Raze walked into the office, and much like he predicted, his brothers were there along with his father.
His father had his elbows on the table, his fingers crossed and placed right in front of his face. Andrew and Michael were seated, and Riker was standing.
No one spoke for a few seconds, not even Raze; the air was tense.
"What you did today, Raze, was a risk," his father said.
"A risk that paid off," Raze responded.
"That's not the point," Andrew said.
"So what is?" Raze asked, looking his brother right in the eye, his brow raised; he looked like some sort of gangster.
Andrew got up and rushed at his brother, but Michael got in between and stopped him.
"Can you imagine? A twenty-year-old man with over a decade of training wants to hit a child," Raze said, his face twisted into a taunting expression.
Andrew could no longer hold it in; he shoved Michael to the side and lunged at Raze, but Raze blasted him back with a jet of water.
Andrew flew back and slammed into the wall, shocking everyone there. The Baron got to his feet and slammed his fist into the table, cracking it.
"ENOUGH!" he roared, his voice thundering all around the room.
"Raze, what exactly are you trying to do? Rip my family apart?" he yelled.
"Me? The person who prioritized the happiness of the people and made something for them, the one who just closed a major selling deal, and the one who just became a scholarship student.
You lot are funny, you really are," Raze said, and he looked at his father.
"Weak, useless Raze, that's what all of you remember. So seeing me in a different form threatens you all, my brothers," Raze said. He thought about all the hardship that the real Raze had been through and everything that he had stomached.
He looked at the Baron dead in the eye. "Why don't you try being a father rather than a Baron sometimes?" Raze said and walked out of the room.
The Baron stood there, his palms pressed against the table; he looked at the door that Raze had left through and let out a deep breath.
He didn't even know where his anger was to be placed, the last son that suddenly started making big changes or the three sons that had been good and faithful since they were born.
But where the Baron missed it was at the point where he had to choose between his children; it was never supposed to be an option, yet somehow it was.
[....]
After Raze left the office, he searched for Elaine and found her with Ella just leaving the guest room.
"Young master, are you done with your father?" she asked.
"More or less. Let's head into town; I think it's time we started the next phase of development," he said.
"All right, young master," she replied, then turned to Ella. "Lady Ella, you can rest in your room."
"No, I'm coming with," Ella said.
Raze looked at her, then shrugged his shoulders; they left the town and headed inside.
"Young master, what do you plan to do next?" Elaine asked.
"The roads. The main roads are crappy, and I'm trying to make this place the best place for me and for what I have to do," he replied.
"Young master, you know how to make roads?" she asked.
"There is nothing beyond my reach, no knowledge I can't tap into," he said.
"A road takes more than just knowledge, you know. It's impossible for a young person of your age to know how to build a road, especially if you spent your life trying to get good at magic," Ella said.
"Huh? Who said I spent my life learning magic?" Raze asked her.
"Huh? What do you mean?" she asked.
"I spent most of my life studying, and magic is a more recent thing," he said with a smile, but her face darkened.
"What do you mean a more recent thing? When did you start learning, a year ago? Last year? When?" she asked eagerly.
"Hehe, that I'll not tell," he said, giving a cheeky smile.
'You'd freak if I told you and cause me unnecessary issues, so I can't tell you anything.'
[...]
Back at the office.
The brothers sat with their father. Andrew's expression was grim; his fist was clenched hard. If he laid hands on Raze, he would for sure kill him.
"It does make sense," Riker said.
"What doesn't?" Michael asked.
"His ability to use magic, he never showed any sign of it, not even once. How can someone hide their ability and talent that long?" Riker spoke, and from the tone of his voice he was genuinely confused and pissed.
"And if he had such talent, why would he even hide it? It doesn't make any sense."
"He is a coy and plotting little brat; he played us all until he started getting what he wants," Andrew said. He tilted his head and looked at his father.
"Don't you see? He wants to take away the seat of this house and become the next Baron; he is trying to rob me," he said.
"Andrew, let's not jump to conclusions; we should really think this through," Michael said.
"I am not jumping to conclusions; the facts are straight before us. He is manipulating his way into an unshakable position where he will take over the seat and no one can speak.
First, he developed the town and gained the trust of the people; second, he brought business from outside and is making money, knowing very well that this town needs it.
And now he is putting Riker in his shadow, he'll take the seat from your father at the rate he is going."
"ENOUGH!"
"But, father—"
"I said enough! Raze is my son the same as you, and what he has done has only brought benefits. I will not allow this issue to divide me further. All of you, leave."