The three newcomers in the 4th domain were in a beautiful hall with marble pillars. A man was standing in front of Brahma's statue, and it was not the guardian. It was a burly man with a beard as dark brown as his buffalo helmet. He also had a matching cape draped across both of his shoulders.
"Welcome to the final stage. Once you touch that statue, it will allow one to enter the treasure pavilion and to choose one artifact for themselves." The man looked at the three before him with pride. It had been many years since any human traversed the palace in less than a year.
"You two may go ahead and touch the statue. You boy will be staying here in the 4th domain." Mahisha pointed at Leo.
"No. We will not leave him behind."
Thinking fast, Mahisha came up with an idea and said, "only Mana Fighters are allowed to leave the Palace. Once the boy becomes a Mana Fighter, he may leave too." Mahisha felt pretty good on coming up with the lie on the spot.
Seeing Lucy and Aarav frown, Leo felt truly loved. These two truly cared about him. "Don't worry Lucy. I will reach the new level soon and come to find you guys. Aarav take care of each other." Leo pushed them forward towards the statue.
Aarav looked at the two and felt like he should go first. He turned around and shook Leo's hand. "Best of luck, Leo. Meet you on the other side." After saying that, Aarav turned around and touched the statue. He was instantly teleported away.
Lucy, on the other hand, was on the verge of breaking down. Water droplets formed in each eye. She had been through a lot with Leo. Every time she left him behind, he would face unimaginable hard times.
At this moment looking Leo in the face, she realized she might be in love. She blushed and looked down. She didn't know what to feel, and then Leo caught her off guard.
Leo reached out and gave her a warm embrace. She looked up in Leo's arms and saw him smile. Neither one of them said anything. She stepped back and said, "I will see you soon. Ok?"
"See you soon, Lucy." When Leo finished his sentence, Lucy gathered all her strength and turned around and touched the statue.
Leo watched as the beautiful blonde girl was teleported away.
"Now that is done. Leo, kneel before your new master."
Leo looked over and saw the man who laughed at him before say he was his new master.
"Are you going to stare at me or kneel boy?" Mahisha said as a matter of fact.
Leo understood and walked before Mahisha and got down on one knee.
"Good. Good. You do understand things you should do. You are now my first disciple. Rise boy."
A beauty with eight arms walked into the hall. This was the female figure that was always with Mahisha.
"Boy, kneel again. You shall become a disciple of mine also."
The shock was plastered all over Leo's and Mahisha's face. Leo looked over at Mahisha curious as what to do. Mahisha recovered quickly and said, "kneel, boy, she is your new mistress."
Leo looked toward her and kneeled. He looked up, and a radiant smile was coming from her. "May, I ask what the names of my new Master and Mistress?"
"I am called Mahisha the Buffalo Demon." He looked over and saw the woman nod. "This beauty is my wife, Durga the warrior goddess." All of their life they hid their relationship and finally saying out loud Mahisha bellowed out with a great laugh.
Leo wondered why his new master was laughing. "Mahish..." Leo paused for a second. Maybe he should address his new teacher appropriately. "Master, why are you so happy?"
"Boy, I've waited a lifetime for this moment. Now get up and follow your Mistress and me into where you will be staying."
Leo got up and followed the two figures into a courtyard with flowers and trees he had never seen before. The colors and smells were amazing. This would be his new home until he left.
"Boy...I mean Leo. Please cultivate until we return." Mahisha said before he walked away holding hands.
Leo nodded and started to feel the earth elements around him. He sat down and began to meditate.
Mahisha and Durga turned the corner and the guardian, Lankani, was waiting for them. "Why do you still choose to train this boy? He has minimal talent, and you could have found a million like him in the past." Lankani didn't want his two friends to spend the last of their life force training a useless kid.
"Lankani, my husband chose this boy. He reminds me of my little Sera from back in the day. This child shall be the child we never had." Durga squeezed Mahisha hand.
"The boy might not be best, but just like me, he's a fighter. He reminds me of my glory days. Together with my love, I think we can make him a great warrior." Mahisha looked over at Durga with gratitude. "Thank you, my love." No matter whatever he did she always supported him, even this time when they would burn the rest of their life up.
"You two are as big of idiots as that new disciple of yours. I'm done with you two. I don't care if you disappear." Lankani turned and stomped away. He thought to himself those three had to be made from the same stubborn mold.