Alisha pulled her hand back, disappointment clouding her expression. She had expected the same result with Arin as she had with Jack, but it appeared that Arin wasn't as special as his elder brother.
'Well, it's a good thing,' she mused, the corners of her lips curving upwards. 'Aldermond wouldn't be thrilled to have both of his sons taken by the church.'
Arin, relieved, watched her withdraw gracefully. 'And that's how a normal blessing goes, dear elder brother,' he thought, his face gleaming with confidence.
The sting of the process was subsiding, allowing Jack to regain his clarity, the pain slowly ebbing away.
Jack caught the fleeting glance Arin sent his way as he returned to his seat. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. In truth, he was glad that his brother was soaking up all the attention. The last thing he needed right now was to draw the eyes of the church.
'If I stand out too much, it'll make it easier for Haraus to find me, to eliminate me,' Jack thought, his lips curling into a smile. 'But Arin... Arin's playing right into my hands.'
There was a certain thrill in manipulation, one that Jack relished in. 'There's nothing sweeter than guiding someone down the path you've laid for them.' He clasped his hands together, lowering his head just enough to hide the growing smirk.
Across the room, Alisha's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "I have fulfilled the purpose for my visit, and I will be leaving soon. But remember this: if, during the conventional school program, either of them causes trouble, we will have no choice but to eliminate them completely."
Her tone was cold, final, but Aldermond remained steady. Ordinarily, he might have bristled at her audacity, speaking to him in such a manner. But Alisha's position, especially for someone her age, demanded a certain level of respect. He could afford patience.
"Very well," Aldermond replied, his voice measured, betraying no emotion. "We will comply with whatever decision you make, provided the reasoning is sound. You will have our support."
Internally, Aldermond was less composed. 'I'll need to start Jack's training soon... There's no point in wasting any more time on magic he can no longer use.' He had resisted this thought for so long, not wanting to allow him thread a different path from the rest of their bloodline.
What would the people think? how would a kingdom that flourished with magic have a swordsman as a king? this wasn't the kingdom of swords. But times were growing more dangerous by the day, with demons creeping ever closer to their world. War was looming on the horizon, and he had to prepare, not just for himself but for his entire family.
Even Asriel.
'I didn't want to consider it before, but now... there's no avoiding it.' Jack could no longer rely on magic. He would need to be trained in the discipline of the sword, despite the laws of their nation forbidding such practices. But what choice did Aldermond have? It was either that or let Jack drift through life without a purpose, vulnerable in a kingdom that demanded strength.
"Good," Alisha said, rising from her seat with a smooth elegance. "I shall take my leave, but I must say, your son seems quite special. The church would be honored to have him visit one day."
Jack's blood ran cold. 'A visit? To the church? To hang me on a stake more like!' He could feel a bead of sweat sliding down his neck. His thoughts raced. 'That little girl wants me dead. She just touched me, and I was practically seeing the gates of hell. Now she expects me to walk into her trap?'
'So, now my child's caught your eye?' Aldermond thought, a grim smile playing at the edges of his lips. He was no fool—he understood the church's inner workings well. His family's ancestral ties to the church ran deep, which kept him bound to support them. But he was not blind to their darker side.
"Ah," Aldermond said aloud, smiling politely. "That would be a wonderful honor. But it's not my decision to make. It's up to him. Besides, he'll be starting his training soon, and I doubt he'll have the time. He'll be preparing to take my place as king, after all."
Jack's heart skipped a beat. 'Training?'
Alisha smiled, a subtle, charming smile that masked the sharpness behind her words. "Well, then I'll ask him directly." She turned to Jack, her eyes gleaming. "Asriel, dear, would you like to visit the church? We would be delighted to have you."
Her voice was melodic, almost enchanting. Jack felt a strange pull, as if his body wanted to respond despite his mind screaming in protest. There was something unnatural about her words, a force he couldn't quite place.
**[Goddess Speech detected. Resistance to divinity +10]
A system notification flashed before Jack's eyes. 'This little witch!' He gritted his teeth, realizing just how close he had come to falling under her spell. 'She wants to draw me into her trap. But thanks to the system, you'll have to try harder than that.'
Keeping his composure, Jack gave her a polite, almost dismissive smile. "No, I won't be coming. As my father said, I'll be focusing on my training. With any luck, I'll be able to fully harness my magical abilities afterward."
There was no mistaking the flicker of shock in Alisha's eyes, though she hid it well. Jack savored the moment, enjoying the satisfaction of throwing her off balance, even if only slightly.
"Very well," she said, her tone controlled, though Jack could hear the frustration beneath it.
As she turned to leave, Jack couldn't help but feel a small victory. He had escaped her grasp for now, and better yet, she had no idea what kind of opponent he was becoming.
Aldermond, watching the exchange, took a sip of his tea, a thoughtful look crossing his face. 'Training... It's time Jack faces his future.'
And Jack, his mind buzzing with possibilities and dangers.