Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Leaving the Academy secretly (1)
"I can’t believe so much happened on your first day, young master."
Back in the room, Theo sat on the bed while the two attendants sat opposite to him on chairs. Clara had a sad expression, while Elias was concerned.
"If the real strength of the mantis were to get out in this evaluation, things might become a whole lot more complicated too quickly, young master. We need to get prepared for it." Elias spoke.
"What do you propose, Elias?"
"The only two options I see right now, young master, is either to make the mantis fake its strength in the evaluation or we contact the Barony right away."
Theo thought about both options and sighed, "To make the mantis fake its strength... if only that was possible." He spoke in disappointment before moving on to the next option.
"But to request the family for help... is that really necessary? It’s only been the first day." Theo spoke with a frown.
Elias could only take a deep breath and lean forward.
"Young master, we don’t know how the academy is going to react. The real strength of the mantis... It’s something even we haven’t tested properly till now. If it reveals something that they take too much interest in, then the things that were going to be revealed with time will now reveal themselves in a matter of days..."
When Elias said that, Theo nodded. He had half thought of this too, and seeing Elias say the same thing made him sure that his options were limited.
"For my first day of class, I have realized something too, you both," Theo spoke again before lying down on the bed and looking at the roof.
"There is nothing I cannot learn on my own... as a noble, it’s easy for me to procure these books for my own library. Maybe I can finish this curriculum even faster than a year... The only thing that seems important right now is making connections, but is that really important for a Merrick?"
Elias and Clara looked at each other, at a loss for words.
"...What are you implying, young master?"
"I don’t need to go to the evaluation," Theo spoke after getting up. There was that same determination in his eyes.
When they both saw those eyes, they felt horrified. There was no stopping Theo now.
"...We are leaving the academy right now. Pack my and your things quickly."
"Young master!" Elias got up with bewildered eyes, shouting only to realize that he had stepped beyond his boundaries.
"What? Don’t stop now. Speak your mind freely." Theo spoke casually.
Elias gritted his teeth, "Going to the academy is a really important thing for a noble heir, young master. Your future depends on the certificate of approval they give you... No matter how good or understanding your family is, this is too ridiculous!" He spoke in a panic, only for Theo to get up angrily too.
"And what will happen if I stay here, Elias? I have just now realized that I will be revealing things to the academy that I am not ready to do so. No matter how strong my family is, I need to be strong too." He spoke, only to stop Elias with a hand and continue.
"Imagine this, I let the evaluation go on as planned. I can’t control the mantis to stop attacking the things they tell me to. They will catch me red-handed. And when the mantis keeps showing its unbelievable strength... its power beyond a measly ’insect’ will reach everyone. It will create a panic. For now, they have just been observing me because I am just a little ’unique’ in their eyes."
"But what will happen when they ask me how I got this insect?"
"Tell them the Baron got it in the gate!" Elias spoke quickly, only to realize what was wrong with it.
"And make my father get in trouble too? You know it’s mandatory to process information about new beasts from the gates. They could be carrying diseases and powers that are not suitable in normal hands. This could get out of hand a lot more than right now."
"And... do you think I should reveal that I can change the beasts into something greater just like the benevolent artifact?"
Theo stopped and waited for Elias to stop him from his actions, to give a reason to let him stay in the academy.
But seeing Elias and Clara both at a loss for words, he stopped too. Things had become too real, too quickly.
"I just want to say one thing, young master," Clara spoke for the first time, making Theo desperately want to listen to her.
"Please make a decision very carefully... you’re at a road that could lead to really drastic changes to life, no matter the path you choose..." She spoke and continued, "I know you will be protected at this time of need in your family. But if something were to start happening to you here, interrogation or anything, and if that reached the ears of your father, there will be havoc..."
In Theo’s eyes, Clara was getting off-topic many times, but all the things she said felt on point.
"I will ask you both to tell me something that will stop me from making this decision," he said and looked at Elias, who stared at Theo with a concerned look.
"... It feels like everything is against you right now... I will be with you no matter the decision."
Theo nodded and took a deep breath inwardly, and looked at Clara, who had a better look on her face.
"I have experienced some really ridiculous things since I became your attendant, young master. It has changed my decisions for life in a way that I never expected to happen... So, as long as I am still your attendant, I am okay with all your decisions."
When Theo heard that, his mind went back to all the things they experienced together. It made him realize that his life was never going to be too simple, no matter what.
’I am already fortunate enough to get the best family, but I can’t be thinking that everything will go right... I have my siblings to tell me what they learned in the academy. I have Knight Rhys to help me hone my sword... and I already have myself to evolve my ants and mantis...’
’I cannot ask for more.’
"We are leaving as soon as we pack. Let’s start."