"You have so much mana in there," Katherine said, her voice a mix of amazement and confusion as she stared at the intricate circle etched into Cassian's hand. "Enough to create a mana bomb strong enough to vaporize a few houses..." She trailed off, her brows furrowing. "And yet, it's still not enough to complete even one rotation. It's strange. I did make some minor adjustments to the first seal's design, but it shouldn't have increased its capacity this much."
Cassian glanced at the glowing circle on his hand. He had a suspicion that the system was behind this anomaly, but he wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not. More capacity seemed like a benefit, but who knew what hidden challenges might come with it?
Thinking it over, he decided to confirm, "So, what do you make of it, my lady? Is this a good development or a bad one?"
Katherine didn't seem entirely sure either. She leaned back slightly, her expression thoughtful. "I can't say for certain," she admitted. "In a warrior's sense, having more mana to rotate before reaching the first seal's limit is generally a better development. But I'm not sure if your body, in its current condition, can handle that much."
She released his hand and walked over to her study table, sifting through a pile of books. As she flipped through the pages of one, she continued, "With each rotation, the circle's capacity to hold mana increases. That might make it harder for your body to manage the flow of so much pure mana coursing through you. It's not something that will kill you or cause permanent harm, but it could be... quite painful."
Cassian frowned, feeling a knot of worry forming in his chest. He'd expected her to suggest drinking some special elixir or gathering rare herbs—not just enduring pain. But, if that was all it took, he figured he could handle it.
"Well, that's not a problem for me, my lady," he said with a confident grin. "You know I can't feel pain anymore."
But even as the words left his mouth, memories surfaced—of the searing pain he'd felt when the circle had been etched onto his hand. That pain had been sharp and undeniable. He shook his head, brushing the memory aside. No way this was going to be the same, he assured himself.
Katherine seemed to momentarily forget his ability but quickly nodded with a sympathetic look. She could guess why he'd ended up with it and said, "That's fine, but what if there are other complications? I think you should come by for routine tests. I'm not an expert in matters related to Circle Warriors, but the ones who are will probably be very interested in your case, and I know them."
She closed the book she had been flipping through and added with a knowing smile, "And before you start thinking of reasons to refuse, just know that these experts are likely to shower you with goodies—not the kind most low-ranked Circle Warriors can get their hands on unless they're backed by ridiculously wealthy parents."
Cassian stayed quiet, considering her words. He was still new to the world of Circle Warriors and the mystical society surrounding them. Sure, he knew more than the average low-ranked noble, but it wasn't much. Until last night, he hadn't even realized there were things like "rotations" in the process of advancement.
It wasn't entirely his fault—there was a lot of theory involved in mastering the path of a Circle Warrior. And for someone like him, without noble connections or wealth, much of that knowledge was locked behind gates he couldn't access easily.
All of this left Cassian unsure about his next steps. He didn't know what kind of "goodies" Lady Katherine was referring to or what these tests would involve. Still, he trusted her enough to believe she wouldn't steer him wrong. With a small nod, he said, "As my lady suggests."
Katherine's face lit up with satisfaction as she nodded back. "Good. I'll make the necessary arrangements. For now, just focus on filling up your circle. Once you're ready to start rotating the mana through your body, we'll begin the first test, till we find someone good."
Cassian nodded, though he couldn't shake the thought that it wasn't ideal to rely on Katherine every time he needed answers. He decided he'd use his leisure time to bridge the gaps in his knowledge. That plan, however, was for later.
Right now, his attention shifted to Katherine as she stood up, stretching her body to ease the tension. Her chest arched forward as she stretched her arms, her back curving slightly, and her legs extending gracefully. The sunlight streaming into the room illuminated her figure, leaving Cassian momentarily dazed.
Snapping out of it, he asked, "You seem tired, my lady?"
Katherine yawned, stretching a bit. "Not as bad as last night, but yeah, I wouldn't say no to a good massage," she said, a knowing glint in her eyes.
Cassian smirked, not surprised she'd guessed what he was thinking. He'd planned to offer anyway.
Heading toward the washroom, Katherine waved a hand behind her. "I'll just get out of these stiff clothes. While I do, go tell Lucy not to bother us for a bit," she said.
She paused at the door, glancing back with a playful look. "And anyone else, for that matter."
Cassian wasn't sure if Katherine wanted to avoid interruptions solely for the massage or for... other things he planned to do while she pretended to be asleep. Either way, it didn't matter much to him. He was just relieved that he only had to worry about her not getting upset during it all.
With a slight spring in his step, he headed out to inform Lucy of Lady Katherine's instructions. After that, he grabbed some fruit to boost his energy—preparing himself for the "long-awaited" massage session.
When Cassian stepped back into the room, he froze in shock. Katherine was already lying on the bed, and the only piece of clothes touching her body was the bed sheet under her. In other words, she was essentially naked, with only her most sensitive areas concealed by her thighs or pressed against the bed.
"Where are you feeling the most tension, my lady?" Cassian asked as he settled beside her, trying to keep his composure. She lazily glanced at him and replied, "Start wherever you like, just don't be too intense. I'm starting to get a bit sleepy..." She yawned, her voice softening.
Cassian hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should just take her offer and start anywhere. Not wanting to overstep, he decided to begin with her thighs. They weren't as sensitive as other areas, but still soft and inviting. The last time he had touched them, things had quickly shifted with Katherine urging him to change his career path from warrior to mage, and he hadn't really had time to appreciate the moment.
That time he massaged her out of necessity, using a bit of pressure to stop her from nagging, but today felt different. He had all the time in the world, and she seemed to welcome his touch, her eyes closed in peaceful relaxation as she lay there. His hands gently cupped her thighs, just below her buttocks, where the softness was most inviting.
He struggled to hold back, his body already responding to the closeness of her scent. A growing bulge formed inside his pants, making it harder to control his impulses. Though he knew she was pretending to be asleep, he decided to wait a little longer, wanting to maintain the illusion that he didn't notice. He tried to be patient, even as his instincts urged him to act.
He began massaging other parts of her body that weren't as erotic as her thighs, but today, everything seemed to have the same effect on him. Whether it was her legs, the softness of her feet, or even her arms, all of it made him lose his rationality more and more. Within just ten minutes, he couldn't control himself and, driven by desire, squeezed her buttocks.
He couldn't help himself as he gently squeezed her, his eyes scanning her peaceful expression for any sign of change. After a moment, he leaned in closer and asked softly, "My lady, are you asleep?"
When he saw no reaction, he pressed further, his voice quiet but insistent. "Are you truly asleep, my lady?"
He leaned in, waiting just inches from her face, watching for any hint of a reaction. The stillness of her body and the silence in the room made it clear she wasn't truly asleep—yet he wanted to be sure. Her silence, however, spoke volumes, and in that quiet moment, her silent was the permission he needed.
Taking that as his cue, he didn't hesitate. He quickly shed his clothes and, with urgency, pulled her into his arms, ready to cuddle. It would have been better if she had shown the same eagerness, but her thoughts were already aligning with his. 'Such a cutie,' she thought, 'The first thing he wants after month he has been away from is to cuddle... I want to, too...'