Chapter 243: Family Matters

The moment Ilya entered the study, he discovered that Anastasiya had already prepared enough documents to ruin anyone’s evening.

Several letters lay across her desk alongside a report bearing the seal of House Belozersky. She had discarded her academy uniform jacket, and the sword she usually carried rested beside the window.

"Sit."

Ilya took the chair opposite her.

"Did something happen?"

"Father sent a letter."

That explained her mood.

Their father rarely involved himself in Ilya’s affairs unless something demanded his attention, and a letter addressed to Anastasiya usually concerned matters of succession or the northern nobility.

Neither subject promised an enjoyable conversation.

Anastasiya passed him the document.

It was a formal notice concerning the upcoming gathering of the Belozersky family council. Several branch families had requested clarification regarding the recent disciplinary proceedings involving Mikhail Olegovich Volnograd, and the council intended to review the matter before its next session.

Ilya read through the notice.

The language was polite, but its meaning was obvious. Some of their relatives were unhappy with Anastasiya’s actions and wanted an opportunity to challenge her decision.

"Margrave Oleg is making trouble again?"

"He’s doing what any competent noble would do when his family’s position is threatened. He’s gathering support before the council decides anything."

Anastasiya spoke without much enthusiasm, although Ilya noticed that she had already marked several passages in the document.

House Volnograd was a cadet branch of the Belozersky family, entrusted with governing the margraviate controlling one of the southern approaches to Severye. Its political position made it valuable to the northern administration, which also meant that removing its ruling family would never be simple.

Anastasiya understood that better than anyone.

She had used Mikhail’s misconduct as an opportunity to investigate the branch, but the matter had grown beyond one spoiled nobleman’s behavior at the academy.

"What does Father want?"

"For me to stop giving our relatives reasons to complain."

"That sounds familiar."

"Don’t start."

Ilya returned the letter.

"Then what do you need from me?"

"Nothing. That’s the problem."

Anastasiya pulled another document from the stack and handed it across the desk. This one contained a list of recent inquiries submitted by several lesser noble families, most concerning Ilya’s performance during the academy examination.

Apparently, his first-place result had attracted more attention in Severye than he realized.

Some relatives were requesting information about his magical development. Others had begun asking whether his transfer from the Knight Department represented a change in the family’s plans for him.

Ilya frowned.

"Why would my examination results have anything to do with the succession?"

"Because some people are idiots."

At least they agreed on something.

Anastasiya continued, "You’ve gone from being the family’s greatest embarrassment to one of the academy’s promising young wizards. Naturally, there are relatives who think that means Father should reconsider everything."

"Even though I can’t use Aura?"

"Apparently, that matters less when they think supporting you might benefit them."

Ilya understood the implication.

None of these people necessarily cared whether he became Grand Duke. His improving reputation simply gave them another means of applying pressure on Anastasiya, particularly when the future succession remained an important source of influence within the family.

The irony was almost impressive.

For years, the Belozerskys had treated his failure with the sword as proof that he had no future worth discussing. Now that he was making progress in magic, some of those same relatives had apparently discovered an interest in his prospects.

"Well, that’s unfortunate," Ilya said.

"For you?"

"For anyone expecting me to cooperate."

Anastasiya studied him.

"You’re saying you have no interest in the succession?"

"I thought I’d made that clear."

"People change their minds."

"Then they can ask me when I do."

His answer didn’t seem to satisfy her, although she made no attempt to argue.

Ilya had no intention of abandoning his studies to participate in a political struggle he neither wanted nor needed. He had spent too many years living under the expectations of House Belozersky to willingly accept another set of obligations simply because his relatives had changed their opinion of him.

Besides, Anastasiya had earned her position through years of work.

He wasn’t going to undermine that because a few margraves suddenly found his achievements convenient.

"If they approach me, I’ll refuse," he said. "And if they try using my name without permission, I’ll make that clear as well."

Anastasiya looked away.

"Good."

For a while, neither spoke.

Then she gathered the documents and returned them to their respective folders.

"There’s another matter. If anyone from Volnograd attempts to contact you, inform me before answering."

Ilya remembered their previous conversation.

Anastasiya had already revealed that she suspected the branch family of cooperating with outside parties. She had refused to identify those parties, and he doubted she would become more forthcoming simply because he asked again.

Still, the request was reasonable.

"Has Mikhail been causing more problems?"

"He’s been remarkably quiet. That’s what concerns me."

"Could be he’s finally learned something."

"From whom? His father?"

Ilya wisely kept his opinion to himself.

Anastasiya finished arranging the documents before telling him he could leave.

He remained seated.

"What?"

"Have you eaten?"

Her expression became even less welcoming.

"Why?"

"Because it’s getting late, and you’ve been working since I got home."

"I have things to do."

"Those things will still be here after dinner."

"Ilya."

"Anastasiya."

She gave him a murderous look.

For a moment, Ilya was reminded of their childhood, when his elder sister would complain about her tutors while he tried to convince her to take a break from training.

Of course, bringing that up would probably earn him a lecture.

Fortunately, Anastasiya eventually rose from her chair.

"Fine. But if you start another argument at the table, I’m leaving."

"I’ll behave."

"That’s what worries me."

They went downstairs together.

Dinner passed without any further discussion of the council. Anastasiya remained occupied with her own thoughts, while Ilya decided there was little reason to disturb the rare occasion when they could share a meal without exchanging insults.

Their relationship had never been simple, and he doubted it would improve overnight.

Still, she had asked him for cooperation rather than issuing another order.

For Anastasiya, that was already something.

The following morning, Holy Trinity’s Magic Department began its practical assessments.

Students gathered outside the western training grounds while instructors organized the first examination groups. Several reinforced arenas had been prepared, each containing a different exercise designed to evaluate magical control under restricted conditions.

Ilya arrived with Garen and the others.

The atmosphere was lively, with students reviewing their notes and discussing the possible challenges awaiting them.

Garen looked especially nervous.

"I heard one of the instructors failed half his group during last year’s assessment."

"That’s encouraging," Ilya replied.

"How is that encouraging?"

"Apparently, the other half passed."

Solveig laughed while Ma?lle told Garen to stop listening to rumors.

Their conversation ended when Professor Eklund appeared before the assembled students.

"Attention, everyone. The first stage will evaluate your ability to apply basic magic under unfamiliar conditions. You will be assigned an exercise according to your current Circle, and you will have a limited amount of mana available."

The instructors began distributing assignments.

Ilya received a small identification card directing him toward the third arena.

His task involved navigating a moving obstacle course while protecting a fragile object from attacks generated by the formation.

The objective sounded simple enough.

Unfortunately, the restrictions were rather interesting.

Students were prohibited from using spells above the First Circle, and the object had to remain within a fixed distance of its carrier throughout the exercise.

Ilya examined the instructions.

For an ordinary wizard, the challenge would involve maintaining a defensive spell while moving through the course.

For him, the problem was slightly different.

He could probably complete the course using Niflheim’s Blizzard, but accelerating too quickly would risk damaging the object or moving beyond the permitted distance.

That meant relying on control rather than speed.

A fair test.

The supervising instructor called his name.

"Belozersky. You’re next."

Ilya handed over his identification card and entered the arena.

A small glass sphere rested on a pedestal near the entrance. Beyond it, several moving platforms and suspended obstacles formed a route toward the opposite side.

The instructor activated the formation.

Ilya picked up the sphere.

"Begin."

The first obstacle moved.

Ilya released a small current of cold mana beneath his feet, adjusting his movement to match the platform’s speed.

The sphere remained steady.

He crossed the first section without difficulty, then approached a narrow passage where several magical projectiles were beginning to form along the walls.

Ilya examined their positions and continued forward.

There was no reason to rush.

He had enough time to observe the attack pattern before deciding how to proceed.