"Is there something you need?"
Obithal Cublue, eighth and current head of the Cublue family, looked at his son and wondered what brought him here at this time of day.
He was on the shorter side, a half-head shorter than Place, but he was much more well-built, with broad shoulders, and his mouth hidden behind his luxurious moustache and beard. His dark orange hair, while the same color as his son's, was much longer, reaching his shoulders
It was unusual, Place had almost never cut into his morning time like this. He usually spoke to him about anything important after lunch, before he had a small nap.
Place took a deep breath, and Obithal placed his pen inside his book, closed it, and slid it to the side. Anything that made Place this hesitant required his full attention.
"Father, I would like to enroll in the elite class."
The words that came forth were more than a bit surprising.
Obithal was taken aback. What had brought this on?
"We talked about you enrolling before, if I remember correctly."
They had, and Place had denied enrollment into the academy. Which academy he wanted to enroll in was without question, there was only one that was needed.
The more important question was why he had a sudden change of heart, and...
"The elite class? That's going to be a bit difficult."
He set aside the question in his mind, he knew his son's abilities and knew that his son must have a good enough reason. Place would never ask something like this otherwise.
Place said nothing as his father thought for a few moments.
"Alright, I'll see to it. There should be no major problems."
"Thank you, father."
"Stop that, what do I always tell you?" Obithal frowned at his son's polite words.
"It's still 'formal hours', father." Place replied with a smirk.
Obithal grumbled as he realized that it was, in fact, 'formal hours'.
"Tch. go and bother someone else." He waved him off.
Place chuckled, "As you wish, father," and left.
Obithal snorted as Place closed the door, then his eyes narrowed, and his brows furrowed as he sank into thought.
'The elite class...' Getting Place into it wouldn't be difficult, all it would require would be calling in a small favor and maybe owing one in return, very simple.
There was only the matter of his son's sudden change of heart. They had had a long talk about his enrollment just a few months ago.
They had talked about the possible benefits and consequences and came to the conclusion that there were very few benefits and more consequences.
'Why did he suddenly change his mind?'
A hardness settled into Obithal's eyes. He trusted his son, and his son would not make such a decision without a reason.
He sent out a pulse of magic, and a moment later, the floor in front of his desk lit up as a spell circle appeared.
"Obie? You called?" A gruff voice sounded as a man teleported into the study. "I swear I'll hit you with my cane if you just wanted another one of my fruit bowls." He joked as he stepped forward.
The older man paused as he took in Obithal's facial expressions.
"Something serious?" The joking tone vanished.
Obithal nodded. "It's Place."
"What's wrong?"
"I want you to check if his mind is being controlled or affected by anything."
A mirrored frown appeared on the man's face.
"What happened?" He asked as he held out his hand, palm up, and a small box appeared in it and opened on its own.
"He made a decision unlike him, and I can't think of anything that could have pushed him into it."
"Well, from what I can see, his protections are intact at least. Unless they have been completely taken over." The box closed and vanished. "I'll check him at lunch, and if there is something..." A dark look appeared on the man's face.
"You can have it after we're done." Obithal nodded.
The man nodded back and walked to the door.
"Good... I'll see you at lunch then."
*Sometime later*
Place walked into the dining room to find the table all set up, and two of the six chairs occupied.
A wicked look appeared in his eyes as he walked over from behind the occupied chairs, his feet not making any noise.
He raised his arms, his index and middle fingers extended, and the rest folded in.
He thrust forward, and his fingers jabbed into the backs of two different necks, and the conversation they were having shut down.
"Ungh!"
"Ahh!"
Two different sounds emerged, but their reactions were mirror copies of each other.
They both turned and lashed out, trying to slap away the offending arm.
"Reshi[1]!"
"Reshi!"
Two voices shouted as one, complaining to their older brother.
"Hello, brother Ooo. Hello, sister Ahh." Place ignored their complaints as he walked around them to another chair.
"Not my name!"
"Not my name!"
The twins made various sounds of discontent as an elderly man walked in.
"He never stops, does he?" He spoke aloud, drawing attention to himself.
The twins stopped pouting at Place, and waved at the man.
"Uncle! Tell Reshi to stop hitting us!"
"Or let us hit him back!"
'Uncle' chuckled.
"Reshi?"
Place nodded in greeting.
"Good afternoon, Granduncle."
"Stop hitting your siblings, Reshi." He ruffled one of twins hair as he said that.
"I shall stop for now."
The twins pouted in unison.
The sister, who hair was being rubbed, snorted as she turned to her brother, who shrugged.
"Always the same."
'Uncle' took his seat.
"Where's your father?" He asked. "Is he not joining us for lunch?"
The twins had no idea, so he turned to Place.
"There is a chance that he is busy with something I asked him for."
'Uncle' nodded. "Then we shall wait for a few minutes. If he does not show up, then we will begin."
They did not have to wait longer than a minute before Obithal entered the room.
"Everyone's here? Seems I'm a bit late." He casually walked to the last chair as he made eye contact with 'Uncle'.
An unspoken question went through the air.
'Well?'
[1] Reshi: Used by a younger sibling to refer to an older brother