"Ahem, since you've passed my test and you do indeed carry half of the Latreia family's blood, you may call me 'Grandmother' from now on," Claire said.
Wood could clearly sense a slight wavering in Claire's tone. It was obvious that, for her, saying these words was no small feat.
"Your magic and swordsmanship—were they all taught to you by your parents?" Claire asked, her voice thoughtful. "When we fought earlier, I could tell that you didn't use your full strength, did you? Apart from the Fire Saint-level magic, you must have held something back."
Claire wasn't just proud of her grandson—she was also deeply curious.
Up until now, no matter how strict she was with people, she couldn't find a single flaw in Wood.
Perfect noble manners, a composed mind, a strong character, and above all, extraordinary talent and strength.
For someone as strict as Claire, encountering such perfection only made her more eager to protect and cherish it. To her, Wood was that perfection embodied.
"Zenith and Paul—my parents—did teach me the basics, but I've also had the fortune of meeting other exceptional teachers.
Without their guidance, I wouldn't be where I am today.
As for holding back, well... I did keep a tiny bit in reserve. Besides the Fire Saint-level magic, I've also mastered Saint-level spells in water, earth, and wind, including healing magic," Wood replied humbly.
Despite being mentally prepared, Claire couldn't help but be startled when Wood revealed a portion of his true abilities.
As for Therese, she had become entirely numb to the shock at this point. She felt like her nephew was some kind of beast raised on magical feed.
Every time she thought she had him figured out, he revealed yet another jaw-dropping secret. First, she believed they were on the same level, but then he turned out to be a Sword Saint.
When she adjusted to that revelation, he revealed his identity as an SS-ranked adventurer. And just as she was getting used to that, Wood whipped out a magic staff and casually cast Fire Saint-level spells, proving he wasn't just a swordsman, but a magical prodigy as well.
And now, after marveling at how he held his own against her mother, Wood nonchalantly admitted he hadn't even been fighting at full strength. He was actually a master of all attributes at the Saint level!
He was only twelve years old! When Therese was twelve, she was just an apprentice swordsman, dreaming of a bright future and comfortably asking her parents for pocket money.
But her freakishly talented nephew? At twelve, he was already a Sword Saint, an SS-ranked adventurer, and a Saint-level mage in all elements.
"I've had the butler prepare rooms for you. It's hardly appropriate for members of the Latreia family to be staying in some small inn. You can bring your sisters over at any time.
As for Zenith... If she wants to return, she can. If not, well, that's her choice," Claire said, before turning and walking away.
After witnessing Wood's incredible talent, a new, half-formed idea had begun to take root in Claire's mind.
Would Zenith return to the Latreia family? Knowing her daughter as well as she did, Claire thought that once Wood and his sisters were living at the Latreia estate, Zenith would inevitably follow.
From the task Wood had requested earlier, Claire also learned that the Fittoa region where Wood's family had lived had been completely destroyed.
Given that, settling down in the Kingdom of Milis seemed like a very real possibility for Wood and his siblings.
Moreover, Wood had revealed that he was only the second son of the Greyrat family.
In the Kingdom of Asura, family inheritance typically went to the eldest child.
In other words, as the second son, Wood would have no claim to the Greyrat family's inheritance.
This realization sparked a new idea in Claire's mind: perhaps Wood could be adopted into the Latreia family and inherit the Latreia estate!
Currently, though the Latreia family held the prestigious title of Count, the internal family dynamics were precarious. Claire's husband was dead, her children were less than capable, and several side branches of the family were eyeing the main family's fortune.
If Therese and her siblings failed to produce a worthy heir, and Claire herself passed away, the Latreia family would surely collapse, or worse, fall into the hands of a side branch.
This was something Claire absolutely could not tolerate. So when Zenith and her children appeared in the capital, Claire saw not only the joy of her daughter's survival but also a glimmer of hope for the future.
Especially after learning that Wood was a Sword Saint, she had arranged the earlier test to gauge his abilities.
Wood was half-Latreia by blood. And besides, even if Therese married and her husband joined their family, their children would be only half-Latreia as well.
So rather than relying on some uncertain future, Claire decided to focus on the present. Wood was right in front of her, and he was perfect.
She was beyond satisfied with Wood. In just one day, her grandson had deeply impressed her, not only because of her years of guilt over Zenith but also due to Wood's exemplary character and unparalleled strength.
Moving into the Latreia household went smoothly. Naturally, Wood's sisters, Norn and Aisha, followed him.
And just as Claire had predicted, with her children living at the Latreia estate, Zenith eventually found her way back to the home she had left more than a decade ago.
Initially, Zenith had feared that her mother would greet her with scolding or harsh words.
But the reality was far different. The usually strict, stubborn Claire couldn't maintain her stern expression when she saw her daughter for the first time in years.
Without a word, Claire rushed forward and pulled Zenith into a tight embrace.
Seeing the deep wrinkles on her mother's face, the once-proud Zenith broke down into tears.
"Mother... I'm so sorry... for making you worry," Zenith sobbed.
Family bonds are like that—no matter how the world may let you down, your loved ones will always stand by your side.
Watching the tearful reunion between mother and daughter, Wood quietly took his two younger sisters by the hand and led them away, giving the two women, who hadn't seen each other in over a decade, the private moment they deserved.