Alicia stood there, a beautiful young woman of 5’6”. Her history was deeply intertwined with the Ryler family—her te mother had been a loyal servant to them, and her father had died on a mission with Albert before she was even born. Though her mother had passed away during childbirth, the Rylers had raised her as their own, showering her with all the love and attention a child could need. She had grown up content and happy, never feeling the void of her parents’ absence.

  “Alicia, please close the door.”

  “Is there anything you need, Master?”

  “Please unbind your hair.”

  She complied, letting loose her golden hair. The silky waves cascaded down, framing her perfect oval face.

  “Master, may I ask what’s happening?” Her voice trembled with nervousness.

  Leon stepped forward and took her hands in his. “I have a request,” he said softly.

  “W-what is it, Master?” she stammered.

  “I would never force myself on a dy—it’s not in my nature. So I’m asking you properly, Alicia: Would you stay with me tonight?”

  Alicia took a step back, startled. “B-but Master…”

  “If you decline, I’ll understand completely. I’ll always respect your decisions, Miss Alicia.”

  “Master,” she paused, gathering her courage. “If I stay with you tonight, will you take care of me forever?”

  “I will. I promise.”

  He id her down, breathless, captivated by the fierce beauty that bloomed in her face. Her wide blue eyes, bzing with a passion that mirrored his own, met his as their lips met in a kiss that stole his breath away.

  Leon’s eyes fluttered open as he woke up. “What are you doing here?” he asked, taken aback to see Alice lying beside him.

  “Look at you,” Alice said with a hint of reproach. “I’m away for just a short time, and already you have another woman by your side.”

  The conversation stirred Alicia awake. She instinctively covered herself with the sheets.

  “Alicia, I thought you locked the door?”

  “I did, Master.”

  “I have my ways,” Alice said simply.

  “Please don’t be angry, Alice. I truly care for her.”

  “Master, perhaps I should leave,” Alicia suggested, her voice small.

  “No,” Leon caught her elbow gently. “Stay. You’re my woman now.”

  Turning to Alice, he added, “Please don’t be upset with her. I care for her just as I care for you.”

  “I shouldn’t have sent her here,” Alice muttered.

  “Alice…”

  “Fine. I accept her. But she’s the third.”

  “Master,” Alicia ventured, “If I’m the third, then Erica must be the second?”

  “You got it,” Alice replied casually.

  “But since she’s not here, couldn’t I be the second?” Alicia suggested hopefully.

  Leon cupped her face gently. “Alicia, distance doesn’t change how I feel. My affection isn’t measured by proximity. Erica’s pce in my heart remains constant, whether she’s here or not. That’s who I am.”

  “I apologize for speaking thoughtlessly, Master.”

  “It’s alright. I’m gd you understand.”

  “Now then,” Leon said, “you two should prepare breakfast. I have a feeling today won’t be easy.”

  “Yes, Master!” Alicia responded eagerly, rushing toward the door. But Leon’s voice stopped her.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To prepare breakfast…”

  “Perhaps you should dress first,” he suggested gently.

  “Oh!” Alicia gasped, suddenly aware of her nakedness. “I’m sorry, Master! I was a bit too excited.”

  After Alicia left the room.

  “Why are you still here?” Leon asked, looking at Alice who remained on his bed.

  “Why not?” Alice’s lips curved into a pyful smile. “Alicia enjoyed the night… why can’t I enjoy the morning?”

  Leon sighed, but there was a hint of affection in it. “Alright.”

  Alice moved closer, recreating their familiar intimate routine with practiced grace.

  Albert observed from a distance as Alice and Leon hurried through their early breakfast. He shook his head knowingly. His son’s changing behavior was clearly due to the rapid transformation of his body. These were only the basic changes—Albert knew there would be more as his son’s body continued to adapt. And with more training to come, further changes were inevitable.

  Meanwhile in the kitchen, Alicia and two other maids her age huddled together, their excited whispers barely audible to each other.

  “Is it true?” asked Emma, the maid on her right.

  “Come on, tell us,” urged Marie from her left.

  “We waited up after you left our room, but you didn’t return until early morning,” Emma pressed.

  “Don’t be shy. It’s just us. Your secret’s safe with us,” Marie assured her.

  Alicia responded with a slight nod.

  “Really!” Emma excimed.

  “Shhh! Keep your voice down,” Alicia cautioned.

  “Tell us everything,” Marie urged.

  “Why should I?” Alicia deflected.

  “At least tell us something different, something special,” Marie compromised.

  Alicia paused thoughtfully. “Well, there was something…”

  “Tell us!” Marie whispered excitedly.

  “After we finished,” Alicia began hesitantly, “I felt this unusual warmth inside. It was… invigorating, like a different kind of energy flowing through my body. The exhaustion from my day’s work just vanished completely.”

  “Is that how it’s supposed to feel?” Marie wondered aloud.

  “That’s strange,” Emma mused. “I’ve never felt anything like that with my boyfriend.”

  “I think I know!” Marie excimed.

  “What is it?” Emma asked.

  “I think it’s because Master has been undergoing rigorous training recently,” Marie replied. “I believe it’s the effect of…mana training, perhaps?”

  Alicia considered this. “Maybe you’re right,” she murmured.

  “Hey, you three! Stop gossiping and get back to work!” the head maid barked, her voice sharp and commanding. She resembled a stereotypical vilin from a novel: a tall, slender woman of advanced age, with a stern and unyielding demeanor.

  The three young maids scattered quickly.

  A few minutes ter, the head maid approached Alicia.

  “The Duke requests your presence in his office,” she stated coldly, her eyes devoid of warmth.

  Alicia’s heart pounded in her chest. Her mind raced with possibilities, and her hands csped together nervously.

  “Go,” the head maid urged, her tone impatient. “Don’t keep the Duke waiting.”

  “Yes, Ma’am Dellhai,” Alicia responded, trying to keep her voice steady.

  Outside the Duke’s office, Alicia knocked three times, her knuckles rapping softly against the heavy oak door.

  “You summoned me, Master Albert?” she asked, her voice above whisper.

  “Yes. Come in.”

  She opened the door and stepped inside. The light streaming from the window behind Albert cast his face in shadow, making his features indistinct. His hands were csped tightly on the table before him. Alicia kept her gaze fixed on the floor, afraid to meet his eyes.

  “Speak,” Albert commanded, his voice low and resonant.

  Alicia’s mind raced. What should I say? she thought, her heart pounding.

  “Speak,” Albert repeated, a hint of impatience in his tone.

  Alicia sank to her knees, bowing her head until it touched the floor. “I am so sorry, Master Albert,” she said, her voice trembling. “I have committed a grave transgression.”

  “What is it?” Albert asked, his voice betraying no emotion.

  “I…I have been having a retionship with your son, Leon,” she confessed, remaining in her bowed position.

  “I’m gd you told me the truth,” Albert said. “Rise.”

  Alicia stood, her eyes still fixed on the ground.

  “Your parents were dear friends to my wife and me,” Albert continued, his voice softening slightly. “Your father was a brave and dependable guard of this castle. Your mother was a trustworthy and diligent maid, kind and caring. Just like you. When they passed, we couldn’t bear the thought of you simply working here as if nothing had happened. We wanted to provide for you, to ensure you were happy and well cared for.”

  “Alicia,” he said, her name hanging in the air.

  “Yes, Master Albert?” she responded.

  “I’m not opposed to your retionship with my son,” Albert said. “But I will not tolerate it affecting your duties. I expect you to maintain the same reliability, diligence, and trustworthiness that your parents exemplified. Can you promise me that?”

  Alicia bowed once more, her forehead touching the floor. “I promise, Master Albert,” she vowed, her voice firm despite her earlier trembling. “I will be diligent, reliable, and trustworthy, just as my parents were.”

  “Good,” Albert said. “Now, rise. Return to your work.”

  Alicia rose and bowed her head. “Thank you for your kindness, Master Albert,” she said. “I will return to my duties now.”

  The first hint of nautical dawn painted the eastern sky as Alice and Leon met Penelope in the forest.

  “Excellent, you’re both on time,” Penelope said. “Come, follow me!”

  “Where are we going?” Alice asked.

  “You’ll see,” Penelope replied, a hint of mystery in her voice.

  After a short trek, they arrived at a rge waterfall cascading down a cliff face in the southern part of the forest.

  “Are we…going to take a bath?” Alice asked, eyeing the cascading water.

  “In a manner of speaking, yes,” Penelope replied. “Wait here for a moment.”

  Penelope unfurled a scroll – the Scroll of the Seeing.

  The Scroll of the Seeing is a lesser version of the Scroll of Vision. It detects potentially fatal dangers within a three-kilometer radius and a two-mile depth. If anything is detected, it alerts the user to the precise location. It costs ten gold bars.

  The Scroll of Vision has a much wider range – twenty kilometers and twenty miles deep – and provides the same alert. But it costs eighty gold bars.

  “Good,” she announced after a moment. “This pce is safe. Come!” she called out to the two trainees.

  “You two will meditate under this waterfall.” Penelope’s voice echoed over the roar of the cascading water.

  “Is that all?” Alice asked, a hint of disbelief in her tone.

  “No,” Penelope replied, her gaze unwavering. “When I return, I shouldn’t see even a single drop of water on you.”

  “What?” Alice excimed, incredulous. “That’s impossible!”

  Leon remained silent, his brow furrowed in concentration as he considered Penelope’s words, searching for a solution.

  “Figure it out yourselves,” Penelope said, turning to leave. “I’ll be back.”

  As Penelope disappeared into the dense foliage, Alice turned to Leon, her expression a mixture of frustration and confusion. “What are we supposed to do?”

  “I think Mother wants us to control our mana circution to an extreme degree,” Leon replied, his eyes still on the waterfall.

  “With that current?” Alice scoffed.

  “We won’t know until we try,” Leon said, a glint of determination in his eyes. “Ready?”

  Alice hesitated, then sighed. “Whatever.”

  “Let’s do our best,” Leon encouraged, stepping into the powerful current.

  Alice remained on the bank, watching Leon intently. Minutes ticked by, the roar of the waterfall filling the air. Alice grew increasingly anxious as the sky began to lighten, signaling the approaching sunrise. She gnced at Leon again, and her eyes widened. He was radiating an intense heat, his mana fring around him like a visible shield. The water seemed to repel itself, no longer touching him. Steam rose from his clothes, drying rapidly from the heat. Alice remembered the st training session, how feverish he had been when she touched him.

  “That’s it!” she excimed, understanding dawning in her eyes. “I know what to do now!”

  She stepped into the cascading torrent, the force of the water smming against her. Positioning herself beneath the deluge, she began to meditate. Focusing on two specific meridians, she attempted to channel her energy. The current, however, was relentless. I need to release more, she thought, gritting her teeth against the pressure.

  After several minutes, a realization dawned. So that’s it, she thought. The problem isn’t just releasing energy, it’s maintaining the flow against this current. This is far more difficult than I anticipated.

  More minutes passed, and she remained soaked to the bone. Frustration gnawed at her. I’m losing my patience! she thought, the icy water a constant reminder of her failure. I have to figure this out.

  She delved deeper within herself, searching. There, nestled amidst her active mana, she discovered a dormant reservoir. Under this immense pressure, and you’re just sleeping? she thought, a flicker of annoyance sparking within her. You zy good-for-nothing!

  With a surge of will, she forced her active mana to connect with the untapped energy, drawing upon its power to stabilize her flow. Gradually, a powerful, steady stream of energy radiated from her. The relentless waterfall no longer touched her. The air around her shimmered with the intensity of her mana. Her body pulsed with power, and she finally achieved a smooth, efficient circution, every drop of mana focused and controlled.

  Hours ter, under the deepening twilight, Penelope arrived.

  Hmm, she thought, observing them. Impressive. I was certain Leon would succeed, but Alice… I never expected her to master it so quickly. Excellent. A hint of a smile touched her lips. Now, for the final test.

  “It’s finished,” she announced. “You can get up now.”

  Leon opened his eyes and rose effortlessly. Not a single drop of water clung to his skin or clothes. He stepped away from the cascading stream, completely dry.

  Now, let’s see how Alice fares, Penelope thought, her gaze shifting to the young beastkin.

  “Alice, you’re done. Rise.”

  Alice opened her eyes, meeting the gazes of Penelope and Leon. A small smile pyed on her lips. She stood slowly, the water still repelled by her mana. She stepped forward, leaving the waterfall behind, as dry as Leon.

  “Well done!” Penelope excimed, her smile widening.

  “I know,” Alice replied, a touch of pyful confidence in her voice. “But the training isn’t over yet, is it? Not until we’re out of the waterfall’s reach.”

  “How did you figure it out?” Penelope asked, intrigued.

  “Seeing Leon, dry and radiating heat, gave me the answer,” Alice expined.

  “You’re maturing,” Penelope commented. “I think you’re finally starting to understand.”

  “Really?” Alice beamed, then impulsively threw her arms around Penelope.

  “Thank you, Penelope! Can I call you Mother now?”

  “No,” Penelope said, gently but firmly disentangling herself. “How many times have I told you? Just call me by my name.”

  “But it would make me so happy,” Alice persisted, a pyful glint in her eyes.

  “No more arguing,” Penelope said, a hint of amusement in her voice. “Let’s go. Try to keep up,” she added, increasing her pace.

  She moved swiftly, her movements fluid and powerful. Alice, who had struggled to keep pace before, now matched her stride for stride.

  She’s improved significantly, Leon thought, gncing at Alice with a mixture of admiration and surprise. I need to keep up too.

  They reached the pace in a surprisingly short time.

  “Excellent!” Penelope decred. “I believe you’ve both grasped the basics of mana manipution.”

  “You’re incredibly fast, Penelope,” Alice said, slightly breathless.

  “How do you feel, son?” Penelope asked.

  “Tired from the run, but surprisingly light,” he replied.

  “Me too,” Alice agreed, her breathing returning to normal.

  “Good. Let’s have dinner, and we’ll discuss things further tomorrow,” Penelope said. “We’ll have a meeting tomorrow morning at the same time. Don’t be te.” She turned and left.

  “I’m not hungry,” Alice said to Leon. “Are you?”

  “No, I don’t feel hungry either, even after a whole day without food,” he replied.

  “It’s amazing how much the mana training affects us,” Alice mused.

  “Indeed,” Leon agreed. “But as mother said, dinner’s ready. Let’s go.”

  A few minutes after dinner, Leon walked down a quiet corridor in the castle annex.

  “Where are you going?” Alice asked, falling into step beside him.

  “I’m coming with you,” she added, her tone implying she wouldn’t be dissuaded.

  As they walked, Albert approached from the opposite direction.

  They paused. “Hi, Albert. Good evening,” Alice greeted.

  “Good evening,” Albert replied. “Where are you two headed?”

  “We’re going back to our rooms,” Alice answered.

  “Alright. Good night.” Albert continued on his way, then paused, gncing back over his shoulder. “Leon,” he said, “don’t overdo it. And try to keep her… obsession in check.”

  “Don’t worry, Albert,” Alice replied cheerfully, before Leon could respond. “I’ll make sure to take care of him”

  As they reached Leon’s room, they found Alicia waiting outside, already dressed in her nightclothes.