Sighing, I remove my mask, my eyes narrowing as they settle on Lysandra. "You fucking idiot. What the fuck were you thinking?" It's not like she's a kid, but she always does the most reckless shit when I'm not around.
As I walk over, she's already regaining her composure, albeit slowly. I notice her attempts to string a coherent sentence together, but I cut her off by shoving a potion into her mouth. "Drink that. You're a mess."
She gags a little but manages to swallow the liquid. "Blegh! What in the seven hells was that?"
"You deserved it." I mumble, looking around the destruction that has ensued. My mana absorption was interrupted, and now, there's a whole damn mess to clean up. Just great.
As if on cue, her stomach growls loud enough to rival a roaring lion. We both freeze, an awkward silence ensues. Her face is a mix of embarrassment and defiance. Finally, she mumbles, "Feed me... please."
I roll my eyes. "This damn bastard," I mutter to myself. With no time to cook, I resort to my most trusted backup plan. Turning Umbra into a pacifier. I shove it into her unsuspecting mouth, instructing her, "Suck on it. I don't have time to cook." Absorbing mana from the barrier filled it up, there should be enough mana in there to feed Lysandra.
Confused, Lysandra just continues sucking on the pacifier, completely oblivious to how she looks. Hahahaha, she looks so stupid.
With a smirk, I approach the unconscious Biana and Isadora. Stripping out of my black clothing, I reveal the typical Academy uniform beneath. "Change into your uniform," I tell Lysandra, "and you better stay quiet unless you want your punishment to be worse."
I pick up Isadora's sheathed sword, weighing it in my hand. "Amazing... Her mother's sword. Truly a masterpiece."
[The seventh shard of Nix.]
[Nix: The sword of the first recorded hero. After the hero's death, many tried to claim it for themselves. However, due to its restrictions, no one could wield it without dying on the spot. The gods attempted to take the sword into the heavenly realm. Unwilling to leave the mortal world, Nix split itself into seven shards. Each shard then flew across the lands, seeking a worthy wielder.]
[The seventh shard.
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Note: The seventh shard is displeased, it wishes to merge back to its original state. The Seventh Shard has acknowledged Isadora's talent and wishes to test her conviction.]
[The Seventh Shard has proposes an offer.
Take Isadora to the Ruins of Caladorn in the land of Eryndor. Have her enter it by herself, and you will gain the gratitude of the seventh shard.]
Hmmm... This is completely unexpected. This was supposed to be a memento of her mother... Just what the hell is going on?
[The Seventh Shard is waiting for your answer.]
Na, I don't feel like it. I don't have time for some stupid task, especially when I won't gain anything in return. Do you honestly think I'd do something for free? You gotta PAY me.
[The Seventh Shard feels disrespected.]
[The Seventh Shard is thinking.]
[The Seventh Shard offers you a skill attachment.
『 Skill: Ephemeral Resonance
Skill Description: [Ephemeral Resonance - Rank: ?]
Nebula Veil: Allows the user to alter the color and appearance of their attire, granting them either perfect camouflage or creating dazzling displays of light. The camouflage can make the user virtually invisible to the naked eye, while the dazzling display can momentarily blind and disorient foes. Duration: 25 seconds; Cooldown: 30 minutes.
Whisperwind Voice: Bestows the ability to communicate telepathically within a 500-meter radius. However, prolonged communication can strain the mind. Active Duration: 10 minutes with a 10-second continuous use limit; Cooldown: 8 hours.
Mystic Resonance: Amplifies the user's innate magical abilities, enhancing spell potency by 150% and range by 100%. However, it also makes the user more susceptible to magic-based attacks during activation. Active Duration: 5 minutes; Cooldown: 10 days.
[Sealed Skill: Void Shroud]: When activated, it creates a barrier around the user that absorbs a certain amount of magical damage. Once the damage threshold is reached, the barrier dissipates and requires a significant cooldown period. This skill remains sealed until certain conditions are met.
Additional Information:
[Potential: Zero]
[Evolution Rank: 1/1]
[Limitation]: The skills within Ephemeral Resonance cannot be used simultaneously. Activating one requires the others to be in cooldown.
[Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]: This skill will permanently be attached to a piece of clothing. The skill will be destroyed if the clothes are destroyed.]
Damn... This is crazy. How desperate are you? You didn't even try to negotiate. Hmmm... Fine, I'll do it. Though it won't happen any time soon, you'll have to wait. Grabbing Biana by the collar, I toss her towards Lysandra. "Carry her, and remember what I said about doing something stupid." The sight of Lysandra, the mighty half-dragon, looking utterly ridiculous while holding a limp Biana is priceless.
Her cheeks puff out as she glares at me, pacifier still in place. I can't take this woman seriously right now. It's too damn funny.
Gently, I lift Isadora. "You've cared for me once, it's only right I do the same," I muse, recalling some of the past events. I can't help but marvel at her progression, "When did you manage to harden your aura like that? You're growing way too fast, Isadora. Did I miss something?"
The trio makes a peculiar procession as we walk. Lysandra, her pride taking a hit, occasionally mutters a string of curses, especially when she stumbles or missteps. Each time, her indignation is clear, "Fucking roots! Why's everything out to embarrass me today?!"
I smirk. "Lysandra... we're going to have a long chat when we get back."
She merely grumbles in response, sucking even harder on the pacifier.
-
The first thing I notice as I open my eyes is the dimming sunlight filtering through the canopy of the trees. Then the weight on my lap brings me back to the present. Looking down, I see Isadora slowly waking up, her usual expressionless face blinking at me in surprise as I rub a healing potion over her injuries. It's rare for her to let her guard down like this. She's always so put together, so controlled.
"You should be careful," I chide her lightly. "I don't know what beast you fought, but I didn't expect you to be napping in the forest."
She sits up abruptly, her eyes wide, scanning the grassy clearing. I know what she's looking for. Pushing her forcefully back down, I say, "Don't move. You'll reopen your internal injuries." Grabbing another potion from my pouch, I unceremoniously stuff it in her mouth. "Drink this, now that you're awake."
Her eyes dart to her discarded sword lying a short distance away. Retrieving it, I admire the craftsmanship, "Here you go. Found this next to you." The sword's magnificent detailing is impossible to ignore. "Truly a work of art. Damn, I'm jealous."
Her gaze follows the sword's path as I hand it to her, and for a brief moment, her mask slips, revealing a hint of vulnerability. Taking the blade, she murmurs, "Thank you... really, thank you."
Rubbing the back of my neck, I scoff, "Hey, I'm just paying you back for helping me out on that island. Don't mention it." How many people have actually thanked me in my life? Ugh, I hate this feeling.
While we're engrossed in our conversation, Lysandra has been conspicuously quiet, too engrossed with the pacifier in her mouth. It's a hilarious sight, one that I'm sure she'd be mortified by if she knew how ridiculous she looked. Catching Isadora's gaze, I can't help but chuckle at her bemused expression upon seeing Lysandra. No no, hold it in, I can't laugh in front of her.
I lean in closer to Isadora, whispering conspiratorially, "She doesn't know what it is. Just ignore her." Her only response is a twitch of her eyebrow, but it's enough. I burst out laughing, unable to contain my amusement. It's not every day you see a prideful figure like Lysandra in such a state, and Isadora's subtle reaction just makes it all the more amusing.
Suddenly, the peaceful moment is interrupted by the familiar sound of snoring. Biana, with her impeccable talent for sleeping through almost anything, is sprawled out a few feet away, drooling onto her pillow as usual.
-
The cold, damp atmosphere of the cave wraps around me as I continue my arduous training. The mana stones are my focus, their energy circulating around me. Lysandra's recent antics were a major distraction, and as punishment, I'd left her in her dorm with only low-grade mana stones to munch on. Serves her right.
The flow of mana grows more intense as I near the third stage, beads of sweat forming on my brow. I shouldn't be struggling this much. But my damn aura is leaking out, trying to suppress the growing surge of mana. I grit my teeth, holding back a growl of frustration. This damned internal clash between mana and aura is maddening!
After what feels like hours of intense concentration, I finally push through. A wave of relief washes over me, but it's immediately replaced by exhaustion. My breathing is ragged, my clothes drenched in sweat. Looking around, I notice that all the mana stones in the cave have crumbled to dust. Every single ounce of their energy has been drained by my training.
A rush of elation courses through me. I raise a hand in triumph, laughing maniacally. "Hahahaha! I'm so fucking amazing! How many can say they've achieved this level of training while juggling a chaotic personal life, a mischievous dragon, and a damn curse?" I'm on top of the world, and I make sure to let the universe know. "Forget being a genius, I am the GOAT!"
Before I can further bask in my own glory, I feel a tiny weight on my chest. Ilka, ever the sarcastic spirit, gazes down at me with a mixture of amusement and disdain. "Really? A goat? Why on earth would you aspire to be livestock?" She steps on my nose, her translucent figure shimmering in the dim light of the cave.
"Come on, there's no genius like me. No one as incredible, as brilliant... well, aside from a few noteworthy figures from history," she brags, her tone dripping with pride. "But apart from them, I reign supreme!"
Pushing myself up from the cold cave floor with a grunt, my muscles ache and tension knots my shoulders. My recent breakthrough with my mana was a major milestone, but my aura training still seems stagnant. "You sure this will help, right? Holding back on my aura and all?" I question Ilka, my voice dripping with skepticism. "Why did you have me suppress reaching the next stage of my aura? Is there some secret to it that you've been keeping from me?"
Ilka, hovering with her typical air of superiority, rolls her eyes. "You damn moron. Or should I just start calling you livestock?" she teases, her figure gliding effortlessly around me. "We're going to carve an entirely new path for your aura, separate from the one you've been cultivating."
I can't hide my astonishment. Two distinct aura paths? The idea goes against everything I've ever written or read about aura manipulation. "Is such a thing even possible? Wouldn't the new path just naturally merge with the old one?"
Ilka smirks, her ethereal face mirroring her confidence. "I told you, no one compares to me. I devised a method to cultivate two separate aura paths. But it won't be a walk in the park." Her smirk fades, replaced by a look of genuine concern. "It'll be painful. Excruciatingly so. When I did it, I couldn't help but lash out. I obliterated an entire forest due to the pain."
Raising an eyebrow, I process her words. "So, what? You're saying I'm going to rampage through the forest like a wild beast? Is that really necessary?"
She shrugs, her tiny shoulders moving with a hint of amusement. "Eh, when I tried it, I had no control over my actions. But you? Maybe you'll fare better. You are waaaaaaaay weaker than I was at that time. I doubt you'll destroy the forest but you might mutilate the surrounding area."