Four days had passed since Aric woke up from mana poisoning. The biggest challenge was still the inner wiring of Callista's estate. Thankfully, the upper floors were already halfway done, though the ground floor still awaited completion.
Each day over the past four days, Aric had pushed himself to use matter manipulation for 14 hours straight. The intense, prolonged effort had significantly sharpened his control over the skill—but the mental strain still lingered, albeit somewhat reduced.
To prevent him from overworking, Seraphina had ordered that he take at least a one-hour break each day, closely supervised by Penelope.
On Friday, Penelope and Evelyn found him in one of the partially completed rooms, wires dangling loosely from freshly carved channels in the walls. His brow glistened with sweat as he worked methodically, manifesting tools and components whenever needed.
"Are you alright?" Penelope asked hesitantly, clutching her apron nervously.
Evelyn crossed her arms,
"If you need help, just say so. We're not here to babysit you—we're here to get this job done."
Aric sighed, "I appreciate the concern but some tasks require precision I can't delegate to you. Still…"
He gestured toward the exposed wires hanging from the wall.
"If you want to pitch in, I can show you how to screw these into place."
He conjured a screwdriver, holding it up for demonstration purposes.
"Each socket needs three plugs connected securely. Make sure the insulation isn't damaged, or we'll have sparks flying everywhere."
Evelyn took the screwdriver first, examining the setup briefly before attempting the task. To everyone's surprise, she got it right on her first try. Electricity hummed softly as Aric tested the connection with a test pen, nodding approvingly.
"Huh. Not bad. Looks like you've got a knack for this."
Penelope followed suit. Although slower than Evelyn, she managed to complete the task without incident. The small victory seemed to bolster her confidence, and she beamed shyly when Aric gave her a thumbs-up.
With their assistance handling simpler tasks, Aric focused on more complex installations, particularly those requiring matter manipulation. By 8 PM, they reached Callista's private chambers—a sprawling suite spanning three interconnected rooms.
The moment they stepped inside, Aric froze, taking in the decor that screamed Callista. Plush velvet drapes framed massive windows overlooking the estate's gardens, while golden chandeliers cast warm light across silk-covered furniture.
The air smelled faintly of vanilla and musk, a scent both intoxicating and overwhelming. It was luxurious, seductive, and undeniably chaotic—a reflection of its owner.
But what truly caught Aric's attention was the man kneeling in the center of the room, clad only in a pair of tight shorts and wearing a leather collar attached to a leash. His posture mimicked that of a dog, head bowed submissively as he waited patiently for his mistress.
Are my eyes deceiving me? Ivy, tell me I'm not going crazy.
Ivy who also had her mouth open wide, said with disbelief,
[No Aric. It appears we have a grown ass man on all fours...like a dog.]
Aric blinked, momentarily stunned.
"Uh… why is there a man kneeling like a dog? And why does he have a leash?"
Callista entered behind them, flanked by Seraphina, Penelope, and Evelyn. Callista was clearly amused by his reaction,
"Oh, darling, don't tell me you've never seen a pet play before. This is Lionel—he loves being treated like a puppy."
Before Aric could respond, Lionel barked enthusiastically in agreement, wagging his tail (or rather, shimmying awkwardly) as Callista approached him. She knelt gracefully, patting his head affectionately.
"Good boy. Mommy will play with you later, I promise."
Everyone exchanged incredulous looks. Even Seraphina, who prided herself on maintaining composure, looked mildly disgusted.
Lysandra above, what the fuck is this? Seraphina thought to herself in pure disbelief.
Her shadow tendrils coiled instinctively around Callista's ankle, gripping tightly.
"Let go of him. Indulge in your sick fantasies later. We're here to finish the wiring, not witness your depravity."
Callista frowned, throwing her hands up in the air as if she was disappointed,
"Ehhh, I was about to show a couple tricks I thought him. But fine—if you insist."
With a flick of her wrist, she used her gravity magic to push Seraphina's tendril away gently. She sauntered toward Lionel, giving him one last pat.
"Go over there there, puppy. Be good while Mommy works."
To everyone's astonishment, Lionel responded with another bark, crawling obediently to the corner of the room on all fours.
What the actual fuck. You're telling me I made a woman capable of making people be a dog...
Aric facepalmed in sheer disbelief, unable to even finish the sentence,
No wonder you were yelling at me to stop.
[I am still surprised that stupid plan even work. I didn't even bother to learn to just how freaky she really was. I think Vayne got it easy.]
No shit. If this body had ever been used for whatever twisted fantasy that involved being a dog, I would've seriously questioned my sanity.
Shaking off the surreal moment, Aric refocused on the task at hand.
Using matter manipulation, he parted the ceiling seamlessly, two sets of insulated wires dangling down neatly. Four wall sockets now lined the perimeter of Callista's bedroom, ready for final connections.
"This is the last major installation." Aric announced, conjuring a ladder and positioning it beneath the designated spot.
"I'll need someone to help lift the air conditioner unit once I'm up there."
Callista immediately volunteered, stepping forward eagerly. However, Seraphina intervened, her shadows snaking out to block the duchess's path.
"No." she snapped sharply.
"I'd rather assist my insufferable husband than let you anywhere near him."
Callista raised an eyebrow,
"Jealousy really doesn't suit you, love. But if you insist…"
Her tendrils coiled firmly around the heavy air conditioner unit, lifting it effortlessly and suspending it mid-air near the exposed wires.
Aric glanced at her, impressed despite himself.
"Thanks. Didn't realize shadows could handle weight like this."
Her lips twitched faintly, "Don't get used to it."
Aric began connecting the wires, ensuring each junction was secure. Once satisfied, he pushed open the window, revealing the exterior where the exhaust would be installed.
"Uh… anyone mind holding me steady?" he asked sheepishly, glancing down at the drop below.
"I need to climb outside to attach the exhaust."
Without hesitation, Seraphina extended her tendrils once again, wrapping them securely around his waist. She lifted him gently but purposefully, positioning him just outside the window.
I am so scared! I am basically 50ft off the ground here!
[Relax. Even if she drop you, there's enough time for you to break your fall.] Ivy remarked casually while polishing her nails
Amused by his obvious discomfort, she teased him lightly,
"Don't worry—I won't drop you. Unless you give me a reason to."
Aric shot her a wary glance, muttering under his breath, "Comforting."
Despite her playful threats, Seraphina held him steady as he worked, manifesting the exhaust and securing it in place. Two hours passed in tense silence, broken only by occasional instructions or comments from the others.
By 10 PM, the installation was complete.
Penelope flipped the switch, and the room came alive. The air conditioner hummed softly, the exhaust venting heat efficiently, while fluorescent lights illuminated the space perfectly. Even the ceiling fan spun smoothly, completing the transformation.
Callista approached, pulling a familiar object from her drawer—a vibrator, its battery light blinking red.
She looked rather sad while saying to Aric,
"This ran out yesterday you know. I was very sad. Make me a new one."
Aric stared at her blankly, torn between disbelief and exasperation.
I mean I was expecting that but I didn't expect for her to use it that much.
"No." he replied flatly. Instead, he manifested a USB-C charger, plugging it into the nearest wall socket.
"Here. Use this. The cord's long enough to reach to your bed so you can charge and play if you want."
Callista tilted her head thoughtfully, already happier now,
"How practical of you, darling."
Evelyn rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "Unbelievable."
"Well," Aric said dryly, descending from the ladder. "That's one way to test the generator's capacity. At least everything's working properly."
- Ivy's Realm -
Ivy sat cross-legged in the middle of an endless cosmic void. Infront of her was a monitor that watches Aric in real time. However she wasn't focus on that as she was busy reading a rom-com manga plucked from Aric's memory.
She flipped a page with one hand, sipping a floating bubble tea with the other.
Her peace was interrupted by the chime of her smartphone.
RING! RING! RING!
She answered without looking. "What?"
A distorted voice responded, "Send it to him. When he's ready."
Ivy finally looked up, eyes narrowing. She shifted her gaze to the glowing sphere hovering nearby—a dense, pulsing ball of memory. She analyzed it silently, her expression flattening,
"…What? You're putting that trial into motion?"
"Yes. It's inevitable." the caller said, matter-of-factly.
Ivy clicked her tongue and leaned back,
"Tch. I don't mind this trial for him." she said coolly,
"But if it leads to the same bullshit you pulled 300 years ago, I swear—I will put your face into the ground."
The voice gave a simple, dismissive, "Tch."
"Don't 'tch' me, you fucking cheater. I'll allow it so fuck off already."
A pause.
Then the voice replied, sounding almost amused,
"You're still mad about that?"
Ivy cracked her neck and her tone was with pure hatred,
"You better watch your damn mouth. I know where you live."
The call ended and her manga floated back to her,
"Well, at least Aric has healing, matter manipulation and creation magic." Ivy said reassuringly.
She sipped her drink and smirked as she flip another page,
"He will overcome the trial and beat you."