For a moment no one moved, everyone was too stunned to even make a comment.
"Fufu~" Except for Miya, who was giggling.
It seemed Alan's immense talent of turning everyone around him into lunatics started affecting his mother too.
Crack
Suddenly, the pressure in the air shifted, as everyone turned to look at lady Tanis.
The floor beneath her was fracturing in rapid speed while she released an overwhelming surge of pressure.
Tanis, she herself was a core rank 4, immensely powerful compared to normal people, just a step away from transcending her human limits and becoming a demigod.
But all the pressure she conjured just a second ago vanished completely as if it were never there, completely outmatched with an even greater power.
"Lady Tanis, I ask you to quell your anger." Gavin asked, even though his words were polite, his eyes were sharp as if commanding her.
"Tch." She clicked her tongue before backing away.
Although she was strong, she was nothing compared to Gavin, who was already rank 5 and a demigod.
The difference between rank 4 and 5 was like that of a child and adult.
Miya seemed pleased, nodding to herself with a smile.
Seriously, though, why the hell is she so confident.
"What... what did you just do...?" Alessia looked slightly frightened by what she saw.
Someone she thought was nothing more than just empty space, just effortlessly handled her brother in mere moments.
"Curious?" Alan turned to her with a gentle smile. "Come here and I'll show you."
"Eek!" Alessia yelped, then quickly hid behind her mother.
Alan smiled watching this, then looked at Tanis. "Honestly, I'm disappointed by this, I thought the direct line would be strong."
Her eyes twitched, but didn't lash out. "It seems, you're not just a sheltered bastard."
"Did you want the family's recognition?" She continued with narrowed eyes.
"Why would I need that?" Alan asked as if genuinely confused.
His voice didn't hold any of the arrogance Alden had, he spoke plainly as if stating a simple question, despite the meaning behind his words.
'He is special.' Tanis thought to herself, maybe a bit special in the head as well.
She didn't say much more, instead she lifted her finger.
Whoosh
When she did, mana concentrated around Alden's fallen body, before levitating him.
"He'll come back to train properly tomorrow."
With those final words, Tanis turned around, walked away with her son's floating body following behind her.
As they walked away, Alessia continuously gave Lucian not so subtle glances.
After they were gone, everyone remained silent.
"Hehehe..."
"Heh... hahaha."
Except for the mother and son duo.
***
The next morning followed the same routine.
Wake up with an argument with Lucian.
Have breakfast with his mother.
Leave for the knight's order again, with his mother, Lucian and Lana.
"Good morning."
However, this time the soldiers didn't suddenly become idiots and start yelling, instead all collectively said good morning.
Miya tilted her head with clear confusion, looks like she was more used to abnormal things than normal.
Alan, too, was wondering what was the reason, but his silent question was quickly answered when he entered the training grounds.
"Fancy seeing you here."
There was Alden, glaring at Alan with hateful eyes, Alessia was also there, but she was sort of just staring at Lucian with glowing eyes.
Even Lucian seemed burdened by those eyes.
"You... worthless mongrel." Alden already said his first words with curses.
"Oh hey, you expanded your vocabulary I see, nice going." Alan leisurely complimented him and started walking off.
"What are you doing, you filth, kneel right this mome—"
"Yeah, I don't care." Alan waved his hand. "I don't want to engage in an useless argument, if you're not here to train, go back."
Alden eyes seemed to widen for a moment, but in the next second. Alan dashed off along with Lucian, starting their schedule by sprinting laps.
And Alden was left there speechless and alone, all his previous rage boiled over even more by this dismissive attitude Alan had.
"Get back!" He yelled then started chasing after Alan.
Meanwhile, as Alan and Lucian were running, Lucian increased his speed.
"What's up?" Alan asked as he sped up to match pace.
"We need to speed up even more."
"Why?"
"Look behind us."
Alan turned around and immediately became horrified.
There was Alessia, chasing in a full sprint, pouring with sweat, looking like a hungry beast.
"What the fuck is wrong with her?"
"I don't know, nor do I want to know."
With those words from Lucian, they accelerated even more, leaving Alessia and Alden chasing behind.
...
"Gavin."
After the hour-long sprint, Alan approached Gavin.
Behind him Alden and Alessia were sprawled out on the ground breathing heavily, they didn't even last twenty minutes, why were they making such a scene?
"Alan?" Gavin stopped instructing the soldiers and looked at Alan.
"Is there any places where I can find mana beasts around us?"
Gavin gave a knowing smile. "You want to hunt mana beasts to raise your rank faster, correct?"
"Yup." Alan didn't even bother hiding it.
"Well, in most clans, they are only allowed to go mana hunting when they are 16..." Gavin muttered to himself.
In this world, at age 16, one was technically considered an adult by the world, as such nobles held a coming of age ceremony when they turn 16.
But Gavin smiled. "Well, you're a bastard, no? Rules don't apply to you."
Alan smirked. "Lovely."
"I'll let you go in a week, prepare yourself for it then." Gavin said, then turned his attention back to the soldiers he was training.
"Hmm~ hmm~" Smiling, Alan skipped over to where Lucian was.
"Would you look at that! Being a bastard has its benefits!"
"You might just be the only one in the world who proudly calls themselves a bastard."
"Who cares, reputation doesn't mean shit to me." Alan shrugged. "Well, let's start our spar."
Just before they got started, a voice called out to him.
"Wait!"
It was Alden who stood up again, once again glaring at Alan.
"Fight me again, last time you just caught me off guard."
"Hmm?" Alan then nodded. "Sure."
Alden raised his hand in the air, from behind his sister threw a sword she got from who knows where.
Catching the handle, he pointed the blade straight at Alan.
"Come at me filth! I shall show you your place today."
"Seriously, why so dramatic..." Alan sighed then stepped forward.
Alden got narrowed his eyes then lunged at Alan, laughing a straight thrust attack.
"Predictable."
Alan redirected the blade with his left hand, then pulled it behind him, causing Alden to ruin his stance and stumble forward.
"Don't let your emotions run you."
Then he drove his right fist straight to Alden's jaw, snapping his head to the side.
Thump
Then he once again collapsed unconscious.
...
The next day.
"Fight me again, you worthless bastard!"
Alden again challenged Alan.
He took a left hook to the liver, then a kick to the jaw.
Thump
Then fell unconscious.
...
The second day.
"Come at me again!"
Yet again he came back, after being knocked senseless twice.
He got kicked off his feet, then took a stomp to the face.
Crack
Then fell unconscious.
...
The third day.
"Again!"
Once more.
He got a punched in the solar plexus, then took an uppercut straight to the jaw.
Thump
Then fell unconscious.
...
The fourth day.
"Once more!"
Again, Alden was back.
Even Alan was surprised by his repeated challenges, and even felt a slight respect for him.
"Alright, I'll give it to you." Alan said before stretching.
"Give what?"
"My acknowledgement."
Then Alan's atmosphere changed, his eyes narrowed unlike his previous relaxed attitude, and adopted a proper stance with his left hand stretched forward.
Alden didn't feel the anger he expected to feel at that moment, he almost felt... relieved?
'No, what am I thinking, he is just a bastard I need to put in place.' Alden reminded himself.
Alden grew quiet too, then brought his fixed his stance bringing his sword forward, unlike all the previous spars, this time Alan charged first.
He pulled his right arm behind, then launched a right hook meant to be blocked.
Alden did just that, he twisted his hold on the sword and met his first with the flat side of his blade.
Clank
It didn't sound like flesh hitting steel, but sounded like sword clashes.
Alden's grip on his sword almost gave out, but he quickly twisted the blade once more, throwing Alan's fist to the side then launching a slash aimed for his throat.
Alan simply ducked, allowing the flying slash to pass above his head, then jumped up.
Alden couldn't stop it, Alan drove his knee straight into his face, forcing him stumbling back.
Instead of giving out, Alden released his grip on the sword then lunged straight towards Alan, with his fists instead.
Thup Thup Thup
Alan parried each one of Alden's blows, redirecting it to the side, then he pivoted backwards and launched a back kick.
"Pfft."
Alden took the entire blow in his stomach, and lost his breath for a moment, not missing that gap, Alan launched a low kick to his legs.
Thump
Then he fell, but not unconscious.
"Ugh..." Alden groaned on the floor, then looked up at Alan.
He expected to see his face mocking him, but no, instead Alan was looking down at him with a faint smile.
"Fight me again tomorrow."
With those words, Alan turned around and walked away.
Left sprawled on the floor, Alden tightly clenched his fists.
But he didn't feel anger or disdain towards Alan... why was that?
...
As Alan walked, he soon approached where Lucian was.
"Luci...an..." His words, however, died in his throat.
In front of him, Alessia was rapidly circling around Lucian, her twin tails left fluttering in the air.
"Do you need water! Maybe a towel! Or perhaps you need to rest?"
While also launching a formidable barrage of questions, an attack even Alan couldn't possibly block.
Lucian quickly noticed Alan, and stared at him with the most desperate gaze Alan had ever seen.
Lucian was helpless, in front of him was the direct bloodline of the clan he served, rejecting anything she requested would be more of an insult.
'Help... me...' Lucian mouthed those words.
Alan nodded with a smile before slowly backing off.
He watched as Lucian eyes started trembling.
Before he left, Alan gave an encouraging thumps up and mouthed.
'Good... luck...'