Chapter 30

Burying the Past

  The fateful day of his departure to Concordia has arrived. After the first intrusion, Hans never got any visitors, and he lived his busy but peaceful life under Vanessa's guidance while Rudolf and Sierra got occupied with their duties in Edenberg county.

  Hans was relaxing under the sun, putting his head on Vanessa's lap, who sat leaning on a sparse tree, allowing the adequate amount of sunshine which didn't irritate them. It was the time of the afternoon, just after he finished learning the history lessons.

  The weather became cold as the winter hit them at the end of the year, so they were used to enjoying their time together under sunlight after everyday lessons. She was not like a strict older sister but a doting one who couldn't help but find Hans's every action cute.

  However, she didn't spare any moment to make Hans mentally stronger. He felt a bit mature in front of others, but around Vanessa, he remained as goofy as ever. He didn't want to part with her, so he urged her with pitiful eyes,

Sis Vanessa, can’t you come with us too, Concordia, I mean?

  The place held many of her good as well as terrible memories, but after overcoming the suffering and knowing Hans, she started debating her resolve of "never going back to the place where she lost everything".

She forced herself to say,

Fine, if you wanted me…

She didn't get to finish her words, but Hans suddenly jumped in her embrace. Vanessa started rubbing her cheeks into his and finished her words.

I can try, but it's not us who gets to decide on this.

Oh, I am sure if I ask grandma nicely with a cute face she won't deny it.

You have become sharp, lil brother.

Of course, use everything you have, that's what you taught me, right?

She snuggled him and said,

Yes, that's what I taught you.

She suddenly stopped and asked him,

Hans, do you know why you are entering as Richardson but not as your grandpa’s?

  Hans shook his head. After developing the common sense of this world, this bothered him the most. If the world is all about connections, then why were his grandparents were trying to break his powerful connections to them?

Vanessa answered,

To give you freedom, for a bit.

Hans completed her words.

So my actions cannot be restricted by the fact that I am their grandson.

You have become smart, lil brother, but that's not all. When you are related to someone like them, people start to expect things from you and that expectation becomes a shackle that drags you down. I always taught you to not pay any heed to others’ opinions, but you are also a human after all.

Hans understood what she and his grandparents wanted to do, but he joked,

Nah, I was smart to begin with, but living with my dull gramps made me a little dumb.

Vanessa couldn't comment on that, so she said,

In my time, there were staff wards. They lived with their parents and walked on eggshells to not affect their parents' standings.

She continued after a brief pause,

So being my brother will give you that freedom among students at least.

Vanessa kept setting up his hair after he hurriedly sat up to answer her. He kept staring at her with a smile on his face, so she asked him,

Why are you staring?

Just cause I am happy you are coming with us.

This is not final yet...

I will throw a tantrum and it will get final, so sis, tell me more about a student's life in Concordia. You didn't tell me anything about it yet.

Vanessa thought a little, then said,

As you have seen in the Genas’ map, it is a group of floating islands that exists to teach children with the goal of amity among different races and classes. It started as an institution and now it grew into something like a small nation.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Hans had another question whom he couldn't find a clear answer,so he asked her,

But as you have told me, humans can't see other than themselves flourish, so why don't they attack Concordia?

Because Concordia doesn't support anyone and has remained neutral since its dawn. It won't care what happens in the world and acts like a strongly protected well with a small world inside of it.

Hans asked a hypothetical question,

Suppose all nations together attack the Concordia, then what will happen?

Vanessa asked him back,

What will you do if you are outnumbered and outmatched?

Hans replied quickly,

As you have said to me, “Bide your time and wait for an opportunity that will undoubtedly come. if you are patient, then you may exact revenge.” I will make a deal with one of them and with betrayal, I will win.

Vanessa patted his head on learning to think this way and said,

The Concordia will do worse than that, because there will always be a place that emerged as the new Concordia which others feared, so the alliance between them should be foundationally weak. It will support one of them and with the idea of backstabbing, resulting in Concordia's survival and victory.

Hans threw another question at her.

But what happens if a powerful nation like Grimgar starts a war with them?

This is a time of peace because they all are focused on red demons, but when those not existed, the balance between countries was very fragile. If it happened at that time, Concordia would have partnered with Sunfall and thoroughly destroyed the Grimgar with a plundering ratio of ten to none. None for Concordia and any nation would be eager to get all the Grimgar.

Hans concluded,

So, Concordia is like a hornet’s nest and poking it will only hurt you.

See, you have become good at understanding things.

Hans giggled and asked her again,

So what should I expect to face as a new student?

Vanessa replied to him,

The admission test for Grimgar must be over by now…

Then why did I not take it?

Patience, Hans, let me finish first. There are two ways for a person to enter Concordia, by regular admission, that is for everyone, even non-mana practitioners, and the other method that you were using is the recommendation system.

And what's that?

  She sighed because Hans was acting restless. He forgot her teaching whenever he became curious about something. Before he could get even more excited, she answered him.

A dominion knight (grade 80 - 90) or a world mage (eight circles) could recommend a single person per year. But if their recommended person fails after the first year, they will lose their privilege with Concordia, so people hesitate to recommend someone.

Then how many students will be in the first year?

A Lot but many of them might not be able to use mana or aura. The teachers will categorise you into four sections, namely A, B, C and D from the second year onwards, the cream of the four sections will be together and the rest of it will be sent back.

The information did not satisfy Hans, so he expectantly looked at her and she added some more,

The best thing about Concordia is, there is no social class system, so they will force you to treat everyone equally. You could even slap a royal and get away with it only if you are capable of maintaining your education there.

  Their conversation ended at this point and Vanessa told him that learning everything about that place in advance will ruin his experience. She wanted to talk with Sierra about her tagging along separately, so she forbade Hans from forcing Sierra into it. Hans agreed to it and was waiting anxiously for the result of their talk.

Vanessa was facing Sierra’s questions. The soon-to-be dean of mages asked the former student,

What happened to you back there? If you answer it truthfully, I will allow you.

I decided to not live in the past and exhaust myself by hating someone. I want to focus on my present, lady Sierra.

Will you be alright? You might run into that very someone…

It doesn't matter; I am going there because young Lor... NO, my little brother asked me to.

Sierra looked at her doubtfully.

Are you trying to return the care you received from his father?

Initially, I wanted to return the gratitude because he saved me, and then I wanted to be good to him because he was Samson’s son but he is not a replacement or anything to distract me from the pain, I genuinely care about the boy and want to see how his story would unfold.

Sierra said seriously,

Then promise me that you will bury your past and Hans will never know about it.

Vanessa instantly replied to her, she was also planning to not involve anyone in her past because avenging herself was neither a priority nor a possibility in this lifetime,

Of course.

  Sierra wanted to at least hear her story. She was the daughter of her old acquaintance, and it was not in her nature to leave this stone unturned. She wanted to use this to make her tell what happened back then, but Vanessa really wanted to forget things and Sierra respected that.

Sierra reminded her again.

I am not trying to stop you…

Vanessa interrupted her.

I know you don't want to get Hans involved,

No, you silly girl, if Hans knew it then he would seek the truth alone without telling us. You don't know what the word responsibility means to him, so I wanted to know early what trouble he would cause.

  Vanessa assured her that no one knows and never will, but she didn't know how much Hans was going to shake this world because of that.

***