The next week came as it should be.
Lyris woke up from his sleep with a yawn, still groggy from the last night activity he did.
Last week's memories flashed his eyes.
He stood up from the oversized bed, and went into the bathroom.
Ten minutes passed, and Lyris opened the door with his spirit completely awake.
"Good morning."
Lyris didn't let another yawn escape as he muttered that to particularly no one.
Lyris walked to the mirror and a face greeted him.
Dead fish eyes and black hair.
"It's just me."
I'm not a narcissist.
Lyris rolled his eyes and opened his closet.
...
Opening the door to his room, Lyris walked out into a long hallway of doors.
Each door led into a bedroom, for his siblings.
The walls are decorated by layers of gold and green, the ceiling dotted by mana filled lights; and the path coloured a noble gray.
That damn rat is still doing it.
Lyris ignored the subtle moans incoming from the farthest room, and walked down the hallway.
Lyris found stairs leading up and down.
Lyris went down, turned, and walked into a large space, a long table with symmetrical seats assembled greeted his eyes.
Many seats are already occupied.
Lyris sat onto one of the chairs and ignored the others. He closed his eyes, and cycled his mana silently.
Many faces that Lyris resembled looked at him, but Lyris didn't respond.
The other kids started to copy him, but Lyris didn't mind.
...
Minutes passed.
Lyris opened his eyes slowly, and found out that most of the seats are already taken.
Lyris looked at the clock on the wall.
6:57 am.
Lyris felt another yawn trying to escape, but refrained.
It would be disrespectful for the silence.
...
Lyris didn't close his eyes again and waited for the clock to naturally hit the hour.
It is time.
Creak—
Many of the doors near the table opened.
Numerous maids and butlers went out of the doors, each hand holding a plate of food, or pushing carts of beverages and condiments.
Each one served the plates onto the table with a bow, before going back into the opened doors.
Clara.
Lyris' eyes glowed when he saw a maid come out the doors.
Brown bobbed hair, light red eyes, perfect toned skin, modestly large breasts, and smooth long legs.
The thigh highs just complimented her thigh fat.
She held a single plate in each hand.
Standing up beside him, Clara smiled gently when she saw Lyris stare.
"Let's talk at night."
Clara whisphered as she lowered the plates, removing the lids in the process.
Lyris nodded.
"Good boy."
Clara patted Lyris' head, before heading back.
...
Five minutes passed.
All dishes are served completely. No maids nor butlers remained in the room.
Lyris and the others sat there, motionless.
Not yet.
Lyris glanced at the corner of his eye.
At the end of the table is a man.
He 'stood' tall even if he sat, giving silent pressure.
Lyris' father.
Alex Von Parvian.
The head of the Parvian family.
The current master of [ShadowLight] sword technique.
One of the top hundred warriors in the nation.
The list goes on.
He scanned them all in one glance, silently.
"You can all start."
A deep voice resounded in the room.
...
One kid started to eat, and the others followed soon.
The sounds of plate and utensils colliding each other echoed as they ate.
Lyris started also when he saw the others.
On his plate is a variety of food choices.
Bread, soup, eggs, milk, cheese, sausages, rice, and others.
Put "High quality" before all of those, and it would be the perfect description.
Beside the plate is a piece of paper folded into an inch.
Lyris tucked the paper into his breast pocket and started eating.
...
"How is everyone's progress?"
Halfway though the breakfast, Alex started a question.
It was not loud, but everyone felt that it directly went into their ears.
Everyone paused for a moment, before continuing to eat.
Only the nearest kid didn't, and stood up to face the head.
"Uhm... I am halfway through the first Tier of [ShadowLight]. I should be able to master it in half a month."
He went silent after that.
Alex stared for a moment, before nodding.
"That is good. Continue."
The kid hid a relieved sigh under his breath, before sitting down to continue eating.
The kid beside him stood up next and reported his progress.
"It should be the same for me. Halfway through first Tier, and will reach after fourteen days."
He waited silently after.
Alex stared.
"How specific. I sense your confidence. Continue."
Alex nodded, and the kid sat back down.
"How about you?"
"I passed the first Tier, and are tackling the second tier."
"Good."
"I am third of the first Tier..."
"Seventy percent done..."
"First tier..."
"............"
"......."
"..."
The process continued until it reached Lyris.
"How about you?"
He didn't respond.
Lyris felt countless heads turn.
What a pain.
Lyris stood up.
Lyris had to comply. He didn't want to antagonize his siblings.
"I have no progress with [ShadowLight]."
Lyris muttered.
Pin drop silence.
Lyris could feel the countless gazes bore into him.
"Why?"
Alex asked.
"My instructor planned to teach me this day."
Lyris just passed the responsibility to his instructor.
"Hmm. Very well. Continue."
Alex dismissed him.
Lyris sat back down, feeling the stares disappear.
He ignored all of them and continued eating.
...
Minutes passed.
Everyone already finished eating.
Lyris stood up, walking towards the main hall.
"Wait."
Lyris ignored it and continued walking.
"Hey, I said wait!"
A hand grabbed his shoulders.
"I said wait. I need to talk to you."
Lyris turned around to see Maria.
Lyris' eyes twitched heavily when he saw her.
"What is it? I'm busy."
Lyris looked at her dead straight.
Maria scoffed when she saw his expression.
"You haven't even mastered the first Tier of [ShadowLight] and you dare say you're busy?"
She frowned.
"Who cares. What do you want?"
Lyris glared at her.
Maria ignored his gaze and shrugged.
"Did you know that I'm going to be your partner for today?"
Maria smiled.
"I know. Leave me alone."
Lyris frowned.
He turned around and walked away.
"Hey, I haven't finished!"
Lyris ignored the shouts behind him.
...
Lyris stepped out of the open gates.
A female voice reached his ears.
"Aren't you too evasive of her?"
Lyris turned to look, and saw a maid.
"We're not compatible."
Lyris shrugged.
"Aw... That's a pity."
Lyris saw the maid's shoulder slump.
...
"Clara."
Lyris muttered.
"Yes, young master?"
Clara smiled.
"Why are you here?"
Lyris was confused.
"I'm here to kill you, young master."
Clara's eyes glowed bright red.
