Chapter 234 (1/2)

”Master Cygnus.”

”General Ramas. There seems to be a lightness to your step this evening.”

While butterflies flittered elsewhere, two silver haired men smiled at each other and made small talk, however although they appeared of similar age, there was actually a few decades between them. The much more stout of the two, for his figure resembled a plush ball unlike the robustness of the man with sun darkened skin, was actually some fifty years older. However, they both had experienced stagnation in their cultivation, although at different times, so the years had taken hold of them and lined them both. This similarity between them and joint wistfulness of fate had formed a bond of friendship that stretched now ten long years. Both also shared the hope of their dreams within their grandchildren now, their own offspring being ordinary. However, while General Ramas was the head of his family with shallow roots, Master Cygnus was born of a branch within the extensive and ancient Cygnus clan. He grew to head this branch family that had been dying away were it not for his tenth grandson and current hope.

The old man's name was Winter, but as he represented the clan within Cenapar city, others respectfully called him by the clan name.

General Ramas smiled brightly, even as he dismissed the compliment. ”My wife invites new doctors all the time to create tonics for me. Perhaps this new bitter medicine is actually taking effect for a change. But I see that there is a sparkle in your eyes this night, perhaps you received good news?”

”Not so, not so,” the old man was equally as dismissive, but allowed; ”although this one's Grandson happened to return home to visit this New Year and it is always the delight of the elders to welcome home their descendants.”

”This is true,” General Ramas agreed. ”It so happens my Grandson is also back for a visit.”

”Is that so? Ah I recall that you mentioned that you allowed him to attend the Ascending Mountain Institute as a Martial Artist. May I assume he is progressing well then?”

”When will that stinky boy ever progress well?” General Ramas scowled even if that did not reach his cheerful eyes. ”However, I bet that your Grandson is performing brilliantly as usual as a Mage at the Ascending Mountain Institute?”

”Not bad,” the man stroked his impressively long beard that dressed his round stomach like a second scarf. ”His talent is mediocre, only just managing to breakthrough to tertiary level a little less than a moon ago. His sea is now all over the place and so I let him remain home to rest.” These depreciating words were only upon his tongue and clearly not in his heart as each one was filled with pride.

”Isn't he a little over twenty one? And you consider such talent mediocre,” General Ramas snorted. ”Should I remind you how long my sixth grandson lingered in primary level? More than ten years to break through to secondary! Were it not that he gained an attention of one of the Teachers, who took him as a direct student, I'd worry that it would be another ten years before he even approached the peak to enter tertiary stage!” His arms were crossed as if dissatisfied, but Master Cygnus heard the relief, the hope and the joy in his voice.

Both old men stood as if their grandchildren were the epitome of greatness, even as they berated them verbally. Naturally, others began to bemoan their grandsons and daughters just as happily as well. This one's granddaughter had only just finished reading ten books about medicine, this one's grandson had managed to enter the Imperial Academy by some luck considering his weak calligraphy and this one's grandchild had sold all the recent batch of wine brewed by his own recipe and hand and only saved him a single barrel of the highly in demand beverage.