Lord of Charm

The next day, Lena helped Gale to strengthen his body with fire. It took 4:30 hours, making it 9 hours overall, which allowed Lena to confirm her assumption.

"My assumption was right; you'd have a much better strengthening if you would have taken Mira's affinity completely."

"You can't blame him for failing at sucking her dry, it was his first time."

"Nina…"

And just like that a month passed since Lena came home, and it was time to go back to her training with her master.

"I suggest you don't strengthen your body using fire if you get to the mage phase without a better fire affinity. it would be a loss in the long run as you can't strengthen again with the same element in the same rank. Generally, don't strengthen yourself using a weak affinity; obtain a good affinity first."

She offered him a last piece of advice before leaving. Soon after, she left and Gale remained with Nina and Celty.

"Lord Gale, you have a month until the wedding. Do you know how to prepare?"

"Um, no…? I need to prepare?"

"Did you plan to just attend your wedding for a few minutes and slip out when nobody notices?"

"I didn't think about it. I guess I need to prepare. Nina, my dear maid, won't you help me prepare everything I need for the wedding?"

His eyes shone with green as he asked for a "favor".

"What? I… I guess I could help you out since you need my help."

"Great, thank you. I will leave everything in your hands."

Nina stayed dazed for a few seconds, then started thinking about what a wedding of nobles should include. When she found out she had no idea, she realized what happened.

"DON'T USE YOUR POWERS FOR SUCH TRIVIAL MATTERS, AND DON'T USE THEM ON ME!"

She screamed, yet Gale was long gone.

Gale wanted to fix things between him and Donne so he went to the main mansion to find him. When he entered, the guard at the entrance announced his arrival. As soon as he entered the mansion, he felt a strong wind force lock on him, and he was pulled along the corridor for a few meters until it sucked him inside a room.

"Son, I haven't seen you for a few weeks and you've become quite mysterious. I was surprised to see you at the Advanced Magician rank when the royal family came to visit, but because I never really checked I figured you must have practiced a few months or years behind our backs, and I wasn't updated. But how did you suddenly get to the Expert stage?"

It was his mom, Lady Elizabeth Bathory Stormborn. Bathory was her maiden name, but Gale didn't even know her background.

She looked in her thirties and her face was quite similar to Lena and Gale's. She had a beautiful oval face and silky red hair. She was tall, and her body shape was slim for the most part, with considerable curves for decoration. The main difference that stood out was her blue prominent eyes which stood in contrast to her kids' green eyes. Their green eyes came from their father.

He knew she was a mage because Lena suggested asking for her help when he gets to the mage phase, but he couldn't tell her exact stage.

"Hello, mother. You could've summoned me if you were curious about it."

Gale decided to complain first about the rough treatment he went through.

"Hmm, I'm sorry, my delicate flower. Now, how about you also tell me how you got this interesting charm ability you used on Atress when she came to visit?"

Gale lost his cool for a moment. He forgot about it; his mom was there too!

He didn't feel safe telling her his secrets. It's not like he thought she wanted to harm him, but just that she never really interacted with him. She only interacted with Lena because of her talent. She even barely interacted with Donne despite his talent, and he had no idea why.

"Mother, what is your current stage?"

He asked carefully instead of answering her demand.

"You're asking me questions instead of answering mine. Could it be you're afraid of my motive? That I'd hurt my own son?"

"That can't be, mother. I was merely surprised as you've seldom interacted with me before."

"That was when I thought you couldn't do magic. I'd ensure your life as my kid, but that's about it. We had no interests in common, so I simply wouldn't intervene in your life as long as you weren't in danger."

"Doesn't it mean you only care about your strong kids? Aren't we all your kids?"

"It doesn't mean that, it means that I'm not interested in the goals you pursue if they aren't power. Since you didn't pursue power, I had nothing to talk to you about."

"Then what about Donne?"

"His goal is too narrow; he only wants to be nobility in our tiny kingdom instead of aspiring to go to a higher stage and become stronger. I have nothing to talk to him about as well."

"Then what about yourself? Aren't you still here?"

"You sure love asking questions. Sure, I will entertain you one last time. I am planning to leave in a few months."

She said with a sad voice. Gale understood the meaning of her words; she was still there to be with her sick lover.

"Why did you marry dad if power is everything?"

"I already told you, your previous question was the last one I answer. If you want more answers, then answer some of mine first."

She didn't relent this time and demanded answers. Gale thought frantically as he couldn't decide if he should trust her and how much.

"Don't act stupidly. I'm still your mother, and I wouldn't try to steal anything from you or harm you. Did you come across a treasure that healed you and boosted your advancing speed?"

She did hear of some natural treasures that could be found once every few hundred years in the world. Gale would have to be extremely lucky to come across such a fruit, but she didn't have any other explanation. She tried finding a way to improve his talent ever since she found out he couldn't do magic, and all her efforts were for naught.

"I didn't. I hope you don't force me to tell you everything, but I found out I have special powers that allow me to charm others and absorb their connection to mana and their elemental affinities. It comes in the price of their own affinities and connections, so I can't use it freely."

Gale decided he could trust her that much since Lena told him to approach her when he needs help without warning him to be careful of her. It meant Lena trusted her.

"Both men and women?"

He felt disturbed by being asked such a question by his mom. Was she worried she won't have grandchildren if his orientation was different?

"Why are you looking at me like that? I'm asking about the limitations of your abilities."

"Oh, right. It works on both men and women. But I still didn't use it on men except for a simple test to see if it was possible."

He decided to add the last sentence just in case.

"I don't care about your preferences. I guess you played around with your new powers and charmed an expert magician then. Do you want me to supply you with some mages?"

"Umm, as much as I appreciate the thought, I already decided not to steal from others anymore unless they try to harm me first."

He was shocked by her offer to supply him with mages as if they were sheep that only needed to be herded. He assumed she was an Advanced Mage since she was so confident in overpowering other mages.