First Encounter with Raymond Alden

After a year of living inside his father's mansion, Raz had learned many things about the world he currently lived in. In this world, Magus reigned supreme as absolute beings who could make emperors and kings kneel if they were powerful enough.

His father, William Alden, Lord of Levir, was merely two whole stages past an apprentice, people who couldn't even be considered Magus, and was a middle-stage Fledgling Magus but was still given the title of viscount with his own city to manage.

Levir was a small city located on the southern peripheries of the Iron Wolf Kingdom near what would be considered the wilderness. Meanwhile, the Iron Wolf Kingdom was considered an average power on the continent.

That small amount of information was already very hard to find for Raz, as he was not given access to the library yet and could only ask several questions sporadically to Ed and occasionally his parents.

As a newborn, essentially, he wanted to appear smart but not unrealistically smart so as to know to draw any suspicion to himself.

One thing he learned from his past lives, especially in his cultivation life, if one did not have something to guarantee their life, then it was not good to stick out too much lest a person wishes to be hammered down like a nail sticking out.

However, his questions still made him develop a reputation among his parents that he was incredibly curious about things and especially about magic, which they thought was normal considering he had the Alden family bloodline within him who were naturally interested in magic.

This is why as they continued to look at the carriage move closer towards the city gates, his father caressed Raz's hair as he gently chimed, "The person in that carriage, Raz, is none other than my father and your grandfather, who was given the rank of Marquis for his contributions to the kingdom as well as being a lower stage magus."

Instantly a small fire appeared, roaring inside Raz's two uniquely colored eyes, and he couldn't help but think, 'That would make him the highest-ranking Magus I have ever met.'

Although he hid it from his face, Raz smiled as he smelled an opportunity on the horizon.

After a few more minutes, the giant magic circle was focused on the carriage, which was pulled up in front of the main door of the mansion with a rather lengthy line of maids and butlers on either side waiting to greet Raz's grandfather.

The man sitting atop the carriage scanned the surrounding areas around him, staring at each servant individually before he scanned the well-kept bushes and trees that decorated the front of the mansion and finally pulled back his cloak.

An old man that appeared to be in the latter half of his life appeared with the cloak gone, his weathered face coarse and rigid with unkempt hair and a rough beard.

If William were present, he would be able to see clearly and recognize that this senile-looking old man was actually a middle-stage apprentice who seemed to have failed to advance to become a Fledgling Magus and instead devoted his life to the Alden clan.

He hopped off the front of the carriage before he gently opened the carriage door and started to announce loudly, "Attention! Introducing Marquis Raymond Alden! Lord of the city, Tessar, and Patriarch to the Alden Clan!"

A tall man who was well over the average height of a man in the Iron Wolf Kingdom stepped out. He had a well-kempt short beard and mustache that was vermillion like the rest of his hair that was tied up in a ponytail that fell to the center of his back. His aura, while contained, still affected the normal servants, who all began to develop a cold sweat.

On his cheek was an old scar that added to the imposing and intimidating aura he exuded. His robes were similar to the ones that William had on, but the runes were much more plentiful and the embroidery more complicated and fanciful.

The servants all subconsciously started to revere the man, and they all bowed while shouting, "We greet Lord Raymond Alden!"

Raymond examined the mansion and the bowing servants before giving a tiny nod. He strolled up to an old maid who was also bowing as he began, "Marisa, we meet once again. Has William been treating you well?"

"Of course, Lord Raymond, your son has taken after you in his kindness. Allow me to guide you," Marisa respectfully voiced as she opened the front door, which was rather large and had the same symbol that was on the carriage engraved onto it.

Raymond merely nodded as he followed Marisa, while the old man looked around once more before following Raymond like a faithful dog follows its owner.

As the trio continued to walk through the mansion, Raymond continued to look around while giving the occasional casual nod.

The moment his father was announced onto the estate.

William closed the magic circle, which faded away like it never existed before he crouched so he was face to face with Raz as he sternly spoke, "Just do as your mother and I do. Remember to be respectful and try to appear intelligent like you normally are."

Within the moment, the large double door leading into the hall opened with an audible creak as Marisa opened the large door before bowing and leaving.

Raymond and the old man following him entered. William proudly announced before he started bowing, "William Alden and his family, Fay Alden and Razvan Alden, greet the Patriarch."

Raymond gestured for them to stop bowing before his eyes locked with William.

Their eyes locked, and they stared for an uncomfortable amount of time before Raymond said in a deep voice, "William."

"Raymond," William said back with a neutral tone as if he was talking to a stranger.

Even Raz felt the tension in the air suffocating. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the tension in the room was stifling.

Before anything else happened, Raymond looked behind him and commanded the old man, "Leave us. I have much to speak with William alone."

The old man stood still for a second like he was deliberating about something before bowing and leaving while submissively murmuring, "Yes, Patriarch."

Closing the door on the way out, it was only Raymond left now. Raz couldn't help but swallow his saliva, but he realized he had cotton mouth from the tension.

Suddenly Raymond seemed to cast a spell that enveloped the room and moved until he was face to face with William. Even though Raymond was considerably tall, it seemed the gene ran in the family as they were practically eye to eye.

Before Raz could even begin to contemplate whether or not his father would fight here, Raymond smiled as he hugged his son so tight he practically lifted him off the floor and beamed, "My son! Are you doing well? Have you been eating enough? What about your next advancement to the upper stage? I never get to talk with you because of those stuck-up old elders. Tell me everything."

The complete turn in attitude had Raz almost stumble backward from the shock as William seemed to smile too as he affectionately expressed, "Yes, father, I'm doing well, and managing a territory, no matter how small, is tiring."

Wriggling out of the hug, he walked over to Raz before scooping him up and proudly exclaimed, "What I really want is for you to meet Raz! He's a true genius! I'm sure he is talented, perhaps even more than I!"

Raising his eyebrow in a bit of doubt, Raymond walked up to Raz, who was still being held by his father, before he examined him from head to toe.

Sticking his face almost in Raz's, Raymond looked suspiciously as he said, "I've heard rumors about the fact that you can talk even though you are only a year old. Let me hear you say something."

With a little smile, Raz felt like he had nothing to hide as this was an opportunity to perhaps gain the support of Raymond and eloquently began, "Greetings Patriarch, Razvan Alden greets you! I am fully capable of speaking!"

Raymond's eyes widened slightly before giving a little nod. Having lived with his father for over 28 years, William knew his father well, but the times he had a genuinely surprised expression on his face could be counted on one hand.

While William himself was flabbergasted at his father's surprise, Raymond started to laugh heartily as he chortled, "It seems the rumors were true. William, my son, it seems you weren't wrong at all. Being able to talk at only a year old is indeed a good sign. After all, a sign of early intelligence is often a very good tell for their talent as a Magus."

"Well, it's plain to see his mind is alive and healthy. Now let us check his physical health," Raymond excitedly gushed as he placed his pointer finger and middle finger on where a doctor would normally put their fingers on a patient's wrist to feel for their pulse.

Raz didn't know what was happening as his grandpa seemed to be taking his pulse until a comforting yet peculiar warmth slowly spread from his wrist to the rest of his body.

The warmth felt comforting. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was staring at him naked.

After a few seconds, Raymond suddenly took a few steps back as he almost fell down and hollered with surprise, "I-Impossible! Raz has already started to develop his magic circuit!"