Waver's face turned pale, but Kayneth continued pressing him. "Do you know what a true magus is?"
Kayneth's voice rose higher and higher. "Someone who keeps moving forward even after losing everything. Someone who fulfills their mission even if they become a monster. Someone who holds firm to their convictions even when everyone despises them!"
He grabbed Waver by the collar and hauled him up. "Do you think you'll gain recognition just by going back from here? Forget it! Magi only care about benefits. Without a lineage, without theories, without any resources, what gives you the right to expect anyone's recognition?"
"Do you know what you should be doing right now? Use your Command Spells. Take everything you need from me... Isn't that what your Servant does? Conquest, plunder-that's how he became a king! The same goes for you. You must learn to fight for what you want before you can become a Lord..."
His voice suddenly caught, because tears were welling in Waver's eyes.
"Professor..."
Waver's voice trembled. "But, but..."
"What do you want to say? State your views, Mr. Waver Velvet."
Waver understood what he had to do. He gritted his teeth. "Professor Kayneth... Sir, I, I want to..."
A hint of anticipation appeared on Kayneth's face. "Say it. Say it, and let me see your resolve!"
Waver sniffled. "I want to enter into a contract with you. I want to inherit the El-Melloi family!"
Kayneth froze. At the very last moment, this most useless of students had given him an unexpected answer.
"Waver Velvet..."
He released his grip, letting Waver drop to the ground. "You really are... a hopeless fool."
He turned his back on Waver, keeping him from seeing the wretched expression on his face. "Listen, Velvet."
"Yes!"
Waver instinctively straightened up. Perhaps reverence for one's