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5 A.M.
77131 Essence harvested.
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" 1."
*huff*
The book fell from his grip and Lee let out a mouthful of air. For almost 2 hours, Lee was reading the basic introduction of Mana Mastery. As the smallest chapter of the book, it contained concise descriptions and pictorial representations about everything related to magic.
*Yawn*
Just as Lee was supporting his tired body on his arms extended backward, a yawn fell in his ears. Like a toddler, D yawned and sat upright on the couch with heavy eyes. He scratched his belly and stood up and stretched his limbs. Lee immediately stood up and picked up the encyclopaedia into his arms.
"Finished it?"
Lee extended the encyclopaedia at D and walked towards him. The question faded away the smile Lee had on his face and he said-
"Really? This book, In 2 hours?"
The conveyance of the reply had the summary of what Lee wanted to say in a nutshell. D effortlessly took the book from Lee's hands and held it near to his chest.
"It's 5 in the morning. Gauthama is going to take us all to the Ora coastal plains for training. Do me a favor and narrate me from chapter 2 and till the end."
Lee disappeared from the chamber and his body in reality woke up. The darkness outside the windows was not a warm sight to behold. Lee moved his limbs and feeled the blood rushing to each and every cell in his body. Glancing around as he raised his torso on his elbows, the trio was sleeping peacefully. Mia was faintly snoring and it indicated her deep sleep.
Lee removed the blanket over him and he realised the absence of his torn sleeveless upperwear. Instinctively, he glanced at the table near him and saw it placed over there. Without making any noise, Lee sat on the bed and stealthily stood up on the floor.
*creak*
The floor beneath his legs creaked unexpectedly and his actions froze. The noise was short and dull enough that none would wake up. Lee straightened his body and stood firm on the floor. He breathed air in and out through his mouth, and was careful enough not to wake up anyone.
"Are you awake?"
From one of the beds, a dull voice was heard. Seconds later, An lifted her torso from the bed and sat up for a second, before walking towards him. Her outer robe was resting on the table near her bed. She silently walked to him and hugged him.
"You were unconscious all night."
An had concern in her voice. Her hug conveyed her loneliness and desiring for affection. Lee wrapped his arms tight around her and replied softly-
"I was unconscious because I did something."
Within a minute, Lee gave a concise report of what happened both outside and inside of him. An expressed visible discontent in all the events happened without her knowledge, but Lee had the trick to soften her heart. As his arms coiled around her torso, their lips touched with passion.
For about 3 minutes, both of them cuddled in each other's arms. Lee reminded him that these fervent moments should not be continued any further. Tera might come up to wake them all. She was gloomy as she heard this, so he added that the moments will be continued soon enough. He also mentioned her wish to bear a child, and she blushed with a shy smile.
*tok tok tok*
As Lee predicted, Tera came up and knocked thrice on the door. An quickly gave a peck on his lips, before walking to wake the sleepyheads.
*tok tok*
The knock came again as a pair and Lee walked towards it with the intention of opening the door. An Immediately grabbed his hands and reminded that he was naked above waist. Lee glanced at his naked torso, and immediately bought a sleeveless leather jacket from the Shop.
Before the next set of knocking came, Lee opened the door. An and Lee were expecting Tera to be at the door, but it was Gauthama who was standing there.
"Good morning Lee. Glad to see you conscious. Did you feel any uncomfort?"
Gauthama brightened up as he saw Lee aware and alive. His curiosity was answered with a smile as Lee shook his head sideways. The reply satisfied Gauthama and he asked Lee to wake up his companions and send them for freshening up, and then to meet him downstairs in half an hour. Lee closed the door as the Tubian left. Mia barely opened her eyes, when Lee was caught in her sight.
"Brother Lee."
Mia beamed at him as she saw him unscathed and perfectly fine. Her worries flew away as he walked to his bed and sat on it, for a few minutes of meditation. Ruella took some time to raise herself from the bed, but as soon as she sat up with her messed up hair, she also saw Lee sitting up on his bed. She hushedly enquired about his health, to which An replied-
"He passed out from exhaustion."
Mia found the answer highly unconvincing, and gave An a doubtful stare with a brow raised. An gestured that she is a kid and only needs to know that much. Mia pouted with her arms crossed, and Ruella chuckled at her cuteness.
Without wasting any time, the trio got out of their beds and went downstairs to freshen up. Tera was waiting for them at the foot of the stairs. She received three warm hugs as her guidance fee.
-----
Inside the room.
Lee was conversing with D on the reaction of the Life affinity imbued Mana to the apparition. D reported favourable results, but he also estimated that a lot of Mana would be lost in the process.
'The amount of Mana is not a problem. I have more than enough to cure the soul. By the way, any new conclusions you arrived at?'
D was silent for a moment, and spoke-
[There was something that I noticed recently. Normally, any object has a threshold amount of souls that it can contain, or else the object will either lose its properties or explode, depending on the object. Even if spells or soul collecting formations is casted, the number would not change. For a lower Iron grade scythe, more than 300 souls is definitely an anomaly.]
'So what you are saying is..'
[Yes, something was maintaining a livable habitat inside the scythe!]