"Here it is, milady."
The head maid of the bedchambers, Helen, passed a steaming white bowl over to Sylvia.
"Thank you."
Sylvia cooled the hot elixir as she looked at Raon, who was fast asleep.
"Do you think it will be difficult to feed him?"
"Children detest bitter things, milady. You disliked bitter medicine when you were young, as well."
"I did?"
"You may not remember. There was a time that you even ran away, saying that you did not wish to take it."
"Hey, Raon's listening."
"Haha."
They both giggled as they glanced down at Raon, who was snoring quietly.
"Indeed, no child likes medicine. Raon is so young, too. He will hate it even more."
"But milady…"
"I know. He must take it."
Sylvia nodded her head in determination.
'This is an elixir from Uncle. I cannot let a single drop go to waste.'
As if her pleading with Father had troubled him, Patrick had come by the annex again and given her three good-quality elixirs with fire properties.
Since she was diluting the Elixirs as she used them, they would be able to last for quite some time. In the meantime, she could look for other elixirs elsewhere. It was fortunate that he had come.
"Raon."
Sylvia gently smoothed down Raon's hair, not wanting to upset him.
"Nghh…"
Raon flexed his fingers as he opened his eyes.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Ah-ooh-nghh."
"There is something you must do from today onwards, Raon. You must drink all of this."
Sylvia scooped the medicine up with a small wooden spoon and brought it to Raon's lips.
'He will drink it, but will probably cry right after.'
Though it was a child's instinct to consume the medicine, it was certain that he would throw a fit and spit it out immediately.
"Now, let's drink."
Sylvia poured the elixir into Raon's mouth, tensing as she made sure that the elixir did not trickle out.
"Ooh-aah…"
She watched Raon scrunch up his face. She grimaced as she waited for his tears to start.
But there were no tears.
"Huh?"
When she cautiously opened her eyes, Raon was waving his small hands in the air. It was as if he was telling her to give him more.
"Helen. This…"
"Y-Young master seems to be asking for more?"
"Right? Is that correct?"
Sylvia widened her eyes and picked the spoon up again. This time, she scooped a larger amount than before and poured it into Raon's mouth.
"Ooh-ooh!"
Raon's eyebrows shot up to form a mountain… But he still did not cry. He jerked his hands faster.
"Oh…"
Sylvia's lips parted.
"Do you think Raon understood my intentions?"
"Definitely! It seems that the young master recognizes your intentions and is enduring it."
It was obvious from his scrunched-up expression that he found it bitter. But as he was asking for more, it was clear that he understood and was going to endure the ordeal.
"Raon!"
Sylvia couldn't help but hug Raon tightly.
* * *
'Just give me more of the medicine. Faster.'
Raon waved his hand as he tapped on Sylvia's shoulder.
'Even if it is a little bitter, this is nothing. I cannot miss this opportunity.'
It wasn't just any normal medicine. What he needed the most was an elixir with fire properties. Though it was bitter and hot, to the point that his tongue felt numb, he had to finish it all.
"Look at Raon! Don't you think he eats like such a sweetheart?"
"Of course!"
Raon did not let what Sylvia and Helen were saying bother him, swallowing the elixir the moment it passed his lips.
'Though I don't know what it is, the effects are insane.'
The moment he drank the elixir, a fiery energy started burning in his stomach—as if starting a blast furnace. The heat flowed through the mana circuit and started to drive out the ice.
'The effect and concentration of the medicine is just right.'
A strong elixir could actually be poison for a child's weak body.
It seemed that Sylvia and Helen had ensured that the concentration of the elixir was suitable for absorption.
Blerp.
Raon gave a small burp after licking off the remaining elixir on the spoon. He closed his eyes.
"Milady."
"Yes. Let's leave him to sleep."
Sylvia and Helen watched him, evidently moved as their eyes shone, before leaving.
"Whew."
Raon opened his eyes immediately after they had left.
'I don't think they will return for some time.'
And even if they did, they would not bother him.
Since he already had both food and medicine, there was no way either Sylvia or Helen would wake him. Therefore, it was the best moment to practice.
Raon brought the warm energy filling up his body forward and began his practice with the Ring of Fire.
'It will be faster to create the 'Ring of Fire' and melt the ice, thanks to the elixir.'
A grin appeared on his lips without him realizing it.