"I'm so relieved."
Aleshia released a sigh of relief after hearing Lawrend's praise.
"Why? Is it that odd?"
Lawrend was surprised by her reaction to his words.
"It was actually my first time cooking that. I'm glad you liked it."
Aleshia explained with a beautiful smile on her face. Being praised for her cooking really made her night.
"Really!?"
Lawrend exclaimed in surprise. He didn't really think much of it at first, but now that she said that she cooked it for the first time, it meant that she was really good at cooking. Lawrend was genuinely impressed by her.
"Yes."
When Lawrend heard her confirmation, he knew that he hit the jackpot. He actually got such a talented maid. There's no way he would let go of her now.
"You are really talented, Aleshia. I admire you for that."
Lawrend could feel that this was one of those moments when he had to praise her more. It was just like those otome games where it was a crucial moment to effectively increase your affection points.
"Young Master, are you okay? You are not sick, right?"
Aleshia was somewhat taken aback that Lawrend was praising her so genuinely. She used her right hand to feel his forehead if he was actually sick.
"I'm serious!"
Lawrend spoke in all seriousness. But, unfortunately, the way she was acting now made his praise lose its effectiveness.
"I'm serious too. Young Master, you seem more manly for some reason."
Aleshia replied as she realized that the Lawrend in front of her was not like the Lawrend that she had been interacting with in the past.
"That's because I have a beautiful maid with me!"
Lawrend shouted exaggeratedly. Aleshia opened her eyes wide in surprise. She was doubtful at first, but now she was sure that this was not the Lawrend that she was familiar with. The Lawrend she knew would not act so confident and flirty.
Aleshia didn't know what anymore. She thought she already understood Lawrend, but it all suddenly just became more cloudy to her.
"What's with that look, Aleshia?"
Lawrend asked her after seeing that she was merely staring straight into his face.
"Ah, I just can't understand you sometimes, Young Master."
Aleshia explained with a sigh. She already trusts Lawrend to some extent. That's why she didn't find it hard to tell him her concerns. After all, earlier throughout the day, she looked back on everything that happened between the two of them.
"That's fine. You can get to know me more throughout this journey."
Lawrend flashed her a confident smile. When Aleshia saw it, she felt reassured. Although Lawrend felt somewhat different right now, she could still sense that he was still the same Lawrend.
"Maybe. It's late, Young Master. We should sleep."
Aleshia stood up and patted her bottom. Then, she walked into the carriage and set up the curtain to divide the carriage into two before lying down. Lawrend looked up into the stars one last time before following her with Allen in his arms.
The next day, Lawrend woke up feeling refreshed. He exited the carriage and saw food already served on a porcelain plate beside the bonfire.
"Young Master, Good Morning."
Aleshia greeted Lawrend with a sweet smile. She was starting to feel more comfortable with Lawrend in this journey. He was so nice to her. While she did the opposite.
That's exactly why Aleshia wanted to show her sincerity to Lawrend this time. She wanted to earn his trust this time after what happened between the two of them.
"Good morning too."
Lawrend greeted back Aleshia. They had some quick breakfast before continuing their journey once more.
What they didn't know was that a cloaked figure riding a horse was watching them from afar. It observed them as it slowly got nearer and nearer.
"Shiana… What is your intention?"
The voice of a woman sounded out inside the cloak.
Inside of the carriage, Lawrend sat crosslegged. He closed his eyes and focused his senses inside his body.
To his surprise, there was something foreign inside his head. It was a pulsating white mass of light. It was like a heartbeat but round and weird.
'What is this?'
Lawrend tried to probe it by trying to control it, but it didn't work. It was totally unresponsive to him. It was unlike the purple lightning mana inside him.
Lawrend controlled the lightning mana and pushed them towards the white mass of light. What happened next shocked Lawrend. The lightning mana inside him was sucked towards it like a black hole and was ejected out with less than a third of the amount but purer.
The purified lightning mana was much brighter in color and more fluid. The difference was like comparing honey from water.
'What the…'
Lawrend exclaimed. It was totally unexpected for him that his lightning mana got purified. He didn't even know where this white mass of light came from.
'What should I call it?'
Lawrend pondered a name for it. It was a white mass of light. It sucks in mana and ejects them towards the other side with a lesser amount but greater purity.
'A White Hole?'
The term just flowed out of Lawrend's mouth. For some reason, he knew what it meant. It was the opposite of a black hole. It ejects out materials instead of sucking them in.
'White Hole it is.'
Lawrend thought that it was a very fitting name for the white mass of light. It was white and acts like a black hole and a white hole at the same time.
Lawrend pushed all of his old lightning mana towards the White Hole and purified them. Lawrend could feel that the lightning mana inside him was very different from before when it was all purified.
He could at least control it much faster and more agile than ever. He guesses that he could barely mimic the effects of the Shock Arc spell now. The way the lightning mana stops then rushes to his hand in an instant, he felt like he could barely do that now.