Family Matters

Ryan heard a familiar voice from his memories coming from outside the room. For a moment, he didn't know how to face the mother of this life.

After coming from a civilized, open modern society to this otherworld of swords and magic, filled with wonders and mysteries, Ryan was pleased to have the chance to study the unfathomable art of magic. Yet he had never felt any sense of belonging in this medieval society.

Still, his parents in this life had done their duty by him. His father, Count Chris, was stern and rigid, with all the authority and decisiveness of a feudal patriarch. But he had never shortchanged Ryan, his youngest son. Whether Ryan had wanted to study staff techniques as a child or had eventually chosen to pursue magic, his father had given him tremendous support.

Ryan's father had always taught him that, as a nobleman, he could choose the glorious but arduous life of a knight, follow the elegant path of the nobility, or pursue the mysterious and powerful truths of magic. But whichever path he chose, once he made his decision, he had to pursue it fearlessly and see it through.

His mother, on the other hand, had been nothing but indulgent toward him.

After all, who wouldn't love a clever, precocious, adorable child, especially when that sweet little thing was their own?

Seat, Ryan's mother, had married into the family from Neverwinter. Her original family had been a major force in Neverwinter, and after forming an alliance through marriage with House Chris of Waterdeep, both families had grown even more powerful.

Mrs. Seat held a unique position in the household. Adored by her family and husband, she had kept the lively spirit of a young girl. Time seemed to favor the beautiful woman, leaving no mark on her.

Seat was a simple, cheerful woman who had always doted on her children. She had been especially indulgent toward Ryan, her youngest, as if she were afraid he might melt in her mouth or fall if she held him in her hands. Ever since he was little, she had catered to his every whim and indulged his many strange hobbies. Count Chris had deeply disapproved, worrying that if the boy was raised by a woman, he would become too absorbed in play and lose his ambition.

But although Count Chris was imposing in front of outsiders, at home he was thoroughly henpecked. After he'd been scolded into silence for raising the matter once or twice, he could only tighten his control over Ryan in other ways.

Fortunately, Ryan had the soul of an adult in his young body. Though he had been seduced by that comfortable life for a while, he knew what he truly wanted and had resisted its temptations. He had disciplined himself and made comprehensive preparations for his path of magical study.

Ryan's actions had greatly pleased Count Chris, who believed his parenting had been a success. As for his mother, she naturally loved and indulged such a well-behaved child even more.

The only time Ryan had ever argued with Lady Chris was over his decision to leave for Silverymoon to study magic. No mother would want her young child to travel thousands of miles alone to study magic in an unfamiliar city. And with how much Lady Chris adored Ryan, how could she bear to let him leave her side?

But Ryan had insisted on studying in Silverymoon, even going so far as to starve himself. Though his furious parents had punished him, stubborn Ryan had stood firm.

Of course, as a rational adult with a mature outlook, Ryan still felt quite guilty about it. But he'd had no other choice.

As a transmigrator, Ryan knew that being one step ahead made you a genius, while being ten steps ahead made you a madman. As he grew older, his family would place more and more restrictions on him. Many of his ideas and the wild notions he'd brought from his previous life would be impossible to pursue. It was better to break free of those constraints and find a freer environment where he could really make his mark.

After much arguing, his mother's concern for him eventually softened her resolve, and she agreed. She then put her connections and wealth in Silverymoon to use, sending Ryan to study in Yefalin's mage tower.

But this world was not like his previous one. A noble's education came with obligations. If you accepted your family's education and assistance, you were bound to give something back.

As Ryan's standing in the mage tower steadily rose, the family's returns on their investment in him far outstripped what they had spent. Ever since Yefalin had taken him on as an apprentice, the family had used his influence to greatly expand its own.

On top of that, Ryan's talent for alchemy brought the family a handsome profit from the potions he made each year. Naturally, that attracted plenty of pests.

Ryan had never encountered such despicable, disgusting affairs in his previous life, but in this life, he had seen more than enough.

Compared with the scheming and coldly transactional family relationships of this life, Ryan missed the simple, warm home he'd had before. That modest happiness was now beyond his reach.

So the only family member Ryan had truly accepted in this life was probably his mother, who loved him selflessly. As for his father, he now cared more about Ryan's status as the apprentice of a legendary mage.

After years away, the wanderer had finally returned. Facing the mother who had been waiting for him, Ryan still felt guilty and uneasy.

The side door to the front hall swung open, and an elegantly dressed, stately beauty strode in, fixing her gaze on the handsome young man seated there.

"Mother, I'm home." Ryan was about to raise a hand in greeting, but Seat, her eyes glistening with tears, swept him into her arms.

Recognizing her own son at a glance, Seat's anger melted away. Her voice softened, and she spoke through her tears. "Ryan, you finally came home. Do you know how much I've missed you?"

Ryan was at a loss for words, and his guilt only deepened. He could only pat Seat on the back and comfort her gently. "Don't be sad, Mother. I'm home now, aren't I?"

Seat gently touched Ryan's cheek. Her eyes brimmed with concern and the joy of their reunion as she scolded him. "I told you to take care of yourself. Look at you—you've lost weight! I told you not to go to Silverymoon and to study magic here in Waterdeep, but you wouldn't listen."

Hearing his mother start to ramble on about his choices again, Ryan felt his head grow heavy. Even though he went through this every year during their magical calls, he hurriedly changed the subject. "Mother, by the way, I'm home now, but I haven't seen Father. Where is he?"

Seat was indeed distracted. Her beautiful red lips pursed as she complained, "He's been terribly busy lately, spending all day at the city hall. He hardly pays any attention to family affairs. I expect he won't be home until tonight."

Ryan quietly considered this. It seemed Waterdeep really hadn't been peaceful lately. The commotion had even reached the city hall, which usually kept out of other people's business.

Ryan slipped free of Seat's embrace and said to his still-beautiful mother, "Mother, I just got home and need to unpack. I'll come spend some time talking with you later."

Seat gazed at the shy young man with affection, then ran her hand over his smooth, brilliant golden hair. The feel of it was so delightful that she couldn't resist ruffling it again before finally agreeing.

Watching the young man hurry away, looking a little flustered, Seat pressed her orange-colored lips together and sighed to herself. That child is still so shy. But he's so, so adorable. Just as you'd expect from my boy.

High above, a bright full moon shone with a cold light. Below, Waterdeep blazed with lights as people who had worked all day crowded into taverns, using alcohol to dull their senses and pass the time.

In the luxurious Chris mansion, Ryan sat upright before the sumptuous feast. Once the direct members of House Chris heard that he had returned, they had come back one after another from their estates and villas to welcome him home with a banquet.

The candlelight was warm, and laughter filled the air. It was a picture of domestic harmony.

His elder brother and elder sister, both now adults, had learned to ask after Ryan with mature reserve. They exchanged polite but cordial greetings, like the most familiar of strangers.

But Ryan knew that behind their bright smiles lay jealousy and apprehension.

Rumors could do real harm. As soon as Ryan returned, word spread that he had come to compete for the title. It left the Chris relatives, who had thought victory was already theirs, feeling as if thorns were pricking them.

Ryan smiled, treating it all like a farcical pantomime. If he admitted he had no interest in family affairs, they would probably take it as a smokescreen and think he was merely pretending.

A little girl, as cute as a doll, sat beside Ryan and watched the unfamiliar newcomer in the house with curiosity. He had learned through magical messages that his parents had given him a younger sister in recent years, but this was his first time meeting her.

Ryan smiled and winked at the curious little girl. The shy girl immediately looked away and lowered her head. Count Chris, seated at the head of the table, saw his youngest son interacting with his youngest daughter. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly before he straightened his expression and said sternly, "All right, let's begin."

Only then did everyone at the table set aside their restraint and begin the banquet with the elegance and poise expected of nobles.

Ryan followed along, doing his best to imitate them. But inside, he couldn't stop complaining. Sigh, I've gotten so used to living alone in Silverymoon that I've completely forgotten the family rules. Good thing I'm good at imitation. Nobles really are a bunch of nitpickers.

Ryan promptly forgot that he was part of the detestable nobility himself and began criticizing the family's many fussy rules and rituals in his mind.

When the family banquet, which Ryan had found deeply uncomfortable, finally ended, Count Chris rose and called to him. "Ryan, come with me to the study."

Ryan reflexively shuddered, as if remembering the terror of being at his father's mercy as a child. He immediately answered, "All right. I'm coming."

They made their way to the stern, orderly study. Count Chris sat in a velvet armchair, a long-stemmed pipe between his lips. In the dim candlelight, darkness obscured half of his stern, square face. He looked at the young man who had grown up before him and asked, his presence imposing, "Ryan, what are your plans now that you're back in Waterdeep?"

Ryan faced the imposing middle-aged man and answered calmly despite the pressure bearing down on him. "Father, I'm back for an assignment from the academy. I need to report to the Mages Guild in Waterdeep tomorrow. I won't know the details until I've gone there."

At the mention of the Mages Guild, a glint flashed in Count Chris's eyes. His expression turned unreadable. After a long pause, he continued, "Has your magical training been going well?"

Ryan noticed his father's reaction and filed it away, then answered as if nothing were amiss. "I'm already a Mage of the middle ranks. Teacher Yefalin wants me to travel and study outside the tower, to broaden my knowledge and experience."

The stern Count Chris managed a faint smile and nodded, offering a hint of praise. "Good. It seems your years of effort haven't gone to waste. Your teacher is right. Young people should go out and see the world."

Seeing that his father was in a good mood, Ryan thought for a moment before asking about the current situation in Waterdeep. "Father, has something happened in Waterdeep lately? Does it have anything to do with the Zhentarim?"

That afternoon, Ryan had used his family's connections to look into recent events in Waterdeep. But from the written accounts, all he could glean were ordinary reports: "several more clashes in the chaotic harbor district," "another gang war among the city's underworld factions," and "unusual activity reported in the distant Sword Mountains." In a city as vast as Waterdeep, such incidents were commonplace.

Under the city's turbulent surface, currents were surging wildly. But Ryan hadn't been able to find the information he wanted in the public reports, so he had no choice but to ask his father, Waterdeep's administrator, hoping he could provide some inside information.

Count Chris's gaze sharpened as he studied Ryan. "Where did you hear that? Waterdeep really hasn't been peaceful lately. The Zhentarim and the Harpers have clashed four or five times in the docks district. The Mages Guild has also been making frequent moves. Waterdeep is like a volcano on the verge of eruption. No one knows when it'll blow."

Having gotten the information he wanted, Ryan pressed on. "Do you know what could have caused this situation?"

Count Chris took a deep drag from his lit pipe and exhaled a long stream of smoke before answering slowly. "You'll have to ask the Mages Guild. Those rats from the Zhentarim never lift a finger without something to gain. I hear this whole operation started because of a message from the Mages Guild. Mages are always shrouded in mystery. The city hall has no authority over them. We're lucky if we can keep our own territory in order."

Ryan thought, Just as I expected. No wonder the mission item is so mysterious. I'm an utterly ordinary Mage of the middle ranks, yet I still got attacked by a high-ranking thief. The Mages Guild is sitting on a deep pool of secrets.

It seemed he would have to wait until he visited the Mages Guild tomorrow to get answers to all the mysteries. Feeling that his Spark awakening progress had just reached 100%, Ryan decided to awaken his planeswalker ability that night, gaining a trump card and removing any worries about what might come.

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

In his familiar yet unfamiliar room, Ryan looked at the furniture that remained unchanged in his memories. He picked up the cloth doll by the bed and gently rubbed its rough surface, his gaze quietly brimming with nostalgia and sorrow.

Ryan took a deep breath and steeled himself. He used the dim Spark burning within his magical source. His vision blurred at once as countless phantom images and grand scenes surged toward him. It was as if a sacred, mysterious voice came from beyond the heavens, and Ryan entered an indescribably wondrous state.