With evident confidence born from years of living together, Erik settled into Seraphina's lap, enveloped by the warm and relaxing floral aroma of the beautiful woman, and enjoyed the moment in complete tranquility. Erik paid no attention whatsoever to his card, which was continuously vibrating in his storage ring.
After a while, Seraphina finished cleaning her young master's ear. She took a new white cloth with golden embroidery at the corners from her storage ring and began to clean the outer part of the star-haired boy's ear. Although she slowed down her pace as much as she could, the end still came. She had to comment elegantly and seriously, although a bit of reluctance could be seen on her face.
"It's finished, young master, and your bath should be ready by now."
"Thank you, Seraphina; you're the best."
Upon hearing Seraphina, Erik, who was beginning to fall asleep, got up from the enchanting maid's lap. After stretching a bit, he left the room and headed to his bedroom, closely followed by the wolves that had just finished their juicy feast of super-premium meat.
"It's a pleasure to serve you, young master."
Meanwhile, Seraphina commented softly as she watched her young master's back until he disappeared, with an expression full of reluctance, almost as if she were about to leap after him. But in the end, she just sighed and got up from the sofa, at which point a cheerful and sing-song voice was heard behind her.
"Fufu, who would have thought that the unflappable shadow Seraphina could make so many expressions? It's a real surprise."
A smiling Eleonora materialized out of nowhere in the middle of the room, with a big playful grin on her face as she mockingly commented. Seraphina responded with her serious and professional expression while approaching the table to collect the dishes.
"Spying and gossiping about a humble maid is not fitting for your class and glamour, Master Silverwood."
"Hehehe, don't be like that, Sera, or I won't lend you Erik anymore."
Out of nowhere, Sigrún also appeared, standing near Eleonora with a mocking smile on her face. She commented in a sing-song voice, which made Seraphina's eyebrows twitch a bit. Shortly after, Seraphina commented in a serious and professional tone.
"Young miss, I don't know what you mean by 'lend.' This humble maid only serves the young master as is proper."
"Hoho, so that's how we're going to play. Then I, Sigrún, master and legal guardian of Erik, determined that having such a clingy maid with my disciple is something that cannot be allowed. So, from now on, I will appoint someone else to take charge of my dear disciple as his personal maid." Sigrún spoke with a mocking smile on her face, in a voice that tried to sound serious and determined, while attempting to act like a dramatic actress.
"I, Eleonora, also a master, second this motion. This situation cannot continue, or else it could greatly affect the development of our disciple." Eleonora quickly joined the little game and commented in a sing-song voice, trying to maintain a serious expression, but a hint of mischief could not be hidden on her face.
Upon hearing the words of that pair of women, Seraphina completely lost her serious and elegant appearance. Now, on her beautiful face, only indignation could be seen as she directed sharp looks at that pair of 'jokers,' which made them sweat a bit. But they were already too deep into the swamp; it was easier to reach the other side than to turn back, so they continued without fearing the consequences.
"Those jokes are not funny, Sigrún, Eleonora," Seraphina commented in a dark tone, full of indignation as she stared intently at the youngest Masters-level in history.
"Fufufu, how strange! The great Seraphina, the goddess of shadows, got angry." Eleonora mocked as she laughed in complicity with Sigrún.
"Hmph, what do you want now?" Seraphina snorted, annoyed, then asked while collecting the dishes.
"Hehehe, nothing really; we're just happy." Sigrún commented with a smile, and Eleonora nodded in agreement.
"Happy? What happened?" Surprised, Seraphina asked a bit confusedly, to which Eleonora replied mischievously.
"Fufufu, it's very simple. Our cute disciple will bring his first friend home."
"You can't be thinking...?" Seraphina opened her eyes, full of surprise, as she looked at Eleonora, not believing what she was hearing. At that moment, Sigrún added with a big smile full of mischief.
"Hehehe, exactly..."
"He is going to be very angry..." Seraphina looked at Sigrún, doubting if they would really do what she was thinking, to which Eleonora added in a sing-song voice with an almost wicked smile on her face.
"Fufufu, it will be very fun..."
...
...
...
After a pleasant bath, Erik dressed in a simple white sport set, which changed color to black using the convenient runes inscribed in the clothing. He then headed to his study, where he sat in front of his beautiful desk. Several books, agendas, and scrolls appeared on it, along with various holographic screens displaying all kinds of information.
While sipping tea that Seraphina brought him from time to time, Erik spent the rest of the morning performing various calculations, drawing different types of geometric circles, runes, and runic circles in an almost systematic way. At the same time, he reviewed different reference materials on the holographic screens, books, and scrolls. But his dedicated work abruptly stopped when he felt his student card vibrating again in his storage ring.
"It's true, that guy was looking for me for something..."
He commented to himself upon realizing, since he had completely forgotten. Erik took his student card out of his storage ring, where he confirmed that Chen was indeed calling him. With an ironic smile, he answered.
"And what calculations do you need to do now?"
"Hehehe, don't be so cold. Can't your good friend Chen call you to see how you're doing?" Chen commented with a little laugh, which brought an amused smile to Erik's face. He quickly responded mockingly.
"Oh? So you don't need anything from me? That's good because I'll be very busy for a couple of months. But thanks for the call; I'm fine, by the way."
"Hey, hey, Erik, don't be like that! Don't abandon me at this moment of great need—I could really die this time." Chen replied a bit hastily, which made Erik laugh a little. He asked casually.
"Then stop playing around. What is it now?"
"Hehehe, just some matrix arrangements that I can't create for the life of me..." Chen's voice trailed off as he spoke, as if he were a bit embarrassed, which led Erik to ask in an ironic voice.
"Isn't your family supposed to specialize in that?"
"Yes, and that's why I could die if I don't get it. My father is really angry this time, and if I don't manage to show a good result at the next clan assembly, he'll beat me to death!" Chen responded in a grave and agitated tone, at which Erik couldn't help but laugh, genuinely amused.
"Hahaha!"
"Hey!! Don't laugh; it's really serious. I spoke with my mother recently, and she told me that my father is really serious about this and won't accept any excuses. So I'm panicking now." Chen commented in a somewhat scared tone. Erik casually replied while reviewing one of the holographic screens around him.
"I suppose something happened."
"Yes... you know, clan stuff. But anyway, I really need your help with this." Chen responded somewhat evasively, to which Erik asked casually, feeling that a new reference from the Zazen Discipline would suit him right now.
"Alright, I can help with that, but aren't those secret things of your family?"
"More or less, but the ones to be evaluated this time aren't that secret. The university even has a few copies of the arrangements I need on this occasion." Chen responded much more cheerfully now that he had the genius in his pocket. At that point, Erik commented casually while deactivating the holographic screens.
"Then I'll see you at the library."
"Well, actually, I'm arriving at your master's mansion right now, hehehe."
Upon hearing Chen's mischievous tone, Erik opened his eyes, surprised, and quickly extended his mystical consciousness. Shortly after, he easily sensed Chen arriving at the mansion and Seraphina waiting for him at the door, accompanied by two more assistants. This led him to ask in a dark tone.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Well, actually..."
Chen tried to explain what had happened, but suddenly, his words were cut off when the call abruptly ended. Without wasting a single second, Erik quickly put away his student card and headed to the exit. But the moment he opened the door, he found his masters standing on the other side with charming smiles on their beautiful faces.
"Erik, it seems that a friend of yours has come to visit us. Let's go meet him." Sigrún commented cheerfully with a small smile on her face. Immediately after, she gently took Erik's right arm and held it firmly between her voluptuous chests.
"Yes, Erik, we can't keep your friend waiting. Let's go welcome him." Eleonora commented elegantly, at the same time smoothly taking his left arm, also immobilizing it between her ample bosom, while a casual smile could be seen on her face.
"An ambush orchestrated by my own masters—what a tragedy..."
Finding himself totally immobilized by two Master-level individuals, Erik could only comment in a dramatic tone while looking at his masters with deep disappointment on his face. They ignored him completely without any problem, then began to drag the reluctant star-haired boy to the main hall with mischievous smiles on their faces.
In the main hall was a visibly worried Chen, sitting on an elegant sofa in front of a coffee table, his gaze fixed on a cup of tea on the table. The only movement seen in him was his chest, breathing deeply. Meanwhile, Seraphina was standing at the door, and two other assistants waited to the side with serious expressions.
Soon after, Erik entered the main hall, dragged by Eleonora and Sigrún, who held him firmly by his arms. They reached the large sofa, where they sat with the star-haired boy in the center, who had a blank expression on his face, as if he were already resigned to his cruel fate.