Academy's Healer Office (Lia's POV)
After fainting during her date with Rio, Lia woke up to find herself lying on a bed in the healer's office. Her personal maid, who had cared for her since childhood, was sitting beside her.
"Are you awake, Milady?" the maid asked.
"Yeah… why am I here?" Lia replied, still groggy.
The maid's eyes narrowed slightly. Her expression remained emotionless as she said, "You fainted… on your boyfriend's lap… so he brought you here."
"Wha,what are you saying!? H-how did you know!?" Lia panicked.
Hearing that the maid knew about Rio, Lia's thoughts raced. If she knows, then it's possible Father knows too…
"I am your personal maid; it's obvious I would know," the maid said flatly.
"Ye-yeah…" Lia stammered.
"I even know that you two kiss,"
"Wha,what!? I never kissed him! Who would even talk to a bastard like him!? I-I'm going to sleep! Ye-yeah, I feel tired!" Lia blurted, flustered.
"You can't sleep, Milady."
"Eh? Why not?"
"Because you might start dreaming about more… lewd things,"
"Stop fooling around! Who would even think about something like that! Not to mention with that idiot!"
"Ye-yeah… anyway, Master requested your presence at tonight's dinner in the family mansion," the maid said, finally getting to the point.
"Wh-what? Father is home!? And he wants me there for dinner tonight!?" Lia groaned.
"Yes, Milady."
"Can't you just say I have class tomorrow instead?"
"Well, due to an incident during the New Year, the academy declared a week-long holiday. You have no classes for now, Milady."
Sigh… do I really have to meet him?
"Your face looks like someone told you your execution date. You shouldn't make that face, Milady. You can do it," the maid encouraged.
"Are you trying to motivate me? Thanks, Mel…" Lia muttered.
Capital City Astra – Area Divisions
The city was divided according to the strength of its inhabitants:
Outer Area: Ordinary humans (un-awakened). Most of the population lived in average, low-quality housing.
Inner Area: Individuals ranked G to B.
Core Area: A to S rankers lived here, along with most high-ranked guilds and buildings like the academy.
Central Area: Only three families resided here,the Rex family, Croft family, and Aldif family,backed by an SS-ranker each, along with their subordinates and the highest-quality guilds.
Central Area – Rex Mansion
Link made his way to his father's office. Outside, the mansion's artificial gardens displayed breathtaking scenery. These gardens could stretch over hundreds of miles with advanced spatial technology,but Link wasn't impressed. He had grown up with it all and was more interested in the academy, longing to return there.
I wonder what Father wants to talk about… I hope he's in a good mood today, sigh~
Link's father, Ashtel Rex, had been strict since his birth, training him rigorously. Only SS-ranked individuals knew a secret method to increase awakening potential: bathing un-awakened children daily in water containing at least one perfect-rank mana potion. This boosted their chance of awakening with high-rank talent,but these potions were insanely expensive, even for A-rankers. Only the richest S-rankers could afford them.
Link arrived at the office and heard a stern voice before he could knock.
"Come in, my son," Ashtel said.
Link entered silently.
The office looked small from the outside, but inside it was enormous, thanks to advanced spatial magic. He walked to the table and sat opposite his father, feeling the full weight of Ashtel's oppressive aura. If Raji's aura was like freezing ice, Ashtel's was that of a cruel, domineering king. Even restrained, it could kill in seconds.
"I heard you saved that girl, Riya," Ashtel said.
"Nope. It wasn't me; a classmate saved her. I was affected by mana overload while fighting that A-rank individual," Link admitted.
Ashtel wasn't surprised; he had long predicted this. Children like Link and Rio were still young, but intelligent. Link knew it, too,that telling the truth was safer than hiding failure.
"At the end of the day, everything's fine. If you hadn't fought that A-ranker, Riya wouldn't have survived. I doubt Rio could have done the same, right?" Ashtel continued.
"Not really. He held his ground for several minutes, even while I was in mana overload. He has the talent to be a peak S-ranker," Link replied.
"Hmm… surprising. Peak S-rank talent is rare. It's good we found him early,you should make him your ally while he's still a hidden gem," Ashtel advised.
"Yes, Father," Link said.
"And since you didn't cause a major incident this time, I'll overlook your little mistake. But take your guards with you; don't be careless like before. You may go."
"Yes, Father," Link acknowledged and left.
Alone, Ashtel murmured, "A peak S-rank talent, as expected of Kevin's son… maybe we'll see that sword again someday…"
Core Area – Silver Family Mansion
In the dining room, Lia sat farthest from her father. Though her face seemed calm, her mind was racing with thoughts of escaping this oppressive environment.
A burly man entered and took the head seat. James Silver, an S-rank warrior of the tank type, looked at Lia and frowned slightly but decided to ignore her. Straightforward to the core, he hated nonsense and talking too much.
"So, who's Rio?" he asked.
"H-he…" Lia stammered.
"Are you okay with him?"
"I-I…"
"Does he treat you properly?"
"H-he…"
"Should I give him a good beating so he listens to you?"
"N-No! What are you even saying!?" Lia blurted, flustered.