Chapter 156: Zero Mana

?His thoughts drifted back to the soft warmth of her lips against his his and the flustered, endearing way she had looked at him afterward. He had been actively trying not to dwell on it.

?Apparently, his eyes hadn’t received the memo.

?Nyxara caught him staring. Her violet eyes locked onto his, and a faint, rosy blush rapidly spread across her pale cheeks.

?For a moment, neither of them said a word.

?Then, she quickly turned her face away and sat down at the dining table, suddenly pretending to be deeply engrossed in the pattern of the porcelain plates.

?Cassian cleared his throat awkwardly and looked at the wall.

’?Smooth.’

?Across the table, Ruby narrowed her eyes into sharp slits.

?The seven-year-old had caught every single detail. She glanced at Nyxara, then at her father, her expression slowly morphing into that of a master detective uncovering a critical lead.

’?Something is definitely going on here.’

?Ruby didn’t blurt out a question immediately. She had learned that adults revealed far more when they didn’t realize they were being observed.

?Instead, she quietly filed the observation away for future tactical leverage. After all, she had recently been studying The 51 Laws of Dominance.

?Information was power. And her father’s suspicious behavior had just become a prime asset.

?"Dinner is ready!"

?Seraphina’s cheerful voice shattered the heavy web of suspicious glances and unspoken thoughts.

?With a casual flick of her wrist, several steaming dishes floated into the dining room.

?Cassian watched as plates, porcelain bowls, and serving utensils drifted smoothly through the air under his mother’s telekinetic control.

The food settled onto the mahogany table in flawless order, each dish landing precisely where it belonged.

?There was no clattering, no spilling, and zero need for anyone to carry a thing.

?Everything was executed with effortless, silent precision. Seraphina had even prepared the entire spread using her powers.

?Cassian had to admit his mother seemed to be enjoying herself far more than usual. It wasn’t that she had never cooked before, she had always taken care of him, and preparing family meals was nothing new.

?However, a subtle shift had occurred in her demeanor.

?Ever since she had revealed the truth regarding her cosmic origins and stopped hiding the secrets that had weighed on her for years, she seemed lighter, more relaxed, and thoroughly more content to indulge in mundane domestic joys.

?Perhaps keeping those cosmic secrets hidden had pressed upon her far more heavily than Cassian had ever realized.

Now, she could finally enjoy her life without constantly dreading the day her son uncovered the truth.

?Cassian watched her with a faint, genuine smile.

’I’m glad she’s at peace.’

?Beside him, Ruby looked thoroughly entranced. "Grandma, that was amazing!"

?Seraphina beamed at her. "Thank you, sweetheart."

?Ruby’s eyes followed a serving spoon as it hovered in mid-air. "Can you make it spin around me?"

?"Of course."

?The spoon executed a crisp, graceful loop around Ruby’s head before settling neatly beside her bowl.

?Ruby’s green eyes sparkled. "That’s so cool!"

?Cassian observed his daughter with a mix of amusement and quiet concern.

’?When did she become so obsessed with power dynamics?’

?Ruby had always been unnaturally intelligent, but lately, she seemed especially fascinated by high-level strength and those who wielded it.

Between her absolute awe of her grandmother’s reality-bending abilities and her habit of reading advanced strategy books, she was developing some rather terrifying hobbies for a seven-year-old.

?Still, Cassian couldn’t complain. At least she wasn’t frightened by her grandmother’s terrifying capabilities.

?In fact, she found them endlessly cool.

’?Her mentality might actually be sturdier than mine.’

?The thought made him pause.

?Then, he internally shook his head.

’No, that’s absurd.’

?His daughter was seven. She had no concept of the Endless Blackness, nor did she comprehend the existential horrors tied to her grandmother’s true origins.

She hadn’t spent nights contemplating the reality that a loved one was connected to a cosmic force capable of unraveling existence.

?Cassian had been forced to process those brutal truths himself, and even he hadn’t fully digested them. Comparing their mental fortitude was pointless.

?Besides, he wasn’t about to compete with his seven-year-old daughter over who had the tougher psyche.

’?What kind of father competes with his own child?’

?He picked up his spoon. Time to eat.

?The moment Cassian took his first bite, all analytical thoughts ground to a dead halt.

’?Oh.’

?He chewed slowly, letting the flavors settle. Then he took another bite.

’?Oh, wow.’

?The taste exploded across his palate, rich, complex, and flawlessly balanced. The seasoning was rich without overpowering the main ingredients, and every element elevated the next.

?For a brief second, Cassian completely forgot about the Arachnid Empire, the Orion Rift, and the mountain of galactic problems waiting for him.

?There was only one pressing question in his mind:

’Why does this taste so insanely good?’

?He had consumed high-end meals throughout his past life, but this was on a completely different level.

His expression softened into pure bliss as he took another mouthful. If he had to describe the sensation, he would say his taste buds had just achieved enlightenment.

?Seraphina watched his reaction with a triumphant smile. "Is it good, honey?"

?Cassian swallowed. "Mom... this is incredible."

?Her smile widened. "I’m glad you like it."

?He wasn’t merely offering polite flattery. Cassian was dead certain his mother had used her powers to manipulate the meal on a molecular level.

Her telekinetic precision likely allowed her to infuse seasonings and control heat with impossible accuracy, altering the food in ways standard culinary art couldn’t replicate.

?Whatever the secret, the result was divine.

?Across the table, Nyxara was similarly captivated.

?As an Undead Champion, she didn’t require food to sustain her form. Her physical vessel was maintained through mana and spiritual energy, rendering biological sustenance completely optional.

?However, that didn’t mean she couldn’t savor it.

?She lifted her spoon and tasted a small portion, her violet eyes widening in pure surprise. "Lady Seraphina... this is truly exquisite."

?"Thank you, Nyxara," Seraphina replied, looking thoroughly pleased.

?Cassian noticed Nyxara was already reaching for a second serving and for a while, the family enjoyed their dinner in comfortable harmony.

?Cassian occasionally observed his mother as she casually used telekinesis to refill glasses or shift dishes closer to Ruby.

He had learned a few basic concepts regarding her abilities, though he still possessed far more questions than concrete answers.

?The initial revelation had been mind-boggling: Seraphina possessed zero mana.

?That single fact shattered almost everything Cassian understood about supernatural power.