The next morning, a very familiar, feminine voice pierced Richard's ears. He woke up with a groan and pinched his nose bridge.
'Did she swallow a speaker or something? So... Loud,' he complained internally as Maya kept urging him to stand up and get ready.
He sat up and yawned, "I know, I know. Give me a few minutes."
Maya shook her head like a disappointed mother, before sauntering out of the room, whilst muttering, "I just don't want you to end up like me. I've dragged the Greylock name through the mud enough."
Richard stared at her disappearing figure listlessly as he processed her words. What she said only made him more curious to find out what happened last year.
'Okay... Maybe I should ask James about it?' he thought. But after thinking it through for a while, he shook his head, 'No. It was only last year. I shouldn't have... Well, the previous owner of the body shouldn't have forgotten about it so quickly. I'll find another way.'
He forced himself to his feet and lumbered into the bathroom.
He was out of his room about ten minutes later, clad in a simple black tunic, a brown pair of trousers and a fine pair of leather mules for his feet. He sighed as he reluctantly strolled into the living room.
He really missed the jacket he misplaced yesterday. It could very well still be in the woods behind the Academy, but it was too risky to go there now. That was the only jacket he had; the rest were coats and some other clothing that he couldn't recognize.
Apart from the magical powers that blossomed in Ostaria, Richard found their fashion sense to be quite decent. It wasn't too old and bland, neither was it extravagantly modern.
Just like yesterday, he met his mother, brother, and sister having breakfast at the dining. But he still had twenty minutes to spare this time around, so he joined them.
Once Claudia sensed his presence, she turned with a solemn gaze, "You're up early. Praise Ahraha."
"Something isn't right," Maya and Finesse narrowed their eyes at Richard. It was already a norm for him to wake up late and have no time to eat anything before leaving.
Richard simply dropped his head and poured himself some tea.
Claudia smiled at her other two children, "You underestimate your brother too much. Besides, it gives us enough time to share our mana."
"Share your Mana?" Richard asked with the mug hovering by his lips.
His family turned to him with raised brows.
Then Maya broke the silence with a scoff, "See? Waking up earlier than usual... I knew something wasn't right. I'm sure he's still half asleep."
Richard stared at them blankly, racking his brain to remember what Claudia's words meant.
'What did she mean by that? Think, think, think!'
At that moment, he relived a glimpse of his first day going to the Academy. His family was standing before him as Hunter spoke.
"We have to share our Mana with you everyday to help boost your Mana Reserve. That's the only way you can survive in the Academy."
"But please note that you'll only be able to cast two or three spells each day, okay?" Claudia said, rubbing his cheek. "The spell to share Mana hasn't been perfected yet, so we can only give you so little."
Immediately returning to the present, Richard sat back with dilated eyes, muttering inwardly, 'What the hell?'