Although both were wards, Serinda's room in the Earl's villa was much darker, damper and colder than Luo Ling's. So much so that Nina had to light the fireplace to make the young lady feel more comfortable.
Serinda was curled up in her bed, wrapped in a thick blanket, looking pale and lifeless.
Nina brought a potion prepared by Master Banderas. It was a ceramic bowl filled with a blue thick soup with bubbles coming out from time to time. It looked quite scary.
"Miss, it's time to take your medicine." Nina said softly.
"Take it away, this medicine is completely useless." said Serinda.
"But Master Banderas said that this restorative agent is the best potion he can make. Would you like to have a bite?" Nina scooped some soup with a spoon and handed it to Serinda's mouth.
"Take it! I said take it!" Serinda yelled.
Nina was a little slow, and the plate in her hand was overturned by her, and the whole bowl of medicine fell to the ground. Nina was very distressed, this potion required ten golden axes to make one bowl. Even ordinary people would have a significant improvement in their mental ability after drinking this. For mages and magic knights whose mental power was damaged, this was a rare medicine for injuries.
However, after drinking for a few days, Serinda's injuries did not improve at all, and she was still a useless person who could not use any magic. Therefore, her mood was always in a manic state. At this time, only Li Jia could calm her down.
Nina cleaned up the broken dishes and left the room, ready to call Li Jia to comfort her. Unexpectedly, she ran into an unexpected person as soon as she left the house.
"Lord Xiao." She saluted Xiao Chen nervously. In the meditation world, the impression he left on her was too deep and too indelible.
"Miss is in a bad mood now." Nina said in a low voice.
"Should I care about this?" Xiao Chen asked with a smile. He knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside, so he pushed the door open and walked into the room.
Serinda was sulking, but when she saw Xiao Chen coming in, she showed some nervousness. After secretly reading the "Shadow Scroll of the Sea of Consciousness", Xiao Chen had not met her alone. At this moment, she felt that a thief was naturally at a disadvantage when facing the owner. Moreover, Xiao Chen was no longer the same as before. Saving her and Nina had greatly improved his realm. The strength of a late intermediate mage would undoubtedly put a great pressure on a magic knight like her. The anger in her heart was suppressed.
Xiao Chen walked to Serinda's bed, and with a flick of his finger, a chair was pulled in front of him. This was the ability of the mind to move objects at an advanced stage. Before Serinda's mind was damaged, she could also move objects with her mind, but she could only move a needle, while Xiao Chen could only move a large and heavy chair. Serinda knew that even if she was not injured, this was a gap she would never be able to catch up with in her lifetime.
"We should have talked alone a long time ago." Xiao Chen sat on the chair, crossed his hands in front of him, and looked at Serinda with a cold look.
"If I hadn't been in a coma for over a week and hadn't recovered yet, I would have come to see you." Serinda's voice was very soft at this time, like a cat's meow, completely devoid of her usual strong voice.
"It's not too late now." Xiao Chen could feel her weakness. He had complicated feelings towards this woman. Perhaps because of her vision and experience, she gave him the impression of being foolish and cunning. Such people are often the source of trouble. However, Li Jia had a special liking for her. She did fight for Li Jia in his battle of consciousness, which moved Li Jia so much that he felt he had found true love.
"So, what do you want to say? If it's that matter, the family has already given you considerable compensation. Whether it's concessions on business terms, compensation of gold coins and raw materials, or the family's collection of books being open to you free of charge, both the Count and Master Banderas have sincerely given you their best things." Serinda said.
"I admit that. But the damage to the Sea of Consciousness Scroll cannot be compensated by anything. You opened it yourself and felt its power. You also understand how important a meditation space is to a magician. What's more, this is the inheritance of the ancient Seven Holy Towers. Think about it, if someone destroyed Master Ikasa's Wordless Scroll, what would happen? Just compensation, or a war?" Xiao Chen's sharp eyes made Serinda look away. "Besides, these compensations were paid by your father and Master Banderas. As the instigator of all this, what do you think? What I care about is your attitude and choice."
"You... are right." Serinda lifted the blanket and got out of bed. She was wearing a thin silk nightgown, and her beautiful figure was faintly visible under it. Her red hair was scattered on her shoulders. The coma in the past few days made her thinner and paler, which added a morbid beauty. She walked in front of Xiao Chen and knelt down slowly, "I apologize to you. I hope Ning can forgive my recklessness and selfishness."
However, just as her knees were about to touch the ground, an invisible force held her back.
"Get up. I don't need such an apology. I hope to see changes in the future." Xiao Chen frowned slightly and waved his hand. A fine linen shawl at the foot of the bed flew up and covered Serinda. He said, "In our place, your kneeling is very inappropriate. If you kneel down to me here today, how can I face Li Jia? This is called 'putting me in an unjust position'. If you really want to be with him, you still have a lot to learn."
"You would be a real gentleman if you hadn't just pushed the door open." Serinda put her shawl on herself and stood up slowly. "But I just hope you can see my sincerity. But your coming here today really makes me a little overwhelmed. I don't know how to satisfy you. However, we have different customs and ideas from you. Perhaps mutual understanding is the best choice."
"Humans, no matter which world's human civilization, have evolved slowly. We also had a shameless era when we ate raw meat and drank blood, but that is a thing of the past." Since this woman always wanted to gain the upper hand in words, Xiao Chen was not polite. "This world, except for magic, is a world of the past for us. There is no reason for people to go backwards, so if you really want to be with Li Jia, it's best to take a few steps forward along our path. Of course, I don't force this. It would be a relief for me if you stay where you are and don't get close to him anymore."
"Li Jia... and I are already together, forever, we can't be separated." Serinda smiled.
Together? Li Jia was quick enough. Xiao Chen shook his head and said, "Nothing lasts forever."
"You don't understand. When I helped him wake up, our souls merged and fought together. Now, we have a resonance. We can feel each other's presence anytime and anywhere, and can even convey various emotions and meanings to each other. This ability is getting stronger and stronger. One day, I can communicate with his soul directly. Do you think we can still separate in this situation?"
It turns out that they are not that kind of together. As for the resonance ability, Xiao Chen was a little surprised, but then he was relieved. Isn't this just the soul version of QQ? It doesn't even have QQ Show. It's nothing. He smiled and said, "Believe me, I have a lot of experience in this area. This kind of communication ability cannot be a guarantee of love."
Seeing that Serinda was looking at him doubtfully, Xiao Chen continued, "In my opinion, the premise for two people to be together is similar values and common interests. Li Jia loves you very much. Whether you love Li Jia or not, I don't know.
But no matter what your answer is, you only have two choices: either leave completely and let Li Jia give up; or learn to integrate with us and learn to consider issues from our interests.
Don't do those things that are self-serving and harmful to our interests. Don't force Li Jia into a dilemma and unable to make a decision. As his best friend, I will never allow such a thing to happen. "
Serinda's eyes flashed with annoyance. "But you are putting me in a dilemma. You even foresee future conflicts!"
"Because I am Li Jia's brother, not yours." Xiao Chen smiled, "That's why I hope you, not only you, but also the Arias family, will integrate into us. Otherwise, it's hard to say what the future will be like."
"There are only a few of you. Why don't you integrate into our world?" Serinda asked. "I heard a very good phrase in Li Jia's story called 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'. Isn't it suitable for you?"
"Because this world will change with our arrival." Xiao Chen said this very calmly, as if he was saying that tomorrow was Sunday. But this sentence caused a huge wave in Serinda's heart. She clearly felt his seriousness, his confidence, and his unquestionable attitude.
"Why are you saying this to me? Aren't you worried about the cooperation with the Arias family?" She hesitated a little.
"If cooperation is so fragile, what's the point?" Xiao Chen stood up and looked at Serinda. "I'm telling you this because you may become my brother's wife."
Perhaps these words really touched Serinda. She lowered her head slightly and said, "You are so confident."
"Because we hold the real power." Xiao Chen stretched out a hand, and a light appeared out of thin air in his hand. "This is magic, but it is not real power."
He flicked his finger, and the ball of light flew into the air. He waved his hand, and countless light spots flew out from his fingertips. These light spots were suspended in the air, like a brilliant galaxy, illuminating the entire room. Some light spots also floated to Serinda's side. She couldn't help but stretch out her hand and hold it under a light spot. Under the guidance of her remaining mental power, the light spot slowly came to her.
“That’s real power.”
Serinda looked at the starlight in the room with some confusion. She didn't understand what the so-called real power was. However, when she thought about the workshops and factories of these people, their armies and organizations, the piles of books in the library, and those unheard-of concepts and books, she suddenly had a glimmer of enlightenment. Then a look of shock occupied her face. She held the ball of light tightly in her hand, "You want to use your stuff to make magic, make magic..."
"Yes, I want to make magic something that everyone can have." Xiao Chen nodded, "After all, magicians in this world are too lonely."
(End of Volume 2)