"Mom~" The little Drake opened her big, watery eyes and looked at Evelyn, calling out mom in a soft, babyish voice.

  But her little head was still thinking about the promised Mana Essence. After calling out, a bit of drool hung at the corner of her mouth, making her look adorably clumsy.

  "Mom? Are you calling me?"

  Even Evelyn, who had long perfected her eternally cold and indifferent expression, was momentarily stunned.

  Her beautiful eyes widened slightly, filled with disbelief as she stared at the little Drake.

  "Show her your true form!" Ryan said with a laugh.

  Hearing this, the little Drake hesitated. The promised Mana Essence had yet to be given, and now she was being asked to transform with effort.

  Yet she could not refuse Ryan's expectation and obediently activated the magic within her body.

  In the next instant, golden magical light burst forth from the little Drake, illuminating the surroundings with dazzling brilliance.

  Evelyn could no longer control her expression. Her gorgeous eyes widened in shock, and the golden light reflected in them made them sparkle even more. Her face was fully marked by astonishment.

  As the light faded, the little girl had completely transformed into a Celestial Drake.

  "Use your magic to heal her wounds." Ryan lifted the Celestial Drake gently and placed her into Evelyn's arms.

  Evelyn still looked utterly incredulous. She temporarily ignored the little Drake in her arms and slowly raised her gaze to Ryan. Her mind cleared instantly.

  She finally understood what he meant by"her mom is here." This little girl was not a human child at all. She was a Celestial Drake!

  Could it be that Ryan had formed some special contract with a dragon, producing such a Drake child?

  The absurd thought barely formed before she forcefully suppressed it.

  "This is a little Drake I found. Cute, isn't she?" Ryan said, watching her shocked expression, unable to help but laugh.

  He reached out and lightly poked Evelyn's right cheek, his tone casual and teasing.

  "She doesn't have a name yet. How about you give her one?"

  Evelyn felt a subtle wave of pleasure rise in her heart at Ryan's words.

  So this little Drake was just one he had found, not his biological daughter.

  She let out a quiet hum, and the panic and embarrassment from before gradually dissipated, restoring some of her usual cold composure.

  Ryan smiled again and added,"Have you decided on a name yet?"

  She finally fully understood the meaning behind"her mom is here." The mom Ryan mentioned was deliberately teasing her from the very beginning.

  "…Lyra."

  "Lyra it is then."

  "Lyra?" Ryan repeated softly, raising his eyebrows with a deeper smile."Not bad, it suits her perfectly."

  The little Drake seemed to understand the name. Her tail flicked gently, letting out a small, satisfied drake chirp.

  Evelyn felt a warm touch on her cheek. She was about to scold Ryan but was interrupted by his next words.

  "Evelyn, right now you look exactly like when you taught me magic back at Glacial Arcana Academy."

  Evelyn shivered at his words, about to retort, when a sudden wave of warmth spread through her body, tingling pleasantly.

  It was the little Drake in her arms activating healing magic. The pure magical aura wrapped around her wounds.

  The once-stinging blood-colored cracks now felt warm and tingling, so soothing that she relaxed instantly.

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  Evelyn couldn't help but let out a soft hum at this sudden comfort.

  The hum was soft, sweet, and carried a hint of lazy subtlety. Just a few simple sounds, yet enough to stir imagination.

  Even Ryan, standing nearby, froze when he heard it. His gaze landed squarely on Evelyn's flushed cheeks, and his heart skipped an inexplicable beat.

  Once Evelyn realized what was happening, she pressed her red lips together and furrowed her delicate brows, glaring at Ryan in shame and indignation. The tips of her ears were so red they were nearly translucent.

  Yet the warm current and tingling healing sensation flowing through her body from the draconic breath were far too comfortable, to the point that she almost let out another soft hum. She could only grit her teeth and force herself to suppress it.

  "If you want to moan, just do it. Let me hear it. I like listening."

  Ryan leaned in with a shameless grin, his tone low and teasing, almost like a rogue whispering nonsense.

  "Shameless!" Evelyn snapped through clenched teeth.

  The moment the words left her mouth, another wave of intense comfort surged through her, nearly making her hum again.

  She hurriedly steadied her mind, focusing all her attention on suppressing the sensations rising within her.

  After that, no matter how much Ryan continued to tease her with words, she kept her lips tightly sealed and offered no response. In the end, she simply closed her eyes, out of sight and out of mind, letting herself sink into the warm, soothing flow of healing.

  An hour later.

  "Lyra, time to eat!"

  In front of Ryan lay a pile of magic crystals and several bottles of Mana Essence.

  The little Drake, who had looked weak and drained after healing Evelyn, immediately lit up, her spirits restored in an instant.

  She sprang out of Evelyn's arms, tracing a golden arc through the air as her form shifted. By the time she landed, she had turned back into a small girl, wobbling as she rushed toward the Mana Essence.

  Ryan crouched in front of Evelyn, his gaze fixed on the blood colored cracks along her neck and cheeks.

  Evelyn felt deeply uncomfortable under his scrutiny and turned her head aside, but Ryan paid it no mind and continued observing her from close range.

  From days of observation, Ryan had already noticed a pattern. After Mana Essence was applied, the blood colored cracks on Evelyn's face would fade for a while.

  Once they began to redden again, it meant the injuries were about to flare up. At this moment, a faint red glow was returning, clearly signaling the need for further treatment.

  "I need to apply some more Mana Essence to your face. Don't move."

  Ryan carefully traced the paths of the cracks with his eyes, afraid of missing even a single one.

  He took out a bottle of Mana Essence, bit off the crystal stopper, and activated his magic.

  With delicate control, he guided the liquid Mana Essence out of the bottle, letting it gently settle onto the cracks on Evelyn's face.

  Once he confirmed it had spread evenly, Ryan put the bottle away and reached out, lightly touching her cheek.

  His movements were exceptionally gentle as he worked the Mana Essence into each blood colored crack, ensuring it fully seeped in and nourished the damaged skin.

  Without realizing it, their faces drew very close, their breaths almost intertwining.

  To Ryan's surprise, Evelyn did not scold him to keep his distance this time. She simply kept her eyes open, quietly watching him as he focused on applying the Mana Essence for her.

  When the Mana Essence first touched her skin, it carried a faint chill. Moments later, it turned into a warm current that flowed wildly along the cracks on her face.

  The comforting sensation spread through her entire body, gradually easing the tension from her tightly held frame.

  Seeing that the Mana Essence had been applied evenly, Ryan lifted his gaze slightly and instantly met Evelyn's eyes.

  It was as if they had reached some unspoken understanding. Neither of them spoke.

  Their deep eyes shifted subtly as they silently watched each other, an indescribable air of intimacy filling the space between them.

  If I lean in and kiss her now, she probably will not resist, right? Ryan stared into Evelyn's calm yet beautiful eyes, quietly calculating in his heart.

  Thinking it through, he acted. Ryan cautiously leaned a little closer, close enough to clearly feel the warm breath she exhaled brushing against his cheek.

  Just a little more. Just a little more. Do not move. Please do not move.

  Their noses and lips seemed only a moment away from touching.

  Ryan's heart was pounding wildly, excitement surging through him. Kissing Evelyn while she was fully conscious was a thrill incomparable to anything when she had been unconscious.

  The distance between their noses kept shrinking, the excitement in Ryan's chest nearly overflowing. Just one last step!

  A faintly cool night breeze swept past, a few loose strands of hair brushing lightly across Ryan's cheek, like a gentle slap.

  At the same time, Evelyn tilted her head slightly to the left, avoiding the imminent contact.

  Ryan froze in place, looking at Evelyn's fair and beautiful profile, a trace of helplessness rising in his heart.

  Alright. She still will not allow it.

  His gaze fell on Evelyn's ears, red as if they had been scalded by hot water, and he chuckled inwardly. If I cannot kiss you, then I will not.

  Ryan reached out and gently pinched her flushed earlobe, then slowly stood up.

  Since he could not get a kiss, he did not force it. He simply wandered over to the campfire and idly stirred the burning logs.

  Evelyn sat stiffly for a long while. Only after she was certain Ryan had moved away did she dare to slowly turn her head back.

  What entered her view was Ryan absentmindedly poking at the fire. The flickering flames illuminated his face, outlining his features clearly and making him look even more handsome.

  At that moment, Ryan was lowering his head to check his status panel.

  It had been a long time since he had paid attention to it, and he did not know how much Origin Value he had left.

  【Name: Ryan】

  【Magic Rank: Ninth tier Senior Mage】

  【Mastered Spells: Chaosforge Arcana,…】

  【Arcane Arts: Magic Sword Domain Inheritance, Arcane Enchantment】

  【Held Items: One minute Invincible Defense Magic Card, Stellar Sword, Clockwork Doll, Amethyst Earrings, Fate Bracelets...】

  【Origin Value: 657,565】