Chapter 53.

PART 1.

After disembarking from the ship which dropped him near Fernandes city, Josh sees his older brother on the landing spot. “Hey there. Look who got taller when I wasn’t looking?” he said with a smile.

“George junior.” Josh embraces him, something which he would never dare to do in front of his father.

George junior Fernandes has the softer features of his mother, and the bulky body of his father. He is about ten years older than Josh. Despite the age difference, both brothers get along with each other well.

George junior went on his apprenticeship five years ago, when Josh was barely above his thighs. But now, he reaches his stomach. Clearly, though, he has a lot of growing up to do to reach his brother’s height. But he doesn’t wish to reach his height. He wants to surpass him, in every way.

‘Maybe then my father will acknowledge me.’ he thinks.

The house isn’t very far from the landing spot, so both brothers walk to their home. In the way, Josh sees how easily his brother meets with people, exchanging greetings and nods with them. This actually comes to him as well, but he isn’t nowhere near popular enough that people would greet him by his name after his long stays in the Castle, or his recent return from the Academy. Though Josh acknowledges that he doesn’t live here much, so they are not familiar with him.

Reaching their home, Josh finds himself a dinner with his father and mother. His mother doesn’t speak much. In all his years, they haven’t exchanged any words beyond stilted greetings. “So, how did you perform in the Academy?” asked George the first question.

George junior winced. He knows this won’t go well. “I was among the top ten.” Said Josh proudly.

“Top ten? Not number one?” asked George.

Josh hangs his head in shame. How could he compete against brilliant people like Avinash, Raven, and Hatori? All three of them ranked above him. James and Shin do rank below him, but only by a number. He has no doubt that they can leave him behind next year.

“Did you make political connections at least?” asked George.

“Yes. Tons of them.” replied Josh. Granted, a lot of them are not going to be worth much at this early in his time there, but he just knows they will come useful in the future.

“Well, you’re doing good in something.” Nodded George. He then receives a sarcastic glare from his older son, after which he realizes what he has done. George junior has a real gift of expressing himself through his eyes.

After finishing his food, he leaves, leaving both of his boys to exchange words between them, all the while cursing himself for blowing up another opportunity for making a meaningful connection with his younger son.

PART 2.

Magpie Arora has gotten a lot of things from his fifteen years-long military career. Combat expertise, physical fitness, a sharp mind which can see conspiracies coming from a far, and the sense of punctual time. That’s why he was there when the ship landed right on time to pick up his son, while some parents didn’t even arrive on time.

His wife is currently out to shop, for a special feast will be cooked today in celebration of their son concluding his first year in the Academy without dying or getting crippled permanently.

Their home is very orderly, with things rarely moved from their fixed place. Ever since Raven befriended Fernandes’s boy, he does live with him in the Castle, since this is where he is performing his duty, and can keep an eye on him. But now, things are different. He must stay home longer.

“So, how was your year, son?” He asked, sitting in a straight-back chair. He likes those chairs because they help in keeping your back straight, without causing discomfort. He will not end up as a hunched-up old man.

Relaxing in his own straight-back chair, Raven replies with a sigh. “Chaotic.”

“How so?” Magpie leans forward in interest.

“You know, Josh is always doing stuff in his own way. But the biggest reason was Hatori. He spent pretty much the entire year hiding from everyone.” Explains Raven.

“Hmm. likely because of the aggressive recruitment schemes.” The elder Arora shakes his head. He never understands those nobles. If they only had some kindness in their bones, then they might understand that force and power cannot get them everything.

“Also, I helped out Suresh, the champion of this year’s chess tournament.” Said Raven, swelling with the feeling of proudness.

“Well done, son.” Praised Magpie. “Now, keep developing your strategic talents.”

He wanted to actually tell him that he would make for a great general one day; but he strangled those words in his throat. Their class means they will never have such an honor, even if they serve the throne for thousand years loyally.

“Be careful, son.” Advises Magpie. “You have made some dangerous connections. You will be pulled into chaos, whether you like it or not.”

Moving on to the lighter topic, Magpie notices the improved physique of his son. “I do notice you are physically fit, and your magic feels stronger.”

“Yeah, I worked on it a lot.” Raven gets a faraway expression on his face, which he usually gets when he is planning something for the future. “But this isn’t enough. I have to become stronger, much stronger.”

Magpie nodded with approval. He can get behind that feeling.

PART 3.

Shin meets with Mr. Swami, the head of his orphanage. No one came to pick him up. But he isn’t bothered by it, since the orphanage teaches them all to be independent. He can’t help the pang of jealousy he experiences seeing other kids picked up by their parents, though.

He, of course, never looked at them for too long. He did that as a child once, and received one horrific beating as a result. He has learned his lesson since.

He is showing Mr. Swami the broken pieces of his foci, a staff in the style of a music conductor’s baton. “How did you manage to break your foci in your first year?” asked Mr. Swami.

“Well, an older student attacked me and my friend. He broke it in the process.” explained Shin.

Sighing, Mr. Swami picks up the broken pieces. “It can’t be repaired. We can give you another foci, though it won’t be elaborate as this one.”

“That’s fine. I’ll work with it.” said Shin.

He is not bothered by not getting other foci like his old one. He knows Mr. Swami won’t waste money on him like that. Besides, he realizes how foci are overrated. Hatori has taught him that.

‘I’ll follow his path. By the time I leave from the other side, I won’t need one.’ he thinks to himself.

That, of course, would mean he has taken out one expensive item of magic from his future. Judging from how the first year went, Shin suspects there will be more chaos in the future, meaning more chances of damaging his focie.

But if he doesn’t have one, and relies on himself, he won’t have to worry about it.

PART 4.

Much like Shin, James has no one to pick him up. And unlike his friends, his home isn’t located near the landing spot either, which personally feels like adding insult to injury. But the real salt in the wound is receiving the greeting from Lucie and Eva when he actually arrives home, before even meeting his father.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“So, finally managed to crawl home, I see.” Said Lucie. Ever since Swaraj’s loss to Hatori, she has been in a state of mind which can delicately be called nasty.

“This is my home.” Retaliated James. These sisters have been trying to bully him since his childhood. But he has never bowed to them.

“Imagine what a mother would say,” added Eva. She is seven years old, but James knows that no normal seven-year-old would think of blackmailing someone in such a sweet voice. “Go tell her. I don’t care.”

“But that’s the thing.” Lucie stepped closer to him, glairing down upon him. “You will meet her. She has ordered it. and do change your sweaty clothes before doing so, you smell.”

For a moment, James s furious glair made her scared. But when he quietly walks away, she smirks in triumph. As long as he knows his place, he will never dare to retaliate against her.

“Shouldn’t we punish him for talking to us this way?” asked Eva.

“No point. Speaking to mother is punishment enough.”

After changing his clothes and taking an extra-long shower just to piss off Shakuntala, James goes to meet her. It burns him to see her sitting in his father’s study, and changing its design as if she owns it. But unlike her daughters, James knows that mouthing off to her will not end up in anything good for him. Every fiber of his being hates to do so; but he bows down before her, and touches her feet. She pats his head and murmurs some useless blessings.

“So, I hear you befriended Zeko’s boy.” In the noble circle, Hatori has acquired that name for refusing every time they have tried to recruit him.

James remains quiet. He knows it isn’t a question. “Perhaps that is the sole good thing you have done this year. Don’t expect any praise for your academic record, for it is expected that someone of your birth will be on top by default.” She leans forward. “You only get praise for something which you can do on your own, instead of relying on your superior blood.”

James wishes to call out her on her contradictory statements, but remains quiet. “Do try to educate him in our proper ways when you meet him again. Go now.” She orders.

With a loud bang, he closes the door of the study. Shakuntala smiles. She can’t harm the boy fatally in this house, but she can punish him and make his life miserable. But she decides not to do that for just slamming the door open.

After all, given the temper so legendary in his family, the boy has remarkable control. That would be rewarded, by not giving him any punishment.

James finally goes to meet his father. Lucie and Eva waited outside of the study, perhaps to rub even more salt in the wound. But they decided to back off after seeing his expression. Entering the room, the smell of alcohol immediately assaulted his nose. His father is asleep on the bed, surrounded by empty bottles.

“Dad?” he said softly.

That was enough to wake him up. Even in his stupor, Jimmy looks around the room for threats, before relaxing. “Welcome back, son.” He says, motioning him to come closer.

Though it was nice that the man came out of his alcoholic high to talk to him, James really hates this house. ‘Why did I come back here?’

PART 5.

Hatori leaves the ship. His friends were going to different areas, so they had to split up. This is the first time in his life he has traveled alone. Carrying his shrunken trunk on one arm, he senses Zeko nearby. Now that he has gotten magical sensing down, he realizes how much power Zeko contains. He feels as if he is looking down upon the endless depths of a sea, which could swallow him at any moment, but it is kept in check by its own will.

Instead of waiting for Zeko to notice him, Hatori goes to him directly. “Hello master Zeko.” He greets him.

“Don’t be so formal, boy.” He says, noticing the increase in height. ‘Looks like those potions are working well.’ He thought. “Let’s go to the car. My place is far from here.”

Hatori followed behind him, still carrying his trunk. Meanwhile, Zeko thinks about the changes he has already noticed in his students from a few moments in his company. And he isn’t referring to physical changes.

Instead, he is thinking of how he moves differently, how he observes the environment around him, and overall, how he has the feeling of a soldier who is gaining experience slowly, having fought in his first conflict and taken a life. Though he laments that a child has to resort to such methods, a savage part of Zeko enjoys it. ‘Call me low-class, will you? My student is better than ten of your over-privileged brats.’

Of course, he already knows about the killings Hatori has already done. He is actually surprised that the count is so low. Given the aggressive recruitment drive, he expected more people to die in the whole conflict.

“Master Zeko?” Said Hatori. “I want to ask for something.”

“What is it?” Zeko opens the door of his car.

“I want to talk to my parents. And I wish to invite my friends over the summer.” Hatori didn’t put a question mark on his tone at the end.

“And here I thought you would ask for some expensive toy.” Zeko shakes his head. “I don’t have a problem with that. You can talk to your parents once we get home, and you can invite your friends after a month or so.”

When they reach Zeko’s house, Hatori is blocked from entering by another shadow. Without so much as a warning, it fires the Stinger spell at him. but Hatori batted those aside, and retaliates with Slicer, cutting the shadow in half, after which both parts dissolved.

Deep within the basement, the central yantra notices the development, and ups the difficulty accordingly.

PART 6.

The professors have gathered within the mess hall. No students are present here, even those who are still in the Academy, working on various projects. This is an exclusive event, hosted by Corvus at the end of each year.

Currently, there is an argument going on between Dhiraj and Bali, which broke out after the professors discussed which student deserves special favors from them next year onward. When Dhiraj said Hatori’s name, Bali opposed it.

“Don’t you remember? I told you that boy is using dangerous methods!” Bali slams his hand on the table between them. “Such recklessness cannot be allowed!”

“And I ask again, are you more upset that he humiliated you in your class? Put aside your ego.” Said Dhiraj, unaffected by the outburst of Bali.

“This isn’t about that anymore.” Said Bali, breathing deeply to calm himself. “He even killed an older student, and we all have our suspicions regarding another death on his hands.”

“Again, I fail to understand this.” Said Dhiraj. “Are you bothered by him killing someone? Or are you bothered by the killings of a student belonging to a high-class family? I expected better from you.” Dhiraj glared at Bali.

“We all know how fragile the rules are for protecting children from older students in this Academy.” Corvus raised an eyebrow. He didn’t expect a professor to say it so boldly. He then forgets about it, thinking about how a professor useless will be furious that he isn’t invited to this event.

“Then you’re not going to budge from this?” asked Amarjit.

“No. That boy deserves support, especially since he has shown his talents this year. Surviving an older student just makes it even better. I will support him next year onward; your agreement isn’t a factor.” Having said his peace, Dhiraj pores himself the drink of his choice, and ignores the other professors, like he usually does.

(End.)