Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

"Can we go to Papa and Mama through here?" Gila asked.

"Not now, but eventually… I will have to count on your help to make that happen sooner," Rain said.

Rain harnessed his magical abilities to compress the earth at the tunnel\'s terminus, solidifying it into a stable foundation. With unwavering focus, he sculpted the compacted earth, fashioning it into a level and robust surface ideal for their purpose.

Then, Rain\'s magic flowed into a more intricate task as he forged the rails for their underground passage. He manipulated the earth\'s essence with precision and finesse, shaping it into robust, polished tracks. These rails, formed through his skilled manipulation of magic, were now ready to support their ambitious project.

Starting the very next morning, Rain instated a new regimen. He would call his sisters early in the day, ushering them into a rigorous routine that encompassed both magical training and combat practice. Rain recognized that knowledge of magic alone wouldn\'t suffice; practical experience was equally vital, and he was resolute about providing both.

Dana, with her palpable enthusiasm, eagerly embraced these sessions. Her eagerness radiated through her every gesture. On the flip side, Kei seemed to harbor a more reserved disposition, suggesting an inner dialogue she had yet to articulate. Meanwhile, Gila consistently appeared half-awake as they assembled in the garden for their early training sessions.

"I guess I am expecting a bit too much from kids of their age," Rain thought. "This level of discipline would only make them hate training… I guess I will have to make it more fun for them."

Rain possessed an intimate understanding of his sisters\' preferences, both what they liked and disliked. This familiarity prompted him to tailor their training sessions accordingly, capitalizing on their individual tastes and inclinations.

"Let\'s do this. If you manage to hit me even once, then you can decide what we will have for breakfast," Rain said. "Mom and Dad aren\'t around, so you can have as much pudding as you want."

"Sounds good to me!" Dana said while smiling.

"... Don\'t go back on your word later," Kei said after she closed her book and showed a serious expression.

"I want a strawberry sundae," Gila said.

"You have to hit me first," Rain shrugged.

Rain wondered who was the guy who invented the strawberry sundae in that world since that was an unusual request… but he was the culprit. He should also invent pizza since that would make the perfect combination for some devil hunters.

Rain was well aware that his younger sisters had an undeniable fondness for sweets. In their case, it seemed that one of the most effective ways to nurture and toughen up a group of kids was through the enticing allure of food.

However, Rain had no intention of making things a cakewalk for them, despite their perhaps overly optimistic expectations of indulging in pudding every day now that their parents were absent.

In the beginning, the girls made a conscious effort to hold back during their training, not wanting to inadvertently hurt their older brother. However, they soon discovered that the challenge was considerably more demanding than they had initially imagined.

Dana focused on launching earth bullets from the ground. Still, Rain promptly countered with identical projectiles, causing them to disintegrate mid-air. Kei tried to catch Rain off guard with water arrows descending from above, but her efforts were somewhat conspicuous; her frequent aim adjustments and her straining expression gave away her intentions, allowing Rain to easily sidestep the arrows.

Gila, using her wind magic, unleashed nearly invisible bullets at Rain. Still, his heightened senses allowed him to detect their faint sounds, rendering her efforts ineffective.

Despite their earnest efforts, the girls couldn\'t land a single hit on Rain. Nonetheless, he decided to reward their determination with a delectable batch of pancakes, a sweet treat that held a special place in all their hearts.

Aside from training with them in the morning, Rain also worked in the late afternoon in the tunnel. It seemed that being skilled with earth magic runs in the family since they improved the digging speed since they could copy Rain quite well. Speaking of which, none of them were good at fire magic.

"Hey, Rain. We have come to… did we come at a bad time?" Jori asked when he saw Rain\'s sisters trying to hit him with magic.

"It is a bit too early for you guys to be here," Rain said when he saw the whole group.

"We just arrived and thought that we should let you know. Are these your sisters?" Jori asked.

"Aww… they are so cute!" Terra said when the girls turned around. "I thought that everyone in Rain\'s family would be muscular giants."

"Perhaps they will if they train as hard as me," Rain said.

With the exception of Reca, the girls at the party found immense joy in meeting Rain\'s younger sisters. Dana, in particular, reveled in the pampering and affectionate attention she received, wearing a noticeable expression of pure delight as Terra patted her.

Though not as openly expressive as Dana, Gila didn\'t seem to mind the attention and quietly accepted it.

However, Kei, the more reserved of the trio, opted to take shelter behind Rain. She appeared to prefer staying out of the spotlight, keeping her distance from the girls and their attentiveness.

"We are going to take a week break after this mission, so we will come to visit again when you are less busy," Jori said.

"You guys can have breakfast here if you want," Rain said.