Chapter 103: Gift [1]
’With this, she won’t feel as helpless as before.’
Feeling a massive weight lift off his chest, Soren gently ran his hand over the sealed cover one last time before carefully placing the manual back into the Ring of Boundless Void, keeping it safe.
But as the translucent screen faded from his vision, a sudden wave of practical questions flooded his mind.
How did one actually learn and cultivate a technique like this? Did it require standard mana to activate, or did it rely entirely on the user’s raw mental energy?
If mana was required, could Ethea even cultivate it at all?
She was paralyzed, meaning her physical pathways were blocked, but her mindscape should have remained intact or less affected. If the sutra truly bypassed the physical form as the description implied, her condition shouldn’t be an issue, but the uncertainty still lingered.
And then there was the most immediate problem.
How should he even give it to her?
He couldn’t exactly tell her that a peerless entity from another distant realm had hand-delivered a legendary technique specifically for her. He needed a believable story.
’Should I just say I found it inside the Golden Gate?’ Soren pondered inwardly.
The more he thought about it, the more it made perfect sense.
It was both true and entirely plausible. The Golden Gate was an unprecedented anomaly filled with unknown treasures, making it the perfect cover. He had no other reasonable excuse that wouldn’t sound like complete madness.
Although she would still be suspicious of how a legendary manual tailored so perfectly for her condition just happened to drop from a random gate, even if it was a Golden one, she wouldn’t push him for answers she knew he couldn’t give.
They had that unspoken understanding between them now.
With his cover story decided, Soren quickly cleared the remaining items from the mattress and sat down in a comfortable lotus position.
Reaching into his storage ring, he pulled out a few high-grade mana crystals.
’...Hm. Time to cultivate.’
If possible, he wanted to reach the peak of the 2nd circle or even break through before he was ready to dive into the gates again. The incident was a reminder that his current strength was simply not enough to guarantee his own safety, let alone others.
Placing the crystals in his lap, he closed his eyes and began to circulate his core. He drew in a deep breath, focusing his mind on the raw, unrefined energy locked within the stones.
Slowly, thin wisps of brilliant mana began to drift from the crystals, sinking directly into his skin and flowing along his pathways.
Gradually, the external world dissolved into absolute stillness as the rhythmic flow of energy pulled him under, plunging him into a timeless trance.
────────
Soren finally opened his eyes, took a slow breath, shook off the residual numbness in his limbs, and felt the small but noticeable difference in his body. His mana pathways were pulsing with a slightly denser, more refined flow of energy, showing clear progress toward the peak of the second circle.
A quick glance at his device revealed that hours had flown by, and it was already late in the evening.
After washing away the thin layer of impurities expelled during his cultivation, he walked out of the training room and joined Ethea and Aunt Clara for dinner.
Once they finished eating, Aunt Clara helped Ethea navigate her evening routine, taking care of her bathroom needs and helping her freshen up for the night.
With Ethea comfortably settled, Aunt Clara began finishing up the last of her chores around the kitchen, preparing to take her leave for the night.
Before she could pack up her things, Soren gestured toward the dining table. "Aunt Clara, could you sit down with us for a moment before you head out? There are a few things I’d like to discuss."
Clara looked slightly surprised but nodded warmly, pulling out a chair across from them.
"First of all, I just sent a transfer to your account," Soren said, tapping his screen to finalize the transaction. "It’s a bonus for staying by Ethea’s side at the hospital all day while I was unconscious. I deeply appreciate the extra care and effort you put in."
Aunt Clara checked her device, her eyes widening as she read the notification. "Mr. Soren, this is far too much for just..."
"You earned every bit of it, so please just accept it," Soren countered smoothly, cutting off her polite refusal before transitioning to the main topic. "More importantly, I want to discuss making this a permanent arrangement. I’d like to offer you full employment with a fixed, full-time schedule."
He pulled up a digital contract draft on his screen, presenting a monthly credit salary that sat significantly higher than the standard market rate for caretaking.
"I want to ensure you are well compensated for your time," Soren added, keeping his tone earnest. "Having someone reliable here consistently gives me the freedom to focus better on my work without constantly worrying about the household."
"The salary is far more than enough," Aunt Clara said, her expression softening as she glanced over at Ethea. "But truly, I would have stayed regardless. I’ve grown incredibly fond of Miss Ethea this past month, and she has been an absolute joy to care for. If you will have me, I would be more than happy to make this permanent."
Hearing her words, Ethea looked up and offered a warm smile. "Thank you, Aunt Clara."
Soren nodded in deep appreciation, matching her sentiment. "Thank you. We really appreciate everything you do for us."
With the core decision settled, they agreed to finalize the formal contract details tomorrow.
Aunt Clara then bid them both a warm goodnight before finally taking her leave.
Once the door clicked shut behind her, the apartment fell into a deep stillness.
Soren walked over and switched on the television to provide some background noise.
Sitting down beside Ethea, he took a quiet glance at her profile as the changing colors of the screen reflected in her eyes.
"Ethea, there’s something I want to give you..."