Eros squinted his eyes, which were still adjusting to the brilliance of the morning light reflecting off Undine’s skin. "What did you kick me for?" he asked, rubbing his side.
Undine stood atop the bed, hands on her hips in a classic pose of defiance. "I kicked you because I felt like it! Look how late it is, and you’re still trying to rot in bed."
Fine. Eros sighed internally. Looking at the "wildcat" version of his sister who had fully regained her arrogance and bluster, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret. As much as he found this side of her lively, he still preferred the "kitten" version from last night—the one who snuggled close and spoke in soft whispers. A pity that version doesn't make guest appearances more often.
Hearing the commotion inside, the maids knocked on the door to ask if they should bring in the wash water. Having been thoroughly jarred awake by that kick, Eros gave up on sleep and called for them to enter.
Time marched forward, one steady step at a time, and Eros’s studies proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Initially, the family elders were profoundly confused—and even a bit concerned—by the rate of Eros’s progress. Given that his talent was great enough to trigger a personal baptism from a Great One, his speed in accumulating "Spirit" was inexplicably sluggish. Two months had passed, yet the volume of Spirit in his body remained almost identical to the day of his ritual. It was a riddle they couldn't solve.
Left with no choice, Eros eventually confessed the truth: he had been chosen by the slumbering Artifact of the clan and had signed a soul-binding contract. He explained that the vast majority of the Spirit he refined every day was being siphoned off by the Artifact.
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Upon hearing this, the elders didn't feel a hint of frustration. Instead, they were ecstatic. To be favored by a Goddess and then chosen by a sentient Divine Artifact? To them, this wasn't a setback; it was proof. The prophecy is true! The day of our clan’s resurgence is at hand!
That day, the servants of the Duke’s manor received yet another mysterious bonus. Rumor had it that this time, the Duke’s elders were in an exceptionally good mood.
Oh, Praise the Gods, the servants whispered. May the generous Duke and his family be happy every single day.
Eros had initially considered using Spirit Marrow to help Barbara recover her power more quickly. However, upon inquiry, he learned that the majority of the family’s stockpile had been consumed during his elaborate baptism. What remained was strictly budgeted for the clan’s essential operations. Although the elders offered to divert those resources entirely to him, Eros declined. He wasn't thick-skinned enough to jeopardize the entire family’s functioning for his own convenience.
If I have to be her power bank, so be it, he thought. It’ll be slow, but it’s not like she needs a full recharge—just enough to stay awake.
And so, the "labor" continued until Eros turned nineteen. Finally, Barbara spoke the words he had been longing to hear: "The energy I’ve recovered is now sufficient for me to remain awake for a very long time."
Eros let out a massive sigh of relief. Finally, he was no longer an unpaid intern for a demanding artifact. Within just a few days of stopping the siphon, the Spirit in his body swelled to the absolute limit of Sequence 9.
The clan immediately produced the advancement materials they had prepared years in advance. They inscribed the ritual array for him—a process that proved remarkably smooth. With minimal effort, Eros successfully advanced to Sequence 8: Listener.
He knew, however, that this ease was no accident. For one, the advancement ceremony had been conducted within the Shadow Realm, a place that offered him unparalleled protection and resonance.
