Chapter 10: Do you fear me?

"There is a better way to strengthen your brain and keep your personality."

After thinking about this for all this time, Astra finally decided. In the battle where her brain supported the previous Vaan and her heart that wanted the current Vaan, her heart won.

"What is it?" The moment Vaan heard Astra's words, his eyes brightened up and he questioned.

Seeing those eyes, Astra couldn't help but smile, this expression... it was something she never expected Vaan would make in front of her. Just seeing those eyes filled her with happiness.

"Learn about the world from your own perspective," Astra answered.

"What do you mean?"

"Reading books might be a good way to train your brain, however, reading random books without any actual plan wouldn't do much.

Currently, your mind is a huge blank that doesn't know anything, it is better to fill that blank in your mind.

Read things that would help you do that and along with that, experience the world. Go out and experience things that the previous you had experienced, create your own perceptions on different things, this way, your mind wouldn't be overpowered that easily and your sense of self would strengthen."

"Create my own perception..." Vaan repeated Astra's words as he thought about it.

Honestly, the chances that he would retain his personality after he inherits all the memories of the previous Vaan were pretty high, however, he still wanted to be sure of it. There was no room for mistake.

"Mother, can you hide the fact that I lost my memories?"

Suddenly, Vaan questioned.

He knew how difficult this request was. The servants already had an idea about it, then there were the healers, not to mention that Sera, though she didn't know that he lost his memories but she still met him, the news related to people from the rich family often spreads faster than normal and it gets impossible to contain after a certain time.

However,

This world had Magic.

And his mother was one of the Strongest Mages in the entire world.

Vaan betted on that fact,

"Why do you want to do that?"

And just as he expected, Astra didn't outright reject his request either and asked for his reasons instead,

"I want to experience life as Vaan."

Vaan's answer was simple.

Astra glanced at Vaan's determined expression, then, she smiled,

"Alright, I will do it.

No one will remember you beating Aldric up and the events after that, not even Aldric."

"No one will remember...?"

Vaan tilted his head in confusion. He only wanted to contain this information and stop it from spreading any further, but to think his mother directly decided to play with others' memories.

"I will take care of all the things here, you do not need to worry. I will also appoint one of my most trusted butlers to serve you. I will not alter his memories since he is trustworthy, that way, you can ask for his help if you ever find yourself stuck in a complicated situation."

"I understand." Vaan nodded.

"Alright, now return to your room and get some rest."

"No, I want to go to the library."

"Don't push yourself too hard, Vaan."

"I am not pushing myself, mother. I know my body well, that white light helped me freshen up, I am as good as new right now." Vaan spoke as he patted his biceps.

Astra chuckled, then, she clapped 2 times.

A servant walked in,

"Take Young Master Vaan to the library, make sure he does not leave until he spends more than 2 hours in there."

She spoke as she glared at Vaan with an annoyed and angry look on her face.

Vaan frowned, soon, however, he realized what Astra was trying to do and,

"I do not want to-"

"Silence," Astra ordered, her voice seemed a little heavier than normal.

Vaan's body moved on its own and his mouth closed up. Vaan was surprised, to think his mother would use magic. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought that she was actually angry.

"Take him away," Astra ordered.

The servant nodded and,

"Young Master Vaan, please follow me."

He spoke.

Vaan glared at the servant. The servant's body twitched, however, seeing that Lady Astra was here, he overcame his fear and pointed at the door with a respected look on his face.

Vaan snorted, then, he walked out of the room. The servant followed behind him.

Astra, who saw everything chuckled, then, her expression suddenly turned solemn and,

"Call the Obsidian Order."

The shadow under her body trembled a little and Astra walked out of the room as well.

...

"It looks like you fear me."

On the other side, Vaan, who was following the servant questioned with a curious look on his face.

"N-No, why would I f-fear you, Young Master?" The servant replied.

"So you do not fear me?" Vaan narrowed his eyes.

"N-No! That's not it!" The servant panicked.

"What is it, make it clear, do you fear me, or do you not fear me?"

Vaan questioned, from his tone, he sounded irritated.

"I-I am loyal to Young Master Vaan, I have no reason to fear you since I always have your best interest in my mind. I only fear that the young master will be disappointed in me."

The servant shouted his answer as if he had crammed it for ages.

Vaan raised his eyebrow in amazement, that was definitely a good answer to get out of this situation. With how the servant reacted, this wasn't the first time this servant was dealing with something like this.

Vaan also noticed that all the other servants were strangely intimidated by him. Even the servants who weren't present when he beat Aldric up were the same.

Vaan understood,

They were not scared of the current him, but the previous him.

And Vaan couldn't understand the reason behind it.

Aldric and the other servants, their attitudes towards him were completely different.

How can one person be so intimidating to some and be a pushover in front of others? Was that even possible?

"T-This is the library, Young Master."

Vaan came out of his reverie as he heard the servant's words.

Without saying anything, he walked in.

The servant followed behind, then, Vaan turned towards the servant and questioned with an annoyed look on his face,

"I can at least choose the books I wish to read, correct?"

"Y-Yes, please read whatever you wish, Young Master. That person over there is the librarian, if you tell him what topics you are interested in, he will bring you the most suitable books for the said topics."