Maxine had spent the past ten minutes dry heaving due to the stomach churning nightmare that she just experienced. The nightmare had started off with something she rather enjoyed. She was cuddling and making out with Emily. It had relieved her that she still found Emily sexually attractive. But at one point in the dream, Emily had morphed into Maxwell while she was kissing Emily. Instantly, she heard a voice in the back of her head screaming that was telling her to get away from Maxwell as fast as she can. 

Maxine was panicking, and it only got worse when she noticed Maxwell's hand moving towards her breasts. She managed to force herself awake just before his hand could touch them and she immediately started dry heaving. The whole experience made her feel violated and nauseated due to the fact she had been kissing Maxwell even if it was only a dream.  

Maxine wiped her face with the back of her hand as she forced her nausea back. She had no idea where that dream had come from, but it had reinforced her desire to avoid any kind of physical contact with men. She just hoped that she would never have another dream like that one again. Although it still wasn't as bad as the nightmares she had in the previous timeline where she kept reliving the traumatic events of her life. It made it so that she rarely slept a peaceful night before being reincarnated into this body. Huh? Why haven't I had a nightmare like that since then? Wierd. Well, I am not going complain about it. I like being free of those nightmares.  

Maxine checked the time and still had an hour before she needed to return her concentration back to her clone. Good, that dry heaving spell won't cause me to change my routine. She lifted a 500 lb boulder onto her back and started running through the nearby forest. Muscle training was important even for essence cultivators. Unfortunately she didn't have the time for it before she advanced to iron stage. Thus she could only train with weights in order to build any kind of muscle strength or endurance. The good news was that her body was naturally inclined to being swift and agile, so she didn't need to train those aspects of her physique that much. As an added bonus, her improved physical fitness carried over to her clones. It was something she discovered by accident shortly after switching out her main body with her clone.

Maxine ran for 45 minutes and spent the rest of the time using the boulder as a wieght to do situps, pullups and squats. By the time she was done, she was covered with sweat and panting. She was smiling since she had worked off a lot of her pent up stress during her workout.

After one more look around, she walked back into the cave and got into a meditative position before returning her focus back to her clone in the Kavros Clan's mansion. She slowly opened her eyes and got out of bed before getting changed. The only thing she needed to do today was to meet Madam Neshan. Otherwise she was free to do whatever. 

Maxine made her way to the dining hall and saw a young woman that she had never seen before sitting beside Zephyr at the massive dining table. She has golden brown hair, but she was a more common looking beauty rather than a stunning one that she would have expected. However there was no mistaking the love that she was showing for Zephyr. That must be Angela. 

"Good morning, Maxine," Zephyr said, "Why don't you join us for breakfast?"

"Sounds good to me," Maxine answered as she sat down across from him and was swiftly served what looked suspiciously like bacon and eggs with a slice of toast by a maid. Finally, a normal looking breakfast!

Maxine dug into the food with relish. While she ate, the young woman, whom Maxine had guessed was Angela, started talking to her, "I have been wanting to talk to you for some time, Maxine. Zephyr has talked about you quite a bit since returning home."

Maxine paused from eating to ask, "What has he told you about me exactly?"

"That you like to tease others," Angela said, "I would appreciate it though if your refrained from teasing my husband. He is easily embarrassed."

"That just makes him an easier target," Maxine replied and immediately regretted saying it as a wave of intense hostility enveloped her. It felt as if Angela had transformed into an angry oni even though her expression and appearance didn't change. This was one of the few times that Maxine felt threatened by another human since she reincarnated and quickly added, "But, I guess I will lay off the teasing since you asked."

The sense of danger disappeared and Angela said sweetly, "Thank you. Oh! Mother mentioned that you have something called chocolate on you. May I have some?" What the fuck is with this woman?! The vibe she gives off changes far too fucking fast. Is she bipolar or something?! In any case, I think it's a good idea to finish my breakfast and make myself scarce before her attitude towards shifts again.  

"Yeah, of course, you can," Maxine said as she retrieved a full bar of dark chocolate and slid it across the table to Angela.

"Thank you again," Angela said and took a bite out of the chocolate, "By the maker! This is delicious! You must try this Zephyr." She may as well have shoved the chocolate into Zephyr's mouth considering how forceful she was presenting it to him. Maxine took the opportunity to shove the remainder of her breakfast into her mouth, so that she could get away from Angela while she was distracted.

Maxine made a clean getaway, but she encountered grandma Victoria just outside the Dining Hall. "Good, you have finished eating. Follow me," Grandma Victoria said as she grabbed Maxines wrist and started to drag her away, "Madam Neshan just arrived and insisted that she meet you right away." She was taken to one of the guest rooms on the first floor of the mansion. 

Inside was a skinny elderly woman seated in a comfortable looking chair. "Greetings, child. As you have undoubtedly guessed, I am Madam Neshan," the elderly woman said and once the door was closed, she added, "Now, I need you to bring out your real body." Maxine whipped her head around to face grandma Victoria with a look of betrayal, but Madam Neshan spoke up before Maxine could say anything, "Your grandmother said nothing to me, child. I could tell in an instant that you are not truly here as your body lacks the aura of a soul." I have never heard of anyone that can detect souls that isn't their own, but if she really can, that would mean she might be able to tell that I have a fused soul.

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"Maxine, please. Do as she asks," grandma Victoria pleaded to Maxine, "It's to help you."

Something felt off to Maxine and was about to tell them both no when she heard word from Hellen, "Maxine, there is no way for her to find out that you have a fused soul just from looking at your soul's aura." 

"That's not what I am worried about," Maxine answered, "I am afraid she will attack my main body before grandma can stop her."

"Maxine, why would she do that?" Hellen asked, "She would die in the next instant."

"As you said before, Guan has made a lot of enemies in his life and some of them may just want to see him hurt without caring about the consequences. For all I know, Madam Neshan could be among the those of people," Maxine countered, "And the easiest way to hurt him is by killing or injuring me. Why else would she insist on making me reveal my main body when she could simply ask me about my past?"

"That's a very good point," grandma Victoria said via spiritual sense. Maxine was stunned since she hadn't realized that grandma Victoria was able to listen in on their conversation. Mostly because their conversation was going on through her  body that was currently in the shadow world.

"Is it really necessary to have my grand daughter's true self appear before you," grandma Victoria asked, "If she were to appear infront of you, that is the same as inviting an attack from her father's enemies."

"Unless she is comfortable talking about her past traumas, it's entirely necessary," Madam Neshan, "But in my experience, it is a rare thing that someone is able to talk about them."

"I'm fine with that," Maxine answered and looked at grandma Victoria, "Although I would prefer it if you weren't in the room when I talk about those ... things. I don't want to upset you, grandma."

"I understand, Maxine," grandma Victoria said sadly. She walks up to Maxine and gently kisses Maxine's forehead followed by a gentle hug before walking out of the room.

As soon as grandma Victoria left the room, Maxine felt a powerful wave of spiritual sense encase the whole room and from what Maxine could tell, it was emanating from Madam Neshan. It was clear that this old woman was taking her job seriously. Lying to this woman will be impossible and leaving things out won't work either. Neither she or grandma Victoria would believe I got that good at combat in less than six months. I guess I have no choice but to speak in half-truths again. I will just go with what Emily guessed before to stay consistent, but I better start with the original Maxine's memories instead of Maxwell's. Otherwise I may not be able to keep my stories straight.

"Whenever you are ready," Madam Neshan said gently. 

Maxine took a deep breath to center herself and began to speak about the original Maxine's childhood beginning with the first time her father beat her. A fury filled her heart as she described in detail what exactly happened and noticed that Madamn Neshan's fists and jaw were clenching almost imperceptibly. 

Eventually, Maxine got to the point where she experienced her reincarnation, and began to describe it like it was an extremely long dream. As she spoke, it was like reliving every last one of her traumas one after the other and she couldn't stop her self from shedding tears. She described her parents death, Alice's death, her first kill, every battle that she had been in that she could remember, Emily's death and finally her own death in the previous timeline. She had just finished telling Madam Neshan how Maxwell died in the other timeline when the old woman got to her feet and brought Maxine into her embrace. Maxine didn't fight her embrace and hugged Madam Neshan back. 

"It's alright. Let it all out," Madam Neshan said gently as Maxine cried and once Maxine calmed down, she continued, "Experiencing another's death can leave horrendous scars on the mind. I have only heard of a few instances where this has happened. Each instance of it involved someone with a fused soul, but they normally recover on their own because they possess stronger souls." Maxine involuntarily stiffened in Madam Neshan's embrace. "Worry not, child. I have no intention of revealing that to Victoria or anyone else for that matter. That woman would mount a foolish crusade to punish Guan if I did."

"How can I trust that you won't tell anyone?" Maxine asked as she separated from Madam Neshan.

"I wouldn't dare," Madam Neshan said, "I have done this for over five hundred years and not once have I broken the confidence of anyone that I treated. If I did, it would ruin my reputation." 

"She isn't lying, Maxine," Hellen said via spiritual sense, "Why do you think I've remained silent this whole time?"

"Fine, I will trust you," Maxine said to Madam Neshan, "But why would grandma mount a crusade against Guan? He is way stronger than she is. It doesn't make sense."

"It would to her since Guan fused your soul with a battle hardened warrior. That is essentially the same as forcing to you experience years of battle, hardship and pain," Madam Neshan said, "If Victoria ever found out about it, she wouldn't care what his excuses are. She will hate him as if he was her archenemy."  

"When you put it like that, I can definitely see her doing that," Maxine agreed.

"It's good that you realize that," Madam Neshan said calmly and looked at the door for a moment as if she was lost in thought, "We have been talking for quite some time and it's nearly lunch time. I think now would be a good time to stop for today do, is there anything else you would like to talk with me about?"

"Yes, there is. I don't find women or men attractive," Maxine said, "Is that normal for someone like me?"

Madam Neshan let out a sigh, "Sexual indifference is quite common with fused souls, but that won't be a problem once you find your beloved." So that explains why I feel attracted to Emily and no one else.

Maxine bowed her head slightly and thanked Madam Neshan, "Thank you for your time and wisdom."

"You are very welcome," Madam Neshan, "If there is nothing else, we should go see your grandmother." 

Maxine nodded before she left the room and saw grandma Victoria anxiously pacing outside. She saw a look of sadness in her grandmother's eyes before recieving another bone breakingly rough hug. Damn it. Grandma must have noticed something in my appearance and guessed I had been crying. But did she have to break my nose again?!

"You worried over nothing Victoria. Maxine does not have signs of major mental problems from what I could tell, but she does have issues trusting men. However those issues should resolve themselves with time, so long as her future interactions with men are positive ones," Madam Neshan reported calmly, "I still suggest that we have a few more sessions on another date just to be on the safe side, but we can discuss that later. You two should spend some time together."

"Sounds good," grandma Victoria said as she held Maxine for one more moment before releasing her and realized that she had broken Maxine's nose again, "I'm so sorry, Maxine."

"That's getting old fast, grandma," Maxine said at the same time as grandma Victoria apologized and snapped her nose back into place. Jesus, can't she learn to control her strength like she did earlier when she gave me the gentle hug?

"Some things never change," Madam Neshan chuckled as she walked away.

"I will try harder not to hurt you like that, Maxine," grandma Victoria said and quickly changed the subject, "Oh! Would you like to go lunch at that restraunt we went to yesterday? As I recall, you seemed to enjoy the pasta dishes that they served."

"That would be wonderful," Maxine said and followed grandma Victoria out of the mansion. 

As they left the mansion, Maxine was actually quite surprised things when as well as they did. It was as if Lady Luck was smiling on her. However she knew that things wouldn't go her way forever. Eventually something would happen. She was determined to train up and grow more powerful until it did, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy this peaceful atmosphere while it lasted.