A young blonde girl sat by the window of her room, absently gazing at the path which snaked its way up the mountain and the rooms bordering it.

[...]

Her mind kept going back to that day.

She had just become a “real cultivator” by breaking through to the Flowing Stream Realm, but that wasn’t the day which etched itself into her very being.

A few weeks prior in a forest near Miriande…

Bella sat down besides the unconscious Tank after using all of her remaining healing shards on him and dressing a few of the wounds they couldn't heal, it was hard labor and it had left her tired.

Finally able to relax she looked around one last time out of worry and noticed that Aegon was missing.

It wasn't particularly out of the ordinary but she still kept it on her mind as she sat back and took in the comforting breeze.

As time passed the group talked among themselves.

They talked about many things but the conversation soon went towards Aegon’s absence.

“Not to worry, he probably just went for a leak or a walk, usual stuff.” Roy commented from the side and everyone seemed to agree.

“Or maybe he went into the cave.” He added nonchalantly.

A chill instantly traveled down Bella’s spine.

That cave gave her the chills, it was pitch black right at the entrance, it wasn't something common, it wasn't something natural.

[It’s probably a formation.] The thought chilled her even more.

People who could set up formations were not to be messed with.

“Do you think he really went into the cave? Roy, that entrance … it seems like it’s protected by a formation.”

Travis, still worrying for the sleeping Tank with a caring look, took his eyes off his partner to look at Roy.

And he wasn't alone, Bella had touched on an important point.

[ Is he crazy enough to go into a cave protected by a formation all alone without even telling anyone?] They all thought.

Pressured by those gazes, Roy just blurted out an answer. “Just kidding, do you think Aegon would be brave enough to enter the cave just like that? I wouldn't count bravery as one of his strengths.” As he said those words he inwardly apologized to his friend for the betrayal.

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Bella thought back on the little she had come to know about the young man and found herself agreeing that he certainly wasn't the brave kind, and it seemed everyone else had come to the same conclusion.

With no one saying anything further, silence descended onto the clearing and Bella once more let herself relax and feel the breeze. A breeze that, for one moment, was unlike anything else she had ever felt and would ever feel. Yet, as soon as it came it went, the warm sun enveloping the relaxed youths, the world blissfully unaware….

The wind carried everything away, even time.

A few hours later, though it seemed a few minutes to Bella, the man in question appeared almost out of nowhere.

Standing beside them with his damaged attire….

[Where did he get all messed up?]

[Wasn't he by my side while we fought?] Her eyebrow cocked with curiosity but she kept looking at the fellow.

[…the usual normal looking face, only his eyes make his face pleasant to look at, yet this time, instead of being full of barely hidden pride….] They were lost, thinking about something, what it was? She couldn't tell.

Lifting her eyes from the young man she scouted the surroundings.

[Everyone is here, I don't see anything lurking in the woods, nothing inside the cave, wait!]

[Wasn't it darker before?]

While everyone bombarded the seemingly apathetic Aegon.

“Where have you been?”

“We were starting to worry.”

“You can't just leave and not say anything!”

“HEY, are you listening you bastard…”

Bella got up from the ground and made her way towards the entrance of the cave, it was dark and damp with some fur lying around and a downward path that led into deeper darkness.

That was to be expected in a normal cave, yet just a few hours prior she concluded it had some kind of formation protecting it, where was it now?

Turning back to the group she saw the impassive Aegon still mostly unresponsive to the questions he was receiving.

[Did he enter the cave?]

She felt some worry for the young man but the curiosity over the interior of the cave overtook it easily, the possibilities of what could be inside a cave protected by a formation were endless and the abnormal Aegon only seemed to support her theory. With a deep breath, she took a step into the cave.

That was a step she wouldn't forget taking.

After reaching what looked like the bottom she saw… nothing.

“I don't know what I was expecting.”

“If that was really a formation and there was anything interesting that it was protecting it wouldn't break just because a brat wandered in….” As the disappointment with herself firmly settled in, she took one final look and briskly turned around as she prepared to make her way out.

Yet, in that very moment, her eye caught a glimpse of light at the furthest corner from the entrance.

She failed to notice anything when she looked directly at it but, being now reluctant to leave, made her go and give it a closer look.

As she got closer the light returned, a tenuous thing at first yet as she got closer it got stronger, and she eventually could make out its color, the light was of a light green….

[But not the peaceful kind.]

Now standing directly above its source, she saw a single droplet of green liquid.

In a moment of impulsiveness uncharacteristic of her, she reached down with a slender finger and ever so lightly touched the green droplet, the physical contact caused the surface of the liquid to ripple ever so slightly….