"Ah, Ryujin-sama, welcome back!"
Amanda was quick to greet him as Ryujin returned from his secret training expedition, led by his mother, Alexia.
The destination for this expedition was a temple renowned far and wide, for its spiritual significance and for its exceptional properties as a mana reservoir. This sacred ground boasted mana levels that surpassed the ordinary, a characteristic that attracted practitioners from every corner of the world, seeking to harness the power that flowed within its hallowed halls.
Within these spiritual confines, Alexia and Ryujin delved deep into the esoteric techniques of mana control.
With Ryujin's persistent itch to hone his skills even further, Alexia decided to take matters into her own hands. She chose a secluded spot, far from the confines of the continent, to conduct their intense training sessions. This way, she could monitor his progress closely and ensure his safety.
"Been a while, hasn't it, Amanda?"
"Indeed... feels like ages, Ryujin-sama. You were missed."
With those words, Amanda flung herself at Ryujin, wrapping him in a tight embrace.
"Easy there, Amanda! I need to breathe, you know."
"Hehehe."
Instead of loosening her grip, Amanda's response was a chortle, her laughter ringing throughout the room like a pleasant melody. Her joy at seeing him safe and sound was infectious.
"I'm sorry, Ryujin-sama. I did my best to halt it, but..."
"But what, Amanda? What occurred?"
"Last week, a man came accusing you of a crime. He wasn't alone. Suzune accompanied him."
"Suzune? Well, I'm sure you handled it to the best of your abilities."
In response, Ryujin lightly patted Amanda's head, trying to alleviate the worry etched in her expression.
"Yes, Ryujin-sama, Suzune still harbors bitterness over the defeats you handed her..."
Contrary to what Pedro remembered, Suzune's resentment for Ryujin wasn't rooted in any perverted actions or behaviors on his part. In fact, the idea of them being engaged or Ryujin holding any romantic feelings toward Suzune was entirely misplaced.
Suzune's disdain for Ryujin sprouted from her repeated losses to him at the sect meetings. These gatherings celebrated the friendly relations between Ryujin's father's sect and Suzune's. As both were recognized as prodigies, a commemorative match was a customary event. In these face-offs, Ryujin invariably emerged victorious, a fact that stirred Suzune's growing animosity toward him.
"Ryujin-sama, Amelia-sama has mentioned she will return this week as well... She's doing well."
"That's good to hear. It's been a while since we last met."
"Yes... that's really good." Amanda's voice wavered, attempting to mask her feelings of envy.
Amelia was a girl that Ryujin's father, Kenshin, had adopted. A striking figure, she had jet-black hair and eyes to match in the original novel. Her strength was renowned, and in the narrative of "Regressor Survival," she even rivaled Ryujin for the position of leader of the Blue Lotus sect. As Ryujin was a direct son, he had the priority to inherit the mantle from his father, Kenshin.
To achieve her goal, Amelia conspired with Pedro to overthrow Ryujin. She stole Kenshin's gifted weapons and books meant for Ryujin's training and discreetly tarnished his reputation within the sect.
But that was the plot of the original novel. Unaware of the novel's storyline, Ryujin was blissfully ignorant of Amelia's original scheming nature and the rivalry that had ensued. In reality, he had no desire to succeed his father. His ambition was to make a name for himself independently, free from the shadow of his father's renowned surname, Wan.
This shift in circumstances preempted any fraternal conflict. Instead, Ryujin, in his typically enthusiastic fashion, turned Amelia into a fellow training devotee. Over time, her admiration for him intensified, to the point where she could be described as having a 'brother complex.' In an attempt to emulate Ryujin's distinctive look, she dyed her hair red and even began wearing blue contact lenses.
"At last, our family will be whole again..."
Alexia made her entrance, her speed so swift it caught Amanda off guard as she swept in to embrace Ryujin.
"Alexia-sama..."
Amanda dipped her head in respect to the matriarch.
In the original narrative of "Regressor Survival," Alexia Wan embodied the ultimate antagonist. She was regarded as the most formidable challenge within the tale, with her defeat only revealed toward the conclusion. She was characterized by her fiery red hair and vibrant blue eyes, mirroring Ryujin's striking features. Always elegantly dressed, her attire served to accentuate her beauty.
Alexia was known to have doted on Ryujin excessively from a tender age, molding him into a lazy, lecherous character. As he matured, she began influencing his actions directly. However, this storyline belonged only to the original novel. The Ryujin of this world, being a training fanatic, had never accepted such pampering. Even when she attempted to restrict his training, he would find a way to slip away and practice on his own. The only remaining trait from the original Alexia was her overbearing motherly instincts.
"By the way, Amanda, I heard our son was accused of a crime in our absence... I'm curious to know what my husband did in response."
The surrounding air seemed to drop in temperature instantly, a chilling sensation that signaled Alexia's growing anxiety. This was a manifestation of her passive skill, a unique ability tied to her emotional state. The colder the ambient temperature became, the more heightened her nervousness was.
This skill, appropriately named Frosty Aura, was a passive ability innate to Alexia. As her emotions grew intense, it unconsciously activated, lowering the surrounding temperature. While initially subtle, the change became more noticeable as her emotions escalated, eventually covering the environment in an icy chill. This skill served as an unintentional yet telling emotional thermometer, signifying Alexia's increasing apprehension or ire.
"He... He accepted the accusation and..."
Before Amanda could finish her sentence, a sudden frosty gust billowed around them as Alexia invoked her magic.
"Frost Impact!"
Alexia's voice echoed through the halls, accompanied by an immediate drop in temperature. A torrent of icy energy radiated from her, rapidly crystallizing the moisture in the air into a glacial path that extended toward Kenshin's location, far in the meeting room of the sect.
Frost Impact was an impressive high-level spell known for its range and precision. It used the caster's emotional state as fuel, enhancing its power based on the intensity of the caster's feelings. The energy then materialized into ice, allowing the caster to control its path and deliver a powerful blow from afar. The frosty aura Alexia naturally exuded augmented the spell, creating a dramatic and visually stunning spectacle right in front of them.
The winding hallways of the Blue Lotus sect suddenly turned into a winter wonderland as the magic condensed the humidity into frost and ice. The ice stretched forward like a massive, elongated spear, following a precise trajectory towards Kenshin. It traveled at an astonishing speed, the walls of the sect glistening with fresh ice in its wake.
Even though they were miles apart, in the grand hall of the sect, Kenshin was abruptly surrounded by a frigid gust of wind. The sudden change in temperature was a harbinger of what was to come. Before he could react, a massive icicle, the vanguard of Alexia's Frost Impact, crashed into the meeting room, shattering against Kenshin's protective shield, instantly covering the room in a thin layer of frost.
The crash echoed throughout the sect, a clear declaration of Alexia's ire and power.
After using the magic, Alexia quickly went to where Kenshin was.
"You're a useless father and an ungrateful husband... How dare you accept a stranger's accusation against our own son..."
"Alexia...it's not like that. Suzune came here and..." Kenshin wheezed, the impact of her spell still lingering.
"I see. Then it's time to visit Blood Moon sect..." Alexia's voice carried an ominous undertone.
Releasing her grip on Kenshin, Alexia turned on her heel, leaving the room as suddenly as she had arrived. The question that hung in the air was not when she would take action, but what she would do next. Alexia, after all, was a force to be reckoned with, and those who dared cross her path, like Suzune and Pedro, would soon learn the chilling consequences.