Zane crouched down and gathered the scattered magic formula from the floor.
"Anyways, Zane. Mother has been eager to meet you, you know. Don't you think it's time to meet her now that you've arrived in the main castle?"
Zane looked towards Eris, looking at her with a blank expression. Then, he rose up from the ground, carrying all the books he had been carrying before.
"Yeah, yeah. I will."
Although it may sound like Zane didn't like his mom, it was actually quite the opposite. It's just that, meeting his mother would mean meeting his father. And Zane hated that, all he ever faced in front of that old man were hurtful words.
"But, maybe not right now..."
As soon as Zane said those words, he could suddenly feel an aura that could make him kneel on the ground.
"...Right now."
Zane paused for a moment, looking at Eris awkwardly.
"No, not right now. Can't you see I am carrying lots of magic formula's? Do you want me to bring these along, meeting both the Patriarch and the Matriarch?"
Eris released a heavy sigh, as he heard Zane's reasoning.
"Put it at your bedroom, I will wait for you outside, and we will go in Obsidian Crown right now."
Zane remained still for a while, he then sighed. Knowing he can't escape his older sister's nagging.
"Fine..."
Zane then headed in his bedroom, carrying all the magic formula he had chosen in the grand library. Meanwhile, Eris went outside, waiting for him. Honestly, he doesn't even know where they were going. In fact, he didn't even know what Eris meant by Obsidian Crown. He just assumed it was a place where his mother and father resided.
He didn't really bother asking since he didn't feel the need to. The only thing on his mind was meeting his father which is the current Patriarch in the Thaleward clan. Thinking about meeting him once again, filled him with so much contempt.
His father had visited Ironveil castle before, and it didn't really end well. Zane doesn't even wanna recall such history.
Moment afterwards, he finally arrived in his bedroom. He then placed all the books he was carrying on his table, and sat down on his bed.
'Where the hell is Velrath?'
As Zane thought for a while, thinking where Velrath was, and preparing himself mentally for what's about to come. He finally stood up and released a heavy sigh.
'Whatever, I can do this.'
...
"Why is he taking so long?"
Eris meanwhile had been waiting for half an hour already, waiting for Zane to get out.
- Creak!
Hearing the creak of a wooden door opening, Eris turned his head toward the sound. There, he saw a man with jet-black hair and deep brown eyes, dressed in a white long-sleeved polo and slacks.
It was Zane.
"Finally, what took you so long?"
Zane scratched the back of his head, he then said.
"Sorry, I was just doing something."
Eris stared at Zane for a while, she then said: "Well, get in."
In front of Zane, a uniquely shaped carriage that spoke of wealth could be seen. Zane had guessed that the Patriarch and the Matriarch resided in another place. Which means he would have to ride a carriage again.
Zane could also see a few Thaleward's walking by in the vast pathway of the castle. For some reason, Zane didn't really catch their attention. That's because they didn't know how Zane look like. If they did, Zane would have become a celebrity.
Eris did get a few glances though. Which was pretty much expected, considering she was pretty much a celebrity as well. She is one of the most talented mage in the main castle, as well as in the Arcana Magic Academy. Not only that but she is also the first born of Vern Thaleward, the Sovereign Sorcerer.
Zane meanwhile was also like a celebrity. Well... for bad reasons.
Zane then headed inside the carriage, sitting beside his sister. The reason why they were familiar with each other, even despite being in different castle since at a very young age, was because they often met each other at school.
The moment they got inside the carriage, the carriage started to move.
Zane remained quite as the carriage moved. It was strange to not be accompanied by the human-like demon for once, specially since Velrath had always been with him when they were going somewhere. But either way, they weren't going somewhere far away.
Outside the castle were palaces with pathways leading to each of them. Zane had guessed that Obsidian Crown is probably just outside of this castle.
"Aren't you going to ask how I manage to pass the Ironveil trial?"
Hearing Zane's words, Eris looked towards him and said with a sarcastic tone.
"What? Why would I? I think it's pretty obvious you cheated, or they either just let you pass the trial."
As those words came out of Eris mouth, Zane's expression became blank.
"Why the hell does everyone think that?!"
"Why would they not? Zane, you are known as having the most lowest amount of mana capacity in our family tree, and you couldn't pass the trial for over 4 years."
Zane stared at Eris blankly, he then turned his head away from her. She did have a point, so he couldn't really retort to what she was saying. However, he couldn't really accept the fact that his efforts and hard work were just ignored like that.
"Well, whatever. you'll find out soon, everyone will."
Although Zane wasn't really the type of person who wanted to gain attention by being the kind of man people wanted him to be.
Infact, he doesn't care about that kind of stuff at all. Well, maybe before. But, he had long discarded such thoughts. Why would he waste his time, working on himself to be the kind of man everyone wants him to be?
It simply doesn't align with his goals and ambition. People who are admired by everyone will eventually make a single mistake that leads to their downfall, causing all their good deeds to be forgotten. In the end, all the effort and hard work they put in will be wasted as well.
Zane's ambition to become stronger stems simply from his nature. He strives to build himself for himself, to grow stronger for his own sake, and to improve solely for himself.
"Found out soon, huh?"