After sleeping in Varek’s room for several days in a row, Karl no longer needed anyone to show him the way.
Under the solemn gazes of the servants, he made his way to Varek Dawnspire’s room.
He opened the door.
As usual, it was unlocked.
This had always kept Karl happy.
He snuck into the room, and his eyes fell on Varek, who had his eyes closed.
Karl’s smile deepened.
He raised the blanket and slid into the bed.
Varek sighed wearily.
Karl grinned.
“You’re awake.”
“Hm.
Done with the cleansing?”
“Yes.
I did two cleansing today.
I can finish it tomorrow and start cultivating.”
“Fast, right?”
Rai had initially told him that each cleansing normally took around a week or so.
The process, the pain, and even the determination to continue weren’t something that could be easily done.
Even a talented person wouldn’t do two cleansing within a day.
Karl once again confirmed that he was indeed a big genius.
Becoming a cultivator must have been his destiny!
He raised his head to look into Varek’s deep blue eyes.
His eyes sparkled under the dim light.
The anticipation was overwhelming.
Varek’s lips curled slightly, revealing a faint smile.
Karl’s eyes widened.
‘So beautiful.
Um.
Handsome.’
Varek’s smile was so warm and beautiful.
It made Karl unable to look away.
“You’re so talented.”
The man’s pleasant voice entered Karl’s ears.
His eyes lit up, and the smile on his face widened.
“Really?”
“Hm.
Really talented.”
“Then…” Karl trailed off.
He moved closer to Varek.
His arms wrapped around the man’s narrow waist.
Varek stiffened.
Karl didn’t seem to notice anything.
“Do you think I can protect you in the future?”
“Huh?”
“How long do you think it will take for me to be strong enough to protect you?”
Varek raised a brow.
He seemed to be in deep thought.
Seeing his slightly creased brows, Karl raised his fingers and slowly pressed on them.
His eyes grew warm.
“Don’t think about it.
I don’t need to know.”
Their eyes met.
Karl nestled close, pressing his head against the man’s neck.
“Let’s go to bed.
Tomorrow, I have to eat and cultivate again.”
His hold on Varek’s waist tightened.
Actually, Karl wished he could completely enter Varek instead.
Sleeping beside Varek was so comfortable.
He didn’t need to fear anything or anyone.
With Varek beside him, even the strongest bully at the charity base would have to cower.
He sighed contentedly as his body pressed tightly against the man.
It felt so good.
Karl slept peacefully.
The next morning, he opened his eyes and yawned loudly.
Looking around, he realized Varek was no longer in bed.
As usual, the man must have been preparing to leave for the academy.
Karl dragged his butt down the bed.
He heard the washroom door closing.
Varek stepped out.
Their eyes met.
“Good morning.” Varek greeted.
Karl nodded.
“Ready for the academy?”
“Hm.
I might return a bit later today.
Don’t wait up for me.”
Karl was taken aback.
“Why?
Is something wrong?”
Varek shook his head.
He fastened his belt.
“Today’s the beginning of the annual competition in the academy.
I have to be there.”
Annual competition.
Karl knew about that.
It was the competition to choose the strongest students in the academy.
In the past, the original Karl Dawnspire had gone to watch with Lyold before their marriages.
It seemed really fun.
“I want to…” He paused.
“No.
Can I go with you another day?
It takes several days, right?”
Testing all the students at the academy wasn’t something that could be done in a day or two.
From the talent test to the actual combat.
It was a time-consuming process.
Karl knew he could watch it another day.
For today, he needed to focus on his cultivation and see how far he could go.
Varek nodded.
“Yes.
It takes two months.”
“Great.” Karl beamed.
Perhaps by then, he could try to join the academy, too.
The thought of going to such a place every day and mingling with the powerful students filled Karl with excitement.
He grinned so hard that his cheeks hurt.
“Let’s eat breakfast.” He said, standing up from the bed.
Varek nodded.
The servants soon brought the breakfast, filling the table as usual.
Karl tacitly ignored the fact that he had to take a bath first.
He sat down and began eating.
Sure enough, Varek wasn’t eating again.
Instead, the man had brought out a book from his storage space and was reading through it.
Karl finally frowned.
He’d been noticing this for several days.
Was it that Varek always ate before he woke up?
“Have you eaten?” He asked.
His voice was a little muffled as his mouth was filled with food.
Varek raised his eyes from the book.
His deep blue eyes settled on Karl.
“No.”
Karl’s eyes widened.
“You’ve not?
Then, why are you not eating?” Why would someone willingly starve themselves when so many dishes were placed before them?
Karl couldn’t understand.
No wonder Varek was so lean.
He had so much money, and still, he didn’t add much flesh.
‘If it were me, I’d have grown so large that the door would have to be replaced.’
Imagine having so much money and food; he would spend every day of his life eating several delicacies until he was big enough to show how deep his pocket was!
Varek dropped the book.
“I don’t need food.”
“Huh?” Karl almost choked.
“You don’t need food?”
“How is that possible?”
Varek raised a brow, seemingly confused.
“Because I’m powerful.”
Karl frowned.
Powerful?
How did that correlate with eating?
He waved his hand.
“Okay.
Okay.
You can go then.” If Varek didn’t want to eat, then it didn’t matter either.
It wasn’t like he would die without food.
‘Unlike me, I would really die if I missed these delicacies for a day.’
Karl sighed wearily.
He lowered his head and ate happily.
When he was done, he realized Varek had indeed left.
Shrugging, he left the room and returned to his place, where he had two hours bath before he returned to his bed to continue the cleansing.
After doing it two times yesterday, it became a lot easier to do today.
Karl realized the whole process was the same.
The only difference was the pain that lessened each time.
The third cleansing took him a little more than four hours to complete, and when he opened his eyes, he was surprised to see only a little impurity on his robes.
Karl’s lips curled.
“Well.
I can start cultivating now.”