Oh, this should be interesting. What's his motive this time?

Selena donned a radiant, professional smile and greeted him with a wave. "Hello there, Kleine. I'm surprised to receive your call at this late hour. You missed your dear sister a lot, didn't you?"

Kleine's eyes became slits as he ran his hands through his smooth, slicked-back hair. Similar to Selena, his hair was as red as roses and their eyes burned bright like a flame. It was a characteristic inherent to members of the Lockhart family whose primary affinity with fire is potent. That trait was additionally among the reasons her imprudent brother disregarded Fiona.

Due to not possessing a primary affinity for fire like the Lockhart family, she has come under scrutiny for primarily inheriting features from her mother's side. It was most severe among the younger faction of the family. Selena had a hunch that Fiona was encountering some difficulties at the academy, primarily caused by her cousins and siblings, but she couldn't confirm it.

"Selena," Kleine stated, "I am giving you advance notice that I will be traveling to Valis for important business purposes. My expected arrival time is at least a week from now."

"Fulfilling your obligations as the family head, are you? I gather you were called upon by His Majesty to attend the Imperial Palace."

"In the company of Family Head Crohn and Family Head Aduna. The contents of the summons are to remain confidential, pursuant to the orders of His Majesty."

Selena laughed. "I'm not a simpleton. It unmistakably concerns the assassinations and increasing tensions. His Majesty will presumably disclose the next course of action, and I have a hunch why."

The Crohn, Aduna, and Lockhart lineages belong to the distinguished families of the Great Lineages and are the sole ones within the Lethos Empire. It was an exceptional occurrence to convene all three family heads at the Imperial Palace. The very notion that His Majesty sought their attendance suggests they are being readied for the worst-case scenario.

Since the remaining families of the Great Lineages originate from distant lands like the Sacred Greenland or Ethia, Lethos had to proceed with prudence. It remained unclear whether a family of the Great Lineages in the Beastfolk Kingdom would solicit aid from the others. Catastrophic events could occur in Dharmere because of the warfare between households. The balance of the land would be upset and broken like a fragile stick. Whether His Majesty pursued peace or war was determined by the resolution of mounting tensions at the border.

"Your intuition is as astounding as ever," Kleine said with dripping sarcasm. "That is all I wish to speak with you about. Continue with business as usual, Selena."

"Ah, hold it right there. Aren't you forgetting something?"

He took a brief pause. "There is nothing more to add. I have spoken my piece. I've conveyed to you the purpose of my trip to Valis, as mandated by my role as the family head. The remaining members were also given notice and instructed to defend Lockhart's land. If you are mentioning how I am coping with the assassins, then you must hold a contemptuous view of me. Nothing remained but ash after I dealt with them."

"You know perfectly that I wasn't indicating that. Wouldn't you like to know how Fiona is faring? Remember your daughter?"

Kleine sighed heavily and dismissed her with a wave of her hand. "Undoubtedly, she is doing well at Valis. There is no necessity to be inquisitive about her well-being. Now, if you'll pardon me, I must attend to more pressing matters. Igneal needs to be fully trained to succeed me in the future."

He cut off the transmission without hesitation, prompting Selena to roll her eyes. Faced with Erza's disapproving glare, she clandestinely pocketed the tool.

"I know I repeat this a lot, but I truly despise that worthless thing," said Erza. "He always rubbed me off the wrong way back at the academy. Each time we walked by each other in the halls, that guy would give everyone a look of superiority. Constantly sneering and preaching about the Lockhart name."

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"When you're aware of being next in line for an influential position, the power may go to your head," Selena added.

Erza's jaw tightened, as if ready to unleash a barrage of curses about Kleine's lack of attention until Ivy emerged from the storeroom, positively beaming. "Everything is in order! I reorganized the nepora extract, orange mushroom caps, siren's tears, fairy dust, and more. Is there anything else I can do?"

"That will be all for today," Erza smiled. "I'll wrap things up and we can go on our way back home."

"Okay! While you do that, I'll go back and check one more time."

Ivy scurried off into the storeroom, humming audibly as the door clicked shut. She had a strong enthusiasm for inspecting potion ingredients and gathering them as often as she could. Her talkative and investigative character must have arisen from her father, who operates an apothecary. She was a complete contrast to her mother in her youth.

"Did I overstep by listening to your family's business?" Erza questioned. "Considering how heartless he is, he would probably berate you for not informing him about the presence of others."

"He should have asked; it's on him," Selena said with a shrug.

"What's his issue with neglecting to ask about Fiona's situation? I cannot bear the thought of not asking about my precious Ivy or worse, ignoring her, that I would rather cut out my tongue."

Selena couldn't help but chuckle. "Once again, your brashness is showing. You're different, but still the same."

"Care to say that to my face? My offer still stands."

"It was nothing but a compliment. Being bold every now and then can be beneficial." With arms outstretched, the branch leader faced the door. "I'll be leaving now, Erza. I must return to my duties. Once again, I apologize for my actions, and it will never happen again. You have my word."

Erza stared in silence with an expressionless face. Selena's fingers tapped out a steady rhythm along her arm as she waited for the shopkeeper to speak up.

"Your apology seems sincere, so I'll accept it. Even if Ivy forgave you, it doesn't mean that I will. If I find out even a lock of her hair is missing, I'll come to your office and make you suffer."

"…I'll remember that. If that is all, I'll be off."

Selena pivoted and strode out of the structure while Erza called out to her yet again. "Bring that Tyrus kid over some time. I'll need to personally thank him for his actions. Not many kids would have accomplished the same thing."

"I'll inform Tyrus once he returns to the guild. I'm sure you'll grow to like him once you get to know him. He may remind you of a certain individual."

Erza wore a perplexed expression, but Selena declined to satisfy her curiosity. With a dismissive wave, Selena trudged out of the store, navigating her way back to the Explorer Guild. During the journey, she brought out the tool and rolled it across her hand, all while her mind drifted to the monthly examination.

She was looking forward to Tyrus's performance, expecting the boy would not let her down. Her credibility would be somewhat tarnished if someone she vouched for couldn't pass the exam. Considering his Fledgling Sorcerer status and young age, her position may be at risk.

Nevertheless, she remained fully assured that he would triumph over any impediment hurled his way. Selena could discern his intense determination and diligence in just a single glance in his eyes. His primary affinity and Beastfolk lineage serve to quantify his character, forming a fusion of innate aptitude and diligence that predicts great accomplishments. Yet, a bit of chance and cleverness is also a must. In the event that he chose an improper method and strayed from the right track, the things he constructed would fall apart.

That being said, that only holds true if the foundations were fragile, to begin with. A feeble straw house would inevitably succumb to strong winds, while a sturdy stone and brick edifice would endure for years. Tyrus's growing foundations in the world required a more durable material to endure.

Selena figured she'd go the extra length regarding Fiona’s wishes. She would extend her assistance to Tyrus in fortifying his fundamentals. What could be a more effective approach than the monthly examination? It would be his first introduction to the harsh world, and he would have to form associations with the other explorers.

Developing hostilities at a young age would not bode well. Those with superior intelligence and strength than him would capitalize on his ignorance. Fiona and her friends may be present with him now, but it won't be perpetual. He was in urgent need of knowing that fact, and Selena would guarantee it.

Extending a helping hand to uplift Tyrus, she hoped he would prove to be a valuable ally not only to the guild but also to Fiona. Understanding that her niece is on a complex path, it would be advantageous to have another ally.

As she approached the Explorer Guild establishment, a momentary idea enveloped her. Was she undertaking all of this on behalf of Fiona, or with Tyrus's interest in mind? Perhaps his likeness to her friend contributed to it. It was uncommon to invest so much consideration in supporting a boy she had no relation to. His current offerings to the table are non-existent, but that could alter in due course.

“It makes no difference. Regardless of what I want, I'm helping him. His success or failure in the exam depends completely on him. I'm simply giving him the resources to excel and demonstrate his abilities to the other members.”

Selena stowed away the orb and her introspection as she stepped into the building, exchanging pleasantries with Celeste in the course.