Cynthia reached out, hand trembling ever so slightly as her fingertips brushed the earrings.
The moment contact was made, a spark of energy leapt through her body—gentle yet commanding. The earrings responded instantly, lifting themselves from the pedestal and snapping into place against her ears with a fluid, whispering motion, like water answering its master's call.
A subtle chime echoed in the air.
"Woah…" Cynthia breathed, wide-eyed.
The instant they settled onto her ears, a serene warmth spread through her chest. A strange calm surged outward, radiating across every nerve and vein. Her mana core pulsed, no longer just a reservoir—but a living ocean, vast and expanding. It felt like an unnatural connection had fused her being with the element of water itself, bonding her soul to something ancient and deep.
"I feel… stronger," she whispered, slowly flexing her fingers, "even without the infinite mana supply from that strange realm…"
Her voice trailed as her eyes widened.
