"Are you up for the challenge?"
Astra questioned and suddenly, a wide smile appeared on Vaan's face.
"So you just want me to go there and bully some children? I can do that."
He spoke with a confident look on his face.
Bullying people?
He was a certified expert when it came to that.
Where did he get the certificate from? It was from his own organization.
Seeing the confident look on his face, Astra smiled inwardly, soon however, she shook her head and,
"Do not look down on the Agresia Academy, Vaan. The Younger Generation of the Vesta Family may have fallen, but the other powers haven't experienced the same.
The younger generations from those powers are strong. Much stronger than what you would expect and unlike Mages, who aren't exactly made for 1v1 battles, there are those who specialize in Duels in the academy as well.
Underestimate them and you will face the hardest reality check of your lifetime the next instant."
Astra spoke with a solemn look on her face.
Vaan stared at his mother for a while, then, he just sighed, "Yes mother, I understand where you are coming from. Every mother would want her child to be careful and not be arrogant."
"You might find people who are stronger than I was when I was their age."
Suddenly, Astra spoke up.
"No, actually, you will find a few of them there.
I have received reports and let me make it clear for you, Vaan. The Students attending the Agresia Academy are not a joke."
"…"
This time, Vaan turned silent as a grave look appeared on his face.
He has gone sick of hearing what kind of existence Astra was when she was 20, a 4th Circle Mage with Magic knowledge so great that no Mage of her tier could stand against her. Astra dominated the Vesta Family and the Agresia Academy and if she is saying that there might be people stronger than she was in the Agresia Academy…
Then it was a serious matter.
"Who are you talking about?"
Vaan questioned.
Astra, however, shook her head and smiled, "You will find out once you go there, won't you?"
Vaan narrowed his eyes, "Why are you playing these games?"
"It wouldn't be fun if you already know who to be careful against, now would it? Going to the Agresia Academy will be like entering the real world without having to worry about your life. It is an experience that will bring out a better you, so I believe going through it without any kind of help would be much more beneficial for you."
"Then why warn me at all?" Vaan questioned.
"Well I can't have you lose that badly, now can I? How embarrassing would it be if you go around challenging others only to end up getting humiliated by your opponent in front of the entire world?"
"…you are contradicting your own words."
"I just want you to play a fair game without being excessively arrogant like you normally are. Although I did tell you to change the 'impact' the other Vesta Children have created, the main reason I want you to go there is to meet other, similarly talented people and understand how the world works.
Understand that there is another world outside this world of Magic, people with incredible abilities who would make you doubt your own self."
"You met Father in the Agresia Academy, didn't you?" Vaan questioned with a playful smile on his face.
"That is correct." Astra nodded, a small smile appearing on her face as she talked about Orion.
"I heard father was quite strong, no? As strong as you." Vaan spoke and suddenly, Astra's smile simply widened,
"Quite strong, huh?" from her expression, it felt like she wanted to correct him, but then decided against it, "You will figure it out soon enough."
"What do you mean?" Vaan tilted his head in confusion.
"How strong your father actually was, you will figure that out soon enough."
Astra spoke, the mysterious smile on her face couldn't be hidden.
"Anyways, I came here to tell you about my decision to send you to the academy before I announce it in front of the Family. If you two have any problems, you can tell me right now. Not that it will excuse you from going, since I do not plan on taking back my decision but at the very least, we can still talk about it."
"We are ready, mother. The only problem I will face is that I will be missing you too much."
"You certainly do have a way with your words, you can now lie right through your teeth." Astra chuckled.
"I never lie."
"Right." Astra nodded, then she turned towards her student and, "You don't have any problem either, Elara, correct?"
"Yes Teacher." Elara nodded.
"Of course, why would you have a problem, you will be going together with your fiancé, who cares about the teacher anyways, right?"
"N-No, t-that's not the case t-teacher! I will really miss you as well!" Elara panicked and seeing her blush in embarrassment, Astra couldn't help but smile.
"Alright mother, don't bully my wife." Vaan stepped in.
"She is not your wife yet."
"She will be soon enough,
I am just looking for a suitable date to wife her up."
Vaan spoke as he tightly held Elara's hand, the girl lowered her head, getting even more embarrassed, the smile on her face, however, made it clear that she didn't hate what she was hearing.
Astra smiled, then, she nodded at the two children before walking out of the room.
"Academy huh? I wonder how many new punchbags I will meet when I get there." Vaan wondered out loud.
"Teacher told you to be careful…" Elara cautioned.
"Well I have you protecting me, no? Why would I worry about others?"
"…that makes sense, but you should still be careful." Elara nodded.
She was still as adorably arrogant as ever.
"Okay, we should not waste anymore time, you need to learn more spells so that you can start combining them with other elements."
Elara spoke as she then held Vaan's hand and took him to the bed again.
…
As the couple continued to study Magic, Astra, who just came out of their room started heading towards another room.
*Knock* *Knock*
She knocked on a certain door.
"It is our room, Astra, you do not have to knock." A voice was heard. Astra then walked in and replied with a smile, "I knocked just in case you were doing something you wouldn't want me to see."
"The only thing I hide from the world is what I do to you, my Family Head."
Orion reply was almost instantaneous.
Astra simply shook her head as she leaned her back over a nearby wall, then suddenly, her expression turned solemn and,
"I decided to send Vaan and Elara to the Academy."
"Hmm? I was wondering when you were going to do that. I actually wanted to train him a little more since he was doing so good, but I guess joining the Academy is more important for now, he needs to realize what kind of people will he be up against in the future if he wishes to become the next Family Head."
Orion replied, there was no particular change in his expression. However, when he noticed Astra staring at him for longer than she normally does, he realized something was wrong,
"What is it, Astra?" He questioned directly.
"I need someone who would protect the two of them in case there is any emergency."
"You know there is no place safer than the Academy. Not to mention we already have two 7th Circle Vesta Mages situated there as Teachers."
"Those Mages are not the part of Obsidian Order that I command, they are my siblings' subordinates and you know completely well that I do not trust my siblings."
"Then send someone from the Obsidian Order to protect them. The Academy would never reject an Advance Mage coming from the Vesta Family, now would it?"
"I need to make sure that my child is protected." Astra spoke, looking right into Orion's eyes and Orion finally understood what she was trying to say.
"The academy would never reject Orion Ravenshadow either."
Astra spoke, then, with a solemn look on her face,
"You protected me with everything you have for the last few decades, Orion. I am now safe, I am the Head of the Family with countless Mages absolutely loyal to me, I have the power now, and,
It is now time for Orion Ravenshadow to return to the real world."
"…"
Orion didn't say anything.
"What? Are you not looking forward to it?" Astra questioned with a small smile on her face.
"But I would miss my wife…" Orion complained.
"Like Father like son…" Astra commented as she couldn't shook her head and laughed.
"I am sorry that I am not a heartless person like my wife who is kicking me away."
"Oh come on."
Astra had no clue what to do with the father and son pair.
Why did it feel like the two of them had sworn to annoy her as much as they could?
"Are you going or not?" Astra questioned.
"Do I even have any other choice?"
"You do not."
"Haah…"
Orion sighed.
