As Iris, with her dazzling golden eyes, stared at her, Rarisa drew herself back, unable to meet Iris’s intense gaze. Those golden eyes captivated her. They stole her heartbeat, seized her thoughts, and muddled her senses. Dangerous, way too dangerous.

Was she under a charm?

“I could hardly imagine the beauty you hide beneath your untidiness,” Iris said. “Your wake-up gift is quite astonishing, Rarisa.”

“Miss Iris, has it been fifteen minutes?”

“Your eyes have changed colour.” Iris rose from the table and reached forwards. “Amethyst, the gem of mysteries, of spiritual power.”

“You . . . must have misremembered.”

“Would I have mistaken your abyssal black eyes for these enigmatic purple gems?”

Rarisa forced herself to look into Iris’s pupils. There was no hiding it. Miss Iris was too observant, too unpredictable.

“You could say it’s my talent.” Rarisa slid her hands over her face. Her purple eyes returned to their deep black shade. “As your doctor, I must try everything in my power to diagnose you.”

“Does that include lying?”

“A small white lie, nothing serious.”

Iris took a deep breath. A stuffy smell which permeated the room entered her lungs. It was a mix of the smell of papers, medicines, and other peculiar scents.

“Those with Mythical Bloodlines carry with them their distinct aromas. You carry none, Rarisa.” Iris pressed her right hand on her heart. “You’re standing before one of such inheritors.”

Rarisa’s eyes twitched. Her usual trickery failed her. Everything seemed to go wrong when it came to this lady.

Lying any more would only further embarrass herself.

“This pair of eyes, I created them. They’re the best of my creation.” Rarisa blinked. Her pupils hardened until their surface turned reflective, revealing their true nature as that of gemstones. “I lost my eyes in an accident and decided to regain my vision my style. I won the gamble, and now I possess these powers.”

“So that’s why you carry quite an interesting scent, artificial yet organic, strong yet gentle.”

“Didn’t you tell me I don’t have one?”

“You caught me.” Iris chuckled. “Fortunately, I’m not under any oath of truth.”

“This . . . you’re too cunning, Miss Iris.” Rarisa pouted. She flicked her wrist. A few needles slid out of her sleeves and remained between her fingers. “Do you not fear my revenge? Although my needlework is painless, it can still cause unbearable itches if I commit a mistake or two.”

“I believe you aren’t that petty. After all, gossip doesn’t seem to fret you.”

“You’re giving me too much credit.”

“Did you just admit your defeat?”

Rarisa pursed her lips. Her supernatural method failed to lift the veil of mysteries surrounding her patient. This curse, too dense and intricate, eclipsed her understanding. Even if Iris gave her a week, she still wouldn’t feel confident.

“I . . . my expertise has failed me. Indeed, I’ve overestimated myself.”

“And now, you shall suffer the consequence.”

“What do you mean?”

“All bets must be equal. If you could discern my illness, I would’ve let you cure me. But you failed, and now you’ll have to let me examine you.”

Frowning, Rarisa backstepped from Iris. She covered her chest with her arms. “I didn’t expect you to be like this, Miss Iris.”

“Playing innocence won’t help you.” Iris got on her feet. “No matter. I would never force you. Let’s consider this game void.”

“That won’t do!” Rarisa perked up. “I’ll let you inspect my eyes. It’s only fair.”

“Don’t regret it.”

Iris walked to the tensed Rarisa and held her face. That pair of shimmering black gemstones fascinated Iris. She had seen many extraordinary methods, but this one reminded her of home.

The interstellar technology of her old world had enabled people to modify their bodies until they became suitable for their habitats. Although Rarisa’s method was of different nature, it bore similarities with biotechnology.

Could this be a bridge between the Pure and the Corrupted?

Iris leaned close to Rarisa. Their bodies touched each other almost everywhere, separated only by thin layers of fabric.

Their breaths exchanged air, and their bodies exchanged warmth. The quietude of the examination room enveloped them, wrapped them in a sheet of ambiguous mood. Sparks flew inside Rarisa’s stomach. Her chest itched, but she didn’t dare to move. Every time Iris touched her, her shivering legs lost their strength.

As Iris flashed a devilish smirk, the metallic door of the examination room shook. A series of determined knocks interrupted the moment; its intensity and frequency rapidly increased.

Rarisa, entranced in Iris’s scent and charm, could no longer break free. She merely let the sounds magnify in her ears, waiting for Iris to let go of her, to embrace her, to whisper pleasant words, to—

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

The chains and locks shattered, and the door swung open.

An orange-haired man pushed the door to the side and stepped in. His messy hair obscured his face but failed to hide his dark green eyes, whose gaze radiated a deep-rooted sense of immensity, of the vastness of a forest.

His white lab coat rustled as he straightened his back, dispelling his tedious air. It had been too long since Rarisa called for another patient. Whenever the session dragged on this long, he would come to stop her from experimenting on her patients.

Persil was about to speak when his eyes found Iris, who, smiling, pressed herself closer to the unfocused Rarisa, caressing her with the loveliest care.

This posture, this atmosphere, it was wrong. Rarisa’s eyes were drifting, dreamy, lost in an illusory mist. Who was this lady? What did she do to Rarisa?

What was her goal?

Persil pushed his right hand forwards. His lab coat stirred as his Pure Power surged out of his body. His eyes quivered, his pupils enlarging. Hazes flowed from his sleeves and cloaked the room, permeating it with a forest scent.

Spectral sounds of twisting vines and swaying flowers reverberated everywhere as an impossible forest imposed itself onto reality. Wood-scented gales rustled leaves and petals, which fell from the trees and swirled towards Iris.

These blades cut through the air, leaving behind sharp, unhealable marks on space itself.

As they drew close, Iris lifted her head. Her gaze lay upon the magical scenery and took in its freshness, with all the false sensations it brought. They were fake, artificial, imaginary. Her mind declared such, and thus the world obeyed. The leaves and petals fell upon her body like dust upon a monument, disintegrating beneath its overpowering presence.

The forest faded into nonexistence, and the swishing noises of nature dispersed as specks of light.

Before her, all became immaterial. She alone stood in the realm of truth, her eyes the arbitrator of reality.

Persil shivered. Chill and heat chaotically wrecked his body, ruining his breathing and thoughts. He wished to save his friend, but this mysterious lady eclipsed him in both power and method.

Impossible. They shouldn’t have sent a Grandmaster after him. Had his secret been exposed?

“Quite an aggressive greeting, Doctor,” Iris said. “Do you not fear injuring your colleague?”

Free from Iris’s all-captivating pupils, Rarisa returned to herself. A ticklish sensation rose in her mind, pervading every part of her body. She found herself in Iris’s embrace, tightly intertwined, tightly gripped.

Why did she allow this? She shouldn’t have let this happen, yet she felt no apprehension. In this pair of arms, she felt safe.

“What happened?” She looked around. “Persil? What are you doing?”

After Iris let go of her, Rarisa turned to face her friend. She mentioned nothing about their prior actions.

“Who is she?” Persil said. “What did she do to you?”

“She’s my patient. I’m examining her!”

“What I just saw isn’t mere examination. She led you on, and you let her.”

“I . . . I allowed her. I lost a bet, and now I must suffer the consequence.”

“What consequence?”

Persil furrowed his brows. He retreated until his back hit the door. His mind stirred. Since when has the door shut itself?

Rarisa smiled. She was about to speak when Iris tapped her shoulder.

“Allow me to explain myself,” Iris said. “No need to be so tense, Persil. My name is Iris Goodwill, and I’m here to get my medical certificate.”

Rarisa cleared her throat. “I made a bet that I could cure her, but I lost and slipped up the secret of my eyes. She merely wished to inspect them.”

“Indeed. I have no desire to capture her, nor do I wish to learn about your secret.” Iris covered her mouth. “After all, a Pseudo Grandmaster, although novel, isn’t something that interests me.”

Persil held his breath. He could tell Iris found out his secret when his power failed to harm her. “Then, what must I do to have your forgiveness?”

“I’m not petty enough to ruin your life, but I’m also not magnanimous enough to nonchalantly absolve you.” Iris tapped Rarisa’s cheek. “How about you give her to me? I only need her for—”

“Not possible. I can give you many things, but not her.”

“What about you, Rarisa? Would you come with me?”

Rarisa swallowed a puff of air. Though she always gave off a carefree air, she wasn’t crazy enough to give up her body to a mysterious lady whose aura could influence her to the point of dreaminess.

But, that sensation intrigued her. Such a refreshing yet muddled state of mind, when immersed, gave rise to foreign thoughts, to chains of inspirations for which she longed.

If she could experience it often, she might be able to achieve breakthroughs in her research.

“I . . . I’m not that silly, Miss Iris. Persil is my friend; I can’t worry him, even if I want to go with you. However, we could still strike a deal without my selling my body.”

“What then will you be presenting to me?”

Rarisa’s eyes shimmered. “In that trance, I found the connections that alluded my waking mind. Although I still can’t cure you, I have an idea that, if work, could alleviate your symptoms.”

Iris blinked. How could a Master deal with Nupian’s curse? “If your prediction is correct, I’ll grant you any request. Tell me your wish, Rarisa.”

“Enchant me more!” Rarisa blushed. “Whatever you did to me, I want to experience it again. That feeling is too heavenly, too comforting. It brings out my inspiration. If I could understand it, I might find a way to achieve my goal.”

“Rarisa, what nonsense are you—” Persil tried to stop his friend, but she glared at him.

“I know the risk. We’ll be meeting here, so you don’t have to worry. The duration would also be the same, fifteen minutes per session. What do you think, Miss Iris?”

“Nothing would please me more.”

Against Persil’s objection, Iris and Rarisa struck a deal. They didn’t use any written contract, for they had no formal relationship, and they didn’t believe that a piece of paper would strengthen their trust. It was purely transactional, even if the condition appeared intimate.

Once the detail was finalized, Rarisa excused herself to go prepare the potion. She closed the door behind her, leaving Persil and Iris undisturbed.

With Iris sitting on the examination table and donning a gentle yet mysterious grin, Persil dared not relax even for a moment. Despite being a Grandmaster, Iris revealed no hint of her presence. If not for the prior display of her might, he would’ve thought her a mortal.

“Would you believe me, if I were to tell you that our encounter is by random chance?” Iris said. “Or, do you still believe that I’m hiding my ulterior motive?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think. You know my secret, and you’re too powerful for me to resist. The situation is under your control. I can only risk it all if you cross the line.”

“Did I almost cross the line when I asked for her?” Iris chuckled.

“She’s my partner, my trusted friend.”

“Your Threads of Emotions told me a different story. You can hide it from her, but you cannot hide it from yourself.”

Persil frowned. “What I feel is of no concern to you. If you genuinely have no design for us, leave us alone. Rarisa will treat you, and you’ll give her that inspiration.”

“Nothing more I could ask for; however, I’m curious.” Iris drew her hands to her sides. “A pair of rogue Supernatural Beings, both Healers of exotic speciality, isn’t a common arrangement. Rarisa has a great pair of eyes, and so do you, Persil.”

“What are you implying?”

“Have you ever heard of Nature Defiler, Persil? It’s a Secret Organisation of mad researchers with the common goal of Godless Ascension.”

The atmosphere chilled. Persil’s heart stopped beating. “How?”

“There exists a pair of Master-Tier Healers who made a commotion not too long ago. Master of Mechanical Forest and Lady of Crystal Heart infiltrated multiple imperial institutes. They’ve stolen classified records and forbidden ingredients. Now they’re on the run, as most of Nature Defiler’s members are.”

“What . . . do you want?”

“Nothing. Your goal is commendable, but it’s of no use to me. I’m revealing my cards to show you my disinterest.” Iris looked around the room. “Rarisa is taking quite some time, isn’t she?”