Only the calm breaths of Kaelvir filled the room. Even after her transformation, the woman gave off no aura—silent as the night, leaving no trace of her presence.
She stood there, blue hair trailing behind her. Pink eyes glowed faintly beneath masterfully shaped brows. Her small nose, red lips, and oval face radiated a beauty almost too perfect—enough to tempt anyone. A black robe draped her figure, embroidered with glowing pink runes. Above her head, two foxlike ears twitched, their fur the same shade of blue as her hair.
She smiled, seductive yet ethereal—an illusion one could easily get lost in. For days she had been tracking the holder of a certain title, but his aura had vanished upon entering this city. She even pretended to be a sales woman in other to get information about him but nothing, finally she had to pretend to be an injured fox to get close to this boy. And this boy before her was the only anomaly she had found.
Her gaze swept the room before settling on Kaelvir. Slowly, she stepped closer and bent down, studying his calm, sleeping face.
"Weird… he's not even a cultivator. But how can he wield such power?" she muttered, recalling how he had slain cultivators far stronger than him.
Placing her palm gently on his forehead, she probed for any trace of energy or essence. Her brows knit.
"Nothing. How did he do it?"
Her eyes lingered, taking in his youthful brown features, braids spilling across his face. A whisper slipped out before she realized it.
"He's quite handsome… for a human."
She chuckled at herself, shaking her head—then frowned again.
"But those two I saw earlier… they felt like Seedbound. Yet different. Mutated? No… even mutated ones don't converse so freely with their host—let alone with such strange masks on."
While she puzzled over it, Kaelvir stirred. His eyes opened slowly—and the first thing he saw was her face hovering inches from his own.
His heart skipped. As he remembered the dreams he used to have as Orien on Earth. Dreams filled with strange maidens. And this woman… she felt familiar.
Am I dreaming again?
As if hearing his thoughts, the fox woman leaned closer, voice a soft whisper.
"Yes… you're dreaming. When you wake, you'll find it was nothing but a dream. So, can you help me? Since this is just a dream?"
Her words wrapped around him like silk. Half-asleep, half-awake, Kaelvir stared at her, then slowly nodded.
"Good. Very good."
Her lips curved with satisfaction. His agreement drew him deeper under her sway.
"So… what's your name?" she asked sweetly.
"Kaelvir… Kaelvir Veydrak," he murmured.
Her eyes brightened. The enchantment was working. As she muttered silently, Veydrak? She had never heard of such a clan, but it didn't matter—her target was right here. She leaned so close their breaths mingled.
"Now tell me," she whispered, "where is your clan's greatest treasure kept?" To be sure her spell worked, she shifted from harmless questions to dangerous ones.
For the first time, Kaelvir frowned. His eyes began to glow gold—as if resisting, as if fighting to awaken.
Alarmed, the fox lady quickly shifted. To keep the spell in place, she asked something else.
"Do you like… blue?"
Then the glow in his eyes dimmed, and he nodded.
She exhaled softly. Maybe the former question was too sensitive, she thought, and then tried again.
"Then why didn't you kill her? You know she might be a danger to you and your companions," she continued.
Kaelvir looked at her face, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Because she's done nothing wrong. And… she's cute."
Her breath caught at his simple, genuine reply. She wanted to press further—but suddenly his eyes shone again, this time with golden and blue hues burning with strength.
She cursed under her breath.
"Damn! Why is his soul so strong? No… not just his soul. His Seedbound are fighting back. What kind of Seedbound are these?"
The light in Kaelvir's eyes flared one last time, then he fully awakened.
He sat up slowly, scanning the room. Blue—the fox—was lying peacefully beside him as if asleep. But before he could relax, two lights appeared.
Nythra and Solune stood before him, their masks faintly glowing.
"Master, what's happened?" Nythra asked, scanning the room warily.
Kaelvir frowned.
"What do you mean? And why are you out this late?"
"Young Lord," Solune said with concern, "something happened just now. For a moment, it felt like we were cut off from you."
Kaelvir raised a brow.
"Cut off? You mean your perception?"
Both nodded.
He shook his head.
"Maybe you're imagining things. I just had a dream, nothing more."
The two exchanged skeptical looks.
"Young Lord," Nythra pressed warily, "please tell us about this dream." Because in this world, expert cultivators could strike through dreams.
Kaelvir hesitated. How could he tell them he'd just dreamt of a seductress pressing against him? They'd never let him live it down. He forced a yawn. He'd never let them see him as a pervert.
"I don't remember. Might not even have been a dream. Let's just forget it." He lay back down, feigning sleep. "I'm still tired. We'll talk tomorrow."
The Seedbound didn't look convinced. After his soul evolution, dreams didn't simply vanish without meaning. Telepathically, they exchanged thoughts.
"He's lying," Nythra muttered.
"Not lying," Solune corrected. "Just keeping it from us."
They stayed by his side, choosing not to rest, guarding him instead.
Blue, lying nearby, had witnessed everything. Her fox eyes gleamed with realization, seeing how protective they were of Kaelvir.
These two are no ordinary Seedbound. They have their own personalities, hidden skills—even their way of addressing him is strange… 'Master.' 'Young Lord.'
Her thoughts quickened, racing. And then it hit her, as she recalled their conversations earlier.
So… you're the one I've been searching for. No wonder nothing about you makes sense.
She leaned closer, thinking as she studied his face again.
"So this is my so-called fate… the one the mad prophet spoke of. Hmph. Doesn't look like much… yet."
Across from her, Solune and Nythra narrowed their eyes. They had noticed her movement but detected no hostility. Even so, their masks hardened with suspicion.
"If someone truly blocked our senses," Nythra whispered telepathically, "they must either be at the peak of cultivation… or have some hidden means."
Solune's mask shifted into a frown.
Whoever it is… they're dangerous.
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