"Yes!" I exclaimed with glee, hugging my mom back so tight that she groaned as I hugged inwards. "I love you! I love you!" I continued to repeat while my mother tucked my head back into her collarbone and slowly stroked my hair.

"I love you too, Ada. I apologize for having those lingering thoughts."

"No, it's completely fine, and I understand. But don't worry, I won't fail you or Tolf if I become a general. I promise, so please place just a bit of trust in me."

"Then I will hold you accountable to that… do you want to sleep some more, or do you want to go train? It's up to you. You have me for the entire day."

"I-I just want to sleep next to you. Hugging you… is… comforting…"

…

Later that day, just before noon, as I was working with my own laptop that I ordered a servant to bring me, Ada woke up and immediately began searching for me.

"M-Mom?" She called out, immediately drawing my attention as I swiveled around in my office chair. It wasn't the best of working spaces, but I mean, it worked, so I wasn't going to complain much more than that.

"I'm here, don't worry."

"What time is it?" She slowly shifted out of bed, adorably rubbing her eyes as she approached behind me.

"It's almost noon. You didn't miss much, but you can go back to sleep if you want. I'm not going anywhere today, so just feel free to relax."

As my daughter reached out towards me, I swiveled around and allowed her to hug me, her body immediately falling into my embrace. She was like a small slime slowly melting onto my very being as she felt my coolness spread through her. Needless to say, she was adorable.

"Can we spar… I want to know what it's like to fight you before we start the process of extracting the sword."

"Are you sure?" I smirked, allowing her to retreat backward. But just as she began to back away, I guess she noticed I had changed her into her own pajamas.

Her face was immediately flushed red, and as she bashfully covered her entire body, I just rolled my eyes. She was being so childish for no reason, and she knew it. She knew I wouldn't do anything, yet she still seemed a bit wary of me.

"Seems you are the one who I need to earn trust from," I muttered slightly before returning to my computer. "Also, stop being such a child and grow up for a second…."

"I-It's just-"

"Just go get changed into some more active clothes…." I sighed, finishing up the document and closing my laptop.

As my daughter started changing, I called over a few of her shadows which immediately presented themselves to me in a kneeled position. They almost seemed to quiver as my warm eyes turned stone cold.

"They'll be watching, so your job is to funnel them away. I don't want anybody to discover my powers or even reveal that I am currently here. It will bring way too much trouble, so you better not fail."

"Yes, ma'am," They all simultaneously said, disappearing into thin air as soon as I turned around.

…

As I picked my weapon of choice, a blunted long sword, I took a look around the well-made arena. From the open sky ceiling to the dusty but not uneven rough floor, everything was perfect. This immediately notified me to jot down some notes for my own training room as it was very inefficient despite it having millions of dollars poured into it.

"I guess I need a new designer," I muttered to myself, slowly drifting my eyes over to my daughter, who looked a bit nervous. "Are you going to back out now?"

"No… I'm just mentally preparing myself for possibly the hardest fight of my life. Previously, I'm sure I would have won, but you've gotten so strong as of recently that… I don't think even my previous self could have beaten you," My daughter nervously chuckled.

She also picked a longsword, and I couldn't help but feel a wave of pride as I had taught her right… even if it was a bit forced upon her as a child.

"We're not going all out… or at least me. Try out whatever you want on me, and I'll retaliate appropriately. Just trust me… you won't be injured."

My daughter immediately took a deep stance, imitating the prince who had sheathed his blade into his utility belt, but since she didn't have one, she just imitated the motion.

She looked intent on ending this match in one hit, but I wasn't about to let that happen. So, just as she released her blade, about to slash, I flash-stepped towards her and caught her sword. I was going to let her waste her mana before we can actually have a proper match.

"W-What… dammit… I'm so weak now," my daughter winced, slicing the blade from my hand, drawing just a bit of blood before my palm closed right back up. "O-Okay, maybe let me get an attack of first."

"Then don't use a skill that will sacrifice so much mana or stamina. Try everything out on me, but make sure to actually have the energy and mana do to everything… if that makes sense."

Ada almost seemed to growl as I backed away, allowing her to openly slash at me with her blade. So, I immediately retaliated by redirecting the momentum of the blade and then slashing right back at her.

She just barely managed to get the blade between her chin and my blade, blocking it but sending a forceful shockwave down the blade and handle. Her hands visibly shook, and I grimaced at the thought of such a shockwave numbing my hands.

"Come on, honey. Pick up the speed," I smiled, slashing at her again and just barely missing her intentionally. I wanted her to learn that she could no longer rely on just talent and overpowered skills but also the basics… just like what she spoke of.

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