"It has been a while, Old Man.
I didn't think you would still be sitting in this position, one would normally choose an heir a retire at that age, I guess you really like the position of power huh…"
Orion walked into a Lavish room and spoke with a casual smile on his face. In front of him, sat a man with a long beard that had turned white with time, white hair, and wrinkles all over his face, all these signs pointed to how old the man was, however, none of these signs ever indicated that the old man was weak weak.
His blue eyes were still as sharp as they used to be, rather, with age, along with sharpness, those blue eyes also carried wit and calmness. His back was straight, his posture was strong, and his build, although not as large as it used to be, still gave off the aura of a warrior, A smile formed on the old man's face when he glanced at Orion walking in and sitting on the chair in front of his table.
Normally, this action would be considered extremely rude, however,
"And what other choice did I have? The best candidate I had in my mind left the Academy to protect his wife. Haaah… what a cruel world, to think one would choose a woman whom he met only a few years ago over a person who helped him grow and guided him throughout his childhood.
I feel abandoned.
If only I could see that person again, I would teach him a lesson that he would never forget in his entire life."
The old man sighed and Orion snorted.
"Alright Alright Old man, you don't have to jeer at me like that. Also, weren't you the one who said that you had countless options but she didn't and that I should go protect her with everything I have? What happened to that? Where are those 'countless' options you had, huh?"
"I merely said that for the sake of saying it, the answer I was expecting was,
'No Father, you have raised me for my entire life, there is no way I can abandon you like this, I will take over the Academy's Headmaster position after you.'
Not a 'Thank you'!
How can someone be so clueless and not take these small hints!? I sometimes feel pity for that little girl who got stuck with you! Just how did a dense bastard like you pull it off?"
"Hey! You don't have to go there, okay? I am happily married and even have a child now. Actually, it is high time that you meet your Grandson. You will be impressed."
Yes, the Headmaster of the Agresia Academy, Octavious Ravenshadow, the man holding the highest level of authority inside the Agresia Academy, was Orion's Father and Vaan's Grandfather.
"Impressed? Is that the reason you didn't send him here this whole time?" Octavius snorted.
"Well… we had our reasons…" Orion lowered his head.
"Reasons to separate a Grandfather from his Grandson, please do enlighten me, what those reasons could possibly be?"
All this while when he talked about how Orion abandoned him and left with Astra, there was a slight playfulness in Octavius's tone, it was clear that he wasn't serious and was only teasing his son, now, however, that playfulness had gone.
Keeping a Grandson away from his Grandfather was a grave sin, a sin that Orion had committed.
"Vaan was not ready to enter the academy, father. He wouldn't have survived." Orion replied.
"He wouldn't have survived? He? Orion, that child carries not only yours, but that girl's blood as well, if there is anyone who can survive in the Academy, it would be him." Octavius replied, Orion, however, shook his head,
"Haven't you already noticed how the Young Generation of our Mages' have declined? I haven't been here but I know that the Vestas are having a hard time in the Academy, no?"
Orion questioned.
"…" Octavius didn't answer.
How could he not know about the current situation of the Academy? Especially the situation concerning one of the most influential families in the world.
Sensing the meaning behind the silence, Orion continued, "You think we wouldn't have sent someone who could solve this situation if we could?
It doesn't matter if they are only children, how a family performs in the Academy signifies how they will perform in the future when these children actually get into positions of power and right now, our Family Image is being harmed because of our Younger Generation. A matter that is of great concern to us."
"…then why send him now? If you have already given up, then why not keep him within the family and let him do whatever he wishes?"
Octavius questioned, Orion, however, frowned in confusion, "Who said we have given up?"
"Hmm?"
"Now that we are finally ready to send him, doesn't that make it clear that this will be us marking our return?"
"What are you talking about…?"
Octavius questioned and in response, a big smile appeared on Orion's face, and,
"I am saying that this year, the Vesta Family has sent two best Mages of their younger generation and we are finally able to return to our position, or maybe go further than that."
"Heh." Octavius laughed out loud.
"You really are treating me like an old man huh… you just said Vaan wasn't ready to enter the Academy and he wouldn't have survived and now you are telling me that he is going to turn the situation around? What? Is that child 'ready' now?"
"Mhm, he is." Orion nodded.
"Huh?"
"He is ready to join the Academy and turn the situation around, that is the reason we send him here in the first place."
"Orion, I have no clue what you are talking about and honestly, I don't think you do either."
"Father, that child carries mine and Astra's blood, and now,
That Blood has awakened."
"Those are some Grand words."
"I only speak the truth."
Orion shrugged.
"We wil-"
*Buzz* *Buzz* *Buzz*
Octavius was about to reply, but then, the tablet lying on his table suddenly started shining and he frowned.
"A Star Student…"
Orion's smile widened,
"I guess the Vesta Children are finally done registering themselves." He muttered.
Octavius stared at his son, then, he picked up his tablet, and suddenly,
"Heh."
He chuckled.
"I liked the confidence son, but this student is not a Vesta, she is El-"
"Elara Flameheart, Astra Elysia Vesta's only pupil, Vaan Astra Vesta's fiancée and a future Vesta.
She is also the strongest Magic Prodigy in the Vesta House, a girl who became a 4th Circle Mage when she was merely 19, a year faster compared to Astra.
The Vestas have sent two geniuses, remember?
She is the second one."
Orion spoke and the moment he heard those words, Octavius couldn't even blink in shock. Seeing his father's face, Orion chuckled,
"This is just the start, Father.
If the Academy didn't have the habit of restricting Information exchange and living in their own world, you would know just what kind of Mage had enrolled in the Academy.
My son is not someone just any other Mage can handle."
"I like that confidence, I am now looking forward to meeting my Grandson and his fiancée."
"You should meet him, I assure you that you will be pleased."
"I'll take my sweet time. If my Grandson is as talented as you said he is, he will be meeting me eventually, I have already waited for so many years, I don't mind waiting for a few more months."
Orion smiled.
"However."
Suddenly, Octavius's face turned serious,
"I am sure you already know, but don't expect things to be easy for your son just because I am his Grandfather."
"Things never got easy for me," Orion shrugged.
He wasn't expecting anything like that either.
"What an ungrateful child." Octavius snorted, he didn't like the way he shrugged.
"Hahaha~ It was fun to catch up with you, father."
Orion laughed out loud as he stood up, Octavius smiled, "Don't forget to put me into the Protector's list."
"Don't teach me how to do my work."
Orion just chuckled as he turned around and before he left, he glanced at his father again and, "Take care of your health, old man. I don't want you to be dying from overwork."
"I can still beat up your ass, you know?"
"Oh please Father, I am much stronger than you now."
Saying those words, Orion chuckled as he walked out of the Headmaster's room.
"Lord Orion."
As soon as he left, Orion was greeted by the man whom they first met when they entered, "Did the talk with the Headmaster go well?" the man questioned.
Orion nodded and the man smiled.
"Should I guide you to a suitable residential area or do you already have one in your mind?"
"Take me to the Vesta House."
Orion spoke, Vesta House was the Residential Area that was created by the Students of the Vesta Family many generations ago and a place that only took in Vesta Mages.
"Alright…"
The man nodded, it looked like he wanted to say something, however, in the end, he stayed silent and decided to show it to Orion instead.
…
"I told you to take me to the Vesta House, not to whatever this place is."
"Lord Orion…
This is the Vesta House…
Or the n-new Vesta House…"
