While chaos simmered within the Archmages Union Colonies Headquarters, an equally transformative shift was taking place within the walls of the Bourbons' ancestral estate.
The Bourbons' ancestral estate bustled with activity as their headquarters expanded to handle the new power dynamics. Charles, newly invigorated after his ailments were purged, had grown keenly aware of the boundless potential in Liam's contract magic.
The family had acquired an invaluable tool, and Charles intended to leverage it fully, seeing not only a means to safeguard the family but also a unique opportunity to reshape their assets.
Impressed by its power and flexibility, Charles saw an opportunity not only to solidify the family's security but to transform their assets.
Liam's abilities were indeed formidable, allowing him to take on the burdens of others and convert them into potent reserves for his contracts. After securing four house fairies in exchange for his grandparents' freedom from curses and ailments, Charles devised a plan to further tap into Liam's power.
With this, he led Liam into the dimly lit family dungeon. Rows of prisoners lined the hall—mages, traitors, and adversaries who had dared oppose the Bourbons. As the torchlight flickered across their wary faces, Charles addressed his grandson.
"These men..."
Charles began to explain, his voice calm but with an edge.
"Were once threats. Now, they have a chance to serve—if they have the will to honor a simple contract."
One by one, the prisoners were brought before Liam, their expressions wary and hardened. Some looked skeptical, others desperate. Liam offered each of them a choice: enter into a contract binding them to never betray the Bourbons or reveal the family's secrets, and in return, they would earn their freedom.
However, the contracts came with a hidden weight. Only the truly committed or repentant could uphold them without violating the terms, which would result in the forfeiture of their magic cores, lifespans, and even their talents.
Out of the nearly sixty prisoners that stood before him, only two managed to leave with their lives and abilities intact, exiting the estate under the watchful eyes of the family guards.
The others suffered a different destiny. With each broken contract, the prisoner's essence and powers were absorbed into Liam's contract storage, rendering them weak, vanquished, and completely devoid of power. They all collapsed, their complexions turning ashen as their magic was stripped away; they realized the price of their deceit too late as they crumbled to dust.
As the absorption persisted, Liam's reserves swelled, enriched with the lifespans, abilities, and even the endurance of those who had opposed his family. Acquired talents, magical cores, distinctive capabilities, and years of accumulated stamina were amassed within him, forming an expanding armory.
By the end of the ordeal, Liam's contract storage was brimming with a collection of exceptional talents and powers, sufficient to fortify his lineage for many generations to come.
Charles looked on with a mixture of pride and satisfaction.
"Today, you've not only strengthened our family, Liam, but also removed those who posed a threat to us."
He said, his tone both approving and shrewd.
Liam, while exhausted from the unrelenting process, felt a surge of energy and purpose within him. His contract magic had not only brought strength to his family but had solidified his own resolve. With each forfeited ability, he knew he was fortifying the Bourbons' legacy, ensuring that their power would remain unchallenged for years to come.
Liam felt both grounded and unsettled with Annabelle on his lap, her energy and determination a stark contrast to his own internal storm. His grandfather's words, however, snapped him to focus. The Founding Fathers Academy—known for churning out the elite of the magical world—was indeed impressive, but Liam hadn't considered by now a necessity for his plans. He was about to respond when Annabelle took the reins.
"Will he be attending the FFA, the Founding Fathers Academy?"
She asked, settling herself comfortably on Liam's lap, a glint of mischief in her eyes.
Charles looked at her, half-amused.
"There are still three days before the new school year begins."
Annabelle scoffed, dismissing the idea with a wave of her hand.
"Hmph. What's that academy going to teach him that I can't? The boy is a prodigy, far beyond anything that coward Strickland and his so-called faculty could hope to teach him."
"..."
"Lily!"
She called abruptly, cutting off her grandfather before he could launch into one of his old tirades about Strickland and the war.
"Inform all family members and allies on the FFA board that I'll need a meeting with as many of their…pliable members as possible."
"Oh?"
Charles raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her boldness.
"What's all this then?"
"You said it yourself, dear grandfather."
Annabelle replied with a smirk.
"He needs a proper teacher. And what better way than having a Bourbon as his guide?"
Her fingers ran through Liam's hair, a thoughtful glimmer in her eyes.
"Besides, an S-Rank mage should have no trouble securing a teaching position. It shouldn't be hard to…convince them."
"A teaching job, huh?"
Liam murmured, more to himself than anyone else. The idea of Annabelle as his mentor at FFA wasn't something he'd foreseen. He knew her intensity, her ambition, but to have her as an instructor in his everyday life? That would make things... interesting.
Charles chuckled and raised his glass and cleared his throat.
"It's about time you found yourself a respectable job, Annabelle. Yes, well. If anyone can outmaneuver those bureaucrats and cowards on the board, it's a Bourbon. And if Strickland doesn't like it, all the better."
He smirked at her reaction, not missing how her back stiffened ever so slightly at his tone.
"See to it, then."
Annabelle, with a glint of mischief, ran her fingers through Liam's hair.
"Don't worry, my darling nephew."
She whispered, her smile softening.
"We'll make sure you're prepared for anything they throw at you."
As they all stood, Charles cast a knowing glance at Liam.
"And as for you, lad, I want you to see just how much power that core of yours can handle. With the magic and lifespans you've taken in, push it toward S-Rank if you can—without killing yourself, of course."
He smiled darkly.
"That way, if anyone at the Academy dares question your worth, they'll see exactly what the Bourbon family is made of."
Annabelle pressed a quick kiss to Liam's cheek, beaming at the idea.
"Imagine it, darling—no one will question you with that level of power."
Charles finished his drink and rose, nodding for Liam to follow him.
"Come along, lad. We still have a few more prisoners awaiting us. Best not keep them waiting."
"Don't underestimate the value of a powerful core. When we're finished with the prisoners, I want to see if you're capable of handling those cores without weakening yourself. A Bourbon's power should always speak for itself."
The notion of absorbing magic cores still made Liam wary, given the power and risk involved that he took to raise his magical core to 343MP. But he gave a determined nod, following Charles, trying not to think about what lay ahead for him—not just at FFA, but within the complex web of expectations and power his family seemed determined to draw him into.
-------------------
Liam lay on the floor, breathing raggedly, his entire body aching from the transformation he'd just endured. Expanding his magical core to an unheard-of 616 had taken everything he had—and more.
His skin was battered and bleeding, and each time he passed out from the pain, Gamer's Body dutifully pulled him back from the edge, healing his wounds just enough to keep him going. But the agony was relentless, and only Annabelle's care had kept him grounded through the last two grueling days.
The first light of dawn crept softly through the window, illuminating the aftermath of his trial. The room was in complete disarray, strewn with traces of the turmoil he'd gone through to stabilize his core. Beside him, Annabelle lay close, her warmth steady and grounding, her presence so familiar yet almost ghostly in this surreal reunion.
He took a steadying breath, but his mind was haunted by the memory of her death—the sight of her and the rest of the Bourbons in his former life, struck down by the Dark Lord. The memory was a stark reminder of the fate he'd once failed to prevent, and now, with this second chance, he was determined not to let history repeat itself.
Liam focused on his breathing, reminding himself of the reason he was here, why he had been granted this chance. He was stronger now, equipped with knowledge and skills that could turn the tide.
But as he felt the weight of his family's past and their turbulent future looming ahead, he realized he still didn't quite understand what his role was meant to be. This new path felt both liberating and daunting, yet Annabelle's quiet breathing beside him offered a strange comfort.
He clenched his fists, feeling the raw power of his newly expanded core pulsate within him. He had a purpose, even if he couldn't yet see all the threads that connected it. And he had promises to keep.