97 They Choose Their Path, He Creates His Path 2

"It might be insensitive, but how do you know your mother's family name?"

Basil moved his gaze to Iliana who had just asked the question. He hadn't even told that Pacifer was his mother's family name, however she had dare to say it. She didn't bother to hide her knowledge regarding it.

"I will like to talk about my mother with you later, Iliana." Basil looked at Iliana with a knowing gaze. She nodded, and Basil continued, "As for your question, although not much, someone had told me about her."

"Who was this— nevermind. We will talk about this when we are alone."

Iliana prevented herself from talking about the matter any further, because Lawson was still there. It would be rude to talk about someone's privacy in public, and Lawson completely agreed with Iliana's decision.

"I have my own assumption. However, I am not really sure. Do you plan to be a Noble once again?" Lawson stared at Basil curiously.

Basil answered stoically, "I don't."

"I knew it!" Lawson exclaimed enthusiastically.

Iliana was weirded out by her mentor. She wanted to ask him, however realization quickly dawned upon her.

Basil was a young Mage with the highest potential amongst the others. As long as he didn't die young, his prominence was guaranteed. Such a person would be every Noble's desired person in their faction.

By pulling himself out of Nobility, Basil had just dodged the politic strife that would be forced upon him.

The act itself wasn't impressive. Basil's long-term thinking was what amazed them. At such a young age, he could already grasp the situation in the world. That was amazing.

Surely, they wouldn't know underneath the young body Basil had, there was an experienced monster residing.

"Huuh... I wish I was as intelligent as you."

"Are you regretting your decision now, Master?"

"You don't need to rub it in my face, Iliana."

Iliana and Lawson's relationship was pretty much like Basil and Chester's. The only difference was, Lawson considered Iliana his as daughter, while Chester considered Basil as his brother. Therefore, they were close to each other.

"Ah, silly me!" Lawson exclaimed suddenly. "We are here to ask you about your enrollment to our Magic Institute. Do you accept our direct admission offer?"

"I do."

"Phew... Good to hear that. Also, the new term will be started in a week. You only have to bring your luggage and nothing else. We have prepared dormitory for you to stay in." Lawson threw his gaze to Iliana.

"I will help you to settle down in our dormitory later."

"Very well." Basil nodded in understanding.

Although he didn't need Iliana's help, he wouldn't refuse her help. Just looking at her face, he knew she was eager to do that. The current Iliana surely behaved differently from Iliana he had known. However, the difference was still negligible.

"Mr. Lawson."

"Yes?"

"What is the condition to be admitted to Randalvine Preparatory Academy?"

Lawson was taken aback by Basil's sudden question. He was about to ask why Basil cared about such thing, when his eyes landed on the sleeping Shirley. Realization suddenly dawned upon him.

"She has to reach Second Circle stage before 17. That's the minimum requirement."

"That is rather easy."

"No, it's not, Basil."

Lawson smiled wryly at Basil. He really resembled Iliana. Normally, someone would only reach Third Circle stage at 20. Surely, there would be geniuses like Basil and Iliana who had reached Third Circle stage before 20.

Iliana was soon to be 19 and she had reached the stage that was unthinkable to someone of her age. Could Basil, who was soon to be 17, compete with her? Lawson was eager to see Basil's growth.

"What will you do for the remaining week, Sil?" Iliana asked Basil.

"I will spend my time with Shirley, and teach her a few things regarding Magic."

"Hm. Just don't forget to arrive here two days prior to the start of the new term."

"I will remember that."

Although she didn't show it, Iliana was irked for some reason. Basil whose Mana Sense was just as sensitive, if not more than Iliana's, noticed her mood form her Mana Wave. He shook his head faintly, and served her a plate of meatballs.

"This is?"

"Meatballs."

"I know that, Sil. What do I have to do with it is what puzzles me."

"Munch and relax. It will fix your mood."

Upon realizing what Basil had meant, Iliana's eyes widened briefly. She didn't particularly hid her Mana as she had thought no one would be able to read it.

Looking at Basil intently, she quickly sent her Mana Wave in a unique way to him. Upon receiving the Mana Wave, his brain quickly translated what it meant.

[Can you hear me?]

[Yes, I do.]

Iliana's eyes widened even further in shock. Basil had just replied to her! She didn't think there was someone who could do the same thing as her.

[How did you learn it?]

[Trial and error.]

[Bollocks!]

Basil was inwardly amused at Iliana. Although he admitted his reason was a little bit stupid, that was also the way Iliana found this way of communication. He couldn't just say that she had taught him in the past, could he?

"Hmm... I can barely feel the Mana fluctuation, and yet I am sure you are communicating between yourself."

As expected of a veteran, Lawson had quickly grasped the situation. Iliana turned to him, and nodded her head. Although she had been bewildered earlier, she had quickly regained her composure.

"I didn't expect there is another person who can use [Wavelingo]."

[Wavelingo] was an Art of Mana Wave manipulation used to communicate with each other. Iliana had found that human's brain could react differently, depending on how she sent Mana Wave at them.

She had experimented for years, before she had finally mastered the way to form a sentence.

Compared to [Telepathy], it was harder to learn since one had to master Mana Wave manipulation first. Not only that, if one was too insensitive toward Mana, one might not get the message being transmitted.

However, one didn't need to be a Mentalist to master this. Therefore, [Wavelingo] was more universal compared to [Telepathy], despite the difficulty of learning it.

"[Wavelingo]... Is that what you call it?" Lawson asked curiously. However, the gaze he got from Iliana was frightening. "Do you think it's a bad name?"

Lawson cleared his throat, and answered, "Kuhum! No, it isn't a bad name. You are very creative."

Iliana nodded her head, before turning to Basil. "Did you hear that, Sil? Since I am the one who invented it first, you got to name it that way."

"I do not have to do that, actually." At this, Iliana frowned. However, Basil wasn't done yet. "I have named it with the same name."

"Fufufu. Finally, someone with a good naming sense! We are going to be a good friend, Sil."

Shirley squirmed in Basil's embrace, and hugged him even tighter. Iliana, who saw that brief movement, squinted her eyes at Shirley. "Hmph! She is sure a koala," she stated.

Lawson and Iliana spent a few minutes chatting, while enjoying the delicacies Shirley had prepared. Surely, they didn't eat that much. They were more interested in Basil's next course of action. Unfortunately, Basil didn't give them much.

Right after that, they excused themselves, and left the siblings alone.

"I know you are awake. You don't need to pretend you are sleeping, Shirley." Basil looked down at the koala hugging his body.

The koala opened her eyes, and looked at him while smiling sheepishly. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

"It's not eavesdropping, if the people knew you were listening."

"What?! They knew?"

Shirley was mortified. She had thought her acting was perfect. She was so embarrassed she didn't know how to face Lawson and Iliana, if they were to meet again.

Basil chuckled softly. "Don't worry. They won't poke fun at you. Also, your acting was good enough. You have just faced the wrong opponents."

Sadly, it didn't ease herself at all. She was still embarrassed at her action.

"Why did you pretend to sleep even after you are awake?" Basil asked, attracting her attention. "Well, I was just too embarrassed to show my face in that position. Also, I don't seem to like that Iliana woman." Shirley answered quickly.

Basil quirked his eyebrow, and said simply, "Why?"

"It's just..." Shirley looked around, before whispering, "She gives this 'I will take everything away from you' vibe. I am actually afraid of her."

Basil chuckled softly in amusement. He hadn't expected Shirley to say that. Although Shirley didn't say what she really thought, Basil knew what exactly she had meant. Therefore, he was amused.

'Has my sister become possessive towards her brother? Should I distance myself away?'

Looking down at Shirley's bright eyes that were looking at him, he shook his head faintly to clear his funny thought. He looked to his front, and his eyes met the flowers decorating the garden.

The clear sky let the sunshine basked the entire garden with its warmth. Faint laughter of children could be heard from the surrounding, making the calming scene felt like home.

Basil sighed to himself. Two months. In two months, a tragedy would begin. This scene might not be able to be seen anymore in two months. Chaos would ensue, and death would be a sure thing.

He had a lot work to do before the time came. Not to save the world, but to protect the people he cared about.