Volume 2 Chapter 40: The Shrinking Body of Garde
Volume 2 Chapter 40: The Shrinking Body of Garde
"Oh?"
Hearing Garde's refusal, Ho'olheyak's face showed an intrigued expression.
"If you've come here to learn Originium Arts, I consider myself the best teacher in this field at Trimounts Institute of Technology. You won't find anyone better than me," she said confidently.
When it came to pure theory, there might be more outstanding teachers at the institute. But in practical applications, Ho'olheyak's skill was unmatched—not just in the university but throughout Columbia.
After all, theory and combat are two entirely different things.
"I'll be direct," Garde shrugged, not showing any embarrassment.
"Miss Ho'olheyak, you're the type of woman I like. If I were to study under you, I'd definitely get distracted. My passion for academia isn't strong enough to overlook having such an outstanding woman like you by my side."
Garde's attraction to Ho'olheyak was entirely different from what he felt for Gavial, Laurentina, or Saria.
This was a primal, physical desire rather than affection.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't love.
Garde believed true love was a union of both soul and body—a mutual acceptance of each other through both spiritual connection and physical intimacy.
But with Ho'olheyak, Garde knew this wasn't love.
Most so-called "love at first sight" is merely lust triggered by hormones. How can you determine if it's genuine affection or physical attraction when you know nothing about someone's work, experiences, personality, or interests?
A faint smile played on Ho'olheyak's lips. She had anticipated many responses, and while she wasn't surprised by Garde's refusal, his reasoning caught her off guard.
"Heh, is that how you see your teacher? Not as an elder, but as a potential partner?"
Rising from her chair, Ho'olheyak let her curvaceous figure come into full view. She approached gracefully and perched on the armrest of Garde's sofa.
Garde could clearly feel how, as Ho'olheyak's full, rounded hips settled down, the armrest was entirely enveloped by her soft curves.
It seemed as though, with just a lift of his hand, he could touch her supple, inviting figure.
"Miss Ho'olheyak, please don't misunderstand. I haven't agreed to be your student yet. Besides, you look so young—I could never think of you as an elder."
Leaning closer, Ho'olheyak brought her lips to Garde's ear and teased, "So, you'd prefer me as your lover rather than your teacher?"
"Would Miss Ho'olheyak agree to that?" Garde asked.
"Heh."
Ho'olheyak chuckled softly. She had only been teasing because she was amused by Garde's boldness in flirting with her directly. Just because she wanted to be his teacher didn't mean she was offering herself to him.
Though Garde was outstanding, being exceptional alone wasn't enough to become her man.
Of course, there was his appearance.
Even among the Ancients, Garde's looks stood out as strikingly handsome.
He had the strength, the charisma, and the ambition.
The more she thought about it, Ho'olheyak realized she had very few reasons to reject him.
The only downside, perhaps, was that Garde was too young and his physique too imposing. She preferred more refined and delicate types.
As a seasoned hunter, she also felt like she had become the prey whenever Garde was around.
"Miss Ho'olheyak?"
Suddenly realizing how close she had gotten to Garde, Ho'olheyak quickly straightened up and crossed her legs, trying to reestablish the air of a proper teacher.
"Alright, enough teasing."
Ho'olheyak shifted to a serious tone.
"If you don't want to be my student, that's fine. If you're willing to owe me another favor, I don't mind sharing some of my notes and materials with you."
"I thought you'd use up one of my favors to make me your student."
"Heh."
Ho'olheyak gave him a look that said, Do I look stupid to you?
"Of course, if you prefer, I can help you find another teacher. But they might not be as dedicated to your education as I would be."
"Alright."
This time, Garde finally nodded in agreement. He figured, What's one more favor when I already owe three?
Back in the rainforest, Garde had already learned much through self-study.
When Garde wasn't consumed by rage, his mind was exceptionally agile, and his learning speed was astonishing. With the aid of Ascension Power, his brain could become more active than ever before.
Reading ten lines at a glance, photographic memory, and applying concepts flexibly—all of these were second nature to him.
Even so, Garde had set aside several months to study Originium Arts, out of respect for the millennia-old culture of Terra.
But Ho'olheyak handed him only three thin booklets:
Introduction and Fundamentals of Originium Arts
Advanced Formulas of Originium Arts
Higher-Level Originium Arts
To Garde, these felt like textbooks you could casually pick up at a bookstore.
"Start with these. If you don't understand something, come ask me," Ho'olheyak said before closing the door and leaving her office—displaying a distinct lack of warmth.
What Garde didn't realize was the sheer impact his physically imposing and virile presence had on a mature woman like Ho'olheyak.
Earlier, when she teased Garde and failed to get the upper hand, she found herself unexpectedly affected by his proximity.
Reality is not a dream.
It's not just men who feel physical attraction; women, too, can be drawn to exceptional men. The physiological desires that tug at people's minds are ever-present.
True strength of will lies in confronting and overcoming these desires.
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Reading through the books Ho'olheyak had left, Garde began to understand the structure of Originium Arts.
It was about patterns, about rules.
The arrangement of external Originium energy was chaotic and disorderly. Practitioners of Originium Arts used their internal Originium energy to interact with the external energy, forming arts in the process.
It was about transforming chaos into order, making Originium work for you.
But what about Ascension Power?
Garde didn't know its origins but was certain it didn't exist in Terra's external environment.
The power came from within him.
He realized that while he could harness Ascension Power in basic ways, the nature of this power was not so different from Terra's external Originium energy—it was equally chaotic and disordered.
He hadn't yet developed the ability to fully organize this power into something systematic, nor did he feel the need to.
Chaos, after all, meant infinite possibilities.
His current use of Ascension Power was essentially taking part of the chaotic energy within him and temporarily organizing it, which allowed him to alter his physical form.
He noted this method of alignment and suddenly thought of something he had always wanted to try.
If he could use Ascension Power to enlarge himself, could he also use it to shrink?
By reversing the alignment of the power, he might be able to achieve the opposite effect.
Having just finished reading the three introductory books on Originium Arts, Garde fearlessly began experimenting with new applications of Ascension Power.
Since the power was inherently gentle, he believed there was no risk. After all, could a person attuned to Ascension Power be harmed by it?
Immersed in his exploration of Ascension Power, time flew by unnoticed.
Night fell.
Ho'olheyak, after cutting off communications with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Arts Units and Originium and the Bureau of Originium Products Management, wore a frustrated expression.
She had no interest in their schemes.
With Garde now owing her four favors, she had no intention of turning against him.
When the time came, she could simply brush off their demands with some vague explanations.
At some point, she had changed into a different outfit and made her way toward the office.
It was late, and the Adakrys should have gone home by now.
However, as soon as she opened the door, she heard a flurry of sounds.
The room, illuminated by lights, appeared empty.
But she was sure she had heard something.
Given the Adakrys's massive frame, there was no way he could be hiding.
Until she stepped into the office and walked around the sofa.
"Ah, sorry, Miss Ho'olheyak, there was a little... mishap."
A youthful, neutral voice came from the sofa.
Ho'olheyak turned her head to look and found that the towering figure that had once occupied the sofa was gone. In its place sat an Adakrys boy, appearing just over 160 cm tall.
His overly large clothes hung loosely on his frame, and the boy gave her an awkward smile, sitting on the sofa with a somewhat bashful demeanor.
Even Ho'olheyak, someone who had seen her fair share of unusual things, couldn't help but be momentarily stunned by the sight.
She couldn't reconcile the image of this delicate-looking Adakrys boy with the massive 2.2-meter-tall crocodilian she had seen earlier.
For a fleeting moment, she even wondered if she'd fallen victim to some kind of illusion.
Garde, too, was feeling helpless. He had clearly overestimated his control over Ascension Power. His initial goal had been to shrink his body to around 190 cm, but he had accidentally gone too far, reverting to the appearance of his 11- or 12-year-old self.
Where once he had towered over Ho'olheyak, he now had to look up at her.
Though his body was still strong, his muscle mass couldn't compare to what it had been.
Still, it wasn't a huge problem. He had only consumed a bit too much Ascension Power; once it replenished, he'd quickly return to normal.
"Miss Ho'olheyak, I won't bother you any further today. I'll take my leave now," Garde said.
With some difficulty, he adjusted his oversized pants and reached for the books Ho'olheyak had given him, intending to study them further at home.
But before his hand could grab the books, a warm, soft hand gently pressed against his.
"No need to rush off, little Garde."
Ho'olheyak deliberately emphasized the words "little Garde."
Her gaze fell on the much smaller Garde, her eyes gleaming with a peculiar light.
She licked her red lips, a playful, sultry smile curving her mouth.
"Is there something you still don't understand? I'd be happy to explain it to you in detail."
"The night is still young, after all."
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