***
Snow fell from the misty sky to the ashen field below.
Sand flew along the winds lead and an awakened girl walked the dry path alone towards the top of the volcano.
The jade palace stood majestically and the stone bridge collected the snow into the pale path.
Few mundane workers cleaned the snow from it and pushed it into the calm sea of lava.
The girl in black clothes walked through the main gate and complied with the brief checking with the bloody rose.
It still made her creeped out to this day. She would very well never leave the Song Domain, but there is someone who wouldn't give her that choice.
Thinking of it, she smiled softly and happily walked towards a certain place much familiar to her.
As she neared the shop, she looked up at the sign with the words forming, "Parsil Heaven of Memory and Delicacies"
Without any hesitation, she opened the door and shouted joyfully, "Teacher! I am Back!" But she froze.
Her eye widened with shock and disbelief.
On the other side of the counter, A young man in his early twenties with black hair and pale complexion was holding a woman in his lap.
Their lips met with saliva dripping messily as their tongue were tangled in a fierce assault.
The man's hands wandered on the woman's body without any restraint as he squeezed the woman's breast with one hand and put the other hand between her legs.
They both were tangled in a fierce battle of passion without a care.
The woman noticed her and gave her a provocative glance as she deepened the kiss from behind, and began to let out loud moans that were like hot oil to the girls ears.
She just stood there, her hands tightly clutching the door handle as her eyes turned red.
After an unknown amount of time, the man seemed to finally notice her and quickly let go of the girl.
He took out a handkerchief to wipe the drool from his face as he smiled towards her, "Oh Rain, you're back? Did anything go wrong? Are you okay?"
Seeing his worried gaze, the girl named Rain felt pain twist in her heart.
The woman from before also stood up and cleaned her face before saying, "It seems your apprentice is back. I need to go for a round, so I'll meet you later babe."
The man smiled and bid farewell, "Stay safe babe."
That way of calling each other made the girls condition worse.
She had experienced this many times over the years, but the pain stays the same, not even getting used to it.
Her first teacher named Sunless had died four years ago and this new teacher had appeared a year after.
She had thought he was sunless for a while before finally being convinced he was not. Her new teacher was...creepy to say the least.
He looked at the beautiful women around with weird gaze and flirted around often. But maybe it was because of something unknown or his resemblance to to Sunless who was like an older brother, she fell in love with him.
He helped her awaken naturally and is helping her in ascending to become a master. He doted on her, even though she was only four years younger than him, he treated her like a child.
He gave her everything, which resulted in her feelings growing deeper and deeper. But he never gave her what she desperately wanted.
"Are you okay?" Parsil suddenly asked, his eyes warm as he looked at Rain.
Rain looked at him for a second, then looked away and rushed up the stairs to her room.
Parsil heard her slam the door to her room and sighed.
It was not that he didn't realize her feelings, but it's that he really can't accept them.
She confessed to him once, but he refused. But when she insisted, he brushed the matter by saying he would accept her once she becomes a Saint.
But now he is worried. Normally, a normal person, even the most talented ones would take at least five years to awaken naturally.
But not only has Rain awakened within a year after their promise, but she also opened her soul sea one year after awakening.
Now she is refining her essence and core to become an ascendant.
He also noticed that she is very close to becoming a master.
If he truly took her progress seriously, she would be a Saint within four years or even earlier.
But he sighed and comforted himself. People in the ancient times cultivate for hundreds of years to become Ascendants, and thousands to even discover their flaw and aspect.
She he comforted himself saying she isn't becoming a Saint anytime soon.
Maybe by that time, she would move on from these childish feeling of hormonal activity.
Thinking so, he walked back onto the counter, staring at the empty store and sighing.
He should close for the day.
***
Back in the Titanic Breastbone, Inriam sighed and brushed his words saying, "So, you all must be here to recruit me. The people of the worm queen also came here, but their proposal wasn't up to my taste. And it already belonged to someone else."
He then looked back at the group of saints and smiled, "I just need you to arrange a meeting for me with a particular person."
As always, Nephis spoke first, "Who are you referring to and why do you need to meet them?"
"You seem pretty tense miss Changing Star?"
Nephis showed a calm exterior and said steadily, "We need to know your intentions and the person's identity to meet your demands."
Inriam smiled and replied, "I have been curious to meet this person who 'fate' bores such resentment for. I have watched her past through divination and am very interested in meeting her directly. As for her identity..."
He looked at the blinding darkness and said wistfully, "...Saintess Cassia, One of the members of your cohort, lady Changing Star. As for my intentions..."
Nephis stared at him, her hands clenched tightly.
But to the shock of everyone, Inriam replied calmly,
"...Is marriage."
***
To be continued...