Supreme Magus novel Chapter 3653

"No." Baba Yaga replied. "But as soon as they step out into the real world, they will. Don't be too bitter about what you've lost. Many of us had no childhood worth mentioning. What matters is finding the strength to break the cycle."

"You too?" Kelia was flabbergasted.

"Yes. I was born into the Odi's lowest caste." Baba Yaga nodded. "And no, I'm not going to tell you about it. I'm not looking for a pity party and don't want to make you sadder than you already are."

Kelia was curious, and being denied like that annoyed her. Yet the care behind the rejection moved her.

"Thanks, Grandma." She said.

"You're welcome." The Crone half-grumbled and half-spoke. "Later, you have to accompany me to Lutia. I can't carry heavy bags with my bad back."

"No problem." Kelia chuckled.

"Now, let's go back home." Yaga said. "It's time to take credit for your work."

***

Meanwhile, inside the Dance Hall that had been converted into the Training Hall, Quylla was showcasing her latest success.

"You guys disappoint me." She glared at her audience. "How can you not notice the difference?"

"I can, but pointing out your belly seems about to burst would be rude." Solus said.

"Not me, you jerk!" Quylla blushed. "I was talking about Ryla. Don't you remember that I promised to work on finding a way to fix her life force?"

"There is something different about her." Lith studied the Fomor with an expert eye. "But I can't quite put my finger on it."

He actually could. Ryla looked younger, her skin smoother, and her curves more voluptuous. All things that, if said out loud, would have angered Kamila greatly.

"She looks… cuter?" Morok dodged the first minefield of his life, but mostly out of respect for his little brother rather than for his wife.

Calling Garrik's mother "hot" sounded wrong even to Morok.

"There's also more symmetry in her features." Tista's eyes narrowed in focus. "Even her feathers look fluffier."

"You're all correct." Quylla puffed her chest out with pride and would have fallen backward for it, if not for the Fomor catching her in time. "I made a teeny-tiny step forward!"

"That's it? What's to brag about?" Morok loved her deeply, but even that had its limits.

"That nobody else ever did it?" Quylla snarled. "That it's a first step in the right direction, yet it already has visible effects?"

"You're right, dear." Morok clapped his hands, quickly followed by the others. "How did you do it?"

"I'd love to say it's all thanks to my genius and effort, but I actually had more help than a Guardian could give me." Quylla sighed and sat down. "Glemos' research gave my research a solid foundation.

"The babies give me all elemental affinities and so much mana that I doubt I can run out of it. They allowed me to feel the flow of all elements, which was decisive in understanding how Ryla's wings and core interact.