Chapter 157: Let It Not Exceed Seven

?Lords relied on mana to manipulate their domains and cast skills.

Evolvers awakened mana through specialized Serums to enhance their physical structures or manifest elemental traits.

Even the most exotic cosmic abilities generally required a mana foundation.

?Yet his mother operated entirely without it.

?Instead, she manipulated something she termed Psions.

?According to her brief explanation, Psions were fundamental building blocks of reality, not mana, nor a standard energy variant, but something far more primal that existed beneath the recognized power frameworks of the cosmos.

?And Seraphina could interact with them at will.

?The operational results were terrifying: fine-scale telekinesis, psychic perception, mind reading, memory manipulation, and absolute mental control.

The true ceiling of her power remained completely unknown, but the sheer versatility was enough to leave him speechless.

?He had spent two lifetimes studying the Lord’s Domain, yet his mother operated outside the system’s rules entirely.

?Worse yet, by her own casual admission, she was effectively invisible in the Ascendant stage.

Louis Ferdinand was a Tier V Ascendant Lord, an entity whose presence could dominate planetary systems, yet Seraphina had neutralized his direct spiritual probe without breaking a sweat.

?Whatever she truly was, she existed as a walking disaster tier.

?And she was his mother.

’?The universe really has a dark sense of humor.’

?Cassian had spent so much energy obsessing over gaining enough power to protect his family, only to realize his mother could likely obliterate most cosmic threats before they even reached their solar system.

?The realization was deeply comforting. It was also wildly disorienting.

?"Cassian."

?His mother’s gentle voice pulled him out of his internal monologue.

?He blinked, looking up. "Yes, Mom?"

?Seraphina rested her chin on her hand, studying him with an expression that was far too innocent to be harmless.

"You know, I understand that you might not be entirely experienced when it comes to treating women properly."

?Cassian instantly choked on his food. "...What?"

?Nyxara froze mid-bite, her spoon hovering inches from her mouth.

?"..."

?Ruby’s green eyes locked onto her father with absolute focus.

?Seraphina pressed on without a shred of hesitation. "Even so, I think I should remind you of something rather basic."

?She gestured lightly toward Nyxara’s attire. "If you intend to have your Champion stay in our home, you should probably take her out to buy some proper clothes. Unless, of course, you expect her to spend her off-duty hours living in my pajamas."

?Cassian stared blankly at his mother.

?Nyxara slowly lowered her spoon, a deep, unmistakable shade of crimson flooding her cheeks.

?For several agonizing seconds, total silence gripped the dining room.

?Cassian looked at Seraphina.

?Then at Nyxara.

?Then back at Seraphina.

?"..."

’?Mom, please.’

?He had just survived a planetary crisis, suppressed a Worldbreaker Core, and deployed an undercover infiltration unit into an alien empire.

Yet sitting at his own dinner table was currently proving to be the most hazardous assignment of his life.

?Seraphina offered a sweet, angelic smile. "What’s wrong, honey? Did I say something strange?"

?Cassian closed his eyes, accepting his fate.

’I am never going to live this down.’

?Beside him, Nyxara kept her eyes glued to her plate, her blush refusing to recede.

?And across the table, Ruby silently recorded another high-value piece of intelligence regarding her father.

....

Dinner finally came to an end, and Nyxara immediately offered to help clear the table. Although she had no biological need to eat, she had thoroughly enjoyed Seraphina’s cooking.

More importantly, she wanted to leave a lasting, favorable impression on her Lord’s family.

Considering the tense circumstances under which she had first met them, making herself useful seemed like a reasonable place to start.

?Seraphina accepted her help with a warm, welcoming smile, seemingly oblivious to the deeper motivations behind Nyxara’s sudden enthusiasm.

Cassian, however, noted the unusual diligence of his normally aloof Champion. He wisely decided not to comment, he had no desire to embarrass her again so soon after their awkward exchange at the table.

?Meanwhile, Ruby had gone to prepare for bed.

?School had been suspended for an entire week following the terrorist attack on Planet Roca, but that had done little to alter her grandmother’s strict rules.

Seraphina remained adamant that the little girl maintain a proper sleep schedule, regardless of whether she had classes the following morning.

?Naturally, Ruby had protested.

?She had tried pleading, bargaining, and even throwing a small, theatrical tantrum, but none of her carefully considered tactics had worked.

Her grandmother remained completely unmoved, and the little bundle of joy had eventually retreated upstairs with the tragic expression of someone who had just lost everything.

?Cassian found the entire exchange thoroughly amusing.

?He suspected Ruby would eventually discover a loophole around her grandmother’s rules, but it wouldn’t be easy.

Seraphina had raised him, after all. She was intimately acquainted with the tricks children used to get their way, and Ruby had inherited far too much of her father’s cunning for her own good.

?With the dishes cleared and Ruby tucked away, the sitting room finally settled into a comfortable, serene silence.

?Seraphina sat gracefully on the sofa, leisurely sipping a cup of star tea.

?The beverage was a customary drink among devout followers of the Celestial Faith, a tradition that had endured for generations.

Its delicate, floral fragrance filled the room, accompanied by the faint, captivating shimmer of starlight suspended within the amber liquid.

?Cassian glanced at his mother’s cup.

?Now that he understood the true nature of her origins, he found her devotion to the Celestial Faith somewhat peculiar.

His mother had once belonged to a hive-like collective that possessed neither individuality nor independent thought.

She had existed merely as one thread among countless others until, for reasons neither of them fully understood, she had awakened as a singular entity.

?And yet, despite everything she had once been, Seraphina had become a genuine believer.

’?Perhaps it makes her feel more human.’

?Cassian pondered the thought.

?Humans had always possessed an inherent inclination to believe in something greater than themselves.

Some sought comfort in a higher deity, while others placed their faith in abstract ideals, worldly ambitions, or extraordinary individuals they revered.

The object of their devotion varied, but the underlying psychological need remained much the same.

?People needed something to anchor their faith.

?Perhaps the Celestial Faith offered his mother a way to embrace that human instinct, something familiar enough to help her feel connected to the mortality she had come to cherish.

?’Well, as long as it brings her peace.’

?"Hmm, interesting."

?His mother’s quiet voice abruptly shattered his reverie.

?Cassian turned toward her. "What is it?"

?Seraphina was gazing into the distance, her brilliant blue eyes focused on something existing far beyond the physical walls of their home. A faint, amused smile played upon her lips.

?"It seems our dear Overseer has managed to get himself into quite a peculiar situation."

?Cassian raised an eyebrow. "The Overseer?"

The old man had a knack for finding trouble, though Cassian suspected most of it stemmed from the burdens of his office rather than personal inclination.

?"How do you know that?"

?"I decided to keep an eye on him."

?Seraphina took another delicate sip of her tea, her tone as nonchalant as if she were commenting on the weather.

?Cassian stared at her for a moment before giving a slow nod.

’?Of course she did.’

?His mother wielded abilities that allowed her to perceive and influence reality in ways even high-tier Lords could scarcely comprehend.

Monitoring someone across distant star systems was likely as effortless as deciding to do so...

?’Wait a minute.’

?Wasn’t Louis currently on Planet Gaia, the capital world of the Astral Dominion?

?Cassian had no idea what the Overseer was doing to draw his mother’s interest, but he sincerely hoped it wasn’t anything too embarrassing.

?Before he could inquire further, Seraphina’s smile gradually faded.

?She lowered her teacup onto the glass table and turned to face him, studying his features with an expression that turned surprisingly grave.

?"Sweetheart, there’s something I need you to keep in mind."

?Cassian paused, waiting attentively.

?"Please, try to stick to one wife."

?"..."

?For several agonizing seconds, Cassian wondered if his hearing had failed him.

?His mother maintained her deadpan, serious expression, as though she had just delivered a critical tactical directive.

Then she scrutinized his face once more, her mind clearly re-evaluating her son’s absurd track record and unusual circumstances.

?A long, dramatic sigh escaped her lips.

?"Actually, considering your personality, I suppose I should be a bit more realistic."

?She picked up her teacup once more and took another leisurely sip.

?"At least don’t let it exceed seven."

?Cassian stared at her in utter speechlessness.

?"..."