My time talking with Susan had been very productive. Little by little, I had grown more confident in how I spoke and expressed myself. I told her a bit about my childhood, the problem after winning the novice championship, and some extra stories. She only listened, asking short questions whenever something caught her attention.

"Maki, wait a moment." She interrupted me in the middle of a story—I was explaining the time when Mancor was almost attacked, the dungeon was stopped by me, and my grandmother captured one of those responsible for the chaos.

I looked at her directly. She frowned for a moment, then her expression shifted into a radiant smile. "It's solved now. You can continue." I went on telling the story in the most entertaining way I could until my grandmother appeared. I was just about to ask for her opinion when I felt someone approaching us.

A waiter arrived carrying two beautiful glass pitchers, their design impressive, the handles shaped like dragons. From the color of the liquid, I could guess it was wine. The waiter carefully placed them on the table, poured us each half a glass, and then left after a polite bow.

"Every good story and new bond should be strengthened with a little wine." She raised her glass, prompting me to pick up mine.

"I'm twelve years old…" I wanted to toast with her, but my age was still on my mind.

"You've faced death more times than 95% of the people at this party. You can drink wine if you wish, and if anyone has something to say, they'll deal with me." She lifted her glass toward mine again. I gave in, grabbed mine, and we toasted, draining them down.

The sweet taste filled my mouth and slid smoothly down my throat. I was surprised at how sweet it was. Back home, whenever I had been made to try wine at celebrations, it was dry and harsh. But this was sweet, smooth, almost too pleasant. I took another sip before lowering the glass to the table.

"It's good, isn't it?" Susan gave me a slight wink that made me laugh.

"Yes, it's delicious." I couldn't deny the truth.

"Don't be shy. Drink as much as you want." She finished her glass as if it were water. "I'll stop anyone who tries to say otherwise." She refilled her own glass and stared at me as if urging me to finish mine. Without thinking too much, I drained the rest in a single gulp. That sweet taste slid down my throat again, and my glass was refilled in less than a second.

"Thank you." We kept talking about my battle experiences. Time flew by when you spoke with someone while drinking. It brought back vague memories of my past life. Because of my training, I only drank on certain occasions, usually with my university classmates. The feeling now was similar.

By the time we finished the first pitcher of wine, my mind was already a little affected by the alcohol. This body wasn't used to intoxication. I activated my ice core to counter the effects, and my thoughts quickly cleared. I was still more talkative and cheerful thanks to the wine, but at least I could keep control of my mind.

Susan's Point of View

This boy was a raw diamond. I hadn't seen anyone with such immense talent in decades. He had the luck to be born with immense potential and the right opportunities at every stage. Unforeseen events had happened in his life, and he had managed them in the best possible way. He had the luck of a star and the talent to match.

His words, gestures, and expressions didn't fit someone twelve years old. He seemed more like an adult nearing thirty. He had experience in many aspects of daily life and knew how to choose his behavior for each situation—something only children trained from birth could manage. That hadn't been his case, as he had only devoted himself to training. It was a mystery.

I couldn't ignore his abilities. He had forged them through effort and work, reaching a level most could only dream of—and at such a young age. He had filled gaps that most young people left empty. Usually, one focused on strengthening a single point, with one or two support skills to cover weaknesses.

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But Maki had covered nearly every facet. He was strong at short, medium, and long range. He could act as a scout thanks to his sensory ability. He had a way of calming his mind in desperate situations. He could face stronger opponents and large numbers with monstrous efficiency. His control of Imra surpassed excellence for his age, and his mana pool was triple that of anyone in his rank. He had everything to shine as brightly as the sun.

It amused me to see him so talkative after drinking wine. At times, words or actions slipped out of him that he blocked when sober. Alcohol often revealed one's sincerity or hidden self. Maki hadn't changed much—he was still the good boy Julio had described. He was someone worth helping and training.

I had already canceled many meetings and tasks to attend this party. I had planned to leave today, but I would stay another day to help him more. Once he joined my school, he would be my protégé. That would help carve his path with fewer obstacles. Competition was always harsh, and some youths used their status or age to intimidate younger ones—although… Maki could easily beat them if pushed.

Three young ladies slowly approached our table from behind. Maki had surely already sensed them. I turned to call the waiter for more wine, using the chance to glance at them. One was the Marquis' daughter, another was Julio's niece, and the last I didn't know. Did they have some interest in this boy?

When they reached the table, Maki greeted them with open enthusiasm. They were a bit surprised, blushing as he hugged them with such ease. He introduced me, and upon hearing that I was an acquaintance of the Marquis, the three girls displayed their best manners.

I let the conversation flow at their rhythm, only listening as the four young ones spoke. It was easy to tell that all three were in love with Maki, and that he held deep affection for them as well. What surprised me was how none of them fought over him. It seemed they had reached some sort of agreement to share him equally.

What a hilarious situation—three daughters of powerful nobles willing to share the affection of a boy with lower status. But Maki was worth it. He was an adult's mind inside a child's body, destined for greatness.

Youth was so fun and exciting. I had forgotten this feeling years ago. The best times were always during school days. If those three attended my school, it would be a delight to watch. It looked like today would be even more entertaining than expected.

"Maki, why are you drinking wine? I thought this was juice." Julio's niece complained after tasting her glass. Oops. Let's see how you get out of this one, boy.

He looked at me, asking for help. I turned away, ignoring his gaze. I noticed right away that he realized he couldn't count on me, and his mind must have been scrambling for an excuse.

"I'm training my body to handle alcohol before school… your uncle gave me permission." Not a bad excuse. At school, students often drank heavily on weekends and at the end of semesters. It was always chaotic.

The orange-haired girl looked at her uncle with guilty eyes. Julio had already noticed something was off and had shifted his focus elsewhere.

"If the Marquis gave you permission, then it must be fine… just try to control the amount." The girl named Sol looked very worried for him.

"If you can drink alcohol, then that means we can too." The Dukes' daughter was just as the rumors said—direct and with no filter.

I decided to throw him a lifeline. "Ladies, it is not proper to drink before fifteen, especially at an event where you represent high status. If you wish to drink wine, you must first ask the Marquis or the Count." Arisa and Sol already knew what the answer would be. Marga could have been the problem, being a Duke's daughter, but she stayed silent, proving her intelligence in understanding her position.

"How did my uncle give you permission? What did you do?" Arisa kept digging, trying to find a way to gain authorization.

"He told me I was special." Maki raised his arms with open palms, as if to show his innocence. They must have known how special he was, because they didn't refute him—they just stood there, thinking.

I raised my glass, and Maki looked at me. I winked, and we toasted again, finishing what was left and refilling our glasses. If this boy got drunk, the situation would become even more entertaining. If I saw him lose control, I'd have to suppress him and teleport us away. I didn't want him embarrassing himself or saying something unnecessary.

The girls eventually returned to their table since another round of performances was about to begin, leaving just the two of us again. The hours passed with shows, dances, and noble chatter. It was boring whenever Maki had to dance with the girls. I only enjoyed the wine at those times.

I was surprised at his tolerance. For his first time drinking, it was quite impressive. Even though this wine had a very low alcohol content, we had drunk enough to intoxicate him. His mental strength was remarkable for an Emerald rank.

The day slowly came to an end. Maki had stopped drinking wine hours ago and was now drinking water to ease his dizziness. I kept enjoying the sweet wine as much as possible. I had learned much about him—he came from a loving family and had clear goals. He was a good drinking companion, someone who listened attentively and spoke fluently.

The party ended, and everyone returned to rest for the second day. I disappeared after only saying goodbye to Maki, returning to a special room in Julio's castle. It was time to call my secretary to cancel tomorrow's plans. "Noe will be upset…" I prepared myself for the scolding, but it would be worth it to spend more time with this new generation.

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