The night deepens, and the ancestral mansion of the Storm Clan appears particularly serene under the illumination of the Magic Crystal Lamp.
Ron is accommodated in the guest suite in the East Wing of the estate, a luxurious residence composed of three rooms.
The master bedroom’s decor is elegant yet luxurious, with walls made of moonstone, emitting a gentle color at night.
"Master, the environment here is indeed nice."
Ailan’s branches gently caress the various decorations in the room:
"The concentration of the wind element is adjusted well, beneficial to plant life."
Dale stretches her body in the crystal bath prepared especially in the suite.
"Master, the water quality of this bath is much better than that at the observation station."
The Sea Siren Girl’s voice carries satisfaction:
"There’s a faint oceanic scent that reminds me of the coral reef back home."
Ron acknowledges with a sound, then begins his routine meditation cultivation.
"Star Eater’s Ravings" operates within him.
An ancient power from the depths of the stars slowly injects into his spiritual core.
With the continuous exertion of the "Star Projection" trait, he can feel his magic circuit undergoing subtle optimization.
.........
The first ray of morning sunlight has just penetrated the crystal windows of the Storm Clan ancestral mansion.
Three blonde girls have already started a debate in the private living room.
"I say, Carmela, stop dreaming."
Lianna sits at the vanity, leisurely combing her golden hair with a silver comb.
"You saw last night, how did Lecturer Ralph react to our... enthusiasm?"
She puts down the silver comb and examines her delicate face in the mirror, a self-deprecating smile at the corner of her mouth:
"His gaze didn’t linger even for half a second.
Either he’s truly immune to beauty as rumored, or we three, in his eyes... are simply not worthy."
The youngest sister, Lavni, is still nestled in the ivory silk bedding, with only a head of fluffy blond hair and sleep-laden blue eyes exposed.
Upon hearing her sister’s words, she lazily turns over:
"As I said... who would want to get up so early?
Moreover, Lianna is right, given last night’s situation and his indifference, approaching him now would be humiliating."
She yawns, her voice tinted with the sound of just waking up:
"Besides, there’s word that those two alien maid servants beside him... tsk tsk, heard their bloodline ranks are very high, our ordinary human attractiveness is like fireflies meeting the moon compared to theirs."
Yet, second sister Carmela sits up from bed, a gaze of near-obsessive resolve burning in her sapphire eyes.
She slowly shakes her head, her voice carrying a do-or-die determination:
"You don’t understand."
She gets out of bed and walks to the window, gazing at the distant, faintly visible Crystal Tower through the carved glass:
"Precisely because in talent, I can’t compare to others, I need to seize every opportunity.
Lianna, your spiritual talent is fourth-class upper, with a great chance of advancing to an official wizard.
Even though Lavni is the youngest, her talent is fourth-class upper too, and she has some chance of becoming an official wizard."
She turns around, her expression a mixture of reluctance and desire:
"And me? Fourth-class lower talent, if I can’t find a truly promising power to back me..."
Carmela doesn’t finish her sentence, but the fire of ambition in her eyes says it all.
In the Wizard World, talent determines a person’s developmental ceiling.
Fourth-class lower talent means she’s likely to linger in the advanced apprentice stage for life, never reaching true power.
"But Carmela..." Lianna’s tone softens slightly as she walks towards her sister:
"Do you truly think Ron Ralph would change his mind because of beauty?"
She gently strokes Carmela’s shoulder:
"When father introduced us last night, I carefully observed his gaze.
That kind of calm... wasn’t an act. Like looking at three pieces of stone, without any personal emotion."
"Moreover..." Lianna lowers her voice, a flicker of fear in her eyes:
"Did any of you notice how, when he looked at us, my bloodline instinct warned me? Like an antelope facing a leopard..."
Lavni also sits up from bed, her little face filled with confusion:
"I thought it was just me feeling that. Clearly, his power level isn’t as high as our Moon-level father’s, but why does he feel so... terrifying?"
Yet Carmela’s expression grows even more determined.
She walks to the wardrobe, starting to choose today’s attire:
"The more this is, the more it shows he’s extraordinary.
How could any ordinary young wizard gain Cassandra Tower Master’s attention before turning twenty?"
She pulls out a sky-blue silk long dress, her favorite:
"I don’t expect to truly conquer him, but if I can leave some impression...
Even just for him to remember my name is a huge gain for me."
Lianna looks at her sister’s near-obsessive determination, her heart filled with complex emotions.
As the eldest sister, of course she hopes the other can gain more developmental opportunities.
Yet simultaneously, she worries that Carmela might make irrational moves due to excessive ambition.
"Alright then..." she finally compromises:
"But remember, know your limits.
If he explicitly shows displeasure, stop immediately.
Offending someone like him is a cost our family cannot afford.
Lavni crawls back under the covers, her muffled voice coming out: