No sooner had Delia's eyelids fallen than a strange lightness overtook her body, as if an invisible current carried her away.
The world spun around her, her thoughts dissolved, and resisting it was impossible.
When she opened her eyes, her heart froze: she was here again.
Before her stretched a luxurious garden with trees of various colors and sizes. Between them ran paths of pure white stone.
Along the edges stood carved statues of animals, and around grew countless beautiful multicolored flowers.
Somewhere far beyond the garden rose a majestic palace, glowing with a soft golden light. Its snow-white walls, adorned with delicate carvings and patterns, seemed crafted by nature itself.
Towers crowned with slender spires reflected the rays of an unseen sun, filling the space with a gentle glow.
Arched windows of sparkling glass shimmered with rainbow hues, as if holding all the colors of the world within.
Delia froze, captivated by this magnificence.
This dream… she had seen it countless times over the past six years.
Upon waking, she forgot everything except vague, fleeting images that vanished the moment she tried to grasp them.
But as soon as she returned here, she remembered every detail. She knew what would happen next.
Her feet, as if guided by an invisible force, carried her along the path toward a vast lake with crystal-clear water, where fish swam with scales shining like precious gems.
Delia felt her heart beat faster, and her fingers involuntarily curled into fists.
Ahead awaited the purpose of this dream.
By the pond stood a figure wrapped in a soft glow, concealing its face.
— Delia… — a voice spoke, gentle and soothing.
The girl froze. Her heart seemed to stop, then beat anew with force. That voice… it reached the very depths of her being, stirring forgotten memories. She wanted to answer but could only remain silent, as the voice continued calling:
— Delia.
— Delia.
— Delia.
— Delia.
The female voice echoed through the space, growing louder, and at that moment, a dazzling light flared around her.
Delia woke up.
Her chest heaved heavily, her fingers clenched into fists.
Young woman felt she had just touched something important.
She wanted to process the dream, examine every detail — but the surroundings made it hard to focus.
Her mind still held fresh memories of the beating.
Looking around and checking her condition, she was stunned: her wounds had completely vanished, and her cultivation had risen to the Fourth Mortal Rank.
{How had this happened? He nearly turned me into a mess… and now I feel magnificent. Alright. The main question—where am I?}
The space she occupied was very small, pressing against her from all sides.
Delia cautiously placed her hand on the wall.
The surface felt warm and smooth, as if alive.
Looking around, she noticed one of the walls slightly glowing, as though a source of light lay behind it. She reached out and felt her hand stick.
Delia tugged, but the wall held firm.
— Damn! — she cursed, her patience snapping.
Summoning her strength, she kicked the wall.
A dull crack resounded, and the surface gave way. A soft light hit her face, making her squint.
When her eyes adjusted, Delia finally saw that she was in the same cave where she had recently fought Demin.
But neither he nor the knights were nearby—silence reigned.
Her attention was drawn to two figures not far away.
One — remarkably similar to her: a black-haired, pink-eyed girl, like a reflection in a mirror.
The second—the same girl from the forest she had spared.
A silence hung in the air.
Delia stared intently at her "copy."
The stranger smiled happily.
Du Fei's gaze darted from one to the other.
Seeing how alike they were, and noting Delia's red clothing, Du Fei realized she may have made a small mistake earlier.
"I hope I didn't cause extra problems…"
Trying to make sense of it, she broke the awkward silence:
— Excuse me, what's happening here?
A persistent voice answered:
— I'd like to know that too.
Delia, freshly freed from the stone, remained wary of the girl so incredibly like her.
Yet she felt no threat—instead, a strange closeness. She waited for an answer, when a voice spoke in her mind:
"Everything's simple, sister. I saved you. That's what happened."
Without flinching, Delia mentally replied.
{Sister? Though there's little doubt if I look at you. But why is my "sister" sitting in stone, God knows where, for who knows how long?}
"Let me clarify. I am not your biological sister—until you awakened me with your blood. But now we are bound. You feel it. If it bothers you that I call you sister, I can stop."
Taking a deep breath and brushing her hand across her face, Delia continued, ignoring the nervous Du Fei:
{I'm not very knowledgeable in all these… matters. So, if possible, explain more.}
"For you — anything, sister. First of all, I am not human. I am from the Aran race. In appearance, we resemble a mix of human and spider, and in our second form, we fully transform into one — that is our nature. But to say we are merely spiders is like claiming humans are just monkeys."
She paused, giving time to process. Delia shivered at the comparison but quickly dismissed the thought.
Her gaze fell on the piece of stone with web still clinging to her hand, and her memory reminded her of the appendages that had grown from the girl's back — it all made sense.
{Okay that's clear. But why do you look like me?}
"I didn't look like this before. I was… less human. When I traveled, I felt the approach of evolution. I found this place and began the process. It is long—I don't know how much time has passed. In the middle of evolution, you fought that guy. Your blood touched my cocoon… and incredibly accelerated the process. Moreover—it made me perfect."
Delia considered what she heard, her mind still trying to reconcile the incredible with reality.
Yet her words held a strange internal logic that compelled trust.
The silence was broken by the anxious voice of the spider-girl.
"Do you believe me?"
Hearing a note of panic, Delia involuntarily smiled, her gentle gaze meeting the pink eyes.
{I believe. And I recovered because you placed me in your cocoon?}
Hearing this, the Aran girl, pleased with her trust, nodded with evident relief.
"Exactly! The remnants of the nutrient medium after my evolution helped you heal and break through to a new level. By the way, congratulations, sister."
— Thank you. Thank you for everything, — Delia spoke aloud, looking at her warmly. Then, slightly squinting, she added: — But you forgot to mention something.
— And what is that? — spirer-girl immediately tensed, her gaze darting as if trying to remember what she might have omitted. Her eyes suddenly landed on Du Fei, who had been standing aside all this time, feeling clearly out of place. — Oh-oh-oh, you mean her? That's Du Fei. I thought you were already acquainted.
Du Fei perked up as she received attention.
— Well, we are acquainted, — Delia quickly interjected. — Though I only just learned her name. But I'm not talking about her.
She tilted her head and continued with a faint smile:
— Let's simplify things. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Delia.
— You're right, sister, introductions are necessary, — Sharissa nodded, her face lighting with a gentle smile. — My name is Sharissa. Just Shari is fine.
Du Fei, feeling increasingly awkward in this exchange of formalities, hurriedly said:
— I'm Du Fei. Though you already know that. Still… pleased to meet you.
— Pleased to meet you too, — Sharissa laughed, tilting her head slightly.
Delia nodded briefly, holding back a smile.
— Maybe we should leave here? — Du Fei spoke impatiently, scanning the gloomy cave.
— Agreed. I'm already sick of this place, — Delia supported her.
But before they could take a step, a cold, ice-like voice pierced the silence, accompanied by a wave of murderous intent.
— None of you will leave.