Lord of Charm

"Take Alice's offer and join her Dream's Peak Academy."

Gale's mother repeated her words, but he was still unsure whether he should listen to her. He looked at Lena, he expected her to be against putting him in danger, yet she just nodded in agreement.

He sighed with annoyance. She'd attack a magus for hurting him yet send him to a dangerous-sounding academy. How did it make any sense?

Well, by now he decided not to be trusting and overly merciful anymore. Although he wouldn't harm or abuse those weaker than him nor try to steal from those stronger, he didn't feel that those who wanted to kill him deserved his mercy.

"Fine, I still want all the benefits you've promised."

Alice smiled seductively, went close to him and tiptoed to his ears, and whispered.

"No problem, I can even teach you directly myself if you want."

She took a step back and Gale felt a slight sense of loss when her breasts left his chest. He gulped and focused on the overall situation again while Lena rolled her eyes. She felt somewhat disappointed to see her brother losing his cool over a pair of boobs.

"I… I will decide after seeing my other options as well."

He forced himself to say and Alice pretended to be hurt.

"I guess I'm not good enough for you. Am I not pretty enough?"

"Ok, enough with the games. You'll have enough time to flirt with my son in the academy when I'm not in front of you. How about you, Lena?"

Elizabeth didn't enjoy seeing a 150-year-old woman flirting with her son and put an end to it. However, she still encouraged Alice to do it behind her back; she'd be more than satisfied if Gale could absorb her magic.

"I offer the same terms I've offered Gale."

"Me too."

Everyone offered the maximum to Lena as well.  However, she had another point of interest.

"Which one of you is the best for improving light magic?"

"Haha, it's us!"

Lucas said with a smug face, and everyone got even more jealous. Nobody knew she even had an affinity with the light element!

"Then I will join Moon Nova Academy, Jay is also a good sparring mate."

"Haha, of course, of course! I will be more than happy to be your personal teacher if you'd like."

Lucas said with a big warm smile. Combined with his handsome face, he would fool any naïve girl.

"No. I will only agree if the head of the academy will teach me himself. I don't need a mediocre teacher."

Lucas' smile vanished in a heartbeat and his face distorted with anger. He was one of the only 71 known magi in the empire, is that mediocre?

"I will ask him, but he might not agree. As a Grand Magus, he is a very busy person."

He forced himself to swallow his pride and answered with difficulty. He already swore to himself that he will eventually get into her pants whether she likes it or not.

"After she sees my size, the word 'mediocre' will never be associated with me again in her mind."

He thought to himself and forced a smile. Despite being a magus, Lena's talent and potential were beyond his by far.

"All right. We finished recruiting, now it's time to announce the prizes."

The standards were already set by the imperial representative, and they needed to give something of similar worth.

"Jack, for winning third place you will get a set of 3 fourth-grade connection boosters to help you get to the Mage Phase soon. I decided on 3 fourth-grade potions instead of a single fifth-grade one because they'd be much more useful for you as a magician."

"Jay, for winning first place you will get two sets of fifth-grade potions. One to boost your connection and help you advance to the next stage sooner, and one to help you boost your affinities."

"Gale, for winning first place you get 300 thousand gold coins. It's only symbolic since you have free access to all of the academy's potions and facilities."

"Lena, for winning first place you will get 300 thousand gold coins. Just like Gale's, it's only a symbolic prize."

The 5 magi then instructed their new students to meet with them a week later so they can say their goodbyes before departing to the academies.

The ceremony continued after the magi left and the silver forces stepped forward while the bronze forces waited behind. Violet and Dion enrolled together in a female-only academy, and Prince Florian chose to remain in the kingdom.

"Wait!"

"Wait!"

Two male voices were heard when Gale and Lena were about to leave and they turned around to look. Two middle-aged men were walking quickly toward them. Behind one of them was a little girl and behind the other was a young man in his twenties.

"Do you need anything from us?"

Lena asked with an impatient voice. She wanted to leave before the crowd stopped her and Gale. The old men looked at each other hesitantly, and one of them decided to speak first.

"Haha, how could I ask for something from my beloved grandchildren? I was just a little disappointed neither of you popped by to say hello to your grandparents when you were on your way to the capital."

He laughed awkwardly but was only met with the silent looks of his grandchildren.

"I'm Harry Stormborn, I hope to mend our relationship. After all, blood is thicker than water."

Harry Stormborn was a tall man, 190 cm tall, with tanned skin. His hair was blonde and his eyes as green as his grandchildren's.

"Hi cousins, I'm Anna." The young girl was around 11 years old, and her cheeks still had baby fat, making her look adorable. Half of Gale's anger vanished just by looking at her.

"I don't know any grandfather. Do you know one, Gale?"

"…Me neither."

He hesitated for a moment when looking at his cousin, yet steeled his heart and denied. His fear of Lena's violent nature overtook Anna's cuteness.

"I've already instructed to prepare three mansions for you two and for your brother close to my own, I really hope we can reconcile. I was mistaken in not reaching out to you, but you need to understand I was furious when my most talented son was crippled."