The roof seemed to spin as Syllis opened her eyes again. It seemed her corruption was not entirely gone yet. ‘I did push myself pretty hard.’

Syllis remembered the length of the fight: the victory, the heckling, Aura’s cheer, tearing Ansel’s arm.

“That red-haired derelict deserved it.” She rolled her eyes.

Then, she felt embarrassed. There were various aspects that were not under her control, her corruption had caused a couple of questionable decisions.

Firstly was her maniacal laughing. Secondly was her decision to take Ansel’s arm even after the battle was over.

‘I wonder if he ever got that back?’ Syllis mused, giggling slightly.

A hand pushed through the blue curtain, pulling it aside. “He got the arm back, don’t worry.”

“Aura.” Syllis instantly got serious, losing her light-hearted attitude.

“How are the clothes fitting?” Aura spoke politely, a contrast to her usual manner of speaking.

“Uh, oh fine.” Syllis looked down, examining the pair of white clothes she was wearing. “How’s Ansel doing?”

Aura scoffed before speaking. “Hah! How should I know? That loser took his treatment before leaving without a word. There was a beautifully tragic look on his face.”

“I wish I could have seen it.” Syllis looked upwards, back towards the ceiling. She laughed again, uncharacteristically.

Aura looked away, dejectedly. “Thanks for putting that derelict in place.”

Syllis’ eyes widened upon hearing the—usually aggressive—girl suddenly open up. It was bizarre, and even uncanny.

‘This is nice.’

The secare nymph thought as her vision blurred again. The intricate pattern of the roof ebbed and flowed as though it was a sea of waves crashing into one another.

‘Just how much did I use my bond for the corruption to affect my vision.’ Syllis was somewhat worried. Her vision had never been affected and although the corruption never left any long lasting effects, there was a small part of her mind that wondered if it could.

“Can you walk yet?” Aura inquired in a patient voice.

“I haven’t tried yet. I should be able to?” Syllis spoke the last sentence like a question. In her mind Lurgica should have had some of the top anathemic doctors in Asanoch.

Why wouldn’t she be able to walk?

Syllis tried to sit up, peeling her back from the comfy bed was a grueling process. Her breaths hitched as she attempted to push her weight onto her legs.

They immediately tried to buckle, just as they had in her prior spar. It was like they were still missing chunks of bone and flesh, despite the pristine condition of the both of them.

The nymph gently massaged both of them with her hands, to see if there was any pain. Only slight pulses of pain rang out when she ran her hand over the lower thigh, though it paled in comparison to the acid Ansel burned through her skin with.

“I’m going to need some help.” Syllis gestured for Aura to approach.

Aura took Syllis’ arm and wrapped it around her back. It was a welcome change from her aggressive nature.

The both of them exited from the building at a less than leisurely pace. Aura guided the staggering nymph over to a bench just inside the boundaries of Lurgica.

They garnered the partial attention of a plethora of students as they passed by. It was an almost ethereal sight, these two beautiful women clinging to each other. If they had not known the identities of both of them, they would have probably lingered to ogle them, both men and women alike.

Aura let go of Syllis’ arm, letting her sit comfortably outside.

The outside of Lurgica was beautiful. Aside from the large stone statues depicting what were likely the founding fathers. There were pleasant, twisting walkways that were lined with gardens.

These gardens consisted of glovering hint and thorin flowers, both the pink and yellow colors weaved into the green landscape around them seamlessly adding a necessary coloring to the environment.

The only part lacking was the fact there were no critters or animals. Insects and animals alike could both not live so far below sea. They would hinder the delicate plantlife and lack the space to move around.

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As beautiful as Asanoch was, the central section in particular was rather crowded with buildings. There was a lack of grass patches, Lurgica was lucky to have any thriving grass. Grass—and by extension dirt—was difficult to maintain so far below sea. It was difficult to keep it fertile enough, as well as to water it.

There was a spring-like atmosphere with the slight breeze rolling through, though it was artificial of course. Whether it was several contracted kindred or some kind of artifact from a fable, she did not know.

“It’s going to be winter soon…” Aura’s voice trailed out into a sigh, she liked the warmth.

Asanoch rotated between spring weather and winter weather. Since Asanoch was located underwater, it did not experience weather in the typical way. The bubble that enveloped the city filtered out weather so the government needed to get creative.

They would have spring weather for nine months of the year, and winter for three. For the season of winter, they would have most of the kindred that formed the false sun go on vacation so that the sun remained small and would not melt snow. In their stead, they would be kindred with dominion over the winds and snow to coat Asanoch in a thin layer of snow.

Small qualities that are taken for granted above-ground helped to keep society’s moral high and the people fully sane. The hope was for Asanoch to feel as close to a city above the sea.

Of course, the fact that it was below the sea would never be able to be completely forgotten. All someone had to do was look up to see the pitch black sea above them. If they were lucky there would be a couple of bioluminescent fish shining a faint, eerie hue, barely discernible from so far.

‘I’ll miss the spring weather.’ Syllis thought inwardly, she did not speak out loud. This was partially because she was tired and partially due to Aura’s bizarre behavior.

Syllis did not know the reason Aura had brought her outside, or even the reason she was with her at all. This sudden warmth threw her off.

Aura eyes shifted a couple times as though they did not know where to look, she turned towards Syllis. “I’m sorry if the clothes don’t fit perfectly.”

“Why would you apologize?” Syllis asked, heavily confused.

“Because I tried to find the closest size possible. It’s difficult to find clothing for you. You’re tall but your shoulders aren’t broad, also you don’t quite…” Aura clarified before returning to examine the beautiful scene in front of them.

Syllis’ face froze, she looked straight forward with a deadpan expression. ‘D-did she…? No right, she couldn’t have. That’s for the doctor to do…’

“Your burns were horrific, the chunks of missing bone… It was terrifying to watch the anathemic doctor mend you. I’m glad that you endured it and tore Ansel’s arm.”

As she spoke, Aura’s tan skin seemed to glow underneath Asanoch’s false sun. She gently lifted Syllis’ arm up.

“And I’m glad your body wasn’t left with any permanent damage.” Aura spoke as she softly caressed Syllis’ arm through the sleeve.

Syllis only watched in horror as the once hostile woman seemed to be subdued with the simple act of tearing a man’s arm off. ‘Is this even Aura anymore? I mean she’s lost the core of herself.’

Aura watched the secare nymph’s snow-like, pale expression as her lips warped into a frown. She hurriedly put the woman’s arm down, like she had not realized what exactly she was doing.

‘Wait—’

Syllis interrupted her thoughts as she nearly found herself disappointed at Aura’s refrain. Her frown fell a bit further as Aura rose from the bench.

“Come on.” Aura reached down towards Syllis. “Let’s get you back home.”

The both of them called a carriage and headed to the Boorne estate. Aura led Syllis inside and up to her room before letting her arm go and helping her into the bed. Aura thanked her again before turning to leave.

Aura stopped for a moment, turning to face the visually fine and alluring secare nymph. “And I’m sorry that neither Clyde nor Korman spoke up during your spar. You can’t be too careful, the ultimate hears all.”

The door rang out slightly as it gently clicked shut.

“What just happened?” Syllis did not laugh, she did not know exactly how to feel. ‘I guess, I should feel content. What is the ultimate exactly?’

Syllis could feel her bones shake slightly under every movement. It had been a pain, every step she took getting to the bench and to the carriage station to finally entering her room in the Boorne estate. It did not bother her though, this breakthrough with Aura was worth a hell of a lot more than the painful steps she took.

The door shook slightly under the pressure of a couple knocks.

“Come in!” Syllis welcomed the outside presence.

Clyde emerged from the gap in the doorway. He wore a worried expression.

“We have a couple of invitations.” He spoke in an unenthusiastic voice.

‘What is up with people acting like the polar opposite of themselves. Well, Clyde has always acted kinda like this when Anahita was the subject. Wait—’ Syllis came to a sudden realization.

“I get one too?” Syllis questioned, already knowing the answer. ‘It was apparent that it was an invitation to an event with Anahita at the center. She likely invited me because I was getting a little too close.’

“You do, Anahita is holding an event for the upper-class to debate political topics. It serves as a way for the people to make their voice have an effect on Asanoch. She gave my family an extra guest slot. And naturally, my father wants to flaunt his new contracted kindred.”

‘Smooth… Give the family an extra invite so it doesn’t seem like she’s inviting me in particular.’ Syllis rolled her eyes.

Clyde copied her facial gesture, misinterpreting it before continuing. “Anyways, you aren’t obligated to go. But it might be a nice opportunity for you as well. Although, if you choose to, I urge you not to try and spar with Anahita. While we are the elite of Asanoch’s juvenile kindred, she is to the world.”

Clyde explained before giving Syllis a moment to process.

“Well obviously I cannot refuse such an offer. And I will refrain from any unnecessary action. Please let Clark know, I can’t quite move to tell him myself.” Syllis let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

“Of course. Also, Aura seems a lot happier since you tore Ansel apart. And I’m sorry.” Clyde spoke hurriedly before leaving the charming room, closing the door slightly harder than Aura.

‘I’d better use this opportunity to learn as much as I can about that woman as possible.’