where to find me.

With that emphasis on the word 'stupid' and the light kiss that Seya gave on Aria's forehead, she understood. And she smiled, before slowly fading away, in front of a surprised Seya.

- Well, that's a different way of going, instead of that 'bum' and 'flash'… I'm going to conquer your heart one day, my cute little Goddess…

…