'Do all these girls want to make this a tradition?' I mused as Rachel led to lunch with her father and sister after spending the night with her.
At least, unlike Cecilia, Rachel hadn't insisted I address her father as "Father" while radiating enough audacity to light up a city. Small rcies, I supposed.
And, unlike Quinn, I found Alastor much easier to deal with.
The Creighton estate, though, was sothing else entirely. If the Slatemark Imperial Palace was the pinnacle of regal grandeur, this place was steeped in an almost otherworldly charm. The air itself seed to hum with energy, as though the walls held whispers of centuries past.
We moved through the estate's intricate halls, each more striking than the last, until we arrived at the dining hall. Sunlight stread through crystalline windows, casting refracted rainbows across polished surfaces. The effect was srizing, like stepping into a realm of light and shadow carefully crafted to dazzle the senses.
The architecture spoke of generations of refinent, where each successive family head had added their own touch without disrupting the harmonious whole. Crystal formations grew naturally from the walls in so places, suggesting the estate had been built around existing magical phenona rather than imposed upon the landscape.
Kathyln and Alastor were already seated, their presence as composed and stately as the room itself. Kathyln's silver hair caught the light as she glanced up at , her piercing blue eyes unreadable but not unwelcoming. Alastor, on the other hand, wore an expression I couldn't quite place—sowhere between polite neutrality and quiet approval.
The dining table itself was a work of art, carved from what appeared to be a single piece of crystalline stone that seed to glow with its own inner light. The chairs were similarly elegant, comfortable despite their ethereal appearance.
Rachel slid into her seat gracefully, gesturing for to take mine beside her. Her movents held the practiced elegance of soone raised in this environnt, yet there was nothing stiff or artificial about it.
"Well," Alastor said, breaking the silence with his characteristic directness, "shall we begin?"
I nodded respectfully, taking care to maintain proper posture despite the casual nature of the gathering. "Good morning, Uncle. Your Highness."
"You can just call 'older sister,' Arthur," Kathyln said with a rare smile that transford her usually serious expression. There was genuine warmth in the gesture, a sign that I had earned her acceptance over ti.
"Thank you... older sister," I replied, still a touch hesitant but genuinely appreciative of the gesture. Family titles carried weight in noble households, and being offered such familiarity was significant.
Lunch began smoothly, the soft clinking of utensils creating a pleasant rhythm against the backdrop of gentle conversation. The food itself was exceptional—not just in quality but in presentation, each dish arranged with an artist's eye for both beauty and flavor.
To my relief, Alastor didn't seem to hold any visible grudge about my spending the night with Rachel, though I remained on guard just in case. The situation could have been far more awkward, given the circumstances of how we'd all co together this morning.
The conversation flowed naturally around topics of the estate, recent political developnts, and general pleasantries. I found myself relaxing despite my initial apprehension, reminded of why I had always respected Alastor's straightforward approach to relationships.
Partway through the al, Alastor turned to with a more serious question. "So, Arthur, what do you think of your current spellcasting level?"
I considered my words carefully before responding, knowing that honesty would serve better than false modesty. "Honestly? It's very lacking."
His gaze sharpened with interest rather than judgnt. "Lacking how?"
"It's not lacking for a normal peak Integration-ranker," I clarified, wanting to be precise about my self-assessnt. "But compared to my swordsmanship, it's nowhere close. The gap feels insurmountable."
Alastor nodded thoughtfully, his expression becoming more analytical. "Your swordsmanship talent is extraordinary—almost unnaturally so. It's not surprising your spellcasting struggles to keep pace. But you've also neglected it, haven't you?"
"Yes," I admitted without hesitation. There was no point in denying it, and Alastor would see through any attempt at deflection. My focus had been almost entirely on the sword, treating magic as a supplentary skill rather than a primary discipline.
He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, a habit I recognized from our previous training sessions together. The gesture usually indicated he was formulating a teaching approach or considering multiple angles of a problem.
"Your spellcasting may never rival your swordsmanship—that's the reality of specializing to your degree," he said finally. "But it doesn't need to. What you should aim for is versatility. Develop your spellcasting enough that it becos a reliable ace up your sleeve. A tool to complent your primary strengths, not compete with them."
His words resonated with , offering a practical solution to what had seed like an insurmountable imbalance. I nodded, feeling a sense of direction beginning to form. "I understand, Uncle. I'll work to close the gap—not to match my swordsmanship, but to make it count when it matters."
Alastor's faint smile deepened as he nodded approvingly. "Good. You've always been sharp, Arthur. Keep that mindset, and you'll go further than even I expect. Though, truthfully, you've already shattered any expectations I had for you."
The praise felt genuine rather than perfunctory, coming from soone who had seen at my weakest and watched my developnt over ti. "Thank you, Uncle," I said with a grin.
He leaned back in his chair, clearly transitioning to a more detailed discussion. "So, how do you want to approach this? What's your tiline and thodology?"
"I was thinking of working toward seven-circle magic," I began, gathering my thoughts. "It seems like the logical next step to bridge the gap between my current capabilities and sothing more substantial."
Alastor's eyes lit up with genuine interest and perhaps a hint of excitent. "That's ambitious, but entirely achievable for soone of your caliber. In fact, I have a proposal for you."
He leaned forward slightly, his expression becoming more serious and focused. "Stay here at the Creighton estate for a few months. I can guide you through the fundantals of seven-circle magic personally. The environnt here is naturally conducive to advanced spellcasting, and you'd have access to our family's accumulated knowledge and resources."
I felt a flicker of conflict at his generous offer. The opportunity was incredible—direct ntorship from one of the continent's greatest spellcasters in mastering seven-circle magic, with access to resources that most mages could only dream of. But...
"Uncle, I..." I hesitated, feeling sowhat guilty about my response. "I appreciate the offer, truly. It's more generous than I deserve. But I've been away from my family for so long. My parents, my sister—they've been worried about for months during my various absences. I promised them I'd spend more ti at ho."
Alastor studied my face for a mont, his expression softening with what appeared to be understanding rather than disappointnt. "Family is important, Arthur. I respect that commitnt, and I think it speaks well of your character."
He paused, clearly considering alternatives. "Here's what we'll do then. Go ho, spend ti with your family. Work on developing your foundation for seven-circle magic using conventional thods—the Fuller thod should serve you well initially. Once you've mastered that foundation and feel ready for the next step, co back here."
"Co back?" I asked, intrigued by the implication.
"The Astraeus thod I ntioned earlier," Alastor explained with a slight smile that suggested he was pleased with this compromise. "It's far superior to the Fuller thod for advanced spellcasting. Think of the Fuller thod as building the foundation of a house, while Astraeus is the master architecture that turns that foundation into a palace. You'll need both, but Astraeus will truly unlock your potential."
Relief washed over , both at his understanding and at the elegant solution he'd proposed. "That sounds perfect, Uncle. Thank you for understanding my situation."
"Of course," he said warmly, his tone carrying genuine affection. "Besides, this way you'll co to the Astraeus thod with a stronger foundation already in place. It'll make the learning process more efficient and allow to focus on the advanced concepts rather than basic principles."
Rachel, who had been listening quietly throughout this exchange, smiled brightly. "That works out well for everyone. You can focus on your family ti without feeling like you're missing out on training opportunities."
Kathyln nodded approvingly, adding her own perspective. "And it gives you ti to think about your academy situation as well. That's another decision that shouldn't be rushed."
"Speaking of which," Alastor continued, his tone becoming more curious, "have you given more thought to whether you'll return to the academy?"
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully, considering the various factors at play. "I'm still considering it. Honestly, I'm already stronger than most of the professors there. I don't see myself learning much more from the standard curriculum."
"The academy's prestige will take quite the hit if their Rank 1 student leaves," Kathyln observed with a small smile that suggested she found the political implications amusing.
"They'd likely offer you so very generous terms to keep you," Alastor suggested, his voice carrying the tone of soone familiar with institutional politics. "Custom curriculum, extended leave policies, access to restricted resources."
"Do you think I should stay?" I asked, genuinely curious about his perspective given his experience with both education and practical application.
He considered the question seriously before responding. "It depends on what you want to achieve. If you're looking for traditional academic advancent, probably not. But if you want to leverage the academy's resources and connections while maintaining flexibility for your other commitnts, it could be valuable."
Rachel leaned forward, clearly interested in this discussion. "Plus, there might be opportunities to help other students or contribute to research that interests you."
I found myself nodding as I thought through their points. "You know what? I think I will go back for one final year. I don't have much else scheduled for the imdiate future anyway, and it would give a structured environnt to work on the Fuller thod."
"That's a practical decision," Alastor approved. "You can use the academy's resources to build your magical foundation while maintaining your other relationships and commitnts."
Kathyln smiled. "And Rachel will be there too, so you won't be completely separated from this part of your life."
"Exactly," I said, feeling good about the decision. "One more year to tie up loose ends, strengthen my magical abilities, and then move on to whatever cos next."
The conversation continued pleasantly, touching on various topics related to my future plans and current relationships. By the end of lunch, I felt like I had a clear path forward that honored both my commitnts and my ambitions.
It was, I reflected, exactly the kind of balanced approach that would serve well in the complex life I was building.
Reviews
All reviews (0)