Seraphina, Aelion, and UGAEL were in the kitchen. The automaton was standing in a corner of the room, observing the strange scene happening, with a clingy Seraphina giving careful attention and an embarrassed Aelion overwhelmed by it. His plate was filled to the brim with burning meat. Every bite he took released juice that awakened his taste buds and pushed him into a whole new level of appreciation for cuisine. The cooking was perfect, as well as the seasoning and the frying. Aelion even forgot about UGAEL in the corner, simply watching them.
« Why are you staying in the back? Come eat with us, » he said with his mouth full, while the vampiress threw a slight disdainful look toward UGAEL.
« I thank you for your attention, but as an automaton, I do not feel hunger. Despite being equipped with taste buds, eating is not a necessity. »
Aelion knew that convincing her through emotions or a human approach would have no effect. Using her automaton logic would guarantee better results.
« Don't you think it would be for the best if you managed to gather real data thanks to your functions, instead of relying only on theoretical information? I also prefer when you stay close, it's much more practical for discussion. »
UGAEL simply nodded and moved closer to the dining table. Aelion gestured to Seraphina to serve her, who at first resisted but eventually complied.
Her table manners—the way she held the silverware and cut the meat—were refined and elegant, like the nobility of the high aristocracy.
At the first bite she took, her mask of neutral emotion cracked, and for the first time, he could see a hint of emotion on her face.
« How is it? » Seraphina asked curiously.
Chewing felt rather strange to her, while tasting seemed bizarre. She couldn't find the words to describe what she was feeling through her taste buds.
« I do not know, » UGAEL replied, lost.
« It's delicious, that's the word you're looking for, » he said, pointing his fork at her.
« So this is what one feels when eating something delicious… I like it. May I have more? » UGAEL asked innocently.
The other two widened their eyes in astonishment. It was the first time she expressed her own will and what she wanted. Seraphina, who at first was reluctant about her presence, ended up accepting her. Secretly, she was happy that her food had pleased someone else and awakened something alive in an automaton supposed to act purely through logic. Her talent was real—Aelion wasn't exaggerating.
The evening was approaching quickly, and Aelion had to use the remaining time to train and test the limits of his abilities. He had a quick discussion with UGAEL, who informed him of her discoveries concerning the room and the three mechanisms, as well as the external defense system.
He ordered her to activate the corridors and the mist only once they were all asleep. As for the second information, she would update him later.
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Back in the training room, Aelion consolidated everything he had learned: perception to feel the mana around him, his modified detection to scan a perimeter that extended only 5 meters—just like perception—and the circulation of mana from the heart to the magic circuits.
Thanks to this, he acquired a skill.
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Magic Perception (Lv. 1)
Type: Supernatural Sense
Category: Passive Detection
Description:
Magic Perception allows the user to feel mana, auras, and energy fluctuations in their environment.
It is an additional sense, similar to an amplified intuition, reacting to the presence of magic even without visual contact.
Effects:
Detects the presence of mana around the user.
Works continuously, even at low intensity.
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Radial Detection (Magic Radar) (Lv. 1)
Type: Active Ability
Category: Scan / Mana Wave
Description:
The user emits a circular wave of mana, similar to a sonar or underwater radar.
The wave spreads in all directions and sends back information about everything it touches.
The more the user masters their magic circuits, the wider and more precise the detection becomes.
Effects:
Detects enemies within a large radius (like a 360° radar).
Can detect fast or hidden movements.
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The detection functioning he imagined was very simple. The body only needed to release a pulse of mana. The wave would travel through the ground, walls, and obstacles (depending on the power). Each contact sent a magical "echo" back to the user.
The brain interpreted these echoes into sensations, silhouettes, distances, or aura intensity.
And it worked. The visualization Seraphina spoke of turned out to be a truly formidable tool. It was also why he always got stuck on the concept of a black hole—he felt it could lead him to infinite mana.
Indeed, the black hole would endlessly absorb mana as an associated concept, using his body as a container. All he had to do was find a way or a place capable of containing unlimited mana. That wasn't possible with his body nor with his mana heart.
The drawback came from the fact that mana was an abstract energy to him. Even its storage in his body was both present and not present at the same time. Humans were truly multidimensional beings. That sentence made complete sense.
The soul was in the body but couldn't be touched. He thought of many solutions, such as a pocket dimension that, by definition, would be vast. However, the same problem arose: how could it be localized inside his body?
And even before that, where could he find one, and how could he connect his magic circuits to a dimension? The mere thought of imagining something that seemed impossible strained his brain, and he collapsed onto the flat floor.
« The library could really help me. »
While he was thinking, he felt the presence of someone approaching him, accompanied by footsteps. It was Seraphina, once again.
« You didn't really make an effort to hide, » Aelion declared.
« Well, I'm doing it deliberately so that you can get used to it. Later it will become harder and harder, trust me, » she admitted with a smile, sitting delicately beside him. « You said you wanted a serious discussion with me, so here I am. »
« I didn't expect it so soon, but… can you tell me what's going on with you since this morning? The slight jealousy episodes and all that? »
« Me? Nothing at all. I don't know what you're talking about regarding jealousy episodes. »
« Really? This sudden attention, when you tried to kill me at first? Then you sleep in my bed without warning? And the worst—you barricade the door and threaten me if I get close, in any way, to UGAEL. »
« I was on edge, you know… Don't forget how far I was about to go before you put my thoughts back in place… And honestly, I don't really know right now. I just want to have you all to myself. When I look at you, my heart keeps beating faster and faster, and when I see you being close with UGAEL, it's the opposite, » Seraphina confessed, confused.
It was the first time Aelion saw her so honest and lost. He understood—because it all had to do with feelings, which could become very complicated.
« I don't really know what else to say apart from what I told you downstairs… Take your time and try to understand why you react and feel like this before forcing things and doing something you might regret, » Aelion explained calmly, looking at the ceiling of the room, when Seraphina climbed onto him, leaving only her face visible as it approached his.
Her breath brushed against his face, while her red lips flirted dangerously close to his. The angle of her falling hair made her irresistibly attractive. She held the young man's face in her hands and whispered tenderly:
« If it's you, I don't think I'll regret any of my actions toward you, whether they're instinctive or aggressive. »
A teasing smile curved her lips. This time, the roles were reversed. Aelion's heart beat faster, and she noticed it.
This woman is going to drive me insane… It's like I'm talking to a wall. And her sex appeal is not helping at all! She's fucking sexy…
« But I understand your point of view and what you're trying to tell me. I hope you'll do the same. Not like you have a choice anyway… I don't intend to let these moments of reflection stop me from doing what I want or make me lose this new flame I've just discovered. So be ready. »
She quickly kissed him on the lips, then stood up and simply walked away. Thankfully she stepped back, because Aelion already felt his pants tightening around his crotch. If she had made one more move, or made a deliberate provocation, who knows what could have happened.
« Damn, what kind of help am I even supposed to give her? »