"No, that's not it."
Ingrid shook her head immediately.
"Even if the relic was wrong, he was tested again by the instructors."
Lina's gaze darkened slightly.
"Then do you think he got to the instructors—"
"No, that's not it either. The test was overseen by Uncle Garrick. He may support my brother, but he's the type of man who would butt heads with Father if something goes against his ideals. He wouldn't compromise on this…"
"But the results show he was still in the early stages of Mark Two. It's impossible to break through that fast…"
"It's not."
This was the same boy that shattered every record and reached the Vessel rank at eight. He could not be measured by normal means.
"I've narrowed it down to one possibility,"
Ingrid said, her expression hardening.
"Something must have happened during his absence that caused him to remain stagnant. Now that he's back home, he's free of it."
It would explain why Zephyrion didn't return home all these years.
