"Jacob gave you a Cultivation Technique?" Helena raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah! He told me to be careful because it's very powerful, though," Andrew nodded with a shy smile; Helena's piercing gaze was making him uncomfortable. He wasn't good at handling teenagers, especially a golden child like her.
"Did he tell you how strong the Cultivation Technique is? I mean, did he tell you how many 'points' he assigned to the Cultivation Technique he gave you?"
"I think it might have been something like 90? It was definitely not lower, I think."
Andrew seemed to struggle to recall.
Helena felt a burning anger course through her body. Jacob hadn't trusted her enough to give her a strong Cultivation Technique from the start, and now he was giving one to this… She breathed in sharply and tried to calm herself.
"Well, you do need a strong Cultivation Technique if you want to keep up with your wife," Helena said.
Jacob probably gave him such a Cultivation Technique because Geneva would surpass—
For God's sake! It's not enough motivation! So Jacob, you bastard, you didn't give me a Cultivation Technique from the start, and you gave an extremely strong one to this goddamn idiot just because you felt pity or something?
"Eh, but it seems like it's not helping me much with learning Fireball. Jacob has given me what he calls a 'Martial Style,' but I'm not sure I'm that good at it. He said to ask Joseph if I have any doubts since we are learning pretty much the same thing."
Helena now felt like punching Andrew.
"That's the First Martial Saint Martial Style," Helena felt a headache brewing in her head. "You have a very powerful Martial Style and Cultivation Technique, Andrew. Did he also teach you a Spell?"
"Oh yes, he did, but I didn't want to mention it because he said I have this weird Affinity. Supposedly, it's very rare, but the last time I tried to practice that Spell, it didn't really work out," Andrew said.
Helena had a terrible feeling about this. She swore this had been some sort of ruse on Jacob's part; she even prepared to hurt the person in front of her if the man had what she thought he did.
"Do you by any chance have a Void Affinity?"
Helena wouldn't let Jacob taint Frederick's memory by teaching this little man the great Spells Frederick had been learning.
"Void? No, no. It's the Healing Affinity or something like that. I'm not sure that's the actual name. It could be the 'Positive Energy' Affinity, maybe? Gosh, I really don't remember. I wish I had a glass or two with me to help if you know what I mean," Andrew joked and smiled toward Helena.
Healing Affinity? I never heard of it. And he couldn't practice it?
She sighed in relief when she discovered that Andrew didn't have the Void Affinity. She wouldn't have been able to take it. But, unfortunately, she was getting too much into her own head, and she became paranoid.
Helena looked at Andrew for a couple of seconds, and then she said: "Andrew, were you trying to use whatever Spell Jacob taught you on someone without any wounds?"
"Oh, sh*t! Jacob did say to use it on someone hurt if I wanted to practice. That's why I was supposed to go out with some patrols! Oh, goddammit. Also, now that you made me think about it, I think he also told me that he could give me such a powerful Cultivation Technique because it's specifically used by people with Healing Affinity and those who cannot hurt others with their Spells. Therefore, it's safe to spread such Cultivation Techniques liberally."
Have I become so mad that I would have hurt this guy for a misunderstanding? Is this how I've been acting with Jacob?
Helena had started seeing enemies everywhere, even the people she had fought alongside with. Even after talking with Juliet, she thought that the girl just wanted to keep her captive here, to serve Jacob.
However, now that she had heard the naïve man explain everything, she couldn't help but feel like an idiot. What had she been thinking?
"Andrew, I think you should stop practicing Fireball. You have a very rare Affinity; I should never have taught you that. Honestly, it's not even clear to me why Jacob taught you the same Martial Style Joseph has."
"Uh? He didn't! Jacob taught me a style, and he said… oh wait, he just said that Joseph is learning a difficult Martial Style like mine, not that they are the same! Oh man, I'm so sorry! Mine it's called the Golden Buddha, whereas Joseph's should be the Golden Hero, I think! Oh, man, I'm so bad at this," Andrew laughed to himself.
Helena stared at him deadpanned.
Jacob just taught him something to protect himself, hasn't he? He told Andrew to ask Joseph because Joseph is learning a very difficult Martial Style, isn't he? I need to 'chill', I think.
"Listen, Andrew, let's go and gather some people for some sparring. Of course, there will be some cuts and maybe even a few broken bones. But, you will be able to practice your Spells as much as you want," Helena said.
"B-broken bones?"
"Yes, hurry up, let's get everyone who's not out or on patrol," Helena said with a smile and a lighter heart.