Alex, Adam, Aria, and Demian were standing a little apart from the adults, closer to the edge of the garden, where the tree branches cast a light shadow over the grass. Laughter and music drifted from the center of the courtyard, but here the atmosphere was more intimate—like a small island of calm amid the noisy celebration. They were chatting among themselves when the conversation unexpectedly turned toward the history of how their parents had met.
Alex tilted his head, hands in his pockets, and asked,
"So, how long have your families actually been friends?"
Demian thought for a moment, then replied with mild enthusiasm,
"Our father has known Aunt Luna since their school years. They were fifteen back then. And when they entered the Academy, that's where they met Uncle Astarion. I think he was in his second year at the time…"
"Third," Adam corrected him with a light smile. "It was during one of the parties the Academy used to host. That's when he first met Mom and Uncle Arthur. And, as he likes to say, they quickly found common ground, so from that evening on, Dad became part of their group."
Adam smiled involuntarily, warmth seeping into his voice.
"And since he was already friends with Miss Elizabeth back then, he pulled her in too. Then, a few months later, Mom and Dad fell in love and started dating."
Aria smiled and took up the story with interest.
"And the following year, when my mom enrolled at the Academy, Dad noticed her almost immediately—literally in the first few days. If you believe Mom, he fell in love at first sight. So just a few days later, he deliberately found an excuse to introduce himself to her."
She sighed briefly and rolled her eyes.
"At first, they had secret meetings he didn't tell anyone about. Then, a month later, he brought Mom into the group. By that point, she was already in love too, even if she didn't admit it right away. But after a few conversations with Aunt Luna and Miss Elizabeth, she finally gathered the courage to confess first. And that's the whole story of how our families became close," she concluded with a warm smile.
Alex smiled as well.
"That's an interesting story."
Suddenly, a new voice sounded behind them. Calm, but laced with barely concealed mockery.
"It really is an interesting story… Too bad it isn't entirely true."
All four turned sharply toward the voice and saw a man standing barely two steps away from them, arms crossed over his chest, a sly smile on his pale face. He was tall and slender, with long black hair falling in messy strands over his shoulders. His skin was unnaturally pale, almost lifeless, dark circles clearly visible beneath his eyes, while his brown eyes gleamed ominously in the light of the magical lanterns. He wore classic black trousers and a light short-sleeved shirt, his hands hidden beneath thin black gloves.
"You retold the story quite well," he continued, his voice calm, though each word seemed to pierce the space between them. "But… there are a few gaps in it. And those gaps are precisely what make it incomplete. Without those little details, you might have been calling me 'uncle' as well."
Before the teens could even react properly, a magical circle flared beneath their feet. The world around them blurred, and the next moment all four were standing beside their parents. A glowing magic circle still shimmered in Arthur's palm, confirming that it was he who had instantly moved them away from the stranger.
"Kael!" Astarion's voice thundered with fury. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
The man laughed, covering his face with one hand. His laughter was loud and unsettling, as though he were reveling in his own performance.
"Oh, Astarion," he drawled, lowering his hand and looking at the count with insolent amusement. "I'd advise you to watch your tongue when you speak to me. Have you forgotten your place? Or have twelve years finally given you some courage?"
Astarion's magical aura surged sharply, pressing down on everyone present, and he repeated the question with cold steel in his voice,
"I'm asking you for the last time. What are you doing here?"
Kael snorted, tilting his head to the side.
"So you really have grown bolder. Very well. I came to see Luna. When I heard she had finally awakened from her long sleep, I was… endlessly happy. And when I learned you were throwing a party in her honor, I eagerly awaited an invitation. You can imagine my disappointment when I realized there would be none. Still, please don't worry about that, Astarion. I understand perfectly. We haven't seen each other for twelve whole years—you might simply have forgotten about me."
He shifted his gaze to Luna, his tone turning falsely sorrowful.
"But the worst part is that you forgot about me too. I never would have imagined that…"
Luna barely parted her lips to respond, but Astarion stopped her with a raised hand, never taking his eyes off Kael.
"Not inviting you was my decision," the count said sharply. "And you know exactly why. So get off my estate. Immediately. Or else—"
Kael burst into laughter again, cutting him off.
"Or else what?" he asked mockingly, narrowing his eyes. "Even if you wanted to, you couldn't do anything. And you know it. Just like everyone else here."
His tone suddenly became almost casual, as if he were talking about something entirely ordinary.
"Don't worry. I'm here only to see old friends. It's been far too long since we were all in the same place."
He slowly swept his gaze over the gathering, naming each of them.
"Elizabeth. Celeste. Arthur. Luna… Even you, Astarion. I'm glad to see you too. Though, as always, you irritate me."
His gaze moved on to Emma and Gabriel, standing a little behind the others. A new, even slyer smile curved his lips.
"Oh? Well, well… new faces in our little circle. What a discovery."
He lightly tapped his temple with the base of his palm, as if recalling something, and adopted the air of a carefree gentleman.
"Where are my manners? One should introduce oneself to newcomers."
Kael inclined himself in a graceful, theatrical bow.
"Kael Daskreit. Delighted to make your acquaintance."
Straightening, he fixed his gaze on Emma and Gabriel, a provocative playfulness ringing in his voice.
"And now, perhaps you'll tell me your names as well?"
Gabriel stepped forward, positioning himself beside Astarion and Arthur, leaving Emma behind with Luna, Celeste, Elizabeth, and the children. His voice was even, but edged with steel.
"My name is Gabriel. This is my wife, Emma, and over there behind us is our son, Alex."
"Gabriel… Emma… Alex…" Kael repeated slowly. He nodded, then added in a calm, almost indifferent tone, "Very pleased to meet you. Though… I suspect I'll forget your names in a few minutes."
His gaze abruptly fixed on Luna. A predatory glint sparked in his brown eyes, and a twisted expression of feigned surprise crossed his face.
"Luna…" he drawled, savoring her name. "Is that… fear I see in your eyes?"
His voice grew quieter, almost gentle—and all the more unsettling for it.
"Are you really afraid of me? Of me, your closest friend from childhood? That can't be possible. After all, my Luna…" He took a step forward and theatrically pressed a palm to his chest. "My Luna knows I would never harm her. My Luna would never look at me the way you're looking at me now…"
His face twisted, his voice snapping into a shout.
"My Luna would have said something by now! She wouldn't be hiding behind Astarion's and Arthur's backs!"
"Enough of this circus!" Arthur snarled, stepping forward. "There's no one here who's going to fall for this cheap performance."
Kael's smile vanished instantly. He snapped his gaze toward Arthur, and his voice dropped low and ominous, heavy with threat.
"I don't recall giving permission for weaklings to open their mouths. Do you even understand who's standing in front of you? Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?!"
His shout rang across the courtyard.
"How did trash like you, Arthur, ever become an aristocrat?! Talentless! Powerless! A worthless nobody!"
Not a trace of Arthur's former restraint remained. His eyes burned with fire as his hand jerked upward—and a crimson magic circle flared to life in his palm.
Around Kael, dozens of fiery spheres formed as if out of thin air. They hovered in the air, poised to launch at a single gesture.
"Say that again," Arthur said coldly, fury ringing in his voice. "Unless, of course, you're afraid of becoming a charred corpse in the next instant."
But before the fire could surge forward, Celeste appeared beside Arthur. Carefully, almost gently, she took his hand. Tears glistened in her eyes, yet her expression was firm and resolute.
Arthur froze. The rage contorting his face dissolved under her gaze. He let out a heavy breath, clicked his tongue softly, and lowered his hand. The fiery spheres faded away as if they had never existed.
Kael laughed again—loud, hoarse, wholehearted.
"Oooh, would you look at that! Twelve years have passed, and the picture hasn't changed at all. Astarion at least grew a spine… but you, Arthur, are still Celeste's little lapdog. Just as you always were. Pathetic."
Alex glanced at Arthur. He stood there with fists clenched so tightly his fingers trembled, his hands shaking from barely restrained fury.
"Sirena, did you find anything?" the boy asked silently.
"Still searching," her reply echoed back. "Give me a few more minutes…"
But her words were drowned out by another voice.
"Enough!" Luna cried out.
She stepped decisively out from behind Astarion, Arthur, and Gabriel, stopping directly in front of them, her gaze locked on Kael.
"Enough!" Luna's voice rang out again, clear and firm. "Stop pouring your hatred onto those who are dear to me."
She took another step forward, never breaking eye contact with him.
"If there's even a shred of the friendship we once had left in you—stop. Please. For my sake."
For a moment, silence fell over the courtyard. Kael stared at Luna with a long, heavy gaze. His lips twitched, as though he were truly considering her words. Then laughter burst from his chest—first low, then louder and louder, until it echoed across the courtyard in deafening peals.
"Oh, this is wonderful!" he rasped through his laughter. "Coming here really was the right decision. I haven't been this entertained in a long time!"
He wiped a tear of laughter from the corner of his eye and abruptly jabbed a finger at Luna.
"You have no right to ask me for anything! Once—yes, once I would have done anything for you. But you destroyed it yourself. You trampled our friendship into the dirt. And now your words mean nothing to me. You are not my Luna. What stands before me is nothing but her shadow."
"Then what do you want?" Luna asked, forcing her voice to remain steady.
Kael shrugged indifferently, slowly sweeping his gaze over everyone present. He glanced around a few times, as if hesitating, then finally let out a heavy sigh.
"I don't even know anymore…" He scratched the back of his head, his smile crooked. "At first, I was furious that I wasn't even invited to this evening. Then there were those stupid children's fairy tales about how you all met. You erased me from the past, wiped my name away, fed the kids a sweet little lie. I was angry. Very angry."
His voice sharpened, turning cold.
"So I came here. And you know what? It felt better. I saw all of you and realized—nothing has changed. You're still the same pathetic, worthless creatures you were back then. And I'm honestly amazed I ever called you my friends."
"If you hate it all so much…" Adam suddenly spoke up, stepping forward. "Why don't you just leave?"
Kael's eyes flared. He stared at the boy for a long moment, then his lips twisted into a sinister smile.
"Oh? That's unexpected…" he drawled. "I didn't think you'd have the guts to open your mouth. You've surprised me a little. But you know… you're right. There's nothing more for me to do here."
He spread his arms as if bidding farewell.
"I've already ruined my mood for several days thanks to you all. So I suppose I'll be going. I wish you all a wonderful evening. Enjoy it while you can. Because who knows when misfortune might fall upon you next."
"What do you mean by that?!" Astarion shouted, cold menace ringing in his voice.
Kael shrugged.
"Who knows? Maybe a new curse will fall upon the Wolfengards. Or the Ravenfords. Or, why not, the Bledharts. Wouldn't want Elizabeth getting too relaxed."
He laughed—sharp and sinister.
"So many choices! And it's so hard to decide who to curse first… Though I've already cursed Luna once, so now—" His voice cut off when he noticed the looks of horror spreading across the faces before him.
Kael slowly stretched his lips into a wide, predatory grin.
"You heard correctly. That was me."
He raised his hand and began pointing, one by one.
"The one who cursed your wife," he pointed at Astarion. "Your friend," his finger shifted to Arthur. "And your mother," his finger stopped on Adam.
He spread his arms theatrically, as if waiting for applause.
"That was me. Kael Daskreit. Your dear old friend."
The moment Kael's last word dissolved into the air, a blue flash ignited behind him.
Adam appeared so suddenly that even the adults didn't have time to react. His right palm was engulfed in a dense mass of lightning, bursting outward in hundreds of sparks. His hand glowed and hummed with excess power.
The boy struck without hesitation.
His charged palm slammed into a transparent shield that instantly unfolded around Kael's back. Lightning veins raced across its surface, deflecting the attack, but the sheer force of the blow made the barrier hum and shudder.
Kael slowly turned his head, a wide, venomous smile spreading across his lips.
"O-oh…" he drawled, savoring the moment. "Did someone dare to attack me? How interesting. But such a… childish attempt. Such a weak attack could never—"
He didn't finish the sentence.
A tiny crack appeared at the very center of the barrier—barely noticeable at first, like a scratch on glass. Then a second. A third. The fractures spread with terrifying speed, and every new surge of Adam's lightning split the defense even further.
Kael's smile faded.
His own palm flared with lightning—but different, darker, a dense violet hue. Sparks flew in every direction, leaving a sharp scent of ozone in the air. Kael swung his arm, preparing to strike back, when he suddenly sensed something behind him.
An aura. Powerful, sharp, threaded with the same lightning.
He barely had time to turn his head and raise his arm before Astarion crashed into him with full force. His sword blazed with blue arcs, the blade humming with tension, as if the air itself were about to tear under the pressure.
Kael met the blade with his bare hand, wrapped in violet lightning. The impact was so powerful that a small crater formed beneath Kael's feet, the ground fracturing into a spiderweb of cracks.
He strained, pouring all his strength into holding Astarion's sword at bay.
But he paid for it with his concentration. His back was left unguarded.
And the barrier behind him shattered completely.
Adam lunged forward, the lightning around his hand shining almost blindingly bright. Kael felt the shield collapse behind him and, for a fraction of a second, loosened his grip on Astarion's blade.
The count felt it. His eyes flared, and he sharply increased the pressure of his strike.
Kael had no choice but to abandon everything and leap aside. In that same instant, two deadly trajectories crossed where he had been standing: Astarion's blue blade from below, and Adam's thunder-wreathed hand from above.
The air tore apart with a deafening crack.
Kael rolled across the ground and was back on his feet a moment later, breathing hard. But he didn't have time to retreat.
A red magic circle flared directly beneath him.
A pillar of fire erupted from the circle, shooting high into the sky and engulfing Kael in solid flame. The inferno raged for several seconds, bathing the entire courtyard in a red glow, then abruptly died out.
Kael stood where it had been.
Alive. Unharmed.
His chest rose and fell rapidly, and the last traces of mockery vanished from the corners of his mouth.
He screamed, his voice echoing through the night air like a thunderclap.
"How dare you?!" His eyes burned with rage. "You insignificant, worthless aristocrats aren't even worthy of looking in my direction! All of you—"
His words were cut short by another flash beneath his feet. A red magic circle appeared again, and a pillar of flame surged skyward, blinding everyone present. The ground shook, the fire roared—but when it dispersed, Kael was gone.
"Such weak flames…" his voice came from an entirely different direction.
Everyone spun around.
He was standing behind the women and children, his brown eyes gleaming predatorily.
"…could never harm me," Kael continued with feigned indifference. "Even Astarion's little son was more dangerous than your cheap tricks, Arthur."
Elizabeth instantly stepped in front of the other women and children, bracing for another attack. Kael waved her off as if she were an annoying insect.
"Easy, Elizabeth." He bared his teeth in a sly grin. "I'm not in the mood to hurt you. At least… not today."
His gaze slid over everyone before stopping on Astarion. He narrowed his eyes, his smile turning even more poisonous.
"You know," he said lightly, almost cheerfully, "I'm actually glad I confessed. I thought you'd just stand there with stone faces, swallowing my words. At most, I expected a few boring threats. But no."
His laughter rang across the courtyard, wild and rolling.
"No, damn it! You decided to attack. I'm surprised. Angry, because you had the audacity to do it—but surprised nonetheless. Surprised to the point where I can hardly find the words. And what shocked me the most was that even Astarion and Arthur joined in."
He shot a sharp glance at Adam, then stepped forward and bowed, as if standing on a theater stage.
"Thank you, boy. You saved my evening from boredom. Without you, those two idiots would never have dared to raise a hand."
Astarion snapped.
"Shut up!" His voice vibrated with the lightning coiling around his sword. "This is your final warning. Get out of my estate!"
Kael sighed heavily, theatrically lifting his eyes to the sky.
"And who are you to give me orders…?"
He didn't finish.
Astarion surged forward, his sword cleaving the air in a flash of lightning—but the blade cut through nothing but emptiness. Kael vanished an instant before the strike and reappeared the next second right beside Adam.
He leaned closer and whispered something directly into the boy's ear. The words were quiet, nearly soundless, but Adam's face changed instantly—his eyes widened, his jaw tightened, and his fingers curled into a fist.
Kael straightened, savoring the reaction, and cast one last look over everyone present. Then came a brazen smile, a flash of a magic circle beneath his feet—and he was gone, leaving behind only the faint echo of his laughter.
In Alex's mind, Sirena's voice sounded—calm, but tense.
"My lord, I've found information on Kael Morven."
Alex replied calmly in thought.
"Thank you. But I'll listen a little later."
He turned his gaze to Adam. Luna had already reached the boy—trembling all over, yet filled with resolve. She wrapped her arms around her son as if afraid to let go and whispered in a quiet, broken voice:
"How are you, my son?"
Adam answered almost immediately, trying to keep his tone steady.
"I'm fine, Mom."
Astarion joined them. His steps were heavy, and a faint glimmer of lightning still lingered in his pupils. He bent toward his son, studying every movement, every breath.
"What did he say to you?"
Adam looked away, his shoulders tensing. Then he sighed and said almost indifferently:
"He thanked me for the evening."
"That's all?" Luna asked softly.
"Yes," Adam replied shortly.
Astarion frowned. His sharpened senses caught his son's rapid heartbeat, but he attributed it to the adrenaline of the clash. The count wrapped an arm around Luna's shoulders and drew Adam close, forming a tight family circle.
The Ravenfords closed ranks as well: Arthur placed a hand on Demian's shoulder, Celeste embraced their daughter while simultaneously holding her husband's hand.
Alex stood beside his parents. Gabriel carefully drew Emma closer, and together they held Alex as if he were still a small boy. He felt a familiar warmth, and although his face remained serious, emotionally he relaxed completely.
Only Elizabeth stayed apart. She stood slightly to the side of Gabriel and Emma, holding herself straight, as if shielding everyone from the lingering tension that still hung in the air. Her dark eyes moved from one person to another, as though making sure the danger had truly passed.
Night wrapped the Bleakheart estate in silence. After Kael's disappearance, the guests quickly dispersed to their homes. Even Elizabeth, who had insisted on returning to the Academy, gave in to Gabriel's persuasion and stayed the night. The adults were probably already asleep… or lying in their beds, thinking over what had happened.
Alex sat at his desk, leaning back in a soft chair. His eyes were closed, his hands hanging loosely from the armrests.
"Now I'm ready to listen," he said in thought.
Sirena's calm voice immediately sounded in his mind.
"Understood. I will begin with the essentials. Kael Morven is a level eighty-four vampire. His only element is lightning. He has no wife or children. In childhood, he was an unremarkable youth, but through talent, knowledge, and charisma he rose to great heights. He is the guildmaster of Morven's largest guild, the Blue Ravens. In addition, he founded and leads the Blue Raven Institute. There, high-level healing magic is taught and medical research is conducted. Education is completely free, and the best students receive scholarships. The institute is funded by the guild. Thanks to his achievements in medicine and his popularity as a guildmaster, Kael earned the recognition of Morven's king himself—Morakan Ervain. He has even been an honored guest at several of the king's gatherings. That concludes the report."
Alex opened his eyes and slowly exhaled.
"Thank you, Sirena," he whispered. "Now it's clear why he behaved so confidently. His closeness to Morakan practically gives him immunity. Even aristocrats can't really touch him. He'll just complain to the king or send people from his guild to deal with it. What a headache. It turns out he won't disappear as easily as the Montamers—his disappearance would be noticed immediately."
He fell silent for a moment, curling his lips ironically.
"I don't get it… how did someone like him manage to become a guildmaster and earn the king's favor?"
"Perhaps he is a skilled actor," Sirena replied. "In public, he plays the role of a benevolent man and hides his true self. Or he works for the Jester. If we recall the history of the Montamers, the Jester knows how to erase traces left by his people."
Alex nodded to himself.
"Both possibilities are plausible." He smiled faintly. "Maybe I should contact the Jester and ask directly? It's quite possible he knows more than even you could find."
The boy thought for a few seconds, then shook his head to himself.
"No. That would be too easy. I'll try to deal with this on my own first."
Sirena asked cautiously,
"My lord, have you truly decided to handle Kael yourself? Wouldn't it be better to leave this to Astarion and Arthur and focus on your training instead?"
Alex slowly curved one corner of his lips into a smile.
"He threatened my family. And I doubt those were empty words. I can't just leave it at that."
"Do you already have any ideas on how to get rid of him?" Sirena asked gently.
Alex tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Ideas…" He fell silent for a few seconds, then continued. "Tell me, Sirena, didn't Kael remind you of the guy I met during the battle near Aeralis?"
"You mean Derek?" she clarified.
"Right, Derek. The name slipped my mind."
"It seemed to me they were similar as well," Sirena said slowly. "The long, black, unkempt hair, the pale skin, the dark circles under the eyes… even their gestures are somewhat alike. Though their personalities are complete opposites."
Alex shook his head.
"And that's not even the main thing. You remember how, after three liters of ale, Derek complained that he never had a normal family? He never saw his mother and couldn't even imagine who she might have been. He always hated his father. He said that in public and at home his father was like two completely different people."
"Do you think Derek is Kael's son?" Sirena asked quietly.
"It's just a guess, but there are similarities between them. If Derek had ever mentioned his father's name, I could say for sure. But he even renounced his surname. So all that's left is speculation. Still, if I'm right, it completely frees my hands."
"You may be right," Sirena replied. "Derek mentioned that from childhood he secretly learned everything his father did and spent years gathering evidence against him. He wanted to show the world his father's true face and then replace him. And perhaps he would have succeeded if the war hadn't started earlier, forcing Derek to become a field medic."
Alex nodded.
"Exactly. If he really is Kael's son, then he should already have proof. It seems he's been collecting it since he was seven. We're only three years apart, which means he's had thirteen years to gather material—more than enough. He just needs a push for a proper execution of his revenge, and I'm ready to give it to him. And as a bonus, I'll gain a talented healer on Eliria's level as an ally."
"And also a guildmaster who will give you access to S-rank dungeons," Sirena added.
Alex froze for a moment, then clapped his hands in satisfaction.
"Exactly. I didn't even think of that. Damn it, now I'm simply obliged to give Derek the chance for revenge."
Sirena spoke with excitement in her voice.
"If, of course, you're right and Derek truly is his son."
"Do you still doubt it?" Alex asked with light irony.
"In any case, extra caution won't hurt," Sirena replied. "I fully support your plan, but it will be… problematic if you kill Kael and Derek turns out not to be his son."
Alex laughed softly.
"Yes, that would be a problem. But then I'll make use of the Jester's help. With his connections, he'll definitely find a way out."
"So, in this situation, you're still willing to accept his help?" Sirena asked with faint mockery.
Alex waved it off.
"No, we're getting carried away. In any case, Kael threatened my family and the families of my friends. And that's more than enough reason to kill him. I won't back down."
When Alex woke up, the sun was already fairly high in the sky. He slowly made his way down to the kitchen, where everyone was already waiting for him. Emma, Gabriel, Elizabeth, and all the maids were seated at the table.
The moment he appeared in the doorway, Elizabeth smiled and spoke first.
"Good morning, sleepyhead. You certainly slept in."
"Good morning," Alex replied as he sat down at the table. "I just couldn't fall asleep right away. Same as you, I suppose."
Light dishes were laid out on the table: freshly baked white bread, thin slices of cheese and fragrant ham, boiled eggs, a bowl of honey, and berry jam. To drink, there was aromatic herbal tea and a jug of cold milk. Everything was simple, but homely and comforting.
For several minutes they ate in silence, with only the clinking of dishes breaking the quiet. When breakfast was over, the maids cleared the table and went about their duties. Only Alex, his parents, and Elizabeth remained.
A tense silence hung in the air for a few seconds. Elizabeth was the first to speak.
"You probably have questions about last night," she said somewhat uncertainly. "I can answer at least some of them. For the rest, you'll have to speak with Astarion."
Her voice suddenly grew more serious.
"As for Kael's threats toward you… please, don't worry. Astarion, Arthur, and I will handle matters with him ourselves."
Alex reacted first.
"I don't have any questions," he said quietly and was already about to stand up from the table.
"Alex, please sit," Elizabeth stopped him quickly.
He returned to his seat. She let out a heavy sigh and looked him straight in the eyes.
"You probably already know this, but Kael is the guildmaster of the Blue Raven and the director of the institute with the same name. On top of that, he enjoys the king's favor, which automatically places him above any aristocrats. Remember this: you won't be able to eliminate him through brute force the way you did with the Montamers. If you lose control, you'll only bring even more trouble upon your family."
She took his hands in hers.
"Trust us. Me, Astarion, and Arthur. Together, we'll find a way that won't put all of us at risk. I know how much you care about us. And I can see how deeply Kael's words unsettled you. But the best thing you can do right now is trust others—those who know how to resolve this properly."
Alex silently held her gaze. In her eyes, seriousness mingled with a desperate plea. Then he glanced at Emma and Gabriel—both were looking at him with worry, as if begging him to agree.
Alex smiled faintly.
"I understand everything perfectly. Kael is not on my level. So if trusting you really is the better choice, then that's what I'll do. Yes, his words unsettled me… but I'm not a little boy anymore, and I understand that the same approach as with the Montamers won't work here. And although it frustrates me, because it essentially ties my hands, I'll wait calmly for results from you."
His words sounded sincere. He quickly looked around at everyone—apparently, it worked.
"Thank you, Alex," Elizabeth said, releasing his hands.
"Thank you for breakfast," he replied, standing up from the table. "I'll lie down for a bit longer, and then I'll start preparing to return to the Academy."
With that, he left the dining room.