NORALYN HEART’S POV

.

.

.

“Arisa, your mastery over the manipulation of the energies is now at the elementary level. You are steadily growing, and that is a very good thing!”

I patted the head of this small, cute platinum blonde girl. Despite her bored face, excitement was visible in her bluish-purple eyes.

“Hn… so will I get to train with my brawther and mom…?”

Seeing the ‘smol’ girl ask innocently, her head swayed left and right, excited.

“Ah… about that… probably not your mom, though.”

I got sudden chills imagining her bloodied and hurt during training. No, no… I quickly shook my head, pushing ominous thoughts away.

Huuu…

Looking at the time, I sighed.

Let’s leave that for the future, but Artoria is in her cold and stern mood, and it’s also Alexis’ training today.

Suddenly, bad feelings started welling up in me. Anxiously, I glanced at the watch again and decided to end the lesson with Arisa today to check on them.

“Ahem,” I coughed lightly to grab Arisa's attention. “Arisa, that’s all for today. Practice and stay here, I’ll be back.”

Seeing Arisa nod, I quickly got up and made my way toward the arena where Artoria and Alexis were sparring.

Just a little further…

Please don’t go overboard… Please don’t go overboard…

I crossed my fingers and prayed as I almost reached the arena. I felt Artoria's EXIRA fully unleashed just as I arrived and…

Slash.

Thud.

Splurt… splurt.

There, I saw in the blink of an eye, that Artoria had perfectly severed Lexi’s hands, both hands as they fell. Blood sprayed, yet Lexi stayed stunned.

Shit… She… Lexi is fully suppressed under her EXIRA… Is she mad? I have to—

But before I could move in, her EXIRA fully manifested, locking me down. Out of instinct, my own EXIRA surged, but under hers, it was snuffed out before putting any resistance.

Huff…

Grr…

I gritted my teeth. How long has it been since I was subjected to her EXIRA? Fully locked down, I tried to keep battling against it. I roused more of my own EXIRA to combat hers.

“There will be unknown variables in a real battle, variables beyond your control, but manipulating them would make you come out victorious. There will be pain—I guarantee much, much more intense than what you are going through now. If this much makes you lose your reason, your will to stand, then…”

Her cold voice resounded, and I remembered who she was. Right now, she is not my friend, not Alexis and Arisa’s mother, but...

The person the world knows as THE ABSOLUTE.

‘Splurt...’

Locked under her Will, I could hear Lexi’s grunts and the sound of blood pouring.

‘Grr...’

“.Y…YES!... MoTHEr!”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I heard Lexi’s muffled voice, weak but still filled with firm resolve.

‘Grit...’

I clenched my teeth as my head almost felt like it was about to explode. I overexerted my EXIRA against Artoria, desperate to break free.

“Artoria!” I screamed as I rushed in.

“Noralyn.”

I heard Artoria’s voice, and she withdrew her Aura. But before I could move to help Alexis, she stopped me.

“What…?”

“Nora, let him.”

I heard her voice in my head. I stopped, not because she told me, but because I could feel her pain and emotions. My EXIRA allows me to read a person. It never worked on her before, but right now I could feel her pain and her reasons.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

‘Huuuf...’

I took a deep breath and looked at Artoria. On the outside, she was the Matriarch of HOUSE DRAKESIER, THE ABSOLUTE, yet deep down, I could see and feel her sadness, her pain.

I am not Alexis's mother, but he is like a son to me. I couldn’t even bear to see him in such a condition. Yet Artoria, my dear friend, was suppressing all the pain and agony deep within.

‘Huuu...’

I sighed and nodded at her, moving toward her and gently squeezing her shoulders.

“I’m here, Artoria. Always with you.”

I sent the message telepathically, and she nodded at me. I looked toward Alexis, seeing him rousing his broken EXIRA. Even in a shattered state, his EXIRA had far surpassed mine in tenacity.

As I watched him kneel down to hold his severed hands with his mouth, struggling to reattach them, tears welled up in my eyes, but I held them back.

‘Snap!’

I heard a snapping sound and looked at the source, Artoria’s bloodied hand, She had a grip so tight around the hilt of her sword that the handle cracked under the pressure. Yet it spoke volumes about her internal turmoil.

“Nora, heal him now!”

I heard Artoria’s command, waking me from my dazed state.

Instinctively, I looked toward Alexis. He had reattached his hands and fallen unconscious, but Artoria was already there, holding him in her embrace. I raced toward him, roused my EXIRA, and cast [Miracle] without hesitation. The world around us was dyed white as his wounds and mind mended in an instant.

Divider [https://www.royalroad.com/dist/img/ornaments/11.png]

ALEXIS POV

Hmm… comfy.

I woke up to find myself in my mother’s lap, her familiar scent and her hands gently ruffling my hair.

“Looks like you’re awake now, Lexi.”

I turned my head toward her voice, seeing her face full of motherly love—a stark contrast to her usual demeanor during training. I tried to sit up, but she gently pressed me back down, resting my head on her lap.

“Stay for now. Your wounds may have healed, but mental trauma and stress take time. Don’t bottle them up.”

She continued massaging my head, her touch soothing.

“Now, Lexi, promise me you’ll rest, no activities that cause stress. And I promise, after the WORLD GALA, you can visit Melissa’s place.”

I rested as her hands softly caressed my head, somehow calming my soul.

“Okay, Mom.”

Nestled in her lap, I closed my eyes, letting relief wash over me, and before I knew it, I fell asleep again.

Divider [https://www.royalroad.com/dist/img/ornaments/11.png]

I shuddered as cold water fell upon me, sending chills deep within. What a shit show, I should really be a healer and ditch combat...

I looked down at my hands reattached, and no one could say anything ever happened to them if not for a curvy stitch-like pattern on both, a result of my crude methods.

Grip, clench.

I clenched my fingers to form a fist and repeated the motion. There was no pain, just a little awkwardness.

“Ugh...”

I grabbed my head as it throbbed, memories of the recent session still fresh, leaving a nasty scar. Cold water pouring down helped relieve the stress.

That’s why I was reluctant to spar with Mom. At least I know she loves me for real...

Shiver.

A sudden shiver ran through my body, imagining just how brutally Mom must have killed her enemies, not to mention those she may have held a grudge against.

No wonder... She is the ABSOLUTE. I will reach that stage and far beyond, I promise, as your son... Mom, Dad...

Drip... Drop.

I closed my eyes, letting cold droplets fall onto my body as I recalled the sparring session.

So that’s what being subjected to EXIRA feels like...

I was proud to conjure flames and control objects telekinetically, but they were all just paltry tricks...

It was unnerving being under her EXIRA suppression—that feeling of not feeling anything. No thoughts, no emotions. Hell, I almost lost myself... my memories. It was terrifying, and she even toned down her EXIRA strength to the level I could achieve... had I not wasted my time trying to look cool making fireworks.

Victor is a bad influence, with all those flashy spells of his...

Drip... Drop.

The cold water pouring down helped me achieve a level of calm and focus.

I’m not a proper mage. My core origin is EXIRA...

My will.

My resolve.

My path... has never been clearer.

Knock! Knock!

“Young Master, you have been showering for almost two hours now. Please come out, it's time for dinner.”

Layla’s voice brought me out of my stupor, and I could tell she was annoyed. Very annoyed. She never likes me sulking around; like her mother, she’s also very sensitive to emotions.

“Yes, Layla. I’ll be out in a sec,” I spoke, closing the tap, drying myself with a towel, and exiting the bathroom.

“Young Master, everyone is calling for you... wear something!” I noticed Layla paused speaking only for a second, covering her eyes with her hands. A deep blush colored her cheeks and reddened her ears, yet I could spot her peeking.

“Ah... tell Mom I’ll be down in a moment,” I said as I picked up my clothes and turned around, only to see that Layla had disappeared.

Divider [https://www.royalroad.com/dist/img/ornaments/11.png]

Making my way down to the dining room, I saw Mom, Ari, and Aunt Nora already seated, while Layla and Sebastian were preparing the table. The rich aroma of the night's meal greeted me, enticing my senses as I settled myself.

Mom, Ari, and Aunt Nora were already seated at the polished dark oak table. Layla and Sebastian were bustling around, meticulously setting the table with care and precision. Taking my seat, I exchanged smiles with Ari, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of curiosity and familiarity.

"How was your training, big brother?" she inquired, her voice gentle yet filled with genuine interest.

Cough.

I chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately.

"Same old, same old. Training, lessons, you know."

Aunt Nora, with her warm, motherly smile, chimed in, "Your dedication to your training is commendable, dear. It will serve you well in the future. Rose will be happy seeing you aren’t slacking off."

As we started our meal, conversation flowed easily among us. Aunt Nora discussed her recent discoveries in medicinal plants, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.

Throughout the meal, Layla moved gracefully around the table, refilling our glasses and ensuring we lacked for nothing. Her presence, though shy, brought a sense of harmony to our gatherings, reminding us that she was not just a maid but an integral part of our family.

Amidst the laughter and shared moments, talk of the upcoming WORLD GALA found its way into our conversation.

"Make sure to do the necessary shopping for the WORLD GALA tomorrow," Mom said seriously. "It's an important event."

Ari's eyes lit up with anticipation. "I can't wait to pick out my gown! Maybe something in emerald," she mused, her imagination already picturing the perfect dress. Aunt Nora nodded in agreement.

Sebastian added, "I'll make a list of everything we need and ensure that the preparations are in order. We must be ready for any last-minute arrangements."

‘Oh, how nice it is to feel alive…’

"Wait, I should stop thinking such things, I'm pretty sure my luck is very bad..."

Divider [https://www.royalroad.com/dist/img/ornaments/11.png]