Chapter 850: Gifts for the Aunt and Sister-in-Law, Is the Ring Finger Appropriate?
The Nearl family sat quietly in the living room. A heavy, awkward tension hung in the air.
Maria leaned forward, her bright eyes filled with unabashed curiosity as she studied her older sister's new boyfriend.
Zofia sat with her legs crossed, her sharp gaze sweeping over Ren. She sifted through her memories, trying to match his striking appearance with any known noble or powerhouse in Kazimierz, but came up entirely empty.
Młynar, however, stared at Ren with a grim, solemn expression. His jaw was locked tight. Only he knew just how terrifying the young man sitting casually across from them truly was. The memory of their brief, one-sided clash still burned in his mind. With just a single hand, Ren had suppressed him completely, leaving the seasoned veteran as helpless as a child.
"Who... exactly are you?" Młynar finally broke the silence, his voice a low, dangerous rumble.
Ren didn't seem bothered by the hostility. He simply reached over and took Margaret's hand, lacing his fingers through hers.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself," Ren said, a relaxed smile playing on his lips. "I am Ren. Margaret's boyfriend."
Beside him, the renowned Radiant Knight—a warrior who had faced down armies without blinking—actually lowered her head, a faint, uncharacteristic blush dusting her cheeks.
"Oh, oh! I-I'm Maria Nearl! Her younger sister!" Maria practically bounced in her seat, excitedly introducing herself to break the lingering tension.
"My name is Zofia. I am the aunt of these two girls," Zofia added, offering a polite, measured nod. She then gestured toward the stoic man beside her. "And this is Młynar Nearl, their uncle."
"It is a pleasure to meet you all," Ren said smoothly. "Since this is our first official meeting and I didn't bring any prepared gifts, I suppose I'll just have to improvise something on the fly."
His gaze shifted first to the blonde aunt. "Ms. Zofia, would you mind showing me your right hand?"
Młynar's eyes narrowed instantly. Zofia's breath hitched.
That right hand was a sore subject. It had been severely injured in the past, leaving her with permanent, incurable nerve damage that had ended her competitive career. She gave Ren a long, searching look, trying to read his intentions.
"Alright," she finally agreed, slowly extending her right hand across the table.
Ren reached out and gently took her hand. Her skin was smooth and fair, like polished jade, despite the hidden damage beneath the surface.
"Your right hand suffered a severe injury, didn't it?" Ren asked, his thumb lightly brushing her knuckles.
"That's right," Zofia replied with forced nonchalance, masking the old bitterness that still lingered.
"Since that is the case, consider this my meeting gift to you."
Ren raised a single finger and lightly tapped the center of her palm.
Zofia blinked. She only felt a brief, cool sensation wash over her skin. Nothing else.
Ren released his grip and leaned back.
Młynar's frown deepened into a harsh scowl. He had been watching like a hawk, expecting some grand display of Originium Arts, but there was absolutely nothing in Zofia's palm. Where was the gift? Was this arrogant brat playing some kind of sick joke on them?
However—
"What?!" Zofia suddenly gasped, her eyes widening to the size of saucers. She stared at her own hand, her voice trembling with a chaotic mix of shock and overwhelming excitement.
"What's wrong?" Młynar demanded, leaning forward abruptly.
"My... my hand... it feels like it's completely recovered!"
Zofia had visited countless renowned doctors and elite Medical Casters across the continent. She was intimately familiar with the hopeless diagnosis. She had long since accepted that her hand was ruined, a tragedy that no amount of money or influence could reverse.
But right now, as she flexed her fingers, that heavy, sluggish stiffness was entirely gone. A long-lost lightness and perfect flexibility had returned to her right hand, exactly as it had been before the devastating injury.
"Auntie, let me see!" Maria practically vaulted over the table, grabbing Zofia's hand and inspecting it closely. After a few seconds of intense scrutiny, she tilted her head, blinking in confusion. "I don't see anything different."
Zofia let out a breathless, wry laugh. "The damage was internal, Maria. Of course you can't see the change with the naked eye."
She rolled her wrist, clenching and unclenching her fist with rapid, fluid motions. "But it feels completely effortless to move. Just like it used to."
Zofia looked up, her gaze locking onto Ren with deep earnestness. "Mr. Ren... how did you do that?"
"It was just a trivial matter," Ren replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Hardly worth mentioning."
"...Mr. Ren, you are entirely too humble."
It wasn't humility. To Ren, it really was just a casual flick of his power. But in Zofia's eyes, it was nothing short of a miracle. She had exhausted every medical avenue and spent a fortune trying to fix her arm, only to be met with the same grim verdict: Incurable.
Now, this young man had cured her with a single, effortless touch. She couldn't help but assume he was a Medical Caster of terrifying, unmatched caliber.
Ren then turned his attention to the youngest Nearl.
"Miss Maria, I think you might like this."
With a casual flick of his wrist, the air in the living room suddenly hummed.
Brilliant golden motes of light materialized out of thin air, swirling and condensing right in front of Maria's astonished eyes. The light solidified, forming a breathtakingly complex set of white knight armor. It was accented with elegant golden edges and elaborate filigree, complete with a beautifully crafted battle skirt. It was undeniably designed for a female knight, radiating an aura of absolute majesty.
"So... so cool!" Maria squealed, her eyes sparkling like stars. The moment she laid eyes on the armor, she was completely captivated.
Meanwhile, Młynar and Zofia were frozen in sheer disbelief.
What kind of Arts was this? Creating complex, physical matter out of thin air? It completely defied the laws of physics and Originium. They couldn't wrap their heads around it at all.
And they were right to be confused. Conjuring a divine set of armor that even the most terrifying entities in this world couldn't scratch was child's play for Ren.
But he wasn't finished.
"And these," Ren added, his hand curling into a loose grip.
Behind the floating armor, the space rippled again. A massive, impressive arsenal materialized—platinum-colored broadswords, heavy battleaxes, and gleaming halberds hovered in the air like a phantom armory.
With a gentle push of his palm, the entire array of weapons strangely dissolved back into points of light. They flowed directly into the armor's gauntlet, imprinting themselves into the metal and forming a majestic Pegasus crest.
"Wearing this armor provides absolute protection against any force in this world," Ren explained casually, as if he were discussing the weather. "You can summon all of those weapons you just saw at will. Each one is completely indestructible. With enough physical strength behind them, they can easily shatter mountains and cleave through entire cities."
Silence descended upon the living room.
Even Maria, who had been drooling over the exquisite design, let her jaw drop in pure astonishment.
Zofia and Młynar looked utterly bewildered. How could his description be even more absurdly exaggerated than the fraudulent, flashy advertisements the Kazimierz General Chamber of Commerce used to peddle their commercial power armor?
Ordinary cold weapons shattering mountains and breaking cities? Those were feats that top-tier modern power armor and advanced Originium weapons couldn't even dream of achieving. If anyone else had said this out loud, they would have been locked up in an asylum.
Zofia cast a deeply worried glance at Margaret, silently asking if her boyfriend had lost his mind.
But the Radiant Knight simply smiled, her expression completely serene. "If Ren says it can do that, then it is the truth."
"Haha, if you have your doubts, why not just try it on?" Ren chuckled, waving his hand.
He looked at Maria. "Bracelet, ring, necklace, earring, or belt? Which accessory do you prefer?"
"Ah... this..." Maria stammered, caught off guard by the sudden question. Still, she answered honestly, "I like rings."
"Then let it take the form of a ring."
The moment Ren's words fell, the massive set of knight armor suddenly collapsed inward. The metal folded and compressed at impossible speeds, instantly transforming into a delicate, exquisite platinum ring hovering in the air.
Ren plucked the ring from the air and stepped right in front of her.
Flashing a charming smile, he asked, "Would you like me to put it on for you?"
"Ah... oh..." Maria murmured in a daze. Completely mesmerized, she instinctively raised her left hand, her ring finger curling slightly upward.
Seeing the open invitation, Ren didn't hesitate. He gently took her hand and slid the platinum band directly onto her ring finger.
"From now on, you'll be able to equip this armor just by willing it in your mind," Ren instructed softly.
Maria's mind was completely blank. Overwhelmed by the sheer absurdity of the situation and the proximity of her sister's handsome boyfriend, she could only follow his guidance on pure instinct. She focused her thoughts on the ring.
A blinding flash of golden light erupted in the living room.
Zofia gasped, throwing her hands up to shield her eyes.
Młynar's scowl deepened into a fierce glare, his hand instinctively twitching toward the hilt of his hidden blade. Once again, a phenomenon completely beyond their understanding had occurred right in their home.
In the blink of an eye, the light faded.
The majestic white and gold armor was now perfectly fitted onto Maria's body. It hugged her frame flawlessly, making the young girl look incredibly heroic, valiant, and utterly radiant.
There hadn't even been a process of undressing or changing. The armor had simply manifested over her, ready for war.
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