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The next morning finally arrived. It was time to head out for field work. The school rarely allowed such activities, but with most of Japan under a state of emergency, desperate times called for desperate measures.

Director Akatsuki had gathered the brightest students and formed them into large teams. Their mission was to help the country by eliminating the Canvas Bleed phenomenon and clearing several areas of the city where monsters had become permanent threats to Tokyo’s citizens.

There was constant danger that these corrupted zones would continue expanding. Worse, criminal organizations and monsters from Gates had been sighted trying to enter these spaces, likely to plunder dangerous resources or enslave the strange creatures inside.

Elena woke up to the comforting smell of breakfast cooking. Her mother had spent the entire week in the Spiritual Realm, polishing her swordsmanship and practicing the Spiritual Root Cultivation Methods she had created on the spot to help Elena progress.

During that time, Elena had also bonded more deeply with her mother. She learned about the many spirits of the past who lived there and discovered another side of Elayne: the Titan Gaia, a Primordial from Greek mythology who was apparently real and served as an Avatar of the planet’s very nature.

She had not learned everything yet, but she had met Elayne’s "children," who were all remarkably kind to her, even the multi-armed giants and the massive cyclopes.

The cyclopes, in particular, were incredible blacksmiths. They had forged various weapons for her, though none were physical in the real world. Elena could feel them within her soul. Slowly, she would be able to manifest them using her magic and abilities. These were something akin to Sword Souls, crafted from mystical and spiritual ores mined from the mountains of that realm. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Eh?! You spent a whole week training inside your mom’s Spiritual Realm?!" Anna gasped as they ate breakfast together.

"Yeah, it was fun," Elena replied with a gentle smile. "I got to spend more time with Mom, and I made a lot of friends in there. The multi-armed Gigantes, the cyclopes, dryads, gnomes, and many others. They were all so kind and helpful."

"Woah, I’m so jealous!" Elisa exclaimed. "Why didn’t you invite us?"

"Sorry, I don’t think I can," Elena said. "It would require pulling your souls out of your bodies, and that would leave you completely defenseless. It would be too dangerous, right, Mom?"

"Yes, unfortunately," Elayne answered as she walked to the table and set down two plates filled with pancakes and eggs. The pancakes were small, so everyone received generous portions. They were drenched in maple syrup and topped with fresh berries, all brought from Elayne’s spirit realm. She had also prepared hash browns, fried river fish fillets, and beans. "Eat as much as you need, my dears. Today is a big day for all of you."

The Japanese breakfast was fine, but Elayne preferred to feed her daughters a hearty Canadian breakfast. Sometimes she added Greek touches: yogurt, honey, walnuts, and seasonal fruit. She also placed ricotta cheese, olives, and homemade marmalade on the table.

"So much..." Anna muttered. "I don’t even know where to start, and I already feel a little full."

"Eat even when you feel full," Elayne said with a kind smile. "Once combat begins, you will burn through all those calories in no time."

"Thank you, Mom!" Monica smiled brightly as she ate yogurt with fruit and walnuts, then moved on to pancakes, and finally snacked on garlic bread dipped in olive oil and topped with ricotta cheese. "Hmm...! Everything is so good...!"

"Hahaha, Monica, you’re going to get fat if you eat that much," Elisa teased.

"F-Fat?!" Monica gasped.

"You are all very powerful. Worrying about getting fat should be the least of your concerns," Elayne said. "You need plenty of calories and nutrients before a big fight so you stay ready."

Elayne had used her Cooking Magic to make every dish extra nutritious, granting those who ate it buffs to their parameters and magical abilities.

While they were eating, Olivia emerged from her room with a sleepy expression, her hair still messy though she was already dressed.

"Ugh... I am beat..." she groaned. "Good morning, everyone... Ah, Elayne! You made breakfast again?"

"Yes, Olivia. Please sit down and enjoy," Elayne replied.

Olivia walked over, hugged Elayne tightly, and thanked her. "A-Ah!"

"Thanks... I’m so lazy I never make breakfast myself. The girls were having a hard time with me, haha," Olivia chuckled, gently caressing Elayne’s head. "I’m glad you’re back."

"Thank you, Olivia. I am forever grateful to you for taking care of my girls," Elayne said warmly, wrapping her in a big hug and kissing her face several times. "You are now one of my best friends! I will never forget your kindness!"

"Uwaaah?!" Olivia turned bright red as she was showered with kisses. "W-Wait! Enough! I know Canadians are very affectionate, but please stop...! You shouldn’t kiss me out of nowhere!"

"What’s wrong? You’re so cute I couldn’t resist~!" Elayne chuckled innocently, like a loving mother, and kissed her forehead. "You are like a daughter to me as well. I am Mother Nature, remember? Technically, everyone is my child. I love spoiling my children."

"A-Ah... I see..." Olivia sighed, stepping back and sitting down. Before she could protest further, Elayne began massaging her shoulders and grooming her long, beautiful red hair. "E-Eh?"

"You have such beautiful hair, my dear friend," Elayne said softly. "Let me groom it for you. I also have some wonderful oil extracts that will leave it extra shiny and silky."

"You really don’t need to—"

"No, no, it’s fine. This is part of me repaying you for taking care of my daughter. Please don’t mind it," Elayne insisted. "And done! Wow, Olivia, you look so pretty!"

"I-I know that...!" Olivia blushed uncontrollably. She was terribly weak to Elayne’s affection and praise. "But flattery won’t get you anywhere..."

"Fufu, I am simply praising you," Elayne said with a smile. "Are your shoulders feeling better? They were very stiff."

"T-They’re fine!" Olivia sighed. "Enough. You’re not my servant."

"I guess you’re right... Alright, do you want something specific for breakfast, my dear? I can cook anything you like," Elayne offered, making Olivia even more embarrassed.

"T-This is enough! I’ll eat it happily, so please stop fussing and sit down to eat with everyone else, okay?" Olivia sighed.

"O-Oh, okay!" Elayne sat down between her daughter and Olivia, and they chatted warmly for the rest of the morning.

Meanwhile, Anna’s mother slowly woke up after returning quite late from her new "work." The job paid extremely well, though Anna would likely disapprove.

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