When they arrived in the Mortal Realm, Astratis and Nomii had no time to take in the sight. That’s because the two were shocked to discover that there was no ethos in the atmosphere!
“How unusual… I can still feel the ethos flowing through my body. But, there is none present in this world. Brother, I have been meaning to ask this, but—how is it that you and your companions can fight so fiercely without the use of ethos?” Astratis inquired.
“In the Mortal Realm, there are different kinds of energy sources one can utilize. These energy sources are similar to ethos in the sense that they allow one to gain power far beyond a normal person’s means. However, it’s important to keep in mind that at their core, there is always something that separates the energy sources from one another.” Izroth explained.
He then continued, “The most common source of energy that you will find most used in the Mortal Realm is called mana. It is a flexible energy source that is highly attuned to the laws of nature. In this aspect, it is not much different from the ethos that you use. The main difference, however, is that ethos grants one control over certain laws of nature while mana imitates or manipulates the laws of nature. This makes it so that in terms of actual power, ethos has the upper hand. But, when it comes to flexibility and multifunctionality, mana holds the advantage.”
The two celestials took in every one of Izroth’s words. For them, who were strangers to this new world, every bit of knowledge was invaluable.
After pondering over it for a bit, Astratis could not help but be amazed.
According to what Izroth said, didn’t it mean that one could hold several titles in this world? If so, it finally made sense to him how Izroth was able to use lightning back in his world. It was no wonder he did not feel a trace of ethos from his lightning back then.
As for Nomii, she was equally as taken aback as Astratis.
“To think there is a place where ethos does not flow freely and yet the people from its origins can still display such formidable power… Can it be that all the mortals of this world can use this thing called mana?” Nomii asked with furrowed brows.
“There are some unique cases. But, for the most part, yes. First and foremost, you should keep in mind that this place is not the Ancient Celestial Realm. I have already explained the basic power structure and ongoing events to you before coming here; however, there are still many things you must remain mindful of.” Izroth replied.
“Rest easy, youngest. We will not make trouble for you.” Nomii reassured.
Izroth shook his head and responded, “It’s not that I’m afraid that you will make trouble for me. Rather, it is I who may end up causing trouble for the two of you.”
Izroth had many powerful enemies lurking in the Mortal Realm and even further beyond. Even with their strength, there was no guarantee that Astratis and Nomii would remain unscathed.
Of course, the two were still more than capable of taking care of themselves. After all, it was not as if they had no battle or world experience.
Having to live under the thumb of the pillars and Kyvernos for so long and claw their way out from under that thumb was a massive undertaking.
Due to such a set of circumstances, from Izroth’s perspective, celestials could be seen as one of the most naturally battle-hardened races he had come across during his travels in RML.
‘Hm?’
Izroth glanced off to his side as he sensed someone rapidly closing in on our position.
“Hmph, we’ll see if anyone dares trouble you with us siblings around.” Astratis declared confidently as his gaze seemed to peer somewhere into the distance ahead.
He then continued, “Speaking of trouble… Are you perhaps expecting company?”
“No,” Izroth replied as he used his Energy Vision Sense to get a more in-depth look at who was approaching them.
‘Oh? I’ve never seen this aura before, but… Why does it feel familiar?’
Izroth was certain that he had never crossed paths with whoever or whatever was headed their way. However, he could not shake this feeling of familiarity. Though he could not quite place his finger on his.
Not too long after Izroth and Astratis detected the unknown presence, a gentle breeze suddenly began to flow throughout the surroundings. Following this gentle breeze was the faint scent of cherry blossoms that grew stronger with every passing moment.
Woosh!
Out of nowhere, the gentle breeze converged to one point before releasing a small yet powerful gust of icy wind and dispersing in every direction.
At the same time, numerous cherry blossoms appeared out of thin air and gently drifted as the breeze dispersed.
The next moment, a woman appeared at the center of these cherry blossoms.
The woman looked to be in her late twenties. She had silver hair that was neatly tied into what resembled a long tail. Her eyes were crystal blue without impurity. And, when it came to her physical appearance, she was a cold yet peaceful beauty with a mature aura encompassing her.
She wore a set of white and pink clothes that were woven together with a skillful hand. In addition, on the lower part of her back resting horizontally on a thin strap was a gorgeous sheath that contained a blade with sharp and cold sword intent.
The woman’s eyes swept over all those present before landing on Sychia.
The moment Sychia saw this woman’s appearance, she felt her heart tremble and the anxious expression on her face could not be hidden.
‘She’s strong.’
Izroth observed the woman with his Energy Vision Sense; however, it was clear that she was hiding her true strength. The “flames” shown when he used his Energy Vision Sense were extremely calm around the woman. And, after seeing her in person, Izroth was even more certain—she was someone who had already stepped into the legendary realm.
But, Izroth was not wary of this new arrival. From her attire and entrance alone, it was obvious what she came here for. Or, rather who she came here for.
“Junior sister, do you know your wrongs?” The woman said in a cold voice as her icy gaze seemed to pierce into the depths of Sychia’s soul.
“Senior sister, I-”
“You still want to make excuses? You explicitly went against the master’s orders and ventured out on your own. I will ask again—do you know your wrongs?”
The woman who appeared before Izroth and his group belonged to the same Order of a Thousand Blossoms that Sychia was from.
Izroth was not surprised that the woman seemed upset with Sychia. After all, no matter the reason, going against the wishes of one’s master was unacceptable.
However, he was curious as to how she managed to find them so fast after they had just returned from the Ancient Celestial Realm.
As her senior sister stepped forward, Sychia almost instinctively took a step back. However, Sychia stood her ground as a resolute expression formed on her face.
“Senior sister, I did what I had to do to save master. You know of our master’s health! How can I simply remain idle and do nothing?!” Sychia exclaimed.
“That is not your responsibility. I have told you many times to leave it to-”
“I refuse! The master took me in after I was abandoned and treated me as her own daughter! Even if I must disobey the rules of the Order, I would not hesitate to do so again if it means a chance at my master’s survival!”
Sychia’s senior sister narrowed her eyes. In front of her, Sychia was typically silent and reserved. This was the first time she spoke in such a straight-forward and determined manner.
Unfortunately…
“You do not understand… Truly…” Sychia’s senior sister sighed as she closed her eyes.
She then continued, “Master does not have much longer left to live, Sy. I am not talking about a week or a month; I am talking about days at best. Yet, here you are wandering around instead of being by her side in the end. Sy, if you truly care for the master’s wellbeing, you must face her before she departs from this world.”
In truth, she was not mad at Sychia for disobeying her master’s orders. Instead, she was upset that Sychia chose now of all times to be disobedient. If something happened to Sychia during her master’s final moments, how would she ever have the face to see her master off properly?
