Chapter 224: The Next Marquess
For the entire duration of the class, Gara couldn’t stop thinking about the true reason for his biological father’s death.
"Class dismissed, everyone. Talent defines your ability, but with practice, you can increase your stamina and become a capable Water-type Liner." The Professor ended the class with a bright smile, directed especially at Revan.
Meanwhile, Gara wasted no time. He hurriedly returned to his dorm while contacting Tristan with his crystal ring.
Not long after, Gara arrived at his dorm, and Tristan’s voice could be heard through the purple crystal.
"What happened, Gara? Is everything alright?" As always, Tristan’s worried voice entered Gara’s ears.
"Everything’s fine, Uncle. It’s just... I heard from my classmates about the death of Commander Gavin, my father."
"Y-you... you heard them talk about Commander Gavin?" Gara immediately picked up the panic in his godfather’s voice.
"What happened, Uncle?"
Tristan started with a heavy sigh. "The Druids’ pursuit of your mother and father was something not many people know.
If high-ranking people from the human race knew, there would be a huge war between races. Your father was like a treasure; he was utterly strong and admired not only by humans but by other races.
Your mother and father forced Duke Eshaan not to spread the truth. Commander Gavin, even with his life on the line, didn’t want to sacrifice the innocent."
Every scenario ran through Gara’s mind. If what Tristan said was true, then Commander Gavin and Lady Vita were the true saviors of this world.
But they died early. And perhaps, that’s why he had transmigrated into their son’s body.
"So, even now, with the Druids still chasing me, nobody knows the truth?" Gara felt he didn’t deserve all of this.
But he also understood the reason this body’s biological parents chose what they did.
"Yes. But that’s also the reason the Druids couldn’t chase us openly. They can’t do anything to you and the triplets in front of a crowd."
Hearing Tristan, Gara was unsure whether to be happy or sad, because in the end, if everything was revealed publicly, perhaps they would stop chasing him.
Or, they might just kill him right away.
Tristan may never have had a child himself, but since meeting Gara —or perhaps since Commander Gavin died— he had subconsciously come to view Gara as his own son.
Every day, the only thing nesting in his brain was the way to save Gara.
"Uncle, thank you. I hope we can meet soon. I have gifts for you."
A wide smile spread across Tristan’s aged face. In the end, it wasn’t just him who thought of Gara as his son; Gara also thought of Tristan as his father.
Ending the connection, Tristan entered a large study room, where a white-haired old man was reading a parchment.
"Gavin’s son... You want to sacrifice your time and effort just for him?" the old man asked without lifting his gaze from the parchment in his hand.
"Not only time and effort— Everything. Everything that can help him get rid of those Druids, Marquess Cakra." Only seriousness could be heard in Tristan’s words.
The old man frowned. "You will let the position of Marquess go for that boy, as well?"
Tristan stared straight at the Marquess, the old man who bore a strong resemblance to him. "Yes, Father. Whatever the cost, I will give up everything."
For a few minutes, nobody spoke. The only sounds in the room were a bird chirping outside and the old man’s heavy breathing.
Marquess Cakra looked at his son one last time before saying, "Then, the Cakra family will help that boy. In exchange, Tristan, you have to become the Marquess yourself."
"Father..." Tristan’s eyes widened. Right now, he didn’t look like a war veteran or a middle-aged man; he just looked like his father’s son. "What do you mean by this, Father?"
The old man didn’t answer, but soon Tristan got his answer from another man.
"Tristan, it’s me who wants you to be the Marquess." Another man who resembled the two men entered the room.
Walking toward Tristan, the man’s cane tapped with every step he took.
"I am no longer fit to be the heiress of Cakra, not when everyone knows our fiefdom is the producer of great generals."
"Brother, you are far more qualified. Even if you can’t directly fight the Mist Monsters, you’re the best brain. With you as the ruler, nothing can go wrong," Tristan said with certainty.
The man, who was slightly older than Tristan, offered a warm smile. "Your brother will lead the charge in the war..."
"Brother Damian, What do you mean?!" Tristan cried out.
"With the reports from the Golden Hunt team, it’s predicted that Mist Monsters will attack us within a few months," Damian said with a solemn face. "Our father can’t go to war anymore. It’s time for me to take the lead."
"No, brother!" Tristan shook his head vigorously. He looked like a small child who couldn’t get what he wanted.
"But someone from our family has to do it. You want to protect Gavin’s son, right? You can’t go to the war; you have too many responsibilities.
With that, your brother only wishes that besides protecting Gavin’s son, you will protect our home as well— protect the Cakranloka fiefdom."
Tristan’s thoughts swirled fast. He only came here to ask for help, not to discover every terrible event that had befallen his family after his departure. He felt guilty, but his promise to Gavin was still his first priority.
Now, he was being asked to shoulder a heavy burden. But perhaps, if he became the Marquess, he could truly help Gara.
...
Another day, another course. Gara never felt bored with any of his classes.
He gained much new general knowledge and also ways to enhance his talent, even though there were a few unfortunate incidents that occurred.
"The origin of the elements comes from the Dragon Race," the old Professor said with a storyteller’s cadence.
And Gara listened with a passionate look.
The teacher was always very happy to see students with curious eyes focused on his lesson. He became even more enthusiastic and continued his tale.
...