Deep, deep inside a third order dungeon, within a labyrinth of twisted stone veins and pulsing, organic walls, a scholar was excessively nudging Earth's Land spirit with a fawning, submissive look. The more he learned about Norlan's demeanor and his way of doing things, the more he approved.
"Such perseverance!" the scholar exclaimed, his voice echoing off the damp stone. "Knowing his own limits, he chooses to endure. Surely these are the makings of a great man.
Even when that girl Helene informed him he was being monitored for the benefit of others, he still chose to endure.
Even when they killed his mother and hung her corpse on a tree, he still smiles and endures.
Such keeping of pent up emotions is truly admirable."
The scholar sighed, then noticed the Land spirit's mood shift. Her small face had darkened, affected whenever the conversation turned to Norlan. He could feel her enmity manifest in her demeanor, a cold fury that did not belong on a child's features.
"We need to help him," the Land spirit commented, her voice naive but firm. "These emotions are not healthy."
The scholar nodded in agreement, stroking his beard. "Yes, it certainly is not healthy. If a habit of this kind of endurance is formed, it may lead to indecisiveness. A great leader should not be indecisive.
Maybe I can help him out. I can..."
Suddenly, he had an epiphany. His flow of thoughts converged into a single, striking understanding.
"Norlan, was it... Interesting, interesting." He laughed, a low and knowing sound, as he directly began forming hand seals that evoked changes in the surrounding energy.
The Land spirit by his side looked at him with annoyance. She did not like feeling left out, which was exactly how she felt right now. She glared at the scholar with furious eyes.
"What's interesting? You said it two times. Did you figure out something I didn't? Do you know something I don't?"
The scholar glanced at the Land spirit with a hint of superiority. He continued to evoke hand seals while his spirituality drew lines in the air, forming myriad glowing strands that crisscrossed like an intricate spider's web.
The Land spirit grew indignant with the scholar's silence. She asked again and again, her voice rising.
"I am helping Norlan release some of his pent up emotions," the scholar finally snapped, not stopping his work. "Can you just let me finish this formation before you nag all the time?"
Hearing that he was helping Norlan, the Land spirit quietened down considerably.
The scholar smiled to himself. It seems he had just discovered a way to control her, a simple lever of affection for the boy.
Satisfied, he elaborated. "When the Resonance Evolution aura shot up into the sky, Norlan had a chance to contain it, but he did not. Why do you think that is?"
The Land spirit just continued to stare at him, her expression blank. He had no choice but to answer himself.
"He is using it as a beacon to attract the families to where he is. He wants to settle things as quickly as possible.
Rather bold if you ask me.
Even I underestimated this kid.
He knows that he needs to settle this grievance while he has the upper hand. He wants to use his High Human physique to quickly dispose of them before they can use other methods to reduce his advantage of a stronger body.
It seems he's not clueless enough to think being a high human gives him a great advantage.
He knows that there are myriad ways in this world. Very good,very good.
I am going to help him."
"How are you going to do that?" she asked, tilting her head.
The scholar puffed out his chest. "I am the highest ranked Dungeon Master, am I not? Is it not because of that that you revealed yourself to me? Hopping that I would help Norlan?"
The scholar's formation had already taken shape. Eerie sounds and flashes of light crisscrossed the runic lines of the formation, which now blazed with an otherworldly glow. The air thickened with condensed spiritual energy.
Instantly, the scholar vanished,leaving the Land spirit bewildered.
"What is he going to do? Is he not just a ghost of the previous epoch?"
***
Outside the stasis worlds, Aurelia had just finished restraining the Resonance Evolution aura.
At that moment, the void had stabilized, and the momentum of the resonant purple light was concealed by Aurelia in such a way that it was no longer visible nor sensible from outside the stasis world.
However, Aurelia knew that those who were able to pinpoint and sense it already had. They would come. Maybe they are already here.
And no sooner had she thought this than three powerful presences could be felt approaching her location, tearing through the void like arrows loosed from a divine bow.
Sensing that they were merely just so, merely at a level that posed no threat, Aurelia did not even prepare to receive them. She stood with her arms relaxed at her sides, her expression one of mild boredom.
She reached out again and tugged at the karmic string that connected her to Norlan. She checked his situation and sighed. She contemplated for a few seconds, then reached out for another few strings, tugging gently, adjusting the weave of fate with the delicacy of a master embroiderer.
She influenced them subtly, then sighed again. Gently, she touched her stomach and could not help but speak.
"This is the best I can do for you right now."
Three ripples tore through the void in rapid succession. Aurelia turned to look at them.
The first to emerge was a burly man covered in totem tattoos from head to toe. Tall and packed with muscle, his demeanor was that of one full of impatience, his fingers twitching as if eager to crush something.
The one on the right of the burly man was erudite in nature. His robes and the way he carried himself declared him learned and astute, though his eyes held a sharp cunning.
The other was a woman. Frosty and cold. A chill radiated from her that made even the void around her distort, tiny crystals of ice forming and dissolving in an endless cycle.
"It seems the spies you people have are quite diligent," Aurelia said, her voice carrying no anger, only a cold acknowledgment.
The mere statement made them apprehensive. They exchanged quick, nervous glances.
"Oh, come on," Aurelia continued, tilting her head. "Do you really take me for a fool? Although I am confident in my abilities, even celestial gods can be corrupted, let alone my own subordinates."
The three exchanged another set of looks. Then, under a single understanding, they all bowed deeply and spoke in unison.
"We three incompetent juniors seek the Celestial Lady's guidance. We hope you do not take offense."
"Are you worthy of my guidance?" Aurelia asked, her tone chilly enough to rival the frost woman's aura. But then, unexpectedly, she smiled. It was not a warm smile.
"It seems my brother can come here in the short term. I know he cannot miss meeting me after all these years. So it is either he is still battling against his own manifestation of pride, or challenging another Tower trial.
In any case, you are here to be sacrificial pawns, to delay me. Are you content with that role?" Aurelia spoke as she released a faint spring aroma into the void, soft and sweet.
A seed of hope emerged inside these three adversaries, unbidden and warm. Then she moved.
High Art Expression – Concept Reversal.
The seed planted shriveled instantly. It turned black, then gray, then collapsed into a seed of despair.
Terror washed over the three as an indescribable fear took hold of them. Their hearts, their souls, their minds all sank into the deepest hell, a pit full of nothing but despair.
The burly man's hands stopped twitching. The erudite man's eyes went wide and empty. The frost woman's chill turned inward, freezing her from the inside.
The battle was over before it had even begun. All that remained was the physical despair. A despair named death!
It seemed being absent for a few millennia had made people forget who she was. She sighed and vanished.
***
Inside the stasis world, three people suddenly felt a nudge.
They were Helene, Larry, and the Land spirit.
They felt drawn to a certain direction, a certain place that seemed to call out to their whole being, pulling at something deep within their souls.
The Land spirit, who was deep underground inside the dungeon, smiled. Being one with Norlan through their karmic bond, she recognized this feeling instantly. It was not unfamiliar. It was, in fact, the most familiar thing in the world.
"It seems she is here," the Land spirit whispered, her young face brightening with something reminiscent of blind devotion.