Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Early the next morning, a servant knocked on the door, reminding the children it was time for their Spiritual State awakening.

Eve had spent most of the previous night searching for information related to alchemical ciphers. The introductory alchemy manual Sandro had sent her earlier was barely more than a cipher dictionary; it contained no specific instructions on how to use them.

Moreover, ciphers were merely the most basic linguistic introduction to alchemy—much like knowing 1s and 0s in computing doesn't make one a programmer. Beyond ciphers lay the true comprehension, understanding, and mastery of alchemy's essence. To practice alchemy, one needed at least to grasp the cipher's meaning, and to wield it with ease, a deeper understanding of alchemy was essential.

One particularly brutal truth in alchemy was this: aptitude determined everything.

An alchemist with profound insight could discern a lower-level alchemist's cipher usage at a glance. Conversely, a lower-level alchemist might rack their brains their entire lives and still fail to master the techniques of a high-level alchemist, even if they used the same cipher language.

Alchemy didn't even demand many other innate talents. There was once an alchemist whose spiritual power was only E-level—considered virtually handicapped in the common sense—yet her alchemical comprehension was astonishingly high. This person had since become one of the empire’s four legendary Grand Alchemists. Of course, her deficient spiritual power had been restored to A-level through potions she brewed herself.

This meant that if Eve wanted to understand the cipher from the crystal ball, she would need to find an alchemist whose understanding surpassed that of the cipher's creator.

However, the vast majority of alchemists in the interstellar realm belonged to the Alchemist Association, and the master of this alchemical empire was none other than the Oliver Family.

Eve would have to be out of her mind to ask someone from the Alchemist Association to analyze a cipher written by their young master.

She couldn't help but sigh regretfully, tucking the cipher note into a drawer for the time being.

The few superficial alchemy textbooks on the market sold for exorbitant prices. Fortunately, Eve had access to the Medici family’s extensive internal archives, which saved her some money.

The monopoly of knowledge was like an unscalable waterfall, cutting off ordinary people's access to extraordinary wisdom.

Eve’s good fortune was that she still had the opportunity to learn. She wasn't sure how long this privilege would last, so all she could do was absorb knowledge like a greedy sponge, seizing every chance she got.

When Grace stepped out and saw the prominent dark circles under Eve’s eyes, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. As she gently massaged Eve's eyes with warm palms, she softly chided, "This isn't something that needs to be rushed. Why didn't you get proper sleep? We have the Spiritual State awakening this morning."

"Staying up late won't affect the results of the Spiritual State awakening," Eve replied.

Grace was annoyed. "Just because it doesn't affect the results, does that mean you can recklessly neglect your health?"

As they spoke, they arrived at the designated awakening location. Dick had already secured seats for them and waved them over. But before he could say anything, an irritatingly arrogant voice cut in.

"Hmph, were you out stealing last night? Your eyes look like you've been beaten," Cecil said as he walked past them, chin held high, his delicate face filled with disdain. "Ugly."

Eve: "..."

Why was this kid looking for trouble so early in the morning?

Grace rolled her eyes at him and tried to pull Eve away, but Cecil forcefully grabbed her, refusing to let them leave.

Half-furious, half-incredulous, Cecil demanded, "Did you just roll your eyes at me?"

"Do you have no manners? You pauper from a branch family—not only do you not kneel and bow when you see me, but you dare to be so disrespectful!"

—This was precisely why she hadn't wanted to openly provoke Cecil, Eve thought irritably. Cecil was completely self-important and overly sensitive; the slightest defiance would make him jump and cling to you, looking for trouble.

But as Cecil’s words grew increasingly offensive, Eve couldn’t help but speak up: "Young Master Cecil, you're being rather improper."

She said sternly, "As the heir of the Medici family, is this how you treat your future subordinates? To speak such insulting words to those who share the same surname and family glory—aren't you lacking the decorum expected of an heir?"

"Are you lecturing me? You presumptuous branch family member!" Cecil's anger turned toward Eve.

For some reason, Eve's silver hair, purer in color than that of the other branch family children, inexplicably gave him a sense of threat.

This unbidden apprehension first struck him as absurd—she was just a branch family member, and a girl at that—but then a wave of frustrated anger surged within him. He sneered, pointing at Eve and Grace as he shouted, "Third Steward, teach these two ill-mannered brats a lesson!"

"As you wish, Young Master Cecil."

An unusually tall and gaunt man who had been standing behind Cecil stepped forward. He wore a tall top hat, his face as pale as certain legendary dark creatures, and his silver hair was as lusterless and stark white as his skin. This was the Medici family’s Third Steward, and Cecil’s personal steward.

The other children nearby scrambled back in fear, creating a large empty space in front of the entrance.

The Third Steward extended his two long arms, grabbing Eve and Grace by their right hands. A searing, agonizing pain immediately shot through them. Eve’s face instantly turned ashen, and Grace couldn’t suppress a small cry of pain. Just as Cecil watched their suffering with a smug expression, about to order the Third Steward to continue the assault—“Not enough, break their right hands—”

"Cecil, what are you doing?"

A furious voice suddenly boomed. Sparti, the Medici Patriarch, had just received a tip from a branch family boy and rushed over. He hadn't expected to witness such a scene of bullying the moment he arrived.

Sparti usually didn’t restrain Cecil’s willful and domineering behavior much, but with the Spiritual State awakening imminent, Cecil dared to lay hands on other children. Moreover, there were guests from the Alchemist Association present in the awakening hall. All of this made Sparti feel deeply embarrassed.

Taking a closer look at the two bullied children, Sparti was furious—of all people, Cecil had to pick on two A-level children, both valuable future talents of the family!

Sparti was so livid his hair practically stood on end. Remembering that members of the Alchemist Association were present, he couldn’t discipline Cecil in front of outsiders. Instead, he struck the Third Steward with a palm infused with seventy percent of his strength, sending the steward flying several meters before crashing to the ground with a loud thud. The Third Steward struggled to get up for a long while.

Sparti roared, "If Cecil doesn't know better, do you not know better either? You're supposed to guide the young master, not encourage his behavior! If this happens again, you can forget about being the Third Steward!"

"Dad..." Cecil was startled and tried to plead for the Third Steward, but Sparti cut him off mercilessly: "Shut up and stand aside to reflect on your actions."

Cecil had no choice but to step aside reluctantly, glaring fiercely at Eve and Grace. Eve’s face was equally grim. The pain didn't subside even after the Third Steward released them; it continued to radiate from her wrist like a persistent, bone-deep agony.

The instigator, Cecil, had only received a slap on the wrist, while she and Grace had inexplicably endured this undeserved suffering—all because Cecil had a crude mouth and a short fuse.

Why?

Even Sparti had only criticized Cecil for being “immature,” but Eve looked at him—a fifteen or sixteen-year-old—and wondered what part of him could still be called “immature.”

Seeing her pale expression, Sparti assumed it was due to the pain and quickly instructed Dick, who had informed him earlier, to take the two to see an alchemist for treatment.

As she turned away, Eve heard Grace whisper an apology: "I'm sorry, Eve. It's my fault for being impulsive and dragging you into this."

Eve shook her head. "It's not your fault. Cecil started it. We can't just accept injustice because he has power."

Unintentionally, her right hand brushed against her clothes, sending another wave of pain that made her grimace, twisting her originally beautiful face.

Small sparks of anger flickered in Eve’s eyes.

Cecil! Cecil!

She wouldn't let this person off!

Fortunately, Dick had been quick-witted enough not to jump into the fray like the Calabash Brothers trying to save their grandpa, but had instead secretly gone to fetch the family head to save the situation.

No sooner had she praised Dick than he huffed and puffed, his face flushing red, before finally blurting out: "...It was Miss Luo Lin who told me on the terminal to find the family head to resolve this. She also told me that the family head wasn't at his residence this morning and that I could see him without an announcement. That's how I managed to bring help so quickly."

"Miss Luo Lin?" Grace exclaimed in surprise, recalling the main house young lady who had kept a low profile since yesterday. Though grateful, she wondered, "Why would she help us out of the blue?"

Eve also found it very strange.

In the original story, Luo Lin did eventually launch a rebellion to seize the family head position, but that was after her spiritual power reached S-level. In theory, during this period, Luo Lin shouldn't have yet developed disloyalty toward her brother.

Could it be that the superficial harmony between the two had already begun to show cracks at this time?

Eve’s mind raced. She lightly tapped the table with her left hand, reconsidering how she could make use of this weapon if Luo Lin truly intended to oppose her brother. Just then, the alchemist physician grabbed her right hand, and Eve let out a sharp cry of pain, forcibly pulled out of her thoughts.

"Some spiritual energy attack. It's not a big issue," the physician said. A huge, pristine white lotus emerged behind him, filling the room with a clean, fragrant aroma. Tiny blue lights, like fireflies, floated out from Eve's wrist and were absorbed by the lotus. Instantly, the severe pain eased significantly, leaving only a residual ache lingering in her wrist.

The physician released her and Grace’s hands, instructing, "There are no other wounds, but there might be some residual nerve pain. Rest well when you return, avoid using this hand for heavy work these next couple of days, and make sure to take care."

"Thank you," Eve said earnestly.

"Mhm, isn't the Spiritual State awakening still going on up front? You should hurry over. It's a rare chance to present yourselves in front of the family head," the physician said with a light laugh. "If you can awaken a high-tier Spiritual State, it'll be very beneficial for your future development."

But it’s not like we can decide what we awaken, Eve thought. Still, she knew the physician meant well. After thanking her, she and Grace hurried back to the front hall.

Earlier, they had sent Dick back ahead, figuring it was better for him to help keep an eye on the Spiritual State awakening up front rather than get in the way here.

As soon as the two made their way back in, Cecil, standing at the front, spotted them. Since they were already on bad terms, Grace was about to roll her eyes, but Eve stopped her. "Just bite your tongue. Let's get through the Spiritual State awakening first."

Dick quietly filled them in on what had happened during the awakening. They hadn't been gone long, and the Spiritual State awakening potion took a while to kick in. So far, only eight or nine people had undergone awakening. "The family head said to let those two start assessment first. Normally, it should've been our turn after them, but since you two were in the medical room, the family head told me to wait until you returned so we could all assess together," Dick explained, his face showing a mix of expectation and worry. "Cecil awakened a Class S silver moon clematis."

Eve had already known this outcome, so she took it calmly, but Grace was shocked. She muttered a curse under her breath and threw up her hands. "Well, life in the main family is going to be tough from here on out. Who knows how much more arrogant that young master will act in the future?"

"Cecil won't always be like this. After all, besides him and Luo Lin, we're the only three Class A's in this cohort. We'll have to deal with him eventually, and he'll learn how to be a proper family head someday," Dick said, taking a more optimistic view.

Grace, who had just suffered unjustly because of Cecil, flared up at this. "Why are you in such a hurry to defend him? Eager to pledge loyalty to the future family head, are you? Fine, go ahead and tell Cecil then! Go show him your loyalty!"

"That's not what I meant," Dick said urgently. "I'm definitely on your and Eve's side!"

"Alright, both of you, stop arguing," Eve said, pulling them apart with a headache. "Grace, you know Dick didn't mean it like that. Dick, don't talk about taking sides in the future. We're all part of the same family—taking sides is a touchy subject. Both of you, watch your words."

She declared, "Let's not talk about Cecil anymore. Change the subject. Weren't we just talking about the Spiritual State awakening? Who else awakened something interesting?"

As she asked this, Eve’s heart was pounding. In the original story, Luo Lin had awakened Mist Cloud Vine, one of the Three Sacred Moon Plants, but Dick had only mentioned Cecil awakening the silver moon clematis and hadn't said a word about Luo Lin. This discrepancy made Eve feel inexplicably uneasy.

Dick scratched his head. "Nothing else, really. Miss Luo Lin awakened a Class A Sky Vine, which is extremely high-ranked in the lineage, but she was already a Class A Psychic, so it's not surprising she awakened Sky Vine."

"Luo Lin awakened Sky Vine?!" Eve's eyes widened in shock, leaving Dick confused by her sudden intense reaction.

Then what happened to the Mist Cloud Vine that Luo Lin was supposed to awaken?

Eve felt her heart tremble. She thought of the StormEye Butterfly she was about to awaken. If Luo Lin’s Spiritual State could change, could others’ Spiritual States change as well?

Including her friendships with Dick, Grace, and the Second Steward, her early encounter with Ludwig, and the change in Luo Lin’s Spiritual State—were these all part of the butterfly effect caused by her transmigrating into this story?