After satisfying them a few times, Linde reluctantly left this warm place.
He still has many important things to do.
The first thing to do is to appease Weiss.
As someone born through the Shadow Abyss and his power, Weiss naturally needs to be nurtured and taught properly.
The power of Shadow Abyss may seem terrifying, but to Lind, it is simply another kind of power.
When Lind arrived at Antonvis's room, what he saw confirmed some of his premonitions and was even more shocking than he had imagined.
The room was arranged according to his instructions; the lighting was dim, and the furnishings were simple yet comfortable.
However, at this moment, the atmosphere in the room was as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.
Weiss lay obediently on the soft bed, her small body nestled in the down comforter, revealing only her fair and delicate face and her deep black eyes that reflected the purple stars.
She looked innocent and naive, like an ordinary child full of curiosity about the world.
But the object of her "curiosity" was Astaire, who stood like a steel statue in the corner of the room.
Astaire, a mithril-class warrior who has fought countless bloody battles, personally killed cultists, and whose will has been tempered to be more resilient than adamantite, is now facing the most bizarre and troublesome "guardian" mission of his career.
His mithril armor gleamed coldly in the dim light, but upon closer inspection, one could see that his metal-clad body was in an extreme state of combat stress, almost bursting out of his body.
The veins on the back of his hand, which was gripping the sword, were slightly bulging, and his joints were white from excessive force.
The breathing beneath the helmet and visor was suppressed to a very low level, yet an unusual urgency could still be detected.
He could "smell" the pure and terrifying emptiness and hunger emanating from that petite, seemingly harmless body.
It was a devouring desire for all "existence" that transcended his comprehension.
Weiss's gaze was fixed on the joint of Aster's neck armor, where a faint trace of life and energy could be seen leaking out.
There was no malice in her eyes, only a primal, pure longing for "food," and even a hint of curiosity about why "food" moves.
Her small nose twitched slightly, as if trying to discern the source of the "fragrance" in the air that instinctively aroused her.
The dark teardrop necklace around her neck shimmered slightly, seemingly amplifying some of her senses while maintaining the balance of the world's rules.
The sound of Linde pushing the door open instantly shattered the eerie balance inside the room.
Astaire, like a drowning man grasping at a piece of driftwood, almost immediately bowed, but his body's instincts prevented him from completely tearing his gaze from Weiss, and he could only manage a labored, muffled sound:
"My lord!"
His tone carried a sense of relief mixed with lingering vigilance.
Weiss's reaction was quite different.
The moment she saw Lind, the cold curiosity she had when looking at "food" vanished from her eyes, replaced by unparalleled brightness and affection.
"Father!"
She cried out joyfully, like a fledgling returning to its nest, and immediately jumped out of bed, barefoot, and pounced on Lind. She skillfully hugged his leg, looked up at him with a bright smile.
It was as if the "horrifying thing" that had sent chills down the spines of even the mithril-class warriors was just an illusion.
Linde reached out and gently stroked Weiss's soft purple hair.
His deep purple eyes gazed calmly at Astaire.
"You've worked hard, Astaire. I'll take care of things here. You can go and rest."
Astaire, as if granted a pardon, relaxed slightly. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging battle aura and alarm sounds within him, and bowed deeply, his hand on his chest.
"Yes, my lord."
He left the room quickly, his steps slightly stiff, and gently closed the door behind him.
Only Lind and Weiss, who was still clinging to his leg, remained in the room.
Lind could sense that after Astaire left, Weiss seemed to slightly purse her lips, revealing a subtle regretful expression, as if "the good food is gone," but she quickly became happy again because of Lind's presence.
Are you hungry?
Linde looked down at Weiss and asked directly.
Weiss nodded vigorously, her big black eyes gazing longingly at Lind, her little hand touching her belly:
"Hmm! I'm a little hungry... That shiny thing... it smells delicious..."
She was referring to the fighting spirit and life energy contained within Astaire.
Lind was not surprised.
Weiss's essence is a highly condensed Shadow Abyss singularity, and she instinctively regards most energies and life forms in the Prime Material Plane as "supplement" and "food".
This is not evil, but a natural law that predators view herbivores as a difference in the form of existence.
"Aster is not food."
Linde's voice was calm yet carried an undeniable authority as he began his most basic "education": "He is my subordinate, an individual who provides you with protection and service. Like... a soldier ant guarding the nest, understand?"
Weiss blinked, seemingly understanding but not quite. The concept of "soldier ants" was still vague to her, but she could understand what it meant that "father said we can't eat them."
She nodded obediently: "Oh... Weiss understands, she won't eat soldier ants."
But the longing on her face didn't fade; in fact, it became even more pronounced when she mentioned "hunger." She gently tugged at Linde's sleeve.
"Then... Father, what can Weiss eat?"
Linde's fingertips twitched slightly, and a wisp of negative energy, purer than before but still well-controlled in quantity, condensed at his fingertips, like a miniature dark galaxy, slowly flowing and radiating an alluring aura that made Weiss's soul tremble.
This is the most direct and suitable "food" for her.
Weiss's eyes widened instantly, all her attention was completely drawn to it, and she subconsciously swallowed a mouthful of non-existent saliva, like a cat seeing a dried fish, and tiptoed to try and get closer.
But Lind raised his fingers slightly.
"This is for you."
Lind looked at her. "But, Weiss, you must remember. There is more than one way to acquire energy than by 'devouring' it."
He manipulated that wisp of energy, making it dance slowly in the air as if it had a life of its own.
"Understand it, control it, and even... create it. That is a higher level of 'feeding'."
Weiss's gaze followed the movement of that energy, her small face filled with longing, but she also tried hard to understand Lind's words:
"Create...food?"
"That's right."
Linde slowly sent that small wisp of energy into Weiss's hand, watching her carefully absorb it as if holding a precious treasure, a blush of extreme satisfaction appearing on her face.
"This world is vast, and energy takes many forms. Some can be used directly, like what I'm giving you; some need to be transformed, like the faint magical energy permeating the air; and some..."
Linde's gaze deepened. "You'll need to understand and define that. Devouring is the least efficient and most hostile method. Learn a more advanced way so you can truly 'eat your fill' here, and... be safe."
Weiss tried to process Lind's words. Although most of them were beyond her current understanding, she understood the words "full" and "safe".
After absorbing that wisp of energy, she licked her lips with a lingering sense of satisfaction, then looked up at Linde with a somewhat confused expression.
"Father...why does Weiss feel hungry? Why...does she want to eat when she sees them?"
She pointed outside the door, seemingly referring to all life forms possessing energy, "Is this... not a good thing?"
Her nascent consciousness began to generate the most primal confusion, and questions about the nature of her own existence began to sprout.
Linde saw the confusion in her eyes and knew that the guidance had begun.
“This is not ‘bad,’ Weiss.”
Linde's voice softened, taking on a guiding tone, "This is your essence, one of the forms in which you exist. Just as flames burn and water flows downwards. There is no need to feel ashamed or confused about it."
He extended his finger and tapped the dark teardrop necklace on Weiss's chest.
"But the form of existence is not static. This necklace can balance the world's rejection of you and make you comfortable. And your will and your cognition can also balance your instincts, allowing you to choose a more suitable and efficient way of 'eating,' or even... define your own 'recipe.'"
"What you need to learn is not to deny yourself, but to understand yourself, and then... take control of yourself."
Lin De's purple eyes gleamed with wisdom. "From today onward, I will teach you how to identify different types of energy, which can be absorbed in small amounts without harm, which need to be transformed, and which must be avoided."
I will also teach you how to draw the power you need directly from the rules of the world, instead of simply relying on 'devouring' other living beings.
"Ultimately, you will understand that 'hunger' is just the beginning, not the end."
Weiss didn't quite understand, but Lind's calm yet powerful words, along with the warm necklace, gradually calmed the confusion and restlessness in her heart.
She seemed to vaguely realize that what her father was teaching her was something very important, something that would make her less "awkward" and less "instinctive".
"Weis wants to learn!"
She nodded vigorously, the purple sparkles in her black eyes gleaming with a thirst for knowledge. "Weis wants to learn... how to feed herself! She doesn't want Father to always feed her! And she doesn't want to... scare those 'soldier ants' either."
Although her language skills were still immature, her intentions were clearly expressed.
Linde nodded slightly, revealing a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction.
Very good, the initial reassurance and guidance have been completed.
Suppressing instincts is not a good solution; guiding and enhancing them is the right path. Guiding this Shadow Abyss Singularity, with its terrifying potential, onto a more controllable and efficient path is itself a highly challenging and valuable research endeavor.
He patted Weiss's little head.
"That's all for today. Remember how you felt just now; it was 'satisfaction,' not an 'devouring' emptiness. Rest now, and tomorrow I'll give you your first lesson."
Weiss nodded obediently, climbed back into bed, pulled the covers up, and still held the pendant tightly in her little hand. Her dependence on Lind was even deeper in her eyes, but that primal desire for "food" had been initially covered by the faint flame of "learning" and "understanding".
Linde watched her quiet down before turning and leaving.
Outside the door, Astaire was not far away, standing guard like the most loyal sentry.
"My lord."
He said in a deep voice, his tone still carrying a trace of lingering fear.
"It's alright."
Linde said calmly, "Her instincts have been initially guided. She will gradually learn to control them in the future. Under normal circumstances, she will not pose a threat to you. But in the near future, continue to avoid letting her be alone with powerful individuals."
“Understood!” Astaire replied solemnly.
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