A year and a half have passed.
Inside the sports complex, the regional elementary volleyball championship had reached its climax—the final set of the Finals match.
Laconbury Elementary School versus Vibengton Elementary School.The score stood at 2–1, Laconbury in the lead.
*Pwak!
*Chsik!
The sharp echo of the ball cutting through the air bounced around the arena.
"Just one more point!" someone shouted.
[24 – 21]
"Nice receive!"
"Julius! Open!" Levy called out, raising his right hand high. As Laconbury's open spiker, he was already moving.
"Comin right up!" Julius replied without hesitation.
*Pwoof!
Levy seeing the set a bit close towards the net, and a tad bit higher than usual. He didn't go for it just yet. He adjusted to the set accordingly.
He widened his approach, stepping outside the court for a sharper angle. Right foot, then left—almost casual, like a stroll before snapping into his penultimate step and launching off his left foot.
For a moment, it looked like he had grown wings.
"Go, Levy!" his teammates shouted in unison.
"Block him!" Vibengton barked back, two players leaping to meet him.
Levy smirked midair, "You had a great game~"
He rose past their hands.
"Shit!" The blockers said.
*Bam!
The ball slammed deep cross, slicing down the line into Zone V.
Ending the last set in a 25-21 point match.
"ALRIGHT!" Laconbury erupted.
*Pwipp!
The referee's whistle pierced through the noise, signaling the end.
As the teams lined up to shake hands, Levy stepped toward Vibengton.
But not a single player met his gaze.
"…What's their problem?" Levy muttered, genuinely confused.
Julius knocked him lightly on the head. "You did most of the carrying and told them 'You had a great game' midair. Of course they hate you."
Julius Adebayo, a black British that transferred on Levy's school about a year ago and was immediately transitioned to be the team's setter and became Levy's closest friend in school.
Levy covering his ears. "Blah blah~ Remarks of the weak~"
A vein twitched on Julius' forehead.
"I won't even comment on that lousy set at the end," Levy added.
Another vein popped."This brat—!"
"Levy! Julius!"
"That was amazing!"
"We actually won!"
Their teammates swarmed them, laughter and cheers filling the court.
'I guess I really did do well,' Levy thought.
The awarding ceremony followed immediately.
Levy was awarded Finals MVP as well as the Best Wing Spiker Award.
Julius on the other hand was awarded the Best Setter Award.
Cheers and applause thundered through the arena.
Far behind the bleachers, hidden in shadow, a man watched silently.
"…Yeah. Got it," he murmured into his phone.
"We've got him."
------------------------------
Levy sitting at the back of the school bus as he was looking at the roads through the window.
Or at least, that's what it looked like.
In truth, his eyes were fixed on his status screen.
[Magic Mastery System]
Name: Levy Tobias Morozov
Physique: 7.16 → 9.23
Mana: 19.002 → 23.120
Elemental Nature: Locked
Magic Skills: Requires Elemental Nature
Acquired Techniques: Asha Circulation Method
He tapped his knee impatiently.
'The game's already done huh?' Inside his mind, Lin Feng's voice came.
'This kid is getting restless, it's understandable... even I'm getting impatient, I wish I could just skip towards the best part!' Lin Feng sighed.
Levy looked around the bus for a second, everyone was asleep.
Muttering quietly, "View quest."
[Quest - in progress (54.20%)]
Practice Asha Circulation Method for 1 hour daily
Duration: 5 years
Reward: +20 Mana
Failure Penalty: -10 Mana
"…Two and a half more years."
Suddenly, Levy stood. "Oh! This is my stop!"
"Huh?" Several heads lifted groggily.
"I'm sorry?" the driver and coach asked in unison.
Outside, a river ran alongside the road. Across from it stood a hill, crowned by a mansion behind towering stone walls.
"You'll walk from here?" the coach asked. "We can drive you home."
"No need."
"See you tomorrow, Julius."
Julius barely opened one eye before the bus went silent.
Everyone, including the driver stopped for a moment as Levy walked towards the front gate.
"He's gonna get himself in trouble! This brat!" The coach was about to step out when the guard in the gate bowed and welcomed Levy in.
Julius went back to sleep.
"..."
"...Julius, you're close with Levy right?" One of the kids asked.
"Yeh?" Julius replied back.
"So, is Levy's family loaded?"
Julius opened his eyes, "Very much so. Apparently, his dad is the current owner of MRV Electronics."
"...eh?"
The MRV Electronics is one of the biggest companies in the UK, bringing forth new technologies of the 20th Century. A major shareholder for most phone and computer industries.
"I'm going back to sleep."
No one spoke a word after.
"...Let's go, sir driver." Except this.
Inside the Morozov household.
"Welcome back Mr. Finals MVP~" Theodore was right at the door to surprise Levy.
"Y-you already knew?" Levy was fairly surprised.
"Of course I did! We watched you on the television!"
"Who's we?" Levy asked.
"Perfect timing, they're with your mom right now."
Levy frowned.
In the living room sat Lisa… and an unfamiliar old man.
Slicked back white hair, a long beard. Yet his most striking features was his ocean blue eyes.
Their gazes met.
—Urgh!
The air grew heavy. Gravity itself seemed to press down on him.
'Aura,' Lin Feng figured. 'This old man... is dangerous.'
"Grandpa!" Lisa interjected.
'Eh? Grandpa?' Levy croaked.
"Levy are you okay?" Lisa rushed towards Levy.
"So, you're Levy—Huh!?" The old man stopped in his tracks.
'What's this kid??' The old man shocked out of his wits as he was looking at Levy.
"Levy, come greet your great grandpa!" Lisa said with a smile on her face.
"Huh? Not grandpa, but great grandpa?" Levy raised his question.
"Ahem— It's true, Lisa's my granddaughter, so that makes you my great grandson." The old man laughed a bit.
"We never really got acquainted, but I was there on the day of your delivery." He smiled.
Theodore patted Levy on the head, "That's also true, go greet him properly!"
"...but still, Lisa do you have any interest in letting Levy inherit our family business?" The old man asked.
'Family business?' Levy looked at his mom with confusion.
As far as he knew, his mom didn't run any type of business. His father was the one providing the money for their family.
At the same time, the mention of the family business also made Theodore quiet as if afraid.
The old man looked at Levy, "I knew you never had any interest with the family business Lisa, but Theodore, even you didn't say anything to your son?"
"I'm dissapointed in you both."
Lisa looked down, a bit afraid.
Theodore chimed in, "That's going a bit too far-"
The old man blew for a bit, cold wind came out. "Silence." Uttering such words came true, ss if the surrounding area had been enclosed. The living room, became devoid of sound and life stood still.
Lisa, Theodore, and even Levy couldn't speak out. Even if they tried. No voice came out.
"I'll re-introduce myself. I am your great grandpa, as well as the pinnacle of the magic world. One of the 3 existing archmages. I am, Vladimir Dawn Varnhagen. Endowed with thy name' Paragon of the Wind!"
"Urghk!"
It only lasted for a bit, but he immediately withdrew his pressure.
"Huargh!" It felt as if they were on the bottom of the ocean and had only managed to surface.
Vladimir looked at the three before scoffing.
"S— some great grandpa you are!" Levy shouted.
'I guess this is it for this life's reincarnation. Goodbye.' Lin Feng said his farewells.
Lisa and Theodore stared at Levy in horror.