Margaret's gaze lifted from the weighty book cradled in her hands as a figure appeared before her. A faint blush coloured her cheeks as she took in the sight before her.
"Are you finished? Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper.
Klaus responded with a gentle affirmation and a single nod of his head. His hand extended with unhurried grace, his fingers splayed in an unspoken plea. His gaze, steady and unwavering, remained anchored to Margaret.
Without a word, she discerned his silent request. From the secretive depths of her storage ring, Margaret procured a gleaming beast's core. The orb bore the regal imprint of a formidable two-headed wolf, its insistent pulsations suggesting a wild, untamed power.
Klaus accepted the core without a shred of hesitation, his voice sinking to a hushed murmur. "I will require your assistance to absorb it."
"Okay." Margaret responded. She was about to rise from her seat when Keira's voice rang out.
"Aunt?" Keira exclaimed and swiftly rose from her seat. Her eyes bore into Klaus, then shifted to Margaret, her demeanour reflecting her unease at his demand. "You can't help him absorb the core."
A warm smile graced Margaret's face as she dismissed her niece's concerns with a gentle shake of her head. "I have everything under control. There is no need for you to worry," she reassured, her voice infused with unwavering confidence.
"No!" Keira's response was immediate and resolute. Stepping forward, she approached Klaus, her hand reaching out to claim the beast's core from his grasp. Standing before him, she spoke with determination etched into every word. "I will assist him in absorbing the beast's core."
"Don't be silly," Margaret countered, dismissing Keira's words. "I understand your worry about my mana depletion, but what makes you think you will fare any better?"
Caught in the middle of this familial dispute, Klaus shifted his gaze between the two women, his internal struggle palpable. He inhaled deeply, the weight of his decision evident in the lines etched on his face. "I will attempt to halt after the absorption of the beast core," he finally declared, his voice carrying a resolute tone.
Margaret stared at Klaus, clearly not believing what he had just said. However, with a subtle nod and a soft-spoken affirmation, she expressed her consent. "Be careful, Keira."
Keira acknowledged Margaret's words with a reciprocating nod, her hand guiding Klaus's towards the vibrant, pulsating core. As their fingers brushed against each other, she issued a command, her voice steeped in authority. "Close your eyes."
Obediently, Klaus's eyelids fluttered shut, surrendering him to the whirl of energy that billowed from the beast's core. A prickling sensation enveloped him, arousing a symphony of goosebumps across his skin.
What he felt wasn't just rejuvenation; it was as if every thread of his existence had been stirred from slumber, every cell within him reawakened, each one humming with newfound vitality.
As the energy coursed through him, a subtle transformation began to unfold. His once-white hair grew longer, cascading like a waterfall of moonlight down his back. The bones within his body seemed to solidify, lending him an air of unyielding strength. And an ethereal aura enveloped him, emanating a soothing warmth that seemed to radiate from his very core.
All the while, Margaret's gaze remained fixated on Klaus, her eyes unblinking, absorbing every nuance of the metamorphosis taking place before her. A hint of concern flickered across her features, her brows knitting together as she witnessed the extent of the changes unfolding within him.
"He has grown exponentially stronger," she murmured, her voice tinged with a mix of astonishment and trepidation. "Could it be that the beast core holds more power over his body than just triggering his memories?"
With each passing moment, Margaret's mind raced, recalling the first time she had laid eyes on Klaus. She marvelled at the stark contrast between then and now, realising just how much he had grown in strength since their initial meeting.
As the transformation unfolded before her, Margaret's eyes widened, the realisation dawning upon her. She hadn't fully grasped the extent of the changes occurring within Klaus until this very moment.
The solidity, structure, and refinement of his bones, the sheer power emanating from his being—it was a sight that both captivated and unsettled her.
The beast core held myriad uses within the world, but none of them accounted for the unique purpose Klaus had found for it. Margaret's heart pounded in her chest as she gazed upon the creature she had unwittingly played a part in creating. Doubt gnawed at her, uncertainty clouding her thoughts.
"Do I need to put an end to this before it becomes uncontrollable? She asked aloud, her voice laced with a hint of doubt. But almost as soon as the words left her lips, she shook her head, dismissing her own concerns.
"No," she asserted firmly, her confidence resurfacing. "I have the ability to navigate this situation. I can handle whatever challenges arise."
A mere five seconds later, the echo of a thud reverberated through the room, and Keira's form collapsed in a heap on the floor.
Klaus's eyes flared open, his gaze darting from the prone form of Keira to Margaret's piercing stare. A hint of mischief twinkled in his eyes as a sheepish grin stretched across his face.
"Well, that happened," he chuckled, his innocent smile stretching further in a playful attempt to lighten the mood.
Margaret merely shook her head, a blend of fondness and mild annoyance playing across her features. She moved towards Keira, gently lifting her from the cold floor. Her voice was a calm stream, neither warm nor cold, as she admonished. "The night is already deep. You can continue your reading in the morning."
With her words delivered, Margaret began to move away. However, before she could take more than a few steps, Klaus called out her name, his voice holding a hint of urgency. She paused, turning to face him, their eyes locking in a moment of intense connection.
Margaret! Klaus implored, his voice laced with a mixture of longing and curiosity. "Can you provide me with a beast core?"
His question caused Margaret's brows to furrow, and a flicker of concern crossed her features. Without a moment's hesitation, she shook her head, her voice stern and cold, leaving no room for negotiation.
"No!" Her words reverberated through the room, a definitive rejection that brooked no argument.
Klaus's persistence refused to waver as he met Margaret's stern refusal. With determination etched across his face, he pressed on, his voice carrying a hint of desperation. "Why?" he implored. "I cannot run away with it, nor can I absorb it without your assistance."
A glimmer of understanding flickered in his eyes as he continued, his words laced with a mix of pleading and reason. "I only wish to examine it, to understand its essence. Besides, I will decipher ten books throughout the night and hand them over to you in the morning. Consider it an advance payment, and you will receive an additional two books in return."
Margaret locked eyes with Klaus, and a battle of wills played out between them. His unwavering determination was discernible, leaving her no choice but to consider his proposal. She studied him in silence, the weight of her decision hanging in the air. Just as it seemed she would uphold her initial refusal, she surprised him by tossing a beast core in his direction.
"Granting you a beast core in advance was not part of our arrangement," Margaret declared, her voice strong and resolute. "However, in exchange for this concession, you will provide me with twelve books instead of ten in the morning."
Before Klaus could respond or attempt to protest, Margaret turned on her heels and swiftly departed from the room, leaving him standing there, both surprised and pleased by her unexpected concession.
…
AN- Three reviews and I will release a bonus chapter.