I found myself standing in the grassy field, where the skies were white and the air was more gentle. I stood there with my legs crossed, letting the flow of my quintessence relax as it circulate through my body. Focusing all my senses through it, I heard Diana's voice calling for . "Claude."
Abruptly opening my eyes, a delicate goddess was sitting in front of in the sa position, ditating. We've been ditating together as a ritual to fortify our connection together. I'm also doing the sa with Tsuki; however, due to her short attention span—it's hard to do so. That's why right now, I'm focusing all my attention on Diana.
I've got a stronger bond with Diana than Tsuki, as expected since we're half-a-soul tied together. Furthermore, Tsuki's consumption of my quintessence exceeds my expectation. I'm not sure of her origin even Diana doesn't know anything, despite the accumulated knowledge stored in her mind that ca from the first civilization of this world—the pure-blooded race or the first civilization.
However, one thing's for sure, Tsuki has so sort of connection with the old gods. She can shapeshift to any kind of creature once it's killed, or consud by her, yet it's a lot more taxing than turning into a weapon. Her mysterious background was sowhat thrilled into wanting to learn more about her.
As for Diana, I've been able to control so of her power but not to the extent where it's always usable such as wide-range attack and pinpoint accuracy. Since I've been relying on my teleportation, my instincts always kick in into using it whenever I try to focus on creating a sequence of attacks on the opponent. A great example would be the ti that I fought the golem from the trials.
I feel so weak when I can't teleport myself in a dangerous situation, my awareness is not great that's why I rely on reactive evasion over anticipation. I still lack the foundation and have too many flaws in my combat. Lily and Adelle also said the sa thing once I told them the story of what happened inside that domain.
Also, there's one thing that has been bothering . The voices of people from that ti; the prayers. Reminiscing those voices still frightens , the feeling of countless hands drawing , to the abyss of unknowingness where light can't reach.
"That's all for today. Reminder, don't ever do that again, okay?"
Diana points a finger at while leaning with her upper body, giving an incredible top view of her breast.
"Yes. I understand. I will not be reckless."
"Good. It's understandable that you fell to your fighting instincts to go all in, on the situation. Well then, that concludes our ditation. Plus, the one that you asked from before—it should work, theoretically, if you can manage to locate it pretty well and have a better understanding, but right now, you can't."
"Can't you just do it?"
"Mou! It's hard to create a portal if you don't have any idea where it leads you, it's like—letting yourself get lost in the middle of nowhere. You're even having a hard ti grasping your surrounding, imagine even creating one for Tsuki."
"Ehh... What a bumr... I thought I could do cool things like throwing daggers then it would go through a teleportation portal then relocating itself on the target."
"I can easily do that before, fufufu~ But right now, take one step at a ti. You can't be greedy because the backlash of using my powers recklessly would be deadly."
"Yeah, I know."
"I know, you say... Yet, you kept doing it all over again. Muu! Haah... But I'm also held accountable for what happened to you, my radical-like powers seem to be taking effect on your emotions."
Emotions are complex psychological elents of every life with consciousness. It's what drives everything from our decisions, behaviors, and most importantly, how we convey to other individuals. However, the mystery of what happened inside my chest was left unanswered, as Diana also doesn't have the answer.
Furthermore, Diana's powers are related to retribution or seeking one's justice from her understanding upon learning more about it in this world. Every entity in the Avalon has its own duties, bestowed to them. I got a feeling that they're just enslaved to that duty as to why they're obsessed about going back to this world, to interfere with mortal affairs.
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The sound of the birds and the chis were articulating to my ears. Opening my eyes gently, sharp piercing crimson eyes greeted with the stands of her black hair cascaded to my face. Adelle was smiling gleefully. "Morning."
"Ahhh, what a sight to behold—"
The brief gleeful smile was sothing I genuinely liked as soon I woke; however, that wonderful smile imdiately shifted to terror. "Hey, Claude. What did I hear about harming soone? I heard you beat up the Albert guy pretty badly. I rember Lily and I being clear about not harming soone because of your selfishness?"
"Wait! There's a reason for that!"
"Everything has a reason."
I gulp a mouthful of saliva.
"You see, before that, I encountered his twin sister and the woman who approached us earlier, Ami—" Then I continued to explain the entire situation except for the disturbing interaction that I had with Rosalyn, I left that part out of kindness—not really. Before proceeding to the actual reason for beating him up. "Afterwards, I took action and beat him to a pulp, just out of frustration from speaking that way to his own sister and also used that, for him to leave Steph alone."
"Really now? I can't even believe any words you said considering your attitude. Now, it beca a problem... Internal affairs between two siblings then you intervened, especially beating him up..."
"Wait, how did you even learn about that?"
Adelle sighed and slamd her palm to her face before answering . "Well, the Mora Family are here to talk with your master about that incident."
"Haa... Let's go. I need to be there."
"Wait, are you sure? Why won't you just let them talk things out? They have more authority..."
"It's my problem, not master. I'm the one who caused it. So, I'll deal with it. Letting her handle it would only leave a bitter taste to my tongue, I'd rather be there and face it than hiding here."
I pressed the ground behind with my hands before jumping and landing on my feet. I took Adelle's firm yet soft hands and head our way back to the mansion. At the front, I saw carriages and soldiers standing still in their positions. We sneaked at the back and entered the mansion without anyone noticing us. I got a feeling they would recognize and would cause another ruckus. I bought Adelle into my room.
"Take care."
"Pfft, I'm not going to die."
After patting her head, I shut my eyes off. Later on, I regained my sight and saw a man and a woman in front of , and beside . There, Master Irene was sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed then across her there's a chubby old man and his red hair which I instantly identified. It's probably the father of Albert and Rosalyn. Then next to him, there's a woman who seems to be the mother. The two were shocked upon seeing my sight.
"You!"
The woman said as she slams the table between us and was about to go across the table just to slap . However, our eyes t each other, sensing the predicant that lay beyond her she broke it off and fell on her butt. That also goes along with the man beside her.
"I advise you to not approach so casually, okay?" I said with a gentle smile to them in respect.
"Saintess!"
Earl Arden peeks over Master Irene beside in anger and fright.
"Earl Arden, I shall advise you to tone your voice down."
"But Saintess! I want your disciple to have a proper punishnt for beating my son up! This is despicable! How can you tolerate such behavior! I can't accept this! Stop being unfair, Saintess! You're one of the respectable figures and the embodint of sword and justice, how can you overlook such behavior! He even threatened us! Just because you're in power—"
"Earl Arden if you don't make your wife shut up. I'll make her." Master Irene released a wave of mana from her body. "I've known my disciple and I took care of him. He's not soone who will mindlessly beat soone without a reason. For instance, I've heard your son harassing others. Now, tell , who's showing hypocrisy?"
The two only bit their lips in frustration because of the disparity between Master Irene and them. They could only complain without actually doing anything. I looked to my side and gave Master Irene a aningful smile. She responded in the sa manner. After our eyes are locked in understanding, I face the man across the table in a more domineering manner.
"Stephanie, are you familiar with that na? I'm pretty sure you have. And, I'm pretty sure he told you about , and my relationship with her."
"You almost killed him for a woman?!"
"Hey, how can you slander ? I have no thoughts of killing him in the first place, I barely even fought him. Bla him for being too weak. Do you know how hard it is for to hold back? Where's my reward for that? At least, complint or sothing for holding back—"
"The audacity! My son was beaten to the ground! Broken jaws, shoulder, and even his nose! You need to get punished for the detrint that you caused to my son. How can you overlook this kind of behavior, Saintess!? He's an incarnation of the devil! The wound on my son's body is still fresh!"
I sigh a little and place my head over Master Irene's shoulder. She's letting handle the situation which is kind of sweet of her. "Hm, I wonder who's the devil? A father who overlooks all of his son's wrongdoing and spoils him, and on the other hand, there's your daughter which is technically half of the phoenix, yet you're treating her differently."
"W-W-What are you saying?"
"You didn't even finish my words earlier. And, that's not even the sole reason why I did it. Do you ever recall the outburst of the phoenix? Not really sure, who am I to intervene with your family matter right? The only thing that I noticed was your malnourished daughter. Pretty abnormally thin for soone at her age. I wonder what's happening?" I smiled, charmingly.
Only the Earl flinched, as he shrink to his seat and sweats are pouring out of his disgusting forehead. His butt was glued on the sofa even his eyes can't blink once. They were overtaken with shock and their apparent quivering body is out of control.
"Looks like there is sothing. I wonder if Master and I could investigate that matter? Not sure if that would go well, from the look on your face. Am I right? Let's see, not ntally stable. Malnourish and bruises. I wonder where did that co from? Surely enough, that didn't co from their ho. Their lovely ho." I mixed so lies into my words, yet the Earl still bought it. He was even barely breathing from the intense, suffocating air.
"Slan—!"
"Oops, before you say anything. How about, I'll give you this?"
I extend my arms in the air and a gap opens in the air where my hand goes through. I'm nonchalantly getting sothing out of my space storage. The husband and wife in front of had their eyes bulge out as if it's about to co out from their sockets. Pulling sothing inside, once my hand appeared a bottle with so shimring liquid inside of the bottle. I place it over in front of them with the intention of bribing them since they already intended to get sothing precious from Master Irene.
"S-Space magic...?"
Realizing that they're about to receive sothing, Earl Arden imdiately regains his composure. "What's this?" He points out the bottle in front of him. He grabs it with his hand and inspected it.
"It's a B-graded potion."
"B grade!?"
B Grade potions or items are a luxury in this world, as only the riches of the rich are the only ones who are capable of acquiring once. As for how I'm able to get my hands on this, it's simple, I got it basically from Lily's disposal after the incident at the place where she was staying. She gave it to , but I have no use for it. Honestly, at first, I thought of intimidating them, but instead, I chose the other route where I can just bribe Earl Arden.
Later on, Earl Arden proves its authenticity. It's mind-boggling that his family was known for creating dicine in this kingdom. They're the main supplier of potions on guilds. His attitude and expression turned the opposite way upon learning its legitimacy, forgetting the purpose of coming here.
"You're really giving this to ?"
"Yes, yes. I have no use for it anyway." Then I saw the glimpse of greediness over his eyes. "However, I have one last thing to say. Don't let your greed consu you or it won't end well."
I smiled aningfully. Above the ceiling, a shadow of a cat with red eyes cos into our sight. Just seeing the glimpse of Tsuki's shadowy figure almost gave them a glimpse of their future, as her red eyes represent the fear of thousand people. Adding that to the pressuring mana of Master Irene, making it unbearable for them. In the end, they swallowed their greed and pride, leaving the mansion with the potion on their hands.
While leaving, a trail of black miasma follows the Earl's back.
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