"Don't ignore my messages again. I will follow you in your dreams next time. "
"For the last time, I won't; just go before the queen kills you this time."
"Oh, right, I will come back next week then, bye!"
*Bam!*
'Fuck that headache! He really speaks too much. '
Somehow, that stalker Zephyr knew when I came back. He tried to comfort me, but it was obvious he didn't know what to do. He was sweating too much. I thought he would die from dehydration at this rate .
He even gave me pink flowers.
Why the fuck were they pink !
And let's not speak about how the first thing he wanted after entering my room was seeing my bloodlust .
'Anyway, now that he left, I can finally sleep.'
I went to my room and found Aria sleeping on the bed , and for some reason, she was wrapped up in the whole blanket.
'Wait, when did she even enter the room ?'
I sighed and brought a blanket from my mother's room. I wouldn't sleep in her or Grandma's bed; despite accepting their death now , I just... couldn't .
Maybe I didn't accept that idea yet, but it's been only 2 weeks since they died; I still need some time .
Also, I got used to Aria sleeping by now , so it's not a problem.
I pushed Aria slightly and let the darkness swallow me.
* * * * *
[The next day ]
"So you are saying Dad made this artifact for us before I was born?"
"Yes, and only we can use them."
"Why didn't Mom give it to me before then?"
"She was making improvements on them; she wanted to give it to you before the school, but..."
"Oh, I understand now."
I was holding a collar necklace in my hand. It was completely black with a big, purple diamond in the middle of it and 2 small ones on the right and left sides, and Aria was wearing a similar one .
"So, what do they do?"
She raised a finger. "First, they give us small regeneration; that was what Mother was working on. It will make your injuries and stamina regenerate faster."
I nodded.
"Second, we can now feel each other's place from our blood bond and also speak to each other mentally. "
My eyes widened. "Wait, didn't Father have blood affinity? How can he make something like that ? "
"I don't know, maybe you will know if you got blood affinity, but that doesn't matter, because the third ability is the best ."
She pointed at the purple crystals.
"Each crystal can store blood and use it to generate a barrier that either activates when you're in danger or manually. When fully charged, each one provides a shield that lasts 15 seconds. Father charged them himself with his blood, and he was a Tier 7 Exalted. That means we now have five Tier 7 barriers!"
'That… could be very useful later.'
The most important part is that it's not one time use—I can still use any monster blood to recharge it later.
I wore the necklace immediately, and as she said, I was able to feel her place instinctively .
Then I heard a voice inside my head.
—Test test test
'What the fuck is that! '
—I've told you multiple times to stop cursing! I'm sure it's all Zephyr's fault .
"Wait, does that mean we will always hear each other's thoughts? "I asked the most important question. Just the idea was too scary .
Aria smirked and said—or thought, to be more accurate—
—What is the problem? Is there something you are hiding from me ?
"No , it's just uncomfortable!"
—Pfft, ok then. My mom said I should just think about a mental mute button or something, but of course you can only mute yourself, not me. Wait, let me te...
'Huh ? Wait, let me try too. '
For a moment we just stared at each other.
'Hey, can you hear me? hey! Did you know that I used your shampoo multiple times? '
Then I imagined pressing the button again and thought about the last part one more time .
"You what?!"
"Yep, it works."
"Hey! Who allowed you to— "
I cut her off and said, "—By the way , your hair is a complete mess; let me take care of that. Also, I will make chicken for you; you look too skinny. Would that be enough as an apology?"
"Hmph, I forgive you then; just don't touch it again."
And just like that, we continued our lives normally.
It wasn't easy to ignore the fact that we are alone now, but thanks to the therapist, we won't suffer from trauma at least .
* * * * *
[9 months later ]
"Do you think he will do it this time?"
"Shhh, lower your voice. You awakened your aura core naturally with your mana; you won't understand how much you have to focus."
"Oh, sorry sis."
Sitting on the bed, I was trying to link the last 10 paths in my body to my core .
Both Zephyr and Aria were standing behind me, looking at me with excitement.
The queen started allowing Zephyr to visit us 3 times a week now, and our relationship got much better; he even started calling us bro and sis suddenly .
2 months ago, Aria's aura core became Tier 3, but I didn't know how big the difference was yet. I would know when I reached that tier myself.
I was now taking my first step into the cultivation world .
I ignored their whispers; I continued awakening my aura .
7 paths remained.
5 paths remained.
3 paths remained, and a strange heat started spreading over my whole body .
"Hey, sis, is it normal to glow like this? He won't explode, right ? "
2 paths remained; the heat increased, especially in my head .
"I can feel his aura pressure, he is close !"
1 path remained. I felt as if the strange heat started piercing every cell in my body. It wasn't a great feeling, but it could be endured.
"His body is getting refined now. I still remember that pain, but it's nothing compared to my instructor training."
No paths remained.
A strange energy flowed in every part of my body while the grey core in my head started glowing with ethereal purple color.
The heat in my body suddenly vanished, and a newfound strength replaced it .
My muscles were stronger, and my mind was clear.
*Ding!*
Suddenly, a blue screen materialized from my bracelet .
[Congratulations on awakening your aura! Your journey as a cultivator just started. ]
[ You have got 1,000,000 contribution points]
[ You have got aura guide. ]
"So that's the feeling of being a cultivator; that's cool!" My blood was boiling from excitement; I finally started my path to power.
Even if I couldn't awaken my mana, I could still fight .
"As expected from my little bro— "
"Hell yeah !! I always believed in you! Can you feel any affinity?"
I tried to feel my body, and instinctively I sensed 3 affinities .
"I got lightning, I think. There are 2 more as well, but I can barely feel them. Wait, I might end with the same affinities as Aria, right?
Zephyr nodded. " There is actually a high chance; half of my siblings have wind or cloud affinities. I think that's where the name Stormblade came from."
Then his eyes lightened. "But that doesn't matter; what matters is that we should celebrate! You should now make a pizza !"
"No." Aria suddenly said, "He should make chocolate cake! You weren't here when he made one, so you won't understand how great it was."
"Bro, the pizza is better. Trust me."
—Make a chocolate cake, and I will take care of my hair myself for 2 days .
'3'
—Deal!
Ignoring Zephyr, I made the cake. And after all his complaints, he ate half the cake alone!
'Does he have a black hole in his stomach!?'
I wasn't in a hurry to try the aura. Awakening the aura is like growing wings suddenly; feeling it doesn't mean you will know how to move it Immediately, talk less about flying .
Before Zephyr left, he made me promise to have a spar with him when I learn how to use my aura properly. After he left, I made dinner for me and Aria and went to bed after eating .
I was excited for the next day. After all, I would finally use superpowers!
'I wonder what my other affinities would be.'