As darkness descended upon the forest, the sky gradually transformed into night, casting a mystical veil over the landscape. The faint, ethereal glow of twin moons bathed Rayden's yard in a gentle luminescence.
To illuminate his veranda and garden, Rayden utilized a gift from Anastasia: an Arcane stone of the light type. These stones, mounted on low wooden posts, lined both sides of his garden, creating a luxurious yet soothing ambiance that was both inviting and serene.
For enhanced nighttime security, Rayden cultivated a unique species of plant capable of automatically ensnaring intruders with its high-durability yet flexible green tendrils. These plants were strategically placed along the perimeter of his garden fence.
Unlike earthly botanical knowledge, Rayden's world offered him the freedom to innovate and create plant species with extraordinary attributes, thanks to his inherent talent: Ultimate Verdant Magic.
The previous afternoon, Rayden and Anastasia ventured into the forest to hunt deer, intending to prepare a sumptuous dinner. They planned to fry the venison using a special blend of spices crafted by Rayden. Anastasia's portable cooking equipment greatly facilitated the preparation of dishes requiring frying, sautéing, or boiling.
Earlier that day, Rayden had cultivated numerous sunflowers to produce sunflower seed oil. He also grew additional spices such as galangal, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom, along with kaffir lime leaves and turmeric leaves. He meticulously blended these spices to marinate the processed deer meat.
In addition, Rayden grew rice on arid land and accelerated its maturation to quickly yield rice grains, which he then cooked in a special steamer.
With everything prepared, Rayden commenced the process of frying the marinated venison, setting the stage for a delightful and aromatic feast.
Forty-five minutes later, every piece of venison was perfectly fried and artfully arranged on several plates. Steaming rice was prepared and ready to accompany the succulent fried venison. A selection of fresh sides, including crispy fried cabbage and crisp lettuce, lay ready to complete the meal.
"Ana, let's have dinner," Rayden called out to Anastasia, who had been napping inside the house since they returned from hunting.
Thanks to Anastasia's contributions of furniture and household items, Rayden's home had transformed into a more complete and inviting space. Each room now boasted a fully furnished bedroom set. The living room was adorned with a cozy sofa set and a sturdy table.
The enticing aroma of the fried venison reached Anastasia, along with Rayden's call. She quickly awoke from her slumber in her second-floor bedroom and dashed down the stairs to the dining area on the ground floor.
Her eyes sparkled with delight as she beheld the sumptuous feast laid out before her. The dining table was adorned with a luxurious dinner spread.
"Wow—they look absolutely mouthwatering!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm, unaware of the drool beginning to form at the corner of her mouth.
"The rice is simply divine when paired with the fried venison," Anastasia murmured softly, continuing to savor the meal on her plate.
Rayden nodded in agreement, his voice gentle yet authoritative. "Indeed, the rice is the heart of this dish. It becomes truly delightful when combined with the rich, flavorful fried meat," he spoke with the demeanor of a learned professor, delivering a lecture filled with profound insights, all the while continuing to devour the contents of his plate.
Remembering something crucial, Rayden inquired of Anastasia, "By the way, how is your injured mother faring?"
"Ah—my mother is resting in a special storage room within my extra-dimensional space," Anastasia revealed without hesitation. "I trust you, which is why I plan to place her in one of the rooms in this house. Do you think that's possible?" she asked tentatively, a hint of uncertainty coloring her words.
Sensing the trace of doubt on Anastasia's face, Rayden immediately reassured her, urging her not to worry too much about the matter. He considered Anastasia to be someone significant in his life and, without hesitation, allowed both mother and daughter to reside with him for as long as they needed.
∆∆∆
In her private chamber, Anastasia sat before her vanity, removing the exquisite jewelry that adorned her. Despite her seemingly childlike clumsiness when enjoying a meal, she was, in truth, a woman of elegant and untouchable temperament.
Anastasia epitomized perfection in every aspect of her appearance. Her hair was long and straight, without bangs, boasting a unique and beautiful platinum blonde hue. Her face possessed a flawless golden ratio, with a perfectly sculpted nose and naturally crimson lips. Her eyes, a captivating crimson resembling rubies, were mesmerizing. Her skin was as white as jade and snow, completely unblemished.
Her stature was considerably taller than the typical highest standard for women. Her bust measured a 38G cup, with a heart-shaped, voluptuous bottom that retained perfect firmness. Her elongated torso made her ample chest appear proportionate, despite its generous size.
Anastasia had a slender waist and perfectly contoured hips. Her legs were long and graceful, with an impeccable structure that added to her allure.
Clad in crimson pajamas, Anastasia gracefully sprawled across her bed, seeking a position of utmost comfort. Today, her heart brimmed with gratitude for the chance to acquaint herself with a remarkable and kind-hearted man like Rayden.
Within moments, Anastasia drifted into a serene slumber, a sweet smile lingering on her lips. Her dreams were filled with delightful visions of savoring a variety of exquisite dishes alongside Rayden.
∆∆∆
In the adjoining room, a woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Anastasia lay weakly upon her bed, her skin pale and lifeless. This woman, appearing significantly more mature than Anastasia, possessed a taller and more robust physique. Her facial features exuded a mature elegance, surrounded by an aura of chilling aloofness.
She was none other than Anastasia's mother, the sole relative she had in this world.
The door to the chamber of Anastasia's mother swung open unexpectedly. Rayden entered with quiet, deliberate steps. His eyes swept over the alluring and graceful form of the woman, observing her with genuine concern, devoid of any malice or desire.
A frown creased Rayden's brow as he noticed the presence of bluish bruises scattered across her body. Placing the palm of his right hand gently on her forehead, he summoned a substantial amount of arcane energy to activate the spiritual life-sensing abilities of his Ultimate Verdant Magic.
Instantly, a metaphysical representation of the woman's condition flooded Rayden's consciousness. He could see, feel, and even hear the laments of her physical and spiritual form. Red spots appeared in his perception, marking the areas of injury. The larger the red spot, the more severe the damage, and conversely, the smaller the spot, the less critical it was.
"Injuries of such a grave nature would be unbearable for an ordinary woman," Rayden thought, awestruck by the sheer strength of Anastasia's mother's willpower, despite the severity of her condition.
Recalling knowledge of a healing technique utilizing the life-giving light energy of plants, Rayden prepared to commence the healing process. He summoned forth dozens of small trees, each enveloped in a soothing, warm green light, which now filled the chamber around Anastasia's mother.
These trees were a unique species, capable of being grown only through his magical prowess.
Drawing a deep breath, Rayden steeled himself. "All right, I'm ready for my first healing attempt." With a gentle intention and graceful hand movements, he extended one of the branches of the small trees to make direct contact with Anastasia's mother's skin. "I hope everything goes smoothly."
The healing green light began to envelop the woman's entire body. Gradually but steadily, the light intensified, and the healing process accelerated. For half an hour, Rayden maintained the flow of arcane energy, converting it into life-giving light capable of healing. Simultaneously, the woman's pale skin transformed into a fresh and healthy appearance, the blue bruises faded naturally, and even her severely damaged spiritual essence was flawlessly restored without any imbalance or imperfection.
Anastasia's mother's eyebrows twitched slightly before her eyelids slowly opened, revealing her mesmerizing ruby-red eyes that could captivate Rayden in an instant.
Without a word, she rose from the bed, sinking her fangs into Rayden's neck, drawing a substantial amount of his blood.
Rayden emitted a peculiar groan as the moments stretched on for several minutes.