Chapter 207 - His Changes

Cecil was heading back towards his residence in the Academy district. It was late in the afternoon and he had finally finished up with today's batch of magi-tech orders.

He helped out the Magnum Artifex's artificers build the new magi-tech and in exchange, they would help him out with developing new magi-techs as well as pay him for his work.

Cecil was walking alongside Silver with a large bun in his mouth.

"Hey Silv...I heard from Matty and Ima that this is called 'work'. Ima's always been complaining about it and so was Matty, but I think it's kinda cool!"

"Raah!!"

Battle form Silver barked in response to his mumblings. He hadn't even experienced graduating from school, but he was already working now in a big and prestigious firm. Normal people would have complained from the large orders of magi-techs, but Cecil found it new and refreshing.

Of course, he did think that if he was told to do it for the remainder of his life, he'd think that it'd turn boring one day. But for now, it was all new experience for him and he cherished that.

"I've basically covered all the new modern knowledge about magi-tech creation...I guess I should start focusing my attention onto the runes. I should develop new runic circuits before continuing the development of new magi-techs."

Cecil mumbled out loud. He and Silver crossed into the Academy district and he hopped on top of Silver and the two rushed straight for his private residence.

It didn't take long for the duo to arrive. Just as he was about to open the gate to his residence, Cecil's MID had suddenly begun buzzing. Cecil picked it up and saw Lucia's name written on the screen of his MID.

He tapped the screen and Lucia's voice was immediately heard.

"Cel? Are you coming home late again?"

"I'm already at the front gate, what's up?" Cecil spoke to her through his MID. He opened up the gate and walked into his residence.

He couldn't help but notice that their party's carriage was parked just beside his house's front door. They haven't been using it lately because of the recent events and it was supposed to be parked just outside of the Radon's place, the Ironforge Smithy. The door to the house immediately swung open in the next instant and Lucia walked out.

"Hey Lulu...what's up with the clothes?" Cecil asked as he observed Lucia's attire.

"Do you like it?" Lucia asked as she twirled her body.

The clothes she was currently wearing was a beautiful crimson colored dress. It had a silver flowery motif decorating the skirt part of the dress.

"Hmmm...Red and silver...suits you well, Lulu."

"Ehehehe~ thanks Cel...you should hurry and go get changed. Mama and Papa are waiting~"

"...I forgot, but where are we going again?"

"..."

"...Hehehe..." At her silence, Cecil could only awkwardly laugh in response. Lucia shrugged like she had given up.

"Oh well, what could I expect....We'll be going to the Aurielle family for dinner tonight. Since Mama and Papa are now a part of the Kingdom's aristocratic families, we have to attend this kinda thing occasionally...I've been holding things off because of you, but Papa was pretty adamant about making us go this time..."

"Oh, okay... wait a bit."

Cecil quickly rushed up to the second floor and quickly took a shower. When he got back to his room, he couldn't help but notice the formal wear hung on his wardrobe's door.

"...I have to wear this?"

"Of course!" Lucia walked into the room. She eyed him suspiciously before saying, "I bet you were planning on wearing your normal clothes, right?"

"Well...what else am I supposed to wear? It's not like I actually had any of these...formal wear."

"Just wear that..."

"But...it doesn't look easy to move in...Also, what happens if a fight—"

"It's just dinner, there's no way a fight will break out, idiot!"

Cecil was a little apprehensive, but she was right. It was only a dinner, right? What could possibly go wrong? It's just, since it was only dinner, why did he have to wear such formal clothes?

"...I feel like I'm being tricked...is this really just a dinner?"

"Yeah! That's what Papa told me!"

"Alright then," Cecil finally relented. It's not like Zaki would lie to them.

Cecil quickly put on the clothes. It fit him just perfectly. When he looked at himself in the mirror, he couldn't help but smile a little. Lucia came over and smiled in satisfaction, it was then that Cecil couldn't help but notice.

"By the way Lulu...when did you become so short?"

"Huh?! It's not me who's short! It's just you who got taller!!" Lucia replied in annoyance.

Before she was taller than him, it was the only thing she could proudly say that she was able to beat him at. However, after coming out of the trials, it's like Cecil had a growth spurt! His height just kept on growing where he was almost a full head taller than Lucia!

"Hmm...You're right...I wonder why?" Cecil pondered why this could have happened. He thought that he'd probably stay short for the rest of his life. His mother was short after all and height-wise, he leaned towards her side, but now he was growing taller!

Cecil grinned happily and looked at himself once again in the mirror. With Lucia next to him, they did make a pretty cute couple. He couldn't help, but blush furiously at this.

Noticing his face turning red, Lucia was about to ask if he was sick, but when she saw their reflections from the corner of her eyes...she began blushing as well.

"Ehh...should we go now?" Cecil asked while scratching his cheek.

"Ye-yeah..."

Cecil robotically turned his body and was about to walk outside. Lucia had been a little bit hopeful that he'd do something, but quickly became disappointed just as he walked past her.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lucia turn dejected. 'Ahh shiiittt...'

"Alright, let's go!" Cecil quickly grabbed onto Lucia's hand and shouted out loud. He was clearly trying to mask his embarrassment.

Seeing him take the initiative to hold her hand, the fox girl grinned happily and responded with a shout, "Yeah!"

Cecil escorted Lucia down to the carriage and quickly got on. Her parents were already waiting inside and they couldn't help, but smile brightly when they saw the pair. By the way, Silver was acting as the carriage's horse for tonight and Yuna was the driver.

"G-good evening, Mother and Father..." Cecil greeted awkwardly. He and Lucia were sitting in front of Anna and Zaki, but for some reason Lucia still hadn't let go of his hand even after sitting down.

"Ufufufu~ you two look great! As a mother, I'm proud to see that my two children have grown up! I'm pretty sure your mother would be jealous Cecil~ since I'm the first to see you like this and not her~"

Her joke loosened up the awkward atmosphere in the carriage. Zaki opted to stay silent, but even he couldn't help notice the two holding hands. He only shook his head and thought that her daughter is already leaving her nest now...well, she actually already did since a year ago.

"Ahahaha! Yeah, she'd probably be biting her nails and beating up father right about now, if she found out!"

"Oh? Beat up your father? I didn't expect your mother to be the violent type~"

"Yeah, my dad's a pretty strong guy. I was never able to beat him in a fight, but he's totally a weakling in front of mom!"

"Ohoho~ so she's a kindred spirit~"

Zaki had begun sweating bullets at this. Cecil as well, he turned to look at Lucia and couldn't help but notice.

'Haven't most of the girls I've come into contact with...are exceptionally violent?'

He felt a subtle pain on his sides after the thought.

"Hey...you were thinking about something rude right now, right?" Lucia said while strongly pinching his sides.

"No I wasn't!"

"Yeah, right! That stupid look on your face tells it all!"

"Am I that easy to read?!"

"So you admit it!"

"Huh? No I didn't!"

The two began bickering and this only caused Anna and Zaki to smile warmly at them. They finally noticed the two elders smiling at them and they quickly stopped bickering. Cecil ears however were already red while Lucia's face was the same.

"Oh look, we've arrived. Come now everyone."

With Silver's speed, the carriage had been rushing quickly down the lanes. It didn't take them long before they were able to arrive at the Inner District and stop right in front of a luxurious mansion.

Cecil couldn't help but notice that there was numerous luxury carriages parked all around the place.

"...is this really just a dinner?" Cecil asked skeptically.

"Of course~ a dinner party~" Anna smirked as she emphasized the last part.

Cecil turned to look at Lucia, but the look on her face told her that she too didn't know anything about this.

"W-what's all this for?!" Lucia asked.

"Come, we should head inside. We've been putting things off since you two have been so busy for the past 2 months, but it's time you two actually made a debut~"

"What?"

"Huh?"

What was this about a debut? Zaki who had kept his silence, was the one who answered.

"Well, it's not something we arranged, but the Family Head absolutely wanted to give you a welcoming party to also announce that you two are a part of the Aurielle family."

"...is all that necessary?" Cecil asked.

"For us, not really, but for the nobles, it's something necessary."

"Ugh...oh well, since we're here let's get this over with." Cecil replied helplessly. He opened up the carriage's door and let Anna and Zaki go down first. He stepped out, but from behind him Lucia couldn't help but ask.

"Cel? Aren't you normally adverse to these kinds of things? You don't have to force yourself!"

"...Yeah, I am actually...I don't like these kinds of things at all...I could make better my time and research on runes or cultivate my mana and ki instead..."

"Y-yeah...so let's just go back...I'm pretty sure Mama and P—" Before she could finish, Cecil cut her off.

"But...wouldn't it'd be such a shame?"

"Huh?"

"Y-you did get dressed up for this...I-I thought it'd...be such a shame to not see this through just because I didn't like it..."

With each word, Cecil was growing redder and redder in the face.

"?!"

He grabbed his head, but it seemed he made up his mind on something.

"You look really beautiful tonight. Let's go already...I can tolerate this much for your sake Lulu..."

His words were the trigger and she jumped straight into his arms. "W-woah! That's dangerous! Just get down from the carriage like normal!"

From afar, Lucia's parents were observing the duo.

"Ufufu~ it's good to be young~"

"Hmm."