Zenaria writes down everything Enrico did during the fight. The grade she gives him is S-, and it is only not higher because she noticed that his mana was below half. Normally, it is difficult for a person to perceive another person's amount of mana, unless they have a natural sensitivity to it. Most Elves awaken this ability, but Zenaria, Virelle, and some humans also managed to naturally develop this sensitivity.
'It's a shame that he seems to have little mana... but this boy is a genius, there's no doubt about it.'
All the students leave, and only Serenya remains in front of her, not wanting to talk. However, Zenaria needed to talk about what had been bothering Serenya for a long time.
"Serenya, tomorrow I want you to finally accept the arranged marriage with the Hirta family."
Since childhood, Serenya had been offered as part of an alliance with the second strongest family in the city, which was below only the Malquess family. However, she had never liked the boy she was supposed to marry, especially now that she was beginning to feel strange around Enrico.
"Mother, I've already said it. I will only agree to marry someone with more potential than me."
"Serenya, he is in Class S. So why do you think you're going to surpass him?"
"Mother, you know that family is performing rituals to improve his ability."
"That's just a suspicion."
"But what if it isn't? If you marry me to someone without potential and have a grandson who won't be strong, how will you feel?"
Serenya was right. Zenaria knew that, but they needed a strong alliance because of the threat from the neighboring city, which was becoming increasingly powerful and wanted to dominate their city. If her daughter were as strong as she wanted, she would have refused the marriage, but that was not the case.
"Serenya, no matter what happens. I will train my grandson myself, and if he isn't born with potential, just have another one."
Serenya's hand trembles behind her back. She looks into her mother's eyes. There was no way she would let her child be trained by her, much less did she want to have a child with that boy.
"Then why didn't you have another child besides me?"
"Serenya Malquess."
She trembles upon hearing her mother say her full name, but does not back down.
"The only thing our city needs is a strong alliance, right? And you also want a grandson with potential to improve our family? I can have both."
Zenaria remains silent, thinking about what Serenya was about to say. She hoped it would not be something stupid, because her patience was already reaching its limit.
"What do you mean?"
"Solcren Ferreira Family."
Zenaria is surprised by her daughter's words and raises an eyebrow. She knew that Serenya was friends with Enrico, but that would be impossible. His family would never accept something like that.
"That won't work. That family won't accept one of their children marrying into a weaker family."
The Solcren Ferreira family was formed by two families that had united through an agreement to end the territorial dispute between Vesparello and Floravita. Both were extremely proud, and neither of them was willing to abandon their own name. Therefore, they ended up combining both surnames and forming the Solcren Ferreira family.
"First, it is possible, especially because Enrico is my subordinate and my right-hand man. I'm sure I can convince him."
Enrico continuing as Serenya's subordinate, even though he was stronger than her, surprised her a little, because that would normally only happen if there were some kind of oath between them.
"Second, his family doesn't care about him, so it might work. And third..."
Serenya looks down and puts a small smile on her face. She had been having that strange feeling toward Enrico for some time. Especially when he returned, she felt a little down, even while she was with her subordinates and her new companions during that week. Thinking about it more carefully, she realizes that she had already been starting to like him for some time.
"I like him, Mother..."
Zenaria freezes. For a few seconds, she simply stares at her daughter without knowing how to respond. It was not the answer she expected to hear. Serenya had always been extremely demanding when it came to marriage, and until that moment, Zenaria believed she could convince her to accept the Hirta family using only arguments about power and alliances. But now there was another person involved.
Zenaria closes her eyes for a moment and takes a deep breath. That reminded her of many years ago, when she herself had said those words to her own mother after meeting the man who would become her husband. At that time, she had also believed that her feelings would be enough to change the destiny her family had planned for her.
When she opens her eyes again, she sees Serenya in front of her. There was no shame or hesitation on her daughter's face. On the contrary, she looked determined.
It was rare for Serenya to show something in that way.
"There is a problem with the second reason. Lately, their second daughter has been coming to Class A very often to ask for information about Enrico, and I heard that they also asked for information when he was in Class C."
Serenya suddenly puts an ironic smile on her face, thinking that after ignoring him so much and hurting him, now that he had demonstrated his potential, they wanted to have him back? To her, they were worse than her own mother.
"So I repeat: why do you think they would want to form an alliance with a family below theirs?"
"If that's the case, then I just have to prove that I'm strong enough to be the one chosen."
Serenya quickly answers her mother, smiling confidently and showing no intention of backing down. Zenaria had to admit that, ever since that boy began evolving rapidly, her daughter had also been trying to keep up with him. That pleased her, because Serenya was finally achieving good results.
"All right. I'll give you just one chance."
"Thank you, Mother."
Serenya leaves the room, going straight to the training room, while her mother remains there, planning. She did not know whether that would end in marriage, a new alliance, or simply another rivalry between young people. But there was one thing she was already certain of.
Serenya had finally found someone she wanted to reach.
And, for a mother who had spent years trying to make her daughter improve, that was something that genuinely pleased her.
"Very well. I'd better take this to the director soon..."
She calmly stands up.
'Who is this Enrico? Even though he is a Solcren, even the director is interested in him.'
Looking at the notes she had made about Enrico and seeing how many important figures were interested in him, perhaps it would be better, instead of forming an alliance only with the Solcren family, to try to form an alliance directly with him, who was attracting so much attention even while still being in Class A.
Elsewhere, Enrico sneezes while placing his hands on his knees, tired because of the run he had done moments before.
[What happened? Did you get sick? I thought those artifacts improved your health too.]
"Huff."
'And they do improve it. It will be difficult for me to get sick, especially when I drink that thing...'
Looking behind him, he sees the path he had traveled, marked by trails of fire on the ground. Just as he had done with the Fire Fist, he had also improved his kick, since the concept was the same.
"All right. Let's get back to training."
As he runs again, with the system calling him a training monster, Valença watches him from afar. She had passed by that place to train her magic.
'I can't let him surpass me that easily.'
She grips her staff and immediately begins taking notes. Upon realizing that Enrico had improved his magic, she decides to do the same as his rival and finish her new magic.