When he opened his eyes, he found himself in the same spot. Scratching his head, he tried once more, saying, "Blink." Yet, the results did not match the description.
After several more attempts, he wondered, 'How does this even work?'
From the corner of his eye, he caught Lilith barely holding back her laughter, clearly amused by his clumsy and failed attempts.
Determined not to give up, he tried numerous times, chanting the skill name in his mind and making various hand gestures. Each attempt seemed funnier than the last, causing Lilith to burst into giggles.
Realizing he wasn't progressing, Lilith decided to set her cold treatment aside. She placed her book inside her spatial ring and, in a blink, appeared next to him.
"Though I was rather mad at you, I can't let you embarrass yourself in front of anyone other than me. Being the forgiving soul I am, especially towards my farmer boy, I'll guide you," she declared. Her gaze was soft yet intense, but Theo noticed the predatory glint in her eyes, making him slightly uneasy.
“How did you know I was practicing a new skill?” he asked.
“Because I possess the same skill, and you've been chanting its name like a mantra,” Lilith replied, well aware of its rarity.
She began her demonstration, “Instead of saying the name aloud, focus inwardly. Close your eyes, channel your inner energy, and then activate the skill by thinking it. It might feel odd initially, but with time, it'll become instinctive, as natural as using one of your limbs.”
Theo followed her guidance, closing his eyes and diving deep into his internal world. He started feeling minor details, the rhythm of his heart, the caress of the breeze, the scent of aromatic flowers.
Soon, he noticed a serene energy within, which, sensing his awareness, began to dance joyfully. Channeling it, he mentally commanded, “[Blink].” In an instant, solid ground disappeared, and he felt weightless.
Opening his eyes, he found himself hovering above the Dreamweaver's Pond before suddenly dropping into it. Lilith's laughter resounded from the pond's edge as Theo emerged, water droplets dripping from him, making him appear comical.
Interpreting his silence as frustration, she suppressed her laughter and took out a white towel from her blue ring. Taking a step closer, she began drying his face and hair, saying, “Don't feel bad. It took me several tries to get this skill right.”
As she was standing close to him, a scent of rose enveloped him. It was a rather rare sight to see her in such a caring nature, which reminded him of Elena.
Moreover, Theo wasn't truly upset. The skill's cooldown was two minutes, which didn’t allow him to try it again soon, and he also felt as if it consumed thirty percent of his energy. This indicated he could use it only thrice in a row as he wasn’t sure how long it would take to fully recover his energy. Although he didn’t have mana, he had some strange energy in its place, allowing him to use [Blink].
As Lilith put away the towel, she followed Theo, who deliberately walked a good distance away from the Dreamweaver's Pond, intent on not making the same mistake twice.
As he prepared to cast it again, Lilith's voice sounded beside him. “This time, when you execute the skill, think about a desired place within five meters to where you want to teleport.”
He nodded in response, then focused on a spot a few meters ahead where he intended to teleport. In a blink, he disappeared, reappearing two meters away.
However, he staggered upon landing, nearly falling over. It was challenging to maintain his balance after reappearing, as transitioning from one space to another was bewildering.
Tripping was a natural consequence if he wasn't used to the sensation. Furthermore, he noticed that this time only 10% of his energy was consumed. He surmised that shorter distances caused less energy depletion compared to teleporting over larger distances.
Lilith praised him, "Good job, farmer boy."
Glancing at her lively face, he asked, “If you and I have the same skill, why does it only allow me to teleport five meters while you can teleport up to a hundred meters easily?”
Lilith's eyes sparkled with mischief as she replied, "It's all about practice and affinity. I've used my skill countless times in the past, honing it to a much higher level. Plus, having the spatial element certainly gives me a little extra... let's call it 'Teleportation talent.' That's why I can leap a hundred meters in a blink, and you… you're just taking baby steps for now!"
Theo nodded, understanding her explanation. "Makes sense," he murmured.
Hearing his response, Lilith gave a small smile and returned to her bed to continue reading her book.
As she left, Theo noticed that the notifications had stopped coming.
<<<<
[All your items have been purchased at the 'Buy It Now' price!]
[6,516,000 Nightshade Tomatoes have been sold for 195,480 Abyssal Coins.]
[A total of 185,706 Abyssal Coins have been deposited into your Golden Vault after deducting the 5% Auction House fee.]
>>>>
As he checked, all his Nightshade tomatoes were sold. He hurriedly opened the auction house and bought all the three listed in special this week since he had enough funds. More notification popped up.
<<<<
[Demonic Truehearts Seed has been successfully purchased. Item is safely deposited in the Golden Vault.]
[Infernal Aphrodisiac Orange Seed has been successfully purchased. Item is safely deposited in the Golden Vault.]
[‘Heart Delicacy from Beyond’ has been successfully purchased. Item is safely deposited in the Golden Vault.]
>>>>
There were only one seed for both these plants, so he decided to plant them at the side of the Dreamweaver's pond. In the opposite direction, he already had the Rainbow tree, and on another side, he was keeping an acre of land empty just to add special items there.
He currently had twenty acres of land unlocked, but he only used eighteen to plant his crops. Planting those two seeds didn't take much time, so he inspected them and their maturity time showed up.
<<<<
[Status: Demonic Truehearts will be ready to harvest in 6 Days 23 hours 55 minutes.]
[Status: Infernal Aphrodisiac Orange will be ready to harvest in 24 hours.]
>>>>
This all took around two minutes to do, which was normally the cooldown of his [Blink], so Lilith thought he was just waiting for his skill to use it again.
As he was done, he continued his practice. After several more attempts, he began to land perfectly.
An hour later, feeling that he had practiced enough, Theo decided to head back to Elwyn city. But, he didn't want to go alone. To lift Lilith's spirits, who had been in a sour mood earlier, and to thank her for guiding him, he persuaded her with the promise of more shopping.
However, he soon regretted that decision as he found himself carrying her bags through the streets of Elwyn city. Many onlookers assumed he was the rumored princess's personal servant. Some even questioned why this princess wasn't accompanied by royal guards or a luxurious carriage.
By evening, Theo bought food and desserts for both siblings at the inn, who by now had grown accustomed to his generosity and accepted the treats.
Then, they returned to the farm. Lilith settled on her bed and resumed her reading, while Theo went outside to complete his daily quest ‘[The Weight of Destiny]’.
<<<<
[Quest Complete: "The Weight of Destiny"]
[~Congratulations! You've successfully tackled the challenge to counteract the mysterious bug's poison. The sweat-soaked clothes and aching muscles are proof of your will power. Your determination and commitment have paid off.]
[Reward: +1 Basic Elixir of Stamina Gained]
[Current Body Weight: 133 kg]
>>>>
After completing the quest, he visited the farm to harvest the Nightshade tomatoes and then replanted them. Afterward, he took a refreshing shower and enjoyed a satisfying dinner with Elena before retiring to his room.
As the boy was settling down to sleep, he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Frowning, he asked, “What is it, Elena?”
“Lord Silverblade, it's me. I have something to show you…” The voice was familiar yet unexpected.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in the same spot. Scratching his head, he tried once more, saying, "Blink." Yet, the results did not match the description.
After several more attempts, he wondered, 'How does this even work?'
From the corner of his eye, he caught Lilith barely holding back her laughter, clearly amused by his clumsy and failed attempts.
Determined not to give up, he tried numerous times, chanting the skill name in his mind and making various hand gestures. Each attempt seemed funnier than the last, causing Lilith to burst into giggles.
Realizing he wasn't progressing, Lilith decided to set her cold treatment aside. She placed her book inside her spatial ring and, in a blink, appeared next to him.
"Though I was rather mad at you, I can't let you embarrass yourself in front of anyone other than me. Being the forgiving soul I am, especially towards my farmer boy, I'll guide you," she declared. Her gaze was soft yet intense, but Theo noticed the predatory glint in her eyes, making him slightly uneasy.
“How did you know I was practicing a new skill?” he asked.
“Because I possess the same skill, and you've been chanting its name like a mantra,” Lilith replied, well aware of its rarity.
She began her demonstration, “Instead of saying the name aloud, focus inwardly. Close your eyes, channel your inner energy, and then activate the skill by thinking it. It might feel odd initially, but with time, it'll become instinctive, as natural as using one of your limbs.”
Theo followed her guidance, closing his eyes and diving deep into his internal world. He started feeling minor details, the rhythm of his heart, the caress of the breeze, the scent of aromatic flowers.
Soon, he noticed a serene energy within, which, sensing his awareness, began to dance joyfully. Channeling it, he mentally commanded, “[Blink].” In an instant, solid ground disappeared, and he felt weightless.
Opening his eyes, he found himself hovering above the Dreamweaver's Pond before suddenly dropping into it. Lilith's laughter resounded from the pond's edge as Theo emerged, water droplets dripping from him, making him appear comical.
Interpreting his silence as frustration, she suppressed her laughter and took out a white towel from her blue ring. Taking a step closer, she began drying his face and hair, saying, “Don't feel bad. It took me several tries to get this skill right.”
As she was standing close to him, a scent of rose enveloped him. It was a rather rare sight to see her in such a caring nature, which reminded him of Elena.
Moreover, Theo wasn't truly upset. The skill's cooldown was two minutes, which didn’t allow him to try it again soon, and he also felt as if it consumed thirty percent of his energy. This indicated he could use it only thrice in a row as he wasn’t sure how long it would take to fully recover his energy. Although he didn’t have mana, he had some strange energy in its place, allowing him to use [Blink].
As Lilith put away the towel, she followed Theo, who deliberately walked a good distance away from the Dreamweaver's Pond, intent on not making the same mistake twice.
As he prepared to cast it again, Lilith's voice sounded beside him. “This time, when you execute the skill, think about a desired place within five meters to where you want to teleport.”
He nodded in response, then focused on a spot a few meters ahead where he intended to teleport. In a blink, he disappeared, reappearing two meters away.
However, he staggered upon landing, nearly falling over. It was challenging to maintain his balance after reappearing, as transitioning from one space to another was bewildering.
Tripping was a natural consequence if he wasn't used to the sensation. Furthermore, he noticed that this time only 10% of his energy was consumed. He surmised that shorter distances caused less energy depletion compared to teleporting over larger distances.
Lilith praised him, "Good job, farmer boy."
Glancing at her lively face, he asked, “If you and I have the same skill, why does it only allow me to teleport five meters while you can teleport up to a hundred meters easily?”
Lilith's eyes sparkled with mischief as she replied, "It's all about practice and affinity. I've used my skill countless times in the past, honing it to a much higher level. Plus, having the spatial element certainly gives me a little extra... let's call it 'Teleportation talent.' That's why I can leap a hundred meters in a blink, and you… you're just taking baby steps for now!"
Theo nodded, understanding her explanation. "Makes sense," he murmured.
Hearing his response, Lilith gave a small smile and returned to her bed to continue reading her book.
As she left, Theo noticed that the notifications had stopped coming.
<<<<
[All your items have been purchased at the 'Buy It Now' price!]
[6,516,000 Nightshade Tomatoes have been sold for 195,480 Abyssal Coins.]
[A total of 185,706 Abyssal Coins have been deposited into your Golden Vault after deducting the 5% Auction House fee.]
>>>>
As he checked, all his Nightshade tomatoes were sold. He hurriedly opened the auction house and bought all the three listed in special this week since he had enough funds. More notification popped up.
<<<<
[Demonic Truehearts Seed has been successfully purchased. Item is safely deposited in the Golden Vault.]
[Infernal Aphrodisiac Orange Seed has been successfully purchased. Item is safely deposited in the Golden Vault.]
[‘Heart Delicacy from Beyond’ has been successfully purchased. Item is safely deposited in the Golden Vault.]
>>>>
There were only one seed for both these plants, so he decided to plant them at the side of the Dreamweaver's pond. In the opposite direction, he already had the Rainbow tree, and on another side, he was keeping an acre of land empty just to add special items there.
He currently had twenty acres of land unlocked, but he only used eighteen to plant his crops. Planting those two seeds didn't take much time, so he inspected them and their maturity time showed up.
<<<<
[Status: Demonic Truehearts will be ready to harvest in 6 Days 23 hours 55 minutes.]
[Status: Infernal Aphrodisiac Orange will be ready to harvest in 24 hours.]
>>>>
This all took around two minutes to do, which was normally the cooldown of his [Blink], so Lilith thought he was just waiting for his skill to use it again.
As he was done, he continued his practice. After several more attempts, he began to land perfectly.
An hour later, feeling that he had practiced enough, Theo decided to head back to Elwyn city. But, he didn't want to go alone. To lift Lilith's spirits, who had been in a sour mood earlier, and to thank her for guiding him, he persuaded her with the promise of more shopping.
However, he soon regretted that decision as he found himself carrying her bags through the streets of Elwyn city. Many onlookers assumed he was the rumored princess's personal servant. Some even questioned why this princess wasn't accompanied by royal guards or a luxurious carriage.
By evening, Theo bought food and desserts for both siblings at the inn, who by now had grown accustomed to his generosity and accepted the treats.
Then, they returned to the farm. Lilith settled on her bed and resumed her reading, while Theo went outside to complete his daily quest ‘[The Weight of Destiny]’.
<<<<
[Quest Complete: "The Weight of Destiny"]
[~Congratulations! You've successfully tackled the challenge to counteract the mysterious bug's poison. The sweat-soaked clothes and aching muscles are proof of your will power. Your determination and commitment have paid off.]
[Reward: +1 Basic Elixir of Stamina Gained]
[Current Body Weight: 133 kg]
>>>>
After completing the quest, he visited the farm to harvest the Nightshade tomatoes and then replanted them. Afterward, he took a refreshing shower and enjoyed a satisfying dinner with Elena before retiring to his room.
As the boy was settling down to sleep, he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Frowning, he asked, “What is it, Elena?”
“Lord Silverblade, it's me. I have something to show you…” The voice was familiar yet unexpected.
