CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40: MAID’S HEARTFELT THANKS

After taking a quick shower, Lana started to make the talismans again. This time, Mr. Crow monitored her movements with caution.

Under his surveillance, she finished making 30 talismans before running out of talisman paper.

Even though she had succeeded yesterday, she still failed quite a few times on the second day. Yet the 31 Basic Exorcism talisman reminded her of her achievement.

With a quick visit to the talisman store, Lana returned, and instead of continuing, she cultivated her mystic energy.

The same cycle continued for the next few days. On the sixth day, the phone’s urgent ringing made Lana pause midway.

Inhaling a deep breath, she pressed the green button and heard Mathilda’s panicked voice,

"Miss Lana, my son has started to act weirdly!"

Lana remained calm and composed, "Alright then, please ask someone to pick me up, I will visit your home."

"The driver is waiting for you outside already!" Mathilda’s voice carried immense eagerness. If it wasn’t for the phone screen in between, Lana suspected that Mathilda would have dragged her straight toward her son.

Once the call was hung up, Lana sorted out the place, packed all the talismans made by her, and left the temple.

’Now is the time to test the effectiveness of talismans!’ Lana thought in her mind, her heart pounded in anticipation.

Utilizing the time, Lana closed her eyes and started to cultivate.

When the car stopped with a jerk, Lana’s eyes fluttered open. Her sapphire blue flashed with the lingering light before returning to normal.

Once outside the car, Lana didn’t rush in; instead, with calmness, she stared at the black fog. This time, though, she didn’t see any vision.

’Strange... Did mystic energy depleted and hence I couldn’t see the future... or...’

"Maybe the future has changed, and since you tried to change it once, you didn’t receive any vision again." Mr. Crow voiced her doubt; he was perched on Lana’s shoulder as he used to.

Lana’s silence spoke volumes about her agreement with Mr. Crow’s words. With measured steps, she entered the mansion and saw a maid waiting, right at the entrance.

"Miss Lana," The maid was wearing a neat black-and-white uniform, but her complexion was pale as if she had not slept for days. Her fingers twisted the hem of her apron nervously as she bowed slightly.

Lana stared at the black aura lingering around the maid and halted for a brief second. Without any word, she lifted her finger subtly, and a stream of mystic energy poured into the maid, making the maid stop midway her sentence.

Her eyes widened in delight when she realized what Lana was doing, and her eyes moistened slightly.

For the past few days, she was haunted by nightmares and was on the verge of breaking down. She even went to the temple in the hopes of getting one of the blessed talismans, but just her luck... she got nothing.

She almost knelt down in front of the priest of the temple for a simple blessing, but none of them helped them.

Yet now... even though she didn’t utter a single request, a mystic cultivator was helping her!

A mystic cultivator! Just how rare were they? They were as rare as seeing a phoenix. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and a voice echoed in her mind,

’I will remember this favor till the end!’

When the waves of coolness vanished, the maid felt her body becoming relaxed, and her mind, which seemed to be clouded with fog, cleared up.

"Thank you! Thank you!" She hurriedly bowed, her eyes shimmered with tears, while her heart thumped loudly against her chest.

"It’s alright." Lana’s soft yet cool voice seemed to have fired a cupid arrow right at the maid’s heart.

’So cool!’ She shouted, raw excitement flooded her heart.

Controlling the urge to scream like a fan seeing their idol, the maid continued with admiration. "Madam Mathilda asked me to bring you straight to the young master’s room."

"Lead the way." Lana’s gaze swept through the entire house, taking note of how strong the black mist lingering on the objects had become.

The maid slowly led Lana to the familiar stairs Lana had seen in her vision. To match the theme of the house, the stairs were made of wood.

Thud! Thud!

The sound of the footsteps against the wood disrupted the calmness in Lana’s heart. Though she had worn the mask of composure, the reality was harsh.... she was scared.

The terrifying scene had been imprinted in her mind, and now the voice seemed to have triggered the memory.

’Everything is alright! Don’t be scared! You have a talisman and your own mystic power! This time... the one who should be scared would be that Spanish ghost!’

Lana clenched her fist as if borrowing power from pain and straightened herself.

Soon they arrived outside a room with double mahogany doors carved with intricate vine-like patterns.

The faint smell of sandalwood incense lingered in the corridor, as if someone had tried to purify the air but failed to drive away the heaviness pressing on the walls.

The maid stopped in front of the doors and bowed again.

Her fingers clenched her apron as though to keep them from trembling.

"Madam Mathilda is inside with the young master," she whispered, almost afraid the boy inside could hear her.

Lana gave her a brief nod, inhaling a deep breath, she stated, "You can wait outside."

The maid looked relieved and stepped back quickly, keeping her eyes down.

Lana pushed the door open.

A rush of cool, stale air greeted her.

The curtains were drawn halfway; thin stripes of afternoon light cut across the dim room, glinting off the polished posts of the bed.

In the middle of the room sat Mathilda, her elegant bun slightly disheveled, her eyes red-rimmed as if she had been weeping.

She turned her head sharply at the sound of the door.

"Miss Lana..." Her voice broke, and she quickly wiped her cheek. "Please... help him."

On the edge of the bed sat Xander. His bare feet dangled, toes brushing the carpet.