The mansion door were tightly closed after Alvin, Allen, and Arken left for the Adventurer's Guild with the other version of Kazien. Now, in the quiet living room, only Erica and the other Kazien remained, sitting peacefully on the sofa.
Silence reigned for a moment before Erica broke it with a soft but determined voice. "Brother Kazien, before we start the magic training, may I ask for something?"
"What is it?"
I... I want to drink your blood too, just like mother did earlier."
Kazien was slightly taken aback. He looked at his younger cousin with an inquisitive gaze. However, seeing the spark of hope in Erica's eyes and not wanting to disappoint his family, Kazien finally nodded in agreement.
Scratch!
Kazien sliced his own palm using condensed wind magic. But before he could create a glass bottle to collect the blood, Erica moved faster. She grabbed Kazien's hand, pulled it closer, and immediately sucked the fresh blood directly from his palm.
Kazien could feel a strong and rhythmic suction.
To his surprise, Erica unhesitatingly climbed up and sat right on Kazien's lap while continuing to hold her brother's hand tightly, as if afraid the flow of "life" would stop.
Erica's breathing began to quicken, short and fast, like someone who had just finished a marathon. Her eyes appeared slightly hazy, filled with a burning sensation spreading through her entire body.
Thump!
Erica's body suddenly tensed. An excruciating pain began to attack her entire body. She groaned, clutching Kazien's robe with whitening nails.
"Ugh... Brother... it hurts... my body is hot and in pain! It feels like being beaten while being burned alive!"
"Endure it, Erica! That is the effect of my blood restructuring your body's cells. Hold on a little longer; your strength will increase rapidly, and you will gain everlasting beauty." Kazien explained as he hugged Erica to provide support.
Erica buried her face in Kazien's chest, moaning in pain as her bones and muscles seemed to be reshaped. It hurts! My body hurts so much! How much longer do I have to endure this?
While continuing to endure the unbearable pain, Erica held Kazien's body tightly. In order to gain strength and a youthful appearance, she had to endure the pain.
After three minutes that felt like forever, the pain faded, replaced by a refreshing sensation and overflowing energy. Erica breathed a sigh of relief. Her embrace gradually loosened, but she still rested her chin on Kazien's shoulder weakly.
""Brother Kazien, can't I make an eternity contract with you?" Erica asked breathlessly.
"I'm sorry Erica, you only need to drink my blood to gain strength." Kazien whispered. "I cannot make an Eternity Contract with you like I did with Alvin, Allen, and Arken without a reason."
"It's okay, Brother. I am truly grateful." Erica replied sincerely. She then remembered Kazien's earlier words. "By the way... why don't you like women as wives?"
"No special reason. I just prefer men with cute faces." Kazien answered honestly.
"You don't like beautiful faces?" she asked again.
"I'm not interested! But..." Kazien smiled thinly, remembering something. "There is only one woman who has ever truly enchanted me. She is my eldest Sister, Selena. Only her."
Erica was silent for a moment. It turns out only my cousin, Sister Selena can melt Kazien's heart of steel. Incredible. As a fellow woman, I feel a little envious yet admiring of her.
Erica looked back at Kazien and gently stroked her cousin's cheek. "Brother Kazien, may I sit on your lap like this every time I want to be pampered by you?"
"Of course. I don't mind being your support if that's what you want. But I never expected that all my brothers and sisters would love sitting on my lap."
"Because it feels so peaceful and comfortable here." Erica answered honestly with a sweet smile.
Kazien laughed and affectionately ruffled Erica's hair. "Alright, enough pampering. Let's head to the courtyard and start your magic training now!"
Erica nodded enthusiastically and immediately stood up, heading to the mansion's side yard.
Upon arriving at the side yard, Kazien, standing beside her, immediately gave her an instruction.
"Show me the strongest magic you've mastered!" Kazien commanded.
Erica took a deep breath, focusing her mana, which now felt many times larger. She began chanting in a heavy and authoritative ancient language: "ɅⲀⲈⲂ ᛝᛖⲆⲀⲜ ⲈⲚⲆᛆⲀⲒⲀ ᛆⲔⲞ ⲆⲀⲚ ᛆⲆⲒⲀⲀⲂ ᛂᛋⲀ! (O air, hear my call! Make this place a vast expanse of ice!)."
Instantly, the temperature around them dropped drastically. Kazien was surprised. It was a high-level ancient magic spell, 'absolute freezing' magic. In an instant, everything around them had frozen.
Erica herself looked shocked to see the result of her magic. The frozen area was much wider and thicker than usual.
Is this because of Brother Kazien's blood? My magic range has increased drastically!
"Hahaha! I didn't expect you to master ancient magic like that, Erica!" Kazien praised as he looked at everything around him.
"This is my ultimate magic, Brother. But... I'm often afraid to use it. I'm afraid of hurting innocent people because the range is hard to control." Said Erica fearfully.
"Use it only when desperate. And from now on, I will teach you a more efficient way: using magic without needing to recite long chants."
Erica's eyes sparkled. "Without chants? Is that possible?"
"Yep!" answered Kazien calmly. "Magic is imagination, Erica. Chants are just tools to help focus your mind. You just need to focus on imagining the form and effect of the magic you want. Watch this!"
Kazien raised his palm. Without a sound, a beautiful small ice crystal formed and floated above his hand. The process happened in the blink of an eye.
Erica was stunned. Kazien's speed and precision far surpassed anything she had ever studied in any magic books.
And that morning, Erica practiced with great enthusiasm under Kazien's direct guidance. Under her brother's guidance, the hidden potential within the girl began to awaken one by one.
She was very happy to receive direct guidance from Kazien.