While the two were reuniting, Chukah had long been forgotten and left aside on his own. Only he knew how his journey had been with Crei, and now to see this different side of him, this situation truly added to the respect he had for Tria. Carefully, he left to also rest, he had barely slept a wink since Crei was rushing to get here.
"Wifey, I noticed you were building a temple, that's a great location" Crei pointed out while he looked towards the dark mountains.
"Yes, I have had Mexi dig out some information and there is this group called 'The Eye' claiming to be followers of the priestess, while they extort and kill innocent people, this temple will be a confirmation of my awakening as well as an indication of the power I hold. Those types of groups forming up pretending to be my followers and all the corrupt people seeking my power, I want them to stop killing and causing a ruckus on the land, I want to lead them all away and come to find me instead."
"Wifey, do you plan to take them all on?"
"I have a plan."
Silently into the night, they sat alongside each other whispering and scheming the outcomes of the ignorant plebians. Tria also told him everything she experienced during her trip and even joked about Mexi's ability to eat more than four servings. That night they had laughed more than they ever had since they met, but Tria eventually fell asleep, her body leaning over Crei's.
Crei watched her sleep for a long time, mesmerized by her face, he had noticed she had gotten darker from her constant travel, but she looked beautiful nonetheless. The moonlight kissed her glowing skin lightly, highlighting her round bronzed cheeks and glossy lips. He could not keep himself from squeezing her round little nose, and Tria had no choice to breathe from her mouth, unaware of Crei's deeds.
As the night breeze got colder, Crei carried Tria into her room, tucked her in bed under a warm blanket, and left closing the door behind him. Walking back to where he and Tria were previously sitting, he called out Mexi.
"My Lord," sounded out Mexi, she was back in her shadow form, she could be Tria's junior sister, however, to her master, she was a shadow.
"Do you know why I've let you accompany my wife along?"
"To kill any men that tries to get close to her, my lord?"
"Wrong. I sent you to get acquainted with these humans, so you could see their nature, as well as for you to gain some empathy as well."
"My Lord?"
"I know, I'm just glad you are enjoying this trip, I've always felt bad since I did not let you enjoy your childhood as much as you might have wanted."
"No, my lord, I am grateful for the care you have given me."
"If you are grateful, then show yourself as who you are, come out from the shadow."
Mexi who was engulfed in the shadow came out, head first timidly looking at Crei, he had last seen her human form since she was eight years old, and she was now 16 years old.
Crei stared at her a while then got closer and patted her head.
"You've grown, kid," said Crei emotionally, then walked away.
Mexi was looking at Crei's departing back as tears formed around her eyes, she had come to the sudden realization that her master had changed, this was the first time she had seen him in such a good mood.
'My lord, he…he even patted my head,' murmured Mexi to herself as she happily felt the spot on her head where Crei had just patted her head.
Mexi thought back to when she first met Crei, it was a time when she thought she would not survive.
Seven years ago, she was a slave in her own home, she was the bastard's child of an influential family however they did not claim her as their kin. She was sent to die in the place of her sibling who had stolen from a more powerful family, she was beaten and tortured by the use of numerous methods.
Crei who was traveling through that town that night, witnessed her treatment and decided to save her. He had killed everyone who had hurt her, then he took her away. Given with the choice to follow him or to go live her life freely, she had chosen the former. Although she did not know what it meant at the time, she did not hesitate to become one of his shadows, as she learned cultivation and became one of the most fearsome of his subordinates.
Since that day, Mexi had been living as a shadow and had given up her identity but the past few weeks she had spent with Tria had truly made her more human and she really enjoyed the delicious food she had never thought existed. Now, knowing Crei's real intention of sending her away, her tears flowed nonstop as she sobbed and sniffed, sitting in the open courtyard.