[Status: Embarrassed about what she did and is thus trying to avoid you. Looking forward to tonight.]
His chuckled to himself when he read her status. Her sober self and drunken self were like two different people.
Still, both were amusing in their own way.
They sat and ate together.
The food was simple, fresh vegetables from Isaac’s farm, lightly stir-fried with a side of warm broth and steamed bread. The flavors were clean and comforting.
“It’s good,” Isaac said as he finished the last bite. “Thanks.”
Alice gave him a small nod while washing her hands. Emily, though still pretending to sulk, didn’t refuse his compliment.
After dinner, Isaac and Emily cleaned the dishes while Alice dried and stacked them. Once the kitchen was cleared, the three of them moved to the living room.
They sat together on the large couch.
The atmosphere was quiet but not uncomfortable. Emily sat on the armrest beside Isaac while Alice rested against the cushions. Her posture was relaxed but attentive.
Isaac exhaled slowly and looked at both of them. “I know you two must’ve noticed there’s something off about my abilities.”
The moment he said it, the air grew a little more serious.
Alice straightened up, and Emily shifted her posture slightly, her feet floating off the floor as she hovered an inch higher.
“So,” he continued, “I want to tell you what’s actually happening.”
Alice and Emily both nodded. Their expressions were calm and focused.
“First off, I have Life Drain. That’s one of the earliest skills I awakened, long before the talent awakening ceremony.”
Alice tilted her head. “Maybe that came from your bloodline?”
Isaac didn’t correct her. That theory worked well enough for now. “Maybe. But that’s not the main thing.”
He leaned back, eyes scanning theirs. “Do you remember the hoe I use for farming?”
They both nodded immediately. That tool was impossible to ignore. It harvested everything instantly, boosted yields by five times, and improved land quality.
Isaac continued, “I got it from the World System Shop.”
Alice and Emily exchanged a glance. Isaac noticed the slight widening of Emily’s eyes.
“I can access the World System Shop any time I want,” he said. “I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I have an SSS+ rank talent, or maybe it’s something else.”
Alice frowned in thought, but didn’t interrupt.
“I’ve been receiving quests too,” Isaac added. “Right now, most of them are related to selling crops and distributing food to a wider audience. The more I expand, the more rewards I get.”
“That’s not normal,” Emily said. “But I suppose it makes sense for someone with a unique talent.”
“It does. Life talents without combat abilities can’t usually get quests, but yours clearly isn’t a normal life talent.” Alice added.
Isaac nodded as he looked at Alice. “I bought the Sun Dragon Genetic Catalyst for you through that shop.”
Her eyes softened. For a moment, she looked like she wanted to say something, but then she simply nodded.
She knew that while he was making it sound simple, buying that item wouldn’t have been easy.
Her heart warmed at how he made it look like an easy task, probably because he didn’t want to worry her.
“I hope you two can keep everything I just told you a secret.”
“Of course,” Alice said immediately.
Emily nodded rapidly. “Obviously!”
He laughed. “Relax, no need to get so serious.”
Then he turned toward Emily and pulled a small red vial, sealed with a silver stopper from his spatial ring.
“This is the most recent thing I bought,” he said. “It’s a bloodline upgrade potion. It should help you evolve to a high-rank species.”
Emily froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief. “You bought this… for me?”
Isaac nodded. “Yeah.”
She blinked, then swiftly flew into his arms, hugging him tightly. The anger and embrassement she had earlier was completely forgotten.
He patted her head and chuckled. “You’re welcome.”
Emily’s voice was muffled against his chest.
“You know how expensive this is, right? Fifty gold coins! That’s what aunty said!”
“I know,” he said. “Drink it. We’ll just tell Professor Catherine and Leora that your bloodline evolved naturally.”
Emily nodded, her expression turning somber.
Her aunt had told her once that her bloodline was broken but would eventually evolve on its own.
She’d never explained anything more than that. Every time Emily tried to ask about her past, her aunt would divert the topic.
Alice spoke up. “What if she awakens a physique? We’ll need to take her to the hospital for that. The pain would be…”
“It’s fine. I’ve got a Life Support Pod set up upstairs.”
Emily’s eyes widened again. “You bought that from the shop too? For me?”
Isaac nodded.
He glanced toward Alice, wondering if she felt left out or frustrated. Before he could say anything, Alice rolled her eyes.
“Don’t even think about apologizing,” she said. “You must have used up all your gold coins buying the catalyst for me. You also didn’t know back then that a pod was needed, and I know you’re not stingy when it comes to us, so stop looking guilty.”
Isaac smiled, his heart feeling a little lighter.
The three of them went upstairs. Isaac had Emily sit on the bed.
“I should do this on the floor,” Emily said. “The impurities will stain the sheets.”
Isaac flicked her forehead. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll clean it. Just focus on the breakthrough.”
He handed her the vial.
She looked at it once more, then uncorked it and drank.
The effects were immediate.
A surge of energy exploded from within her.
Her skin turned noticeably paler, almost porcelain-like. The cold aura that usually lingered around her intensified several times over.
Frost clung to her clothes and fingertips.
Her body trembled as veins along her neck and arms pulsed and twitched violently. Her legs drew up, and her fingers dug into the blanket as the pain set in.
Isaac’s breath caught, seeing her in pain.
Then he felt someone squeeze his hand.
He looked down and saw Alice’s fingers interlocked with his. Her expression was calm.
“Don’t be nervous,” she said quietly. “Emily isn’t a little girl. She can handle pain. Also, I doubt she would like you were worrying too much, and regretting giving her the potions just because you saw her in pain.”
Only then did Isaac realize he had been holding his breath.
He let it out slowly and nodded.
The process was still ongoing.
A faint mist of black impurities began to seep from Emily’s skin. Her breathing was ragged, but her eyes stayed shut in concentration.
Her body jerked once as the cold energy rose again, coiling around her like a living fog.
It was painful. That much was obvious. Bloodline upgrades weren’t just a magical process. They were physical transformations at the cellular level. Muscles, bones, and nerves all adjusted. Organs shifted. DNA rewrote itself.
It was unnatural and overwhelming.
But Emily endured it without a scream. She didn’t want to make Isaac worry.
Her brows furrowed, and her grip on the sheets tightened, but she didn’t break.
Isaac watched in silence, his hand still clasped with Alice’s.
Minutes passed. Then an hour. The aura around Emily finally began to settle.