"I can't believe this…"
Astra spoke with a strange look on her face as she glanced at her son.
Vaan just smiled proudly as he stood in front of her, honestly, Astra would have been proud and joyful if it was a normal situation but…
It was not…
"I know I sensed it before, but I still thought you needed at least a month, and that was when I was calculated using Elara's talent as the reference, and mind you, hers is better than mine.
I thought you would need at least 25 days if not a month, but…
How are you here in just 10 days?"
Astra questioned as she looked into Vaan's eyes.
"Don't forget, your son is a genius, mother," Vaan replied.
Astra clenched her fists in frustration, 'I am a genius!', that's no answer to her questions!
Astra finally realized how her siblings and mother must have felt when they asked her how she managed to do it.
Astra's magic talent was good, however, what made her different from others was her comprehension speed, the speed at which she understood Magic Patterns and created her own. People were always surprised by how quickly she mastered different spells and whenever someone tried to ask her secret, she just replied 'I am a genius.'
To think she would end up on the other side of the conversation like this…
Thinking about this, Astra just sighed, but then, a smile appeared on her face. She then placed her hand on Vaan's cheek, then with a gentle smile on her face,
"It feels great to be a mother of a genius. With a talent like yours, catching up with others is only a matter of time."
Vaan held his mother's hand, "Who cares about catching up? I'll be so fast that they won't even know when I surpassed them. The Future Head can't have a competition, now can he? I must overpower everyone so badly that their faction members would be too embarrassed to recommend their own children for the heir's position."
"That is the dominance I expect from my son." Astra smiled.
Vaan nodded.
"Anyways, how is your Magic Study going? I saw that girl writing down all 1st Circle Fire Spells she knew along with their Magic Circles, Magic Patterns, and the Inner Circle,
Tsk, I was so jealous when I saw her working so hard for you. To think that fool would give you something so valuable when you treat her so poorly, tsk tsk." Astra shook her head.
"What do you mean? I treat her well."
"Haah? Do you think not abusing her like your past self is treating her well? Even a random stranger treats her well by that logic. How are you any different?
That girl does so much for you, can't you show your appreciation at least once?"
I thanked her properly, Mother."
Vaan replied and as soon as she heard that, Astra facepalmed.
"Thanked her? You thanked her? Would you like if you spend days doing something for me and I just thank you in return?"
"You are my mother, I don't expe-"
"Take her out! Take her to some popular restaurant and buy her good food!"
"Mother, all the best chefs in the Vesta City work in our mansion, she can simply tell what she wants to eat to the cook and he will make it for her."
Astra's mouth twitched, "Vaan, are you really my son?" She questioned as she looked into her son's eyes.
"W-What?"
"You think she was helping you because she wanted something to eat? When I said take her out, I meant spending some time with her and making her feel special.
The food or the restaurant is not the issue here, take her anywhere else, I don't care, but do something for her."
"O-Oh, you want me to ask her out on a date."
"Yes exactly!
And you better treat her like she is your queen, is that clear?"
"Y-Yes, I will do as you say, Mother." Vaan nodded as he started thinking about his future 'date.'
It was not a bad idea, he was thinking of doing something for Elara as well.
A date with his fiancé didn't sound bad at all.
A small smile appeared on Vaan's face when he imagined the flustered face that Elra would make when he asks her out.
"Anyways, as I was saying, how is your magic study going? I am sure Elara's notebook is helping you a lot, and I also noticed that you have shut yourself in your room for this past week,
Have you made any progress? How many spells have you learned?"
Astra questioned.
Unlike Elara, who had witnessed Vaan's monstrous talent and how he created his own patterns just after seeing hers, Astra was still in the dark about this matter. Vaan asked Elara to stay silent because he wanted to surprise his mother later.
To Astra, Vaan was someone who only knew the Fire Spike spell, however…
Vaan had already learned all Seventeen 1st Circle Spells that Elara had written down in her notebook.
"I have made some progress, yes." Vaan nodded with a slight smile on his face.
"That is good.
Though it is strange for a 1st Circle Mage to advance to the next level when he barely knows one spell, more options open up when you advance, so now that you are capable of doing so, there is no reason for you to hold back."
Astra spoke.
"Does that mean I can form my 2nd Circle?" Vaan questioned.
"Well of course, as I said, there is no reason for you to hold back, as surprising as it may be, your Mana Veins are thick enough to form your 2nd Circle." Astra nodded and a smile appeared on Vaan's face.
Suddenly, the little Flamey flew above Astra's head, and with her hands on her waist, she called out, "Krrii Krrii."
Vaan, who understood what she was trying to say and couldn't help but shake his head.
'Yes Yes, I know I shouldn't have doubted you, it was my fault.'
