In a quiet and serene courtyard, a woman with features so ethereal she could be mistaken for an angel sat cross-legged beneath the sprawling branches of a banyan tree.
Her expression was tranquil and her eyes were closed as if she was in a deep state of meditation.
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and she caught sight of a figure dressed in black leaping effortlessly into her courtyard, which was surrounded by walls towering dozens of feet high.
The woman tensed instinctively, and she was ready to release a catastrophic attack capable of wiping out an entire village when she caught sight of the intruder's face.
She relaxed immediately, and the immense power gathering in her palm dissipated, indicating it was someone she knew.
The figure who had rudely welcomed herself into the woman's courtyard without the owner's permission was of a woman with tanned skin, a well-toned physique, and an undeniable air of confidence.
In a world where noblewomen sought to make their skin as pale and snow-white as possible through magic and evil rituals, there was only one noblewoman bold enough to defy such societal norms, embracing a darker skin tone with pride.
It was Agatha, the angelic woman's eldest daughter.
"You brat! How many times must I tell you to use the door instead of leaping straight into the courtyard like a thief? I nearly blasted you to smithereens just now!" Like a dog whose tail has been stepped on, Kristy snapped at Agatha, scolding her with the speed of a rapper.
Agatha smiled sheepishly. "Hehe, sorry for startling you, Mother Dearest. But it's faster this way."
Kristy Natura sighed in her heart.
She knew her daughter too well and understood what she was trying to imply by her words.
Agatha wasn't going to change her ways anytime soon!
"You're just like your father."
Kristy's late husband was the kind of man who never used a door when a window or an open path was available. He didn't care for formalities or norms and valued freedom over tradition and rules, and Agatha had clearly inherited his mindset, leaving Kristy feeling a bit disappointed. If she had went after her, how good it would've been.
"It's better to live free than restrained."
As she spoke, Agatha looked like the embodient of pride as she stood straight with her hands on her hips and her chin raised.
"You can say that because you don't need to mingle with society's bastards," Kristy retorted.
"Isn't it all thanks to you?" Agatha teased with a shameless grin.
"You're saying I'm partly to blame for your behavior?"
Agatha nodded, her grin growing wider.
In response, a cup of steaming hot tea flew toward her, guided by Kristy's hand.
"Mother Dearest, you still get angry so easily," Agatha said, laughing, producing air waves so intense they were visible to the naked eye.
These waves surged forward like a mighty and ferocious wave, and it seemed like whatever they would come across would meet a brutal end.
Patak!
The cup shattered midair. The shards and scalding liquid fell harmlessly to the ground.
At this sight, Kristy's eyes widened.
"Manipulating the world's energy so intricately that it can be used as a weapon... You've reached the second stage? But you only became a Transcendental Master a year ago! How did you advance so quickly?"
Transcendental Masters were beings who possessed the ability to harness the world's energy, which served as the source of their immense power. They rarely progressed quickly; on average, it took 5 to 6 years to elevate by a single stage. Agatha had achieved an extraordinary feat by advancing from the first stage to the second in just about a year. Kristy's shock was well-deserved.
"I ran into a lucky encounter while I was eliminating the possibility of your dream coming true. It elevated me to the second stage of Transcendental Master. Now, just like you, I can freely control the world's energy and execute moves like aura pressure."
Aura pressure was the technique she had used to obliterate the cup.
Hearing Agatha's words, Kristy smiled proudly.
Although she didn't appreciate Agatha's attitude, she didn't dislike her as a person. In fact, she loved her more than herself and wouldn't mind dying for her.
She genuinely felt pleased by what her daughter had managed to accomplish at such a young age. In a world where the average lifespan of humans was 200 years, 40 was considered a young age.
Agatha had become a Stage 2 Transcendental Master before turning 40, which was a rare feat in Silver Rock Village.
"Well then, congratulations."
On this rate occasion, Kristy didn't mind expressing how proud she was of her.
Agatha's smile stretched wide, lighting up her face with genuine joy. There was nothing she loved more than hearing her mother's words of praise.
She walked up to the tree, knelt on one knee before Kristy, and said, "Thanks, Mom. You know I didn't mean what I said previously, right? I don't blame you for how I've turned out. Not even a tiny bit. I only feel a great deal of gratitude toward you. You provided me with an environment where I could be what I want to be, something most village girls don't get to experience, and I am eternally grateful for that."
As she spoke, Agatha's eyes never left her mother's face
Though Kristy had given birth to her 40 years ago, she looked as beautiful as she had the day Agatha first laid eyes on her.
Kristy's beauty was otherworldly, almost divine.
Her ankle-length golden hair cascaded like waves of sunlight, framing an angelic face with cherry lips and a slender, gently upturned nose. Her peach-blossom-shaped eyes shimmered with a hypnotic green, and her skin was flawlessly smooth, free of any imperfection.
Looking at her, it was easy to determine where a muscle mommy like Agatha had inherited her elegant looks from.
"So you know how to be grateful."
Pleased by her naughty daughter's recent behavior, Kristy patted Agatha on the head.
"You're not angry at me anymore, right, Mom?" Agatha asked, staring at her with bright, hopeful eyes that were impossible to disappoint.
Kristy shook her head, "I'm not."
"You really mean it?" Agatha asked in a doubtful tone.
Kristy nodded calmly.
"If you really mean it, you'll let me hug you."
Agatha put forward a silly condition, causing Kristy to roll her eyes.
"You just want a hug, huh? Come here, you."
The very next moment, Kristy regretted her words as Agatha pounced on her like an overexcited dog. She embraced Kristy tightly, wrapping her arms around her like a bear, rubbing her face against her mother's with unrestrained affection. If she had a tail, it would have been wagging furiously at this moment.
'This... is too much.'
Kristy wasn't used to being so close to others since her husband's passing, so she felt overwhelmed by the skinship her daughter had forced upon her.
She was about to push Agatha away when her daughter murmured, "Mother, I've missed you."
'But it has only been some months since we last saw each other.'
Although she grumbled internally, it was clear from her actions that Kristy loved her just as much. Putting down the hand she raised to break free from her wild daughter's hold, she hugged her back and whispered affectionate words into her ears.
"I am your mother. If you want to be close to me, you don't need to make excuses. Next time, just ask for a hug directly, and I'll give it to you."
Agatha's heart warmed at her mother's words.
After hugging Kristy for a while, Agatha leaned back and reported, "Mother Supreme, with the help of the Graceful Birth Elixir, we successfully helped Lena deliver her child. It's a boy, just as you divined."
Hearing that a miracle elixir, one even alchemists at the power level of a Transcendental Master found hard to refine, was used to help Lena give birth without complications, Kristy realized her daughter had taken her seriously when she told her about the hazy dream she had several months ago.
"You never doubted me. Looks like you trust me more than I trust myself. You must've sacrificed a lot to refine it for great daughter in law."
Kristy was a Dreamer, someone who could see glimpses of the future in her sleep. However, she had no control over her innate powers, meaning she couldn't tell if what she was seeing was a vision of the future or just a simple dream or a absurd nightmare. Thus, she sincerely doubted her prophecy would come true. And she had hoped it wouldn't—it was far too terrifying.
"What kind of daughter doesn't trust a mother who loves her unconditionally? Besides, in the dream you saw, Lena lost the child. He was born lifeless. It broke her, and she… she took her own life. How could we take any chances when two it concerned the life of two people precious to us?"
Agatha had been so shaken when she heard Kristy's dream that she immediately set out to prepare the Graceful Birth Elixir. It was the only thing she knew that could eliminate any possibility of Lena facing complications during childbirth.
Transcendental Masters were considered the strongest in Silver Rock Village, but despite being at that stage and using nearly all of her wealth, Agatha had found it incredibly difficult to gather the ingredients for the Graceful Birth Elixir and prepare it before Lena went into labor.
She was so busy during that time that she hadn't a moment to spare for her mother. It was only now after several months that she managed to spare some time and come see her. Not being able to see her for months was the primary reason why she missed her so much.
In the end, everything worked out well, so she wasn't dissatisfied.
"Since it's a boy, I'll request Elder Selina of the Black Moon Faction to assess whether Lena's newborn meets the requirements to participate in the Trial of the Ascended Master," Kristy said thoughtfully.
"By the way, what's his name?" Kristy asked.
"It's Yur, mother Dearest," Agatha replied.
"Yur? Not a bad name," Kristy said with a smile.