Blade Over Magic

Family Discussion

It did not take long for Xander’s actions to spread through the Residence like a wildfire.

It wasn’t surprising. It only made sense that news of the illegitimate child of Xavier effectively beating the daylights out of the family’s elite retinue would circulate around the residence rapidly.

This news did not go well with some people, though.

Xavier took a bite of his dinner as he regarded his children.

Xavier had set a rule where all pure-blooded Lowells were to eat at the dinner table when they were at the residence. Unless they had something extremely important doing, or he had personally tasked them with something, they had to be there.

As such, the seat where Patrick would have sat was empty, as he was currently working on Xander’s sword.

But there were still 5 others available.

There was the beautiful Claire Lowell in her green dress. Seated next to her was another female who was evidently younger, perhaps in her early twenties. She had a youthful air to her, and her long blonde hair had been done into twin pigtails, and floating over her shoulder was a small ball of light with two feathered wings.

This was the youngest of the pure bloods. Theresa.

Opposite the two girls were two males. One was quite tall with pale skin that bordered on sickly. He had a gaunt expression and wore an alchemist robe. His blonde hair was messy, yet his green eyes were sharp.

Next to him, the man had an average height and build. In terms of appearance, while he was certainly handsome, he seemed to be quite ordinary compared to his siblings. Yet if one were to look at him, they would find it difficult to actually grasp what he actually looked like. The details changing with every glance.

These were the third and fourth children respectively. Andrew and Luke.

Finally, at the chair directly opposite Xavier, there was the eldest. Similar to his father, he wore a set of casual clothes, and resting on the table near him was a staff made from a mysterious white material. His blonde hair was cut short and, surprisingly, his eyes were closed. Not just closed, he actually appeared to be asleep! And yet, he ate just like his siblings.

This was Nathan Lowell.

They all ate in silence for a while, and only when the food was almost gone did one of them, Claire, finally speak.

”Father, I’d like to raise an issue.” Her tone was respectful, but her meaning was clear.

”With Xander, I assume?” Xavier didn’t bother beating around the bush, and Claire nodded.

”Yes. He has only just arrived, but he is already causing trouble.” She was, of course, speaking in reference to what he did with the retinue.

Xavier glanced at her.

”I believe I made it clear that I was the one who instructed him to train them.” At this, Theresa spoke up.

”We don’t disagree, father, but don’t you think that this is a bit impudent? Our knights are some of the best in the Kingdom, even if they can only rely on channeling. They have years of experience, and their method of combat is something that has followed them for similar lengths. Casting aside the question of whether he can even teach his methods to them, wouldn’t forcefully teaching news ways now create conflict with what they already know?” She voiced her doubts, and some of the others nodded.

”Me personally, I feel like he’s just using this as an opportunity to vent. This could all just be an excuse to find an outlet. After all, there is no way he harbors no resentment towards this household. Perhaps this is his way of getting back at us.” Luke added calmly.

”Hm. I’d say that’s a bit of a stretch. That said, I do believe that he is on over his head. To be able to achieve such levels of mastery in such a short amount of time, it’s unnatural. Whatever father gave him caused a stark change, but replicating it seems unrealistic. He might think it is possible, but I believe that reality will prove otherwise soon enough.” Xavier watched calmly as his children stated their obvious doubts with what Xander was doing, inwardly noting that none of them actually mentioned his name once. Only using ’him’ and ’he’ to refer to him.

He didn’t get angry. He simply waited for them to quieten, then he spoke.

”What do you lot assume I gave Xander?” At this question, the siblings fell silent, then Theresa raised her hand.

”Perhaps some inheritance you obtained from an ancient ruins? You have a concerning number of those.” The siblings all nodded, especially at the second part.

Xavier’s mouth twitched slightly, but he still spoke.

”My collecting habits aside, that’s wrong.” This gave them a pause, their eyes narrowing in an eerie synchronity.

...

Except Nathan, his eyes were closed.

”... Then something you synthesized yourself? Perhaps he is simply an experiment you are enacting.” Andrew ventured. It was a set of words many would find startling, yet Xavier simply shook his head.

”Also incorrect.” The siblings all fell silent, then finally, Nathan ventured.

”Maybe you implanted the soul of someone in the past into his body to guide him?” Another wild set of words, yet for the third time, Xavier shook his head.

Theresa threw her hands up.

”Alright, I have no clue.” The others hesitated, then they also indicated that they did not know.

Seeing this, Xavier smiled. He ate the last bit of food on his plate and leaned into his seat.

”I gave him a bottle containing water from the Spring of Life to expand and fix his Mana pool. I also altered its properties slightly, allowing him to swap between his mana affinities smoothly.” When he finished, the siblings waited for more. But when Xavier didn’t continue, they frowned.

”... That’s it?” Claire showed a trace of disbelief.

”Indeed.” Xavier hummed.

”Then how did he... wait.” A look of realization dawned on Luke’s face, and he looked at Xavier with a startled expression.

”You... You mean to say that he actually achieved such mastery on his own?” A terrifying set of words were uttered. Clearly, the siblings had been running under the assumption that Xander’s achievements were a result of whatever item Xavier had given him. They hadn’t once considered the possibility that he’d actually advanced so much on his own, which is why they found the ongoing political storm so irritating. They believed that there was no reason for it to exist.

And yet, here was their father, actually telling them that Xander hadn’t received some ancient inheritance or anything of the sort.

”But... how? He never showed any inclinations towards such things before. How could he have...?” Claire rubbed her chin, her brows knitted.

”In truth, I don’t fully understand it myself.” Xavier admitted. ”My original guess was that he’d been possessed or parasitized by some old thing, but I’ve checked constantly and he is completely fine. His soul is clean and his mind is intact. So the only other conclusion is that he is simply that good. Pure magic was just never his calling.” He smiled. ”A prodigy, if you will.” Silence fell over the dining table, and for a moment, no one knew how to react.

It was only after a few seconds that Nathan, who appeared to be asleep, opened his eyes.

Upon doing so, the entire vibe of the room changed, and other than Xavier, all the siblings instinctively avoided eye contact, as failing to do so would not lead to good results.

”... Father, if what you say is true, then things are far more complicated, are they not? It means that Sir Bellion is actually under real risk of having his work undermined, and knowing him, he will not allow such a thing to slide easily. The risk of an all out battle behind the scenes is not impossible.” Nathan stated.

And something miraculous to note... was that he did not refer to Bellion as ’Archmage’ or ’Excellency’, but ’Sir’!

The reason for this was simple enough.

Xavier... wasn’t the only Archmage in the Lowell family!

At his son’s words, Xavier just smiled, seeming unperturbed by the prospect Nathan presented.

”I’m aware. In fact, that is the result I desire.” At this, the siblings suddenly realized that many things were already in the works.

”What do you need us to do, father?” Luke asked readily, his previous disdain all but gone. It went without saying, but the Lowell siblings had unparalleled loyalty to Xavier.

Xavier just smiled.

”I’ll tell you guys what to do when the time comes. In the meantime...” He looked to the side, his gaze seeming to pierce through the layers of walls to a certain spot as he spoke.

”Why not just observe Xander for a while. He might surprise you.” The siblings glanced at each other, while Nathan closed his eyes, the strangeness in the air fading.

Meanwhile, in the training field, it seemed like Xander was giving his teammates another ’lecture’.