"A cocktail party? Miss Belmonte? Who's that, and why do I have to go to her cocktail party?"

Upon hearing Seraphina's words, Erik couldn't help but ask in confusion as he turned to look at her. The beautiful maid responded with a small smile while she began applying cream to the star-haired boy's legs.

"Miss Belmonte is the disciple of Master Sunforge, young master."

"And who is Master Sunforge?" Erik rolled his eyes and lay back down on the massage table as he asked. Seraphina replied in a calm tone.

"She is the Master-level mage who led the last mission on the battlefront, where the young lady and Master Silverwood participated."

"Ahhh, that redhead?" Erik asked in realization, which caused a small giggle from Seraphina. She replied while starting to massage Erik's legs with a very special technique.

"Exactly, young master—the redhead, fufufu."

"But that doesn't explain why I have to go to her disciple's cocktail party. I've only seen that woman once. Or is it because she's the director's granddaughter?" Relaxing under the slight tingling caused by Seraphina's massage, Erik asked curiously. The beautiful maid responded with a small smile.

"Not at all, young master. Actually, it's not that you have to go; it's just a good opportunity to meet your opponents beforehand. The most outstanding disciples and students under 300 years old of the Arcane Order are invited to the cocktail party."

"That makes much more sense..." Erik replied in a reluctant tone, but suddenly seemed to remember something. He quickly asked in a tone that tried to sound more serious.

"By the way, will Liliana be there?"

"Yes, young master. Miss Liliana is a close friend of Miss Belmonte, and it's most likely she will attend." Seraphina responded with a small smile, never stopping her massage, already having an idea of what her young master would say next.

"Can we not go? She hates me, and who knows what she'll come up with to 'get back at me', hehehe." Erik replied in a tone that tried to sound serious but was ultimately betrayed by a chuckle, which made Seraphina smile amusedly. She quickly replied in a calm tone.

"Please, young master. Miss Liliana only played a 'prank' on you once, and that was several years ago. Besides, you know very well how she behaves, so please don't look for silly excuses to get out of going to the cocktail party."

"But cocktail parties are annoying..." Seeing that his little stratagem was instantly dismantled, Erik couldn't help but comment with a defeated sigh. Seraphina asked with a small smile.

"Yes, they are, young master, but don't you think it's a good idea to take advantage of Miss Belmonte's effort in selecting the possible contenders for the tournament and thus save effort in formulating strategies?"

"You have a point..." Erik commented in a low voice, still evidently reluctant, which caused a small amused giggle from Seraphina. She quickly added in a cheerful and singsong voice.

"Fufu, so that's settled, young master. Just relax while your personal maid gives you this rejuvenating massage so you can arrive at the cocktail party de-stressed and full of energy."

"Alright, I count on you, Seraphina." Erik commented in a resigned tone as he settled more comfortably on the massage table, to which Seraphina responded cheerfully.

"Fufufu, leave everything to me, young master."

With a satisfied smile on her face, Seraphina began to massage Erik's entire body using different types of creams and elixirs that would frighten anyone to death if they saw them, due to their incredible value and rarity.

The techniques Seraphina used were also on a level of their own, applying mana in specific portions along with meticulous and precise movements following the shape of the muscles. This particular massage technique not only allowed for muscle relaxation but also stimulated their growth and power, making them stronger and more compact.

Another great effect of the massage that Seraphina was giving Erik was something for which many mana users in the galaxy would kill: it not only allowed for the detection of hidden injuries but also, thanks to the extravagant lotions, creams, and elixirs that Seraphina was using, could heal them while nourishing the body.

But the most important benefit of the massage was something that very few things in the galaxy could do. The massage technique, along with the extravagant lotions and the special massage table, nurtured, widened, and strengthened the body's mana circulatory system while also clearing and expanding the lifepoints—or, in other words, the points of the body through which mana is released.

That benefit alone would make any mana user salivate; after all, something like that was equivalent to improving someone's talent and greatly facilitated future advancements. But most importantly, it improved combat prowess, as, in theory, it would allow mobilizing a more significant amount of mana more quickly and fluidly.

Such a magical result was due to the tireless efforts of Eleonora, Sigrún, and Seraphina, in addition to an expenditure of funds so extravagant that it could single-handedly destroy the entire economy of small factions and entire empires—all to find a way to prevent any long-term damage to Erik's body due to that 'overdrive' of his.

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Shortly after Seraphina heard Erik talk about his overdrive, she quickly informed Sigrún and Eleonora. The three of them began to develop an effective treatment for the possible aftereffects that something like that could leave on Erik's body. After all, that method, although effective, could easily cause long-term problems that could affect his growth.

The creams and lotions were created by Sigrún using the best of her ability along with incredibly rare ingredients, while Eleonora was in charge of creating the massage table, which had endless functions. Among them was examining Erik's body for injuries or damages of any kind and transferring the information to Seraphina, as well as regulating the mana in Erik's body. Facilitating the entry of mana and nutrients into his mana stream during the massage.

As for the massage technique, this was Seraphina's effort. She sent her people throughout the galaxy to obtain all kinds of medical and physio therapeutic techniques from different magical systems and cultures, aiming to develop a new, more effective technique. Once finished, it received audits from several Arcane-levels and Master-levels of different magical systems in the Arcane Order to perfect it to its maximum potential.

They achieved all that in record time, to the point that it would leave even the director himself astonished. The efficiency with which they managed such a monumental feat was practically unheard of—a true display of influence, power, and ability used to their fullest.

With a pleased smile on her face, Seraphina massaged Erik from head to toe, attending to each finger, each muscle, and pressing the lifepoints in a specific sequence. She also sent mana combined with the creams and lotions into Erik's body with the help of the massage table. This strengthened him from the inside out, taking the already formidable star-haired boy one step further.

But the fact that it was precisely a massage technique was not because the perfect maid wanted a good excuse to run her hands over her young master's body for hours and hours whenever she wanted or anything like that—not at all. It was simply the most effective treatment method and nothing more.

...

...

...

The hall, known as the Fire Room, reflected both the power and passion of its owner. With an arched entrance framed by scarlet stones that seemed to throb with burning energy, it gave way to this majestic space. The floor appeared to be made of black marble with red veins, simulating a night sky ablaze, emitting a warm glow with each step taken upon it, as if eternal fire lay beneath the surface.

Meanwhile, the high, vaulted ceiling was painted to represent the cosmos, with bright stars and nebulas in shades of red, orange, and yellow. A large crystal chandelier hung from it, illuminated not with candles but with dancing flames that floated freely, changing color to reflect the mood of the room.

Furniture sculpted from exotic woods and upholstered with rich silks and velvets filled the gathering place. Tables made of what appeared to be polished obsidian held crystal decanters filled with liquors of all kinds from different parts of the galaxy.

All around, the guests—some dressed in the university's representative white robes, while others wore elegant and expensive-looking suits—murmured and laughed among themselves, forming small groups scattered throughout the hall.

In a somewhat secluded corner in the middle of the hall stood Liliana, dressed in a beautiful dark gray evening gown that hugged her body, highlighting her beauty and making her look like a lady of the aristocracy. She appeared quite bored, holding a half-empty glass of wine while looking around.

"Do you think your fellow disciple will come, Liliana?"

A beautiful young woman with an energetic appearance and short golden hair next to Liliana asked with a small smile while looking at the beautiful girl with chocolate-colored hair. Liliana turned to look back at her and replied in a calm and familiar tone.

"Senior Brother Desmond isn't even on the planet; you know he went to his family's planet to resolve some matters and won't return soon."

"I know; I wasn't referring to him. I meant your 'younger brother'."

The young woman with golden hair replied with a small mischievous smile on her face, causing Liliana's lips to twitch a bit. But the girl with chocolate-colored hair tried to dismiss it by commenting disinterestedly.

"I highly doubt he'll come. He's a solitary guy who likes to spend his days locked up in Master Eldurdóttir's mansion. I was already quite surprised when I found out he was participating in the tournament."

"Fufufu, I hope he comes; I'm very eager to talk to Disciple Erik, since a certain person hasn't wanted to introduce us."

A beautiful young woman with black hair and an elegant appearance, who was on the other side of Liliana, commented with interest while looking toward the entrance of the majestic hall. The girl with chocolate-colored hair could only respond with a helpless and slightly irritated tone.

"Zoe, I've already told you that I practically don't talk to him. I can count on one hand the times I've met him, so why would I go see him to introduce you?"

"Fufufu, whatever you say—I don't believe you at all. Rather, you want to keep him all to yourself." The young woman with black hair commented mischievously, which caused Liliana's smile to twist a bit. Even so, she commented with a bit of annoyance.

"He doesn't interest me at all; you can do whatever you want with him."

"Then I'll gladly accept the offer, hehehe." The young woman with golden hair, Elara, commented playfully, and the young woman with black hair, Zoe, joined in.

"Yes, we accept your offer with joy." Zoe turned to look at Elara and softly added in a challenging tone.

"Although we have to decide who will get him, Elara."

"What are you talking about? Of course, he's for me; my master is quite close to his master—we're the perfect couple." Elara replied with a cheerful smile, as if she were just stating an irrefutable fact. Zoe smiled challengingly, then commented elegantly and decorously.

"Fufufu, you tell such good jokes, Elara. The closeness of their masters has nothing to do with this. It's better that he ends up with the one who has the best compatibility, so the best option is me."

"And why do you think that's you, Zoe?" Elara asked back in a cheerful tone, to which Zoe replied confidently and stylishly, lifting her head slightly.

"Very simple. Disciple Erik is a thoughtful and solitary person, so he needs a companion with simple and homely tastes, just like me—not an endless bundle of energy like you."

"Hmph, what Disciple Erik needs is someone energetic and cheerful to brighten his solitary life, just like me." Elara retorted with a defiant snort, still cheerful, while looking directly into Zoe's eyes.

"And can you two stop creating a fantasy world with someone you don't even know? Or is that too complicated for you?" Finally, Liliana interrupted the 'fight' between the pair of beautiful young women, commenting with evident annoyance on her tone, which made Elara and Zoe laugh. They commented with mischievous smiles.

"Fufu, don't be a spoilsport, Liliana."

"Yes, Liliana, you're ruining the fun."