Point of view of Eisty Gelor:
Watching how that boy can behave so naturally in front of two Obsidian ranks is unexpected. I can feel the clear respect, but I don’t feel fear or panic from being close to us, as if his mind were already focused on the fact that at some point in his life he will stand in the same position as us.
I can’t argue anything about his mentality, to be honest. He has earned enough merits to have that confidence. Just surviving against an anomaly already places him among a select group of people.
His repertoire of abilities is just as impressive as his mindset. He used some kind of sensory ability to detect us; his ability is quite powerful and rare—having such long range and being so discreet is not common.
That control over mana and Imra is also quite peculiar. Being able to weave them so quickly and cleanly is not something you would expect from a Sapphire rank. He still has a lot to improve in that aspect, but he’s on the right path.
That ability helped him protect himself from the ice mana current I tried to bind him with. Even though my attack caught him off guard, he managed to find a way out immediately. He has a good thought process and fast reactions.
That is only part of everything this little monster has achieved at such a young age. Now I understand why so many people are paying attention to him—he has limitless potential if he keeps doing things right. I can now understand why Susan holds him in such high regard, to the point of considering him family.
I can feel his gaze focused on me, as if wondering why I’ve been staring at him for so long. I can’t help it—although we don’t share many physical traits, he reminds me so much of my son before he died.
Both confident they could conquer the world in the future, both training hard from a young age, both developing abilities to cover every possible field, both willing to face any danger to help others, always moving forward. Both even sharing two affinities.
Is this what my son could have become if I hadn’t lost him? A faint pain settles in my heart. I’ve already overcome his death, but I will never forget that pain. I could only ease my rage by killing that bastard who caused it all and destroying everything he built.
How will my husband react to this boy? He is usually calm and composed, completely opposite to me, but he is also more sensitive when it comes to matters related to our deceased son.
What am I thinking? He will be happy. I’m sure he’ll adore this boy from the very first day he meets him. He has a weakness for people who help others without expecting anything in return—after all, our son inherited that from him.
“One year, or at most two years… if that could work.” Maki replies to Susan’s suggestions.
My friend is trying to convince him to go with me. I should also do my part. I need to stop thinking about other things and focus on the present.
“Yes, I believe that in that time you could gain enough experience and strength to lay the foundations for the Diamond rank.” I speak when I get the chance.
Maki looks at me, a bit confused. “Diamond rank?” he replies with a question.
“Yes.” I can see the confusion in his eyes, and it creates confusion in me as well. “Aren’t you thinking about ranking up yet? You’re already at the limit of Sapphire. Staying at this rank will only bring problems in the future—you won’t gain any benefits.” I speak as honestly as possible.
“Your cube must be at its limit for what it can hold at Sapphire rank—the capacity is very small at that stage. I can feel multiple Rank IV abilities and a strong banner. Without that ridiculous healing ability, you probably would have died from overloading your cube.” My words carry a firm tone—this is a delicate matter.
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The princess looks at him with clear concern and a bit of anger; she must know better than anyone the condition of her boyfriend.
“I agree with Eisty. Staying at Sapphire will only bring drawbacks from now on. Your cube is too restricted. When you ascend to Ruby, your body changes completely—you could say your cube is no longer just a small place in your chest; your entire body becomes your cube.” Susan supports my point of view.
“Yes, your abilities are also stagnating by staying at this rank. There is a natural limit each body can withstand. Unconsciously, your own cube and brain limit you so you don’t gain as many levels as you should—otherwise your cube could crack until it breaks.” I have seen cases of people trying to surpass those limits—some died, others lost the ability to use their cube.
“I didn’t want to interfere in your decisions unless you asked, although I would have stopped you if I saw you going too far. I’m only advising you because Eisty brought it up and I agree with her—it’s time to move to the next level, Maki.” Susan looks at her protégé like a grandmother looking at her grandson—she only wants what’s best for him.
“To be honest, I have thought about it. Recently I realized my original plans wouldn’t be very realistic—my cube is already overloaded. I also think it’s a good idea to rank up. I even considered starting now and dropping the tournament.” Maki looks at the ceiling as he speaks.
Maki lowers his gaze to Susan and gives her a mischievous smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll win it for you. I’m going to beat Areci in the final—I’m sure she’ll defeat Charles in her match.” He doesn’t sound arrogant—I can only feel certainty in his words, as if it were already reality.
“I would be delighted to see my daughter and my protégé take the first two places in the tournament.” Susan looks much happier now, like a proud grandmother watching her creation.
“Then it’s decided. Will you come with me in a few months?” I ask Maki.
“Yes, not only will I be able to train my ice affinity with the best user in the world, but also improve my electric affinity with your husband.” he replies with a big smile.
This brat is only thinking about training and becoming stronger—he reminds me more and more of my son. “I just hope you don’t run away when you see how hellish your training will be.” I’m quite strict—I won’t make it easy for him.
“I won’t run. I promise I won’t.” His confidence makes me want to smack him on the head—I resist the urge.
“I hope so, because I’ll make your life impossible. But I promise you this: if you endure all the training and missions, you’ll come back as a different person.” It’s not an empty promise—with his potential, he could become a complete monster once he adapts to his new rank and builds the foundation for the future.
We continue talking about various things. Speaking with these two kids is entertaining—it’s like talking with people my own age. I understand Brendu—she is a princess raised to behave properly in any situation and speak with anyone.
What surprises me is Maki. According to Susan, he is even younger than he looks. I feel like a teenager shouldn’t be able to speak so eloquently without losing his sense of humor. He knows how to adapt and read the atmosphere. Susan was right—talking with him is enjoyable.
“We’ll see each other soon. I hope you win your next two matches.” I wish Maki good luck as we part ways.
In these hours we’ve gotten to know each other a bit better—we no longer feel like complete strangers. This is no longer a forced student–teacher relationship. Now I see him as the son of an acquaintance you’ve grown fond of. I’m sure this will deepen in the future.
Before leaving, I play one last trick. Once again, I dominate all the surrounding ice mana to wrap around his body and lower the temperature around him—his eyes lock onto my back immediately.
He doesn’t complain. He simply begins to resist with his own strength, gathering all his resources. This time he does better—I’m slightly stunned by how quickly he adapted to this game. Still, I can push him further if I want. I increase my willpower, and he drops to one knee.
Maki is trembling from the cold, but he isn’t angry or afraid—he’s smiling, happy, doing everything he can to keep fighting, trying to break free. Susan ignores us, and Brendu does the same—they’re saying their goodbyes.
“It seems you’ll be able to endure the training—you’re quite tough.” I look at him from the doorway as he continues struggling with everything he has to avoid collapsing face-first onto the ground.
“It will be fun.” His words make me laugh. I release my control over him. Maki stands up quickly to say goodbye. Susan and I leave the room, and both of us teleport to her house in an instant.
“What do you think? He’s fun and strong, right?” My old friend’s smile shines like the sun.
“Yes, he’s even more impressive than I thought. He reminds me a lot of him.” I can see her eyes soften slightly as she hears me speak.
“The night is still young—we can have a drink.” I accept her proposal immediately. A conversation with an old friend is exactly what I’ve been needing for a long time.