116. Political Pawn

“So if you subtract that by five, and multiply it by four days, you get eighty-six sets total rations so how many days of rations do we have left altogether?”

“Seven.”

“Very good! I know you can do it. Alright, remember to study when I’m not around. Go ahead and follow your brother and have dinner as well.”

“I thank the tutor for his patience.”

Clay slightly bowed and walked out of the room. Exactly three more years has passed and he is now eight years old yet only recently that he is being thought basic education unlike his older brother who started being tutored as early as four. Thanks to his maid who thought him how to read and write.

Earlier this afternoon, he joined his younger brother for their basic arithmetic lessons. He originally wanted to show off back when he was five but they treated him like not part of the family which was fine. It is not like he has not experienced it before so it did not bother him that much. He just thought of it as a normal toxic practice in every culture where power exists. Similar to earth, there are family lineages where everyone is a successful professional but somewhere along that bloodline would be a descendant who wants to become a comedian.

In the same manner, this is the first time Endremilas genealogy to have had an offspring who has no natural affinity to Mana.

Thinking back, he was worried three years ago as he recalled that his past two lives and that those series of misfortunes started when he was five but seeing that three years had gone by and nothing serious or life changing events transpired, he wanted to celebrate in relief.

Clay had long accepted that he will never become mage and he does not intend on becoming one. He may not wield power his entire life but becoming a deacon on one of the family businesses would suffice him a life without worry. His family may disdain him for being talentless, as long as he does not commit a grave misconduct, he believes that his father would still allocate some riches once he comes to age. And for him to ensure that future, he decided to display an intelligence inferior that of his brothers and this is the reason he is late for dinner tonight. His brothers should and must always go or finish first and he must always go last.

A few more years and he can do whatever he wants.

Before Clay could step further, Merea stopped him to fix his clothes and his hair. Clay had gotten taller and Merea further matured and looked like she finally reached the age of reason. Clay avoided Merea’s gaze by looking at the floor. Those mesmerizing blue eyes that would make him question why his maid stopped abusing him since two years ago. While he ultimately wants her to be free and be happy, buried within the darkness of his heart is a desire to sleep with a woman.

“Right you go! We have three guests so remember to keep you own thoughts when the adults are talking, ok?”

“Mhhh.”

Clay nodded and entered the room. As soon as he stepped in, the three guests stood to greet him.

“Ahh… right on time. This is my second son. And please be seated. Even I feel embarrassed with your courtesy especially that he has limited talents.”

“He’s still your son and though traditions that direct descendants getting a nice spot is no longer in practice, be assured we’ll allot him better resources once we get back.”

“You don’t need to be polite. Resources are allocated to those who deserve it. My only concern though is that, I hope that by having my son attend the recruitment would satisfy our agreement with the alliance. While he has a mortal’s constitution, it was not intentional and he was certainly born of the same woman as my other two sons. If you need to verify his roots, my wife is ready to be tested and prove that she is not a whore I randomly picked.”

“Your lordship did not need to explain further. Because of your example that we recruited more than ten promising children on this city and that alone should suffice and I trust those test would be unnecessary.”

Clay’s heart pounded as soon as he seated and it is not because of him hearing a news that he is being conscripted to join the ranks of soldiers but because he could feel the aura emitted by the guests. While he does not have any cultivation, his sensitivity towards Spiritual Qi is flawlessly imbedded into his subconscious. Intuition is telling him that two of their guests seated opposite him are Late Qi Condensation practitioners and the third is a Foundation Establishment expert.

Clay inhaled deeply to calm his himself. His mind is in chaos as memories of his past lives resurfaced.

“No, this is a different universe. Mana is beneficial here and it does not manifest as Death Qi.” Clay reminded himself as he gripped the fork. For a moment he felt like joining this recruiting sect is a red flag similar to his past two lives and would lead to an endless misery.

He is beginning to worry again. It never occurred to him that Spiritual Qi exists in this world. He had always wanted to visit the mansion’s library but that place was off limits for him. And whenever he asks Merea about this world, the information shared to him is basic geography and demon invasion on the west but nothing specific about Spiritual Qi and how people cultivate. It is like information about cultivation and path of mages are only restricted to those who have qualifications.

(Any news on the border? I heard the Manaars are reinforcing each fortress lately.)

(Rumors of a Goblin being spotted spread like wild fire and frankly I think it was just exaggerated.)

Clay remained silent as he listened to his father and the three guest converse. Having calmed himself, he attentively listen for any useful information. From how his father speaks, it sounded like a business deal. Clay suddenly got curious as to which force is stronger. He heard that his father is a 7TH Circle Mage and that his grandfather who he has never met is an 8TH Circle. Since he is being forced to enlist, he may as well integrate with the stronger force of energy if given a choice.

After dinner, Clay’s mother talked to him about attending a cultivation school located far west which takes a month of travel. From someone’s perspective, her mother looks like a doting woman, but in truth, Clay could only feel disgust.

Clay obediently nodded to everything her mother said and went back to his room. While he wanted to question what kind of mother she is, he knew that he being born without affinity to Mana or Spiritual Qi is the primary reason of her resentment.

“It’s not like I choose to be born without talents.”

*Sigh

Clay exhaled in exasperation. Although being recruited as soldier is beyond what he envisioned, he still hopes his family would give him a slice of inheritance once he gets back home.

He opened the window while thinking why has he not felt the existence of Spiritual Qi for the past eight years. While he was busy with his thoughts, he heard a soft knocked and saw Merea entered bringing new sets of bed sheet and pillows.

Clay fixated his eyes on the sky to ignore his maid. Frankly, he is never good at saying goodbye that he would rather leave a letter once he is gone.

After a few moments, Clay felt Merea approached him from the back. He wanted to talk but before he could utter a word, Merea tightly embraced him from behind.

The room was silent the only sound Clay hears is Merea’s breathing.

“It’s not like I’m not coming back. I don’t anyone worrying about me and I hope big sister promise me to have a little bit of selfishness and only worry about her happiness.”

Merea did not respond and continued to press her face beside Clay’s ear.

That night, Merea requested to stay beside Clay until he fell asleep, however the following morning when Clay opened his eyes, his maid was not around and waiting for him at the door was a guard holding a small baggage.

“We are already late. Get up and follow me.”

The guard was cold similar to how he has been treated for the past eight years. He had always believed that his family was not completely oblivious to his existence as they have not disowned him despite his Mana Affinity but last night was a revelation. He was and had always been a dispensable son to maintain the Endremilas’ image of nobility and to convince the people that even he, the city had offered his son in the name of protecting the Alliance.

Clay know nothing about politics however even if his father did not enlist him to become a soldier for the alliance, now that he confirmed that Spiritual Qi exist in this world, he probably have had proactively joined himself and not because he wants to make a name for himself, but because he wants to have the power to sense his soul and body and confirm if he truly had been successfully transferred to another universe. In the event he has not, then he’ll figure out his way out and maybe go on on a journey and discover his true origins or maybe at the very least put a stop on his ability to remember his past lives everytime he reincarnates.

As soon as Clay walked past the mansion’s gate, he turned around and looked back. He wanted to see Merea one last time but on the head maid and the butler came to see him off.

“Listen kid. If you want people to respect and welcome you when you return, then you’ll have to make a name for yourself.” The guard said as he opened the door of the carriage.