Family Trifles

Ryan heard the familiar voice from his memories drifting in from outside the room, and for a moment, he did not know how to face the mother of this life.

Coming from a civilized, open modern society to this strange world filled with magic and mystery, Ryan was satisfied that he could touch the unfathomable depths of magic, yet he never felt a sense of belonging to the social structure of this medieval era.

However, the parents of this life had truly fulfilled their responsibilities toward Ryan. Although his father, Count Chris, was strict and rigid, filled with the dignity and arbitrariness of a feudal patriarch, he never treated his youngest son poorly. Whether it was Ryan's childhood request to study staff techniques or his eventual path in pursuing magic, the Count had always provided immense support.

Ryan's father in this life had always taught him that as a noble, one could choose the glorious and arduous life of a knight, the noble and elegant path of an aristocrat, or the pursuit of mysterious and powerful magical truths. But no matter which path was chosen, once the decision was made, one must fearlessly persist in that choice.

As for Ryan's mother, her attitude toward him was one of complete doting.

After all, who wouldn't love a child who had been clever and precocious since youth, looking as if he were carved from pink jade? Not to mention when such a little darling was one's own child.

Seat, Ryan's mother, had married from afar from Neverwinter. Her original family was a major power in Neverwinter as well, and after forming a marriage alliance with the House Chris of Waterdeep, the combined strength of both families had flourished even further.

Consequently, Lady Seat's status in the household was unique. Doted upon by her family and husband, she had always maintained the lively mindset of a young girl, and time seemed to favor this beautiful woman, leaving no marks upon her.

This simple and happy Seat always showered her children with affection. Toward her youngest son, Ryan, she was so protective she feared he might melt in her mouth or shatter in her hands. She had always been indulgent of Ryan's requests since he was small, satisfying his every strange hobby, which made Count Chris quite dissatisfied, fearing the child would be raised by a woman's hand, becoming addicted to play and losing his drive.

Yet, although Count Chris was full of majesty in front of outsiders, he was a true henpecked husband at home. After being scolded into silence once or twice, he could only settle for tightening his supervision of Ryan during the day.

Fortunately, Ryan possessed the soul of an adult within his young body. Even though he had been tempted by such a life for a time, Ryan, understanding his true goals, eventually broke free from the allure of the sugar-coated bullets and began to prepare for his path of magical study with self-discipline and thoroughness.

Ryan's actions greatly gratified Count Chris, who believed his education had been a great success. As for his mother, she naturally loved and doted on such an obedient child even more.

The only conflict Ryan ever had with Lady Chris was his decision to travel to Silverymoon to study magic. No mother would want her young child to travel thousands of miles away to a strange city to study magic alone, let alone Lady Chris, who, given her doting nature, could never bear to let him leave her side.

However, she could not withstand Ryan's insistent demands to study in Silverymoon, which even escalated to him going on a hunger strike. Even after being scolded and disciplined by his furious parents, the stubborn Ryan held firm to his request.

Of course, as an adult with mature thinking and sound values, Ryan felt quite guilty about this, but he had no other choice.

As a transmigrator, Ryan knew that sometimes being one step ahead made one a genius, but being ten steps ahead made one a madman. As he grew older, the constraints he faced within the family would only increase, and many of his ideas and the insights brought from his past life would be impossible to implement. It was better to jump out of the shackles and find a freer environment where he could truly display his talents.

After repeated disputes, his mother, who loved him dearly, eventually softened and agreed. She even mobilized her connections and wealth in Silverymoon to send Ryan to study in the mage tower of Yefalin.

However, this world was ultimately not like his past life; noble education came with obligations. When you accept the family's education and assistance, you are destined to contribute in return.

As Ryan's status in the mage tower rose step by step, the family's returns on him far exceeded their investment. Ever since he was taken in as a disciple by his mentor Yefalin, the family had used his influence to greatly expand their own.

Coupled with Ryan's talent in alchemy, the magical potions he provided each year brought significant benefits to the family, which in turn attracted many flies.

Those disgusting, messy affairs were things Ryan had never encountered in his past life, but he had seen plenty of them in this one.

Compared to the cold, interest-driven family relationships filled with infighting in this life, Ryan missed that plain but warm home, where simple happiness was now out of reach.

Therefore, the only family member Ryan truly accepted in this world was his mother, who loved him selflessly. As for his father, he now valued Ryan more for his status as the disciple of a legendary mage.

After years of separation, the wanderer returned, and facing his waiting mother, Ryan still felt a lingering sense of guilt.

The side door of the front hall was pushed open, and a beautiful woman dressed in magnificent, elegant attire stepped inside, fixing her gaze on the handsome youth sitting in his seat.

"Mother, I'm home." Ryan was just about to raise his hand to greet her when he was pulled into a tearful embrace by Seat.

Recognizing her own son at a glance, Seat abandoned her previous tone of anger, her voice gentle and choked with sobs: "Ryan, you finally know to come back! Do you have any idea how much your mother missed you at home!"

Ryan was momentarily speechless, feeling even more guilty. He could only pat Seat's back, comforting her in a soft voice: "Don't be sad, Mother, haven't I returned now?"

Seat gently stroked Ryan's cheek, her eyes filled with heartache and the joy of reunion, chiding him with concern: "I told you to take care of yourself, look how thin you've become. I told you long ago not to go to Silverymoon, but you wouldn't listen and insisted on studying magic in Waterdeep."

Listening to his mother begin her nagging complaints about his choices again—a ritual he endured every year during their magical communications—Ryan felt his head swell. He hurriedly changed the subject: "Mother, by the way, why haven't I seen Father? Where has he gone?"

Seat was successfully distracted, her beautiful red lips pouting as she complained: "He's been busy to the point of exhaustion lately, spending all his time at the City Hall. He hasn't been paying much attention to family matters, and I expect he won't be home until tonight."

Ryan calculated silently; it seemed Waterdeep was indeed not very peaceful during this period. The commotion was significant enough to alarm the usually indifferent City Hall.

Ryan pulled himself out of Seat's embrace and said to his still-stunning mother: "Mother, I've just arrived home and need to go unpack my things. I'll come back and chat with you properly in a while."

Seat looked lovingly at the shy, bashful youth before her, stroking his smooth, brilliant golden hair. She couldn't resist ruffling it a few more times before nodding in agreement.

Watching the youth leave with slightly hurried, flustered steps, Seat pursed her orange lips and sighed inwardly: "This child, still so shy, but he's just so cute, so cute. He truly is my little one."

Above the night sky, a full moon cast a cold, clear glow. Below, Waterdeep was ablaze with lights, and the crowds, exhausted from a day's work, mingled in various taverns, using alcohol to numb their nerves and pass the time.

In the luxurious Chris mansion, Ryan sat upright, facing the sumptuous feast before him. The direct descendants of House Chris had returned to the mansion from their respective manors and villas upon hearing the news of Ryan's return, holding a dinner to welcome him home.

The candlelight was warm, and the conversation was pleasant—a truly warm and harmonious scene.

His elder brother and second sister, now both adults, had learned to offer their concerns with mature, reserved politeness, exchanging pleasantries like the most familiar of strangers.

Yet, Ryan knew that behind this, his smiling siblings looked at him with jealousy and wariness.

People's words are to be feared; as soon as Ryan returned, rumors spread that he had come to vie for the title, leaving those Chris clansmen who felt victory was within their grasp feeling like they were sitting on pins and needles.

Ryan smiled, treating it as a satirical silent play. He imagined that even if he confessed he had no interest in family affairs, it would likely be dismissed as a deceptive smokescreen.

Beside Ryan sat a cute little girl, carved from pink jade, looking curiously at the stranger who had appeared in their home. Although he had learned through magical messages that his parents had added a younger sister in recent years, this was the first time Ryan had seen her.

Ryan smiled and winked at the curious little girl, who shyly withdrew her gaze and lowered her head. Count Chris, sitting at the head of the table, watched the interaction between his youngest son and daughter, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly before he straightened his face and said sternly: "Alright, let us begin our meal."

Only then did those at the table set aside their reserve, beginning the dinner with the elegant posture of noble etiquette.

Ryan followed suit, mimicking them well enough. Internally, however, he kept complaining: Sigh, I've gotten used to living alone in Silverymoon and have forgotten all the family rules. Luckily, my imitation skills are good. As expected, nobles are just a bunch of fussy people.

Ryan resolutely forgot the fact that he was also a member of the wicked noble class and began to criticize the various complex rules and etiquette of the family in his heart.

When this family dinner, which Ryan found extremely uncomfortable, finally ended, Count Chris stood up and called to him: "Ryan, come with me to the study."

Ryan shuddered reflexively, as if recalling the terror of being dominated by his father during his childhood, and immediately replied, "Understood, I'm coming."

Arriving at the stern and tidy study, Count Chris sat in a velvet armchair, a pipe clenched between his teeth. In the dim candlelight, half of his serious, square-jawed face was obscured by shadow. Exuding an aura of immense pressure, Count Chris looked at the youth who had grown before him and asked, "Ryan, now that you've returned to Waterdeep, what are your plans?"

Ryan looked at the dignified middle-aged man before him, bearing the oncoming pressure as he replied neither servilely nor overbearingly, "Father, this return is for a mission from the academy. I need to go to the Mages Guild in Waterdeep tomorrow to hand it over. I will only know the specific arrangements after I have been there."

Upon hearing the mention of the Mages Guild, a flash of sharp light crossed Count Chris's eyes, and his expression became difficult to read. After a long pause, he continued to ask, "Is your magical cultivation proceeding smoothly?"

Ryan noticed his father's anomaly and kept a mental note, responding as if nothing were amiss, "I am already an intermediate mage. Teacher Yefalin requires me to travel and learn abroad to enrich my knowledge and character."

The stern Count Chris squeezed a smile onto his face, nodded, and said with a hint of praise, "Hmm, not bad. It seems you haven't wasted your time over these years. Your teacher is right; young people should go out and explore."

Seeing his father in a good mood, Ryan pondered for a moment before asking about the current situation in Waterdeep: "Father, has something been happening in Waterdeep lately? Does it have anything to do with the Zhentarim?"

Although Ryan had used family connections that afternoon to look into recent events in Waterdeep, the texts only provided mundane information such as "several more conflicts have broken out in the chaotic harbor district," "underground gangs in the city have started infighting again," and "rumors of unusual activity in the distant Sword Mountains." In a city as vast as Waterdeep, these were already common occurrences.

Undercurrents were surging wildly beneath the treacherous situation in Waterdeep, yet Ryan had failed to find the intelligence he sought on the surface. Helpless, he could only ask his father, who served as an administrator of Waterdeep, hoping to obtain some inside information from him.

Count Chris's gaze sharpened as he looked deeply at Ryan: "Where did you get that information? Waterdeep is indeed not peaceful lately. The Zhentarim and the Harpers have already clashed four or five times in the dock district, and the Mages Guild has been frequently active as well. Right now, Waterdeep is like a volcano about to erupt; no one knows when it will blow."

Having obtained the information he wanted, Ryan pressed further: "Then, Father, do you know what is causing this situation?"

Count Chris took a deep drag from the tobacco in his hand, exhaled a long plume of smoke, and said slowly, "That is a question for the Mages Guild. Those rats from the Zhentarim wouldn't get out of bed for anything less than profit; it is said that this mobilization was triggered by news coming out of the Mages Guild. Mage affairs are always mysterious, and the City Hall has no jurisdiction over them. It is enough that we can manage our own small patch of land."

As I thought, Ryan mused. No wonder the mission item was so mysterious. If a plain, unremarkable intermediate mage like himself could attract an attack from a high-level thief, the waters within the Mages Guild must be incredibly deep.

It seemed all the puzzles would only be solved tomorrow at the Mages Guild. Feeling his Spark awakening progress, which had just reached 100%, Ryan decided to awaken his Planeswalker abilities that night to add an ace up his sleeve and eliminate any future worries.

After chatting with his father a while longer about the situation in Waterdeep and the family's recent status, Ryan took his leave and returned to his room.

In the room that felt both familiar and strange, looking at the layout that hadn't changed from his memories, Ryan picked up the doll resting by the bedside. He gently rubbed the rough surface of the doll, his eyes flowing quietly with nostalgia and sorrow.

Ryan took a deep breath, made up his mind, and directly utilized the dim, burning Spark within his mana source. His vision blurred instantly as a multitude of illusions, afterimages, and grand scenes rushed toward him. It was as if a sacred and profound voice had descended from beyond the heavens, and Ryan entered an indescribable, wondrous state.