120 Chapter 120: Successor to the Stuart Clan (1/2)
”Uh…no?”
I was staring at Lionel Stuart in disbelief. What the fuck was the middle-aged patriarch trying to play at?
”This is my very own magic…well, not exactly mine, but it belongs to my Green Dragon.”
The chibi Green Dragon reappeared and floated above me, growling…cutely. I mean, his current form looked like it belonged to a stuffed animal. Not exactly very convincing or intimidating.
Stuart watched me, fascinated. ”Really? Those wood-element spells look very similar to the techniques of my clan. The one you just used…Spring of Hellebore, and the one from earlier…Dance of the Sakura Blossoms, if I'm not mistaken…those are extremely advanced wood techniques of the Stuart Clan. Where did you learn them from?”
”It's just a coincidence, I assure you,” I assured him while trying to suppress my irritation. ”The element of my Celestial Guardian, Green Dragon, is wood. And so his spells are wood-based. It just happens to resemble your techniques, but I created them myself. By your logic, every wood magician must have learned their spells from the Stuart Clan.”
”The issue isn't that you used wood magic. It's that your techniques are extremely similar to the secret sword techniques passed down our clan.” This time, Cecilia had joined in, rising from her seat as she explained. Folding her arms, she stared at me intently. ”Forgive me, but it's very difficult for Father and me to believe that this close resemblance is merely a coincidence.”
I pushed my glasses up my nose as I sighed. ”I'm telling the truth. If you don't believe me, then I don't know what to say.”
”Where did you learn those techniques from?” Stuart repeated his question firmly. ”I must really insist that you tell me.”
”I made them up myself,” I replied stubbornly. ”I don't know anything about the Stuart Clan's wood magic or sword techniques. Not unless either of you admit to teaching me your techniques, but that's impossible, right?”
Father and daughter glanced at each other, and then shook their heads.
”This is the first time we've met,” Stuart pointed out.
”Other than that match all those months ago, I have never shown him any of my techniques,” Cecilia said as well. ”And we never really had a chance to encounter each other. It's not me.”
”That's because I didn't learn it from anybody!” I exploded, a vein bulging in my temple. Just how thick were these people? ”I just scraped together whatever skills I learned from school, combined it with whatever wood magic I read from books, and used my imagination to create Green Dragon and his wood spells!”
”I hardly think Jing Tian Academy has the staff capable of teaching you such advanced wood magic,” Cecilia remarked skeptically.
”What books did you read?” Stuart asked, still not giving up. I paused for a moment, racking my memory.
”Five Clover Mysteries by Woody Allen, The Essence of Wood Element by Elliot Wood, The Hidden Secrets of Forest Magic by Fred Forrester, and Encyclopedia of Hundred Flowers by Cassandra Flowers.”
”Ah. I personally know Cassandra.” Stuart leaned back in his golden throne, nodding as he looked convinced. ”Her book is an excellent one, and is certainly not one meant for beginners. But you've also read Wood's Essence of Wood Element, which is the must-have book on basic wood magic for beginners, so I can't say I'm surprised.”
”You can't be saying that you seriously believe him, Father,” Cecilia protested hotly. ”We need to find out how…”
”Are you saying someone from our family taught him, Cecilia?” Stuart asked. She hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.
”We have to consider that possibility and track down who is leaking our clan's techniques.”
”Even if there is, no one is leaking them to me,” I snapped in annoyance. ”I'm telling the truth. You can cast a truth spell on me if you don't believe me.”
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Stuart raised a hand. ”There is no need to go that far. I will take your word for it. You have no reason to lie. If you meant to keep the identity of your teacher a secret, you wouldn't have displayed it right in front of me and my daughter of all people.”
”…that's true,” Cecilia conceded reluctantly.
”But I must say…those wood spells are really impressive. It's amazing that you can create such spells that resemble my clan's ancient techniques so closely…techniques that have been secretly passed down my family for generations.”
”Bah!” it was Franklin. Apparently, he was agitated that everybody was focusing their attention on me and leaving him in the sidelines. ”I hate to interrupt this conversation, but who cares if this lowly commoner has learned some wood magic or not. As long as the winner has yet to be determined, our match isn't over.”
”Oh, but it does play a critical role,” Stuart corrected him. ”If Richard has mastered such advanced wood magic, then he has a much greater claim to becoming my successor. His techniques, while impressive, are still raw and flawed. If I personally teach him the Stuart Clan's sword style, I'm sure he will reach greater heights, especially as a mage.”
Franklin seethed in frustration, but I quickly held up both hands.
”I appreciate your sentiment, Lord Stuart, but I am unable to become your successor. I wish to follow in my father's footsteps, and I have my own set of magic I wish to focus on.” Green Dragon floated above me, growling silently. ”My main theme is constellations, and not wood magic.”
”Ah…the ancient Chinese constellations from over millennia ago.” Stuart nodded in understanding. ”That explains your Green Dragon. And the Vermillion Phoenix and White Tiger you used against my daughter during your match against her.”
”Well, are we going to continue the fight or not?” Franklin demanded impatiently. I could see that he was getting desperate.