True God In Another World (Tensura x Tbate)

Side Chapter - Students and Artifice

Rimuru POV

"Do you have everything?" My mother asked for the third time, her eyes scanning over our bags as I and Lily prepared to leave. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm golden glow over our small gathering. The anticipation in the air was palpable.

I nodded, giving her a confident smile. "Yes, Mom. I double-checked everything and we have everything we need. We're all set." I glanced at Lily, who stood beside me with a mixture of excitement and nerves in her eyes. She had been waiting for this day for months, her dream was finally about to come true.

Today was the day Lily and I were going to Xyrus Academy, We weren't officially registering as students, but I was going to fulfill the rest of my deal with Cynthia and become her student with Lily. As such, our families were all here to say goodbye, except for Art who was still in the beast glades with Jasmine, honing his skills.

My mother was fussing over us, making sure we had everything we needed, which was typical of her. She ran a hand through my hair with a mix of tenderness and worry. Aunt Tabitha, on the other hand, was more concerned about our safety, and her eyes held a hint of fear as she hugged us tightly.

"Be careful, okay?" Aunt Tabitha said, her voice filled with a motherly urgency. "And make sure you keep a low profile,"

"We will," I promised, feeling a sense of responsibility for Lily's safety. She was more than capable of taking care of herself, but I couldn't help but worry about her in this unfamiliar environment.

My mother hugged me tightly and kissed my forehead. Her eyes held a mixture of pride and concern. "Just be cautious and don't do anything foolish. And call me if you need anything. I don't care what time it is."

"We will," Lily and I said simultaneously, our voices filled with determination.

"Lily, I'm counting on you to make sure Ri doesn't do anything stupid," my mother added, giving Lily a pointed look.

Lily chuckled, her eyes dancing with playful mischief. "Don't worry, Aunt Alice, I've got him under control," she replied, winking at me. I rolled my eyes at that, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. Lily always knew how to lighten the mood.

"I don't need babysitting, Mom. I can take care of myself," I protested, my voice laced with a mix of stubbornness and independence.

My mother raised an eyebrow at me, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Really? Because I seem to recall a certain incident where you almost set the house on fire with that spell last month?" She brought up the embarrassing incident with a gentle teasing tone, When I did some experiments with fire magic.

I winced, remembering the panic that had ensued when my fire spell had spiraled out of control, scorching the curtains. "Okay, that was an accident," I muttered, feeling a tad bit embarrassed.

"Or that time you summoned a water elemental in the middle of the living room," Aunt Tabitha chimed in, her laughter echoing through the room. She always found my magical mishaps amusing.

I sighed, feeling a little embarrassed by these reminders of my past magical mishaps. "Okay, okay, I get it. But I promise I'll be careful." I knew that my powers were still unpredictable at times, but I was determined to keep them in check.

"Good. Because I don't want to get any calls from the Academy saying my son caused a disturbance," my mother replied sternly, her voice filled with a hint of worried affection.

"Don't worry, Mom. We'll be careful," I said, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Good," my mother said, ruffling my hair affectionately. "Now, go ahead and have a good day. And don't forget to tell us all about it when you get home." Her eyes held a mixture of longing and anticipation, a silent plea to return safely.