'You came two days earlier because you were bored?,' wondered Ava while shaking her head.
'It seems that she is still as carefree as ever,' smiled helplessly Ava.
Grace Eswald, Alex's grandmother and the current head of their branch of the family, was someone one would call free-spirited; she always does what she wants despite what everyone says.
Even when her husband, Alex's grandfather, was alive, he didn't try to restrain her, because it was all for naught.
As Ava was looking at Anna and Grace greeting each other, she remarked something then asked Grace:
"Did you advance to mid-level 7?"
"I see that you noticed, yes, I advanced to mid-level 7 last month. That's why I seem even younger and more beautiful. Am I not amazing?" replied Grace with a proud tone.
"Yes, you definitely are," replied Ava with a look of respect.
It was to be noted that when you become a level 6, it becomes incredibly hard to progress further. So progressing from low-level 7 to mid-level 7 was something that was actually a huge task, so it was understandable that Ava thought that it was worthy of praise.
"Stop boasting; ultimately, you are still just as old as before breaking through," said a voice coming from the carriage.
A few seconds later, another woman with radiant ebony skin and pale golden eyes appeared. She carried the grace of someone in her fifties yet retained a timeless beauty. Short, shoulder-length hair complemented her appearance, and she wore a flowing black gown that harmonized with her hair, accentuating her captivating presence.
This woman elderly woman was Candace Eswald, Alex's grandfather's third wife.
Although she seemed much older than Grace, she was actually younger than her, but it was understandable. Unlike Grace, she was just a level 6.
After she came out of the carriage, another woman came out; however, contrary to the other two that came out previously, this woman had a young face. She looked like she was in her thirties.
This seemingly young woman was none other than Alex's youngest aunt and first crush. She looked like a younger and more beautiful version of her mother, Candace, but contrary to her mother's pale golden eyes, her eyes were an entrancing spectacle. They were like two pools of molten lava, glowing with such intensity that it seemed you would burn yourself if you stared at her eyes for a prolonged time.
She had long braided hair, and, just like her mother, wore a long black gown that clung to her curvaceous body.
She was one would call the epitome of beauty, but it was difficult to concentrate on her beautiful face with the kind of face she was making.
Eleanor had a cold expression as she got down from the carriage. One would think that it was because she was forcefully dragged her by her mother and Grace, but it was not like that; it was just that she always had an aloof expression even when she was younger. The only ones who had actually ever seen her smile were those currently in the mansion. Other than those, she was like a block of ice for anyone.
"Grandma Candace, Aunt Eleanor!" exclaimed Amelia as she rushed to them and hugged them in quick succession.
"How are you, little Amy? I see that you have also reached mid-level 4; it seems that you are as talented as your mother and grandmother," complimented Candace.
"Hehe, you are flattering me too much," replied Amelia, but she didn't have a hint of shyness on her face, as she thought that she indeed needed to be congratulated for reaching mid-level 4.
"Tell me Amy, where is Alexandre?" suddenly asked Eleanor.
She may look like the serious type of person — which she quite frankly was — but paradoxically, her favorite person in the family was Alex, who happened to be the most lazy.
Their relationship was something that, until now, many didn't understand. Eleanor was a woman who despised the concept of lazing around. Despite being not much older than Alex, she was already at the peak of level 5 and would soon cross the bridge that separated her from level 6. In fact, if the Eswald family competition had taken place a couple of years ago, she might have participated. If that were the case, she would surely have become the next heir of the Eswald family.
People couldn't understand how such a woman could be affectionate toward a lazy bum like Alex, but those that knew her history when she was young understood perfectly why she had so many affinities with Alex.
Eleanor was what one might call a late bloomer. Like Alex, her talent was deemed to be inconsequential when she was young, making her the victim of people's mockery. It wasn't until many years of hard work that her talent truly blossomed. So when it was identified that Alex had a trash talent, she was actually the only one truly knowing how he felt at that time.
She was the one that approached him and nearly passed a year trying to cheer him up; it was actually from there that came the crush Alex had on her.
"Alex is training with Lilia," replied Amelia to Eleanor's question.
"Hmm, what did you say again? Alex is... training?" asked for confirmation Eleanor, her stoic face giving way to an expression of surprise.
She wasn't the only one surprised; even Grace and Candace were taken aback by what Amelia said.
Everyone knew that Alex never trained and even despised training, so it evidently came as a shock to hear such a person training.
"Why is he training for?" asked Eleanor after her surprise faded away. However, Amelia's next words shocked her even more than the last.
"He is training because he intends to become the head of our branch."