"I wanted to know your opinion, Uncle… whether you think it's a good idea or not." I had already explained everything to the Marquis about Ridon, his family, and his village. I had to wait for a few hours before getting this meeting—because of Arisa's birthday, he had delayed many gatherings, and his schedule was extremely tight.

"I've heard a little about the matter… but I don't know the finer details or how true it all is. I'm not the one who grants titles to new nobles; that's done by Arisa's father and his officials… let me ask him, and I'll have an answer for you after the next round of the tournament." I had already assumed something along these lines—Arisa herself had mentioned something similar in the past days.

"If he really is a good person, I'll speak to my younger brother personally about your proposal. He'll gladly accept—it would please him to no end to do something for the star of the Marquisate and his future son-in-law." A shy smile escaped me at his words. "Of course, the man will need to pass basic trials to test his personality and intentions before joining your territory, just like Patt Zumis did. We can't allow someone who would bring trouble to your land."

"Thank you, Uncle. I'll wait for the answer while I prepare to win the tournament." We spoke for a few more minutes about my progress in the first round and my training with the bracelets, but I didn't take more than I had to of his time. Behind his usual cheer and smile, I could see the weight of stress from paperwork and endless meetings.

I returned to Baron Timal's house in the carriage, focusing on training with the girls these two days. They had already moved into their new room. Each of them had meetings with nobles of the capital and some other important matters, but at the end of the day, they always came back to sleep together.

I strapped on the bracelets and prepared physically and mentally with some light drills. I started creating constructs of pure mana, wrapping them with Imra, before subjecting myself to the ordeal of losing limbs with every attempt.

The first tries ended in disaster—I lost two body parts each time. Before my third attempt, though, I noticed something interesting: wrapping my body with the exact amount of Imra was similar to what I wanted to achieve by wrapping my ice constructs to make them colder. Training mana and Imra control this way would benefit both paths.

By the end of the first session, I saw improvement. I was no longer losing entire limbs—only smaller segments each time. Slowly, I was adapting to infusing the precise amount of mana into each bracelet and layering my body correctly with Imra.

After resting and refilling my mana pool, I shifted to focusing solely on the swords. I improved my swordsmanship little by little, recalling the way Gase fought. I had once thought I was already at the pinnacle of the blade, but reality quickly humbled me. I know I'm not far from the best—it's only a matter of time. At this point, I'm certain I'm better than ninety-five percent of people who wield a weapon.

I stopped when my mind turned blurry, exhaustion overtaking both body and mind. Collapsing onto the floor for a deserved rest, I glanced at the columns of my Personal World and noticed tiny fractures. Was I pushing myself too far? I healed the cracks with what little life mana remained in me.

"You shouldn't exceed your physical limits, Maki." Glia, who had been playing in a corner, padded over and lay down at my side. "I know how badly you want to get stronger quickly, but if you break yourself, all your effort will mean nothing." When had she grown so mature? Her growth hadn't only been physical—it was mental too.

"I know. When I get too close to the edge, stop me. I'll trust you with that." She knew my Personal World almost as well as I did, spending most of her time hibernating inside it, drawing on my mana.

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She smiled calmly, pressing her head against mine. "Yes, we'll always be there for each other. I'll be your reminder to keep your feet on the ground." I stroked her head and drifted into a short nap.

When I opened my eyes, a face was right in front of mine, just inches away, studying every detail. Marga had been the first to return.

"Your features are perfect… your face is as beautiful as a prince's, Maki." Her words turned my face red in an instant. Her long white hair brushed against my face and neck, her stormy gray eyes locked completely on mine.

"Your eyes are beautiful too, Marga… they remind me of clouds." She truly was a beauty in every way, with a dignified presence in even the smallest movements.

Her face leaned closer, slowly, steadily. My heart raced. I knew what would happen in less than a second. I hesitated for just a fraction, then let the doubt vanish. If it had to happen, it would. She closed her eyes gently, and I did the same.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" Arisa's voice exploded as she burst into the room. I hadn't even noticed the door opening in the heat of the moment. She was at our side in a flash, grabbing Marga by the shoulders and shaking her. "You can't jump ahead like this—you have to wait for the right moment!"

Marga looked downcast, regret in her eyes, but Arisa didn't stop until she had vented her frustration. "I'm sorry… the temptation was too much…" Marga admitted, explaining how it had led to this point. Arisa had looked furious at first, but after hearing her, some of her anger gave way.

"Damn it! I was really mad… but putting myself in your place, I might have done the same. Now I'm mad at myself too!" She pointed a finger at Marga. "But next time, you need self-control!"

"What do you mean, the right moment?" I asked, hoping for an answer. Both girls stuck out their tongues and ignored me.

"What's going on?" Sol arrived and froze, analyzing the scene. Arisa explained what had happened, and for the first time, I saw Sol angry, scolding Marga in a way I had never seen before. Her words were sharp and serious, completely different from her usual tone.

Marga tried to explain gently. "Well… I might have also lost myself in his eyes if I'd been that close… but no! Self-control, Marga!" Sol, too, pointed at her, still angry.

"Could someone explain this 'right moment' thing?" I asked again. This time, all three looked at me, then at each other, and ignored me once more. Glia, by my side, was laughing.

"You'll never understand a young lady's heart, brother," she teased.

"And you do? You've only been alive for a few months," I shot back.

"Of course. I mature fast, and I can talk with them for hours when you're busy training." I rolled my eyes, but she was right. She spent time with them when I wasn't around. They had no idea Glia could understand them during their conversations.

She must have noticed something because she suddenly leapt onto me. "Don't tell them! They mustn't know I can understand them—or talk with you—it's more fun this way." Her mischievous side was still intact. I promised not to say anything, as long as she kept me informed of anything important. I didn't want to know the girls' personal matters unless they chose to tell me themselves.

"Enough talk—it's time to train." This time, the three girls obeyed, though their narrowed eyes made it clear they weren't done with me. My mana pool was full, and a training session before dinner was just what I needed.

The two days flew by. Together, we dedicated ourselves to training. I continued to bind them with mana prisons, gravity, and Laws, while they worked to break free. My control grew sharper each time, while they were left frozen like statues.

They, too, had improved—their ability to counter my skills had grown, though at a slower pace than mine. Arisa was the toughest opponent, her two Pseudo Laws giving her the edge to pierce through my techniques. Especially her Pseudo Law of Piercing—it could cut through my bindings more effectively than the others, forcing me to always focus on her.

Beyond that, the three often faced me together in sparring, treating me like a mini final boss they had to defeat. They always gave it everything, no matter the injuries. I focused only on dodging and defending, using the chance to refine my new fencing style. Everyone benefited from it.

"Your skills are a headache," Marga groaned after another session.

"Yeah… it feels like fighting multiple opponents at once. You're superior in every possible way," Arisa added, lying flat from exhaustion.

"Look on the bright side—we can practice without holding back or worrying about hurting you," Sol said, handing us water. The other two grumbled but accepted her reasoning.

I had made progress with the bracelets, too. That alone filled me with deep joy—each step brought me closer to the ability I had been seeking for so long.

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