"Fascinating," Selphira murmured. "You know? I think you should pay more attention to that boy."
"More attention?" Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire
"Yes," Selphira smiled. "In fact, I'd like you to report directly to about him from now on."
Liora blinked in surprise. "You too want to watch him?"
"Yes," Selphira nodded. "But be... subtle. We don't need others getting territorial, do we?"
"Grandmother," Liora narrowed her eyes. "What are you planning?"
"Oh, nothing special," Selphira laughed softly. "Just making sure I don't miss the show."
"You think he'll do important things?"
"Dear," Selphira smiled, wisdom gleaming in her aged eyes. "He already is. The question is: who will be better positioned to capture him when he rises? Now take to the main door..."
As they walked down the hallway, Selphira added almost to herself: "I didn't expect so much from this visit, and... It will be fun imagining Sirius's face when he learns I used coming here as an excuse to escape his boring petitions."
"Grandmother..." Liora sighed, though a small smile ford on her lips.
"What? An old woman needs her entertainnt," Selphira laughed. "And sothing tells that boy is going to provide with plenty."
♢♢♢♢
While walking away from Larissa's room, Julius observed his brother from the corner of his eye.
"You're not as unpleasant when giving orders anymore... You've changed," he comnted casually.
Victor snorted. "You're the unpleasant one."
"I'm serious," Julius smiled. "Before, you wouldn't have let Larissa get away with it. You would have tripled her surveillance just on principle."
"Tch," Victor looked away. "It's not a bad idea for her to keep an eye on that strange boy anyway. There's sothing about him that doesn't quite add up to ."
"So you're not worried about her interest in him?"
"I just hope Larissa matures and understands her role on her own," Victor evaded the question. "She's a princess, she can't go around being fascinated by any commoner who shows unusual tricks."
Julius laughed softly. "You've matured."
"I don't know whether to take that as a complint," Victor growled, but after a mont added in a lower voice: "After going to look for father in that... madhouse in the platinum ring, I realized so things."
"Oh?"
"The world is too big to think you're strong," Victor shook his head. "I was like a frog in a well, thinking the sky was only what I could see from below."
"Zhao said sothing similar when he returned from looking for you," Julius nodded. "Though I suppose it was worse for him… and he didn't even have to enter the platinum ring."
"His beast is good at hiding," Victor acknowledged. "But he probably saw enough from the shadows and at the edge of the platinum 1 ring when he found ."
They walked in silence for a mont before Victor spoke again.
"Speaking of Zhao," his expression turned thoughtful. "Now that he'll be a double tar, maybe we should find him a good complent for his beast. He's an excellent soldier."
"Thinking about the Goldcrests?"
"With things as they are," Victor nodded gravely, "we'll need all the support possible when the ti cos to punish them."
"Do you think father will arrive in ti...?"
"Father is still trying to understand that thing," Victor interrupted. "As I told you when I arrived, I don't know when he'll return... but when he does, the evidence will be undeniable. The Goldcrests have crossed too many lines."
"Experinting on children," Julius murmured. "Helping abyssal spies enter here..."
"Betraying the kingdom," Victor completed. "The question is: how many more are involved?"
"Do you already suspect soone specific?"
"Just suspicions," Victor smiled humorlessly. "Nothing concrete. But I trust my gut... It's what kept alive in the platinum ring."
Julius studied his brother with new appreciation. The old Victor would have declared open war on the Goldcrests at the first hint of betrayal. This more mature Victor... was more dangerous to their enemies.
"You know?" Julius smiled. "I think I understand why you let Larissa keep her little spy ga with the mushroom boy."
"Oh?"
"It's better to have friendly eyes on him than make him more cautious," Julius winked. "You've definitely matured."
"Shut up," Victor growled, but a small smile ford on his lips. "I just hope Zhao knows how to choose his second beast well. It's not every day you get the chance to be a double tar."
"With luck," Julius laughed, "he'll choose better than a certain prince who ended up with an eagle when he could have had sothing with better synergy for the Qilin."
"My golden eagle is perfectly capable," Victor defended. "Not everyone needs 2 boring earth beasts."
"Boring? My beasts have perfect synergy!"
"Your beasts are pretentious," Victor corrected. "Like their tar."
As the brothers continued their way between jokes and more serious plans, the echo of their voices was lost in the academy's hallways. The storm brewing with the Goldcrests was still on the horizon, but preparations had already begun.
♢♢♢♢
Larissa watched through the window, lost in her thoughts.
Things hadn't gone as badly as she feared.
Her brothers hadn't discovered her most important secret: that she was now a double tar.
A sigh escaped her lips as she thought about Liora's family. The Ashenways were different. Not only did they allow won to lead, but their own matriarch, Selphira, was a respected and feared double tar.
'It must be nice,' she thought while her mineral fairy glowed softly beneath her skin. 'Not having to hide your desire for power.'
Her thoughts drifted to Luna. Would her situation be similar? Were the Starweavers like the Dravenholms, bound to antiquated traditions? Or like the Ashenways, more progressive?
But Luna never talked about her family…
As if her thoughts had summoned her, Luna entered the room. Her head was down, her usual elegance tarnished by sothing that seed to weigh on her shoulders.
"Luna?" Larissa called softly. "Are you alright?"
There was no response. Luna simply sat on her bed, her gaze fixed on the floor.
Larissa approached, extending a hand to touch her cousin's shoulder. But before she could, sothing erged from Luna's shadow.
A black snake, its scaly skin gleaming with a dark luster, materialized holding an envelope in its fangs. Larissa recognized it instantly, it was the most common beast from the random black egg, the one everyone had expected Luna to get in the first place.
Its abilities were similar to the shadow wolf's, though it lacked elental control and its potential was limited to silver rank 3. It was a respectable beast, but not exceptional.
'Uncle Sirius's second beast,' Larissa realized as the snake deposited the envelope in Luna's hands.
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