"Who am I?" Selene tilted her head up, her small, curious eyes locking with Esdeath's. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, as she asked the question that had clearly been weighing on her mind.
Esdeath paused for a moment, her hand resting mid-air with the soap she was using to wash Selene. Her piercing gaze softened slightly as she thought about how to answer. Then, without warning, she grabbed Selene with both hands and lifted her effortlessly into the air.
A mischievous grin spread across Esdeath's face as she replied, "You're my insurance!"
Selene blinked, her confusion evident. "Insurance? What's an insurance?" she asked, tilting her head like a curious little bird.
Esdeath chuckled, shaking her head. "You ask too many questions, kid. If you want answers, you'll have to figure them out yourself. Now, let's finish this bath quietly," she said, her tone playful yet firm as she resumed washing Selene.
But Selene wasn't done. She wriggled free from Esdeath's grasp and stood up, water dripping from her tiny frame. "I'll wash your back!" she declared with enthusiasm, grabbing the soap and getting to work before Esdeath could object.
Esdeath raised an eyebrow but let the little girl do as she pleased. There was no harm in it, and, surprisingly, Selene seemed genuinely happy scrubbing away. It was a rare moment of innocence, something that felt strangely out of place in Esdeath's chaotic life.
Once the bath was over, Esdeath and Maruti got dressed quickly, slipping back into their usual clothes. However, the real problem arose when they turned to Selene—she had no clothes of her own.
Esdeath sighed, glancing around for a solution. Eventually, she found some of Trynne's old clothes tucked away in a corner. The clothes were far too big for Selene, but Esdeath wasn't one to give up easily.
She grabbed a pair of scissors and set to work, cutting and reshaping the oversized garments with surprising precision. In a matter of minutes, she managed to fashion a smaller shirt from the oversized one.
"Alright, let's see how this fits," Esdeath muttered, slipping the newly altered shirt over Selene's head. It was still a little baggy, but the loose fabric gave it a charm that suited the little girl. The sleeves were trimmed neatly, and though the stitching looked hand-done and rough, the overall result was oddly cute.
Selene looked down at herself, turning this way and that as the shirt swayed around her knees. It was big enough to act as a dress, and there was no need for additional undergarments for now.
After leaving Selene in the library, Esdeath watched from a distance as the little girl eagerly grabbed a book and began flipping through the pages. It was a gamble, but Esdeath had guessed correctly—if Selene could speak fluently, there was a good chance she could read and write too. To her surprise, Selene not only knew how to read but seemed genuinely excited about it.
Selene's small figure sat amidst towering shelves filled with books, her eyes shining with curiosity as she immersed herself in a world of words. Esdeath gave a small nod of approval. "At least she won't be a bother for now." With Selene preoccupied, Esdeath and Maruti finally had some quiet time to focus on more pressing matters.
The two made their way to the treasure room, where the faint glow of various potions and essence stones illuminated the space. Esdeath walked to a shelf lined with mana potions, each bottle shimmering with vibrant colors. Without hesitation, she picked one up and downed it in a single gulp.
The notification flashed in her mind, followed by a slight warmth spreading through her body. She reached for another bottle and drank it.
Maruti, standing beside her, did the same. They continued consuming potion after potion, the effects slowly stacking up. Some potions gave a small boost, while others provided a noticeable surge.
Despite the treasure room's wealth, most of the mana potions available were of low to mid-quality, meaning the boosts were limited. The effects added up over time, but Esdeath and Maruti both knew their bodies had a limit to how much they could absorb in one session. Even so, the progress was substantial.
Esdeath stretched her arms, feeling the energy coursing through her. A confident smirk spread across her face. "I think my problem of having a weak body is officially gone. I can finally call myself a Rank D awakened!"
Maruti gave her an approving nod, but Esdeath's thoughts were already racing ahead. Strengthening my body was just the first step. Now, there are three other weaknesses I need to deal with."She thought
The first issue was her soul. Strengthening the soul was incredibly valuable—it allowed someone to maintain multiple essence stones at once, resist mental fatigue, and stand firm against the oppressive aura of more powerful opponents. It also provided defense against soul-based attacks. Unfortunately, as Esdeath scanned the treasure room, she found nothing that could help in that regard.
The second weakness was her ESR talent. With only a C-grade ESR talent, her ability to refine and merge essence stones was limited. It was a frustrating handicap that placed her below the more talented individuals she sought to surpass.
The third and most critical issue was her refining and merging experience. While Esdeath relied heavily on her system to instantly refine essence stones, she knew this crutch wouldn't serve her forever. True mastery required knowledge, skill, and practice. Without understanding the intricate process of refining and merging, she would hit a wall in her growth.
Esdeath's sharp eyes fell on two specific essence stones tucked away on a shelf. They pulsed faintly with energy, their unique glow setting them apart from the rest. Her lips curled into a determined smile.
"These will do," she muttered to herself, taking the stones in her hands. While they weren't a complete solution to her problems, they were a step forward—a small but significant tool to help her gain the experience she needed.
The first essence stone Esdeath picked up was a Silver Veins Essence Stone, a Rank D treasure known for its unique properties. It glimmered faintly, its surface laced with intricate silver lines that resembled tiny veins. These veins weren't ordinary—they mimicked mana circuits, pathways within the body where mana flowed.
In awakened individuals, mana didn't just circulate randomly; it coursed through these specialized veins, leaving traces in the blood. The quality of the blood and the strength of these veins directly determined a person's ESR talent. Simply put, the purer the blood and the stronger the mana circuits, the higher the talent grade.
Esdeath clenched the stone in her hand, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "To improve my ESR talent, I'll need to purify my blood and reinforce my veins. Blood path essence stones would be ideal for purification, but I don't have any."
Instead, she had this stone—a Silver Veins Essence Stone. While it couldn't purify blood, it could strengthen the mana circuits. For someone like Esdeath, whose ESR talent was only Rank C, this stone was invaluable. It could increase her talent by a full "10%", making her ESR talent 65%, a B grade . However, this stone would be useless for Maruti, whose Rank B ESR talent required at least a Rank C essence stone to show any effect.
Esdeath smirked. "This is just perfect for me." Holding the stone tightly, she focused her will. "Refine," she commanded, letting her system handle the process.
System Activated and The stone began to glow brightly in her hand, gradually disintegrating into tiny specks of light that sank into her body. At first, there was nothing, but then a sudden and overwhelming sensation hit her.
Her veins felt like they were on fire, an unbearable itching sensation spreading throughout her body. It was as if tiny insects were crawling under her skin, and she had the uncontrollable urge to rip herself apart just to stop the torment.
She bit down hard on her lip, her fists clenching tightly. Sweat poured down her face as she forced herself to endure. "I can't stop now. I have to see this through," she thought, her determination shining through the pain.
For an agonizing hour, she bore the torment until, finally, the sensation began to fade. Her breathing was ragged, but a wave of relief washed over her as she realized the refinement was complete.
But she didn't stop
The next essence stone was vastly different. It was a Rank E Bookworm Essence Stone, small and shaped like a caterpillar. On its back, a tiny, book-like growth made it look almost comical.