“So I’ve been thinking about some sort of runic device to make that possible,” Adion finished and took a sip of his wine, not liking the taste much. “I can’t believe you prefer this to beer, by the way.”

“It’s nothing much compared to the best wines,” Sell admitted, “But it’s still way better than the cheap beer we drank on the Outskirts.”

“I don’t know about that,” Adion muttered, “I guess I’ll get used to it.”

“Anyway,” Sell said, “A runic device like that would be incredible. You could teleport to any place around the continent as long as you had a runic device placed there. But it will be difficult, no?”

Adion had just explained his plans of trying to make use of his unique powers in runes. He and Sell had gone to eat a restaurant in the public part of the Academy where they were now drinking some wine after having a delicious meal.

“Yeah, probably,” Adion said, “But with an artifact capable of stabilizing space in the hands of my enemies, I feel like I have to learn more about runes. If I can get something like what I’m planning out of it, that’s just a bonus.”

“Mm,” Sell nodded thoughtfully, “That sounds like a good idea. I’ll probably take the aura class with the Headmaster then. I don’t really have anything I need to hide in my aura. If I learn something useful, I can teach you myself.”

“Thanks,” Adion smiled.

“Want to go train together now?” Sell asked, “I already have a bunch of credits, so we can use a private training area at the Academy.”

“That sounds like fun,” Adion said, “But I have already promised to meet up with Aiden and Ailera soon. They are going to show me around the Academy some more. Why don’t you join us?”

“Oh…okay,” Sell nodded shyly.

“Good,” Adion smiled. “I also have to see if I can find a friend here and ask him for advice on which class on runes I should take.”

“You have a friend here?” Sell asked.

“Mm,” Adion nodded. He then went on to explain how he had met Prago and Termon at the auction where he first spotted her back in Dorbarta.

Midway through his story, though, he spotted Aiden and Ailera coming into the restaurant. They both seemed excited as they approached the table where he and Sell were sitting.

“What are you guys doing here?” Adion asked as his brother and sister came up to them.

“Grandpa has advanced!” Ailera said excitedly.

“He just sent us a message. Let’s go to his manor and congratulate him,” Aiden said.

“Really? That’s great,” Adion said, relieved.

“Congratulations,” Sell said to them all.

“Thank you,” Aiden and Ailera nodded to Sell.

“How did you know I was here?” Adion asked as he got up from his seat along with Sell.

“I was with Rellitha, and she wondered where Sellitha was,” Aiden said, “When she got word that you were with her, she told me.”

“She really is keeping tabs on me,” Sell muttered unhappily.

“Well, there are a lot of people paying attention to you two,” Aiden said with an awkward smile, “You’re not exactly discreet. Some rumors have already started spreading.”

“What kind of rumors? We’re just having lunch together, isn’t that a normal thing to do?” Adion asked.

“Haaah,” Aiden sighed, “Sellitha is a princess, so, of course, people pay attention to every small detail. You two practically holding hands and giggling through the Academy is something people have reacted to.”

“What? We haven’t done that,” Adion refuted, “People are just making things up.”

“Yeah,” Sell agreed, “We have been very careful. No one can claim we have done something that normal friends wouldn’t do.”

“Hahaha,” Ailera laughed, “Just because you have the excuse that you are friends doesn’t mean that people don’t notice the obvious. But I guess it’s fine as long as you have good deniability.”

“Yeah,” Aiden said, “Rumors like these are pretty common, so don’t worry too much. Anyway, are you ready to go?”

“Right,” Adion nodded.

It’s not like I can just act like I don’t like her. And I’m not going to stay away from her either. Let people assume what they want.

“Do you want to come with us, Sell?” Adion asked as they started walking out of the restaurant.

“I…You should congratulate him as a family first,” Sell said, “I’ll visit another day.”

“Oh, okay,” Adion nodded, “You want to meet at the plaza tomorrow morning then? We can train together after submitting our class choices.”

“Yeah,” Sell nodded with a smile.

“Good,” Adion smiled back.

Damn people everywhere. Adion thought as he looked around at the many witnesses to a potential goodbye kiss.

“See you around, Sell,” Ailera waved goodbye.

“Mm,” Sell nodded, “Congratulate your grandfather for me.”

“Will do,” Aiden said.

Adion watched Sell as she started walking back to the Academy proper again.

“Alright, Adion, stop staring. Let’s go,” Ailera said, as she dragged his arms to get moving. “We have just become a Noble family. We have a lot to discuss.”

“That’s right,” Aiden said as they started moving, “Are we becoming a Noble family of the Valis Kingdom or Cyalis?”

“Grandpa seemed to be planning to join Cyalis and the Academy,” Adion said, “And I think that might be the best bet.”

“I thought you didn’t like that idea,” Ailera said.

“It’s true that we wouldn’t be able to take revenge openly anymore,” Adion said, “But we wouldn’t be able to do that in a long time anyway. Our enemy is far too strong. When I become strong enough to take revenge, I doubt the Council can stop me anyway.”

And there is nothing stopping me from doing things in the dark. I should visit Perk and Tib later to see how they are doing.

It didn’t take very long before the three siblings once again found themselves outside their grandfather's mansion. They weren’t the only ones there, however.

“Who are all these people?” Ailera asked as she stepped out of the carriage they had rented at the Academy.

“Looks like word has spread that there is a new Soul mage around,” Aiden said.

In front of the gate to the mansion, there was a crowd of people talking, trying to get a glimpse of the happenings in the mansion. There were also several luxurious carriages lined up by the side of the road.

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“Seems like he has some important visitors,” Adion said.

“Let’s see what’s going on,” Aiden said and started walking to the gate.

The guards recognized them as grandchildren of the newly advanced Soul mage, so they entered the mansion without issue.

“Young masters,” Marli spotted them as they came inside. She was holding a tray of drinks and seemed to be making her way to their grandfather’s study.

“Marli, what’s going on?” Aiden asked.

“Master Arlen has advanced to the Soft Soul stage,” Marli said with a big smile.

“We know,” Ailera said with a smile of her own, “But who are all those people outside? Do we have visitors?”

“A lot of people noticed the aura of your grandfather, and word is now spreading around the city, it seems. The people outside are probably just curious passersby, but master is entertaining some Nobles and family patriarchs from the area who have come to congratulate him.”

“Oh? I guess that makes sense,” Aiden said.

“Should we wait for them to leave?” Ailera asked.

“Let’s go and congratulate him first,” Aiden said.

“Please follow me, young masters,” Marli said and started moving toward the study.

There is only one aura of a Soul mage in the mansion, so I should be safe going along. Adion thought as he scrutinized the auras in his grandfather’s study.

“Aiden, Ailera, Adion!” Adion’s grandfather looked over with a big smile as he saw them enter the study. He didn’t look much younger than before, as even if he practically doubled his lifespan, that would take time to show results, and he would, at most, look 5 or 10 years younger unless he managed to advance again. He did look a lot more energetic, though.

There were six other people in the room with their grandfather. They all looked over to Adion and his siblings at their grandfather’s words.

“Congratulations on becoming a Soul mage, Grandpa,” They all congratulated their grandfather.

“Haha,” Their grandfather laughed happily, “Thank you. Everyone, these are my great-grandchildren. All talented students at the Academy.”

“It seems like talent runs in the family,” A Diamond mage who looked middle-aged complimented with a smile.

“I’ve been very lucky,” Their grandfather said with a wide smile. “Aiden here is the vice president of the student council. Already a Silver mage well before his fifth year. Ailera is starting her fourth year and is very gifted in alchemy. And Adion here is just about to start his studies but has already been placed in the diamond class.”

“The Remori family seems to have their future in safe hands,” Another Diamond mage, an old woman, complimented.

“I believe so,” Their grandfather nodded with a smile.

Just as he was about to continue speaking, Marli stepped inside the study just after leaving, bringing everyone’s attention to her and the old man who entered beside her.

“Master, this is Elder Salron Appos,” Marli introduced, “He has come to congratulate you on your advancement.”

All the guests who had remained sitting when Adion and his siblings entered immediately stood up to greet the new guest. A show of respect that was entirely expected as the man in question was a Soft Soul mage.

A Soul mage? Even someone like that is here? Hopefully, he doesn’t look too deeply into my aura.

“Arlen Remori,” The Elder said with a friendly smile, “It is a pleasure to meet you. Congratulations on your advancement.”

“Thank you, Elder,” Adion’s grandfather said, bowing his head humbly, “I didn’t expect a visit from someone like you. It is an honor to welcome you to my humble home.”

“Hehe,” Salron chucked, “It is only natural that I come to congratulate you. It is far from every day that we have a new Soul mage appearing in our city-state. I was hoping to have a few words with you if it is convenient?”

“Of course,” Adion’s grandfather nodded.

“I won’t take up any more of your time,” One of the DImaond mages said, “I will visit again when things have calmed down some more.”

“Me too,” Another man said. And soon all the visitors bid their farewell and started moving out of the room.

“Thank you all for coming,” Adion’s grandfather said with a smile, “I will contact you so we can continue our conversations another day.”

“We will wait for you to finish your business in the dining hall, Grandpa,” Aiden said, leading Adion and Ailera out of the study.

“Mm,” Their grandfather nodded, “I’ll come talk to you later. Elder, please take a seat.”

“Thank you,” Elder Salron said, moving to take a seat on a couch as Adion and his siblings entered the hallway.

“Do you know who that was?” Adion asked his brother as they walked to the dining hall.

“I don’t know him specifically, but the Appos family is an ancient family. They have roots back to the first mages from the Tower of Sages who arrived here on Shiora. I don’t know exactly how much power they hold today, but it’s not small.”

“I see,” Adion nodded.

He’s probably someone connected to the Council in some way.

Adion and his siblings arrived in the dining hall and began playing some cards to pass the time while waiting for their grandfather to finish his business.

“Do you think they’ll suspect anything?” Ailera asked in a low voice as she played a card on the table.

“Suspect what?” Adion asked.

“How Grandpa advanced,” Ailera said.

“I doubt it,” Adion said, “Grandpa has been a peak Diamond mage for a long time. I don’t think someone can tell he advanced using a pill.”

“Mm,” Ailera nodded.

After waiting for a while, Adion noticed how the Elder left the mansion through his sphere of space mana, and soon after, their grandfather entered the dining hall.

“Haaah,” Their grandfather sighed, “What a day. I didn’t expect the news to travel so quickly. I think I’ll be busy with meetings for a long time.”

“What did that Elder want, Grandpa?” Ailera asked.

“He wanted to know if I was going to become a Noble of the Valis Kingdom or if I planned on staying here even after you all graduated. If that was the case, he asked if I wanted to join Cyalis. He must have information about our situation in Valis. We don’t have a place to stay there anymore. And all of the current Remori family is here, so it is not a strange question.”

“And what did you say?” Aiden asked.

“I said I was very interested, and had thought of asking the same thing myself. But I asked him to give me a few days while I thought about it,” Their grandfather said, taking a seat for himself.

“What exactly will it mean for us to become Nobles of Cyalis?” Ailera asked.

“Just like we have discussed, instead of adhering to the Valis family, we will have to start listening to Council. But I don’t think that’s such a bad thing,” Their grandfather said.

“We don’t think so either,” Adion said, “You won’t have to take an Oath or reveal any secrets, right?”

“No, no,” His grandfather shook his head, “Oaths are nothing to take lightly, and no Soul mage would agree to something like that.”

“Then I think it’s fine,” Adion said.

“Mm, good,” His grandfather smiled.

“Do you think you can join the Council?” Aiden asked.

“Not anytime soon. But that is a goal for sure,” His grandfather responded, “But it is not easy. Elder Salron is a Soft Soul mage from the Appos family, a family with two members in the Council, and he has not even gotten the chance to join. Unless I become a Hard Soul mage, I believe it will be very difficult.”

“Well, I guess you’ll have to continue working hard then,” Adion said with a grin.

“Yes,” His grandfather smiled, “Now is no time to slow down. I can finally meditate and grow stronger after standing still so long.”

“Does this mean we are Nobles now?” Ailera asked.

“Hmm,” Their grandfather mused, “There will be a ceremony to welcome us to the local Nobility after I accept joining Cyalis; after that, everything will be official. But even now, no one would say anything if you claim to be Nobles, so better start getting used to it.”

Adion and his siblings looked at each other, feeling weird about the sudden change.

From a 2nd tier family to Nobles. Well, in the end I guess it’s all a good thing. But this ceremony…I feel like there will be a lot of Soul mages there. I guess I’ll have to start training with Grandpa.