Aeryth woke up with a jolt. Her dress, sticky with sweat, clung to her body.

Massaging her forehead, she propped herself up and looked outside the window. The sky was almost blue. The clock said half past four.

She laid back, staring at the blank ceiling, humming the song Light taught her. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically. After a while, she slowly slid off the bed.

Last night, she got permission from the dorm mother to practice sword in the backyard, so long as she didn't harm the flowers. There were a lot of them along the hedges.

The main exit downstairs opened at four. Her steps echoed in the empty corridors.

I expected people to be here. It's all empty... Maybe, I am late.

She reached the backyard—empty as well. She sighed in relief. She had never been conscious of other people watching her, but no longer wished to see people. Or talk. Or even feel they existed. This silence, only interrupted by chirps and breeze, brought her a sense of peace.

There has to be someone who likes to train early in the morning. Is there a training facility that I am unaware of?

Shaking off those thoughts, she went through routine practice. Without a training partner, the sword practice was not that interesting. Most of it was aligning the swings perfectly to your vision—target—and footing.

In a fight against a monster, footing was not as important, but if your opponent was human, especially a swordsman, that changed drastically. Monsters always went with brute force and instincts, but a human opponent would rip and shred any hole in your form.

Her body remembered everything perfectly still. By the time the sun was up, another layer of sweat and damp clothing stuck to her body.

"I am certainly stronger than before..." She muttered. "Faster and more agile. Even my endurance is higher... even though I have done nothing but sit around for a whole month. Wait, does that mean, once my strength is increased by the system, I don't need to train to maintain it? What about injury, will they temporarily lower my physical attributes?"

She sat beside the flowers. She liked them fondly. Even though she didn't care about them before, now their fragrance relieved the smell and taste of blood that always sat on her tongue.

"I wonder..." She looked down at her hand. It was red from all the effort. Blood circulated beneath this thin layer of skin. Not blood anymore—Lifeblood. Something that no one has ever possessed before.

My power is to control life, blood is just a medium. I cannot control it, as I lack a way to control mana. But... if my blood possesses life.

She traced her index finger along the thin, glossy edge of the sword. She hesitated. It would hurt. Still, her curiosity won; she swiped her finger. The edge dug into her skin without mercy. She bit her lip, raising her finger to observe the blood pooling on it.

Will my blood affect other living things, since it has life? What does having life affinity even mean? What will it do?

Her eye landed on the flower.

Flower or grass?

She plucked out a blade of grass and dropped the pooling blood on it. Watched it intently, like an alchemist after poisoning the goblins.

Her lips twitched as nothing happened even after a minute.

"I am overthinking it."

She dropped the crimson grass. Jerked her arm a few times to shake off the blood.

"Well, I am stupid to expect my blood to have some kind of effect on life. Well, it's only five percent life. Once it reaches a hundred, I might be able to see it work."

A pyromancer controls and creates flames. So if I can control life, I should be able to control it. What does controlling a life mean? Or I can create a life. How does one create a life...

Aeryth shook her head violently. Gene had once told her how a life was created.

She relaxed on the soft grass, staring at the sky. "I wish there was a guide to tell me how to control life power... or something to point me toward a direction."

Once the sun was up, she left. Failing to notice the blood seeping into the soil.

----------------------------------------

After returning to her room, Aeryth decided to take a shower and get ready for breakfast.

She didn't get a personal bathroom, of course. There were two bathrooms on each floor. The showers were only on the ground floor. At least, they were more than two. Twelve, to be precise.

She lifted her bed with one hand and picked up her dress with the other. It was ironed under her weight the whole night. Though, it didn't have the shine. She sighed, leaving it on the bed. Then, gathered her undergarments and wrapped them in the towel, placed it on her dress, and walked down after picking up the bag of necessities.

Having two pairs of clothing was hard. She washed one and used the other. If there was a mishap during the day, she would have to clench her jaw and bear through it.

She had fifty jades on her, which should get her a cheap pair of undergarments, but she wanted to save the money for now. In case an emergency arises. If she could make enough—through the bribes—during the week, then she wouldn't hold back and get something for herself.

There was the option of asking the dorm mother for clothes. It would most likely be old, used by someone. Unless absolutely necessary, she was not willing to ask for them.

Aeryth made her way to the bathroom, noticing people eyeing her. As contemptuous as those gazes were—hurting her, trying to make her life difficult—bullying her didn't seem to be on their mind.

Perhaps they would get kicked out if she complained. Aeryth was sure if they had their way, she would have to fight dozens of barking insane individuals every day.

One of the showers was empty, fortunately.

She had received a bag of necessary items, which had everything she required, including a toothbrush and scrubber for clothes.

In about forty minutes, she was done—clothes washed, half dried from squeezing. Light had given her quite strong clothes. If they were cheap, she would've torn them to shreds.

As she walked out, washed clothes in one hand, someone crashed into her, knocking her over.

She fell on the wet floor. After a moment to gather herself, she looked up at the person.

"Ah, sorry, sorry." Said the brown-haired girl with a grin.

From the corner of her eyes, she saw people looking at her. Some with pity, while others with great interest.

The telling smile on this person's face made her blood boil.

Take deep breaths. It's fine. Nothing worth starting a fight over.

She let out a breath. Her nerves calmed.

"It's fine. Please be careful next time," Aeryth said.

She got on her feet and gathered the clothes. They would need another washing.

I will probably miss my breakfast.

As she reached for the scrubber, the person kicked it away. "What was that? Are you implying it was my fault, blind bitch?"

Again, the magma coiled in her thumping heart. It took all her focus to not lash out.

Aeryth didn't say anything. This person wanted trouble, and the more it escalated, the more it was a waste of time. She could be careful next time, and she was here for a few more days at best, only waiting to see if Light would visit her again. This fight was not worth it.

"I'm sorry for bumping into you," She straightened and walked over to the scrubber.

The girl shoved her again. "If you're sorry... at least lick my foot."

Aeryth reconsidered if it was worth it. Her fist clenched. Her patience slowly seeped out. "Do you want a fight?"

"Hm? What do you mean?" The girl asked innocently. She walked past her, shoving her to the side once more. She giggled. And a few others along with her.

Aeryth skin burned with anger. Before she could stop herself, her hands grabbed the brown-haired ponytail and yanked it with all her strength. With the impact of an arrow leaving a bow, brown brown-haired girl crashed onto the floor. She groaned.

She heard a whistle, her eyes swept around but caught no one. Everyone had vanished, hidden.

She looked down at the groaning girl. Crush her skull. One, single punch. And no one will dare to touch you again. The angry part of her whispers sweetly. How good it will feel...

Aeryth clenched her jaw. "Stay away from me." Aeryth stepped away from her. And picked up her scrubber.

"What is happening here?" Of course, the dorm mother had to come right at this moment.

"Aeryth and Mira are quarreling." Someone said.

The old woman made her way to them. She looked at Aeryth, whose anger had drained, and now she was considering if it had been the right choice. And then at Mira on the floor, groaning. Blood pooled under her head.

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"You're coming with me," The dorm mother grabbed Aeryth's hand and yanked her.

"I did nothing." Aeryth stumbled. She jerked her hand free. "She started the fight. Ask them."

But everyone had already gone inside their shower, doors closed.

"Come with me, or I'll call the guards," dorm mother hissed, not bothering to ask anyone. Judgment was apparent in her voice.

Aeryth's jaws clenched as she followed the old woman. What did she do to deserve this? She looked at the glass window. The lit-up world outside. Why did she have to go through this? Her eyes stung.

After breakfast, she was supposed to search for the treasure.

----------------------------------------

Sera knocked on Aeryth's door.

There was no answer. Curios. Where could this one go? Sera tried again, just in case Aeryth was too studying. That was something that Aeryth would do. Sera chuckled at the thought.

"Where do I even look for her?" She checked her pocket for the master key. It was there and tempted her to open Aeryth's room.

"I have a feeling, if I open it, and she's inside. I'll have my head bashed open... no, cut open. Maybe her super secret power can make the sword alive." Sera shuddered. "Nope. Not wanna fight alive weapons again. They hurt."

Sera shook her head. "She's not inside." She had no way of knowing, of course. After all, that stupid bracelet made Aeryth's presence as alive as a rock. "Maybe in the canteen."

With a sigh, she made her way down. Curiously enough, there was no one anywhere. She deliberately shut off her senses. She could feel an interesting event unfolding. And her mana sense might just spoil the surprise. As convenient as they were in search, most of the time they were buzzkill, letting her know of a thrilling surprise before time.

She imagined a scenario where everyone could be busy. And came to a very natural conclusion, according to her. Two individuals were fighting, beating each other's guts out, while the rest of the dorm cheered and made bets.

"Wait, that sounds like a cold pit, not the warm corridors of Hearth," Sera nodded. "That's not permissible. I'll have to hand the caretaker a ticked to the dew factory if she had allowed something like that. No, wait, even if that is true, Aeryth wouldn't be missing."

She still remembers the look in Aeryth's eyes. They didn't seek violence. Or adventure. Or anything. They were hollow, lifeless. What did she even want in her life?

Sera was curious about what happened to Aeryth in the past before she came here, but as was the law of quarters, no one was allowed to ask anyone about their past. Of course, if someone wanted to share it, that was a different matter.

What would make someone like Aeryth happy, smiling? A real smile, of course. One glance was all it took for Sera to tell if someone was pretending.

After spending the afternoon, Sera was sure, there were at least a hundred things that made Aeryth aggressive and angry or other negative type of emotions. And zero things that made her happy.

She asked Gu Yuan if he had any ideas, and she received, 'Please refrain from putting your nose in other people's business.'

"Like hell, I can leave her alone after seeing that expression."

It had taken a lot of effort to stop herself from barging into the Public Security office. One day, she would beat the shit out of Truman and shove that shit back into his mouth for whatever he did to Aeryth.

On the first floor, she started hearing humanity again in all its glorious spooky whispers. And on the ground floor, she found at least everyone that lived in the dorms.

"What's happening?" She mumbled as she shoved herself into the throng of girls, all curious and on their toes to get a peek into the caretaker's room.

Once they recognized her, she got a free pass into the caretaker's office.

On one chair, Aeryth sat, distressingly even. Her thin, frail frame was hugged by a wet and crumbled dress. Despite her thinness, Sera still couldn't get over the fact that Aeryth could shove back that big man from the library the other day.

On the other, another girl—head wrapped with bandages.

And, of course, Guard Captain Truman. Sera's heart grew heavier.

"What happened?" Sera asked, knitting her brow.

Aeryth's eyes landed on her. Sera would give up her monthly salary to not get away from here, away from those coal-black eyes. They did not belong to an alive human, let alone someone possessing an aspect of life.

Sera looked at Adaline, the dorm mother of this place. "What did happen?" She asked again.

Other than Truman, two more guards stood in the corner.

Truman smiled, as that bastard would, and took a step forward. "Your friend cracked open Mira's head over here." His lips curled up into a twisted smile.

"Did I ask you?" Sera retorted, looking at Adaline, "Will you explain?"

"As he says," Adaline replied.

Sera's frustration grew. As much as the old woman knew Sera was over her station, she had the habit of pretending that Sera was just another child of this dorm.

"Why?" Sera asked. Her fist tightened.

Truman flicked his eyes to the guard. "Chain her. We are going back."

Sera moved first and walked over to the door. "Leave. This matter will be solved privately," She addressed the gathering.

Though the crowd moved away slightly, most of them didn't budge.

"If I see anyone after I blink, consider your shift shifted to the dew factory for an entire week."

Now, they turned and ran like there was an army of ghosts chasing them. Sera shook her head, sighing. That solved one of the problems.

She closed the door shut. Frankly, it wouldn't hold any one of them inside. But, it made her intentions clear.

She leaned against the door. Looking at Truman, who watched in amusement.

"You wanna play?" Truman grinned.

Sera shook her head. "This is Hearth's compound, Truman. You're whispmaster will whip your ass red if you start something here."

"Watch your mouth," His lips twitched, along with his wrinkly old face, made him look like a bulldog, not in a good way. "Even if this is your personal compound, this district belongs to Ragis Rath Clan. Laws apply to everyone equally."

"Law." Sera scoffed, turning to the old woman. "Who filed the complaint?"

"I did," Adeline said, trying to put up a brave face.

"Take it back."

"What?!" Mira jolted up from her seat. "You can't do that."

Sera had lived in the quarters for more than a year. She had lived through these situations. Keenly knew how they worked.

Sera flicked her eyes at Aeryth. She had not said a single word for this entire duration. She didn't seem afraid right now. Yet, she was anything but calm.

"Adaline, take back the complaint. This is an inside matter," Sera looked at Mira. "And you should sit back."

"Who are you to order us?!" Mira growled.

"Chain her," Truman said. The guards moved.

Sera's mana flared. The room grew hotter in a blink. "Don't move a muscle," she said to the guard, who had stopped mid-step. He looked at Truman.

"Chain her." Truman glowered.

"Try it, bastard," the ground beneath them grew hotter.

[Elemental Tract is in motion.]

The words floated in the corner of her vision. Stupid thing. She didn't need to be told what she had done.

The guard didn't move.

"You don't have the guts to start a fire here this whole building will melt down along with your worthlessly precious rats," Truman walked over to him and yanked the chain.

Sera whipped her head at Adaline. "If this breaks out, you will never see a day out of dew factory, I promise you that."

Adaline paled. "Wait."

"Regis Rath will protect you. Law is on your side. You don't need to worry," Truman assured.

Sera took a deep breath. She herself had a short temper for the most part, but she had learned to tame, to not let it hurt her. Her standing leashed her from lashing out unless absolutely necessary. One minute mistake, and she might start a war.

Adaline's face grew pale. She must not have expected the situation to escalate to this level. She looked at Mira. Truman grinned at Sera. "Seems like I'll be meeting you in the station,"

Aeryth's eyes quivered as she looked at the cold metal chain. Her fist clenched. But she stayed still. Sera could tell Aeryth didn't want to escalate the situation.

Sera stood in front of Aeryth. "Adaline, my patience is running thin. You're only digging your grave deeper."

"Why are you treating her like she has done anything wrong!" Mira shrieked in Adaline's stead.

"Because she has!" Sera's voice rose as did the temperature of the entire room. "And so are you. The only reason I will not kick you out of the quarters is because you don't have a place to go." Sera pointed at Truman, "And his law will lead you to a brothel or some bar, so keep your damned mouth shut and sit down."

Mira's face paled, less by her outburst, and more because of raw fire and heat pulsating in this room—like an iron melting furnace.

Even Truman was tense for a moment.

"Sera calm down. It's fine. It was my fault for losing control. You don't have to fight for me." Aeryth finally said. The resignation, and acceptance in her voice broker Sera's heart.

"You did nothing wrong. I don't care what these two say, I know you better than them. If you really had to break her head, then she must be one in the wrong," Truman stood over her. "Adaline. Are you sure you want to face the consequences?"

"Move, little girl," Truman smiled. "You sure you want to start a territorial war over this nobody."

The room grew even hotter. "Your charred corpse will no one to weep over, Truman, but a lot of people will take a shit on it."

"S-stop," Adaline whispered. "I take back my complaint. Please stop."

"Ada..." Mira whipered

"You heard her, Truman," Sera grinned. "Scram out of my property."

Truman cast a glance at Adaline. "Think again. If I leave, you will not get any shelter from Regis Rath."

Adaline lowered her head without uttering a word.

"Dodged an explosive this time," Truman smiled, rattling the chain in front of their face. "Next time, I am dragging you to the station."

"Barking like a whipped dog," Sera scoffed as Truman walked over to the door. His little guard dog followed behind him. "Hey Truman, can you even sit on the chair with that ugly red ass?"

"What a sewer-mouthed bitch you've grown up to be, Sera. Your brother would've been proud."

Sera's face tightened. Truman chuckled and turned away.

Sera pocked out her leg and tipped the afraid guard over. He stumbled and crashed on Truman's back, holding on to his armor tightly to not fall over, his knees quivering.

"Watch your steps," Sera chuckled. This was fun...

They walk out.

Sera glanced at Mira. "Both of you will write a detailed report on this matter. It's going to the Ashets. Lady Sia will be hearing about this."

Sera took Aeryth's hand. "Let's go. This was not the thrilling experience I wanted."

"What about me?" Mira said.

"No idea. Lady Sia is benevolent, so you will not have a bad ending, but she does get hard-handed with strayed ones, so prepare yourself for pain. You deserve that, after all."

Mira took a deep breath. "Can I talk to you alone?"

Sera nodded. "Aeryth, can you wait outside?"

Aeryth walked out.

"You too, Ada." Mira looked at her knees, avoiding the old woman's glare.

"Leave." Once Sera ordered, the old woman left.

Sera's shoulder sagged. "What do you have to say?"

Mira hurriedly pulled out a grass from her shirt's pocket. "That girl... Aeryth does black magic." She unwrapped about a foot-long, abnormally dark green grass blade. "Her blood made the grass into this..." She pulled it from both sides, but the grass didn't break. "Whatever the hell this is. Ada said she wanted her gone. I thought we were doing a good thing."

Tears streamed down her face.

Sera took the vine and burned it. It turned to ash. Mira's eyes widened.

Truman must've offered Ada money to get Aeryth out and dragged Mira along.

"Did you tell that to Truman, or that woman, or anyone else?"

Mira shook her head.

"She's not blessed," Sera sighed. "And you never saw that plant. You will not tell anyone about this ever. In return, I will make sure you don't visit the dew factory. If you tell anyone... you will not be much better this grass."

Mira nodded. Her tears dried in her eyes.

Sera shook her head. 'What kind of power is this?' She wondered. "Handing a new girl over to another clan is never a good thing. We keep the thing inside our house. I am making a compromise," a ball of pale flame manifested, floating toward Mira's face, "This once. Next time, If you do this, not just to Aeryth, but anyone, you will not walk away unscathed."

The flames licked her cheek, turning it charred red. Dried. It wouldn't leave a scar or even hurt after a few hours, but Sera wanted to make sure her words were loud and clear. At this point, Mira was just trying to play the victim, but Sera had lived through these situations to know Mira never had goodwill from the start.

Mira shrank away but didn't move. "I'm sorry."

The flames vanished. "I guess that's the end of it. I hope."

The old woman was gone. Sera wasn't really worried.

Aeryth had waited at least. She looked at her. "Thank you, Miss Sera." She lowered her head. "I cannot express how grateful I am for what you did today."

"No need to be so formal. I'm just doing my job," Sera saluted. "You get a special pass for being my friend."

Aeryth shook her head. "I am not your friend, though I am grateful for everything. I will pay back for everything one day."

Sera sighed. She had not thought Aeryth would reject her outright. But that just showed how apprehensive the notion of reliance and connection was to her.

What happened to her to make her like this?

[Path Quest Available: Befriend Aeryth.]

Sera smiled. I accept!