The sun climbed higher, signaling that the day was progressing. Blazing rays began to pierce through the gaps in the windows, yet the atmosphere within the living room remained warm and tranquil.
After the matter of repairing the bedroom door upstairs was finished, Calian and Wolvin wasted no time. They immediately hurried to the first floor to meet Duchess Elara.
Upon arriving at the first floor, their footsteps halted. Their eyes widened, unable to believe what they were seeing. In the center of the room, Duchess Elara was sitting on the sofa with great relaxation.
In her hand was a cup of warm tea that was still steaming, complete with a beautiful ceramic teapot on the table. The sight was a stark contrast to their current condition.
"M-Mother?" Calian asked with a curious tone as he approached. "Where did that tea and teapot come from? Didn't I... haven't I prepared anything for you yet?"
Duchess Elara placed her cup down slowly. "From my storage space, of course!" she answered casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Storage space?" Calian repeated, ensuring his understanding. "Do you mean spatial storage magic? The magic that allows us to store all kinds of objects and food without fear of them getting damaged or rotting?"
"Yes, you are correct!" answered Duchess Elara. Her hand touched the gem earring hanging beautifully from her ear. "However, since I am not a spatial mage, I use an intermediary magic tool in the form of these earrings."
Calian and Wolvin were amazed to hear his mother's words. It turned out the jewelry the mother wore possessed an extraordinary function.
Duchess Elara's face then turned slightly melancholic as she looked at her son.
"Unfortunately, you do not possess a mana core." Duchess Elara continued with a tone of regret. "If only you had mana, I would certainly give this to you!"
Duchess Elara opened her palm. There lay a beautiful silver necklace with a dark blue gemstone pendant that shimmered mysteriously.
"This is a magic tool that allows you to store any object inside it. This tool will activate if you channel mana into the necklace, then visualize the object being stored or taken out."
Calian stared at the necklace and felt a little frustrated. The object would be very useful for their escape later, but his body considered 'defective' without a mana core, made him unable to use such a standard magic tool.
Not long after, that frustration turned into hope when his eyes caught sight of Wolvin beside him.
Wolvin's cute face triggered an idea in Calian's mind.
"Mother, just give that necklace to Wolvin!" exclaimed Calian.
Wolvin was surprised. He immediately pointed at his own face with a confused expression while looking at Calian, as if asking, 'Me?'
So was Duchess Elara. She was also confused by her son's words.
"Wolvin?" asked Duchess Elara in confusion. "What about him, Calian?"
"Wolvin is my wife, Mother!" stated Calian firmly. "And most importantly, he can use mana. If we have that necklace, we won't have to trouble ourselves when carrying items or worry about food rotting while living in this Western Pavilion."
Hearing her son's logical reasoning, Duchess Elara understood. Her face brightened again as she looked at Wolvin.
"Wolvin, come here!" requested Duchess Elara.
Without hesitation, though still a bit awkward, Wolvin stepped closer to his mother-in-law and stood politely beside her.
"Yes, Mother-in-law, what is it?"
Duchess Elara held out the necklace. "Wear this necklace around your neck and ensure you use it well for the mobility of you both!"
Wolvin stared at the precious item with hesitation. "Is it really okay if I wear it, Mother-in-law? This is a precious item that you own..."
Duchess Elara rose from her seat and gently held both sides of Wolvin's head.
"What are you talking about, Wolvin? Didn't you say he is your husband? Don't you think about your own well-being?" said Elara, advising him gently. "For instance, if there is prepared food but you don't finish it. Wouldn't that food be wasted if it goes stale? With this tool, you can save a lot of things."
Hearing his mother-in-law's explanation, Wolvin understood, and his hesitation vanished. He nodded in agreement.
"Yes, I want it, Mother-in-law!" exclaimed Wolvin enthusiastically.
Slowly, Duchess Elara fastened the necklace around Wolvin's neck. The blue pendant looked harmonious against his skin. Once attached, Elara took a gold coin from her pocket for practice.
"Do as I said earlier! Channel your mana, then just imagine this gold coin being stored inside your necklace!"
Wolvin accepted the coin and followed his mother-in-law's instructions. He began channeling his mana into the necklace and then imagined the gold coin entering the pendant.
Zip!
In the blink of an eye, the gold coin vanished from Wolvin's palm, sucked into the storage dimension. Wolvin immediately smiled enthusiastically at the magic.
"Mother-in-law, I did it!" cried Wolvin happily.
"Hahaha. Good! If you want to take it out, just imagine the object you want to retrieve and the quantity you desire."
Wolvin nodded in understanding, then unconsciously hugged his mother-in-law tightly while saying, "Thank you so much, Mother-in-law."
Instead of being angry at the sudden hug, Duchess Elara smiled warmly and stroked Wolvin's head gently like a biological mother.
Calian felt happy seeing his mother loving and accepting Wolvin.
I am so grateful my son met Wolvin. Elara thought with emotion. With him by my son's side, they can complement each other's flaws.
Duchess Elara released the hug and looked into her son-in-law's eyes. "Wolvin, I entrust everything to you!"
"Yes, Mother-in-law, leave it to me!" answered Wolvin firmly.
After the matter regarding the storage magic was settled, Calian felt it was time to discuss the next step. He looked at his mother with a serious gaze.
Calian, who desperately wanted to leave the Western Pavilion, immediately asked his mother without hesitation.
"Mother, I really want to leave this place!"
Instantly, the room went silent. Duchess Elara shifted her gaze and stared at her son's face.