To those that were casually watching, most with envious gazes while a select few contained avid interest as they wondered how many would be joining them on their new life, Nyx calmy stood alone a few metres away from the white tent, scanning her surroundings with a dull, unimpressed countenance.

It had been since Nyx realised that her facade had been seen through and she had, through her own assumptions and fears, walked into what she could only see as a trap and had dropped all pretence.

Regret for becoming overconfident and careless caused her insides to squirm as Nyx's anger steadily grew, feeling as if she had been dancing in the palm of her unseen opponent.

As her gaze travelled, Nyx spotted a few of the nearby disciples trying to stealthily increase their distance from her as they felt a chilling, invisible weight press down upon them.

Rolling her eyes slightly, Nyx redoubled her efforts to repress the aura generated by the red, beastial energy encircling her heart, believing that it would be best to release it all at once and hopefully, by a few seconds if she was put in a deadly situation.

While most saw her standing there with a lazy, somewhat bored stance, to those with more experience and training, Nyx's body language had changed from a nervous, blind young woman to that of a warrior who was besieged on all fronts and preparing for their final battle.

Luckily, those who could tell the minute difference, mainly from the blind spots and position of hands and legs, were mostly disciples of the Twilight sect. While they found the behaviour odd, spotting Dimi who was blatantly watching the young woman like a hawk, they seemingly understood why Nyx would be on edge and felt a small amount of pity towards her for gaining their elder's interest.

Even as Nyx scanned her surroundings, looking for an escape route or moment of opportunity that could give her an advantage, Nyx hadn't stopped paying attention to the strange carriage that was surrounded by the illusion barrier or the woman who was watching her so intensely, Dimi, in white robes.

While she was always alert for sneak attacks from other sides, Nyx was almost sure that if there were to be an attack out of the blue, it would come from the woman or carriage due to their odd positions that made it difficult to observe both simultaneously.

Seeing sudden movement out the corner of her eye, the tent's downward hanging flap flying open as an energetic, young girl with red hair skipped out with tears of joy in her eyes, caused Nyx to flinch and shift her weight onto her back foot.

To most, Nyx was just startled yet to Hrafn and Jorm watching from the top of the carriage; they felt a cold sweat run down their backs knowing that if Nyx hadn't stopped at the last moment, the girl would have been dead before they could even react.

Yet, even though they felt their heartbeats quicken, more due to the trouble a death would cause if it happened under their watch, the interest in their eyes only increased.

Seemingly ignorant to the pressure of Nyx's aura, her emotions and mindset providing a natural defence, the girl skipped past the desks and into the crowd, eager to find her family and tell them the good news.

Already knowing the reason for the girl's resistance, even though she was limiting her aura's leakage as much as she could, Nyx's attention hadn't wavered for a moment as her gaze, masked by the blindfold, was locked onto Dimi's figure which was closer by three meters.

While Jorm and Hrafn hadn't reacted, knowing they were too far away to do anything, seeing the glint of Nyx's dagger under the bright sunlight had caused Dimi to instinctively charge forward, only stopping once she realised that Nyx had held back at the last moment and focused solely on her.

However, that wasn't the only thing that had stopped her.

Even though Nyx's eyes were covered, Dimi felt the strange sensation, just like when she locked eyes with another predator as they stared at each other.

The feeling was similar to a small surge of electricity dancing across her skin as adrenaline is dumped into her bloodstream causing an almost irresistible urge to charge and fight.

Even though the look in Nyx's eyes could not be seen, Dimi was confident she could feel hostile energy, as if she was being challenged, reaching her.

The sensation, although intangible and difficult to describe, gave Dimi the feeling that, even though she was almost certain to win, if she confronted the small woman, Dimi would be incredibly lucky if she didn't receive multiple, serious injuries.

A warm, friendly smile appeared on Dimi's face as her eyes sparkled with great interest, yet she resisted her instincts reluctantly and crossed her arms and started to wait again.

Ignoring the fact that she knew Timur would likely scrape a layer of flesh from her if she caused a scene, it was clear to Dimi that her prey knew that they had stumbled into a disadvantageous position and situation. Having seen how quickly the woman could, and from Dimi's instincts would, attack innocents around her, Dimi felt that if she rushed forward, it would only create chaos and create too many unknown variables. -"In nature, it isn't the patient predator that starves, but the incompetent and those that give their prey unnecessary advantages."

However, this was the first time Dimi could clearly see her target, one that on paper, was significantly weaker than her, and couldn't act as she pleased.

A sense of frustration, as well as excitement, caused her to fidget somewhat.

"Out of all the beasts that roam the sky, sea and land, what kind are you, little cub?"

chuckled Dimi, her voice almost a whisper but still strangely reaching Nyx's ears as if she had been standing right beside her.

Getting no response from Nyx, Dimi's head tilted to the side slightly, her thoughts travelling back to the conversation she had earlier with Timur and the others when they had first discovered the woman's presence. -"Fine, if small talk won't work, let's try something else."

"Is my appearance, even in this form, that scary? After that little chase earlier, I wouldn't have thought that you were a coward."

Nyx, like a statue, continued to observe Dimi but it was clear that she was now carefully paying attention to her surroundings as if she believed Dimi was trying to distract her.

Not one to be ignored, even if she was enjoying herself immensely, Dimi's smile grew as she decided to take a gamble knowing that it could trigger a fight or flight response from her target. "Does the darkness have no voice under the sun? Are you nothing more than a fish out of water? A great eagle in the jungle? I expected more from someone so infamous."

Seeing not even a twitch from Nyx, Dimi started to pout before the strange feeling she crawling across her skin earlier intensified dramatically.

After confirming that her prey wasn't about to attack or flee, a sense of challenge growing inside as she wondered how much Nyx could take before displaying a physical response, Dimi was about to continue as one of the silver robed disciples walked towards Nyx.

The woman, who appeared to be around the age of thirty, reached Nyx with stiff movements and a frown before indicating that Nyx should follow her into the tent.

Nyx didn't immediately turn with the woman, her lips curling upwards with the faintest trace of a snarl as a feeling that looking away would mean something significant, before slowly turning around and following.

Dimi chuckled as she saw Nyx's hesitation, her curiosity piqued. -"What the hell are you? One moment I think you're a feline, the next you are acting like a canine and then, at others, like a serpent yet I don't sense any mixed blood or species. Whatever you are, you are a pureblood."

Meanwhile, even though she moved with purpose, Nyx was feeling slightly despondent. Not only had she failed in identifying any potential escape routes, after witnessing Dimi's reaction and speed earlier, she also threw away the last lingering thoughts of outrunning her during the day.

Nyx could also tell, due to the many life and death experiences and situations she had been in, that she had no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation against the woman, let alone the fact she was surrounded by allies that could join the fray at any moment.

Yet, instead of panicking or becoming more depressed, this thought calmed Nyx significantly as her tense muscles, which were starting to ache due to the constant vigilance she had been displaying, slightly relaxed.

Compared to the time she had spent without having to worry about her bodies condition or what would happen next, mainly because her life expectancy was in the range of a few hours to a week at most, Nyx found the need to not only survive but maintain her bodies condition to be incredibly taxing and stressful. Even with ten years of practice.

However, even though with each step it felt as if Death's grasp was slowly tightening around her neck, the seemingly dire situation gave Nyx a strange sensation of freedom. One that had been buried over the last few years as she became more cautious.

"Que será~ será~. Whatever will be~ will be~," sang Nyx in a quiet almost inaudible voice, a habit she had developed during her isolation in the forest, as she followed the woman in silver robes with a bounce in her step.

Even though there wasn't much distance between them, the female disciple was just about able to hear Nyx's cheery, yet somewhat creepy voice behind her.

Coupled with the stifling pressure that was emanating from Nyx, making her feel as if every breath was an extreme effort, the woman couldn't help but shiver, even though it was a hot, sunny day and increased her pace.

Within moments the woman had already reached flap and lifted it out of the way, although she was meant to let the applicant enter first, started to move into the tent, keen to reach the head examiner's side.

Having witnessed the woman increasing her speed, seemingly trying to get away from her, Nyx had effortlessly closed the distance between after empowering specific muscles with dark essence and carefully lowering the volume of her voice and sound of her steps in a somewhat natural way.

This was a trick she had picked up when hunting game that wasn't very cautious, often losing their vigilance if one was to wait around them for prolonged periods and easily tricked the woman's senses into believing that Nyx was the same distance, if not a little further away than when she had started to follow.

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By the time the woman's figure entered the tent, Nyx was already so close that she should have been able to sense the heat from Nyx's body. However, Nyx's next actions caught her completely unprepared.

The moment the tent's shadow had touched Nyx, even if it was still restricted by the bright sunlight, she was able to push her essence outwards, an almost unnoticeable dimming in the surroundings, and she was able to map the tent's insides and its sole occupant.

Without a moment's hesitation, Nyx's hand, the one that had been previously grasping the dagger hilt, pushed the woman on the small of her back, sending her stumbling forward.

As the woman stumbled, a different dagger flew from Nyx's tattered robe's sleeve and appeared in her hand as her arm snaked around the woman's neck and placed its edge on her throat.

The most noticeable thing about the knife was that its blade wasn't silver, like the one Nyx had nearly launched at the young girl earlier, but held a black-purple tinge.

Sitting on the other side of the tent, which seemed to be far more extensive than what it appeared to be on the outside, was a large, two meter or so tall man.

His bulging muscles, as well as the rippling in the air surrounding his body, a sign that he was prepared to use essence and skills at a moment's notice, made it clear to Nyx that the man was a threat that she could not afford to underestimate.

Circling her energy around her core, prepared to shatter it if the situation looked like she would be taken alive, Nyx positioned herself behind the woman, prepared to react if either of the two people in front of her moved.

Two tables had been pushed to the edge, the scrape marks in the well-trodden grass indicating that it had only been done recently only confirming to Nyx that the man knew she wasn't a regular applicant.

Nyx, her small height forcing her to tiptoe, looked over the woman's shoulder and release a little, light-hearted chuckle, as she mentally applauded herself for being able to make so many mistakes in such a short time.

After a moment, where the female disciple had frozen in fear, sweat appearing on her brow, Nyx stopped chuckling and shook her head slightly. "At least rank four or five. Why do I even bother?"

"Pardon?" responded Timur with a kind, yet imposing voice, his muscle arms folded across his chest as he lent back and crossed his legs, seemingly uncaring about the hostage situation in front of him.

"Just wondering why I bothered trying to think my way out of this without causing a scene and didn't go with my instincts," responded Nyx absentmindedly, yet actually intending to buy herself time to think. "Now it seems I will only have this woman to accompany me across the river Styx."

Both Timur and the woman didn't know where the river Styx was but by Nyx's tone, as well as the slight movement from the dagger in her hand, was able to quickly discern the meaning behind her words.

Shivering violently, her pale skin starting to reveal small, black lines at the edge of her wrists and neck, the woman's hazel eyes pleadingly locked onto the Iron Hall Master's.

Ignoring the gaze, as if the woman didn't even exist, the old man, his white beard somewhat messy, chuckled and replied in a deep, booming voice that was seemingly enhanced by the small confines of the tent. "Are you so sure that you will be able to take her with you?"

"One hundred per cent," responded Nyx with confidence as her head tilted slightly, a smile blooming on her lips which were, unfortunately for the meaning she wanted to convey, hidden behind the woman's shoulder. "Even if you have a master apothecary that can identify the poison she had already been inflicted with and somehow managed to hit me with those metal balls hidden in your hands, I'm almost certain you won't be able to stop one of these two daggers from inflicting a mortal wound."

Nyx's smile grew colder, only known to herself. "Its somewhat of an achievement. It has been a long time since I have only managed to draw with my opponent."

The words caused Timur's chuckle to falter, only now seeing the strange black lines on the woman's neck and realising that he couldn't see Nyx's other hand.

"Oh, and if one more person enters the tent, comes closer, or I feel something is off, I kill her and take my chances," continued Nyx, her voice and tone sounding like she was stating a fact and not a threat.

The smile returned to Timur's face, knowing that Nyx's words and actions could only mean she wanted to negotiate or at least try to reason things out instead of fighting to the death. "You're not as crazed and cold-blooded as I have heard, Nyx. An old friend once told me that people don't change, it's just that the mask sometimes slips off. I wonder which one is the real you?"

Nyx's laughter, this time much more natural and somewhat charming even in the current, somewhat hostile situation, filled the tent as the urge to slit the woman's throat and engage in battle with the giant man grew in the pit of her stomach.

"Fine~." Sensing the increasing bloodlust and desire to battle, something only beasts at the mid-rank or higher could release, the old man shook his head, wondering if it was fate that he had to deal with so many troublesome beasts.

"Listen to all the terms before answering. I offer the protection and, within reason, resources of the number one sect of the fourth continent. Training and skills suited to your body and pure essence affinity, something even a transcendent soul would have little experience in."

"I also know you have reached a bottleneck with your cultivation. Something that cannot be conquered without the aid of a beastmaster as it is conventionally done by a beast's relatives and from the rumours, I doubt you have any. The sect has many such high ranked beasts, and I can guarantee that I will find one best suited to your nature and get them to help you," Timur took a deep breath. "This will aid you in realigning your beastial energy so that it can exist in harmony with the other energies yet, enabling you to progress, extending your lifespan, the amount of essence you can store and the skills you can use."

Having finished listing the benefits, seemingly not bothered about embellishing them as he thought they were already too good to refuse, Timur continued.

"In exchange, I want you to join the sect and enter my Hall of Iron. Without just cause, you will not harm the sect, its disciples or any allies unless given express permission to from me."

Seeing that Nyx was about to talk, Timur held his hand out. "The man who you seem to be acquainted with will lose his protection in five years. He refused to join the sect and so can only stay as a temporary elder for a total of fifteen years. If you haven't come to an accord by then, as he isn't a member of the sect and you have past grudges, not only will I not hinder you, I will give you a kill order as justification. What's more, you will be fully autonomous as a member of the Hall of Iron and only need to listen to my 'requests'. You will be my personal disciple and, with my current standing, not even the sect leader will try to order you about."

Nyx blinked behind the blindfold, the old man's words so unexpected that the knife in her hand twitched slightly, causing a trickle of blood to flow down the terrified woman's neck.

Seeing Timur's raised eyebrow at Nyx's action, she ignored the trembling woman and asked a question instead. "Why?"

Thinking for a moment, trying to find the words that would not only seem the most appealing but be easy to understand without misinterpretation, Timur wet his lips with his tongue in a thoughtful manner. "While there are many advantages to standing in the light, there are even more disadvantages. My Hall of Iron is the disciplinary and investigation division of the sect. Those suited to its ranks are few and far between and..."

His words halted for a moment. "Behind every successful figure, there is normally another hidden in its shadow. I find myself in need of such an ally. While the stories about you are anything but pleasant, there is one consistent."

"Which is?" Nyx lifted herself slightly, using her arm on the woman's shoulder to get a better view of the man sitting before her, somewhat interested in what he would say next.

"Even though every story about you, both past and present, refers to you as an abomination, none of them mention you having lied or, if a little debated due to interpretation, having broken your work. It seems you can't even lie about your own name, even if it is detrimental to your longevity."

Nyx snorted in an amused manner, wondering how much of Timur's words were actually true. It was true that she had never really lied nor broken her word. As long as there were no logical loopholes and the need to do so, something that had been unintentionally caused by her soul's enslavement and the punishment she would receive if, even if it was unintentional, bent the truth in her favour against her previous master's interests.

However, after a few seconds, the amusement was gone as her face set into its expressionless mask.

The memories of the past, her fate after standing out amongst the other enslaved souls and the deeds she had been forced to commit, caused Nyx's mood to plummet.

"So you want me to become your blade and shield?" Without the bright sunlight, the blue glow from Nyx's eyes slightly appeared through the black blindfold, growing in intensity as her muscles tenses and a thin, shadow-like film started to cover her body. "You want to enslave me? To becoming nothing more than a tool to point at your enemies? I have already escaped one master, I will not willingly bind myself to another."

"No. I will not become your master, at least in the terms you are thinking. More like we will enter a deal beneficial to both parties. I am not asking you to trust me immediately or swear a blood or soul oath. But at the same time, you should understand that you will also need to earn my trust and respect to not only gain what you need but prove you are not a threat to me and those I hold dear." Timur's voice gained a hard edge. "To those that betray me or the sect without just cause, even if they are immortal body switchers, there will be no mercy or forgiveness."

"I swear that I will not force you to do anything against your will. I will treat you as a valued disciple and, although there will be some tasks that... are not the kind that should be known, judging from your behaviour they won't be very taxing." As fast as it appeared, Timur's voice returned to normal as he stood, his towering two-meter tall frame looking enormous against the woman who had been ignored, let alone Nyx's petite frame. "Those that work with me are not tools. They are my comrades. Brothers and sisters that, although we may walk a different path, should be treated with the respect they deserve."

Thinking for a moment, the fact that she wouldn't be bound by anything other than her word barely swaying her decision in Timur's favour, the blade in Nyx's hand moved away from the woman's neck as her arm slid back around the woman' shoulder before pushing her to the side and throwing a small, green pill without looking.

However, even though she had made her decision, the energy ready to shatter her core wasn't diminished in the slightest. In fact, Nyx had added more fail-safes, in case the old man had any artefacts that could disrupt her internal energy.

From Nyx's actions, the two sect members could tell that she had decided to, at least for now, earnestly enter into discussions without a hostage.

"Appart from answering to you, I will be autonomous in my movements and actions?" Nyx stepped forward, seemingly not intimidated by the giant of a man in front of her.

"Yes, but if you want the training, skills and protection you will need to be at the sect some of the time," responded Timur also stepping forward, his friendly yet cautious demeanour causing Nyx's right eye to twitch as her cautiousness increased.

"And I have the right to refuse any 'request' that will bring me harm or cause me inconvenience?" responded Nyx as her free hand, having hidden the second dagger before pushing the woman away, rose and grasped the blindfold no longer feeling the need to hide her eyes and put herself at a slight disadvantage.

"You role in my hall will have some responsibilities, but as I said earlier, from your attitude and demeanor, I doubt you will have no problems with them."

Nyx paused for a moment. "And my role would be?"

Timur smiled again, yet this time there was a cold, hard edge to it, his eyes dancing with a slight trace of killing intent. "The Iron Hall Mater's personal disciple and, when needed, an executioner of the sect. Eliminating enemies and threats both within and outside."

It was at this moment that Nyx's blindfold fell away, her glowing, storm-like eyes, more akin to a force of nature than something biological, locked onto Timur's, causing the breath to catch in his throat. "Two more conditions."

Without waiting for him to respond, Nyx stopped so they were no more than three foot apart, her neck craned upwards so she could maintain eye contact. "An Everchange essence mask specifically linked to me and that my robes will be black, not the white or silver that I have seen so far."

Timure frowned for a moment, both of Nyx's requests being quite troublesome but not impossible, before slowly nodding his head and holding out his hand. "We provide masks and special robes for executioners to mask their identity. Coincidently, they are black. I guess you won't really be bothered with things like reputation and the fear, hatred and distrust of others that having your role known to the rest of the sect will have?"

Nyx nodded once, not elaborating on her decision in case it gave Timur anything that he could use against her.

Taking in a deep breath, his mind telling him that Nyx, if a quarter of the rumours where true, had agreed too easily, Timur nodded back. "Then we have a Deal."

Nyx chuckled, seeing the man's hand covered in a browny-silver essence, protecting him in case Nyx tried anything before extending her own hand, which now resembled a black, demonic claw.

"OK, we can skip the formalities which just leaves the examination. Take off your clothes so Lilly can do a once over and I will introduce you to the other elders," chuckled the old man as he retreated to his chair and sat back down as if expecting a good show while motioning for the woman who was still cowering on the floor to stand up.

"Excuse me?" responded Nyx with a deadpan voice and facial expression, yet due to the change in her eyes, she could no longer mask her raging emotions.