Chapter 24 – Nature

Fortunately, the impact was quickly softened by Inessa, and her strength lessened, but it was still enough to make the boy lose his balance and begin to fall from his comfortable seat.

With enviable grace and skill, Inessa bent her knees and used her feet to support his back, helping him regain balance.

"Are you okay, Edgar?" Inessa, propped up on her elbows on the couch and looking at the boy on her back, almost shouted as she asked with an anxious and concerned expression.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine… Now please cover yourself, Inessa." Edgar replied, with a mix of surprise, fear, and mostly embarrassment. He quickly got up and turned away to avoid looking at Inessa's bare chest.

"Good, Good… Okay... All right…" Relieved, Inessa sat on the couch and grabbed a training bra from a side table. The bra was made of the same material as her pants—clearly, the two pieces were part of a training outfit.

She dressed quickly, stretched generously, and walked toward a table in the room where plates of snacks, cookies, cakes, and savory treats were laid out.

Additionally, there was a large teapot on the same table, steam still escaping from its lid. Four sets of teacups were arranged, and two people were already helping themselves to tea and cookies.

"I guess it's my turn now," said a woman with voluminous, wavy white hair. Her porcelain-white skin was almost entirely exposed due to her minimal clothing.

Unlike Inessa, this woman wore only a short pair of shorts and a training bra that emphasized her already generous bust and hips, revealing a stark difference in proportions compared to Inessa.

"Don't you want to stay a little longer, Inessa?" the woman asked curiously, standing as Inessa sat at the table, but showing no intention of giving up her turn.

"No… Training with someone without a Link is also good. For today, that's enough training with me." Inessa replied while being served by the other woman at the table, a dark elf with golden tattoos scattered across her body.

"Milk? Sugar?" asked the dark elf, dressed in a predominantly black maid outfit. It consisted of a long black dress made of simple fabric adorned with subtle scarlet red frills, long sleeves, a high collar, and a starched white apron tied at the waist.

"One spoonful of sugar, Aglaya… Edgar, compose yourself. The training continues. Don't feel guilty for mistakes; training is precisely for that—to make and correct mistakes." She gently admonished the boy, who was still uneasy.

"And what's the standard for measuring my mistakes, Inessa? As far as I remember, trying to ignore a Dragon Lady's passive defense as a skill check isn't exactly the easiest thing in the world..." Edgar responded as he headed toward a wide chest of drawers located near a large window.

The chest had a rustic style, made of wood with silver and gold detailing. The simple finishing touches highlighted the vibrant wine-colored wood. On top of it, crystal wares and other decorations were displayed.

With some effort, the boy knelt to open one of the lower drawers, retrieving a face towel. Then, he opened another drawer above and grabbed two round vials, which he opened to drink the blue liquid inside.

"Here it is…" Serving the teacup in front of Inessa, Aglaya returned to her topic.

"Thank you… It's been less than a year since you asked to train, Edgar. I'm merely providing the best training I can. If your expectations were too low, please adjust them."

"I didn't…" Realizing his mistake, he tried to apologize and clarify the misunderstanding but was soon interrupted.

"You are my Nexus, Edgar, and as the Nexus of a Dragon Lady, you should not envy the mediocrity of your race. Humans are one of the weakest and most wretched races, surviving only by relying on others' protection and evolving by parasitizing and stealing from others. But you have the soul of a dragon, MY SOUL. You should not lower yourself to their level, Edgar."

"I DON'T DO THAT…" Edgar replied angrily, denying Inessa's scathing comments and glaring at her angrily.

"That's not how it seems…" Meeting Edgar's glare, Inessa relaxedly gave a cynical smile before sampling some cookies and tea. Then, she stopped paying attention to Edgar.

"Inessa is right, but don't take it as an offense; you were born human, Edgar. Even with the Nexus Link between you two, your human nature hasn't been eradicated from your being. Even now, while you use your aura, you wield it as a mere weak human would…"

Said Abigail, now near the couch where Inessa had been. So, shebegan looking around the room as if searching for something.

Her gaze swept across the warm and detailed surroundings: Inessa and Aglaya sitting at the table with the treats and tea, aa long, luxurious office desk with chairs located opposite the door to the room, and the side wall composed almost entirely of windows. These windows allowed abundant natural light and provided a stunning view of the gardens.

Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling along more than half of all the walls, containing countless books, tomes, and encyclopedias. The large double doors, the chest of drawers in one corner, the three couches, and two large armchairs bordering a plush central rug. 

Finally, his eyes fell on the white curtains at the windows and the small tables positioned beside each of the sofas and armchairs — all contributed to the room's luxurious yet comfortable ambiance.

"Look at this situation, for example…" Abigail began, exhaling deeply as though savoring the mingled scents of books, tea, cookies, the garden, and the forest breeze.

"This room is cozy and pleasant. I could spend several days here just relaxing and reading. Many beings would choose the comfort and ease of such a place. But I don't do that because my nature doesn't allow it. Do you understand, Edgar?" she asked, her voice carrying a sense of gravity and purpose.

"…What are you trying to say?" Edgar questioned, his brow furrowing as he tried to grasp her meaning.

"I sacrifice my pleasure for duty… I sacrifice my happiness for wisdom… I sacrifice my passions for knowledge…" Abigail said, taking deliberate steps toward Edgar. With each word, her aura intensified, enveloping him gently.

Using her aura, Abigail healed his fatigue and corrected the small distortions in his aura that had built up from training, leaving him in perfect condition.

Then, she shifted her aura's focus, dragging one of the couches closer to the windows with invisible force.

"Above all, I sacrifice everything—My body, My Wealth and My power—in exchange for the blessings of Aura. I do all to achieve something better, something greater… something perfect."

As she closed the distance between them, Abigail knelt to be at Edgar's eye level. She held his chin gently, bringing their faces so close that their noses nearly touched. Looking deeply into his eyes, she continued, her voice softer but resolute:

"That is my nature… This is the nature of dragons, Edgar. As the Nexus of Inessa and likely the chosen one to become Lady Nala's Consors, you must adopt this mentality. There are no half-measures, no average results… Dragons pursue perfection and accept nothing less. Do you understand me?"

Edgar remained silent, his expression serious as he let her words sink in. Sensing her sincerity through her aura, he responded in kind. Without speaking, his own aura began to emanate emotions—a blend of courage, confidence, pride, and above all, love and admiration.

His feelings were so intense that he lost control for a moment, creating an invisible cloud of aura infused with his emotions. The aura filled the room, subtly affecting the three women.

"That's my boy…" Standing up with a big smile on her face, Abigail didn't need any verbal answers. She calmly walked over to the couch she had dragged close to the window with her Aura.

Edgar, snapping out of his trance and realizing what he had done, quickly regained control of his aura. He followed Abigail closely, his steps purposeful.

Despite the serious atmosphere, the height difference between Abigail and Edgar was great enough that he couldn't help but notice the sway of Abigail's wide, voluptuous hips as she walked.

He was so mesmerized by the scene that he didn't notice when she stopped abruptly, which caused him to slam his face into his reason for distraction.

"Careful, don't let yourself get so distracted without reason, especially when you're about to start your training," Abigail teased, turning to face him with a sly smile.

"…Without reason, huh?" Edgar muttered, his tone a mixture of irritation and embarrassment as he looked at her accusingly, silently blaming her for his distraction.

"Are you ready?" Abigail asked, her expression shifting to one of challenge and expectation.

"I am," Edgar replied confidently.

At that, Abigail leaned back against the couch, reaching up to remove her sports bra. Her perfectly round, firm breasts were revealed, their natural bounce briefly mesmerizing Edgar. His eyes followed the subtle rise and fall of her rosy-pink nipples.

"If your focus during training were as sharp as it is right now, your skills would rival those of an experienced Socius…" Abigail teased, crossing her arms beneath her chest to emphasize her curves further.

But Edgar, noticing her intentions, quickly looked away and turned his back to her, forcing himself to focus.

"Lie down, please," he said, his tone firm as he tried to control his embarrassment.

"Haha, I thought you'd be used to this by now, Edgar. No need to be shy—your attraction to feminine aspects is actually a good thing. It's a remarkable quality, really," Abigail laughed, her voice teasing.

"Be quiet," Edgar snapped, tired of her provocations. He approached her swiftly, scooping up her legs and placing them on the couch. Then he climbed up himself, pushing her shoulders gently but firmly until she was lying down.

"…" Abigail didn't say anything, nor did she even resist Edgar's actions, she just let herself go and stared at him with amusement and provocation.

Edgar adjusted the pillow for her head and set her sports bra on the nearest side table.

"Turn over," he instructed.

"Yes, Young Lord," Abigail replied, her tone dripping with playful mockery as she rolled onto her stomach, resting her head on the pillow.

Without another word, Edgar climbed onto her back, finding the ideal position to sit. Concentrating, he manipulated his invisible aura into his hands and began the massage.

Abigail relaxed under his touch, her aura subtly mingling with his, creating an unspoken bond of trust and mutual respect as they began their unique and rigorous training.

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