Chapter 332 Maple Burn: Maybe Everything is Fake, but It Doesn't Matter
Chapter 332 Maple Burn: Maybe Everything is Fake, but It Doesn't Matter
Rita had no way of knowing what Maple Burn had chosen back then. Based on the available clues, it might have been fire, since Maple Burn loved cooking. Or perhaps a gentler wood element, as she didn't like conflict or fighting, and wood was more associated with healing, nurturing, and support. There was also the possibility that she chose the wind element, like Maple Cang, because Maple Cang always wanted to take Maple Burn with her wherever she went, turning her into Maple Cang's shadow.
But at this moment, Rita's desire for Cheers suppressed all other thoughts. Since Maple Syrup gave her the choice, even if she chose something different from the original Maple Burn, nothing truly unexpected would happen. She had already settled into this "home." Maple Syrup wouldn't treat her like she did to the previous incarnation of Maple Cang, the one who had been killed off. The worst that could happen was Maple Syrup finding an excuse to end this teaching session.
Even if, hypothetically, Maple Syrup killed her, she would just return in the next cycle, find Maple Burn, and take over her role with a disguise skill. She would get a second chance to choose again!
This was a golden opportunity. She would aim for the best and wouldn't settle for anything less.
With determined eyes, Rita looked at Maple Syrup and said, "I want to learn this! I want to be like my mother. I want to choose lightning, I want to learn Cheers. Please, teach me, mother."
Maple Syrup stared at her for a long time, her gaze softening more and more. She squatted down, gently holding Rita's arms, and asked softly, "Aren't you afraid?"
Rita replied firmly, "I'm not afraid."
Maple Syrup asked again, "Do you want to become stronger to protect your mother and sister?"
Rita froze for a moment. Did she really mean that?
As "Maple Burn," a support role, she could barely even defeat Maple Cang, let alone act as a protector. And the more she played this role, the more she understood that Maple Burn enjoyed being protected by her family. Her contributions were in other ways—she ensured the safety of her family while they fought.
So, Rita, understanding her role as "Maple Burn" and how it fit into the family dynamic, chose another response: "No, I like being protected by my mother and sister. I just want to learn Cheers. I want to hear people call me 'Little Maple Syrup.'"
Before Rita could analyze the change in Maple Syrup's expression, she was suddenly pulled into a tight embrace. The force of the hug was so strong that Rita briefly thought her health bar might start dropping. After a long pause, Maple Syrup whispered, "Alright, mother will teach you."
For a month, Maple Syrup personally took Rita across the Forest Sea, chasing and collecting thunderstorms. She handed over the tasks of Afternoon Tea to Maple Mu, as she considered the transformation of Maple Burn's wings to be more important than dealing with the troubles in Forest Sea.
Rita had to follow Maple Syrup's instructions and gather lightning from nature to store in every feather of her wings. With time, this process would result in a qualitative change, ultimately altering the properties of her wings. It was an undeniably painful process.
Maple Syrup sighed, "..."
Maple Mu rolled her eyes and said, "Don't listen to her nonsense. Mom's curls are natural. Our family always has a little wave in our hair. You didn't know? She used to sneak up at night to straighten it herself. Remember when she had curly hair until she was ten?"
Rita touched her little braid, glaring at Maple Cang for her mischief.
Maple Cang, after teasing her sister, finally said, "You know my Divine Gift skill is wind-based."
Rita sighed, "But Cheers is just too cool."
Maple Cang shrugged nonchalantly, "I can always create a similar skill myself."
She turned to Maple Burn and smiled, "How about calling it Maple Burn? How does that sound?"
Rita half-heartedly teased, "It sounds super powerful."
Maple Cang caught her insincerity and gave her a playful smack on the head.
After teaching Rita how to evolve her wings, Maple Syrup went back to being busy. Both Maple Mu and Maple Cang were now leading millions of owlbears, and coming home to eat with Rita was now a rare treat for them.
Rita practiced controlling the power of lightning by herself at home. Despite no one being around, she still didn't use her own skills like Thunder Cage or Hundred Thousand Volts. After all these years, she hadn't used any soul-bound equipment, nor had she ventured outside to collect moonlight.
Once Rita fully adapted to the thunderstorm power in her wings and no longer shocked herself with stray lightning, Maple Mu dragged her into her team again as a support role. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire
Despite Maple Syrup declaring that she wouldn't use Maple Burn's resurrection skill on anyone but herself, the other healing abilities of Cotton Candy were already incredibly strong.
Not to mention, Maple Syrup had given her an even more powerful healing skill.@@@@
FVN