Chapter 103 Talent determines the number of cram schools
The next day, early morning.
The six o'clock alarm rang promptly, and Aaron groggily opened his eyes.
After a school year at Hogwarts, his body clock hadn't changed much; even during the holidays, he had no desire to sleep in.
After getting dressed and washing up, Aaron picked Abeyup from the bed.
Looking at the dragon cub still dozing, he made an obscure sound, but to Aaron, it was incredibly clear, no different from normal speech.
The next moment, Abey opened his eyes and yawned.
Aaron's mouth twitched; he suddenly felt that Dragon Language wasn't so great. He had clearly said 'time to get up,' but the little fellow had heard 'time to eat.'
More than half an hour later, he arrived at the dining room with Abey, who had changed into a different outfit.
Gines placed a standard breakfast in front of Aaron, then gave Abey a meaningful smile and took a red apple from his pocket, "This is yours. Eat it sparingly."
Abey hugged the apple, and after realizing what was happening, he looked longingly at the bacon, eggs, bread, and sausages on Aaron's plate, drooling uncontrollably.
"You need to lose weight. From now on, you only get one apple for breakfast."
Abey let out a soft 'woo' and turned his dragon face away.
"He said you're a bad person," Aaron translated, laughing wryly. "Dragons have bigger appetites. What you're doing is a bit heartless."
"Young Master, you don't need to plead for him.
I fed him for two months last year; I know exactly how much this fellow eats.
Forget one apple; even if I brought a whole box of apples, it wouldn't fill his stomach.
Compared to before, this breakfast is a bit meager, but it won't starve him."
Abey looked at Aaron with a wronged expression and menacingly extended his dragon claws towards Gines.
"He said the situation has changed and he wants me to stand up for him.
Abey has grown a lot, so his appetite naturally needs to increase. You are abusing a young dragon."
Gines raised an eyebrow and asked, somewhat surprised, "Young Master, you... can understand what he's saying?"
"Hmm... you could say that!
I accidentally learned a foreign language in the Restricted Section at Hogwarts." Aaron casually made up an excuse, having no intention of concealing this ability.
On one hand, Gines had watched him grow up and was the elder he trusted most.
On the other hand, the holidays lasted more than two months, and Gines was responsible for his food, clothing, and accommodation. Plus, he also had to act as his close-combat teacher. They would see each other constantly every day, so he couldn't hide it for long.
"Dragon Language?" Gines became somewhat interested, but then quickly looked at Aaron with a suspicious gaze.
In the Magical World, there were indeed some exceptionally talented Wizards who could communicate with certain animals, but that was innate. To say one could self-learn an animal's language was simply impossible.
Not to mention that this knowledge was supposedly acquired at Hogwarts, and the magic school would never be responsible for such things.
"Young Master, if you don't want to tell the truth, you don't have to, but there's no need to lie to me!"
"How am I lying to you?
You know me; I've always been an honest child."
Gines smiled without speaking, his eyes full of amusement.
Honest? My goodness, please don't insult those two words!
In his decades of life, he had never met a child more difficult than his Young Master. Even he had to admit defeat to his skill at lying through his teeth.
However, in a sense, this wasn't a bad thing. Aaron Gaiuswas the sole heir of the Gaius Family, and he would inevitably have to deal with all sorts of people in the future, so being adaptable was essential.
Aaron also felt a bit embarrassed under that gaze, and he gave an awkward laugh, "Alright, alright, I was wrong. I don't want to say, is that good enough!"
"Young Master, you must understand that your subordinate is not interested in your secrets, but he also hopes that you will try not to make him worry."
"Got it!" Aaron pouted. "By the way, where are my mom and dad?
It's time to eat; aren't they coming over yet?"
"Uh..." Gines hesitated for a moment, then said with a wry smile, "The Master and Madam needed to catch a train and left around five o'clock.
And, if nothing unexpected happens, you'll only be able to contact them by letter until you start school."
Aaron:... "I knew it.
It's like this again, always like this.
I should have expected it; they always seem to be so busy."
Gines shrugged; he was already immune to such complaints.
It was just a child grumbling; it would pass quickly.
"Young Master, the Family Head specifically emphasized before leaving that I should teach you well.
So, when do you want to start training?"
Aaron pondered for a moment, then smiled and raised an eyebrow, "Since they're not here, how about we just skip it?
Heaven knows, Earth knows, you know, I know; it's fine to be a bit lazy."
"No, absolutely not." Gines immediately straightened his face. "This is the Family Head's order; don't make things difficult for me."
"Alright!
Then let's wait until I get back tonight, how about that?
You know, during the day I have to go to Diagon Alley to mind the shop; I don't have that much time."
"This... I'm very sorry, but that also doesn't seem possible."
"Why? I've given you face.
Isn't it just learning swordsmanship? Isn't two or three hours a day enough?"
Gines hesitated for a moment, wanting to speak but holding back.
"Is there a problem?" Aaron asked, narrowing his eyes. Even if he were slow to react, he could tell Gines was hiding something from him.
"Young Master, the problem is that you need to learn more than just swordsmanship; there's a lot more.
Therefore, your free time this holiday might be a bit tight."
Aaron was stunned. What the hell was going on?
Other people's holidays were all about eating well, sleeping well, and having fun, so why was his filled with a bunch of cram schools?
"Gines." Aaron took a deep breath. "Honestly tell me, what are the targets Vico gave you?"
"This..."
"I told you to speak. That's an order."
"Yes!"
Gines nodded and took two keys from his pocket, one silver, one light gray.
"The silver key can open the armory, used for training combat skills.
The light gray key can open... many Chamber of Secrets, specifically depending on what Young Master you are interested in.
The Family Head's intention is that without ambition, nothing can be achieved. Besides the necessary close-combat skills, Young Master, you also need to learn at least three other skills.
Of course, these are all useful."
"Heh! Heh heh!"
Aaron covered his forehead and shook his head, looking utterly dejected.
"No wonder they left in such a hurry.
It wasn't because they were busy; they probably felt too embarrassed to see me.
Am I their biological child? What parent would sign their twelve-year-old up for four cram schools?
This is too much; it's truly bullying.
I... I'm going to find my grandfather. I'm going to ask the old man to give me justice.
Get me paper and a pen; I need to quickly write him a letter and pour out my heart about this unfair life."
"It's no use finding the old Family Head; he won't help you with this matter either."
Smack!
Aaron slammed the table hard, and Abey also tensed up, baring his teeth at Gines.
The master and servant were now united against an external force, in a stance that implied they wouldn't be done until Gines explained himself clearly.
Gines wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The Young Master rarely lost his temper, but when he did, it was no ordinary trouble.
After all, he was just a butler, and his decision-making power in many matters was not as great as Aaron's.
"This is a family rule.
First, after becoming an Advanced Magician, one needs to have certain close-combat abilities.
Not to say one against ten, but at least to guarantee one against five."
"Is that so?" Aaron said flatly. "So that means my dad can also do one against five?"
"No, the Family Head's highest record is one against twelve."
Pfft!
Aaron was caught off guard by this news.
"Really? Is that true?
Vico is that amazing? Why have I never noticed?"
"It's true.
Every generation's heir of the Gaius Family possesses impressive close-combat abilities, and the Family Head is naturally among them."
"Then, then, then... did my grandfather also sign him up for so many cram schools?"
"No, only those who become an Advanced Magician before the age of twelve have this opportunity." Gines explained, bracing himself. "The Family Head's talent was slightly less, so he only needed to master swordsmanship by a certain age."
Aaron opened his mouth, unable to help but swallow.
No wonder Vico said he would live a relatively easy life; so, being talented means going to cram school!
Thinking of this, Aaron nervously touched the ring he was wearing.
"Gines, a twelve-year-old Advanced Magician needs to learn at least four skills.
So what if, I mean if, someone reached the Magician level before the age of twelve?
There should have been a few in the family's history, right? How were they arranged?"
"I'm not entirely sure about the specifics, but there was one who was quite famous, the one the Family Head mentioned last night from over seven hundred years ago.
It is said that by the age of twelve, he had mastered at least twenty different skills, and in that era, there were even several highly respected experts in their professional fields who wanted to take him as their teacher, but he refused them all."
"That's truly remarkable!" Aaron said with a fake smile, but he secretly made a decision in his heart: his true strength absolutely, absolutely, absolutely could not be exposed.
Four cram schools were already making life difficult; if he added several more, life would truly be unlivable.
He was still young; he didn't want to die suddenly.