38 - Academy

"So... The elves. Why did you go there to begin with?" Liz asked after shaking off her initial surprise learning about the secret.

'I am NOT going to tell her I went there to propose....'

"...To try their game. Since they let the forest animals eat the best food, their flesh was of the highest quality."

"I... I see..." She murmured, slightly unsure of how to answer.

"In short, stay away from the meat if you ever visit those herbivore-nuts," he added with a sigh.

"Hmm... Do you dislike the elves, Van?" Liz asked, her curiosity piqued. Amoria also leaned in, listening intently.

"Not really. They have their traditions and rules, and we blatantly disrespected them. Honestly, considering what we did, just an execution seems pretty generous." Van replied with a chuckle and a shrug, his tone nonchalant.

'They're practically saints compared to the mermaids... I was trapped underwater for months because after they drowned me as punishment for proposing to their princess, I respawned in an underwater air pocket instead of on the surface. I managed to escape by repeatedly drowning, which increased my Vigor and Resistance stats each time. That gradually extended the time I could hold my breath. And let's not even talk about the multiple times I suffered from decompression sickness when I swam up too quickly... Ugh, now I can last over 37 hours underwater on a single breath... And that's BEFORE dying to Alicia.' he mused inwardly, the memory still vivid.

"I see... You and your father are really wise..." Liz murmured, turning away shyly.

"Wise? Did you miss the part where we ate the sacred deer?" Van quipped, slightly amused.

"Well, that part wasn't wise... But you acknowledge that despite how harshly the elves treated you and your father, they can be kind if you respect their customs. I think... Your father was wise to understand that, and you are too for seeing it the same way," Liz responded, her cheeks coloring as she stole a glance at him.

Amoria smiled, watching the exchange between Van and her daughter.

Van's eyes widened slightly at Liz's interpretation. He chuckled inwardly.

'I swear, it's like dealing with two Amorias here. Max... No, Magus... You did a good job with these two,' he reflected as he looked down, slightly solemn.

'I'm gonna miss you, harem bastard...'

Their dinner continued, with Van sharing stories of his adventures, cleverly presenting them as tales of him and his father. His narratives, filled with misfortune and his own blunt reactions, kept Liz laughing throughout the meal.

"Say, are you here for a long visit?" Liz asked after they finished eating, her voice lingering in the quiet of the dining room.

"Uhm, not really. My dad wanted to catch up with old friends here, so we split up in the city to find them. I just happened to run into Amori-... Aunt Amoria by sheer chance," he explained, his voice slightly stuttering as he corrected his informal slip.

Amoria couldn't help but smile at his correction.

"We'll probably leave after we've met with everyone, maybe tomorrow or the day after," Van added, his tone matter-of-fact.

Liz's expression fell slightly, "Oh... I see," she murmured softly.

Amoria's smile faded as she watched Liz's disappointment. She chewed her lip, thinking.

Van's thoughts wandered. 'It's not like I can really blend in with their teen daughters as a forty-year-old man, and I'd rather avoid running into Mika and Rika right now after what I did to them... Besides...' His mind drifted to Alicia's smile once more.

Suddenly, Amoria perked up in her seat, a spark of inspiration flashing across her face.

"Actually!" She let out.

"Hm?" both Van and Liz turned to her, intrigued.

"I... just remembered something! Your father sent word earlier, Van! He mentioned he wanted you to socialize more. He asked me if you could stay here and attend the Academy with Lizzy, Anne, and Mel!" Amoria announced with a burst of enthusiasm.

'WHAT?!' Van's thoughts screamed, completely caught off guard by her suggestion.

"Obviously, I agreed! Isn't that great, Liz? Van could go with you to the Academy!" Amoria exclaimed, her voice shaking slightly with excitement.

"R-really..? Uncle Van is really cool..." Liz responded, her face lighting up at the thought, and she offered a bright smile in Van's direction.

'AMORIA, WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!!?' Van's mind raced as he stared back at her in disbelief.

Amoria met his gaze firmly, her eyes burning with a mix of determination and a silent plea not to disappoint her daughter.

Resigned, Van sighed inwardly. 'Great... Now I'm stuck going to school...?'

"But... will you be okay? The Academy is going to become really strict this year..." Liz added, her tone laced with concern as she looked back at Van.

"Ahh, don't worry, sweetie! Vanny here is really, really... REAAAAALLY strong...!" She encouraged her daughter cheerfully, while sneaking a knowing gaze to Van.

"A-ah... I see... T-that's good to hear..." Liz murmured, her gaze inadvertently drifting to Van's upper torso, now hidden by a shirt as she blushed with a faint smile.

'Hm...?' Van thought, not understanding the meaning behind her gaze.

"Anyway, I told him it was fine for Vanny to stay here until you all go to the Academy. Are you okay with that?" she asked Liz.

'Here it comes...' Van thought, bracing himself as he observed Liz's reaction.

"I... I don't really mind..." Liz replied softly, her voice faint as she averted her gaze from Van.

'See? You've made her uncomfortable. This is just like when my dad's new wife moved in...' Van mused, offering Amoria a resigned, weak smile.

Amoria, noticing Van's resignation, felt a renewed surge of determination. "Actually... the Academy's director arranged a place for Van and his father nearby... I was thinking of escorting him there soon..." She assured her daughter.

'Woah, okay. Good. Her daughter's going to 'reluctantly' agree to it to not make me feel too uncomfortable and then I could find someplace to crash. Nice save, Amoria.' Van thought, appreciating the gesture.

"N-no..!" Liz suddenly protested, nearly rising from her seat.

'Wait, the fuck?' He mused, dumbfounded by her reaction.

"I mean... if you already have a place, that's great... But... I would've liked it if you stayed here too... I had fun talking to you tonight, and you're also the son of one of my mom's best friends..." Liz explained, her voice growing more confident.

Van was momentarily speechless.

'Woah, woah, kid! No need to try so hard to not offend me! I'm... Honestly, a little happy... But... That's just trying too hard...'

"Oh, great! Because actually, he doesn't have a place to stay," Amoria chimed in cheerfully, catching her daughter off guard.

"M-mom!!" Liz exclaimed, her face flushing with embarrassment as she playfully punched her mother's shoulder and then buried her face against it.

'Devious, Amoria... very devious...' Van thought, squinting at Amoria. She returned his gaze with a knowing smile, as if telepathically saying, 'I told you so.'

'Grr...' He growled internally before sighing.

'Well. I guess I'll just keep those two safe until I'm out of here,' He thought to himself as he looked at Amoria and Liz's smiles.

Just then, a series of knocks echoed through the house.

"Oh? Who could that be at this hour?" Amoria wondered aloud as she turned toward the door.

"It's not that late... Maybe it's Aunt Marcy or Anne!" Liz exclaimed, springing from her seat and heading to the door.

As Liz left the room, Amoria's gaze shifted back to Van.

"Van..." she began softly.

"Yeah?" he responded, meeting her eyes.

"Thank you," she said with a gentle smile.

Van chuckled softly, "You said it yourself—we're party members," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of warmth as he returned her gaze.

"Oh... Uh... Hi, Michael... I'm a bit tied up right now..." Liz spoke through the door, her voice hesitant, capturing the attention of Van and Amoria inside.

"Y-you are? Um, when you're free... maybe we could go out for coffee or something?" Michael, a timid boy around her age, suggested from the other side.

"Uh, are you sure? It's kind of late, and I wouldn't want to impose..." Liz replied, her smile strained as she hesitated.

"You're never an imposition, Liz! No matter how late, it's... um... always worth it if it's with you," he rushed to reassure her, his voice earnest.

Amoria leaned back in her chair with a visible sigh, observing her daughter's awkward interaction.

"Haaaah..." she exhaled, a mix of amusement and frustration in her tone.

"That boy just doesn't get the hint..." she murmured under her breath, watching the scene unfold.

Van raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the conversation unfolding at the door.