The stranger, now understanding their common tongue, merely offered a pleasant yet decidedly vicious smile. He assessed Kar, then Big John. He recognized Kar's strength, a formidable force, yet one he felt he could overcome, even without his shadow fully reintegrated. It was Big John who held his attention. Big John's aura, a quiet wellspring of immense power, signaled a formidable opponent, one he knew he would be weaker than even at full strength. Such adversaries demanded respect.
"You are in the Temple of Whispering Echoes," Big John finally replied, his voice calm and steady, deliberately omitting the recent, more pressing location of their current predicament. "And you have much to explain, Sheut Khensu. Starting with what you did to Sister Adah, and how you came to be in a place supposedly guarded by the highest enchantments."
Sheut Khensu's smile remained, though a hint of something more thoughtful entered his eyes. He glanced briefly towards the shimmering, black portal where Adah and the queen had vanished. "Sister Adah is… well in the shadow you see to your left. And her garments," he paused, a slight, almost imperceptible chuckle escaping him, "Are merely experiencing a temporary dimensional displacement. A side effect, you might say, due to here somehow gaining one of my abilities… If you want, you can think of it as a shadow equip skill." He then turned his full attention back to Big John. "As for how I arrived where, I only remember waking up in this temple. I was hoping you could enlighten me on that subject."
What have you done to Sister Adah?!" General Kar roared, his voice reverberating through the opulent space. Not allowing Sheut to answer the first question, he threatened Sheut. "If you've harmed even a hair on her body, I'll cut you up and feed you to the wolves!" Releasing a slither of killing intent.
Sheut lowered his eyes in slits before asking "Why are you agitated?"
Kar bristled, ready to launch into another tirade, but Big John held up a hand, a silent command for patience. "Agitated is an understatement, Sheut Khensu," Big John said, his voice dropping slightly, "Especially when our Queen has yet to come back to us, and one of our most valued Sisters has just had... an unexpected spiritual awakening in your presence." He eyed Sheut Khensu shrewdly. "Where did you take them and are they safe? Your connection to shadows, and the unusual mana fluctuations you exhibit and unique for a darkness aspect. "It was Big Johns turn to let out his killing intent.
Sheut Khensu's smile didn't falter. Instead, his grin became wider and more vicious. Letting out his own killing intent that easily matched the intensity of Big John's "Do your eyes not work? Did you not see my woman sink into her own shadow and travel to your Queen? Did you not see the Queen enter the shadow under her own will? Do you think lowly of your own Queen to believe that she put herself into parole. My woman seems to be now able to control a portion of the shadow. Sheut retorted scrutinizingly. As for my shadows, they are not merely the absence of light, but a tangible, sentient force." Dropping his smile, Sheut's killing intent spiked. He lowered his voice into a dangerous growl. "Don't you dare compare me to that pile of loathsome idiots. I don't have a darkness aspect. My aspect is related to the shadows. The two aren't the same."
Big John was momentarily taken aback by the amount of killing intent emanating from someone who wasn't in the same tier. He felt as if this wasn't even the full extent of Sheut's killing intent. Weapon raised, he subconsciously got into a battle stance.
Fur raised to attention. General Kar was unable to stop shaking. It wasn't until Big John notice his struggle and shielded him against most of the killing intent. That he was able to draw his weapon and get into a battle stance, when focused on Sheut, he could swear he saw the light surrounding him get absorbed by the darkness.
Before the three came to blows, they heard two feminine voices from the shadow in between them simultaneously yell. "Boys, calm down and place nice." One of the voices additionally yelled, "John, I'm safe and having tea with Nandi."
The air in the shadow space, once charged with raw embarrassment, now crackled with an entirely different kind of energy. Sister Adah, still flushed from her recent, bewildering encounter, found herself deep within the shadowy folds of the mirror realm alongside Queen Nandi. The embarrassment that had initially consumed her had evaporated, replaced by the comforting presence of her friend. They sat, cross-legged, on ornate, pulled-out chairs beside a small, elegant table set with a delicate tea service. Laughter, light and airy, echoed softly in the shimmering darkness as Adah recounted every astonishing detail of her journey and her utterly unforeseen intimacy with the mysterious stranger. The world beyond the shadow had ceased to exist for them.
"And then..." Adah hesitated, her gaze dropping to her teacup. "And then he... he kissed me. And Nandi, I... I kissed him back. I don't know why! My mind was screaming, but my heart... my soul... it just felt so right. And then... well." She looked up, meeting Nandi's knowing gaze, a deeper blush resurfacing. "You saw. It was just... overpowering. Like a fire, ignited from nowhere."
Queen Nandi, her eyes alight with unmasked glee, leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "So, unexpected spiritual awakening, huh?" she purred, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "From what I gathered before we made our grand exit, it looked like a whole lot more than just a spiritual awakening, dear Adah. You were practically glowing! And," she paused, her gaze sweeping over Adah's now fully clad form, "About your cloths. Is it possible that it's in this shadow space?"
Adah flushed, a deep crimson spreading across her cheeks that even the dim, shadowy light couldn't entirely conceal. She took a quick sip of her tea, its warmth a stark contrast to the rapid beat of her heart. "Nandi!" she hissed, though a small, involuntary giggle escaped her. "It wasn't... it wasn't like that! I mean, it was, but it wasn't just that. It's so strange. When he touched me, when he kissed me, it was like... like my very soul was humming. And that feeling in the healing cave? It was him! He connected to me, somehow. As for my clothes... Well, I don't know."
Queen Nandi's smile softened, a genuine warmth replacing the playful teasing. "A soul connection, you say? Now that is fascinating. So, John's theory was right after all. From the moment he appeared in the healing cave to... well, to everything else. Leave nothing out. You know how I adore a good romantasy." She leaned back, eyes sparkling with anticipation. Adah this is amazing for you and me!"
"What exactly do you mean Nandi? Sister Adah asked with a confused smile.
"Will think about it for a second. We can not only read romantasy, but we can also live it as well" Queen Nandi replied with her seeming to turn into stars. After a chuckle, Queen Nandi remembered that they never fully addressed the clothes situation. "Adah, let's not forget about the clothes issue. I really do believe it's connected to this space. You said that a purplish shadow glow emitted from your clothes before they disappeared right?"
"Right, as I said my clothes just vanished. Not disintegrated, not burned, just vanished into thin air. And then when I put on a new set, they vanished too. It was utterly maddening! But then about my mana armor, and it worked. I taught it was his doing, or whatever this connection is. And this shadow that were in. I thought for a moment that Sheut put me here. But it feels like my own space familiar, calming, even though I was being sucked into a void!" She then recounted the baffling experience of the mirror realm, the endless corridor, and the shadow's intervention, her voice tinged with lingering awe. If it is connected to the shadow. How do you think I can reequip them?" Sister Adah replied
"Thinking back just before you sunk into your shadow. Sheut summoned a pair of pants. The same purplish shadow glow happened during the process. By the way. Congrats girl, he is packing in the meat depart!
"Nandi!" Sister Adah screamed as she hid her face in her hands. Her cheeks once again turning cherry red. "
Smiling warmly Queen Nandi continued what she was saying. "As I was saying. I believe you must think about the specific clothes you want to wear, and they will equip. Give it a try Adah."
"Why didn't I think of that." Sister Adah said to herself. While forehead palming.
"Maybe because you were too busy getting stuffed like a gawd damn Thanksgiving turkey," Queen Nandi said, bursting out into laughter.
Sister Adah spat tea from her mouth and nose. "What the hell Nandi! I can't even with you!"
"Ok, I admit that was a little below the belt." Queen Nandi admitted. "However, test it out."
Cleaning her face with a handkerchief Sister Adah scuffed and yelled. "I was going to before you blurted that out!" Taking a deep breath before sighing. She mentally pictured the clothes she wanted to put on. Just as she did so, a purple shadow flashed and left behind the clothes she thought about. "It worked!" She said excitedly.
Nandi simply nodded, her expression understanding. "Now that that's fixed. Let's talk mana immersion, Adah. The third occurrence, specifically. That was John's theory behind what happened to you. To catch it on a memory crystal is unheard of, for two individuals to experience it like that, especially with such... amplifying effects on positive emotions. Elder Yu also has theories, of course, but it's never been documented like this. That 'familiar feeling' you had, the euphoria, the undeniable pull... that was the bond strengthening, deepening.
Adah listened, her eyes wide. "Third mana immersion?" The revelations tumbled through her mind. "So, this isn't just... me being completely unhinged?" A small, hopeful light flickered in her eyes. "Also, Nandi don't think I didn't notice the romantasy twist you added to your explanation. You sold me. Let's live this romantasy out, girl!
Nandi chuckled, reaching across the table to gently squeeze Adah's hand. "Hardly unhinged, my dear. You simply encountered a highly potent, ancient magic, intertwined with a man who clearly has a powerful pull on your spirit. Think of it, Adah. You, the disciplined, steadfast Sister Adah, spontaneously yielding to such an intense connection. It's truly a tale for the ages! But now, tell me everything about him. What does he smell like? What did his lips feel like? Was it as good as you fantasized?" Her eyes twinkled mischievously.
Adah let out a loud groan, burying her face in her hands. "Nandi! You are impossible!" But even as she protested, a faint, contented smile touched her lips, and the giggles started anew. In the protective embrace of the shadow and her dearest friend, Sister Adah, the virgin warrior, began to recount the most bewildering and exhilarating moments of her life, holding back absolutely nothing.
Meanwhile, back in the lavish, golden-hued chamber, the standoff continued. The killing intent ceased to exist after the ladies told them to play nice. After a moment General Kar and Big John finally put away their weapons.
Fist to break the silence. Big John gave a 15-degree bow and apologize for his overreaction. "Sheut Kenshu, forgive my subordinate and myself for making a mountain out of a mole hill."
Seeing that his master decided to take the diplomatic route. He two gave a 15-degree bow. He stood, opposite the enigmatic figure who had so thoroughly disrupted their mission and, seemingly, Sister Adah's very being.
Big John, ever the calm strategist, watched the stranger with an almost academic interest, his earlier surprise at the man's unreadable mana fluctuations still lingering. To his surprise, Sheut also bowed. His told a deferent story though. It was almost like he would rather die than to bow.
Bowing Sheut forced out an apology. "S... sorry for my outburst. I have a pure hatred for darkness aspect wielders. And no, I don't wish to elaborate about my distain." Summoning the rest of his clothes. He was decked out in a striking testament to shadow power and arcane grace. One would believe that the armor was forged from a predominantly matte black material. Light seemed to be absorbed, creating a shadowy, imposing presence. The design is organic and flowing, with plates that subtly curve and overlap, enhancing a sense of predatory movement rather than rigid protection.
Vibrant red accents traced intricate, almost vein-like patterns across the armor's surface. Particularly prominent on the chest, shoulders, and gauntlets, hinting at a deep, internal source of power. Adding to its beautiful yet eerie allure, red and purple energy seamlessly mixes and emanates from all over the armor, giving it an ethereal, pulsating quality. This glowing aura reinforces its gothic shadowy vampiric style.
Finished with their conversation, Queen Nandi and Sister Adah came out of the shadow. Appearing beside Big John. Four people stared in awe at the magnificence of the armor. Mouths agape, awkward silence ensued.