After Action I

All the while Aurea having realized quite a bit curiously looked to the ring that blight spirit had given her?

Was there really a child inside of this? And there was nothing particularly dangerous or ominous about it, not even traps that she could she.

Even through the young prince she didn't see much causing her to then curiously put it on and transfer mana into the ring before then ultimately, gently coughing.

Unfortunately despite the coughs only being short and gentle, what she hadn't expected was that she coughed up blood as her nose began bleeding.

However it appeared that wasn't all, her mana veins had gone numb, and she could no longer feel her legendary mana.

Surprising everyone and causing Bradley to worriedly wipe away the blood and assist with the nosebleed while Aldra worriedly felt her forehead. All the while Aurea was simply in shock wondering what just happened.

"It seems I was also tricked, however passing out isn't among my list of things to do. I wonder if Aurela's mommy and Selphina would be upset if I cripple her?"

"In all fairness, you know? I wonder if Silas would try to stop me since she's his favorite, rogue mortal avatar or not if he didn't try to stop her then he has no business being my big brother"

Aurea sleepily asked, causing Aldra to worriedly frown and Selphie to quickly appear after Elyris had asked to speak with her in private resulting in Elyris following.

Causing Selphie to worriedly race over before then adorably frowning resulting in her quickly being brought up to date and Silas worriedly appearing before then ultimately being slapped by Selphie.

Surprising him while Bradley helplessly smiled knowing chances were he wasn't aware of any of this.

Unfortunately Selphie no longer cared because this was her celestial teddy bear!

"You big bully! Because baby Aurela wasn't left in check, her mortal avatar helped cripple my celestial teddy bear!"

"I've had it! I don't care if she's your little sister anymore, she's an irresponsible little bully who started a forest fire and crippled my celestial teddy bear! Even if it's her Mortal Avatar rogue or not, she still has to take responsibility for it!"

Selphie angrily pouted, causing Silas to worriedly shake his head.

"Selphie, it's not that simple. In truth I have only visited her realm five times in total, if anything else I no longer believe she has the capability to control her mortal avatar. While despite your opinions of me I was also unaware of these temporal incursions"

"However, what I'm certain of is that poor Aurela is also dealing with the same issues, losing control of one's mortal avatar and having it run around with your face while slowly being corrupted isn't at all simple. As for what Lady Shade had informed me, I'll personally return the souls that were taken"

"And speak to those responsible, while I'm also very much fed up with such matters. So to ensure such things won't repeat itself, I'll cut off the connection to their realm"

"Those from that realm that remain here will remain until requested by Lady Selphina or rather their Selphie or Aldra. While the remnants will no doubt be cut off and lose their support as well"

Silas helplessly added, before then attempting to tap Aurea's forehead to uncripple her mana before then ultimately being cut off.

"Go play with Aurel, Lord 'Silvanus'. I have to hide so much from my other half and for all intents and purposes I won't forgive you so easily! You're not a big brother of mine! While for my mana.. I'll buy a mana baptism. Master Frostma didn't simply teach me to look cute after all"

"I'll pretend to be nice in front of Aurel when you're around until he recovers or finds out himself, hiding it from him hurts so much but I or rather he's still a baby and since I'm older I need to take responsibility to ensure my baby self doesn't suffer too much"

"Oh, and I asked Lady Shade to smite that Aumara and Malik, I don't want them dead since Asher, Hanah, Molly, and Elyris have business with them so at least it'll slow those two down"

"And I may have asked her to steal Malik's magic research and schematics? I need reparations to after all, and big brother Colin and the big three would probably want copies"

Aurea sleepily pouted, causing Selphie who was still upset to adorably nod in agreement and Silas to helplessly nod and speak to Bradley while Aldra gently sighed and Elyris hopped in Kethyllia's lap causing her to gently smile.

All the while for Aurea, after some thought and not wanting to fall asleep she made a decision.

"Mommy, I-I'd like to stay like this. Even if Aurela is a brainless idiot who supposedly takes being her job as Selphie's Holy Princess seriously which I highly doubt to begin with, she still has style you know? I want to stay like this, plus I like it. I-I'd prefer different variations of this dress and I love being an Elf s-so does mommy have ideas?"

"Stealing her hair styles is one thing but I don't want to be her, because I'm better than her. I'd never disgrace Selphie or not clean up my mess you know. I'm my mommy's daughter.. son after all! Being both Aurel and Aurea but mainly Aurea is confusing at times"

"Sometimes I wish I could just stay in our mind as we were, but it's better for me or rather Aurel, I don't know why I keep saying that I'm simply Aurel reborn as a Serpentes Princess, meaning I'm the version who grew up?"

"I've just never talked about that part, maybe because it was a different life, maybe, it's strange to live two lives at once. Sorry mommy I didn't mean to-"

Aurea gently rambled, before then ultimately being cut off causing Aldra to gently shake her head before hugging Aurea to the fullest while Selphie adorably giggled and Kethyllia gently smile causing Aldra after several moments to lovingly nod.

"You needn't ever worry, I'd imagine we've already planned for such variations. While for all that could be said, I've never once believed you weren't my daughter. I'll forever love my precious children no matter their circumstances, while you are indeed my and Klarine's daughter"

"I've always understood the uniqueness of it all, however I'd also imagine despite always attempting to hide such feelings both you and sweet Aurel have difficulty in that area"

"I've always been told everything else but not how you truly felt outside of unfinished thoughts, because of this I've always been worried that both you and sweet Aurel didn't believe it to be important"

"So please 'vent', express your doubts, fears, and thoughts and do so as you would yourself, it's both my duty and pleasure as your mommy to listen to such precious things. While I truly wish to do so, these things and their mental applications are truly no laughing matter"

Aldra lovingly explained, causing Aurea having seen her eyes to slightly blush, mommy was truly the most beautiful existence!

Causing Aurea after sipping what looked to be the priciest healing potion in her space ring to quickly realize something.. there was a bloodwine mixed with the healing potion!

Seriously why even bother? Did the Bloodwine add to the whaling effects or did they just add it for the taste?

And how much did it cost?! Causing Selphie after nothing Aurea disgusted expression to then curiously sniff the fancy potion bottle causing Selphie to adorably pause having come to the same revelation.

All the while Aurea was now tipsy and couldn't help but hiccup.

"Who in their right mind places a nearly toxic Bloodwine inside of an overpriced healing potion?! I-I should have sniffed it first, now I feel.. nevermind! Fast acting or not I hope it heals whatever it needs to. Now, I shall listen to my mommy!"

"Right, my thoughts and venting? I.. wow who made that Bloodwine-no no sorry mommy, for all intents and purposes I'm loopy now. So ignore these random comments mommy! I'm going to start this 'venting' now? Let's start off with my mana being crippled! I speculate that I shouldn't have played with that ring!"

"It absorbed all my mana in mere moments and crippled my mana! If there's really a girl-blight spirit, or whatever's in it, it's hungry for mana. While for my identity crisis, everyone should know how silly it sounds, but life is silly so I won't mention it further!"

"I'm a proud Serpentess who may or may not threaten to eat bullies! I've never eaten anyone before but I want to! Is that where morbid curiosity comes from? In any case, I suppose, me already knowing and even training in my serpent form is new? I didn't mention it before so it's new!"

"If I were to eat someone it'd be in that form! I can also dominate lesser serpents and Serpentesses with a mere glance! Mother Klarine even gave me a nickname in that other life! The Great Devourer! It was weird because I enjoyed the library?! "

Aurea tipsily rambled on, as if the funniest thing to do.

before then ultimately explaining her state of mind, how she could hide things from the young prince, everything she trained with and learned from Klarine, her thoughts and complaints, and even more venting.

Funnily enough, it seemed as if she had gone through a wicked phase, something entirely unique to royal serpentesses.

Within that phase she had ultimately broken hundreds of elite archmage and sword saint puppets and crippled quite a few people while unleashing chaos on the academy's training grounds.

Which in itself was used in war games and so forth meaning it was massive and she tore it up to here to the abyss!

She may have eaten some spirits by 'accident' resulting in the ominous nickname. No matter the case it seemed for all intents and purposes Aurora was a menace while at the moment she had restrained herself as not to disappoint her mommy!

And what was even worse is the fact that Aurea and bloodwine didn't mix well!

Heck as a Pure Blooded Imperial Princess of The Ophidian Empire she could make her own simply by drinking the blood of any serpent! Royal Serpentess were also taught how to make Serpentess wine.

Unfortunately the method only worked for serpentesses and the methods were a secret and were incompatible with any other blood type, while those who weren't Serpetesses wouldn't be able to consume it.

All of which was simply wild if not even more bizarre, as did everything else she rambled about.

Causing Aurea to then proudly laugh her heart out.

All the while back with the young prince in his garden, it seemed Ayla had made several mishaped resulting in her taking quite a while to make it 'just' right. Albeit the potion was from the dark ages and very few knew of it.

Resulting in the young prince adorably blowing on his leaf after giving both the prettiest of flowers causing Noel to happily play with his ears and Ayla to then use her petals to amply the potion!

Of course, it was already perfect but celestial energy did wonders!

In truth they would usually amplify the cheapest of potions to that of top grade! Unfortunately, it didn't work for poisons or impure related potions, if anything they ruined them.

While thankfully this wasn't the case, the potion she had created not only refined but soothed, strengthened, and heals that of bloodline aspects.

Which in itself was priceless when considering celestial flowers or anything really with celestial energy were not only incredibly rare but the aspects themselves greatly benefited from such things.

Unfortunately the young prince still couldn't help but pout. Ayla was simply far too focused, so much so that she thought the flower was an ingredient and not a gift!

Resulting in the young prince who was doing slightly better adorably continue to blow on his leaf, he enjoyed the silence and spending time with Noel and Ayla.

It brought him back to a time when he was a baby and several years younger when he was shy and adorably clung to anyone.

Causing him to adorably turn around and give Noel a quick peck on the lips since apparently that meant a silent I love you or rather that's how Sylvia explained it.

Having not wanted to delude him with Lily's nonsense.

Causing Noel to adorably giggle before then ultimately being cut off with a shameless Ayla who quickly did the same to both who in turned quickly blushed having not expected this from Ayla.

Causing Ayla having come to a revelation to put the potion in her mouth before then shamelessly pulling the young prince into a not so passionate yet even more shameless kiss!