"Does it hurt a lot?"
Julian closed his eyes for a second, feeling the warmth of her touch.
"It's manageable," he lied. "The dicine Father gave is helping. I just need rest."
Olivia didn't look convinced. She stayed seated beside him, her hand still resting lightly on his hair. The room was quiet except for the faint sound of his labored breathing.
After a long pause, she spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper.
"When I saw the light from the training ground… when I felt the clash of those two powers… I was terrified. For a mont, I thought sothing terrible had happened to you."
She looked down at him, her eyes glistening with unspoken emotions.
"You've beco so strong, Kraven. Stronger than I ever imagined. But strength like this… it cos with a price. I don't want to see you destroy yourself trying to prove sothing."
Julian opened his eyes and looked up at her.
"Father had hopes of ,"
He said quietly.
"I needed to do it. Father and Commander Aldric were already suspicious of . If I had suddenly backed out and avoided the duel, it would have been even more suspicious."
Olivia remained silent.
She knew he was right. Only she knew the truth behind her son's sudden and terrifying rise in power.
To anyone else, especially to her husband, Kraven's explosive growth from a diocre mage to an Arch Mage in just a few months was nothing short of suspicious.
In fact, it was suspicious to her as well. That was exactly why she had co to interrogate him earlier that day.
After a few long monts, she looked down at Julian again, her expression softening with genuine worry.
"How are you feeling?" she asked gently.
"Cough… cough…" Julian coughed weakly, his face twisting in discomfort.
"I lost too much of my mana during the fight with the Commander."
That excuse sounded very decent, and it seed to do its job. Olivia's concern deepened imdiately. Her voice beca softer.
"I know…" she whispered.
"You even used your mana to improve my cultivation and make younger earlier today. You have drained too much of yourself."
She took a deep breath.
"The fact that you did that for … and still had enough strength left to fight against the Commander just a few hours later… it's surprising. Almost frightening."
Olivia looked at his pale face, the bandages wrapped around his chest and shoulder, and the faint bloodstains that had seeped through. Her heart tightened.
She hesitated for a long mont, clearly struggling with her next words. Then, quietly and with visible nervousness, she said:
"You can… take so of my mana."
The offer ca out of nowhere.
Julian, who had been carefully maintaining his weak and exhausted performance, was genuinely taken aback for a mont. His eyes widened slightly as he looked up at her.
Olivia quickly looked away and Julian could see a faint flush creeping up her neck and cheeks. She continued speaking but her voice had lowered in tone.
"You gave so much today. You strengthened my foundation and even restored my youth. If my mana can help you recover even a little… then you should take it. I don't want to see you suffer like this."
She finally turned her gaze back to him.
"I know it might feel… strange. But right now, you are hurt because of as well. Let do sothing for you."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Julian stared at her, montarily speechless. He could feel Kraven's residual patterns stirring faintly in the back of his mind, excited by the intimate offer, but he kept them firmly suppressed.
Then he composed himself and intentionally coughed.
"Cough… cough…!"
This ti, a few spurts of blood poured out from his mouth, splattering onto Olivia's hand that was resting gently on his chest. The warm, dark red droplets stained her fair skin and the sleeve of her orange gown.
Olivia imdiately tensed and her eyes widened in alarm.
"Kraven…! Are you okay?" she asked urgently, her voice laced with worry as she leaned closer.
Julian smiled weakly, his face pale and exhausted.
"Yes, Mother… I am. The near-empty core is making it hard to heal properly."
He looked up at her face and smiled internally.
Its working.
He could clearly see the shift in her eyes. The hesitation lted away, replaced by a shining determination. The sight of his blood on her hand had pushed her over the edge.
Olivia took a deep breath.
"Kraven… take so of my mana," she said firmly.
"I am a Peak Sovereign mage now. I can absorb it back easily afterward. Let help you."
Julian hesitated for a mont, playing his role perfectly.
"But Mother… are you sure?"
Olivia nodded without any doubt left in her expression. She brought both hands to gently cup his cheeks, her thumbs brushing softly against his pale skin.
"Yes, dear," she said, her voice soft yet resolute.
"It's just mana absorption. Don't worry. I'll be fine."
Julian was silent for a mont, then nodded slowly.
"Okay, Mother… Help sit upright."
Olivia stood up from the edge of the bed and carefully leaned over him. She slid one arm behind his back and the other under his shoulder, gently helping him rise into a sitting position.
As she did so, her body moved close to his.
The neckline of her orange gown shifted, giving Julian a clear view of her full, mature cleavage. The soft, pale curves rose and fell with her slightly quickened breathing, only inches away from his face.
Julian's eyes lingered for a brief second before he looked away.
As she helped him upright, a fresh wave of pain hit him. He coughed again, and another small spurt of blood escaped his lips. It landed on her collarbone and trickled slowly down into the space between her breasts.
Olivia didn't flinch. Instead, her grip on him tightened protectively.
"Easy… easy," she whispered, her voice filled with concern.
"Don't push yourself."
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