"So you finally decided to visit me."
Risia Elysia Vesta, a woman who held quite a lot of power in the Vesta Family spoke with a smile on her face as her son walked into her room.
"I was busy."
Eldric spoke calmly.
"It took you 2 days to meet your mother after returning to your home after an entire year, this makes me quite sad."
"Mother, you would have come and met me if that was true."
Eldric was not in the mood to play any games.
Sensing his sour mood, a slight frown appeared on Risia's face, then, however, she quickly realized the possible reason behind it,
"So you have met them."
She commented.
Eldric narrowed his eyes, his annoyance was clear on his face,
"That bastard has gotten close to her."
Ever since he returned and met Vaan and Elara that day, Eldric has been researching. Unlike Lirael and Vaelen, he didn't go to his father to get all the information, he worked on its own and in two days, he understood everything that happened in the Vesta House in the last year he had been in the academy.
Obviously, this included the changed Vaan and how that bastard has been getting closer to his fiancée, the girl he had his eyes on.
And Eldric did not take that well.
Seeing him act like that, Risia couldn't help but chuckle, "You talk like you actually love that girl. It is so amusing."
"That doesn't matter, that bastard is touching what I had my eyes on and I cannot allow that."
"That girl is his fiancée, Eldric." Risia replied and as she did, Eldric glanced at his mother and narrowed his eyes,
"Why are you acting like you are on his side? Do not forget, all of this was your plan to begin with."
A playful smile then appeared on Risia's face and, "I can't help it, seeing your annoyed face is quite fun."
"Is that so…
Well it is good if it is just that,
I thought you gave up just like you gave up during the previous Battle of Heirs."
Eldric replied and the moment he did, the playful smile on his mother's face disappeared.
"You have gotten quite bold. Did the year you spent in the academy between trashes get into your head?"
"I wasn't informed when something so important happened, so I just thought tha-"
"That is enough.
You can leave."
"Mothe-"
"Well, I already gave up like I did previously, so there is no point in talking to me, now is there?"
"I lost control over my emotions, I apologize."
"And why does that matter to me?"
Risia questioned with an unbothered look on her face.
"Because you are my mother."
"I didn't know you could talk like that to your mother, if I had done the same with mine, I would have long been kicked out of the family."
Risia then glanced at Eldric and, "I wonder I would have fared if that happened. Especially if I was someone as weak as a mere 4th Circle Mage.
A Direct Descendent of the Vesta Family kicked out, I wonder what strong rogue mages would have done if that news was revealed."
"…"
Eldric lowered his head and turned silent. Of course, even a fool could tell what Risia was talking about.
He realized that he pushed his luck too far.
Risia maybe his mother and care for him, but that didn't mean she would let him do whatever he wanted.
"I apologize, mother. I let my anger get the better of me.
My mind is still wrapped around the time I met the two of them and how hatefully that bastard was glaring at me."
"Focus on the Elemental Clash."
Suddenly, Risia spoke up.
"Huh?" As his mother's sudden words, Eldric frowned.
Risia then glanced at Eldric and started,
"You are a 43-year-old 4th Circle Mage, just like that boy said in the meeting, that is below you are far behind by what is generally expected from a Vesta Prospective Heir.
However, the good news is, your competition is the same.
In terms of Magic talent, Lirael, Vaelen and you are not much different than each other.
Even if we put Vaan into the equation, a 20-year-old 2nd Circle Mage, at best, that boy's talent is comparable to yours. Considering his age, he shouldn't be much of a threat."
A solemn look appeared on Risia's face as she completed, "That is if we ignore those complex Advanced Circles he has created."
"I have heard about them, I couldn't believe that waste actually managed to create something like that. No, he is not a waste, he was acting and playing us like fools all this time, wasn't he?"
"That is what we suspect and I believe Astra was in on this as well." Risia nodded. No one just one day wakes up and becomes a Magic Genius who can create Advance Magic Circles that no has ever seen before.
"Anyways, that doesn't really matter.
That boy does have a significant advantage because of his Magic Circles, however, you do not have to worry about that.
Vaan is too young to be a threat to you, as for his circles, I am studying it every single day, I will figure out the key behind it eventually and once that happens, he won't have that advantage over you.
So stop worrying about anything and focus on the Elemental Clash.
Valean won three 4th Tier Elemental Clash consecutively before advancing to become the 5th Circle Mage, if you want to show your superiority, you can't stay behind him. You need at least 4 wins by the time you become 5th Circle Mage.
And to do that, you need to start from this year.
Win.
And keep winning for the next coming years.
Show your dominance.
Show them how you are much better than any of your peers.
Give Astra a real reason to see you as an actual Prospective Heir, that is your only goal. Do you understand?"
Risia spoke with a serious look on her face.
"I understand." Eldric nodded.
Risia nodded back and ordered, "Now go back."
Eldric, however, didn't move. "What about Elara?" He questioned.
The main reason he came here was not to listen to some motivating words, he knew he had to win, he was sure he would win.
However, Eldric knew that even if he won for the next 10 years, it wouldn't matter if he didn't get his hands on Elara.
A 21-year-old 4th Circle Mage, an absurd talent that even overpowered the current head of the Vesta Family, who was already known to be one of the best Family Heads of the Vesta Family throughout history.
If Eldric could marry her and get her on his side, becoming the next heir was only a matter of time, the same, however, was true for Vaan as well.
If Vaan, who was already Elara's fiancé managed to marry her, his chances of becoming the next Head would shoot up even if he is currently quite young.
At first, this wasn't really a problem because everyone knew Vaan was a fool who knew nothing about the world, two days ago, however, when Eldric noticed how Vaan had managed to seduce Elara, nearly ruining all the work he had done for so many years, he realized that Vaan was dangerous.
He could see what Vaan was aiming for and there was no way he would allow that.
But the problem was that nothing came to Eldric's mind.
He also heard how Vaan beat up the three Mages who annoyed him, that alone was troubling because this made it clear that he couldn't use his subordinates against Vaan or Elara.
This was why he came to his mother to seek her help. As the Blood sibling of the current Family Head and a 7th Circle Mage, Risia held a lot of power in her hands, she must have some way to help him out.
Risia, however, shook her head.
"As I said, only focus on the Elemental Clash. Stop thinking about anything else."
"But what if Vaan marries Elara? Won't our plan fail?" Eldric couldn't understand what his mother was thinking.
"Inside the Vesta City, Vaan is invincible, that boy has the biggest backer one could possibly hope for."
Risia spoke with a grave look as she recalled how Astra had warned her not to make any more foolish moves.
Risia was planning on taking that threat seriously.
"So do we just watch in silence as Elara is taken away from me?"
Eldric questioned as he narrowed his eyes.
"I never said that."
Risia spoke.
"You said Vaan is invincible because he has Lady Astra supporting him and since he is invincible, as long as he doesn't willingly leave Elara, there is nothing I can do."
"I said he was invincible inside the Vesta City."
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Edric's expression changed.
"You are planning to…"
"Yes, it is high time Vaan joins the Agresia Academy, he has been living far too comfortable of a life inside these walls." Risia smiled.
"So you are planning to send him to the academy with us."
Eldric spoke with a wide smile on his face, then, however, he frowned,
"But what if Lady Astra intervenes like she did before?"
"Well, she had a reason to intervene before, now, with Vaan's talent revealed, she can't use that reason anymore."
Risia shrugged, then, a playful smile appeared on her face and,
"And even then, if she uses her authority to get Vaan to stay here,
I will make sure that at least Elara is sent with you.
I can leave the rest to you, correct?"
Risia questioned as she looked into her son's eyes and Eldric's smile couldn't be any wider.
"I just need to spend a few nights alone with her and everything will be in my hands."
