The Devouring Knight-Chapter 374 - 373: The Mind’s Pace

After the meal, Lumberling returned to his room and sat down with his legs crossed. He slowly entered the Imperial Mindseal Meditation, steadying his breath and calming his thoughts.

If he pushed himself to his limit, he could gain two or three points a day at most. It was painfully slow compared to the growth he gained from devouring enemies or training his other skills, but there was no shortcut. This was something he had to grind through on his own.

'I really thought there might be a faster way,' he thought, clicking his tongue in mild frustration. 'Even Duke Hadric didn't have a solution.'

This world was not a true cultivation world. It lacked the rare resources and precious herbs that could speed up mental growth.

If things stayed like this, his slow progress would become a problem. Devouring essence was a double-edged blade. It could make him stronger, but if his mind wasn't strong enough, the memories he absorbed could crush him instead. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

'I've looked everywhere for Knight skills that strengthen the mind,' he thought. 'But all I ever find are combat manuals.'

He paused for a moment, then a name came to mind.

'I should ask Vaenyra.'

Hours later, Vaenyra came to his room and found him still sitting in a lotus position, completely focused.

"Still training," she said softly. "Diligent as ever."

Lumberling slowly opened his eyes. Vaenyra stood before him in her familiar blue dress. Simple and graceful. No matter how many times he saw her like this, it never lost its charm.

"Well," he said with a small smile, "we wasted quite a bit of time. I need to make up for it."

"Wasted time?" Vaenyra's face stayed calm, but a sharp light flashed in her eyes as she stepped closer. "If you don't appease me right now, I will beat you up."

Lumberling laughed as he rose to his feet. "Then let's train together."

She tilted her head, lips curving slightly. "You really are insatiable."

"And you're not?"

Before long, soft sounds filled the room as Lumberling and Vaenyra practiced the Spirit Bond Dual Harmony Sutra together, their breaths slowly syncing as their movements flowed as one.

…..

"Do you have any way to strengthen the mind?" Lumberling asked softly as he felt Vaenyra's warm, gentle body pressed against him.

She tilted her head slightly. "What's this, all of a sudden?"

Lumberling then told her about the effects of devouring essence, and how his mind was starting to struggle to keep up.

"I see," Vaenyra said after listening. "So you're having trouble because you've been absorbing too much essence."

"I don't really have a choice," he replied with a grin. "Enemies just keep showing up and offering themselves to me."

She gave a soft hum. "But aren't you already training your mind?"

"You mean the Mindseal Meditation?" he asked. "It's not enough. It can't keep up with how fast I'm absorbing."

"That's not what I meant," Vaenyra said gently. "Your mage path, you're progressing smoothly."

Lumberling paused. "What does that have to do with my mind… wait." His eyes widened slightly. "You mean…"

"Yes," she said with a small smile. "As you grow in your mage path, your mind becomes stronger as well. It happens naturally. You can't shape spells without a strong mind, after all."

"So that was the answer all along."

"You're still in the early stages, so the effects are hard to notice," Vaenyra continued softly. "But it won't be a problem. Your growth is already faster than average with our help. And every time you absorb a mage's essence, it will help even more."

"Thank you. Now I know what I need to do." He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead, holding her a little closer.

"Are we going to join the war with the Sengolio and the Aetherborn?" Vaenyra asked, already guessing his plans.

"I'm already on bad terms with them," Lumberling replied. "A clash is bound to happen."

"Hmm, then be careful," Vaenyra said. "The mages of the Aetherborn are on a completely different level from the ones you've faced so far."

Lumberling smiled. "Why should I worry? I have you and the others."

Vaenyra returned the smile. "That's true. As long as you don't provoke an Archmage, you'll be fine."

"Don't worry," he said with a light laugh. "I'm not foolish enough to do that."

A few minutes later, Lumberling lay back on his bed and resumed his Mindseal meditation. Even though he had found a direction, this was still the only thing he could do for now.

That night, Vaenyra came to see him again, and the two practiced dual cultivation together.

The days that followed passed in a quiet rhythm. When Lumberling was not training his Mindseal meditation, Vaenyra or Aurelya would come to him to practice dual cultivation, but most of the time, it was Vaenyra who usually came.

It was a peaceful and blissful life, a sharp contrast to the chaos spreading across the empire.

….

Three weeks later.

Lumberling sat with the elves and Liraeth as they shared a meal together. To anyone watching, they looked like a single family. The days they had spent together had brought them even closer.

"You've been enjoying yourself a lot lately," Thessalia said with a teasing tone, though there was a hint of annoyance. "Spending all your time locked in your room."

"If you're jealous, why don't you try it too?" Aurelya shot back without hesitation.

"Aurelya!" Liraeth exclaimed, her face flushing slightly.

"What? You should try it too, Liraeth," Aurelya said.

She leaned closer and whispered something into Liraeth's ear. At once, Liraeth's face turned even redder.

Their playful teasing made the table feel warm and lively. But when Lumberling met Thessalia's gaze, he paused. Her green eyes lingered on him longer than usual. She was smiling, yet there was a sharp light in her eyes, as if she wanted to swallow him whole.

'Maybe I should spend some time with her too,' he thought.

Before he could dwell on it, hurried footsteps sounded.

One of Liraeth's soldiers rushed in. "Viscount, Ladies, my Lord. There is an elder outside the gate asking for your help. He says he serves Duke Hadric."

The group stopped eating and turned toward Liraeth.

"So it's happening," Aurelya said with a snort. "After all the trouble we went through to save that Duke, he better still be alive."

"Let's go see him," Lumberling said.

They all stood up and headed for the gate at once.