The lack of progress in Adall's training, though abnormal, sparked much controversy in the first year. Some regarded him as a waste while others, like his grandfather, believed he was simply delayed due to the shock of his father's death.
Any lingering doubts, however, were brutally swept aside by the genius results displayed by Endric on his side. He, who had been considered a waste at the outset, surpassed all expectations with learning records that could rank among the best ever recorded in the family.
Consequently, everyone concluded that the true genius was Endric, and that both his and Adall's results might have been a product of a malfunction in the evaluation system.
Adall's life became a living hell from that moment on. He was subjected to much intimidation, especially from his cousin Endric, the genius. But if that were all, he certainly wouldn't be bound and kneeling before the family council at present.
Indeed, two days ago, something horrible had occurred within the Windsor family.
An assassination!
And not just anyone!
It was Joshua Windsor, the patriarch of the family.
How could this be possible?
He should naturally have been the safest person in this world. Especially in his own home and in his bed!
Many mysteries still surrounded what had truly happened for him to die, but the few pieces of evidence gathered at the crime scene pointed to Adélaïde, Adall's personal servant.
The family wasted no time in apprehending her, and after a few hours of torture, she confessed that she had done it for the good of her master, Adall. Even though it emerged from these interrogations that the boy had no knowledge of or involvement in the assassination in any way, he could not be absolved of all responsibility in this matter.
After being brutally dragged out of the room in which he had been confined, Adall was escorted by the guardian knights into a large circular room.
The seats inside were also arranged in a circular formation, reminiscent of the shape of a crescent moon. It was the family council chamber!
The place where the most important meetings within the family took place.
Upon entering the room, Adall was assailed from all sides by a multitude of intentions, each more deadly than the last. It was a highly unpleasant experience, especially for a 13-year-old who had formed no circles or stars in his core to defend himself against such attacks.
Adall was on the verge of fainting under this pressure when suddenly everything calmed down at the sound of a voice he knew all too well.
"Please stop this and let's begin the session without further delay."
Uncle Zackael!
The person sitting in the most luxurious and best-placed seat in the room.
In the few times Adall had the opportunity to attend family councils over the past three years, it was the seat his grandfather occupied.
The image of Zackael seated on that throne was a painful reminder to him that his grandfather had truly passed away.
From the room where he had been confined these past two days, Adall had not stopped praying to the heavens and his ancestors that this whole assassination story was just a big invention to test his courage. Unfortunately, reality was not something that could be altered with just a few prayers.
Adall was thus hit full force with this truth at the sight of his uncle ordering silence in the council chamber.
Once the calm was restored, one of the people seated at the end of the crescent-shaped arrangement of seats stood up and began to enumerate various facts about Adall, the most notable being his relationship with Adélaïde.
He also alluded to the fact that Adall had never managed to form his first magic circle until now. He concluded his recital by labeling him as an investment with no future.
A statement upon which everyone in attendance nodded, indicating agreement. He waited a few seconds before finally speaking again, this time in a much more solemn tone.
"Taking all these facts into account, it has been decided that from now on the individual known as Adall is banished from the Windsor family. You no longer have the right to claim or use the privileges associated with that name. As of today, you also have no right to set foot in the domains where family members live. A procedure to erase your name from the family register is already underway."
"...!"
An ear-splitting silence instantly filled the room.
Or at least it should have been the case if Adall's muffled cries of tears were not occasionally heard.
The boy was in tears!
Understandably so, he was only 13 years old, and in not even three days, he had learned of his grandfather's assassination, Adélaïde's execution, the person closest to him since birth, and now his banishment.
If there was a place that could be called hell, he had certainly found it.
"Do you have any last words to report before being escorted out of the family's territory, former young master Adall?"
The voice resumed, ending this time with a sarcastic tone that briefly amused the crowd.
"Uncle Zackael! Why?"