The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Three days had passed since Desmond received the summons from Vesta, and now he found himself inside his luxurious horse carriage. The interior exuded an air of opulence, with its plush furnishings and intricate designs. Laura, as always, occupied her spot on the bed, engrossed in a book, stealing curious glances at her young master from time to time.

Desmond, however, lay on the bed with a furrowed brow, deep in thought. Gripping the necklace around his neck tightly, he pondered his predicament. He opened his eyes and noticed the sky's hues shifting, indicating the impending evening.

Closing his eyes once more, his mind wrestled with the daunting task of meeting Vesta while keeping the existence of the necklace concealed, not only from her but also from his own family.

Despite being bound by familial ties, Desmond knew that if he suddenly possessed such a remarkable item, it would undoubtedly arouse suspicion among his parents. Fortunately, he had managed to camouflage his recent actions with well-crafted justifications.

However, the secret of this necklace held equal importance to his very reincarnation in this world, causing his temples to throb with a growing headache.

He felt a sense of elation at discovering a means to control his aura with this precious artifact. Yet, looking at the present situation, doubts crept into his mind. The custom spell, if used directly, would be akin to suicide.

Not only would it drain an enormous amount of his energy, but its effects would last for a mere few seconds—an impractical duration for a meeting with Vesta, Desmond contemplated.

Lost in his thoughts, Desmond let out an involuntary roar, startling Laura from her reading. "Young master?" she exclaimed, quickly moving closer to investigate. Her eyes widened as she noticed a prominent vein pulsating on Desmond's forehead. It was the first time she had seen him in such a state, leaving her dumbfounded.

"Young master..." Laura whispered softly, her body leaning in as her lips approached his ear. With a warm breath, her voice reached the depths of Desmond's consciousness. Desmond's eyes widened, captivated by the scent of her alluring perfume. He turned his gaze to the side. "Laura?"

Startled by her young master's sudden awakening, Laura instinctively took a step back, maintaining a respectful distance while subtly moistening her lips. Desmond studied her expression for a moment, eventually comprehending her unspoken question. "I'm fine," he finally replied.

Upon hearing those words, Laura visibly relaxed, relieved to witness her young master returning to his usual state of calm.

On the other hand, Desmond sat upright on his bed, his gaze fixated on the transparent screen in front of him.

[The system detects abnormal energy in the host's body...]

[Starting the process of elimination...]

[Successfully eliminated that energy!]

This is strange...

As he looked at the notifications, a frown creased Desmond's forehead. Ever since he obtained the dragon blood, his emotions had disappeared as if they had never existed. An unnatural calmness settled over him even in perilous situations. However, witnessing this sudden surge of emotion now...

I know every human being possesses hidden, intensified emotions that they bury deep in their hearts. But what did I just experience...

It felt as if the dragon he had fought in his dream had come to life within his body, yearning to unleash a mighty roar. Yet, due to his human form, all that emerged was a piercing scream.

Desmond's gaze turned cold, contemplating the possibility that this bloodline might bring more harm than advantages. Perhaps he needed to reconsider his path and continue his class with a fresh perspective.

Still, the assistance from the system proves invaluable at this point. However, I fear becoming overly dependent on it if this continues.

At present, Desmond's mind remained eerily calm, unlike before. This newfound tranquility allowed him to vividly imagine potential scenarios and devise a solution for the forthcoming meeting.

"Laura."

"Yes, young master," Laura replied, maintaining her proximity. Being near her young master seemed to imbue her mind with a sense of comfort and peace. Nevertheless, she couldn't help but worry, recalling the earlier screams that had emanated from him. Her concern did not stem from the fear of her young master's anger or harm directed towards her, but rather the fear of him becoming distant.

"Prepare some food and warm water. If anything strange occurs, cleanse my body immediately," Desmond ordered, assuming a seated position on the floor with his legs crossed and his hands resting on his thighs. He formed a small circle by joining his two index fingers with his thumbs, while stretching the rest of his fingers forward.

Outwardly, his posture appeared normal, as it was his customary position for meditation.

Upon witnessing this, Laura quickly grasped her young master's intention—to absorb energy and replenish the vital force he had expended while healing her earlier.

*Inhaling deeply, Desmond filled his lungs with air, focusing on sensing the energy permeating his surroundings. After a mere few seconds, a subtle shift occurred, and he could feel the energy gradually entering his body.*

The familiar warmth enveloped him, akin to resting on a plush mattress, bathed in the gentle glow of sunshine.

[Unique Energy +0.004]

[Unique Energy +0.004]

Despite closing his eyes, Desmond remained aware of the system's notifications flashing within his mind. Accompanied by these notifications, he felt his previously depleted energy being replenished once more.

Meanwhile, Laura approached her young master, bearing a tray laden with food. The sight of Desmond perspiring, his expression bearing a hint of severity, caught her attention. As a Witch, she could perceive the energy in the room being drawn towards him, gradually contracting.

*Click.*

Observing this phenomenon, Laura's warm smile softened, her affection for her young master growing. Even as her hands deftly arranged and tidied the table where he would dine, she couldn't help but be mesmerized.

Several minutes passed, and Desmond sensed the energy within his body reaching its brimming point. Rather than ceasing his absorption, he chose to continue, determined to absorb as much as possible.

"I hope this works..." Desmond muttered under his breath, recalling the cultivation novels he had devoured in his previous world. Drawing from that accumulated knowledge and merging it with the fundamental principles of energy absorption in this world, he endeavored to apply this newfound understanding.

As Desmond focused on channeling the gathered energies into his bloodstream, a subtle transformation commenced...