Vonn Silverfein now had a new name: Vonn Caldwell, a vassal family member of the main family. But despite that, he couldn't care less, as it was irrelevant to survival. He didn't need it.
'Politics is really difficult to control… It could change due to the shifts in the story because of my previous actions. But it doesn't matter. All I need to make sure of is that I become relevant to Linn—not for any part of my identity.'
Vonn had realized that despite everything he'd done, all he had to do was remain an extra until the protagonist of this novel came into bloom. He only needed to keep his powers to himself.
Yes, powers. In the last few months, he'd been learning to open his soul further. He'd at least recovered half of his abilities as the strongest exorcist.
That was incredible… He could be one of the strongest characters, if he had to praise himself, but no… there were far stronger characters in the novel, ones that were out of scale compared to reality.
Vonn understood all of this, and drawing the spotlight to himself would only waste his efforts to survive.
'Right now… I have to follow Mother Cassie's guidance on becoming the first irregular mage… that was what she was waiting for.'
When Vonn finally arrived at the training ground in the estate, he was mesmerized. So mesmerized, in fact, that he didn't notice he'd bumped into someone.
Realizing what just happened, he lowered his head and politely apologized before moving forward. But it seemed that wasn't enough to resolve the situation.
"Hey… who are you?"
Vonn raised his head, seeing a kid with orange eyes, no older than five. The boy exuded an arrogant yet mature aura that felt strangely familiar. His appearance wasn't exactly unfamiliar either, something about him resonated with Vonn.
Trying to place who he might have bumped into, Vonn searched his memory, momentarily ignoring the two boys behind the one he'd bumped into and the boy himself.
As he pondered, the boy, veins popping in frustration at being ignored, raised his palm and struck Vonn on the chest.
His eyes widened in surprise as throbbing pain rushed through his entire body. The impact was so strong he felt his back snap against the wall, along with a few ribs cracking.
He couldn't quite catch what had just happened, it was all too fast. All he could do was weakly raise his head and gaze at whoever had struck him.
Now realizing who it was, he grimaced and hissed inwardly.
'I can't believe I'm having this cliché encounter… Really?'
The kid before him was the third young master, the gifted prodigy of the Silverfein family, considered the future of the family. He wasn't just an ordinary genius, he seemed like a reincarnation of the first patriarch, with all the special traits to match. The third young master, known for his fierceness and brutality, was named Dvion.
"I wonder how you got in here? This estate is reserved for strong people. You—I can't sense any mana from you," Dvion stated in a blank, cold tone, the irritation from earlier gone.
Inside, he recalled his mother's teachings. 'Erase your emotions and prove yourself. Trample those who block or ignore you. The world shall know your name.'
Clinging to those teachings was likely why he had suddenly struck Vonn. Of course, Vonn didn't know that, attributing it instead to Dvion's nasty personality.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to bump into you," Vonn said, lowering his head apologetically.
Despite how composed he tried to stay, he couldn't erase his irritation toward Dvion, whose face bore an odd resemblance to Diana's. He looked like a younger, male version of her.
"You didn't mean that. But is that how you apologize?"
Vonn clenched his fist discreetly, then lowered his posture, prostrating himself before the three younger kids.
'I can't believe this is happening right now.'
Dvion's face, on the other hand, showed a slight smirk before he snorted. He turned to the two boys behind him, who appeared to be his followers, and said, "This is boring. I thought he'd at least try to fight back."
"That won't happen, third young master. You are the future of Silverfein, any rebellious behavior against you is punishable by execution."
Vonn couldn't believe what he'd just heard. He knew they were just trying to scare him, but hearing it still sent an invisible blade slicing across his neck.
"I am the third young master and the future of the family. What should I be worried about?"
He then darted his eyes down at Vonn, who remained on his knees, elbows on the ground.
Dvion, feeling annoyed but not showing it on his face, stepped on Vonn's head. Vonn was caught off guard as his face was suddenly pressed into the floor. He had expected the third young master to be a bully, as he was portrayed in the novel, but this was an early display of character.
'It's as if he was born with that nasty personality—or did he just inherit it from Diana? Whatever happens, I have to endure this… This is nothing.'
"A useless kid like you should know how to entertain royalty. I am royalty, and you, without a Mana Heart, should have bowed to me the moment you saw I was here."
Vonn bit his lower lip. 'As if I could have known this would happen.'
"Young master, what should we do with him? In the future, he'll only continue to bother you. People like him are just like pests," one of the boys behind Dvion said with a domineering grin.
"Like a pest? He is a pest. I don't even understand why he's breathing the same air as you, young master," added the other boy.
Hearing all this, Vonn couldn't help but sigh inwardly. 'Right… the third young master is easily influenced by these sly-tongued people. So he's been like this since childhood.'