I regressed and became the Sword Ice King

His gaze drifted to the ceiling of his quiet bedroom as the Mages bowed and took their leave.

About ten minutes had passed since he was brought back to his chambers.

The walls, a replica of the Colosseum, was weathered, dirty brown in color. Vintage furniture, arranged with precision, created a sense of order amidst the chaos in his thoughts. The ancient mahogany round table, accompanied by two chairs, stood sentinel in the center of the room while a double–sized bed, where he lay anchored the space.

As he turned towards the left, the open window–wall came into view, framing the vibrant scene beyond. The cheers and excited voices of the Spectators swirled in, carrying the whispers of his own curiosity. 'It must be Jane and Darell. I wonder who's leading'. He mused, a soft glint sparkling in his eyes.

The warm sunlight suffused through the window, bathing the room in a gentle radiance. It served as the only source of natural light while lamps were hung on the walls, filled with mystical light.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and familiar auras entered with loud steps.

He sat up, turning towards the door.

"You girls sure know how to make an entrance" He said, his tone laced with exhaustion. His chest and limbs were wrapped in bandages.

Morganna chuckled, jumping onto his bed and advancing to his right. "Raphy !! It's so nice to see you again !" She said, embracing him tightly causing his left brow to arch in confusion.

"didn't dad send you letters ?" He asked, noticing the awkward expression on his sister's face as she released him.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Hah…." She retorted, awkwardly looking away while his sisters surrounding his bed, wore similar awkward expressions.

"Wha–What could we do, we have other things to do now you know" Fiona spoke up first, her voice laced with a hint of defensiveness. The others nodded in agreement and Raph chuckled softly. Explore new worlds at empire

"We know that," he said. "It would have been nice if you had replied to dad's messages at least. He seemed heartbroken when none of you responded".

His sisters exchanged glances, and Gloria sighed deeply.

"Well, we'll do that next time. How are you feeling ?".

"well…" He looked down at his body, assessing his condition. "I'm alright. I think I underestimated her a little". He replied. 'not to mention, I never had the opportunity to gauge her abilities at this age in my past life'.

"Enhhh….Did you think the sword is greater than magic or something ?" Fiona's voice took on a provocation tone as she folded her hands and seated at the edge on the bed.

Gloria, Rebecca and Raph quickly glared at her and she jerked, turning away from their heated gazes.

"don't mind her, you did well. The Merlin's were always a family to be reckoned with" Thalia intervened, adjusting her glasses and seating beside Raph.

She caressed his hair softly as they continued their conversation.

"Not to mention, you failed to use Aura Field of Vision" Gloria pointed out.

".....or that". Rebecca had taken off her armor a while ago, revealing a black long–sleeve shirt and white skirt. However, her armor boots were still on, contrasting with the mundane clothes.

She folded up her right sleeve and revealed a white bandage.

"That ? I thought you said you got caught up in an ambush ?" Gloria's brow furrowed in confusion as she folded her hands.

Her sisters also seemed perplexed by the white bandage as well.

Rebecca clarified. "It actually occurred about a year ago when I returned from the Academy and Raph asked for a sparring partner".

Raph chuckled awkwardly. "...We–We promised not to tell anyone, remember, Um, Rebecca".

Her eyes met his, and she rolled them. "Oh. True".

'What sort of reaction was that ?!' His thoughts but the intense and inquisitive looks of his sisters pulled him back to reality.

"it's just something I'm preparing to use against Jang….or hopefully not use at all". He sighed, Memories of the first time he used it flashed through his mind.

"Oh really…" Morganna narrowed her eyes, her scowl deepening.

He sighed again. "Well, well. I'll have to use it eventually…Just not now, okay ?"

They stared at him then nodded in unison.

"Nevermind that. The thing you did at the end of the battle was rather odd" Gloria, changed the topic.

"Oh, that's right. Is it perhaps part of your trait ? You called it…I SEE YOU ?" Fiona asked with a raised brow.

"Oh that….it seemed like the easiest way to win…though it may have worked too effectively…and yes it is part of my trait" Raph replied, replaying the scene in his mind. "It was pretty impressive. I felt…in control".

Their gazes hid different emotions on hearing his brother's words.

"don't let that sort of power get in your head, little bro" Fiona said, a worried tone in her voice.

"I wouldn't. Well, unless I'm fighting against a horde of demons…in that case, then I wouldn't mind letting loose" He grinned, mischievously.

Rebecca warned, "you haven't gotten to the Academy yet. Don't even think about going towards a Demon gate all by yourself".

"Hah ! Just saying that will put the thought in his head, Rebecca !" Fiona snapped at her causing Rebecca to turn away and cover her lips.

"Oops".

"wait….didn't Rebecca do something like that in her third year ?". Gloria asked, her fingers gently on her chin, Raph quickly turned towards Rebecca, his questions tumbling out in rapid succession.

"Really, Where was it ? Is there more ? How can I find them ?" He asked, one after the other.

"Oh no you don't" Thalia, slammed her knuckle on his head and he yelped, making him probably consider those sentences.

Rebecca looked away shyly, her cheeks flushed from embarrassment. "That was a secret, Sister Gloria".

Gloria giggled in response. "sorry, my bad".

Morganna ignored the exchange, her gaze fixed on Raph with concern and her voice laced with worry. "...is..is it tiresome ? a power like that must come with its repercussions".

Raph sighed, contemplating her words as he looked away. She was right, it's one of the reasons why most of the Jun members don't live long and why we tend to use the more powerful abilities as least as we can.

"Well, it mostly consumes a whole lot of Aura and Mental Fortitude. I'm surprised I remained standing without falling unconscious in fact". He said, his tone low.

"Well, you did form an eight star in the middle of battle". Rebecca said, raising her shoulders and smiling proudly at her brother.

Morganna and Thalia though, didn't seem to get what she meant.

"Oh. That's right. A master at fifteen? even I wasn't that talented" Gloria settled into a chair and got comfortable.

"Wa–Wait ! Raph formed an eight star in the middle of battle ?!" Morganna exclaimed in disbelief.

"He's really a master now ?!" Thalia was equally stunned. They turned towards their brother in unison, their surprised expression turned into lively happiness.

"That's impressive, Raphy !" Morganna embraced him again.

"Congratulations, you little dare–devil". Thalia, roughed up his curly hair, laughing.

Fiona simply smiled smugly. "You did good, getting this far".

"Yeah but now, it'll be a slow journey to the path of a grandmaster but knowing you…it shouldn't take long". Gloria said, a whimsical tone in her voice.

She had reached grandmaster not too long herself, which is the 10th star.

Rebecca wasn't far off either, she was a 9th star Swordsman after all.

Raph looked away from Gloria when an object caught his attention on Fiona's fingers.

"Oh, by the way…Fiona. What's that on your finger ?" His gaze had lingered on it for a while when she walked in but he finally got the chance to ask about it.

His other sisters rolled their eyes, ignoring her sudden smugged expression.

She raised her shoulders and puffed her chest out.

"Well you see, brother of mine. This sister of yours is getting married". A brief moment of silence suffused the room, an amused expression on their faces as they watched their brother's dumbfounded reaction.

"Wha–Are–Aren't you too young for that ?" He finally managed to say, Morganna giggling beside him.

"Huh, What do you mean by that Little bro ?" Fiona's brow furrowed and she clenched her fist. "how old do you think I am ?"

Raph counted the years that had passed and the time he had spent with them, memories of his past life playing out in his mind.

'This…This never happened in my past life. How strange….Then Gloria ?'.

His gaze shifted slightly towards Gloria who noticed and glared at him.

She clicked her tongue, saying. "don't even".

He turned away, clearing his throat stiffly and said. "I–I guess you are already at that age huh" .

"Um–girls, wasn't that kind of anti-climatic ?" Morganna asked, her gaze turning towards them, referring to his reaction.

"I know right ? He acts so mature sometimes...." Thalia caressed his hair, her gaze wandering .

"I mean, I'm pretty surprised myself. Didn't think Fiona would get married before Gloria though". His casual statement was like fanning the flames.

His sisters had stifled a laugh but he was busy retracing his words when he noticed a murderous aura floating before his eyes.

"Um…Um, Sister Gloria. What are you doing ?" He asked, a hint of fear hidden beneath the depths of his eyes.

"Can't you guess ? You seem pretty good at saying whatever is on your mind already, no?" She asked, walking across the bed towards him steadily.

"Wait–wait, I only meant it as a…in fact. I didn't mean it as anything at all". Was it too late ? He tried to pacify his outraged Eldest sister but it didn't seem to be working.

She stopped at his bedside, her intense gaze fixed on him causing Raph to gulp when the door suddenly swung open.

The murderous aura cleared as they turned towards the source of the interruption.

'Saved' Raph said, sighing deeply. 'Oh…I never got to ask for the identity of the man, maybe I've met him in my past life'.

Their attention was now fixed on the lithe, older–faced woman that stepped into his room.

"Oh, Mother ?".