章 20: Part 19
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After Eris and I danced, the musicians took on a more classic theme for such events. The usual couple dances began. The gentlemen invited the ladies. And after Cyrus's shouting, it was no surprise that a whole crowd of girls from noble families flocked to me. And their eyes were sparkling... they were obviously impressed by the first dance and wanted to experience it themselves. But I don't think any of them could. But the music was no longer appropriate. So, I quietly got together with a few girls in a slow dance.
At the same time, there were also those who invited Eris. But judging by the girl's look, she wasn't really bothered by it. During the next dances she looked more at the tables with snacks than at her partners. And that, she agreed only in exceptional cases, when Hilda looked at her very demanding. More often, Eris just politely declined. But it's still quite unpleasant for the gentlemen.
I, on the other hand, have, at some point, set my sights on older girls ...
After all, it's just a dance. Adults and children could be partners here, there wasn't some romantic subtext. Well, the system helped me gauge their moods to determine whether I would get a dance or be sent away.
Hilda Borey Greyrat.
Mood - delighted, happy for Eris
Reputation:
Hilda - really wants to hug you and hold you to her chest like a son, but doesn't want to admit it
Anyway, yes...
- Lady, may I have the honour of asking you to dance?
And Hilda, who before tried to show me only coldness and disdain, opened her eyes in surprise.
- Yes, I shall gladly accept your invitation. - In the same etiquette, she answered, taking my hand.
It was nothing special, just a slow dance with a beautiful partner. But, I really did want to dance with this woman. And her disgruntled expression relaxed in the dance and, at the end, she even smiled at me.
In the past time I had spent in the mansion, her attitude towards me had changed somewhat. She seemed to be increasingly substituting me for the image of her sons who had been taken to the Notos house. And now, she's practically melted to me, no longer feigning displeasure. In passing, I turned my attention to her husband. Philip himself was dancing with some of the girls, having some political conversations. But from the look in his eyes it was clear that he would have been much happier to choose one of the maids, or Gilen, as his partner. He has long noticed that there is no passion or even friendship between him and Hilda, they have simply grown accustomed to each other over the years of marriage. And this is despite the fact that this woman has just incredibly beautiful looks. But it just so happens that Phillip has his own fetishes, he's more attracted to beastmen. Good thing I'm not like that. I don't get hung up on any particular fetishes, and have a much broader perspective.
After that dance, I walked around the room for a while, did another slow dance with Eris.
Then, I asked the maids to take some snacks to my room. It's just that the girl's look was very hungry. As the birthday girl, she's supposed to entertain the guests, and before that, she had preparations to do, she's had practically nothing to eat since morning. And then there was Gilen, she was also looking longingly at the food, but then again, being a guardian of the manor, she wasn't supposed to touch the tables at the reception at all.
And finally...
It was already getting dark when I asked the musicians to play the energetic tune again so I could repeat the first dance with the birthday girl.
- Haa... - The girl sighed excitedly. - That was great, Rudy...
She had already started calling me by that acronym in a very natural way.
- Honestly, I didn't think I'd like it so much.
- Ha ha.
And yet.
- This is our dance. - I said softly. - We created it together, and no one else knows it, for now it's just for the two of us.
- Umm... yes... - Eris blushed and nodded embarrassedly.
Geez, Rudeus Greyrat, are you seriously flirting with a ten year old girl?
Reputation:
Eris - you are her first love
Nada...
That said, the system was in no hurry to add her to the group. Recalling the terms of the assignment, unlike Sylphie and Roxy, the requirement here was not to fall in love with a girl, but to tame her. In any case, I was more concerned with what I was going to do with this love at all now. Well, Sylphietta is in love with me too, so yeah... for now, the solution is to do nothing, actually. Maybe when Eris is older, options will open up for me, but for now, I'm just her teacher, well, friend and cousin. I can't reciprocate those feelings, though I seem to have a warm affection for her myself. But, rather, as a younger sister, though with the expectation that in the future she may become my girlfriend.
And now such worries did not bother me as much as before.
Meanwhile, the festivities were coming to an end.
At least the children's part of it. Some of the guests began to leave. Not to their homes, after all, they had travelled here from different parts of the kingdom, but to their guest rooms. Some would stay here for a couple more days, some for weeks, and some would go home tomorrow. In any case, the birthday girl could now leave the common room, which she gladly did. Although many of the adult guests were still chatting amongst themselves and some were still dancing, the ball was not over for them.
Gilen, as Eris's bodyguard, also went with her. So I decided I had nothing more to do in the ballroom.
- Hey, let's go.
- What? Rudy?
- I have a present for you.
- Y-yes? - The girl was embarrassed.
I don't know what she was thinking. But when I brought them to my room, where the maid had brought some snacks earlier, both girls just glowed with joy. Cat's tummy rumbled hungrily.
- It's...
- Yes, I noticed that you were hungry, but... anyway, just in case, I asked you to prepare this for you.
- Rudy! - Eris was happy.
- But first...
It was only then that the girl noticed an object lying on the bed.
- Oh, that's it.
- It's bigger than your practice sword, but when you get older, it should be just fine....
Eris opened her mouth. Although, while the sword was still in its sheath, it looked beautiful. Even the scabbard itself had an interesting painting and was mesmerising with a dark lustre. Taking it, I hold out the weapon to the girl, but before handing it over, I explain the basics.
- Mages also have a tradition where a mentor gives their apprentice a focus, wand, or staff. But I didn't think such an instrument would suit you at all. So I made a sword. Its hilt is a magical staff. And the blade has a lightning spell built into it, so when you get the hang of it, you can use it. And the scabbard is unusual, too.
I made them last week and, of course, enchanted them as well as the sword itself.
- They contain a healing spell of holy rank. It can heal even serious wounds, but it's unlikely to heal mortal wounds, so be careful anyway.
Eris listened to me with her mouth open even wider and her eyes wide with enthusiasm.
- This... is it for me?
- Yes, it's my gift to you for your tenth birthday.
She was happy to accept such a gift and took the sword and pulled it out of its scabbard a few centimetres, looking at the dark blade with even more delight.
- May I...
- Yes, this is your sword now and you can do whatever you want with it.
- Huh...
With an impressed sigh, the girl pulled the sword out of its sheath, admiring its blade.
- Oh... - Even Gilen was impressed.
Her eye glittered with admiration.
And, at that moment, I pulled out the second sword, which was previously lying behind the nightstand by the bed and went unnoticed.
- Gilen, you're my apprentice too. Even though your celebrations are over... and beastmen don't have a tradition of birthday presents, but... when I made a present for Eris, I made a present for him as well.
The cat stared dumbfounded at the dark, curved sword with a beautiful tasselled scabbard. And the scabbard itself had a bizarre electric pattern with mystical paintings on it.
- Though it has a different shape, it is functionally very similar to Eris' sword. Its hilt is also a focus, and the blade contains a lightning spell. And a healing sheath.
Now Gilen was taking the weapon from my hands with hidden delight, and then she was admiring the blade with obvious and undisguised admiration when she took it out of its sheath.
- It is a fine sword, Rudeus. - There was genuine respect in the cat's voice.
I was pleased by her high praise. In fact, I was afraid she wouldn't be too happy about it, since she already had a sword of her own. And Gilen's sword is not just a weapon, it's a legend in the swordsmanship world. Although, its properties are not as unambiguous as it may seem. Her system tells her that her sword somehow enhances her strikes, that's all.
- Y-yes, Rudy! That's easy! You're the best! - Eris exclaimed emotionally.
- And now you can both call yourselves magicians. But of course, your lessons aren't over yet.
- Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Putting the sword aside, Eris happily hugged me and hung around my neck, bending her legs and wiggling them with happiness.
- Thank you for this gift, Master. - Gilen bowed her head politely.
- Ohhh... I'm glad you enjoyed it.
So, with Eris around my neck, I reached out and stroked the cat's head. Her ears twitched slightly and she gave me a strange look, but she didn't pull away.
- Okay, you can eat now, and tomorrow you can try out the presents.
- Yes! - The young lady squealed with joy.
But now she was not so hungry. While eating, Eris kept glancing at the sword, admiring it. She was clearly more interested in running out into the courtyard and waving it around, even though it was a bit heavy for her. She could practise with it, though.
Gilen, on the other hand, was calmer and, placing the gift next to her, decided to finally fill her belly with goodies.
Only after a while did Eris calm down somewhat.
And then she began to look expectantly at her bodyguard. Even I didn't realise the meaning of that look right away.
- Oh... it looks like Eris was expecting a gift from you too. - I remarked while looking at the pussy swordswoman.
- Yeah? I was surprised. - We don't do gifts... I didn't prepare anything.
- I see..." The girl's voice trembled.
She wasn't too upset, though, and soon she was looking at my gift again, stroking the scabbard affectionately. Still, she really likes such things.
At the same time...
- You know, it doesn't have to be something expensive... maybe just a nice trinket, a symbol of your attention, you know? - I say quietly to the cat.
- That's how... then... Eris, take this.
- Huh? It's a ring.
Gilen took a small ring off her finger and handed it to Eris.
- This ring is passed down in my family. It protects you from wolves at night... so they say. But it's just a pretty ring, that's all.
It's really not.
I evaluated this trinket through the scan.
The man's demise
A ring endowed with a terrible curse, capable of causing impotence in any man who comes into sexual contact with the ring's owner.
Note - only works with vaginal penetration!
Gotta remember that. If Eris and I ever get to that-something, it's worth asking her to take the ring off. But, of course, the system took the details of activating the curse quite seriously. As long as there's no penetration, it's fine.
Meanwhile, the girl herself was very pleased with the gift. Though, it wasn't that she was so pleased with the ring itself, she was just pleased that Gilen had done it for her. But, also, by this point she was getting pretty tired. And now she was also full. Indeed, it was already deep into the night, and Eris had been on her feet since morning, and dancing all evening. Now that she was relaxed, and had eaten, and was in a more cosy environment, she didn't notice herself falling asleep. She only had to make herself comfortable on my bed.
I could actually feel my eyes starting to close.
Especially at the sight of Eris snoozing sweetly and contentedly.
- Rudeus, you go to bed, too. - Gilen said softly.
- Hey, is this a devious plan? You know I can be a bad wolf. And you're putting me to bed with Eris. And even after giving her that scary ring... I didn't expect that from you....
- What?
Cat looked at me in surprise while I shook my head disappointedly.
- Or didn't you know?
- I don't understand you, what are you trying to say, Rudeus?
- Well, that your ring is actually magic. It has a curse on it.
The pussy swordswoman opened her mouth in surprise.
- Really?
- I'm a wizard and I know about these things.
- Ah... we should take the ring away from her if it has a curse on it. - The cat looked at Eris with concern.
- Well, that curse doesn't work on the person wearing the ring. It works a little differently...
- Do you know what it does?
- Apparently... in someone who sleeps with the ring's mistress.... Basically, if a bad wolf attacks her at night, he loses his wolf power.
- What does that have to do with anything? - Gilen didn't understand.
- The wicked wolf is a metaphor, an allegory, the wolf means a man who seduces an innocent girl.
- Ah! - The cat realised, slamming her fist on her palm. - Now I get it! Hmm... that time I took the ring off, right... I see....
- Okay, since you didn't do it on purpose, I'm not mad at you. And just so you know, I wouldn't do that to Eris.
The cat tilted her head.
- I see.
During that brief conversation, I got a little drowsy myself.
I finally gave up and just lay down next to Eris and fell asleep. I woke up in the girl's arms, though she wasn't asleep, she was looking at me strangely, and she wasn't in a hurry to wake me up, waiting for me to wake up.
After that, when we had changed into normal clothes, I took Eris and Gilen to the courtyard, where I began to teach them how to use magical artefacts. Even if not the first time, they had mastered activating the spells of their swords. Although, it was still necessary to learn how to use them correctly at the right moment. But that was a matter of technique. And, it should also be noted that both swordswomen were extremely pleased with the gifts.
And after that.
For the next month, our life at the manor returned to its usual rhythm. Eris was somewhat frustrated that she had to learn to read and write again, but she did her best. Sometimes it seemed that she was trying not so much for the skills themselves, but because she wanted to look better in my eyes. A childhood crush gives her more motivation to study.
I started emptying my magic reserve almost to the bottom again, when mana depletion makes me nauseous. Improving complex spells helped me with that. However, because of this, it had also almost never fully recovered in a long time. When I woke up in the morning I felt that I had only a quarter or less of my mana reserve. A little later, I started my first experiments with regeneration magic. I've wanted to start for a long time, I just haven't had the time, and there have been other projects that are still unfinished, generally speaking, and are in the process of being researched.
As for regeneration...
Royal rank healing magic is a strategic secret of the Church of Milis, it can't be reached so easily. Hence, I had to go my own way. I had previously read the entire medical manual from cover to cover, and I had some ideas. In particular, I decided to focus on stem cells. Stimulate them through a healing spell. But to do that, I also needed to study the base itself.
I used to think stem cells were stem cells. Turns out there are three kinds of stem cells. Actually, more than that. There are basic stem cells, embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. The first are the most changeable and are able to adapt to almost any organism without causing rejection. Adult stem cells already have a marker, which, as it were, attributes them to their organism, which makes it difficult to transplant them to another person. And these adult cells are divided into three types. Blood stem cells, which transform into different types of blood cells. Bone cells, which become bone and tendon cells. And tissue cells, which become part of organs and muscles and nerves.
For the spell to work, it had to activate all three types of adult stem cells. In addition, it had to direct them to regenerate exactly what was needed.
So I bought some rats from the city to experiment on.
Generally, it's customary to experiment on mice, but rats were just easier to get. When the first forms of the new spell were developed, I just started cutting off the rodents' limbs and applying magic to them to restore their legs. Yeah, that spell should work on rats, too. Stem cells aren't just a human thing, they're inherent in most animal organisms.
But the first attempts were a failure.
Several rats died before I perfected the spell so it wouldn't deplete the target. And then... by the end of the month, one rat had grown something that only vaguely resembled a paw in place of the stump. She could even move that weird little thing.
After that, I had to stop experimenting for a while.
The time had come, and I needed to return to Bueno to help Lilia with the birth. The Boreas went to meet me, though this time Eris was cranky and begged to come with me. But her parents wouldn't let her go.
That's how I returned to my home village when my personal maid was in her last month. And although she was happy to see me, as was Zenith, there was some tension in the house. Oh, and of course, I checked on my little sister right away.
- Oh, Norn, you're getting so pretty. And when you were born, you were so ugly that I thought you were an alien.....
- Oooh... - The little one made a disgruntled face.
- Hey, hey, don't cry! Look, a trick!
It still works.
The sight of water fish floating through the air calmed the girl down.
As for the tension in the house... that was Zenith's discontent. While she was struggling to get over the separation from her husband, Paul had settled down quite well, by and large. At first, he was also grieving, except that there was a whole crowd of young girls in the village who were happily ready to comfort him. While Ada didn't even put up any conditions like Zenith.
Anyway, my father heeded my advice and decided to have a harem.....
But here I came home, and Zenith stopped looking around angrily, watching her already, practically, ex-husband, bathed in the caresses of all sorts of girls. Now she switched to me, and a day did not go by that I was not squeezed at least a couple of hours a day.
- And Sylphie's always dropping by. - Mum said, smiling brightly.
And just then, Sylphie came to visit.
I checked on her, too, to see what she'd learnt during my absence. So, she's getting better and better, especially at air magic. And while I was here, I also made a protective amulet for her, like the one I gave to Roxy earlier.
And finally.
After two weeks in Bueno, my daughter was born.
Lily went through labour even easier than Zenith did. Even though the maid was still traumatised from a poisoning incident in her youth. Well, she's still young now, but it's been almost ten years. Yeah, it's like she was made for this, to have children. Anyway, with the support of healing magic, just in case, she revealed to this world a baby girl with a dark fuzz of hair on the top of her head.
- She has your eyes, Rudy. - Zenith noticed right away.
- Mine are green.
- They were blue when you were born.
- Weren't they?
I think that's what happens when children change eye and hair colour as they get older.
- Don't worry, sir... - Lilia whispered tiredly, taking the girl in her arms. - I will raise her as your loyal servant.
- Umm...
- I'll be happy if my daughter can serve you as I do.
- Hey, hey, she's my daughter.
- Oh... I'm sorry...
- What are you going to name her?
- Hmm... honestly, I haven't really thought about it much, I have some thoughts, but... Lilia, what would you like to name her?
The mother looked at her daughter. There was no doubt in her eyes. It looked like she had already been pondering a name for her future child for some time herself. Couldn't help but think about it.
- Aisha. - Concluded the maid.
That's how I had my first child.
Achievement "firstborn" obtained!
Your first child has been born, and it's a girl!
Reward: A beautiful daughter
Even the system congratulated me on having a girl.
週次パワーステータス
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