Rotisch (Continued)

Texas felt as if she had lost a large part of her memory...

When she woke up again, she was back in the room that still felt somewhat unfamiliar to her.

I was lying on a soft bed, and sunlight streamed into the room.

"I'm... back?"

The little girl was still a bit dazed, but soon, the memories flooding her mind made her body tremble uncontrollably.

She looked hesitantly at her hands, her face somewhat pale.

She could hardly imagine the state she had displayed during her previous battle with Lappland.

I really wanted to kill Lappland back then!

Even now, she can feel the restless desire surging in her mind.

She still felt an intense thirst in her throat, her muscles were itching and trembling, and every nerve in her body was rehearsing the scene of her impending battle...

And every time she simulated a scene of carnage, she felt a strong sense of satisfaction.

My own body... seems to be undergoing an evolution beyond my control, roaring wildly, yearning...

This isn't me!

For the first time, Celinina sensed something was wrong with herself...

She was certain that this kind of thinking was something she could never have done in the past.

There's a problem...

There's definitely something wrong!

Almost out of control, the girl connected all of this to Maria.

It's worth noting that she has undergone various high-pressure training programs before, some of which were quite terrifying even by adult standards.

Yet she remained completely calm and clear-headed throughout.

But... she couldn't feel any of that during her battle with Lappland...

She felt like a wild beast, her body controlled by another will, leading her to do things that terrified her.

This wasn't a mental change caused by a long period of accumulated stress; it appeared suddenly in the girl.

The only difference between this period and the past... is that I've undergone Maria's bizarre training.

Beating someone to death and then resurrecting them using bizarre Originium Arts that one cannot understand at all... what kind of consequences would this bring?

The more deeply Celinina thought about it, the more she felt that some things were beyond her comprehension.

A sense of dread for Maria arose spontaneously.

This was almost the first time in her life that she wanted to run away.

The icy chill seemed to seep from the surface of her body into her very bones. She felt as if countless things that didn't belong to her had been inserted into her flesh and blood, pulsating within her. Each movement brought an unusual sensation to her body...

They... are devouring their own original bodies.

What will happen?

What will happen to them?

Will my body be completely parasitized by these things? How long will my mind remain intact? Am I... really still Celinina?

Dragging her weary body, she struggled to get out of bed.

And it was while she was contemplating her next move.

A dark figure silently approached her side...

"You're awake?"

"Huh?!"

Upon suddenly hearing that cold, clear female voice, Celinina felt completely uneasy.

She turned her head instantly to look.

Then he saw that aloof and familiar woman standing beside him.

What made Celinina uncomfortable was...

Although he had just been on high alert with Maria.

But when she actually saw this woman, as beautiful as a flower under the moon, she felt an indescribable peace.

That gentle breath, that soft cheek, those eyes that weren't tender but were reassuring...

And then there are those cool, slightly damp fingers that gently caress me...

All of this made her feel comfortable and happy.

"... Mrs. Maria..."

Celinina murmured, looking at the woman in front of her, her voice momentarily choked with emotion.

It was as if the appearance of the woman in front of him had resolved all his problems...

Even she found this way of thinking extremely strange.

She was the one who caused all of this, and the peace of mind I have now is also a gift from her...

What exactly happened?

"..."

Maria didn't speak, but silently watched the frightened girl in front of her. After a moment of silence, she did something she would never have done before.

She... gently hugged the girl...

Are you scared, girl?

"Waaah..."

"Don't be afraid, girl, I'm right here..."

Maria spoke softly, her gentle hands lightly running through the girl's hair, teasing her head.

Gentle pressure is like a comfortable massage, gradually reducing the other person's wariness.

And her voice truly seemed to possess a magical power, gradually soothing the girl's inner fear...

She truly felt like a fragile Puppy, nestled gently in Maria's arms, savoring this unfamiliar yet comforting sense of security.

At the doorway, Lappland stood with her hands behind her head, gazing at the scene inside the room...

She pursed her lips, said nothing, turned her head, and left on her own.

After more than ten minutes of calming her down, Celinina's emotions gradually stabilized.

But she remained nestled in Maria's arms, taking the opportunity to savor this tenderness she had never experienced before.

This feeling instantly reminded her of her mother.

From a very young age, she was treated as the heir and began to endure that terrifyingly harsh training.

At that time, her mind was not yet strong. Faced with her father, grandfather, and teachers who were never satisfactory, she would always force herself to continue training, making her hands so raw and bleeding that blood would flow from her palms, keeping her brain constantly working at a high intensity to absorb knowledge that was too profound for her.

And in the nights when I couldn't fall asleep, my mother would always quietly come to my room, hold me, and hum lullabies that I couldn't understand as I slept...

For little Celinina, it was her only safe haven, the only place where she could rest...

And Maria, now, brings her that same feeling.

A rare feeling... called relaxation...

"Mother..."

"Um?"

Just as Celinina uncontrollably called out the name of the person she longed for, Maria also heard it.

This made Maria look at the girl in front of her with some confusion.

Do I... resemble her mother a lot?

Celinina, realizing what she had just shouted, turned bright red in an instant.

"No... no... I didn't..."

Just as the girl was about to explain, Maria's calm voice rang out again.

"I don't mind these things..."

She reached out and slowly pulled the girl closer to her.

The gentle, sweet scent of incense, accompanied by a strong stimulating aroma, flooded the girl's mind. Especially after feeling her face brush against that incredibly soft material, she felt her breathing become rapid.

She felt that she didn't perceive the person in front of her as a stranger, but rather... a woman!

A woman who finds a sense of security in being both a mother and a daughter!

What are you thinking, Celinina?!

"However, I cannot replace your mother... but if you only wish for a moment of peace, perhaps I can grant that..."

"As long as you don't mind."

Maria gently stroked the girl's back with her hand.

Her voice was soft, and warm breaths gently entered the girl's ear, caressing every sensitive nerve.

The delicate finger bones slid lightly along the girl's spine, sending shivers of pleasure through her body.

A unique sense of comfort permeated her entire being!

This caused Celinina's body to tremble uncontrollably.

Her eyes gradually became blurry.

She was somewhat captivated by the sensation...

However, while Celinina was experiencing some unusual sensations...

Maria, however, was secretly using her own power to touch the girl's body.

They breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there was nothing wrong with her body.

After letting the girl relax for a while, she reached out and took the girl out of her arms.

At this moment, Celinina's face was flushed, as if she were somewhat shy...

However, Maria didn't let this strange feeling linger. After gently patting the girl's shoulder, she stood up.

"Get up, girl. You'll have a companion from now on."

"Companion?"

Celinina paused for a moment.

She didn't understand what Maria meant by "companion," but seeing that Maria had already gotten up to leave, she also propped herself up, got up, and followed her.

And soon, she found out who Maria's companion was...

"Oh, you're awake?"

Right there in her and Maria's training ground, there is now an uninvited guest.

Lappland Saluzzo.

The girl who had been wanting to fight him for some reason had been there for who knows how long, dressed in light training clothes, with three bottles of the bright red potion he had used before tucked into her belt.

This?!

"Starting today, she will be studying with you, girl."

Maria didn't explain much about her choice; she simply took a vial of crimson potion from her waist and handed it to Texas.

Seeing the bottle in her hand and then looking at the three bottles on Lappland's body, Celinina revealed a knowing look... After all, she had been training for much longer than her opponent.

That way, we won't need that many medicines.

Lappland, on the other hand, frowned slightly.

However, she didn't say much more.