Chapter 61. Probation
Two weeks later, in the grand conference room of Azureocean Castle, all the direct descendants of the Ducal Family of Leston excluding the senior members were gathered.
"...Therefore, from today onward, Caron Leston is sentenced to four years of probation. This decision is final and will not be overturned. During this period, Caron Leston will be prohibited from leaving Azureocean Castle," Duke Halo Leston declared with a firm gaze directed at Caron, who stood quietly in the center of the room.
"Caron Leston, if you have any objections to this decision, speak now," Halo added.
All eyes in the room turned to Caron. His father, Fayle, looked at him with a pained expression. His son had survived a mysterious attack and returned from the capital with remarkable achievements. And yet, here he was being disciplined.
Fayle couldn't even speak up in Caron's defense, knowing why his father, the Duke, had made this decision. By keeping Caron in Azureocean Castle, Halo was ensuring his safety. It was a decision born from concern, not punishment.
"I humbly accept the decision of the family," Caron said as he lowered his head.
Halo spoke again in a low voice. "During these four years of probation, you must hone your skills and refine yourself. At the end of this period, I will judge your achievements. If they are insufficient, the probation may be extended. Do you accept that as well?"
"Yes, Duke Halo," Caron responded without hesitation.
Since Caron had raised no objections, the disciplinary process didn't last that long.
"Then you may leave now," Halo ordered.
"Okay," Caron replied, then turned to walk out of the grand conference room.
As Leo watched him leave, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
...It seemed as if he was smiling, Leo thought. It didn't make sense to him; one would normally look dejected after receiving such a probation. But then again, Caron had never been easy to understand with normal reasoning.
Creak.
As the door closed behind Caron, Halo slowly scanned the room before addressing the remaining attendees.
"Hugo, Leon, Leo, you three are also dismissed," Halo commanded.
"Yes, Duke Halo," the three replied in unison, then exited the room. Now, only Halo and his sons remained in the heavy atmosphere that filled the chamber.
Breaking the silence, Halo continued, "From today onward, Fayle, you will be responsible for the family's diplomacy. You will manage relations with other families, and further, draw them to our side. That will now be your task. Ensure you deliver results."
The moment Halo issued this command, his second son, who had been silent until then, spoke up sharply.
"Duke Halo, Fayle has not awakened the Azure Mana. How can you entrust him with such critical matters?"
"This has already been discussed with the senior family members, Raphael. This decision will also not be overturned," Halo replied with an unwavering tone.
Whoosh.
A sudden hum filled the room as Azure Mana flowed out from Halo, spreading through the entire conference room in an instant. It was a presence that overwhelmed everyone present in the room. Raphael bit his lip and clenched his fist in frustration.
It was a long-lasting tradition that anyone in the family who failed to awaken the Azure Mana was typically sent away. In the distant past, some had even been removed from the family registry entirely. But now, Halo was entrusting someone exiled from Azureocean Castle with an important role? It was unbelievable.
Still clenching his fist, Raphael glanced at Dales, who sat beside him. When Dales caught Raphael's glance, he sighed and nodded in agreement.
"I have to say, I agree with Raphael, Duke Halo. The position of family diplomat is essentially the face of our ducal house. I don't think it's fitting for someone like Fayle, who can't even wield a sword, to take that role. There's a chance that other families will begin to look down on us," Dales said, voicing his concerns.
Halo regarded his two sons with disdain. Watching them fret over losing their own status made his stomach turn. However, instead of reprimanding them, he chose to give Fayle the opportunity.
"Fayle, what do you think? Do you have the confidence to take on this responsibility for the family?" he asked.
Fayle quietly met his father's gaze. He understood just how shocking this decision was. Since childhood, he had endured the scornful looks of those who ridiculed him for not awakening the Azure Mana. The condescending gazes of his brothers were still fresh in his mind. If he accepted this offer, he knew he would face those looks countless times over.
In the past, he would have refused without hesitation. To him, Azureocean Castle was a place filled with painful memories, a place of failure. However...
"If this is the decision of the family, I will gladly accept," Fayle responded without hesitation, nodding.
Since sending Caron to the capital, he had been consumed by feelings of helplessness. Just hearing the news that his son was in mortal danger had been enough to tear him apart inside.
"This position comes with great power, but with that comes equally great responsibility. Are you prepared for that?" Halo asked.
"Yes, I am," Fayle replied firmly.
He never wanted to feel that helplessness again. And now, even Azureocean Castle wasn't a safe place for Caron. His son's growing reputation meant that his two ambitious brothers could pose a threat to Caron at any moment.
I will protect you, no matter the cost, Fayle thought.
"If you entrust this to me, Duke Halo, I will not disappoint you," he declared, meeting the hostile glares of his brothers. He stood firm against the animosity that filled their eyes.
It was for Caron, just for his son. This was something a father had to do. Something Fayle had to do to protect his son.
I will be your shadow, Caron, Fayle silently vowed.
Thus, he willingly accepted the challenge Halo had placed before him. With that, the changes in Azureocean Castle had begun.
***
While the adults discussed matters in the grand conference room, in the guest hall of Azureocean Castle, a different conversation unfolded.
"...I still can't believe it, Caron," Leon Leston said as she shook her head and looked at him. She was Caron's cousin and Dales' daughter.
It had been nearly three years since she last saw Caron. Shortly after he entered Azureocean Castle, she had left on a long mission. Even during her occasional visits back, they had never crossed paths, as she had been too absorbed in her duties.
Three years ago, Caron had just awakened his Azure Mana. He was still a child back then. But now, he stood at a remarkable 5-Star, a feat she herself hadn't achieved until she turned twenty-one years old. And yet here he was, at the mere age of thirteen.
Perhaps it was because his accomplishments were so overwhelming, but she couldn't even feel jealousy towards him.
"You defeated a succubus in the Imperial Palace and even beat the famous Sir Luke in a duel? I'm so proud to call you my cousin," Leon said with admiration in her voice.
Caron scratched his cheek, embarrassed by the sudden praise. He mumbled, "Well, uh... I wasn't expecting that."
"Why not? I'm just telling the truth. Isn't that right, Hugo?" Leon asked, turning to her brother with a smile.
Hugo sighed deeply with a nod, then said, "Yeah, he's quite impressive in various ways."
"If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have spent all that time on missions. I should've stayed close to Caron and learned a thing or two, isn't that right, Caron?" Leon teased as she glanced at Caron.
"Oh, come on, what could you possibly learn from me? I hear your name is already well-known in the southern region of the empire," Caron replied.
"Really, is that so?" Leon asked.
"Yes, you've even earned yourself a couple of nicknames. There's 'Leon Leston, the Slayer of Bandits' and 'The Beautiful Judge...' How do you even get titles like that?" Caron asked.
Leon winked playfully and replied, "I just took care of some scum who were terrorizing innocent people. It wasn't all me, though... I had a lot of help from other knights."
"Now that's humility. You should take notes, Leo. You could stand to be a little more humble yourself," Caron quipped, turning to his cousin.
Leo shook his head in exasperation, then replied, "Please, you could use a little humility yourself."
"If I were humble, it'd be a problem for everyone else, Leo. Isn't that right, Leon?" Caron asked.
Leon laughed and said, "Exactly. Leo, you should know that it doesn't look good when you're jealous of your younger cousin's success."
Unlike Hugo, who could be a bit cold, Leon's personality was bright and warm.
She's nothing like her father, Caron thought to himself.
She was lively, beautiful, and diligent. It seemed certain that no matter where Leon went, she'd be adored. Unlike Hugo, who had shown signs of rivalry from the moment they first met, Leon treated Caron without prejudice. And on top of that, she was highly skilled. At the age of twenty-three, she had already reached the peak of 5-Star, and there was no doubt she would break through to 6-Star soon.
"How's your health, Caron? I heard you were seriously injured in the capital," Leon asked, her tone softening with concern.
"I'm fine now. I've been eating really well," Caron assured her.
"That's a relief. Then how about a sparring match sometime? I'm going to be staying in Azureocean Castle for a while. I spoke with Sir Zerath, and he said your swordsmanship was quite impressive. He thinks sparring with you would be a great opportunity for me," Leon said, her blue eyes sparkling with interest. And when Caron met her gaze, a mischievous smile spread across her face.
"As you heard earlier, I'll be stuck here at Azureocean Castle for the next four years anyway," Caron said with a shrug. "I'll be around, so we can spar anytime."
"Would it be alright for us to spar with our real swords?" Leon asked.
"For that, you'd have to get permission from Sir Zerath," Caron replied.
"Oh, that's a problem," Leon said.
"Why is that?" Caron asked.
"Sir Zerath is heading to the North Sea, so he's not in the castle," Leon answered.
"Ah, that explains why I didn't see him today," Caron said.
"I'll ask Grandfather for permission later, then. Will that work?" Leon suggested.
"Sounds good." Caron nodded.
Leon had none of her brother Hugo's mannerisms. Her pure dedication to honing her swordsmanship was impressive.
Now that I think about it, Sabina did seem to like Leon, Caron recalled, thinking back to something Sabina had once told him.
"Leon, Dales's daughter, is quite admirable. Someday, she might even catch up to her older brother. She's not particularly talented in mana cultivation, but when it comes to swordsmanship, she's truly exceptional."
Coming from someone as harsh in her judgments as Sabina, that was as high a compliment as one could expect.
But, Sir Zerath is heading to the North Sea all of a sudden... Caron wondered. A hint of worry about something happening to Sabina crept into his thoughts.
Just as he was mulling this over, the door to the grand conference room creaked open, and their fathers stepped out. At the same time, the children stood up.
Fayle's expression was relatively calm, but the other two, Dales and Raphael, looked much less at ease.
"Hugo, Leon, come here," Dales called in a low voice. Leon gave Caron's back a few friendly pats before turning to leave.
"We'll spar next time, okay?" Leon said with a bright smile.
"Yes, Leon," Caron replied with a polite nod.
At that moment, Caron's gaze met that of Dales.
"You did very well in the capital, Caron. Thanks to you, the family's reputation has risen. But remember that no matter how carefully built, a tower can collapse in an instant. If you don't act properly, that fame will turn into a blade that stabs you," Dales warned him.
Though his words were framed as advice, they were clearly edged with malice. Caron, however, responded with his usual cheerful smile, bowing respectfully and saying, "Thank you, Uncle Dales, for your constant advice."
"...I'll be watching," Dales said curtly before leading his children away.
With Dales and his children gone, Caron and Fayle remained with Raphael and his son, Leo. As Raphael watched Dales' figure disappear into the distance, he smirked and said, "He always acts so composed, but now that the pressure's on, it seems even he's starting to panic. Don't you think, Fayle?"
Raphael turned his gaze to Fayle before continuing, "This reminds me of the time during Caron's Awakening Ceremony. That was when Dales suggested dealing with Caron ahead of time."
"...And what's your reason for mentioning that to me right now?" Fayle asked.
Raphael chuckled and placed a hand on Leo's shoulder and said, "I don't know, but Leo and Caron are practically brothers, aren't they? I think of Caron as my own son. It means I'm not like Dales. It only makes sense for us to stay close."
"Funny to hear that from someone who undermined me in front of Father," Fayle retorted coolly.
"Haha! Still as sensitive as ever, little brother. But remember that we'll have to work together before long. It's inevitable. Well, we'll be heading out. Let's go, Leo."
"...Yes, Father," Leo answered quietly, then they both left the room.
In the end, only Caron and Fayle were left in the room. Fayle smiled warmly as he took his son's hand.
"Don't worry, my son. Your uncles won't lay a finger on you. I'll protect you from them," Fayle said. There was deep affection in his words.
Caron smiled brightly with a nod, then said, "I believe you, Father."
And so, Caron's four years of probation at Azureocean Castle began.