"Ah! I'm stuck!" Ryan tried to adjust his position, only to find his body tightly confined by the bucket, unable to move. He let out a helpless wail.

  The shout was piercing, loud enough for Evelyn, who was meditating inside, to hear it clearly.

  In her mind, she immediately pictured Ryan curled up in the small bucket, trapped in a ridiculous predicament. A faint smile unconsciously tugged at the corners of her mouth.

  Originally, she had tossed him the bucket intending only for him to fetch some water, dilute the purification liquid, and pour it over himself. She never expected the boy to climb in entirely.

  Evelyn shook her head, closed her eyes again, and continued channeling her magic for meditation.

  With his strength, he could easily burst the wooden bucket open with a surge of magic. There was no need to interfere; let him fumble around outside.

  Outside, Ryan, stuck in the bucket, gave up struggling.

  In the cold snowy night, the warm water enveloped his body, dispelling all chill. He let out a satisfied low hum:"So comfortable."

  He decided to soak for a while. With the crystal continuously heating the water like a long-lasting hot spring, Ryan relaxed his body and let the warm water soak into his skin.

  "Grimoire, take some Mana Essence from my storage space and pour it into the bucket." Ryan was too lazy to move, even extending a hand felt like too much effort.

  Just like someone reluctant to get out of bed in winter, unwilling to expose any part of their body to the cold air.

  【Executing this command requires a fee of one hundred Origin Value.】 Grimoire's voice echoed in his mind.

  "You charge me a hundred points for this?" Ryan couldn't help but complain. This Grimoire was getting more and more stingy.

  【Could the host give me a bit more Origin Value?】 Grimoire's tone suddenly became sycophantic.

  "You want Origin Value?" Ryan deliberately dragged out his words.

  【Desperately want it!】

  "No." Ryan refused without hesitation.

  【Screw you.】 Grimoire instantly lost its charm, returning to its usual irritable tone.

  The next moment, a crystal vial containing Mana Essence was pulled out by Grimoire's magic, floating above Ryan's head and lightly tapping his skull.

  The force was small, but full of retribution. The vial then tilted, and the Mana Essence poured into the warm water.

  "You hold grudges so well!" Ryan muttered, but Grimoire gave no response, evidently too lazy to engage in meaningless bickering.

  Ryan didn't bother either. He focused, activating Chaosforge Arcana to absorb the dissolved magic from the bucket.

  After a few minutes of meditation, Ryan did not become drowsy simply by meditating. He only allowed himself to sleep when he was in an absolutely secure and comfortable environment.

  After all, the Chaosforge Arcana he practiced was very special. Even during sleep, it could operate autonomously, absorbing magic.

  As Chaosforge Arcana ran, the magical energy in the bucket, along with the faint floral fragrance, was continuously drawn into his body, merging with his magical core.

  The floral scent was fresh and elegant, not overpowering, leaving anyone who smelled it feeling relaxed and refreshed. At this moment, if Ryan stepped outside, his whole body would emit this gentle fragrance.

  Late at night, the snowfall grew heavier. Snowflakes landed on the courtyard's stone slabs and rooftops, quickly forming a thin layer of white.

  Ryan, curled up in the bucket, instinctively drew his body tighter into the warm water. The heat, infused with lingering traces of magical energy, made every inch of his skin feel exquisitely comfortable.

  Eventually, only the tip of his small nose remained above the water for breathing, his chin submerged, and a few delicate snowflakes rested on his hair, making his complexion appear even paler.

  Inside the room, Evelyn held her breath and focused her mind, finally finishing today's magical meditation.

  She lifted her gaze to the window; the sky outside had already grown completely dark.

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  She turned to look at the bed on the other side of the room, expecting to see Ryan back and sleeping soundly, only to be surprised that the room was empty except for her.

  Evelyn straightened her long legs and rose to her feet, quickly scanning the room, but there was still no sign of Ryan. A thought crept unbidden into her mind: Could he have gone to find that Sally again?

  At the thought, her irritation spiked instantly.

  She briskly strode toward the door, her steps growing faster, the hem of her dress whipping up gusts of wind. If not for maintaining her poise, she would have kicked the door open and flown out with her magic to find him.

  She had already warned him not to disturb anyone else's meditation, and if she caught him meeting Sally this time, he would be punished properly to understand the rules!

  Evelyn flung open the door. The icy wind and drifting snowflakes hit her face as she prepared to surge with magic to search for him. But the moment the door opened, she froze in place.

  Her gaze fell to Ryan, stuck in the bucket, and she fell silent, pondering: This bucket is only meant for water. How on earth did he manage to fit his entire body inside?

  The warm water gave off gentle steam in the cold snowy night. Ryan, curled inside, wore a blissful, almost ecstatic expression, the corners of his lips slightly lifted, clearly sleeping deeply.

  Evelyn stared at him, and her anger instantly dissipated, replaced by a hint of guilt. She had misunderstood him.

  She had never imagined that for something as simple as washing up, he would actually fall asleep in the bucket.

  Slowing her steps, she moved closer and crouched down gently, quietly observing Ryan's delicate sleeping face. Snowflakes landed in her hair, unnoticed.

  "Wake up." Evelyn extended her slender fingers and lightly poked Ryan's clean, pale cheek, her voice soft and gentle, calling his name quietly.

  As she expected, Ryan did not stir, still sleeping soundly. Evelyn shook her head helplessly and finally plunged her hands into the warm water.

  The bucket was already cramped, so as soon as her hands entered, they inevitably brushed against Ryan's solid chest, feeling the steady and powerful rhythm of his heartbeat.

  Evelyn paused, momentarily startled by the warmth transmitted through her fingertips. She quickly composed herself, scooped up some water, and gently splashed it onto Ryan's cheek.

  The splash acted like a switch. Ryan's eyes snapped open, a fierce warrior's glint flashing across his gaze.

  Years of life-and-death experiences had honed his instincts, and he reacted immediately. His magical energy burst forth uncontrollably, and the already fragile bucket shattered into pieces.

  Water splashed everywhere as Ryan lunged straight at Evelyn, steam rising around him.

  Evelyn had not anticipated such a strong reaction. She was doused in the sprayed water, much of her long dress soaked, and before she could even react properly, Ryan's pounce reached her.

  Her heart leapt in alarm, and she quickly raised her hands to push against Ryan's chest, attempting to ward off the sudden impact.

  But Evelyn had still underestimated Ryan's strength. She had intended to push him away, yet not only did she fail to send him flying, she found herself caught by his wrist as he used her momentum against her.

  Ryan pressed against Evelyn with his inertia, and the two of them tumbled backward, crashing onto the floor with a dull thud.

  At this moment, Ryan's eyes were slightly red, his mind still stuck in a state of startled alertness. With lightning-fast reflexes, he opened his mouth and bit toward Evelyn's slender neck.

  This was an instinct for self-preservation, ingrained in him from countless life-and-death experiences across multiple lifetimes.

  Evelyn stared at Ryan, who appeared almost frenzied, and her eyes widened in shock. She tried to pull away, but her limbs and wrists were pinned firmly to the floor by Ryan, leaving her unable to move.

  In a split second, she unleashed all her magical power, forming a protective shield around her neck. A piercing chill radiated from her body, almost freezing the surrounding air.

  Ryan's teeth ultimately touched Evelyn's fair neck, but the layer of magical shielding prevented any real damage.

  Evelyn had nothing to fear. If Ryan had really bitten down, the shield would have rebounded, possibly sending him flying or even injuring his teeth.

  But just as his teeth were about to make contact, Ryan's movements suddenly slackened, and the crimson in his eyes gradually faded.

  He relaxed his jaw, slowly lifting his head, his drowsy gaze meeting Evelyn's eyes.

  "Eve.., Mentor?" Ryan looked at Evelyn, drenched and with hair in disarray, and suddenly became fully alert.

  His mind went blank, and his throat involuntarily moved as he swallowed.

  At this moment, Evelyn's wet hair clung to her cheeks and neck, softening her usually cold and noble aura into a surprisingly fragile, almost pitiful appearance.

  Most strikingly, a row of clear red teeth marks remained on her pale neck.

  Ryan felt deeply regretful. He had been asleep so soundly, and when the cold water splashed him awake, his instincts recalled experiences from his previous eight lives where he had been ambushed in his sleep.

  Muscle memory had driven him to execute the most direct defensive counterattack: biting.

  He had not been without such experience. There had been times when someone with ill intentions had approached him while he slept, only to be bitten firmly on the neck until they could no longer resist.

  Evelyn was pinned beneath him, their noses nearly touching, breaths intertwined.

  She silently watched Ryan, her expression complex. After a long moment, seeing that Ryan still maintained his pinning position, refusing to rise, a subtle, indescribable sense of shame began to rise in her chest.

  As the Academy Headmistress, she found herself trapped beneath her own student, unable to free herself for the moment.

  "Had enough of looking?" Evelyn's hands were pinned above her head, her aura of icy power rising again, almost freezing Ryan in place.

  "I've had enough!" Ryan, still in a daze, was immediately jolted awake by her cutting, ice-cold tone.

  At this moment, wearing only his shorts, he scrambled up from Evelyn, using both hands and feet, and rushed to the bed in a panic.

  He dove under the covers, wrapping himself tightly, leaving only his eyes visible, trembling as he watched Evelyn stand.

  Wherever he had been, a faint floral scent lingered.

  Curled up under the covers, with the scent swirling around his nose whether from the blanket or his own residual fragrance, Ryan wrapped himself tighter and activated his Chaosforge Arcana, dispelling the chill from his body.

  Evelyn finally freed herself, quickly standing and adjusting her drenched skirt.

  Her eyes still held a trace of icy coldness as she stared down at Ryan on the bed, her magical aura rippling subtly around her.