Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

Beyond this point, there is only one path forward—breaking through to a third-level mage. Unfortunately, during the last simulation, Rhett noticed that his mental power growth had hit a bottleneck. There was no way around it, and the only option was to slowly grind through it, which could take an unknown amount of time.

When Rhett reached the hall downstairs, he was, as usual, the last to arrive. Both breakfast and his family were waiting for him.

"Good morning, everyone," Rhett greeted with a smile as he took his seat at the head of the table.

"Good morning, Father. You look especially refreshed today!" Telles said, holding a cup of milk in both hands.

"Telles, what are your plans for today? Are you going fishing, reading in your room, or doing something else?" Rhett asked as he speared a piece of rib and chewed it thoughtfully.

Telles thought seriously for a moment, then replied, "Fishing alone is too boring. I think I'll go back to my room and read after breakfast."

"Oh? What book are you reading lately? Something about commerce? Or maybe a history of alchemy?"

Telles chuckled, taking a sip of milk and biting into a piece of bread. "Neither! I'm reading a knight novel. The story is so exciting! I just finished the first part yesterday, and it turns out the main villain was the protagonist's mentor all along. In the end, the evil guy turned the protagonist into a potion—what a horrible mentor! But luckily, there's a sequel where the protagonist's friend avenges him. I can't wait to see that wicked mentor get what he deserves!"

Rhett paused, fork in hand, inwardly speechless. He then continued eating. "That sounds like an interesting story."

"Reilly, do you remember I promised you some magic training after we dealt with the Flamefeather Eagles?"

"Of course! I've been thinking about it for days. I'm glad you finally brought it up, Father." Reilly's eyes lit up with excitement, and he quickly swallowed his salad.

"Magic training? Father, that's not fair! Why don't you ever guide me in my training?" Tack grumbled, his voice muffled by the food stuffed in his mouth.

"My dear son, you're a knight! Don't forget, there are only two mages in the territory—me and Reilly—but there are many knights. You should be learning from them, absorbing their strengths and experiences, and turning them into your own skills. Growth comes through interaction and challenges. Do you understand, Tack?"

"Well... okay, I'll focus on mastering that movement technique first," Tack muttered, seemingly giving up on the issue as he continued to devour his meal.

Vanessa pinched Tack's side, scolding him, "Tack, it seems like you weren't really listening to Father. Didn't you always complain about not having enough knights to spar with? Now's your chance!"

Tack widened his eyes and inhaled sharply. "Of course, I remember, my dear. Once I've mastered the movement technique, I'll definitely spar with them! Those new rangers are probably great at speed, and I'd be at a disadvantage without a proper technique. And Kurth and Tadelle—those veterans have tons of experience. I can't afford to lose the first time we spar. That would be so embarrassing..."

Telles couldn't help but stifle a laugh, wiping his mouth as he thought to himself, The protagonist of that knight novel I read yesterday must have had a similar intelligence level as my brother. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so easily betrayed by someone close to him...

The knight training ground was spacious, but even with all the apprentice and official knights combined, there were fewer than twenty. After breakfast, Rhett led Reilly to the training ground and marked out an area for magic training.

Magic training was different from meditation; it required difficult and rigorous practice. Standing in an open space with just the two of them, the scene felt rather empty.

At that moment, Rhett's expression turned serious as he began explaining, "Reilly, my son, before we start magic training, I want you to understand something."

"Please, Father, tell me."

"I've told you before—there's no limit to how much you can improve your spellcasting. Never become complacent! Always remain humble. A true master carries the heart of a student."

"A true master carries the heart of a student..." Reilly repeated the words softly, his eyes gradually brightening.

He took a deep breath, feeling a surge of excitement. "I understand, Father!"

Rhett twirled his wand in his hand. "Good. Let's begin. First, I'll test your spellcasting limits. I want you to cast Water Arrow with all your strength and hit this stone." With that, Rhett conjured a fist-sized stone beside him.

Reilly nodded, focusing on the water elements around him as he conjured a Water Arrow.

With a sharp crack, the stone beside Rhett shattered. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Rhett observed the exact radius of the Water Arrow's impact.

"What's next, Father?"

"Hold on." Rhett conjured two identical stones on the ground and carefully measured the distance between them, adjusting it slightly.

After a moment, he stepped back and patted his hands. "Alright, Reilly, I want you to use Water Arrow to shoot between the two stones without leaving a single mark on either."

Reilly immediately understood his father's earlier actions. He focused on the narrow gap, barely two fingers wide, and realized the challenge ahead.

His expression grew serious as he stepped back, taking in the spacing between the stones. After a deep breath, he conjured another Water Arrow, directing it with precision.

Rhett watched closely, noting the trajectory. As the Water Arrow flew between the stones, Rhett saw that it seemed to pass through without issue. But upon closer inspection, he found a faint scratch on the right stone.

Reilly approached and saw the result, sighing in frustration.

"It's alright, try again," Rhett encouraged.

"Yes!"

Reilly's eyes gleamed with determination. Reflecting on his earlier mistakes, he conjured another Water Arrow and aimed for the gap between the stones.

This time, Rhett observed the trajectory with surprise. Based on the starting point and the arrow's flight path, the result was clear—it had passed perfectly between the stones. Reilly blinked, not expecting success on his second attempt.

"Father, I did it!" Reilly exclaimed with joy, looking at Rhett, who remained calm. "You've improved, but one success doesn't mean you'll hit the mark every time," Rhett warned.

"In real combat, any mistake could be fatal, and the consequences are yours alone to bear. Judging by your reaction, it seems you didn't expect to succeed, so it's likely a coincidence. Try again to confirm."

Reilly nodded thoughtfully, returning to his spot for another attempt.

This time, the result was less favorable—both stones bore slight scratches. Reilly sighed, realizing that his father's assessment was correct. His earlier success had been pure luck.

Undeterred, he threw himself into more rigorous practice, determined to improve.

Seeing this, Rhett smiled with satisfaction and moved to a nearby area to begin his own Earth Spike training.