CHAPTER 29: NORMAL DAY PREPARATIONS

The night had stretched longer than expected. It was no surprise since scenarios like this tend to happen when there are expectations one needs to uphold.

Finally, the soft rays of morning light slipped through the window, brushing against my face and stirring me from sleep.

I blinked slowly, squinting at the warm glow that filled the room as I pulled the pillow on which my head lay and covered my face instead.

Until I realized. ’I closed the window before falling asleep. How come?’

I slid the pillow slowly down to my chest and raised my eyes towards the direction of the window. They were indeed open.

Then, I finally mustered enough strength and rose from bed. I stretched myself carelessly and yawned as a result.

"Good morning, Young Master."

"Good morning, Young Master."

"Good morning, Young Master."

The three demons greeted me uniformly once my eyes connected with theirs. I yawned again out of tiredness and stood from the bed.

"Guess I unknowingly employed alarm clocks," I mentioned, collecting the ceramic glass of hot tea that Vera carried and taking a sip.

At that moment, my door slid quietly and opened to reveal Linda’s human figure. After a glance at her, I shifted my gaze to the contents of the cup.

Immediately, Vera stated. "Sister Linda said to make you green tea from the Lotus Fern."

I rubbed my eyes with my free, left hand and looked again.

Vera wasn’t the only one carrying a ceramic cup, but Bonnie and Lovina as well..

"I figured you did want to make use of the Mana plants as soon as possible, and had to get them prepared for you with the help of Vera and her companions," Muna reported.

"They advised to consume it in its liquid form," she added.

I couldn’t help but stare blankly at Linda, making her confused as well as feel that she had done what she didn’t need to.

"I’m sorry, young master," Linda apologized, on the verge of bowing her knees.

I stopped her immediately and gave her a thumbs-up. "This is a perfect decision!"

She smiled, and with hands folded below her abdomen, stepped back gladly. "I’m grateful you liked it."

I took more sips from the green tea Vera had handed over to me, enough to finish its contents and expecting a reaction in return, but I felt nothing.

I still took the cup of tea from Lovina and gulped down its contents.

When I first collected the cup of tea, Lovina had stated. "Blue tea made from Azure Kelproot."

When I collected that of Bonnie, she also performed the same action as others. It was as if they had rehearsed before presenting the cups of tea to me.

"White tea extracted from Stillpond Lily," Bonnie had said.

Once I finished the contents of the ceramic cups, I took menacing steps and rested my buttocks on my bed.

I anticipated a reaction to start immediately, yet I still felt nothing.

Resting my entire back down to the bed, I stretched my hands at 02:00 and 22:00 respectively.

"It’s today a free day?" I asked lazily, gazing at the white ceiling above me.

"Not exactly," Linda responded, coming closer to where I lay. "The thing is, today is the day you will—"

POSH!

My door slid with force to reveal the usual figure of my younger sister. She was already prepared in her usual silver crop top and leggings, and her bluebell made a Kimono.

"He isn’t prepared yet?" Muna blotted aloud.

"Prepared? For?" I asked in the midst of confusion, rising from the bed.

"Sister Muna said to go and get a Test form today," Vera chipped in faster than Linda could.

Linda only lowered her head a little and muttered. "I was just about to tell him."

"In that case, we should leave the room for him," Muna said, and everyone, including the demons who had been standing like soldiers, followed behind her.

I returned to my lazy position on the bed and was about to wonder what had gone wrong with the tea from the Mana plants when I felt a wobble in my stomach.

Then, a soft breeze seemed to wheeze through my senses.

Slowly, my body grew light, my thoughts became clearer, and it was as if a long, hidden burden was eased off my mind.

I felt my Mana Core stir furiously, able to release streaks of Mana that spread through my blood vessels, and yet, able to travel into my brain. Knowledge seeped in quietly.

The process was repetitive as I closed my eyes in my lazy state, concentrating my willpower so that I could withstand the new surge of information soaring into my brain.

By the time I opened my eyes, I realized I had summoned my sword as a result, but hadn’t noticed its weight. It now felt lighter than I could imagine in my hand.

Following was the popular chime of the system.

«↓ Congrats! You have gained a new skill | Water Breathing Techniques [Passive] ↑»

«↓ Skill Synchronizing | 22% ...33% ...77% ...99% ...100% | Completed ↑»

«↓ Water Breathing Techniques activated! ↑»

«↓ Sub-skills detected | Surface Ripple, Deep Current and Breath of Calm [All Activated!] ↑»

« Surface Ripple »

First form: Solo

Second form: Footwork Ladder

« ... »

« Deep Current »

First form: Continuous Cutting

Second form: Interval

« ... »

« Breath of Calm »

First form: Sparring Pause

Second form: Pre-match

«↓ Congratulations! Skill Synchronization was successful due to the presence of a strong Willpower and active Intelligence capacity. ↑»

«↓ Sword Mastery: 90% ↑»

Blinking my eyes three consecutive times, I swung my sword as if I was ready to face an opponent.

The sword really was very light in my hand and bore more potential than before.

"That’s nice, isn’t it?" I asked no one in particular, staring at my sword, which vanished at my will.

...

Not long after I had received the skills, Linda returned to persuade me to join them in the quadrants of our family structural environment.

Good thing I had freshened up once the skills once set into my being, and also changed to an up and down white robe, with blue stripes on the shirt.

Following behind Linda, I joined the others at the quadrant.

Muna gave me a soothing smile that showed the satisfaction of what she had always wished for.

I diverted my gaze to demons and remembered, "My Spirit Pouch."

I moved further, and revealed the Spirit Pouch, dropping it on one of the pavements that made up the quadrant and asked the demons to try stepping onto the small bag.