Lucien looked at his mother and felt that the change was too drastic.
"Sure, mum. It is always good."
He responded sincerely regardless.
Lucien wanted to add something but he was cut off by a deep voice from behind him. His hair stood on end at the thought that he almost slipped his secret with his mother.
"What do we have here?" The low voice was strangely tickling.
Lucien understood immediately that his father was in the room.
"Hello, honey," greeted Bianca, "nothing much really."
Her mellow voice was calm and soothing. There was not a hint of nervousness or suspicion.
Lucien glanced as if uninterested in Merlin's direction and then linked eyes with his mother. Their ocean-blue eyes mirrored one another.
They smiled slightly as if they had a shared understanding of something.
Merlin was confused at this strange atmosphere but he paid no mind to it. He made a cup of black coffee on the side and went to sit on the side drinking in silence.
His mind was elsewhere. He thought of his child's quick progress and was alarmed at how little knowledge his Son had in comparison to his level.
Merlin opted to do more theory-based lessons from now.
…
It had been a few months since she left the barrier around Grinas Village. In the Easter continent, at a ridge, she stood overlooking a valley.
Her jet black hair was tied in a ponytail swaying with the wind. She was slightly geared for the most efficient protection and maneuverability.
Her dull silver-gray armor armor was worn over black tights. A neck guard, elbow cop, and thick gloves aligned with metal knuckles for her neck and arms. A tight-fitting breastplate and curvy waist fauld and thigh tassets for her chest and abdomen. Thin greave-aligned high boots with metal knee cops for her legs.
She had several belts around her thighs and waist carrying daggers, star shuriken, throwing knives, and poison darts. She had some portion tubes and some magic storage bags hanging there too.
Her twin swords were secured behind her back in their scabbards.
She was just standing but her heroic spirit was overwhelming. The imposing pressure in her scarlet eyes could scare any soul. Anette was both oppressing and beautiful.
The valley below was secluded, dark, and sinister. Several vents shot out hot air leaving a misty fog around the terrain. It was seemingly a valley near a volcanic mountain.
This wasn't a place suitable for human settlement but there were lights at certain places serving as evidence to prove otherwise.
Anette's scarlet eyes surveyed everything at a hidden angle with her presence completely merged with the surroundings.
'This is where the clues lead…what are they doing?' she thought.
It was weird for people to go to such lengths to hide their activities. She wasn't in a position to judge though. Just curiosity. She was going to raid this establishment after all.
A thin smile formed on her red lips at the thought of getting some action.
Her sword had remained sheathed for far too long.
'This should be fun...no, profiting.' she corrected herself.
She lay at her position for several hours trying to figure out as much information as she could grasp and securing several escape routes in the passage. The cogwheels in her mind turned rapidly. It was going to be her first raid since leaving her home. It had to go perfectly.
Not any less was expected of a perfectionist.
…
"Congratulations, Son. You are already a first-stage martial artist," praised Mitchell.
His voice was several notes deeper with a hint of pride in his tone.
A brilliant smile formed on his lips showing his two sets of whites. His grin reached his brown eyes and his dimples were made more pronounced.
It hadn't been long since Mikaela experienced his body cleansing and reconstruction.
Since then Mikaela felt his aura more clearly than before. Not only the light particles in the air but the particles within his body. He could perceive it better.
His sensitivity to this made his training easier since he understood rhythmic breathing. This way, his body would gain more stamina and he would feel invigorated.
Mikaela spent more time on training since his body endurance had improved drastically. His addiction to training was a minor reason for this. There was a feeling of fulfillment through this.
He could accurately measure his daily improvement. His flexibility and stability improved too. While swinging his sword, he managed to maintain balance and have flexibility in whichever stance.
The durability of his body increased too. His hands for example, before they would form calluses but now they are resilient and resistant to cuts and bruises. They were still soft and smooth though. A clear contrast but astounding effectiveness. The medicine bath and body reconstruction had done wonders to his body.
This day, Mitchell happened to take a closer look at Mikaela's body and find the core by coincidence. It was almost undetectable since the core had not fully formed or rather, solidified.
Aura gathered at Mikaela's lower abdomen and with a lot of it accumulated, it gained a resemblance to a core. A pale yellow first-stage core.
"R-really? Papa?" Mikaela asked excitedly.
He had to. He could not wait to brag about this good news.
"Yes, have I ever lied to you, Son?" asked Mitchell.
His chest was pumped out slightly stroking his shaved beard, an arrogant stance of gloating.
"Yes, Papa!" responded Mikaela.
His serious voice froze the smug smile on Mitchell's lips for a split second before he asked panickily,
"W-when, when have I lied to my dear Sonny?"
Mitchell waved his arms exaggeratedly gesturing to seek an explanation. Not once since he could remember did he ever lie to Mikaela.
'Unsaid truths, white lies but never l never lie!' he casually and shamelessly thought.
"Haha. Just kidding Papa." Mikaela laughed almost falling on his butt.
Since he spent a lot of time with his father, their jokes and play became more frequent. His father used to make fun of him when he was younger and he wanted some revenge for those embarrassing times.
Tears formed on the corners of Mikaela's eyes. His ruby eyes glistened with mirth.
Mitchell looked at this with absolute disbelief. He too started laughing at some point. He had been completely fooled.
When they calmed down Mitchell contemplated.
In his experience reaching the first core stage was the hardest phase for martial artists. It took time and a whole lot of training. This was because, before the first stage, one couldn't feel any aura, it would slowly accumulate depending on how sturdy the vessel was.
To pass that threshold, one had to experience a life-and-death situation.
Unknowingly, Mikaela had fulfilled all the conditions for this. He was constantly training and supposedly, the body reconstruction was a life-and-death experience for Mikaela.
He was a special case since he perceived aura due to his insanely high affinity with Ether.
So now, within Mikaela's body was a yellow aura core of scattered particles not fully fused to a ball. It wasn't even the size of a nail. It was very small.
'Regardless, he reached the first core stage at such an age…I wonder what stage he will be when he grows up?' Mitchell wondered.
（*＾-＾*）