?"Why were we called here on such short notice, I still have some things to do," Elric spoke with an annoyed look on his face.
"Would you die if you won't speak for a few minutes?" Lirael snapped.
"Not everyone here has ample free time in their life, some of us have things to do." Elric snorted.
"Right, of course, you must have a meeting with the Headmaster of the Academy, I am sorry that we came in the way," Lirael replied sarcastically.
"Why not aim for becoming an assistant, you do a lovely job when it comes to becoming someone's dog."
"You…"
The two stared at each other with expressions filled with anger, then suddenly,
"Stop it."
Soon, Vaelen made an appearance.
"Brother." Lirael was quick to walk towards him.
Elric on the other hand, just snorted again.
"Brother, why are we summoned here?" Lirael questioned.
The rest of the students glanced at Vaelen with curious looks on their faces as well.
"It is about the Ancient Ruins."
Another voice was heard and in an instant, the students knew who the voice belonged to.
"Are you here to decide who will enter the Ruins with you?" Lirael questioned as she glanced at Vaan.
"That is correct." Vaan nodded and the Vesta Students' eyes brightened up.
But,
"Excluding me and Elara, there are only 4 spots left. Right now, I have a few other candidates in my mind, I plan to take 2 more students from the Vesta Family and that is the reason we are gathered here."
"Two…? Are you saying that you will be taking students who do not belong to the Family into the Ruins?" Professor Erza questioned with a frown on her face.
Vaan turned towards her and tilted his head in confusion, "What do you mean? I am taking 4 Vestas with me."
"What about the other two spots?"
"You aren't expecting me to give all my spots to members of the Family, are you?"
Vaan questioned, however,
"That is exactly what I was expecting."
Erza didn't back down.
"How do you expect them to support you as their leader when you aren't even taking them inside the Ruins that could potentially change their lives?
It has always been an unspoken rule that the resources should be shared with the family. Since you have the full right to choose all the spots, why would you not choose your family members and give the chance to someone who might even turn into an enemy in the future?
Or is it that you do not think that the family students are not competent enough to join you?"
"I would rather take the people I trust than take people just because they are part of my family," Vaan replied, he then momentarily glanced at Elric and,
"Let's be honest here, not everyone here still treats me as the Leader, some of these people would turn on me the instant they are given the chance.
People like them often turn into deadweights and I have no plans to carry any deadweights inside the Ruins. Especially when I have much better options close to me."
"Is it not the duty of the Leader to gain the trust of his subordinates?" Erza questioned.
"Of course, where else do you think I would choose the people I need for the two spots I have? It is not like everyone here is out for my throat, there are a few people here whom I could trust."
Vaan answered and in an instant, Erza understood what he was trying to do.
Favoritism.
This man was openly playing favorites.
He was dividing the students into the ones who support him and the ones who do not.
It wasn't a genius plan, but it was indeed shameless.
Honestly, it was no different than bribing them, however, since nothing was being said openly, there was nothing Professor Erza could do to stop it.
"Anyways, enough with that, I will now be choosing the students who will be following me to the Ancient Ruins."
Vaan spoke up.
Obviously, a certain group of students was more excited than the others. Everyone could tell what was happening here.
Their skills did not matter, the choice was made just based on how much one could kiss Vaan's ass.
And the first one to be chosen was…
"Cedric Vesta."
The first student to accept Vaan as their Leader and the 'hope' of the Family.
A bright smile appeared on Cedric's face as he stepped forward.
Vaan smiled as well, then,
"The next one would be…"
Vaan then scanned all the students, the ones on his side were excited but then,
"Lirael Vesta."
Vaan announced and it wasn't just the other students, even the one in question, Lirael herself had a shocked look on her face.
"What?"
"Why are you so surprised? You think you aren't competent enough to follow me inside?"
Vaan questioned with a smile.
"Why would you choose me…?" Lirael questioned with a frown on her face.
"Well, there aren't many people who have entered the Ruins in my team, so I would want someone experienced in my team. For the reasons you should know, I couldn't choose 'others', but I guess you would do just fine in there."
Vaan replied with a smile.
Lirael however, still had a frown on her face.
She wasn't exactly close to Vaan. Honestly, with Vaelen out of the picture, the two of them could even be considered rivals, rivals in the fight for the Throne.
For Vaan to come forward and choose her…
"Ah, I get it now."
Suddenly, Elric spoke up, his brows up as if he realized something,
"I understand why you were acting so stuck up earlier,
You already knew what was going to happen because he must have informed you before."
Then, Elric frowned and,
"What I don't understand, however, is that why would you join him? I see no benefit in doing that. Are you stepping out of the Battle of Heirs and supporting him?"
Elric questioned and Lirael's frown deepened.
Soon, however, she realized just what happened and she quickly turned towards Vaan and saw him smiling.
"I am not stepping out of Battle of Heirs!"
Lirael was quick to defend herself.
"Then what did you join him for?"
Elric questioned.
"Why would I join him!?"
"That is what I am asking!"
"I am not on his side, you fool!"
"Oh? Then would he choose you?"
"Clearly, he is trying to manipulate you! Do you not get it!?"
"And what would he gain by doing that? The fact that you are with him wouldn't change anything for me, Lirael.
In the end, the position of the Family Head would belong to me no matter who you team up with."
"You think!? With that head of yours!? I think it would be an achievement if you even stayed in the battle till the end!" Lirael shouted in frustration then suddenly,
"Lirael, you have no reason to lose your calm.
The two of us know the truth, what others think does not matter."
Vaan spoke with a gentle smile on his face.
The students all narrowed their eyes.
Lirael, on the other hand, was fuming in anger,
"Do not utter any more words! I am not on your side!"
"Hahaha~ Of course, Of course, how about this? Reject my offer of entering the Ancient Ruins with me to prove it to them.
That would make a convincing point, no? Should I look for someone else?"
Vaan questioned and the Lirael now found herself in a strange position.
The answer to this question didn't matter anymore.
If she went with Vaan, she would be raising doubts about her joining him.
If she didn't, well, she would be doing the same even then.
Everyone would still be doubting her because, in the end, she would only be listening to Vaan's words and making a decision.
Lirael stared at Vaan for a while, the man just smiled.
Both of them knew what was going around, honestly, even if others knew that this was merely a play Vaan had come up with, the seed of doubt that was now planted wouldn't go away.
There would always be a 'what if' situation somewhere in their mind.
'Sure, all of this was Vaan's plan but… what if Vaan and Lirael had actually come together?'
These thoughts would gnaw students' minds and would definitely affect their future decisions.
Heck, let alone the students, even the Professors would be going through the same, after all, regarding the matter of the Battle of Heirs, even they had to choose their next steps carefully.
"Whatever, I have no reason to reject the offer.
Who knows? I might find something that would help me beat you in the Battle of Heirs!"
"Mhm, I am sure you will find something."
Vaan nodded with a smile and Lirael couldn't feel more frustrated.
Vaan chuckled, he then glanced at the rest of the students and,
"I still have two spots in my mind, right now, I plan to choose someone else, however, my mind can change.
Nothing is fixed,
There is still a week left before the Ancient Ruins are opened."
