>The more difficult, painful, constant, and demanding the training, the higher the possibility of improving one's Ki, slowly advancing in level.

  Meditation will help you connect body and mind with the surrounding environment.

  Ki is more stable and enduring than mana, as it does not deplete easily.

  Limits: None.<

  Narrator: Dav flipped through those lines multiple times, leaning against Valeria within the floating barrier high up in the library, his eyes fixed and weary on the words

  that seemed to dance under the soft glow of the lanterns.

  An entire hour spent reading, rereading, squinting his eyes, squeezing his brain to capture every minute detail about that mysterious power called Ki.

  Eventually, he leaned back against the seat, crossing his arms behind his head and sighing.

  "Well... I’ve understood some things,"

  he murmured to himself, his gaze lit with a spark of challenge.

  "I’ll experiment everything with Gabriel and Leo... in a few days."

  A demonic grin curved his lips, an expression so dark it made the hairs on Valeria’s arms stand on end.

  She, who had been reading not far away, looked up and turned pale.

  "Don’t make those faces so suddenly, or you’ll give me a heart attack!"

  shouted Valeria, looking at Dav.

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  Without giving him time to answer, she grabbed his cheeks and pulled them hard, deforming his mouth into a funny vertical grimace.

  Then, with a quick and decisive gesture, she kissed him right on the lips still tightened in the grimace.

  Dav, bewildered, looked at her with a raised eyebrow, muttering:

  "You just called me a horrible face... and then you keep taking advantage of my lips.

  Women..."

  Valeria, deliberately ignoring his complaints, hugged him tightly and silenced him with another kiss.

  Wrapped in the floating barrier that protected them from prying eyes, the two indulged in sweet and silent cuddles, suspended in that hidden corner of the sky.

  Slowly, time seemed to stand still.

  The sun, outside the large stained-glass windows, began to tint the sky with orange and red, coloring the world with warm and reassuring tones.

  Embraced, they fell asleep serenely, like two souls lost in a shared dream.

  Meanwhile, at the Royal Castle of Ostuni, the King of Italy sat on his throne of white stone, decorated with golden friezes and olive wood inlays.

  His curious gaze was fixed on a letter he had just finished writing with his own hand.

  "My royal messenger,"

  he said, rising with a slow and regal step,

  "find Mr. Dav De Lion and personally deliver this letter to him.

  Then return to me with his response."

  The messenger, kneeling meters away, bowed his head respectfully.

  "It shall be done, Your Majesty."

  With a quick and determined step, the man left the throne room.

  The King chuckled to himself, shaking his head slightly.

  "Who knows if he’ll visit me too, like that old Edmund did... hahaha. I hope he accepts.

  I really want to meet him.

  Our Italian hero... what a beautiful title. I’m almost jealous."

  A counselor, an elderly man dressed in blue velvet, approached and spoke in a low tone:

  "Your Majesty... are you sure? We don’t know much about him.

  Hunters are notoriously... selfish."

  The King stroked his chin, reflecting, while his gaze drifted toward the open windows overlooking the countryside.

  "We’ll find out when the time comes, my counselor,"

  he replied, with a serene yet determined voice.

  Back in the library, the barrier gently dissolved like mist swept away by the wind.

  Valeria and Dav woke almost at the same moment, exchanging a tired and knowing yawn.

  They said goodbye with one last stolen kiss, then walked off in different directions.

  Dav, strolling through the corridors, slipped a hand into his pocket and fished out his phone.

  "I should call Lexia,"

  he thought.

  With a few taps, he dialed the number and began to speak while walking aimlessly, his voice low, his tone relaxed.

  The conversation lasted about ten minutes, filled with brief laughs and quick exchanges of ideas.

  Ending the call, he stretched and resumed his walk, eventually heading toward his room.

  In the corridor illuminated by the golden light of sunset, Dav seemed to almost float,

  a tranquil shadow ready to embark on a new adventure.

  END OF CHAPTER - 161