Chapter 115: Garion Learns What Clan Politics Feel Like
The Revalis Clan’s main arena was filled with noise and chatter.
Young cultivators filled the seats, some training, others gossiping while waiting for the yearly clan competition to begin.
Near the center, a tall youth with short red hair leaned against the railing, his arms crossed, grinning smugly.
He was Rovric Revalis. Beside him, folding his long legs on the bench, was Ragric Revalis.
He was the one with the yellow hair and a permanent look of challenge.
Rovric nudged Ragric with his elbow. "Do you think those twins will show?"
Ragric snorted and cracked his knuckles.
"Rynar and Rynor? Please. They ran off. Who runs back to a place that beat them?"
Rovric shrugged, eyes still on the gate.
"Their letter before they ran away said that they’re coming back for revenge."
Ragric laughed, loud enough to draw looks.
"Revenge? Come on. They got pushed out by us before. Do you really think they still dare?"
Rovric tapped the railing with his finger.
"Even if they do... after a year? How strong could they be? A year’s nothing."
Ragric’s smile went thin. He sat up straighter.
"A year of hiding and training does make people change, and also I want them to come back."
Rovric blinked. "Why?"
Ragric leaned forward, eyes bright, flicking his hand as if sweeping them under a rug.
"Because I want fun. I want to remind them where they belong."
Rovric barked a short laugh. "Under your boots, right?"
"Exactly." Ragric lifted his chin like a king.
"Let them come back. We’ll crush them again."
Rovric’s grin widened.
"If they show up, I’ll make sure they never forget that no matter what, they are always below us."
Around them, their small group of friends whooped and slapped backs.
One of them, a wiry boy with a missing tooth, tossed a sunflower seed shell to the floor and spat.
"I’ll bet two rounds of meat on you, Ragric."
A girl nearby rolled her eyes and pulled a coin from her sleeve.
"You’re on. But only if Rynar goes one-on-one with Rovric."
Another cultivator raised his voice from the tier below.
"You Revalis boys always talk big. Hope you can back it up."
Rovric swung his leg over the railing and stretched, showing off his forearm. "Watch and learn."
Ragric folded his arms and watched the far gate, where servants still moved cages and cleared the path.
Someone down in the crowd shouted. "Make way! Clan elders coming through!"
The noise swelled and then sank as a line of elders passed.
Ragric straightened faster than the others, bowing his head briefly.
Rovric followed, but his smile stayed.
When the elders moved on, he pushed off the rail and jumped down to the arena floor, landing with a thud.
"Showtime," he called, voice low and sharp.
Ragric jumped down after him, landing beside his brother.
The two stood shoulder to shoulder, grinning at each other like children about to break something.
The crowd roared again. The laughter around them felt warm and a little too loud.
Rovric slapped Ragric’s shoulder. "Let them come. We’ll break them, then eat."
Ragric’s grin turned cruel. "And make sure they remember who rules Revalis."
They laughed together, the sound rolling out across the arena.
---
Garion stood near the edge of the ship’s deck, arms folded, asking both the twins without turning.
"How long till we arrive at your Revalis Clan? It has been quite some time."
Rynar leaned against the railing. "Not very far now, Master. Maybe about fifteen minutes."
Rynor yawned and stretched his arms behind his head. "Before we go in, though, let’s stop by somewhere first."
Garion glanced over his shoulder. "Somewhere?"
Rynor pointed toward a small hill on the outskirts. "There. See that place near the trees?"
Garion squinted and saw a modest wooden house sitting alone, smoke rising from its chimney.
It looked peaceful compared to the grand clan buildings in the distance. "That’s... a house? Out here?"
Rynar nodded. "Yeah."
Garion tilted his head. "Is it yours?"
Both twins shook their heads. "No."
Rynar said quietly. "It’s our mother’s."
Garion blinked. "Your mother’s?"
Rynor scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Uh... our second mother."
Dahlia, who was leaning near the doorway, frowned. "Second mother?"
Rynar nodded again, looking down. "Yeah. Our first mother died. Clan politics. Some stupid inner fighting."
The air went silent for a moment.
Clara shifted her weight, her usual smile fading. Eliza crossed her arms but said nothing.
Garion’s eyes narrowed. "I see... so that’s what it’s like inside a great clan."
His voice carried a low note of disappointment.
He turned his gaze back toward the small wooden house below.
"So this second mother of yours, how can she live outside the clan grounds?"
Rynor tilted his head slightly. "She’s... kind of a special case."
Garion looked at him. "Special how?"
Rynar exhaled slowly. "She’s the clan head’s older sister. But she was born with a weak body."
Rynor continued, his voice lower. "And not only that..."
He could only sigh. "Her mana trait never awakened, even though she reached the Mana Core Realm."
Rynar continued, shrugging. "No one ever figured out why. Even the doctors and elders couldn’t."
Rynor then gave Garion a small shrug. "Now you get it, right, Master... the reason she was here."
Garion’s brows furrowed. "A weak body and no mana trait, in a clan that values destruction and power..."
He shook his head, knowing the exact answer. "So they banished her."
Rynor shook his head. "Not completely. Because of her status, they couldn’t throw her out entirely."
Rynar continued. "So instead, they gave her this house that was close enough so they can still ’take care of her.’"
Garion was silent for a few seconds. The twins looked down, avoiding his eyes.
Finally, he said quietly, "I see."
Then he straightened, his tone steady. "We’ll go there first."
Both twins looked up in surprise.
Garion gave a faint nod. "Let’s visit your mother."
Rynar and Rynor exchanged a look.
Then, Rynor chuckled softly. "Heh... yeah. I think she’ll like that."
The ship began descending, going to the quiet little home waiting below.