Perhaps this was one of Yidhra's doing, she is the only witch in this forest and the only one who is capable of using magic. If this wasn't her doing, then Mihawk did not know who else. The swordsman heavily sighed as he watched two individuals in front of him who happened to share the same face of him, one was 10 years old and the other was 17 years old.

At first, the swordsman had suspected that they might be some kind of imposter but after a few exchanged words, he found out they shared his memories of his youth with the witch. And judging from Yidhra's ability, he had no doubt that she might accidentally or intentionally mess up with the timeline and bring his younger self here.

Mihawk thought maybe he should have a discussion with his mentor.

......

"Oh dear. I would not think I have a chance to see little dalta once again~"

As soon as the three of them stepped into the living room where Yidhra spent her time reading on the sofa, 10 year old Mihawk immediately rushed at her side to her surprise. She put the book down on the table, then pulled the little boy into her embrace and nuzzled with him, much to the other two's discomfort.

They once received the same treatment! Why is it different now?!

Mihawk had something stirred at the back of his mind for an answer, but he brushed it aside and got straight to the point.

"Is this not your doing, mentor?"

Yidhra looked up from her position, still holding little Mihawk "Unfortunately, no, nor I know who was behind it." Her eyes moved to teenage Mihawk as he sat on the other side of her "If I ever did something similar, it would be transforming thee into thy younger self."

"So you did plan on doing that." This was not a question.

Yidhra just grinned instead of answering and used her magic to check child Mihawk's status, then she did the same with teenage Mihawk. Her expression showed that she had discovered something, she beckoned adult Mihawk to come closer. He did so without question. After she finished checking them up, he asked "Did you find something unusual?"

"I did. Two of them art actually parts of thee, not separated individuals." The witch explained with amusement, child Mihawk laid down on her lap and received glares from other two "To be specific, ye three art the same person. Thou just happened to split into three."

"That's inconvenient." Adult Mihawk grabbed child Mihawk by the back of his shirt, lifted him up from the witch's lap much to the child's protest. He then positioned himself next to the witch, leaving the child out of any slot near the witch on the sofa "There can only be one Dracule Mihawk in this place."

Yidhra chuckled as the three of them glared at each other, she found this very amusing. Well, it's not everyday you have a chance to see different stages of the strongest swordsman fighting over something, moreover, he was her pupil which was intriguing. But the witch could tell that 10 year old Mihawk had no chance of winning in a strength fight, so she decided to get the child out of here. Three Mihawk were surprised when the witch scooped child Mihawk up, holding him in her arms.

"Worry not. These kinds of accidents shall vanish as fast as they come. Until then, try not to destroy the castle."

"Where are you taking him?" Teenage Mihawk asked when he saw the witch carrying child Mihawk out of the living room.

"Having some time to relax with little dalta before this ends." She answered with an innocent smile. Child Mihawk was clinging on her shoulders, he had a victorious grin on his feature as he faced his two older selves. Judging from the direction Yidhra was taking, the other two Mihawk immediately stood up because that way led to the bathroom.

"You can't be serious." Teenage Mihawk said with a scowl, his voice raised a bit "You're taking a bath with him?"

"An old habit, is not it?" Yidhra smiled, sounded completely fine with the idea "Too bad thou insisted on stopping doing it one year later."

"I want to have a bath with mentor!" Child Mihawk hugged her neck tightly, nuzzled with her cheek.

"Well, I can join you too, mentor." Adult Mihawk said with a serious expression.

"Then I can too!" Teenage Mihawk didn't want to lose either.

"No. Ye two are too big and old." The witch immediately cut off their hope with her usual grin "Ye art a grown man now. Do not cling on thy mentor like a school boy. And I trust thy manners enough not to misbehave, or else, I would not mind punishing ye just like old times."

Of course Mihawk wouldn't misbehave, not to his mentor. She had taught him well and as much as he loved her, he was still afraid of her whenever she got angry of his undisciplined behaviors.

The strongest swordsman has one fear, his mentor. Well she is a powerful witch anyway. Still, he couldn't help but be jealous of his own self.

......

Later at dinner, the three of them continued to fight each other to see who would please the witch more, in their own way. Mihawk pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance at the sight of his child self kept wheedling with Yidhra, he did not recall acting that way back then. It was awkward and uncomfortable at the same time, even worse, the witch had no intention to stop the child.

Teenage Mihawk was busy putting food in Yidhra's dish and introducing how good they are even though most of the food was made by adult Mihawk. However, half of the food would end up in child Mihawk's stomach anyway. And that left adult Mihawk with headache. What should he do to get his mentor's attention in this situation? Sure, he was the most experienced of the three but he dared say, none of his strategies would work on Yidhra. Unlike any individual he had encountered, she was not just an immortal powerful witch but also his mentor ̶a̶̶n̶̶d̶ ̶f̶̶o̶̶s̶̶t̶̶e̶̶r̶ ̶m̶̶o̶̶t̶̶h̶̶e̶̶r̶, it's more awkward that way.

However, Mihawk never hesitated in his actions and no longer feared rejection, he would straight up invite Yidhra to a private date later, with wine and desserts which he knew the witch was unable to resist the most. Although... he still underestimated his child self and only realized how dire the situation was to him. At least teenage Mihawk got a pat on his head but him? He had yet to do anything while Yidhra had already excused herself to the bedchamber with child Mihawk.

Teenage Mihawk startled when he heard noises of broken glass. He turned around to see a very frustrated adult Mihawk with his usual cold expression, the shattered wine glass in his hands was the source of the noise and teenage Mihawk knew best not to throw more oil into the burning flame. Plus, he too didn't like it when their child self took all the attention.

"Do you, by chance, figure out that our mentor likes us more in child form?"

......

In the next morning, Yidhra woke up, sensing a big source of heat right beside her. The witch blinked at the adult Mihawk who was sleeping peacefully with his arm hooked around her waist, their body just an inch close to each other. If her memory serves her right, last night she took child Mihawk to her bedchamber (don't get her wrong), not adult Mihawk. Also there is no way she wouldn't wake up if they made too many movements in an exchange position.

"Dalta. Wake up." Yidhra called and the swordsman stirred. Seeing the bewildered look in his golden eyes, the witch had another thought "How did thou end up here, in my bedchamber?" Her tone was serious but not a hint of anger or annoyance.

"Give me a sec..." Mihawk took his time to clear his mind from the sleep and realized the situation he was in "I... do not know myself." He was confused but soon he started relaxing and pulled Yidhra against him "But I won't mind the company, mentor." He said with a slight smirk.

"Then I assume thee art back to normal. What a pity." The witch said while pushing his face a little away.

"You abandoned me yesterday, mentor. And now you refuse me too?" Mihawk chuckled, her fingers lingered on his mouth, tempting him to nibble them.

"Thou art jealous of thyself?" Yidhra didn't mind his playful nibble and let him do it, still he got a point, she did choose his child self over him. But hey, it's not everyday she got a chance to see his child self again, a day wouldn't hurt anyone. She admitted that an embarrassed 10 year old Mihawk was way more adorable than a 43 year old Mihawk, bonus tiny and soft.

"It's not precisely me you were hugging. Of course I am jealous." If there was a lesson Mihawk had learnt on how to deal with Yidhra's teases, it would be just get on with it. He wouldn't make himself an idiot if he went along with her tease. Besides, there is no point hiding from the witch, she can easily read him like a piece of paper "You have to make it up to me, mentor."

"Heehee, look at thee, dalta. The greatest swordsman is now acting like a spoiled child wanting candy for an apology." Yidhra laughed "Alright, what do thou want?"

"You. All of you, just for me, mi mentora, mi amor."