Chapter 0.121 Rena Rotschy

Rena's arms trembled as she completed her final set of lifts. The enchanted training suit weighed her down like an anchor to the earth, the mana-infused fabric clinging to every muscle, resisting her movement, challenging every fiber of her will. Beads of sweat trickled down her temple, dripping from her jawline onto the polished obsidian floor. Her breath was ragged, but her golden eyes still burned with determination.

Seon, who had been silently observing with her arms crossed, finally stepped forward. Her leather heels clicked against the floor with deliberate grace. "That's enough," she said coolly, her crimson-brown eyes narrowing with calm authority.

From her belt, Seon retrieved two small crystalline vials. One shimmered with a soft blue light, the other a vivid green. She handed them to Rena with an elegant flick of her wrist. "Energy potion and vitality booster. Drink them both."

Without hesitation, Rena uncorked the vials and swallowed their contents. A subtle warmth spread through her veins, like a breath of fresh air filling her exhausted lungs. Her vision cleared, and the pounding in her chest settled into a steady rhythm.

"You'll need more of these," Seon said, stepping aside. "But for now, go rest."

Rena bowed slightly in respect, still catching her breath, then turned to leave the training chamber. As she stepped into the hallway, she concentrated, channeling her mana into the suit. With a faint shimmer, the heavy black training gear morphed into a soft white sleeping robe — light, airy, perfect for movement.

She walked barefoot on the obsidian tiles, their coolness soothing against the aching soles of her feet. The polished surface reflected her silhouette faintly, as the glowing mana lines etched into the walls pulsed gently in rhythm with her steps.

As she reached the corridor's end, a maid awaited her — a young woman with dark hair neatly tied back, wearing a Rotschy uniform embroidered with a silver crescent on the collar. She bowed respectfully.

"Miss Rena," the maid said softly, "Please allow me to escort you to your room."

Rena gave a silent nod and followed her through the eastern wing. Her thoughts swirled. *Will I be sleeping in Jin's room?* Her cheeks flushed pink, and she quickly looked away, remembering Seon's words earlier — *Clear your mind. No distractions.*

With a deep breath, she focused again on the mana around her body, forming that second, invisible skin — that protective, reinforcing aura she had been practicing. It was difficult to maintain while moving, but not impossible. She had to adapt.

At last, they reached a grand door etched with gold and silver. Upon it was the unmistakable sigil of the Phoenix, wings outstretched in mid-screech, surrounded by symbols of fire and rebirth. Above the frame gleamed a silver crescent moon — the emblem of the Rocchi family. And there, engraved beneath the phoenix's talons in ornate script:

**"Rena Rotschy "**

Her breath caught.

The maid opened the door and gestured politely. "Welcome home."

Rena stepped inside.

It was... stunning. Familiar, yet foreign. The room had been meticulously designed to replicate her quarters at the Amberheart estate — down to the smallest detail. Her books lined the shelves in the exact same order. Her writing desk, though larger and made of darker wood, had the same engravings along the legs. Even the perfume bottles she had lined up along her window sill back home were here, placed in identical positions.

But it was the scale that struck her. This room was grand — fit for royalty. A private steam room lay to one side, flanked by a marble bath and a section for herbal soaking. A compact kitchen stood in the far corner, complete with an enchanted fridge and mana stove. A large full-body mirror faced the bed, beside a vanity covered in high-quality makeup she never asked for but recognized from elite catalogs.

She walked to the wardrobe and opened it. Every outfit, every delicate undergarment, even her formal academy robes — all had been transported here and arranged more neatly than she ever could've managed herself.

Her eyes were drawn to a small glowing crystal on a pedestal near the window. *An air filtration gem…* She touched it, feeling its soft hum respond to her mana. She altered the flow slightly, setting it to "sunrise breeze," and the air instantly felt lighter, crisper.

Rena smiled faintly. *They really thought of everything.*

Without thinking, she reshaped her robe into a white bikini with a snap of her fingers. She stepped into the steam bath first, letting the thick warmth encase her body, drawing out the tension in her muscles and her overworked mana veins. Her head leaned back against the tile, eyes closing as the mist wrapped around her like a lover's embrace.

Her mind was quiet now. Still. The chaos of training and thoughts of rivals and responsibilities faded under the hum of warmth and steam.

Next, she entered the mana bath.

The water glowed gently — translucent gold and crimson, like liquified firelight. As she submerged, she felt it tingle against her skin, penetrating deep, seeping into every pore, every nerve. Her mana circuits, sore from training, were soothed, strengthened, replenished.

Lastly, she entered the herbal bath, and a sigh escaped her lips — the kind that comes only from true release. The aroma of calming herbs — lavender, moonroot, flameblossom — swirled around her, cradling her in scented peace. Her eyes grew heavy. Her thoughts hazy.

She didn't remember standing, or wrapping herself in a towel. Only that she was suddenly in her room again, locking the door behind her, still clad in the soft bikini, too tired to change. She fell into the enormous bed, its silk sheets cool against her flushed skin.

She curled into the pillows, limbs relaxed, face buried in the familiar scent of home — and something else. *Jin.*

His scent lingered on the sheets — fresh mint, sandalwood, and that strange spice only he seemed to carry. Her heart skipped, then settled.

A smile touched her lips as her mind drifted into sleep.

In her dreams, she felt his arms around her. His voice — teasing, smug.

"You look like a tomato, my dear wife."

"Shut up," she mumbled back, even in the dream.

And as sleep finally took her, she whispered under her breath,

"Stupid idiot…"

....... 

Heat: You will know why Rena did not take off her magic training suit even though the answer was in the previous chapter 0.119