Nephis led me through the winding streets, her footsteps steady and assured as we made our way toward her home.
When we finally arrived, I found myself staring at the structure before us, blinking in mild surprise. It was... smaller than I had expected.
"This is your place?" I asked, tilting my head.
She pushed open the door. "You thought it would be grander?"
"Well, considering you're affiliated with Valor now and the sole heir of the Immortal Flame clan, I imagined a mansion with servants bowing as we walked in." I smirked. "This feels a little... modest."
"I don't need luxury. Just enough space to train and rest."
I hummed in acknowledgment and stepped inside. Dismissing my blindfold, I looked around. The interior was simple, sparsely decorated, but undeniably Nephis—functional, efficient, and utterly without excess.
"Let's spar," she said suddenly, turning to face me.
I arched a brow. "Already?"
"You said you wanted to learn essence manipulation. I'll teach you, but first, let's test where you're at."
She led me to an underground training chamber.
We faced each other, giving a brief nod before engaging. I observed the flowing energy within her, the star-like points in her body.
"How peculiar. It feels different from normal."
She launched forward, her attacks swift and precise. She was stronger and faster than I had anticipated, but I managed to dodge or block most strikes. As I adjusted to the way she used her essence, an idea formed in my mind. I decided to use Tortoise Ripple against her.
She feinted with her leg before striking toward my torso. Seeing an opening, I exhaled sharply, directing a burst of air at her shoulder—right where I saw the brightest star. The moment it connected, her strike faltered, momentarily disrupting her balance. She hesitated, caught off guard. Seizing the opportunity, I twisted her arm behind her back, swept her legs out from under her, and pinned her to the ground.
I laughed. "Hah! Just like old times."
"I was going easy on you," she said, frustration evident in her tone.
"I know. I could feel it. You're much stronger and faster than I remember. Your technique has improved too. And this augmenting with essence is really useful."
"Yes. As Awakened, we could augment ourselves with essence, enhancing our strength and speed. But now that we're Ascended, we can specialize how we augment ourselves even further."
"Oh, I see now. I think I'll get the hang of it in a few tries," I said, sitting cross-legged.
I channeled my essence, focusing on its movement and control. After a few minutes, I was already getting the feel of it.
"That was easier than expected." I stood up, stretching.
"How did you learn it so fast?" she asked, her gaze sharp with curiosity.
"I have an attribute that helps me control my body."
She studied me for a moment before nodding. "Hmm. It's late already. You need to rest."
"I'm fine. I think I'll meditate for a bit instead. You go ahead—I memorized where everything is," I said dismissively.
"No. You need to sleep," she said firmly and, without waiting for a response, grabbed my wrist and started pulling me upstairs.
I sighed, knowing I didn't really have a choice in the matter.
After a quick shower, I lay in bed. Sleep took me faster than I expected.
Darkness.
I stood in a familiar void, its suffocating emptiness pressing down on me. Then, out of the shadows, the all-too-familiar dark monster emerged, staring at me with amusement.
The events of my Second Nightmare began replaying before me.
I tried to move, to reach them, but my body felt heavy, sluggish. I screamed, but no sound came out. I was drowning in their suffering, in their loss.
I failed them.
Nephis stirred in the adjacent room, her senses sharp even in slumber. A faint sound reached her ears—muffled groans, restless movement.
She frowned, getting up. What is he doing?
She stepped into my room, only to find me tossing and turning, drenched in sweat, groaning as if in pain. Her expression softened as she walked closer, reaching out toward me—
I woke with a start, heart hammering against my ribs. My breath came in short gasps, my body covered in sweat. For a moment, I wasn't sure where I was—still trapped in the nightmare.
Then, I felt it.
Someone was close. Too close.
Instinct took over. My hand shot out, grabbing the approaching figure's wrist. Before I could process who it was, I twisted, flipping them beside me. My other hand lashed out in a strike, aiming for the throat—
Only to stop inches away.
Nephis.
I froze, my breath hitching as realization sank in. My grip on her wrist loosened instantly, and I scrambled backward, hands shaking.
"I—I'm sorry," I stammered, horrified at what I had almost done.
Nephis didn't say anything. She was staring at me, wide-eyed, but it wasn't fear I felt in her.
It was something else, something what I couldn't quite describe.
My vision blurred, and it took me a second to realize why. My eyes were wet. A storm of anger, sadness, and exhaustion swirled inside me, too much to contain.
Before I could retreat any further, Nephis reached out—
And pulled me into a hug.
I stiffened, caught off guard by the sudden embrace. Her arms wrapped around me, firm yet careful, as if she knew I was moments away from breaking.
"Sleep," she murmured. "Just sleep."
I wanted to argue. To tell her I was fine. But the warmth of her presence, the steady beat of her heart against my ear—it was grounding. Soothing in a way I hadn't expected.
She guided me back down, holding me close. My head rested against her arm, my cheek pressing against the soft fabric of her shirt. Her fingers brushed through my damp hair, a slow, absent-minded motion.
A strange calm settled over me.
I hadn't realized how exhausted I truly was. My body relaxed against her, my eyes growing heavy despite my best efforts.
For the first time in a long while, I felt safe.
And before I could dwell on it further, sleep took me.