Titanza sipped tea as she gazed outside. Today was the day she would train the son she had always thought had the least potential.
'I never thought this day would come…'
She had trained her two eldest when they turned fifteen, a month before starting at Astrong. But with Enrico, she had been so disappointed she didn't even want to look him in the face.
'…the worst part is realizing I was wrong to abandon his potential so early.'
Yes, she was selfish, and she admitted it. If he had shown nothing, she would still have ignored him—mainly because she also admitted she wasn't a good mother, at least not to Enrico.
'I admit my mistake, but I hope he doesn't disappoint me again.'
The problem was that the old feeling of watching his growth had returned—and this time in an excited way, hoping maybe he could be like her ancestor who had elevated their family's status.
'I must reclaim our throne…'
"Lady Titanza, the young master has arrived."
Hearing her maid's voice, she straightened in her chair. She wanted to project dominance, especially since this was the first time in years she had been alone with him.
'I must imprint in his mind that I'm the one who rules this mansion.'
"You may enter."
"Lady Titanza."
"Call me mother."
Enrico's face showed no expression, but in his mind he already suspected Platina had planted that idea in their mother's head.
"Sorry, I'm not used to that, so I'll need time."
"But if you say it many times, you'll get used to it faster."
"Sorry, even so, it's still difficult."
They stared at each other for minutes, neither willing to back down. The longer it went on, the more Enrico felt they were wasting time.
'It's already been twenty minutes? Damn, this woman is even more hard-headed than her daughter. This will be tough, but I'll try.'
"Lady Mother… that's the best I can manage. So, can we begin training? Please."
She didn't seem satisfied, but she realized he wouldn't yield any further. Rising, she headed straight to the center of the room, once more observing the changes he had gone through these past months. Turning, they walked to the field, arriving rather quickly.
"…We'll begin. First, I'll pass on to you my combat style with weapons. I heard you use a bow made of your own mana, so we'll start there."
Creating an iron bow twelve meters away, she aimed at one of ten iron targets. When she released the arrow, it flew straight toward its mark. Just seven meters away, however, it split into nine more, hitting all ten targets.
'She's very good at controlling weapons without needing a unique ability… well, this is still far below the level she displayed in the story.'
"I want to see your bow—show me."
Nodding, he created his bow of fire, which caught Titanza's interest. She noticed he wielded it much like a knight would.
'Could he be following two paths?'
She could tell because knights were her main clients, and she always noticed the differences between normal weapons, legendary ones, or even ego weapons.
It seemed he had abandoned the pride of being a mage. But from what she knew, the Astrong academy really had been testing this training, and the higher ranks had approved it—of course, only because the continent was facing problems with powerful Nartheis appearing. All high-ranking families knew of this, except those of her and Matteo's generation.
The danger was so great that they had dark premonitions a new Kairom rank might appear, becoming a major threat. Watching Enrico's arrow split into seven along the way, she was satisfied.
"Your mana quantity is at an average level, so let's increase it."
'Increase quantity? But as far as I know, a person can only increase it when moving to the next circle, with dungeon rewards—which are quite rare—or through magi like Valença.'
He could also increase mana with an item that stored it, but that wasn't truly his own. The only exception he had seen so far was himself, thanks to the system's help.
"How am I supposed to increase my mana?"
"With the secret of the Ferreira."
'Wait—if this is true, why was it never revealed in the story? Sure, this family were villains beneath the main ones, but still, something this important…'
He watched Titanza lift her arm to waist height and move it downward, drawing a magic circle with her own energy beneath Enrico's feet.
"This is a technique from our ancestor, used to place our family at the top for a time. It gives a ten percent increase. I can use it twice, but only once every two years—on myself and on a different person."
Enrico felt his entire body being pressed by an invisible force trying to enter him. His mind went blank, as if he had stopped thinking.
[You've received an enhancement. Your mana is now 317… you lucky bastard.]
Now his mana amount was at the top of average, perhaps slightly above. That was why the system called him lucky. But soon after, it noticed something bad happening.
[Why do I feel his soul drifting away from his body? Damn, I need to do something.]
The system shut down for a few seconds while Titanza watched her son. As she had said, she wasn't a good mother—and she hadn't told him the drawback of this technique.
'This technique is powerful, but it requires two people to use. I already tested it with the other three, and they weren't compatible. Of course, I saved them just as I'll save him, I just need to—'
"Damn, what was that?"
Seeing Enrico return and kneel, breathing heavily, she was surprised—it had been quite fast. That meant his soul hadn't drifted far from his body. Smiling, she felt things would now improve for the family.
"It seems you're compatible. We'll be able to use it together every two years, which is very good for both me and you, my son."
'Now I understand why this technique was never revealed. At most, she could only use it once on those who weren't compatible.'
The woman in front of him was wretched—willing to use any means to restore the family's glory. But Enrico was fine with that, as long as it benefited him.
[You came back, thank goodness. That woman wants to kill you—she must! If your soul had gone too far, how would she have brought it back? Damn witch.]
'Calm down, it worked. You're right, but I don't think she did this without some ulterior motive. For now, let's leave it be.'
"Very well, son. Let's begin your true training. From now on, I'll train your body to handle all the weapons I know how to use. And I know you have no objections, since you're also walking the knights' path."
Enrico nodded and stood. Around him, several iron weapons appeared. The hard part had arrived, and now he had to focus.
'I'll make this woman at least apologize later—she'll see.'