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Her meridians began to shift, widening to accommodate the flood of mana coursing through her veins. The sensation was both exhilarating and excruciating—a sharp, burning pain that tore through her limbs and chest, as though her very essence was being reshaped. Her core pulsed in response, each beat echoing through her body like a distant drum.

\'Endure,\'

she told herself, her jaw tightening against the discomfort.

\'Every Awakened goes through this. Pain is part of the process.\'

The mana stones she had placed around the array glowed brighter, releasing their stored energy as Valeria absorbed it. She could feel her core strengthening with each pulse, the fires within it stabilizing further. Her senses sharpened as if the very fabric of the world around her had opened up. The flow of mana in the air became clearer, more vibrant, like streams of light weaving through her awareness.

Her muscles twitched and ached as the energy refined her body, tearing apart and rebuilding cells, fortifying her strength. She gritted her teeth as a particularly intense wave of pain shot through her back, her hands gripping her knees tightly. But with every surge of discomfort, she could feel the change—her body becoming faster, stronger, more attuned to the forces she wielded.

The artifacts she had prepared—small talismans etched with runes to enhance mana absorption—began to hum as she activated them. They resonated with her core, amplifying her mana intake and smoothing the transition. The air grew thick with power, her room glowing faintly as the process reached its peak.

Her veins felt alive, pulsating with energy that coursed through every fiber of her being. Her meridians, now fully open, thrummed with vitality as they channeled mana more efficiently than ever before. Each breath filled her lungs with an almost tangible force, her senses overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of energy surrounding her.

Finally, the pain began to ebb, replaced by a deep, satisfying warmth that radiated from her core outward. Valeria exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing as the energy settled within her. She opened her eyes, their clarity sharper, their gaze more focused.

Her hand moved instinctively to her chest, where her core now pulsed with quiet strength. Beneath it, she could feel the solid foundation that had formed—a testament to her resolve. The fires still burned within her, but they were no longer unruly or chaotic. They were steady, controlled, a source of power she could rely on.

Valeria flexed her fingers, marveling at the newfound strength coursing through her veins. She felt lighter, faster, and more connected to the mana around her. It was as if she had been blind before, and now, she could see.

She stood slowly, testing her balance, and as she moved, she felt the subtle shift in her body—more refined, more powerful. The room was quiet again, save for the faint hum of energy that lingered in the air.

A faint smile crossed her lips as she looked down at the now-spent mana stones and artifacts scattered across the floor. "Finally," she whispered, her voice filled with quiet triumph. "It\'s done."

Valeria stood there in the stillness of her room, her breathing soft but steady, her body basking in the newfound strength coursing through her veins. She could feel it—every fiber of her being resonating with the mana that now flowed effortlessly through her widened meridians. The fires within her core burned brightly, their once-chaotic flickers now a steady, harmonious blaze.

She closed her eyes and let out a slow, shuddering breath. The weight she had carried for so long—the feeling of lagging behind, of falling short of her family\'s expectations—seemed to melt away. She had done it. After months of struggle, self-doubt, and countless nights of pushing herself to exhaustion, she had finally broken through to the 4-star realm.

A small tear escaped from the corner of her eye, trailing down her cheek. She quickly brushed it away with the back of her hand, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.

\'How could I not be happy with this?\'

she thought. The insecurities that had haunted her—the relentless comparisons, the lingering fear of failure—they all felt distant now, like shadows receding in the face of light. For the first time in what felt like ages, she allowed herself to feel proud.

Just then, her stomach growled loudly.

GROWL!

Valeria froze, blinking in surprise as the sound reverberated through the quiet room. Her hand instinctively went to her stomach, her cheeks flushing faintly. "Really?" she muttered to herself, her voice tinged with exasperation.

The moment of profound triumph was thoroughly shattered, replaced by an all-too-human reminder of her neglect. She hadn\'t eaten all day, too focused on her preparations and breakthrough to bother with something as mundane as food.

As Valeria stood in her room, still trying to process her sudden growl-induced embarrassment, she sensed movement outside her door. Her body tensed instinctively, her still-adjusting senses heightening as she narrowed her eyes. The air carried a faint shift, subtle but unmistakable. She straightened, turning toward the door.

Then came the knock—firm but unhurried.

Her brow furrowed. "Who is it?" she asked, her voice sharp yet steady. Despite her words, she already had a suspicion.

Sure enough, the familiar, teasing tone of Lucavion drifted through the door. "It\'s the person who calls her by her name."

Valeria sighed, her shoulders relaxing even as she rolled her eyes.

\'Of course, it\'s him.\'

She didn\'t move immediately, her lips twitching as if considering a smile.

\'Why does he always show up at moments like these?\'

"Why are you here?" she asked, her tone resigned but tinged with curiosity.

"To congratulate you," he replied, his voice lighter than the air itself.

Valeria blinked, surprised for a moment. After a pause, she walked to the door, standing just behind it. She rested her hand on the wooden frame but didn\'t open it. "If that\'s why you\'re here," she said calmly, though her voice carried a faint edge, "then I accept it. You can leave now."

There was silence for a beat—just long enough for her to think he might actually comply. But then, in typical Lucavion fashion, his words shattered her expectations.

"Leave?" he echoed, his tone faintly incredulous. "After her growl just now probably caused an earthquake? I doubt I could sleep tonight knowing you\'re hungry."

Valeria felt her face grow impossibly hot, her hand instinctively gripping the doorframe tighter. "!" The sound barely escaped her lips as her thoughts scrambled to form a coherent response.

Before she could retort, something new reached her senses—a savory, tantalizing aroma that made her mouth water despite her embarrassment. Her heightened awareness picked it up immediately: meat.

Her stomach growled again, this time softer but just as insistent, as if drawn to the scent.

"Ah," Lucavion\'s voice came through the door, feigning realization. "It seems I was right. Don\'t worry, Valeria, I brought plenty. Open the door before the smell gets too much for you to handle."

Valeria\'s cheeks burned, but she bit her lip to stifle a groan of annoyance.

\'This man…\'

Still, the aroma was undeniably tempting, and despite herself, she found her resolve weakening.

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She hesitated for just a moment longer before muttering, "This doesn\'t mean you\'re welcome to barge in anytime you want."

"I\'ll take that as an invitation," he quipped cheerfully.

Valeria exhaled, her frustration giving way to resignation. "Fine," she muttered through the door. "Just bring it over. The room\'s not in a state where I can entertain any guests."

Lucavion\'s cheerful voice came immediately in response. "Understood. No guests, just a delivery service."

Valeria unlocked the door and pulled it open just enough to reveal herself. Lucavion stood there, smiling as always, holding a neatly wrapped package that gave off the tantalizing aroma of roasted meat.

"Congratulations, Valeria," he said, his voice sincere for once as he extended the package toward her.

Her hand reached out to take it, but his gaze flickered briefly downward. His usual smile faltered, replaced by a subtle twitch of surprise as his eyes darted somewhere and then quickly back up to her face.

Valeria frowned, her curiosity piqued. She followed his line of sight and immediately froze, her eyes widening in mortified realization. Her gown, damp with sweat from the arduous breakthrough, clung to her figure, emphasizing the curves of her body—and worse, the peaks of her chest were embarrassingly pronounced against the fabric.

Her cheeks turned scarlet as she instinctively brought her empty arm across her chest to cover herself. "Did you see?" she asked, her voice a mix of horror and accusation.

Lucavion blinked, his smirk reappearing almost instantly. "Haha, what are you talking about?" he replied, playing it cool as though nothing had happened. But the glint of mischief in his eyes betrayed him.

\'He saw,\'

Valeria thought, her embarrassment mounting. She narrowed her eyes at him, knowing full well he wasn\'t going to admit it.

Without another word, she snatched the package from his hands, her movement quick and deliberate. "Pervert," she hissed, slamming the door shut in his face with a decisive

thud

.

From the other side, Lucavion\'s hearty laughter echoed down the hallway. "Sleep well, Valeria!" he called, his amusement clear. "And thank you for the treat!"

Despite herself, Valeria couldn\'t help but let out a soft chuckle. The absurdity of the situation—her embarrassment, his shamelessness—was too much. Shaking her head, she leaned back against the door, the smile still lingering on her lips.

\'This man…\'

she thought, laughter bubbling up again.

\'He\'s….\'