The old man didn't respond to the young man's insistence. Instead, he raised his hand in the air, palm facing the ceiling of the room. A fireball the size of a drum started forming above his palm.

Once the fireball was large enough to intimidate Apolo, the old man closed his hand, and the fireball vanished into thin air. Looking at his grandson's cowardice with disdain, the old man shouted angrily,

—And still, I don't even call myself a wizard! You will go to the capital, whether you like it or not, kid. There's no future for you in this house. Your elder brother will inherit the land and titles, your second brother is already a soldier, and your younger brother was quick enough to become a merchant before you could decide to do it. Now you're left with only two options: becoming a wizard or a soldier.

—Th-then...—Apolo stuttered nervously, as if the next words were the most complex he would ever have to say in his life. —Then I'd rather be a soldier and receive your training, grandfather.

—Ha, ha, ha... You, a soldier? Don't make me laugh, Apolo!—The old man yelled amidst laughter. —You no longer have the mindset to be a good soldier, let alone a worthy general of our family. Unfortunately for our ancestors, fate led you to throw away the years of training you had in your childhood. But for all that our ancestors take away, they also give, and fortunately, your father handed down to you a great mindset: an excellent mindset to become a wizard. Only traitors and cowards survive in the capital.

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—I'm not a traitor! It was an accident!—Apolo impulsively shouted.

—A very convenient accident...—The old man commented, eyeing the hand that his cowardly grandson was still hiding in his pocket. —How about this proposal, young man? If you want to stay on my lands, you just have to hand over your little treasure to me. Otherwise, you can go to the capital and keep it: a wizard deserves a magic ring, doesn't he, Apolo?

Upon hearing the mention of the ring, a cold sweat began to form on Apolo's back, and a malicious glint appeared in his eyes, as if he were looking for a way to get rid of the old man who knew his secrets. But no matter how much the young man might think, his grandfather stood nearly three meters tall and was a seasoned soldier with years of experience, so the young man could only accept whatever he commanded.

—Then I'll go to the capital to become a wizard of the empire...—Apolo reluctantly whispered as he turned around and quickly headed for the exit of the room.

—Good luck on your journey, though you might have forgotten: we love you very much, Apolo...—The old man muttered softly, watching as his grandson's back rapidly moved away, as if the young man were fleeing from some unknown beast and not his own grandfather.