Gracie's Progress!

2 weeks passed by since Gracie's birthday, though she was trying hard, she still wasn't able to sense the Ice Qi in the air but Gracie didn't give up and tried again and again and again. Of course, she was quite frustrated by the rate but her father and mother were there for her. Ace even started telling her stories in which the Main Character works hard and never gives us.

As innocent as she was, Gracie tried to copy these characters and tried as hard she could.

Just like that, another week passed by, and even though Gracie practiced patiently, Ace on the other hand had a worried expression.

"She hasn't sensed it yet…" Ace mumbled.

"What are you talking about? It has only been 2 weeks!"

"But I did it in 2 wee-"

"Don't you dare compare my sweet little nightingale with a monster like yourself! If anyone in Herferd learned that you sensed the Typhoon Qi within 2 weeks, they would have just died from a heart attack!" Maeve refuted, and she wasn't wrong. As told before, the qi of upgraded elements isn't easy to sense, even the geniuses of prominent families took around 4 years to sense them.

Well, Ace knows that but he was still worried. Gracie's talent was more than his own, he sensed the Qi within 2 weeks, she should have been able to do that too.

If anyone in the Sect or even this whole Ashleyn learns about what he was worried about, they would try to kill him in anger, even if they know they can't!

Seeing Ace's worried expression, Maeve sighed.

"Plus, the natural Qi here is scarce so it is natural for her to take more time than usual"

"That is correct! Why didn't I think of that!?" Ace's expression brightened as he made an enlightened face. He didn't even consider this possibility before.

"Should I activate the Qi gathering Inscription?" Ace questioned.

"No, I don't think that is a wise idea, let her sense the Qi like this, it will help her in the future when she uses her innate ability, it is not like she can always stay inside the inscription, can she?" Maeve answered and Ace nodded. Gracie has to face this problem alone, he can only sit beside her and act as moral support.

…

"I found it! Papa! I found it! That small, white-colored dot! I found it!" Gracie exclaimed after another week.

Ace sighed in relief when he heard that before he hugged Gracie happily.

"You did great!" He complimented.

"Congratulations! My little Princess!" Maeve congratulated as she patted Gracie's head and Gracie closed her eyes as 2 cute dimples appeared on her face.

"You worked hard! Very good! Now tell me, what do you want to eat? I'll make whatever you say as a reward" Maeve spoke, already ready to reward her Nightingale.

"Cookies!" Gracie exclaimed as she raised one of her hands, excitement as clear as a day in her eyes.

"Cookies, it is then" Maeve smiled.

That night, Gracie munched her favorite cookies happily.

The next morning, Gracie again sat cross-legged with a determined expression while Ace sat beside her.

"Alright, now try to call that Ice particle towards you" Ace explained and Gracie nodded before closing her eyes.

"Please come to me! Please come to me! Please come to m-"

"Gracie, you don't have to call it…" Ace interrupted awkwardly.

"But you just told me to call it… Was I wrong?" Gracie questioned worriedly.

"I mean… Umm…"

"Gracie, call it with your mental strength" Maeve, who was standing right beside them spoke.

"Love, she won't underst-"

"Okies~" Gracie answered sweetly before closing her eyes.

Soon, Ace felt the Qi around him trembling a little; it was very slight, even Gracie herself wouldn't notice that.

Ace then looked towards Maeve in shock.

"She is a lot smarter than you think…" Maeve commented with a smile.

Ace smiled and nodded in agreement as they both watched Gracie growing in front of their eyes.

Just like that, another day passed by and on the afternoon of the next day, Gracie exclaimed.

"It moved! It moved!"

Ace, who already noticed it smiled while Maeve commented.

"It was faster than I expected"

"Well, she is a genius!" Ace answered proudly to which Maeve nodded.

"Congratulations!" Ace exclaimed as he extended his arms towards Gracie, getting ready to be hugged by her but Gracie didn't move from her place.

"What do I do now? What next!?" She questioned with starry eyes.

Ace and Maeve smiled wryly when she saw how excited Gracie was, well, she did enjoy all those tournaments she watched.

"Alright, now try to move the Ice Qi inside your body… all the way to here" Maeve instructed as she touched Gracie's belly button. Gracie giggled a little before her expression turned serious and she did what her mother told.

Soon, the Ice Qi trembled and started moving towards Gracie, and just like Maeve told, it went inside her abdomen.

"In one go… Impressive" Ace commented but Maeve didn't say anything. Her eyes were wide and she was too shocked to reply.

"In one go..." She muttered to herself.

"Alright, try to keep this in the same position and add more Qi, eventually forming a core" seeing that Maeve was too shocked, Ace explained while Gracie nodded slightly, not opening her eyes.

It took her many tries but after another 2 days of effort, Gracie finally created her Ice core.

"Papa! Mama! I did it!!" Gracie exclaimed joyfully as she glanced towards Ace and Maeve expecting some praises but what she saw was completely out of her expectations.

Maeve and Ace were looking at Gracie in shock! They didn't even react to her joyful outburst.

"Papa? Mama?" Gracie questioned and the 2 came out of their reverie.

"Is there something wrong…?" Gracie questioned in a low, innocent voice.

Ace opened his mouth to answer but Maeve interrupted.

"N-No, we both were just surprised that you did it so fast!"

A smile appeared on Gracie's innocent face when she heard her mother.

"Teehee~ Of course I am fast! I am the Biiiggeeessst Genius after all!" She answered as she rubbed the lower part of her nose with her index finger and at the same time she puffed up her chest in pride.

"You are right. My little princess is a Genius! No, she is the Biiiggeeessst Genius" Ace replied and Gracie puffed up even more, "Hehehe~ Don't worry, once I get strong, I will make sure that no one bullies Papa and Mama! If someone does, I'll beat them!"

'How precious~' Ace thought inwardly as he looked at his daughter who was sitting on the bed with a joyful expression.

"We will be counting on you then" Ace replied with a smile.

"So, do you want to continue?" Maeve questioned, expecting Gracie to continue.

"Umm… My bum bub hurts after sitting for so long…" Gracie complained cutely before standing up and rubbing her butt cutely.

"We should go play for now! Rest is important, after all~" Gracie spoke and then nodded at her own statement, acting like an expert.

"Come on! Papa! Mama! Let's play!" Gracie exclaimed before running out of the room.

...

"They are called Heavens Favored for a reason…" Maeve commented after Gracie left the room.

"Mhm…" Ace nodded with a wry smile.

He was still shocked by what he saw.

Of course, the two weren't surprised because of Gracie's speed, they already guessed how much time it will take when they saw her progress.

The real reason for their surprise was that once the Ice Core was formed, the density of Ice Qi in the air surrounding Gracie increased.

It looked like a low-level Qi gathering inscription was activated. Even the temperature around Gracie fell slightly.

Not only that, when Gracie ran out, the layer of Ice Qi followed her like a shadow.

"Papa! Mama! What are you doing? I am already here!!" Gracie who already appeared in the garden shouted cutely.

Ace and Maeve smiled and walked towards the Garden.

"So, what do you want to play?" Ace questioned.

"Carry me! Carry me!" Gracie exclaimed as she jumped in excitement while extending her hands towards Ace.

Ace did as he was told and picked Gracie in his arms.

"No! Not like this!" Gracie complained.

"Hmm? How do you want me to carry you then?"

"Like… Like you did it before! W-when I sat here" Gracie answered as she tapped Ace's shoulder.

Ace quickly understood what she wanted and placed her on her shoulders, as he held her legs carefully.

"Aaa!!! Hahaha!" Gracie laughed wholeheartedly as she raised her hands even more.

Ace and Maeve smiled while Gracie pointed her right hand forward before demanding, "Papa! Forward!"

Ace did as he was told and started moving forward.

"Faster! Faster!" Gracie exclaimed as she started jumping lightly on Ace's shoulder and Ace started running, of course, he made sure that she won't fall.

"Hahaha~ Hahaha~" Gracie laughed.

"Mama! I am taller than you! Hahaha!" Gracie teased and Maeve pouted.

"Bleh!" Seeing her teasing working, Gracie pulled out her little tongue and teased her even more.

"Pick me up too!" Maeve demanded as she looked at Ace.

"Huh?" Ace questioned.

"Pick me up, I can't let her become taller than me!" Maeve answered.

Ace just sighed and lifted Maeve after freeing one of his hands.

Maeve smiled brightly before looking at Gracie, she then stuck out her tongue just like Gracie did, trying to tease her. Gracie pouted and then demanded, "Papa! Higher!"

"Higher?"

"Yes! Higher!" Gracie cleared and Ace lifted his ankle, trying to go higher.

Seeing that her height was increasing, Gracie smiled before her gaze fell on her mother, who was rising higher, just like her.

"Not fair! Papa! Higher!" Gracie demanded.

"I can't…" Ace answered.

"You can't…?" Gracie mumbled with a sad look. Seeing her down, Maeve smiled and lifted her up.

Gracie's eyes brightened, "Haa~" and she exclaimed happily, she then glanced at her mother and smiled even more, making Maeve smile back.

"If you 2 are done, can you come down…?" Ace questioned as his body trembled.

"Hahaha!" Gracie and Maeve laughed before nodding to each other. Maeve jumped down while holding Gracie in her arms and Ace sat on the ground with a tired look. Of course, he wasn't actually tired, he was just acting.

"Hahaha! Papa! You look funny!" Gracie giggled.

"Oh? I look funny?" Ace questioned with an evil smirk.

"No, you don't look funny anymore… now you look like a Baddy…" Gracie answered as she squinted her nose.

"Now do I? Now look how this baddy will eat you! Roar~" Ace roared and dashed towards Gracie.

"Gracie, run!" Maeve exclaimed and without waiting anymore, Gracie ran as she laughed at the same time.

...

"Hahaha! Got you! Hahaha" After running for around 10 minutes, Ace finally caught Gracie and picked her up.

"Hahaha! I will eat you!" Ace roared as he brought his face close to Gracie's nose before putting it into his mouth while covering his teeth with his lips.

"Nom! Nom! Nom!"

"Hahaha! It tickles! Papa! Hahaha!" Gracie laughed as she closed her eyes.