Chapitre 90: Chapter 90: A Father-Son Night Talk
Rhett wanted Tylus to take the bloodline potion, no doubt about that. But more than just providing resources, he believed in cultivating inner qualities and forming good habits. Material wealth guarantees a baseline, but spiritual wealth raises the ceiling.
Upon returning to the territory, Rhett learned from Relay's report that Tylus had grown lax in his absence, needing constant supervision and lacking self-discipline. This, along with Tylus's impatience and inability to persist, made Rhett realize that his years on the front lines had left him out of touch with his children's development.
Without proper guidance, even the finest jade cannot be crafted into a useful tool. Rhett felt it was his responsibility to correct this and decided to take this opportunity to instill important lessons in Tylus—not to punish him, but to encourage self-reflection.
Hearing his father's questioning, Tylus looked confused. After a moment, he rubbed his eyes and said, feeling wronged, "Why does Father say that? I can't become a mage, and I can't study alchemy either..."
"What if... you could?" Rhett asked, staring into Tylus's eyes. He knew how much his son was passionate about alchemy. But based on past behavior, Rhett worried that Tylus might lose interest quickly and abandon his studies once the initial excitement faded. That was a scenario Rhett wanted to avoid.
"Habits greatly influence a person," Rhett thought to himself. That was why he had taken the time to lecture Tylus as soon as he entered the room. He wanted to see Tylus go further down the path of alchemy, to not give up so easily on anything he started.
"If I could... I would definitely study hard and never give up!" Tylus clenched his fists, a determined look in his eyes. But then his expression fell again, and he muttered, "But what's the point of saying this... I've imagined it countless times before."
"Come here, Tylus," Rhett said gently, motioning for his son to sit beside him.
"Yes, Father," Tylus replied, obediently sitting down. He nervously fidgeted with the corner of the bedsheet, unsure of what his father would say next. As he wondered, he suddenly felt a cold object being placed in his hand.
Tylus looked down in surprise at the bottle filled with black liquid and asked, puzzled, "Father, what is this?"
"Did you forget what I said earlier? This is a bloodline potion that can make you a mage," Rhett explained, patting his son's shoulder. "And it can help you study alchemy as well."
Tylus was stunned into silence. It took him a long moment to process what his father had said before he whispered, "Father had thought of this for me all along..." Overwhelmed by a sense of fatherly love, the potion in his hand suddenly felt hot, yet he gripped it even tighter.
In a rush of emotion, Tylus lunged forward, wrapping his arms around his father's neck and resting his head on Rhett's shoulder. "Thank you, Father. I love you," he said softly.
Rhett smiled and ruffled his son's fluffy hair. "We're family. No need to thank me."
They stayed like that for over a minute, savoring the warmth of the moment.
"But remember what you just said!" Rhett gently tapped the back of Tylus's head. "I hope you said those words for yourself and not just to appease me."
Tylus lifted his head, a serious expression on his face. "I understand, Father. I'll do my best to keep my promises, whether it's about alchemy... or anything else!"
"I'm glad to hear that," Rhett said, his eyes filled with satisfaction. "But I'll be even happier if you follow through!"
"I won't let you down, Father!" Tylus declared, his eyes full of determination.
Rhett stood up and walked over to the wall. "Now, go ahead and take the potion. Relay and I will stay here to watch over you."
"Alright," Tylus replied. He opened the bottle and drank the potion in two gulps. His body immediately tensed, and he closed his eyes, focusing intently.
From the outside, it seemed like nothing was happening, but Tylus was undoubtedly enduring intense pain. Watching his son's furrowed brow and the occasional drop of sweat on his face, Rhett held his breath. Although he knew the outcome, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.
Ten minutes later, the ordeal was over. Tylus had successfully absorbed the Black-Eyed Phantom Snake's bloodline potion. Though drenched in sweat, his face beamed with joy as he opened his eyes and said, "Father, Relay, I did it!"
"Congratulations, Tylus!" Relay congratulated him from the side.
"How do you feel?" Rhett asked.
"Hmm, my mind feels... different, but I can't quite describe it," Tylus said, scratching his head.
Rhett thought to himself, "It's probably because he has the talent but lacks the foundational knowledge of a mage."
He handed Tylus a book he had prepared in advance. "This is a mid-level meditation method. With it, you can start meditating and cultivating your magical abilities."
Rhett also took out a few bottles of potions and placed them on Tylus's soft bed. "These are Moonlight Elixirs. They'll help you speed up your cultivation. I hope you can soon break through to apprentice mage level—only then can you start studying alchemy!"
At that moment, Relay chimed in, "But Father, we don't seem to have any books on alchemy..."
Tylus gathered the potions and the meditation method, then looked up at his father. "Yeah, we don't have any alchemy inheritance. Even if I become an apprentice mage, I won't be able to learn anything."
Rhett smiled mysteriously. "Do you know what I encountered during the two months I was away?"
Knock, knock, knock.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Open up! Father, I know you're in there!" came a loud voice from outside.
Relay and Tylus exchanged curious glances, eager to hear their father's story, only to be interrupted by the loud knocking and shouting.
Tylus grumbled in annoyance, "What's Tucker doing, bothering us at this hour?"
Rhett smiled wryly and opened the door. Standing in the doorway was the burly figure of Tucker. "Good evening, Tucker. It's late—please keep your voice down," Rhett said.
Tucker grinned widely at the sight of his father. "Father, I've missed you so much!"
He spread his arms wide, ready to hug Rhett. But this time, Rhett was prepared. He stepped back and glared at his son. "Stop right there, Tucker. You're too old for this. And remember, it's late—keep your voice down!"
"Got it, Father," Tucker chuckled, having missed his chance for a hug.
After closing the door, Tucker looked around the room and noticed Relay and Tylus. He scratched his head. "No wonder I couldn't find you in your room or Relay's. You're here with Tylus."
"Father, you're playing favorites. You didn't even call me when you got back, only Tylus," Tucker complained.
"Tucker, I'm single, and so is Relay. But you and Vanessa are sharing a room. Father wouldn't want to intrude," Tylus interrupted.
"That's nonsense. How could you and Relay be single?" Tucker retorted, a smug look on his face. "Hmph, I thought I didn't know, but Relay has been seeing Crina for a while now. And you, Tylus—you're not exactly innocent when it comes to Mina, either."
"Ahem," Relay, uncharacteristically flustered, corrected him. "Tucker, her name is Crina, not Crinina."
Tucker scratched his head. "Oh? My bad, I must've mixed it up..."
Relay had planned to confess to his father privately, but clearly, that wasn't happening anymore. He took a deep breath and said, "Father, last month, I proposed to Crina, and Sir Gareth has given us his blessing."
"Father, you weren't in the territory at the time, so I couldn't tell you earlier..."
"It doesn't matter whether you told me or not, son," Rhett replied with a shrug. "Love and impulse often go hand in hand. Sometimes, impulsiveness makes love all the more wonderful. I hope you savor it."
"Thank you for understanding, Father. I hope you'll come with me to Dam Town to formalize our engagement with Crina," Relay said seriously.
"I'd be delighted!" Rhett smiled. "I hope you two bear me a grandson soon!"
"Ahem," Relay, usually composed, was caught off guard by the topic, his eyes darting around nervously as he struggled for a response.
"And you, Tylus," Rhett continued, turning to his youngest son with a smile. "Have you found someone special while I was away?"
"Uh... yes," Tylus admitted, blushing slightly.
"Good. When love comes your way, don't shy away from it. Be brave and go after what you want!" Rhett encouraged without pressing for details.
"Understood, Father!" Tylus replied, a smile spreading across his face as he thought of Mina, remembering the passionate kiss they shared under the red maple tree. "It's only been two weeks since I last saw her, and I already miss her. I'll visit her again soon."
"Father, what happened while you were away? You didn't finish telling us earlier!" Relay reminded him.
"Well, now that Tucker's here and everyone's gathered, I'll share some of what I experienced over the past two months," Rhett said thoughtfully.
After a brief, slightly edited recounting, Rhett focused on the eradication of the evil alchemy organization. After all, his elevation to viscount wasn't far off, and his family would eventually learn of it.
When the three brothers realized that their father had taken down such a large alchemy organization, their faces lit up with joy.
"That's incredible, Father!" Tucker exclaimed, admiring his father's strength. Though the story was told in a modest manner, defeating so many formidable opponents was no small feat. His father truly was extraordinary!
"This will surely earn you a significant amount of merit!" Relay's eyes gleamed as he murmured, "Father, you might even be promoted to viscount because of this!"
The thought of their father becoming a viscount filled Tucker and Tylus with excitement, their minds racing with possibilities.
Moments later, Tylus, still beaming, said, "No wonder Father was away for so long—he was busy accomplishing something monumental. And now, my alchemy training is secured. Thank you, Father!"
"You're welcome!" Rhett replied with a smile.
"Relay, Tylus can't start learning alchemy yet, but you can. Why don't you give it a try?" Rhett suggested, turning to his eldest son. "You don't need to master it, just reach an apprentice level of understanding."
He hadn't forgotten that advancing in auxiliary professions like alchemy could also earn him Fate Points. While alchemy was difficult to master, it was relatively easy to get started, making it a worthwhile pursuit.
Relay was a bit surprised by the suggestion. He wasn't particularly interested in alchemy, but reaching an apprentice level didn't seem too difficult, so he agreed.
As the night wore on, the family continued chatting happily until the early hours of the morning before finally parting ways.
The next day, dark clouds gathered, and soon, a heavy downpour began. The rain startled Rhett from his meditation, the thunder and lightning echoing through the world. Standing by the window, he inhaled the scent of rain-soaked earth, mixed with the summer heat.
He looked up at the sky. The raindrops fell like countless white threads connecting the heavens and the earth, swaying in the wind and forming sheets of rain—an awe-inspiring sight.
This was the first heavy rain of the year, and its ferocity had caught him off guard. Until now, there had only been light, drizzling showers.
But the rain didn't interfere with his plans. Last night, Rhett had agreed with Relay that they would head to Dam Town tomorrow, on the 26th.
After getting dressed, Rhett made his way downstairs for breakfast.
On his way down, he remembered the fifty or so skilled workers he had brought to the territory and had temporarily housed in the stables.
Luckily, as he reached the first-floor hall, he spotted Svetta. Rhett approached him and said, "Svetta, last night, I placed the new residents—over fifty of them—at the stables. I'd like you to find a plot of land in town for them and have Coudine build them some wooden houses."
"Of course, sir. We have plenty of land in the town," Svetta replied with a slight bow. "But with this downpour, Coudine and his crew won't be able to start construction until the rain clears."
Rhett nodded and sat down to enjoy breakfast with his family.
Gradually, the rain began to ease. Svetta donned a black raincoat and headed out.
"Be careful, Svetta!" Rhett called after him, wiping his mouth with a napkin as he stood up.
"I will, sir!"
Rhett had left a day as a buffer because he had other matters to attend to.
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