It was only for around 8 months but Ramon felt like it was forever.
He was finally back in Hope Town, home.
He was back in the Brenden family manor. Looking at the main 5-story stone building at the center of the manor, and the 3 smaller 2-story buildings surrounding it, memories that he developed through his childhood resurfaced.
"You truly miss home, huh?" Shaggy laughed.
Ramon looked up at his escort.
Centerpoint Astral Academy was one of the most renowned astral academies across Tiberia, and according to Shaggy, astral travelers tend to target its students.
This was why most first year students were assigned with escorts.
Again, Shaggy and Frank were Ramon's escort.
Ramon looked back at the manor. "Yes, I miss home".
"I miss mom, I wonder how she's faring?"
Shaggy patted him by the shoulder. "You better savor this holiday to the fullest, it's your only holiday before you complete your fifth year in the academy".
"Holiday is a privilege enjoyed by only first years".
Ramon's eyes widened. "Really?"
"You think we'd lie to you?" Frank snapped at the little boy.
Staring at the red-haired young man, Ramon was puzzled. "Why is your tone like someone stole your girlfriend?"
Silence.
"Muahahaha…!" Shaggy burst out laughing.
Frank was speechless. "Who taught you about girlfriends?"
"I'm 10, I'm a man". Ramon grinned with pride.
Frank rubbed his chin. "If you're truly a man like you say, I dare you, how truly big is your pp…?"
BONK!
"Ouch…, Shaggy!" Frank complained.
Laughing, Ramon finally bid farewell to his 2 escorts.
"Enjoy your 2 months holiday, by February, we'll be here to pick you up". Shaggy said as he entered one of Frank's Hounds the next moment.
Together, they left back to Centerpoint Astral Academy.
And finally, Ramon was free to go in.
He changed a lot after just 8 months in an astral academy, his aura was completely different but the guards at the gate still recognized him.
"Welcome back, young master Ramon".
Just as Ramon passed through the gates, the rumors spread like wildfire.
"Have you heard? They say Ramon is back!"
"It's a lie!"
"I swear on my balls, I'm not lying!" The servant told his co workers with so much zeal. "They say he's so much taller and matured now".
"Heck, he became even more handsome!"
"My gosh, he's truly chosen by the heavens!"
"I heard his aura is like an ancient master now, he's so talented!"
"I heard the guards could not even speak when he passed! He's so powerful!"
"Ehm, umm, I heard his pp is now even longer!"
Silence.
Every other servant turned to the female servant who shrank in fear on being subject to their gaze. "How did you know?" They all asked.
"Ah!" She scratched her head. "Umm, that's what they said".
"Who?"
"They".
"…"
Ramon's return caused a lot of commotion in the Brenden family manor, and it got to one of the more luxurious rooms in the main 5-story building of the manor.
This was the room of the patriarch's 4th wife, Agnes.
This woman's eyes gleamed with hatred as she heard the news even as she faced her children. "My children, the witch, he's back!"
"The one who killed your elder brothers, he's back!"
She clenched her fist. "We shall show him that coming back is his greatest mistake. He shall suffer the same fate that Paul, Cheetu, and Abel suffered!"
Walking through the manor, Ramon detected astral energy everywhere.
'I never knew most of our guards were astral warriors'.
He was surprised as he walked in. Most of the guards that he went past were astral warriors, though mostly only low-tier Legionnaire Stage warriors.
Some of the guard leaders were mid-tier Legionnaire Stage warriors like him and he was surprised, he noticed one that was even stronger than him.
'He's a high-tier Legionnaire Stage warrior already!'
All the guards showed him more respect than ever before as he passed.
The difference causing this respect was that they were at this level at 20+ years old while this prodigy was a mid-tier Legionnaire Stage Warrior already at just 10! This was crazy.
They no longer just gave him respect because of his status, but because of his personal strength now too.
Ramon went straight to the patriarch's quarters where he paid his respects.
The patriarch sat cross-legged, facing his son.
"Ramon, you're back".
"Yes, patriarch". Ramon bowed.
"You drank alcohol?"
Ramon froze, then he looked down guiltily. "Yes".
The patriarch chuckled. "Don't worry, I won't punish you. It's a sign that you're truly now a man".
"Come here," He gestured for Ramon to sit beside him. "Tell me all about your time in Centerpoint Astral Academy".
"Yes, sir".
Ramon thought a bit before he started blabbering away. "I was taught about the basics of astral energy, the power system, the history of our world, the basics of sword fighting, and even how to hunt astral beasts".
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Does that mean we can go hunting together during your holiday?"
Ramon's eyes widened. "You'll follow me?"
"Yes, if you want".
"Yes!" Ramon pumped a fist in celebration.
Ramon spent only 20 minutes speaking with the patriarch before leaving as he got to his mom's room, simply greeting his 2 older brothers that were at home, curiously awaiting his arrival as he jumped in his mom's embrace.
Then, a 2-hour gist session began.
"Mom! Centerpoint Astral Academy is so different!"
"You have to see so many students like me, they're so talented but hehe, not as talented as me. I'm the best fresher of this batch!"
"There's one fat man, mom you won't believe it".
"He's the HOD of a department!"
"He's even a drunkard!"
Emiliana raised her eyebrows but still let her son continue.
"Shaggy, the one who escorted me to the academy is my mentor at school, I love him more than everyone else".
"Ah! I almost forgot, Guendouzi, the one that the patriarch hired".
"He's actually an instructor in Centerpoint Astral Academy!"
Emiliana, Ramon's mom was surprised.
"There's also this instructor, Mr. Churchill, he has eyebrows that looks like daggers, it's so funny but he's powerful, I've never beaten him in our spars despite him suppressing his realm to my level".
"Ah! There's also this short man too, Mr. Thif!"
"Thief?"
Ramon burst out laughing. "It's Thif but I call him Thief". He chuckled mischievously. "He's the HOD of the Sword department but gosh, he's so short!"
Ramon spoke non-stop for 2 hours before he finally slept out of exhaustion.
Late that night, he woke up to cultivate.
From the next day, Ramon's holiday started in full. Apart from gisting with his mom, with his new power, it was far easier for him to sneak out now as every few days, he sneaked out to the nearby villages.
He didn't want to admit it but he searched if he would see Joel's crew again. For weeks though, he was disappointed though he had a lot of adventure.
And in some days, like the patriarch promised, he took him out to hunt.
Ramon gained even more combat experience through these battles.
After his return, the way the patriarch treated him changed. Ramon did not know if it was respect or just love, but it surely changed.
In days that he didn't sneak out and he didn't follow the patriarch to hunt, Ramon went to the patriarch's farm where as his siblings supervised the servant's work, he hid at isolated corners of the farm, training his sword skills.
He also attacked and helped in killing stray beasts that entered the farms.
On the 18th day after his return, Ramon finally encountered another assassination attempt. It was too easy; he decapacitated his assassins in no time.
"Hehe, this is training at just the right time to hone my reaction speed and instincts, I'll appreciate you guys coming back after you recover from your injuries".
"My only bottom line is, never go near my mom!"
"I'll murder you if you do".
They shuddered in fear and scurried away.
That was the only assassination attempt that Ramon suffered during the holiday, they were traumatized by the ease at which he decapacitated them ad dared not come back. Like this, his holiday continued eventfully.
His daily cultivation bore fruit as the astral energy in his sea of consciousness increased a lot though it didn't reach the point for another breakthrough.
Like this, in no time, 2 months passed.
The holiday was over and it was time for a new semester.
While Shaggy and Frank waited for him outside, Emiliana called her son and together, they walked into one of the patriarch's many farms.
Emiliana had a few words for her son before he left.