"F-F-Father…?"
Vaan's eyes widened in absolute shock.
"So you recognize your father now? I thought your arrogance had blinded you so much that you would fail to recognize me."
The Black-haired man standing in front of him replied as he narrowed his eyes.
Vaan, on the other hand, still couldn't believe what he was seeing…
Those Black hair, Brown eyes, fierce eyebrows, and all those facial structures…
This man… he looked just like his father…
Then suddenly, more memories rushed into his mind and he finally realized,
Orion Ravenshadow, Astra Elysia Vesta's husband and Vaan's father.
'W-What the hell is wrong w-with this world…? First, it was the mother, and now my father…? Why do Vaan's parents look just like my own parents…? Is it related to why I am living as Vaan right now…?'
Vaan wasn't much of a thinker, he usually dealt things with his hands, however, even someone like him knew this went beyond coincidence.
Something was definitely up.
To think his father would be standing right in front of him…
"What? Cat got your tongue? You were pretty loud before, what happened now? Why don't you say what you were about to say huh?" Orion, on the other hand, had no clue what Vaan was thinking and shouted.
Vaan came out of his reverie as he glanced at his 'father'.
From the memories he had just seen, he could tell that Vaan's father was just like his own. A strict, upright man who valued and stuck by his morals. Obviously, with how Vaan was before, his relationship with his father wasn't good.
Rather, Vaan was actually scared of this man. Unlike Astra, who was still 'weak' in front of Vaan because her mother's heart wouldn't let her do anything, Orion had beaten Vaan many times before, actually, if there was a record of who made Vaan seek medic's attention the most in his life, the name at the top would be of no one other but his own father.
Vaan hated Orion, Orion didn't see him in a positive light either. How could he? A waste like Vaan was his son, Orion was actually disappointed and… hated himself for not being able to raise his child well.
Actually, from what Astra had told him before about Vaan when the two of them talked, he thought Vaan had changed, and with how Astra was beaming happily when she said all that, Orion was actually looking forward to meeting his 'changed' child…
However, 2 days ago, when he returned, he realized the truth…
Vaan had indeed changed, however, Orion wasn't sure if that change was good or not.
Previously, his son was a pushover, a pathetic loser who was looked down on by his peers, he did sometimes vent his anger on servants, however, he rarely dared to raise their hands at them.
Now, however, things had changed, hitting his butler two times to the point his face is still bruised even after weeks had passed, hitting his friends even though those bastards deserved it, then targeting a Family Mage, and now the worse,
Using Instant Spells inside the Guest room and nearly killing his opponent.
And doing all this by relying on the Family Name, his son had turned into the type of person he hates the most. A bully who uses his Family power to pressure others and do whatever he wants.
Orion was glad that his son was finally showing interest in magic, it was late but his wife believed that with his talent, he would catch up and soon surpass his peers, however, now, Vaan had turned into the worse type of scum there is.
"Tsk, staying silent now that you use your family influence on me. What did I even expect? You are a coward through and through. I can't believe someone like you is my son. Astra was a fool to think you can change for the better. Heck, you just became worse, I feel sorry for your mother."
Orion snorted.
It was painful seeing those words to his own child, but seeing his Astra's dead eyes as she glanced at her child lying on the bed, unconscious, it was more hurtful.
Vaan didn't like what Orion said.
"That man used Instant Spell against me, I could have died. Are you telling me to let him live after that?" Orion replied.
"You talk as if you didn't do the same," Orion replied.
"So what was I supposed to do? Stand there and allow that bastard to fire another spell and end me? Is that what you want?" Vaan retorted.
"Maybe control your anger and not assault everyone whom you do not agree with? Don't act like we do not know what happened inside, Vaan. You are pinning it on that boy but aren't you the one who started it."
"So it is justified to use an Instant Spell and aim for my opponent's life when he assaults me? Then I guess I went pretty easy on those five, didn't I? I should have killed them inste-"
"You talk as if you dare to do it." Orion snorted.
"Have you ever taken a life before? Do you know what weight it bears?" he questioned.
"…"
Vaan looked into Orion's eyes, then, with a solemn look on his face,
"Trust me, I dare to do it."
Orion observed Vaan for a while then, he chuckled, "I guess you are right. Someone like you wouldn't probably understand it either.
After all, your brain doesn't go much further than, 'I am from Vesta Family, I can do whatever I want.'
How could you possibly think about the consequences of your actions, that's obviously something your mother has to take care of, not your job.
Honestly, it would have been better if you weren't born. At least Astra would have had one less trouble in her already hectic life.
I'd even say she would have been a lot brighter than right now if you didn't exist."
Orion had clenched his fists, his eyes seemed cold, Gabel, however, could sense what he was feeling. After all, he still clearly remembered how joyful Orion was when Vaan was born. This man was even more excited than Lady Astra.
Honestly, according to Gabel, if anyone loved Vaan more than Astra, it would be this man. To say those words to his son whom he loves, seeing that scene, Gabel could feel pain in his own heart.
Orion Nightshade was indeed a strong man.
"If life would be that good, why don't you kill me then?" Suddenly, Vaan spoke up.
Orion and Gabel's expressions changed,
"Don't overstep your limits, Vaan." Orion spoke in a hoarse voice. It was already hard for him to hold back his emotions, but seeing his child saying words like that…
"I mean, with how things are, it won't take long for it to happen anyways, if I let all my enemies live then it won't be long before they come bite my ass someday, right? I would rather die by my father's hand than die a pathetic life." Vaan, however, didn't care and replied.
"You think anyone would dare to kill the child of the Vesta Family?"
"I do think someone would dare to do it. Heck, someone dared to do it just a few days ago and with how the Vesta Family is acting by now taking any actions against him, I am sure more and more people would dare to do it afterward." Vaan replied.
"Huh? Who said we are not going to take any action?" Suddenly, Orion frowned.
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
All the men in the corridor tilted their heads in confusion.
"We are going to take action?" Vaan questioned.
"Of course we are! You think someone who dared to use Instant Spells in our guest room would get out scot-free?" Orion replied.
Vaan glanced at Gabel, Gabel, however, was just looking at him with a confused look on his face, he couldn't understand what Vaan was thinking.
Wasn't it obvious that the Vestas weren't going to stay silent?
"And it won't just be a simple demand for an apology?"
"If apology worked like that, prisons wouldn't have existed," Orion replied.
"Then why were you stopping me from killing Roland?"
"Why would I allow you to kill someone?"
"Because I deserve to be the one who do it, I was the one who was attacked."
"Vaan, let me make this one thing clear.
That boy will be punished, however, the fact still remains that you were the one who started all this. We cannot just kill a child of the Frostmoon Family when you were in the wrong as well. That would ruin the Family Image.
Whatever that would happen would happen after that boy recovers from his injuries, and it would happen as the two families sit together and discuss it."
Orion explained.
Vaan, of course, didn't like this. He wasn't a fool, he could tell that if this was how things were proceeding, then the chances of Roland dying were low.
That bastard would survive.
Thinking about that, Vaan clenched his fists.
"We are the strongest Magic Family in the entire world.
Who cares about what we do to some random child?
And it is not like we do not have a reason,
Isn't the 'cause' all we need to deal with the 'political' side of things?"
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