"Young master, Should we buy some gifts before visiting?" Lexi reminded as they drove to the Opal Courtyard.
Zane was reading a book in the backseat; he lifted his face to meet clear sapphire blue eyes.
"Not necessary," He said ignoring the eyes that now flashed with bewilderment. It is common sense that one should visit relatives with gifts.
However, in this case, the gifts are neither needed nor appreciated. Besides, there is nothing he can think of that could impress his grandfather on such short notice.
He sighed and continued reading the 1000 basic herbs for Alchemy, his whole mind soon being entranced within the contents of the book.
"Young master" A voice called him out. It was Lexi who was opening the door so he could come down. They had reached Opal Courtyard.
"Next time, enquire if I am ready to step out before you open the door. I needed to do some last-minute mental preparation." He had a slight smile as he admonished her softly.
Lexi's eyes widened. How could she be so foolish and forgetful? She bit her tongue as she reprimanded herself, anger at her foolish mistake feeling her heart.
"What are you doing? Come." Zane said when he noticed the butler was still awestruck.
"My apologies, young master" Lexi said as she walked half a step behind Zane.
Another strike and she hasn't even been his butler for up to four hours. She was undeserving. She needed to go back and reflect on herself and thoroughly re-learn the basics of servitude.
Why on earth was she chosen to serve the young master if she had many flaws? A little light bulb shone on Lexi's head and a shiver ran through her body. She looked at herself and looked at Zane. Could it be?
Zane was unconcerned as to the troubles that were bothering Lexi. The Opal Courtyard was really beautiful.
The forest of pine trees gave the air a beautiful clarity, the bamboo houses were all located around the small lakes and paths of magnolias all blended to give the Courtyard a harmonious feeling. Zane could also see himself growing old in this kind of place.
After walking down the bridge in front of the largest house, a familiar figure stood as if he had been waiting for them.
"Butler Edward" Zane greeted loudly then softened his tone as if realizing his environment, "It is nice to see you."
The excitement in the boy's eyes was hard to miss; Edward Tuffin smiled and bowed slightly, "Young master Zane, Lexi."
"Butler Edward" Lexi nodded at the middle-aged man. She tried her best to control her expression. This was Edward Tuffin, the personal butler of the Old Master. His influence and power was not something to scoff at.
"Young master, our last encounter was yesterday."
Zane tilted his head, "Was it? For some reasons, it feels like ages ago"
There was a brief silence in which Zane smiled lessened a bit, his eyes had calmed and it was like the excited teenager was nowhere to be seen. "Butler Edward, I am here to visit my grandfather, please inform him of my presence."
Edward hid the complicated feeling in his heart. "Master is already aware. Young master, please follow me."
Zane was not surprised at all; his grandfather was a level 56 Terrain manipulator, an evolved earth mage class. The entire courtyard could be his Domain.
He however remembered to show the necessary awe and surprise that was required as he followed Edward in.
They strode passing rooms until they reached the back of the house. On the balcony, a man who looked to be in his late sixties was sitting by a table.
There was a game of chess in front of him with the pieces already in the move. His age did not hide the power in his body. He had an extraordinary air, the sides of his temple had already turned white but his gaze was very deep making a person feel a lot of pressure.
People who were perspective would even feel worse like they are in front of a predator that controlled their every movement. This was Aziel Valois, a man who was among the top chain of the Alliance.
"Grandfather" Zane greeted calmly.
Aziel looked at him and nodded once.
There was no other seat on the balcony other than the seat opposite Aziel. Zane walked up to the seat, his grandfather's non-committal reply and absence yesterday were like things of the distant past.
A small fawning look was on display as he quietly asked, "Grandfather, may I sit here?"
Aziel studied him, "Do you know how to play?"
Zane looked like his grandfather had handed him a white turnip as his smiling eyes bent even further. "Yes, Although I am not a master, I am sure that I can entertain you, Grandfather."
A shy look flash across his face and he hesitated for a while before adding as if to dispel all doubts, "I once participated in Cloud city chess competition and I got good results."
Ariel smiled a little and he nodded with appreciation. The boy had been the runner up at the age of fifteen; he was a good seedling.
In response, he merely moved a pawn and Zane happily moved one of his own.
A great chess player once said that chess is more than a strategic game; it is a game of reflection. The opinion is general among chess players that a man's temperament enters into his play and determines his style.
In this matter, it is quite true that the fundamental traits of character are revealed in unimportant matters especially when one becomes so deeply absorbed that he forgets all else. But to Zane this was no big deal, even in his subconscious he was forthright.
"Checkmate," Aziel said with a smile. Seeing the sad look on the boy's face in front of him, he chuckled. "You played a very good game."
He had weaved a strategy involving combinations, sacrifices and pawn promotion. He was cautious but yet extremely aggressive. His strategies had little to do with trickeries but he quickly disarmed trickery traps.
He knew how to advance and retreat according to the situation. He was indeed like a blazing spear, bright and attracting all attention.
Aziel felt like after this game he could understand his grandson even better. He was the complete polar opposite of his younger brother. One is a dangerous tiger; the other is a sleeping black mamba.
"Grandfather, can we play another game?" His tone was filled with youthful exuberance and determination. Aziel ignored him to look at Edward; however h,e did not attempt to hide his displeasure.
"Young master, please come with me. Master would like to rest." The said master was already closing his eyes. Zane knew a dismissal when he saw one.
"Grandfather, I will be leaving now, please take care of your health. I will return to play another game with you sometime. I will definitely play a better game."
Zane followed Edward to leave the room. As they walked along the corridor, Zane said to Edward, "Grandfather is really good. I didn't predict a lot of his moves."
After a slight hesitation, he asked, "Was my game that disappointing?"
"Master's favourite things to do are playing chess and fishing. Just yesterday, Master and young master Xavier played till late into the night. Master has always been focused on performance, Young master Zane…."
Zane clenched his fist and interrupted him; "I know I will do my best, I will make Grandfather proud of me" His bright eyes had seemingly dimmed.
It was obvious he did not enjoy being compared to his younger brother. Besides the news that a simple chess game had prevented his grandfather and brother from coming to his recognizing the ancestors' ceremony was the major thing, Edward wanted to put across. His worth in his grandfather's eyes.
Edward knew it was done. This young boy would begin to strike for Master's affection and attention. Just a little more.
"Young master, please sit here" They had moved to a room akin to an office. He poured a glass of water for Zane.
Zane thanked him and drank the water. Edward signalled to Lexi to remove the cup before he started talking.
"Young master, please I would need a vial of your blood. This is compulsory for every child of the Valois family. Please bear with me."
He brought a box and took a syringe from it. "Is young master afraid of needles?"
"No, why is the blood needed?" Zane asked, his curiosity rearing his head.
Edward chuckled, "Many reasons. Young master would probably find out later." He did not talk and Zane did not push.
After taking a vial of his blood, Edward presented him with two rolled-up documents tied with a string. "These are Master's welcome gift for you, Young master Zane".
A little gasp escaped his mouth as he took the two documents; one was Lexi's butler contract. If he signs this contract Lexi would now answer to him instead of answering to the Valois family.
He read through the terms and condition of the Contract. From the jobs, she would not perform for her contractor, her monthly payment, her requirement of five days a month for leave. It was a very standard contract.
The second document was a deed to a restaurant, 'Canary' in Revlon a small seaside in the Capital. The best thing was that the restaurant was very close to an underwater RP dungeon. Only the Valois old family Lord could afford to give such a gift to his newly legitimated grandson.
Both gifts were precious to Zane and unlike his future self, he was going to accept both of them and use them to the fullest.
"Please thank Grandfather for these gifts, I will be leaving now". Edward watched their car drive away before he checked the blood and returned to his master. The chess pieces had moved back to the position they were before Zane came.
"How was it?" Aziel inquired.
Edward shook his head sadly. "Still a 12% affinity to the dragon stone. There is no possibility of him getting a dragon bloodline class." It was really unfortunate.
There was no need for the family to waste precious resources in washing his blood marrow. And even yet there was no way Master would choose him over Xavier that had a 90% affinity to the dragon stone.
For over a thousand years there had not been any Valois descendant with such a high affinity even Young Master Charles, Master's first son and treasured heir had a 65% affinity. Master had placed all his hopes on him.
The dragon bloodline had dilated and thinned out and the Valois family is in a delicate position in the capital. Master could not be blamed for his decisions.
"Master, What if he awakens a leader class?"
"Is my family lacking a leader class?"
Edward kept quiet as he moved the rook to defeat his master's knight.