"Ha...ha..."
Seraphina struggled mightily as she advanced across the expansive lawn of the Hydral Manor, her visage twisted in determination.
Her muscles quivered incessantly, and her slender legs seemed as though they could never straighten again with each bend. The tall, fair-faced young lady's cheeks were drenched in sweat, and the bulging veins on her neck testified to the immense pressure she was enduring.
Not far away, the trio of pact heads from Flamelle observed the advancing Miss Wolf step by step.
"It's always remarkable to witness," Lawrence, perched on Tyrus, the head of strength''s shoulder and stroking his long whiskers, marveled. "Miss Seraphina's talent and spirit are, perhaps, unreasonably formidable, aren't they?"
"Adaptation, immunity... indeed astonishing," Toradon nodded, this top sorcerer squinting slightly. "But in my view... her spirit extends beyond this. Remember Tyrus's last assessment of her? Under immense pressure, she seemed to possess the potential for a certain 'transformation'."
"The crux lies in her temperament," Tyrus, the silent giant warrior until now, suddenly spoke, his voice booming like thunder.
"The desire for victory, the pursuit of power, the confidence to tame and harness it, and an indomitable will..."
"A girl from a remote village, yet she possesses the temperament to ascend to the pinnacle of strength, that is truly invaluable."
"...It's indeed peculiar," Lawrence scratched his rat head, "Before meeting the young lord, wasn't Miss Seraphina just a village girl? Despite a period of education, she remained a village girl at heart. How did she acquire such a character?"
"The qualities of the strong are innate," Toradon, arms crossed, spoke with a supremely indifferent tone, exuding arrogance. "I was creating spells at six, Tyrus could tear apart wolves with his bare hands at four, and the young lord dominated almost all fields with a despairing authority... Does this require a reason? It does not."
"Talent and temperament are not the same, Toradon."
"When temperament reaches a certain level of uniqueness, it becomes a talent."
As the man and mouse conversed casually, the subject of their discussion, Miss Wolf, let out a roar to the sky and suddenly began to sprint, just as her movements amazed the trio... only to stumble and fall to the ground with a thud, gasping for air.
"Three minutes and fifty-six seconds."
Toradon stroked his chin and remarked, "That's a six-second improvement from two days ago. At this rate, she'll hit a plateau in half a month."
"After all, it's only a third-stage throne... Wait, Seraphina is at the third stage?"
Lawrence exclaimed dramatically, while the ever-responsible Tyrus said in a deep voice:
"That's enough for today, Seraphina. Rest well."
She knew all too well the dire consequences of falling into Ansel's hands, especially when he was filled with malice.
If I weren't so adorable, good, and understanding, enchanting Ansel completely, huh,I might have ended up like Ravenna. That was a close call...
Walking back to the manor to freshen up and rest in Ansel's bed, Seraphina thought to herself:
"Should I persuade Ansel not to be too harsh on Ravenna... He does seem to care about that little one, after all. Seeing her like that, she's pitiable enough, there's no need to do anything more, right? What if she's completely ruined?"
With these thoughts, Miss Wolf decided to advise Ansel to spare Ravenna, not to push her too hard. It would be better for everyone.
Such kind-hearted, truly befitting of me!
Seraphina nodded proudly and happily, humming a tune as she walked toward the manor.
As she walked, her expression suddenly changed.
Sniff, sniff—
The young girl sniffed the air, her expression growing serious, her steps quickening.
She smelled Ansel's scent, and for Seraphina, who was always by Ansel's side, she could easily detect his presence within a five-hundred-meter radius without even using the power of the head of wind, just with her current abilities, even if it was just a trace.
Ansel's return to the Hydral Manor wasn't the issue—the issue was—
Why hadn't he come to find me immediately!
Although... Although Ansel is not obliged to stay by my side, although we are not working together for now... it is impossible that he would neglect me, especially within the manor!
Was it Mr. Flamelle who sought Ansel's company, or perhaps Sister Annelisa wished to chat with him ? Surely it cannot be that madwoman Evora... No, no, no, that's not right; I can't feel their presence.
The breath of the world flows eternally, carrying to Seraphina the information she yearned to receive.
...Hmm, a peculiar scent.
It feels like Ravenna, but it seems... not quite her. What could this mean?
Ansel is now with someone who appears to be Ravenna, yet is not, and has not sought me out?
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