The Binding Vow of Lazarus

Chapter 2

As he entered he found his parents and grandfather already seated around the low table, the room's atmosphere thick with the tension of unspoken expectations. His father looked up first with his sharp gaze scrutinizing Satoru as if trying to read his very thoughts. His mother, always a perfect picture of calm elegance, regarded him with a measured expression while his grandfather's eyes were steely and unyielding. The weight of the clan's legacy was pressing down on Satoru like a physical force.

"Sit," his grandfather said, his voice commanding yet calm.

Satoru took his place at the table, his mind racing. He had rehearsed this argument in his head a thousand times, but now that the moment had come his heart was pounding with anticipation. He needed to play this carefully, to walk the fine line between asserting his independence and maintaining the connection he needed to the clan. No running this time.

"I want to go to Jujutsu Tech in Tokyo," he began, his tone firm but controlled.

His father's eyes narrowed slightly in disgust. "We've discussed this before, Satoru," he said tersley, "There's no need for you to go to that school. Your training here is more than sufficient and we can bring in any instructor you need."

Satoru shook his head, already feeling the old frustrations bubbling to the surface. "It's not just about training," he said, his composure slipping a little, "I want to meet other sorcerers and experience what it's like to be around people my age. It's part of my growth as the next head of this family."

His mother sighed softly as if disappointed by his insistence. "Those people are beneath you, Satoru," she said with a soft smile, "You're the Gojo clan's pride and future. Surrounding yourself with mediocrity will only dull your potential."

Satoru clenched his fists under the table, struggling to keep his voice steady. He remembered this conversation from his past life, the same dismissive arguments, the same suffocating expectations. Last time he had lost his temper, stormed out, and eventually ran away to the school on his own accord. Now he knew he needed to be smarter about it if he wanted to keep the Gojo clan support. Burning bridges wouldn't help him in the long run.

"It doesn't matter what they are," he replied, trying to keep his tone even, "I'm going, and that's final. I have a role to fulfill and I won't forget it, but I also won't stay cooped up here like a sheltered princess."

His grandfather's gaze hardened, the weight of his authority bearing down on Satoru. "You speak of duty, yet you defy us," he said, "You forget that your path is not yours alone to choose-it is the path of the clan, of centuries of tradition."

"I haven't forgotten," Satoru shot back, his voice rising slightly despite his efforts to stay calm, "But this isn't just about me anymore. It's about what's best for the clan's future. I need to see the world outside these walls, to understand the challenges we'll face. Jujutsu Tech is where I can do that."

His father leaned forward, his expression stern. "You're too young to understand the consequences of your actions," he said, "Running off to that school won't make you a better leader. It will only distract you from your true purpose."

Satoru's jaw tightened. He knew what they were really afraid of-losing control over him. They had always tried to keep him on a short leash, to mold him into the perfect weapon for the clan's ambitions, but he wasn't a weapon and he wasn't going to let them dictate his life anymore.

"I understand the consequences better than you think," he said, his voice low but determined,
"I know what's at stake, but this is my decision and I'm not asking for permission. I'm going."

The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of Satoru's words hanging in the air. His mother's expression tightened and his father's eyes flashed with anger, but it was his grandfather who spoke next with his tone cold and measured.