Chapter 31: Crafting a Cat Teaser Through Tears—Turns Out I’m a Once-in-a-Millennium Mage

Genius?

“What… what is this? Meow?”

“This is the most basic Magic Energy manipulation exercise.”

Lilith’s answer was professional and precise.

“By changing the shape of the Mana Orb, you train your fine control over Magic Energy.”

“But why does it look like this? Meow!”

Lilia was about to lose it.

She pointed at the Feathered Cat Teaser.

“Can’t it turn into something else?”

“Like a sword! A gun! Even a ball would be better!”

“This is a special training program Your Majesty tailored just for you.”

Lilith’s expression didn’t change.

“Your Majesty believes that starting with a shape you’re most familiar with and interested in will help improve your learning efficiency.”

I’m familiar with it?

I’m interested in it?

Lilia almost coughed up blood.

She had begged and pleaded, acted cute and put on a show, all just to earn the chance to learn magic.

And now the first lesson was teaching her how to conjure a Feathered Cat Teaser?

How is this different from teaching her to play by herself?

She turned her head sharply toward Lucia behind the desk.

The culprit was leisurely sipping black tea, an amused look on her face.

“Lucia! You’re messing with me! Meow!”

Lilia’s fury could no longer be contained.

“Hmm?”

Lucia set down her teacup and glanced at her.

“Is there a problem with the training content?”

“This isn’t magic at all! It’s humiliation! Meow!”

“This is magic.”

Lucia’s tone brooked no argument.

“All advanced spells are built upon this kind of basic Magic Energy manipulation.”

“If you can’t even conjure a Feathered Cat Teaser, you want to learn Fireball Spell? Meteor Spell?”

Lilia was speechless.

She wanted to argue, but reason told her Lucia seemed… kind of right.

A mighty tower starts from the ground. The basics really were important.

But this basic was just too absurd!

“If you feel humiliated, you can choose not to learn.”

Lucia leaned back in her chair.

“Frankly, watching you chase my red dot every day is far more entertaining than seeing you conjure a Feathered Cat Teaser yourself.”

Lilia was completely out of words.

This perverted Demon King had blocked all her paths.

To learn, she had to endure this laughable humiliation.

Not to learn meant returning to that miserable state of being nothing more than a plaything.

She had no choice.

Lilia closed her eyes, took several deep breaths, and forced down her anger.

When she opened her eyes again, a sweet smile had returned to her face.

“Master is right, meow! I was too impatient, meow! I’ll study hard, meow!”

She turned to Lilith and bowed deeply.

“Teacher Lilith, please continue to guide me, meow!”

Lilith glanced at her.

“Then, Miss, please extend your hand and try to condense a small amount of Magic Energy in your palm.”

Lilia obediently extended her right hand.

She closed her eyes, following Lilith’s instructions.

She focused on sensing the cold Magic Energy that had just been injected into her body.

The power was weak, deep within her.

She tried to touch it with her Spirit Force, guiding it.

Once, no response.

Twice, still nothing.

Lilia didn’t give up.

She remembered her determination when she used to study yarn balls.

Isn’t this just a matter of energy guidance and shaping?

Spirit Force is the controller, Magic Energy is the raw material.

She needed to establish an efficient Conduit Pathway and build a stable Output Model.

Lilia’s mind raced.

She stopped blindly “sensing” and started “constructing” in her mind.

She imagined her Spirit Force splitting into countless tiny tendrils.

Gently enveloping the Magic Energy, not forcefully commanding it.

Then, she began simulating the flow of energy in her mind.

Avoiding unnecessary “resistance” and searching for the optimal path.

Gradually, she felt something shift.

A wisp of dormant Magic Energy separated, following the path she envisioned, slowly flowing into her palm.

She’d done it!

Lilia rejoiced inside and kept guiding it.

A minute later, a tiny, weak Light Orb the size of a grain of rice appeared in her palm.

Though pitifully small and flickering, it had indeed formed!

“To succeed on your first try, Miss, your talent is outstanding.”

Lilith’s voice sounded beside her, with a hint of surprise.

Ordinary people usually need days just to sense and move Magic Energy for the first time.

But this little one did it in minutes.

Lilia felt a bit proud at the praise.

See!

I’m a genius!

“Next, try to maintain its stability and change its shape.”

Lilia nodded and focused again.

She already had the full structure of a Feathered Cat Teaser in her mind.

She split her Spirit Force into two parts.

One to stabilize the Light Orb’s output.

The other began to “sculpt” the Light Orb.

Stretching, compressing, branching…

The small Light Orb in her palm began to change at a speed visible to the eye.

First, it stretched into a thin line.

Then, one end became fluffy, splitting into several fine light feathers.

The process was unbelievably smooth.

In less than five minutes, a miniature, faintly glowing Feathered Cat Teaser, identical to the one in Lilith’s hand, appeared in Lilia’s palm.

Though much smaller and dimmer, the form was perfectly replicated.

The Study fell silent.

Lilith stared at the mini Feathered Cat Teaser in Lilia’s hand, silent.

Even the top geniuses at the Magic Academy, during their first shape manipulation, needed hours or even a whole day of practice.

She’d done it in five minutes.

This could no longer be described as “talent.”

This was… a monster.

Even Lucia, who had been lounging and watching the whole time, sat up straight.

A deep interest flickered in her blood-red eyes.

She had only meant to tease her disobedient little pet with this method, just to see her flustered.

She never expected the little one would give her such a huge surprise.

“Interesting.”

Lucia murmured softly.

“Truly interesting.”

Lilia finished her “work” and looked up.

She happened to see the identical expressions of shock on Lucia and Lilith’s faces.

She was overjoyed.

See! Look down on me now!

Now you know how amazing I am!

She raised the mini Feathered Cat Teaser, her smile proud and radiant.

“Master! I did it, meow!”

She ran to the desk and stretched out her hand to Lucia.

“Look! I’m amazing, right? Meow!”

“Yes, very amazing.”

Lucia reached out and gently ruffled her hair, more tender than ever.

Lilia squinted in comfort, a purring sound rumbling in her throat.

“Then—

She looked up with sparkling eyes at Lucia.

“Since I did so well… shouldn’t there be a reward? Meow?”