Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 577: Charlotte’s terrifying talent

Arthur nodded, impressed by how quickly she'd achieved basic mana awareness. "Good. Now try to guide a small amount of it. Just a tiny stream. Move it from your chest down your right arm toward your hand."

Charlotte's face scrunched with effort, and Arthur felt a slight pulse of energy through their connected hands. A moment later, he could actually see faint wisps of raw mana emanating from her fingertips—visible proof that she'd successfully directed her internal energy.

"Did I do it?" Charlotte asked without opening her eyes, still concentrating.

"Perfectly," Arthur confirmed, genuinely impressed. "Now bring it back up your arm, across your chest, and down your left arm. Create a circuit. Let the mana flow in a continuous loop."

He expected this to take some time and several attempts. Maintaining controlled circulation required focus and coordination that most new awakeners struggled with initially. But Charlotte accomplished it within seconds, her mana flowing smoothly through the pattern he'd described.

"Like this?" she asked, and Arthur could actually perceive the steady circulation through his enhanced senses—a clean, efficient flow with none of the stuttering or blockages typical of beginners.

"Exactly like that," Arthur said, shaking his head with amazement. "Charlotte, you're picking this up incredibly fast. Most people take hours just to achieve basic circulation."

Charlotte opened her eyes, breaking the circulation but looking pleased with herself despite her exhaustion. "Really? It feels... natural. Like the mana wants to move where I tell it to."

"That's a good sign," Arthur assured her. "It means you have natural aptitude for magical control. Which makes sense given your talent—your body is already adapted to handle enormous amounts of mana, so manipulating it comes more easily."

He considered what to teach next, balancing educational value against Charlotte's obvious fatigue. "Alright, one more thing. Skills. Everyone receives at least one skill when they awaken their talent. Check your status again—there should be a skills section listing what abilities you have access to."

Charlotte's eyes took on the distant focus that indicated she was viewing her status screen. Her expression shifted to curiosity as she read whatever information appeared there.

"I have one skill listed," Charlotte reported. "It's called Mana Control, and it's rare-rank. The description says it allows me to control mana more precisely than normal, with better efficiency and less waste."

Arthur slapped his forehead and laughed, the pieces suddenly clicking into place. "No wonder you understood the circulation so quickly! You have a skill specifically designed to make mana manipulation easier!"

Of course she did. The system, in its mysterious way, had granted Charlotte not just infinite mana but also the foundational skill needed to actually use that mana effectively. Without Mana Control, having infinite energy would be like having an endless reservoir with no way to channel it properly. The skill provided the precision and efficiency needed to transform raw power into practical application.

"Is that good?" Charlotte asked, uncertain why Arthur found it so amusing.

"It's perfect," Arthur confirmed, still chuckling at the elegant synergy. "Your talent gives you unlimited magical energy, and your skill gives you the control needed to use it properly. They complement each other perfectly. It's like the system knew exactly what you'd need to handle your own power safely."

Charlotte smiled, some of her earlier anxiety about her dangerous talent easing at Arthur's explanation. "So I'm not just a mana bomb waiting to explode?"

"Definitely not," Arthur assured her. "You're a mage with infinite ammunition. Once you learn actual offensive or utility skills, you'll be terrifying on the battlefield."

Charlotte's eyes lit up with excitement, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "Can we try it? Right now? I want to see what I can do!"

She started to sit up more fully, energy returning to her movements as enthusiasm overcame physical weakness.

Arthur raised a hand, stopping her momentum. "Wait. Not yet. There's something we need to do first."

Charlotte's expression shifted to confusion. "What? Why not?"

"Because I want to add you to my guild," Arthur explained, his mind already working through the benefits. "Power Guild. By making you an official member, I can lend you skills through the guild system. You'll have access to infinite inventory storage, more experience gains from kills, and various other benefits."

His smile widened as he continued. "Naturally, I'm going to boost my sister as much as possible. I have epic-rank equipment waiting for you, skills that will complement your infinite mana, and resources that will accelerate your development dramatically."

Charlotte's excitement transformed into genuine enthusiasm. "You own a guild? With benefits and skills, and equipment? That sounds amazing! Let's do it!"

"Good," Arthur said with satisfaction. He reached out mentally through his summoning bond. "But first, there's someone I want you to meet."

A dark portal materialised beside the medical table, and from it emerged a small, obsidian-scaled void dragon with round eyes and tiny wings.

"Aether, come meet my sister Charlotte officially," Arthur called warmly.

The void dragon's eyes widened as he spotted Charlotte, and he immediately flew over with excited energy. "Ooh! Master's sister is awake! The sleeping princess is all better now!"

Charlotte's expression melted into pure delight as she took in Aether's kitten-sized form. "Sleeping princess?! Oh my god, Arthur! You have the cutest dragon ever! Look at his little wings!"

She reached out instinctively, and Aether landed gently on her extended hands, his small claws gripping carefully to avoid scratching her.

"Hi, Master's sister!" Aether chirped cheerfully, tilting his small head with characteristic innocent curiosity. "I'm very happy you're well now! I was worried because Master was super sad when you were sick!"

Charlotte held the tiny dragon close to her face, her smile wide and genuine. "You were worried about me? That's so sweet! And you can talk! Arthur, why didn't you tell me you had an adorable talking dragon?"

"Because you were unconscious," Arthur replied with dry amusement, watching the immediate bond forming between his sister and his companion. "Aether is a part of the family. A void dragon with spatial manipulation abilities."