After the sparring session ended, Myles returned to his tent.
The camp had resud its usual rhythm. So were preparing equipnt for the incoming exploration and others were still resting.
His own group had not co back yet, so the tent felt quiet.
He stepped inside and let the flap fall shut behind him.
The space dimd slightly.
Then the air in front of him distorted.
Without warning, Lilian appeared from nothingness.
Myles reacted instantly. His body stiffened and he rose to his feet, Ether circulating reflexively through his limbs.
Lilian chuckled, her voice light and lodious. "Did I surprise you? Sorry."
Myles sighed and let the tension leave his shoulders. He sat back down.
"Where did you co from?" he asked.
Instead of answering imdiately, Lilian walked toward him with slow, deliberate steps. Then she turned and settled onto his lap as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Her soft butt pressed against his thigh.
Myles did not move away.
"Did you miss ?" Lilian asked with a teasing smile.
Myles allowed a faint grin to form. "Actually, yes. I thought you ran off with another man."
She laughed softly.
"There is no one in this low realm worth my ti except you. Don’t worry." Her eyes glead. "I left because I had sothing to take care of."
Myles noticed the subtle glint in her gaze and the aning behind her smile.
"What was it?" he asked.
"I went to et... soone."
Myles frowned.
There was no way the "soone" she ntioned was an ordinary human. Not even a powerful awakened one. If Lilian personally went to et them, that being had to be significant.
"Who? A friend of yours?" he asked.
"Not exactly." Lilian leaned slightly closer. "She cos from a place far from mine. In fact, our realms are not exactly... friendly. Our factions have fought before."
Myles fell silent for a few seconds.
"So it’s true," he said slowly. "You t another being from a higher realm. I didn’t expect there to be one in this area."
"Neither did I," Lilian replied. "But that’s the reality."
Myles’ gaze sharpened.
"What do we do now? Are they dangerous? Could they beco a threat?"
"No," Lilian answered calmly. "I spoke with her. She agreed to cooperate... as long as I can offer sothing that interests her."
"And what would that be?"
Lilian looked directly into his eyes.
"You."
Myles stiffened slightly.
"What do you an?"
"I told you before that you have the potential to awaken the Seed, didn’t I?"
Myles nodded.
"That potential is what draws attention," she continued. "And you have already begun."
He frowned. "I haven’t actuallynawakened anything."
"You have," Lilian said softly. "It’s only a small, initial step. But it exists."
A faint unease settled in his chest.
"So what happens next?"
"Leave it to ," she said.
Myles studied her expression for a mont. She was calm, confidence like always.
He released a quiet breath.
"Alright. But if anything goes wrong, you tell imdiately."
Lilian nodded. "Of course."
Her fingers brushed lightly against his chest as she smiled again, eyes shimring with unreadable intent.
"I will arrange a eting with her tonight," Lilian said. "After you’re done with the others, you’ll co with ."
"Alright," Myles replied.
Even as he agreed, a quiet tension ford inside him.
He was about to et a being from a higher realm. Soone on the sa level as Lilian.
Until now, he still had not fully grasped the true scale of Lilian’s strength. She had never fought seriously in front of him. Even when she intervened before, the power she displayed casually had already surpassed every monster he had encountered.
If this new being stood on equal footing with her, then the gap between them and ordinary awakened survivors was imasurable.
Myles took a deep breath slowly.
If he could turn that existence into an ally, his path forward would change completely.
He needed power. And alliances with higher beings were far beyond anything Ether Shards or magical weapons could offer.
—
By midday, both groups gathered near the inner side of the crystal wall.
The atmosphere shifted from relaxed to focused.
Michael stood at the front with jaw set in determination as always. He scanned Myles’ group, then his own, before nodding once.
"You said you already know what Ether Shards look like," Michael said to Myles.
"Yes," Myles answered. "They resemble the crystals growing on the monsters guarding the altar. They also appear on mutated humans and certain evolved creatures."
Michael turned to his people. "You heard him. Our objective today is to gather as many Ether Shards as possible. We’ll use them at the Soul Forge Altar."
Myles added calmly, "Be careful. Monsters with Ether Shards embedded in their bodies can be stronger than normal variants."
Several mbers straightened at that.
When preparations were complete, they moved toward the crystal wall.
Myles glanced upward.
The barrier shimred faintly, refracting sunlight across its surface. Standing several ters away was the small girl with short hair. She was the one maintaining the structure.
This wasn’t a physical construction. It was a skill. A fortress manifested through her ability alone.
This was what made Michael’s camp survive this long.
Michael raised his hand in signal.
The crystal wall parted smoothly, forming an opening just wide enough for the group to pass.
They stepped through.
The mist outside felt heavier.
Once the last mber crossed the threshold, the wall sealed behind them with a small grinding sound.
They quickly divided into two teams.
Myles led his group. Michael led his own. But later if they encountered a high-threat target, they would regroup and eliminate it together.
Both leaders exchanged a final nod before separating.
Lilian now walked beside Myles again after being absent for so ti.
Her presence alone subtly steadied the others in his group. Even if they did not fully understand what she was, they had learned that when she appeared, survival odds increased.
The two squads moved into the mist with their senses sharpened.
—
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