In the forest clearing, the campfire crackled, its flickering orange light dispelling the night’s chill and casting dancing shadows across the faces of the three companions.
Julius was focused on roasting a wild rabbit over the fire, along with a wild boar that had seemingly come out of nowhere and accidentally knocked itself unconscious by running straight into him.
Grease dripped into the flames, emitting a series of sharp *sizzles* as the tempting aroma of roasting meat filled the air.
Gavi sat quietly by the fire, her shimmering eyes reflecting the jumping flames as she remained lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Helos was pacing back and forth in the open space like a restless kitten with too much energy. She would suddenly speed up, stop abruptly, and even ran several laps around a large tree.
“Can you settle down for a bit?”
Julius watched her overly energetic display and couldn’t help but complain, “You’re making me dizzy just watching you.”
“I’m just warming up my body!”
Helos stopped in her tracks, her face beaming with uncontrollable excitement.
She ran over to Julius and triumphantly showed off her steady breathing. “Did you see that? I ran for so long just now, and I’m not tired at all!”
Julius looked at her cheeks, which were slightly flushed from excitement, and then at the golden-brown rabbit meat in his hand. He shook his head, feeling a bit puzzled.
He felt as if Helos was significantly more agile today than usual, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was different.
Naturally, he couldn’t tell what was wrong because Helos had just used the hunting trip as an excuse to secretly test her newly unlocked skill.
The effects of **[Physical Enhancement]** far exceeded her expectations.
After activating it just once, she could clearly feel a surge of new power being injected into her originally frail body. Her speed, strength, and even her endurance had improved significantly.
As for her other skill, **[Power Manifestation: Illusion]**, she hadn’t had the chance to test it yet.
However, the changes brought by **[Physical Enhancement]** alone were enough to satisfy her.
‘With this, even if I don’t have mana, I won’t be left too far behind by those mana-users!’
“Alright, alright, I get it. You’re amazing.”
Julius tore off a roasted rabbit leg and handed it to her.
“Eat up, our great hero.”
“Hmph, you don’t have to tell me!”
Helos unceremoniously took the leg and began munching on it happily.
What she needed to do now was properly acclimate herself to these newly unlocked abilities and strive to unleash their true power as soon as possible.
***
As the night deepened, the temperature in the forest dropped.
Gavi continued to faithfully perform her sentry duties, standing like a statue at the edge of the camp to keep watch.
Julius had already laid out a simple sleeping bag and prepared to rest.
However, Helos, like a cat afraid of the cold, wrapped herself in a blanket and scooted toward him bit by bit.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
Julius shifted slightly to the side, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
“I’m cold,” Helos replied matter-of-factly.
She wrapped the blanket tighter around herself and used Julius’s shoulder as a pillow without hesitation. Tilting her head, she leaned against him contentedly.
Julius’s entire body went stiff.
A faint scent of grass and wood drifted from the girl, and her warmth radiated through the blanket, making him feel paralyzed.
“Can… can you move a bit further away?”
The squire’s voice was strained.
“No.”
Helos mumbled sleepily, even snuggling closer into his arms.
“It’s too cold at night. Don’t you think huddling together makes it warmer?”
Julius was completely out of options.
He glanced at the campfire nearby.
‘That thing is clearly warmer, isn’t it?’
The boy could feel the girl’s steady breathing brushing against his neck. That faint, warm breath made his heart drum against his ribs.
He kept his body rigid, not daring to move an inch. He could only stare helplessly at the brilliant starry sky above until he finally drifted into a groggy sleep past midnight.
***
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Gavi woke the two of them on time.
Julius climbed up from the ground with heavy dark circles under his eyes, looking utterly exhausted. He felt as if half of his body had gone numb.
Helos, on the other hand, had slept perfectly and looked refreshed and full of energy.
They quickly packed up the camp and set off on the road back to Olivius City.
The journey was quiet.
By the time they returned to the familiar city, it was already afternoon.
The sun was bright, and the streets were bustling with people, filled with a lively atmosphere.
The three of them went to the Adventurer’s Guild first to submit the stone-skin lizard’s hide and Monster Core. They successfully completed their first C-rank mission and received a reward of 10,000 Soli.
Under the gazes of the surrounding adventurers—a mix of awe and curiosity—Helos satisfiedly put away the coin pouch and led her teammates back to the duke’s mansion.
With the magical beast hunt over for now, the Valiance Arts of alchemy were successfully unlocked.
For a long time afterward, Helos’s life seemed to return to its usual tranquility.
She spent most of her time in her workshop, researching various forms of alchemy and her newly unlocked abilities.
Occasionally, when she felt staying in the mansion was too boring, she would drag Julius along under the name of the “Zero Squad” to take on some minor tasks at the Adventurer’s Guild.
She called it “experiencing life,” but in reality, she just wanted to go out and play.
Such peaceful and fulfilling days continued for a long time, even giving Helos an illusion.
‘Perhaps this kind of life will continue forever.’
However, the arrival of one person completely shattered that hard-won stability.
***
That afternoon, Helos was at the training ground being “thrashed” by Gavi alongside Julius, just like any other day.
She had just scrambled up from the ground and hadn’t even had time to complain when she saw the tall figure of Duke Eisend appear at the entrance of the training ground.
Standing beside him was a female stranger dressed in a long black dress, exuding an incredibly elegant aura.
“Father?”
Helos blinked, stunned. She hadn’t expected her father to appear here so suddenly.
Eisend ignored her surprise, merely gazing at her calmly with his deep, authoritative eyes.
“Helos.”
His voice was flat as always, yet it startled the girl so much she nearly dropped her sword.
“Starting today, she will be your etiquette teacher.”
“What?!”
Helos’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“An etiquette… teacher?”
“Correct.”
Eisend nodded. His gaze swept over Helos’s mud-stained training clothes and her posture, which looked nothing like a Noble Daughter’s. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
“Your current words and deeds show no awareness of your position as a member of the Olivias Family.”
“In the coming days,” his tone became strictly serious, “you must follow this teacher and learn everything regarding the etiquette of a noble lady.”
“You must become a proper lady.”
She is so oblivious.