The Highest And The Lowest

Griffin's piercing red eyes locked onto him, a wide grin spreading across his face as he ruffled his hair. ''The only reason I was so hard on you during training is because this world is unforgiving, and you will only attract trouble. That's why, by the time you were fifteen, I made sure you could take on Tier Two monsters without breaking a sweat.''

As they continued on, Raegar's gaze was drawn to a massive temple that stood before them, its beauty catching him off guard. Its surface, made of gleaming white stone, reflected the morning sunlight.

He scanned the structure in awe, taking in the carvings that embellished its walls and the towering spires that seemed to touch the sky. The temple's beauty was both humbling and awe-inspiring.

''I've decided against you hiding your powers,'' his grandfather suddenly announced, his voice steady. ''You won't be able to keep them to yourself while growing stronger, so it's pointless to try. But with that decision made, I'll buy you some weapons. You'll need every advantage.''

Raegar felt a surge of excitement when he heard that, but Griffin quickly tempered his joy. ''I need to check if the blacksmith is available, but the weapons should be ready by the time I take you to Bloodfang Forest.''

As they continued on, the two spotted Victoria and Yuki, surrounded by the Vaelthorne guards. The cat-woman flashed him a warm smile, but before Raegar could respond, his mother enveloped him in a tight hug, her voice bubbling with excitement.

''Now the empire will finally see how talented my son is!'' she exclaimed.

Raegar couldn't help but laugh at his mother's enthusiasm when a tall man with blonde hair and green eyes suddenly appeared, greeting them with a warm smile while wearing priest-like robes.

''Ah, my old friend Griffin Vaelthorne, and his family. It's good to see you all in good health,'' he said in a friendly voice.

''Edmund,'' Griffin said with a big smile. ''Thank you for agreeing to take my grandsons' Aether Test. I know the southern nobles get feisty this time of year. Luckily, Tyrone told me to come to you.''

The man waved his grandfather away. ''Don't worry about it, old friend. Big brother is right, we look after our own. I'm guessing this is the genius grandson you told me about?''

He stepped forward and introduced himself. ''I'm Raegar Blackwood.''

When his grandfather's friend heard this, his smile grew wider as he replied, ''Very Good to meet you, little Blackwood. I am Edmund Sunfire. Younger brother to Duke Sunfire. Now let's get to the test. The officials are about to begin.''

Following that, he led them deeper into the temple, where hundreds of people his age mingled about. Seconds later, Griffin spoke in a cheerful tone, ''I'll take your mother and little girlfriend to the stands, my boy. I can't wait to see the reactions of the people when I get back.''

Raegar glanced up at the older blonde man and asked, ''Where are you headed now?''

''Off to see a man about a monster, you nosy gremlin,'' Griffin replied with a chuckle, his tone light and teasing. ''Now go take your test and remember, I want to see several grandbabies from you. So bring home at least two girlfriends.''

''What?'' Raegar was surprised and shook his head before pointing at the cat woman standing next to him. ''Why are you saying get two girlfriends? I have Yuki.''

Griffin, Victoria, and Yuki all exchanged amused smiles as the maid chimed in with a mischievous grin. ''If there were another girl or two, young master, I wouldn't mind sharing. I would be a poor maid if I neglected your needs.''

''Huh!'' he responded while feeling his cheeks going red at the thought.

His grandfather started laughing before ruffling his hair. ''My idiot of a grandson. You really are clueless and must get out of the training mentality and pay attention to the ladies of the world.''

They noticed an older lady with bright green hair in a uniform of the temple staff walking past, causing his grandfather to greet the woman with a charming smile before continuing as his mother gave him a knowing look.

Griffin smiled at Victorie as he continued, ''You're a handsome young man that takes after myself so I know you'll find some lovely ladies to bring home when the academy breaks.''

''The Drakenwood Academy is the Northwest young master,'' Yuki informed him. ''You have to pass through the Vaelthorne land to get home until you travel east.''

Raegar nodded in understanding as the group started walking as he asked the cat woman in a quiet voice, ''You wouldn't mind me having other women?''

When the young woman heard this, she turned to him with a radiant smile and a playful twinkle in her feline eyes. ''No, young master, I encourage it. You'll need people you trust to explore dungeons and traverse dangerous lands. And who better to team up with than a couple of lovers that care for you?''

'So she wants me to have a harem?' he thought, a mix of surprise and curiosity crossing his mind.

Raegar wasn't clueless. He knew exactly what it meant, but romance beyond Yuki had never been something he seriously considered, as he only focused on training and growing stronger.

With a small shrug, he pushed the thought aside, deciding to let the future unfold naturally once he joined the academy. ''Okay enough of standing around,'' Griffin's deep voice broke him out of his thoughts. ''I'll take these two to the stands. Now go enjoyed yourself.''

Before he could walk away, Victoria stepped forward and wrapped him in a warm embrace. ''Enjoy yourself, my son. I know you'll be the best there,'' she said, her voice filled with unwavering confidence and pride.

Raegar smiled warmly at his mother's words, but his expression shifted when Yuki stepped forward, her cheeks flushed red. She wrapped her arms around him in a soft embrace, her voice low, ''I'm all yours, young master. Now go make me proud,'' she murmured softly.

Before he could fully process what happened, she quickly placed a gentle peck on his cheek, leaving his heart racing. As Griffin led them away, Raegar stood frozen for a moment, his eyes fixed on the pink-haired woman until she disappeared into the bustling crowd.

'Well, at least I know where I stand with her,' he thought with a smile. 'Who wouldn't want a beautiful, mature woman as a wife?'

Raegar shook his head and made his way into the hall. Inside, groups of young people clustered together, chatting. Some of them turned to look at him as he entered, but his attention was drawn to a group of nobles who were surrounding a lone girl, taunting her.

She stood there, looking out of place. Her dress and boots were what the village girls near the manor wore. With dark brown skin and sandy blonde hair, her grey eyes were filled with sadness as the nobles hurled insults her way, completely ignoring the pain they caused.

'Typical nobility. Always picking on normal people,' Raegar thought, his irritation growing as he approached the group.

As he got closer, he overheard one boy sneer, ''What is a dirty commoner doing here? You should be at the smaller temple built for people like you.''

His voice dripped with contempt as he looked down on the quiet girl, his words sharp and mocking. Raegar noticed the blonde started trembling, causing him to remember one of his mother's lessons.

***

''We are nobles Raegar, we do not look down on normal people,'' Victoria said while pacing in the classroom.

''You mean commoners?'' he corrected.

His mother shook her head. ''No. They are people just like us, darling. Believe it or not, your father came from nothing. He carried buckets of ore in the pits at the age of ten. One day your grandfather Griffin freed them in the eastern war and that's where Alderic led the survivors to become the renowned Blackwood guards.''

She stood up and looked out of the window as she continued, ''He fought his way to becoming a count in charge of people. We are the highest and they the lowest Raegar. It is our duty to lift them up as high as they will go. Anything less is simply not worthy of our name.''

***

'Anything less is simply not worthy of our name,' he mused with a smile. 'Mother, you belong in the Blackwood Family and with father, it seems.'

Raegar's eyes snapped open, locking onto one girl as she raised her hand to strike the blonde. In an instant, he cast Flash Step; the air exploding with a boom echoed throughout the hall, catching everyone's attention as he appeared before the bullied girl.

The sheer force of his arrival sent a ripple of shock through the nobles, causing them to stumble back, their arrogance replaced by fear as he spoke with a confident grin, ''Leave the girl alone. You're supposed to be nobles after all. Now move along before you get a shock.''

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