Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

"You didn't need to use magic on him, mom." Elion said, casting a disapproving glance at the little one who was now sleeping on the couch, peaceful as an angel.

"He's problematic. It wouldn't be good for him to hear our conversation." Eleonor replied, not taking her eyes off the boy, her expression a mixture of serenity and calculation. Then, with a mischievous smile, she added: "Besides... if we're talking about unnecessary use of magic, care to explain why this whole house is covered in illusionary magic?"

"W-what? I didn't do anything!" Elion replied, trying to appear innocent.

Eleonor raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. With a simple snap of her fingers, the truth came to light. All the luxury adorning the space vanished, revealing the simplicity of a humble home.

"Oh, of course, you didn't do anything." Eleonor commented with a sharp sarcastic tone, watching the place return to its original state. Her magic was still far superior to her daughter's, and Elion knew it.

"So... why are you here?" Elion asked, her voice hesitant as she took a slight step back, clearly intimidated by her mother's imposing presence.

"Honestly, I keep wondering where I went wrong in raising you." Eleonor sighed, crossing her arms and casting a judgmental look. "Having a child and not even telling your own mother? That's too much... even for my standards."

"Mom... I just..." Elion started, her voice trembling as she searched for an excuse, but Eleonor raised her hand, silencing her with a gentle gesture.

"It's fine." Eleonor said with a gentle smile, her eyes reflecting understanding. "I'd do the same if I were in your situation." She paused, looking at the sleeping grandson before continuing, "Still, you could have told me. The witches could help raise him and teach him about the world."

For a brief moment, Elion's gaze faltered, but it soon turned into something cold and dark, two unfathomable abysses.

"I would never let any of those whores touch my beloved son." His voice came out full of possessiveness, each word sounding like a definitive sentence. 

"Tsk, crazy possessive." Eleonor muttered, rolling her eyes. Then, with the typical curiosity of someone who has no filters, she asked: "So... how exactly did you raise him? Sex or..." 

"Ew!" Elion interrupted, visibly irritated. "I would never have sex with just any man. I created him using magic with the essence of a strong man. I just eliminated all his genes and added more of my own. He's 100% Elion." She declared with a satisfied smile, proud of her work. 

Eleonor stared at her with a look that mixed exasperation and something that seemed like... anticipation. "I knew that idea of creating the 'perfect man' would end in this." She commented with a sigh, casting a brief glance at Kael, who was sleeping peacefully. 

"What now?" Eleonor asked, arching an eyebrow. "What do you intend to do? Practice incest with him?" 

"Exactly." Elion replied with satisfaction. 

Eleonor blinked, unable to hide her momentary surprise. An uncomfortable silence hung between the two, until she let out a loud, almost hysterical laugh. 

"I didn't expect anything less, HAHAHAHA" she said, trying to catch her breath, but her daughter's determined gaze quickly killed her laughter. 

"Crazy." Elion murmured with a serene, almost triumphant smile. "Kael is perfect. He's my blood, my creation. No one else is worthy of me except him." 

"Ah... and I thought I was the crazy one in the family." Eleonor commented with a theatrical sigh before turning to her daughter. "Well, in the end, he'll have the choice. Have it your way." She shrugged and moved away a little, changing her tone. "Now, on to the main subject..." 

"The Academy."

Elion's eyes briefly sparkled upon hearing that. "Honestly, it's practically ready. It'll just take a few more days to... well, you know, fine-tune the details," she replied with a faint smile.

"The old man told me I could send Kael there as soon as everything was finalized," Elion added casually.

Eleonor crossed her arms, tilting her head as her usual expression was replaced with something more serious. "The rulers have decided to send their children in eight years. That's why I came personally."

Elion narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious. "That doesn't make sense, mom. Why exactly do you want me to send him later? You've never cared about timing before. What are you plotting?"

Eleonor let out a soft laugh, as if the question amused her. "Ah, my dear, you know me too well. But in this case, it's simple: the later he goes, the better prepared he'll be. The Academy is a political battlefield, on top of everything they teach. Prodigy children like him attract attention... not all of it positive. I want him to arrive there not as a mere promise but as an unstoppable force."

Elion crossed her arms, absorbing her mother's words. She knew Eleonor rarely made decisions without an ulterior motive.

"And what's the part you're not telling me?" Elion asked, her voice heavy with suspicion.

Eleonor smiled, leaning a little closer. "Let's just say that, by the time he arrives, certain... obstacles will be out of the way. And with that, he'll have a much more comfortable space to conquer whatever he wants."

Elion sighed, shaking her head. "Always thinking about manipulating everything to your advantage, aren't you?"

"Me? Manipulate?" Eleonor placed a hand on her chest in mock shock. "I only want the best for my grandson."

Elion let out a short laugh but said nothing. Her eyes turned to Kael, who was still sleeping peacefully on the couch.

"Alright, mom. He'll go when he's eleven, but don't think I won't keep an eye on your plans. I'll protect him from anything, even from you if necessary."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you," Eleonor replied with a satisfied smile, casting one last affectionate glance at her grandson. "Now that we've settled this, why don't you stop pretending and show yourself, you little rascal? I know very well you're not asleep," she declared with a mischievous smile. 

Kael, still with his eyes closed, froze upon hearing his grandmother's words. Inside, his mind was a storm of curses. 

'Damn it! Damn woman!!' He screamed internally, trying to keep his breathing steady to maintain the charade, but Eleonor didn't seem inclined to let him off so easily. 

"Come on, Kael." Eleonor continued, her voice as sweet as honey but laden with authority. "If you want to pretend to be a good spy, at least do it properly. Your breathing became uneven the moment I mentioned the Academy." 

Kael slowly opened his eyes, looking at his grandmother with a mix of irritation and embarrassment. "How do you always know everything?!" He asked, sitting up on the couch with his arms crossed. 

"Sweetheart, I am the Queen of Witches," Eleonor replied with a smug smile. "Knowing is the essence of my power. And besides, you're predictable." 

"Predictable?!" Kael retorted, offended. 

"Yes, predictable," Eleonor confirmed, amused by her grandson's reaction. "But don't worry, that can change with time... if you learn to hide your intentions better." 

Elion sighed beside them, placing a hand on her forehead. "Mom, can you stop teasing my son for at least five minutes?" 

"Teasing? I'm just teaching him. I wouldn't have imagined that a three-year-old boy could break my spell so quickly..." Eleonor replied, feigning innocence, while Kael huffed in frustration. 

'A mana core... and a blessing...' Eleonor thought as she activated a spell in her eyes, allowing her to see beyond the visible. 'The core and the blessing... they share the same energy...' 

Her mind worked rapidly as she connected the dots. Slowly, she turned to face her daughter, her gaze serious and piercing. 

"Spill it. What did you do?" Her voice was firm, laden with authority, and her words cut through the air like a blade. 

"Me?" Elion replied with a nonchalant smile, shrugging. "I didn't do anything. It was him who interacted with the World Tree." 

For a moment, Eleonor's face froze, as if processing the words. Then, her expression shattered completely, like glass breaking into thousands of pieces. 

"He did what?!" she exclaimed, her voice slightly raised, her eyes shining with a mix of surprise and disbelief.

---

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