The air was thick with steam as the battle in the hot spring came to an end. But elsewhere, in a quieter corner of the bathhouse, the atmosphere was much more relaxed. The flickering lanterns cast a warm glow over a wooden table, where Izuki and Esha sat, sipping on their drinks and watching the rippling waters.
Esha leaned forward, her brows knitting together with concern. "Sister, aren't you worried about Master? He's been missing for two hours now."
Izuki, resting her chin on her hand, smirked. "I think you're more worried about Lugas than our Master."
At the mention of his name, Esha's face instantly turned red. "W-What? That's not true!" she stammered, flailing her hands. Issa, sitting beside her, giggled and teasingly made a hand sign mimicking a kiss.
Before Esha could retaliate, a burst of laughter interrupted them. Lugas strode towards their table, coughing slightly. "Oh, sorry, I'm late." His voice carried amusement, as if he had just been through something interesting.
Izuki narrowed her eyes, a playful pout forming on her lips. "A flowing ear in the cheeks," she muttered.
Lugas raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Izuki huffed. "I thought you had gone to hang out with other girls."
Lugas smirked. "No."
"Probably," Izuki retorted, feigning suspicion.
Before their banter could continue, a man who appeared to be in his early thirties approached their table, carrying trays of food. "Ladies and gentlemen, your meal has arrived," he announced with a courteous smile.
The moment the aroma hit Esha's nose, she practically jumped over the table, grabbing a plate and devouring half of the food within seconds. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she chewed. "Mmm! It's so good, so good!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine joy.
Lugas watched her for a moment, his expression softening. Maybe she suffered a lot in the past… he thought. She acts cheerful, but deep down, she must have known true loneliness. The kind where even time seems to forget you… where no light, no sound, no life exists. His fingers tightened around his cup. But she's not alone anymore. She's my family now. I'll protect her.
Izuki noticed his silence and nudged him. "Hey, you seem lost in thought. Let's go get some rest."
Lugas shook his head and exhaled. "I was just thinking… about how I can pass the Void Star Academy entrance exam."
The three of them made their way to their rented room, only to discover one glaring issue—it contained only one bed.
Izuki grinned mischievously. "Really? We're going to sleep together with Lugas?"
Lugas chuckled at her excitement and summoned a shimmering blue portal from his palm. A second bed materialized from thin air, landing beside the first. "Looks like we'll need some privacy," he said with a smirk.
Izuki crossed her arms. "Did you already know there was only one bed?"
Lugas smiled slyly. "Probably."
She huffed but couldn't hide her amusement. "Where do you even get the funds for things like this?" she asked curiously.
At that, the scene shifted to the past.
Flashback: A Deal with the Blacksmith
Lugas wandered through the bustling market, his sharp eyes scanning the signs until he found what he was looking for—RDR Blacksmith & Power Equipment. A small smile played on his lips as he stepped inside.
A burly shopkeeper greeted him warmly. "Welcome, gentleman. Looking for something specific?"
Lugas shook his head. "Thanks, but I'm here to meet your boss."
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. "You mean Adwark? He's in the basement, working on weapons. Let me take you there."
As they descended the stairs, Lugas glanced at the weapons on display—mostly low-grade equipment, nothing particularly impressive. But he wasn't here to buy.
In the basement, a muscular man with scarred arms was hammering away at a molten blade. He looked up, his sharp eyes locking onto Lugas. "Hey, kid. What do you want?"
Lugas didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out two shimmering stones—one burning with an inner flame, the other radiating a chilling frost. Elemental Stones.
Adwark's eyes widened. "Stonefire and Ice? Where the hell did you get these?"
Lugas remained silent. "How much will you give me for them?"
Adwark scratched his beard. "These are rare… but I don't have much on hand. I can only offer you 10 million for one of them."
Lugas smirked. "Take both."
Adwark blinked in surprise. "Both?"
"In exchange," Lugas continued, "I want you to craft weapons for me and my friends when I need them."
The blacksmith chuckled. "You drive a hard bargain, kid. But deal."
Back to the Present
Back in their room, Izuki stared at Lugas, waiting for an answer. But instead of explaining, he simply lay down on his bed. "Get some rest," he said, avoiding the question.
Before they could settle in, a soft, muffled scream came from the next room.
Esha tensed. "Master… what was that?"
Lugas's dark eyes flickered as he focused his senses beyond the wall. He saw a man forcing himself onto a woman in a silent void, his actions hidden from the outside world. His expression darkened, but then he sighed and closed his eyes.
"Someone's misbehaving," Esha muttered.
"Let it go," Lugas said quietly. "We have training tomorrow."
Esha frowned but didn't argue. The three of them drifted into silence as the night stretched on.
The Next Morning
The sun had barely risen when Lugas and his team prepared to leave for their cultivation training. Izuki, still the weakest among them, was only in the Alternating Stage—far from the Soul Fusion Stage required for Void Star Academy's selection. They had work to do.
As they stepped out of the inn, they noticed a girl struggling to walk properly. Concerned, Izuki rushed to help. "Are you alright?"
Lugas, standing beside them, sighed and muttered under his breath. "Who's going to tell them that's not an injury… just the side effect of pleasure?" He smirked slightly, shaking his head.
Soon, they boarded a carriage and headed beyond the city limits, searching for a secluded spot. After a few hours of travel, Lugas spotted a cave nestled within a valley. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"This is perfect," he said, stopping the carriage.
He wasted no time forming a cultivation formation—a triangular pattern drawn into the earth, pulsing with energy. He turned to Izuki and Esha. "Sit in the corners. We'll cultivate together."
As they followed his instructions, Lugas took his own position and closed his eyes. The air around them shifted, Essence Energy swirling as they prepared to ascend further on The Path of Ascension.