"You're aware of it?" Kenley exclaimed, visibly taken aback.

  "Truth be told, I had already sensed something amiss during my time in the Spire Library. There were books that had been disturbed, writings that I didn't recall penning, and footprints in places I had never set foot in. To be frank, it terrified me so much that I constantly thought I had encountered a specter," Tia murmured, pressing herself against Kenley's chest and closing her eyes to relish the rare tranquility of the moment.

  "I see. Tia, as a matter of fact, I've encountered the other you on several occasions already," Kenley said.

  Tia jerked her head up abruptly. "Master, what did she say to you?" It was evident that she was deeply concerned.

  Kenley stroked his chin in thought for a moment and then finally replied, "There was indeed something." Subsequently, Kenley recounted every single experience he had had with the other side of Tia to her.

  Upon hearing this, Tia fell into deep contemplation, furrowing her brow as she immersed herself in thought.

  "Master! There are actually two Tia sisters!" Just then, a statement that left both Kenley and Tia utterly astonished escaped Normani's lips.

  "Normani, what did you just say?" Kenley asked hastily.

  Normani sprawled on the table, propping her chin up with her hand. "Master, hasn't there always been two Tia sisters? I've even had several conversations with the other Tia sister. She's really quite amusing."

  Kenley and Tia exchanged a glance. They had never anticipated that such an unexpected revelation would be standing right before them.

  This Normani truly has a knack for springing surprises. Could it be a unique ability exclusive to draconians? Is she capable of perceiving things that are beyond the sight of ordinary individuals?

  "What did she talk about with you?"

  Normani paused to recollect for a moment before saying, "The other Tia sister told me not to compete with her for the master. But I adore the master so much! When I refused, she threatened to cast me out. So I brought a great many sparkling gemstones. She said she adored them, and if I procured more gemstones for her, she would allow me to stay by the master's side!"

  Tia and Kenley were immediately struck with amazement. So, after all this time, this was the truth of the matter!

  No wonder Normani had been persistently bringing stones home these past few days. They had no idea where she had managed to obtain them from. Perhaps it was due to the draconians' innate sensitivity to gemstones, enabling her to locate them with ease.

  However, another question presented itself. What on earth did the other 'Tia' intend to do with so many stones? What was her ulterior motive?

  "Tia, do you have any inkling of what might be going on?" Kenley could only turn to the original Tia and inquire.

  Tia shook her head vigorously. "Master, I'm just as perplexed as you are."

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  Stones... magic crystal cores...

  Kenley seemed to have caught a faint glimmer of a lead, yet these clues remained stubbornly unconnected.

  "Normani, did she say anything else?"

  "Not really. But master, the other Tia sister, she's a ghost!"

  "A ghost?!" This truly sent Kenley and Tia into a state of shock.

  Well, there's nothing else for it but to take things one step at a time.

  ...

  That night

  Kenley lay in bed, one arm wrapped around Tia, while on his other side, Normani slept soundly, snoring softly.

  Like Kenley, Tia lay with her eyes wide open, clearly each of them burdened with their own thoughts.

  Just then, Kenley suddenly said, "Tia."

  "Master, I'm here!" Tia immediately lifted her head to gaze at Kenley.

  "Perhaps, I've come up with a method that might coax the other 'you' to reveal herself. However, it will likely cause you some pain. I'm wondering if you'd be willing to give it a try," Kenley said, his voice laced with a hint of trepidation.

  "It doesn't matter, Master. I belong to you. I won't harbor any grievances no matter what you do to me," Tia said, her eyes brimming with affection as she looked into Kenley's face.

  Kenley nodded. "If it becomes too painful, just let me know, and I'll stop immediately."

  "All right."

  Just then, Kenley reached out into the empty air and retrieved a test tube filled with a white liquid.

  The moment Tia caught a whiff of the odor, her complexion paled.

  "Garlic juice?" Tia clearly had an aversion to the smell. As a vampire, she had an instinctive repulsion towards garlic juice.

  "Don't worry, Tia. I've diluted this bottle of garlic juice through the art of alchemy, and it won't inflict too much harm on you. If you feel uncomfortable, just tell me, and I'll halt the process at once," Kenley reassured her.

  "It's all right, Master. I'm not afraid of getting hurt."

  Looking at the understanding Tia, Kenley felt an even greater pang of pity for her. Nevertheless, only bitter medicine can cure a serious illness. Without the proper remedy, one will never recover.

  "Then I'll begin."

  "Go ahead, Master." With that, Tia closed her eyes.

  Kenley removed the stopper from the bottle and gently dripped a single drop of the liquid onto Tia's arm. Instantly, white smoke billowed from her arm, and Tia's hit points decreased by five.

  Tia's face contorted with pain. Although the reduction in HP was minimal, the sensation of pain was still palpable.

  Yet Tia remained perfectly still, merely furrowing her brow and refraining from uttering a single word of complaint.

  The reason Kenley had thought of using garlic juice to test Tia was that he had come across an article in an alchemy book that made mention of vampires.

  Garlic juice, apart from affecting vampires, also has an effect on the undead, wraiths, and the like. If there truly was another ghostly entity residing within Tia, it was likely to be of the undead variety, and the garlic juice might just be able to force it out.

  Kenley furrowed his brow and dripped another drop of the liquid onto Tia. Once again, white smoke rose, and Tia's body gave a slight tremor.

  However, Tia still showed no signs of transformation.

  Enough of this, Kenley couldn't bear to continue. Looking at Tia's pained expression, he felt a sense of guilt wash over him. He couldn't turn Tia into a guinea pig just because he was too eager to uncover the truth.

  Although the reduction in HP caused by the garlic juice was negligible, this whole affair still left Kenley feeling uneasy.

  "Forget it. We'll find another way in the future, Tia. I'm sorry for causing you pain," Kenley said as he put away the garlic juice and promptly took out a healing potion, gently applying it to the injured area on Tia's arm.

  Tia opened her eyes and suddenly pressed her lips against Kenley's. "It's all right, Master. I can still endure it."

  "Perhaps there are other methods. I can't turn you into an experimental subject, Tia," Kenley said, planting a gentle kiss on Tia's forehead as a gesture of his apology.

  "Thank you, Master." Tia nestled against Kenley's chest, quietly savoring his care and concern.

  "Stop pretending, the other Tia. Every time you make an appearance, your body temperature is distinctly different from Tia's," Kenley said suddenly, his tone taking an abrupt about-face.

  Just then, Tia's eyes flashed with a sudden intensity, and she seized Kenley's hand in a firm grip.

  At that moment, Normani also opened her eyes. "Big sister, you're here again!"

  "Master, do you really desire to see me that much?"