As everyone settled themselves comfortably on the sand boat the vessel began to slowly glide gracefully across the sand. It was clear this would probably be a slow and seemingly lazy travel to the sand wyrm capital in the Lost Desert. As everyone began to decide how they would choose to laze about on the trip Master Talya dragged Azaire and Jared into a private room aboard the sand ship casting multiple privacy and anti-spying and anti observation spells and wards with the flick of her hand.
"What is it Lady Talya? What could you need us for at a time like this?"
Jared was confused as to why Talya would take them aside all of a sudden and start acting so suspiciously.
"Well barring the long explanation in short...Jared.....I need to borrow your domain to help me train my apprentice....."
Talya bluntly spelled out what she wanted without even having the nerve to look embarrassed.
"M-m-master! T-that's way too intimate to just.....like.....ask someone!"
Jared could feel his cheeks burning crazily. In the world of Midsummer sharing your Domain with another was one of the most intimate things one could do.
Cultivation could differ incredibly from one race to another but every race shared the same Major Realms. The very first being the Enlightenment Realm. Known as such because traditionally it was discovered and achieved when the various races focused deeply on something to the point where they broke through the mortal constraints of life doing so.
For example a mortal swordsman who reached a point in the path of the sword where their skills broke through to the point where their swords can sleigh groups with one stroke, a scholar who studied so much he comprehended things beyond the norm for humans, a monk who meditated till they reached a higher state. It was when mortals through their own means broke through their own mortal constraints and gained an epiphany that changed them at a fundamental level allowing them to comprehend and command the life energies that made up the world.
The Enlightenment Realm was known as the start of cultivation and the end of mortality for all the races. The rest of the known Major Realm's in ascending were the Noble Realm, King Realm, Emperor Realm. It was rumored there were other realm's besides those but they were lost since the Great Ascension when the God left to the Heavens and the Demons fled to the Abyss.
Those who made it to the Enlightenment Realm could start working on a Domain and would need to have a complete one to be able to advance to the Noble Realm. But only those at the King Realm at the least could place their physical body and other physical objects in their Domain because only they could materialize their Domain. A Domain is like a miniature dimension created by a cultivator that they carry around themselves like a mystical outfit or something, but more then that every cultivator's Domain were deeply connected them on a personal level, a cultivator poured a lot of themselves into their Domain and it was intertwined with their very life force once created.
Azaire didn't know where to put his eyes and he could look anywhere but at Jared or Master Talya. Master Talya couldn't help but give her sputtering apprentice an incredulous look.
'Does this young man realize how intimate they've already been on a normal basis?"
She couldn't help but think of how her little apprentice was literally sitting in the giant's lap not that long ago. Meanwhile. Jared couldn't help but feel his own exasperation.
'This little beast is so hard to read, just what does he think of me now?'
Jared was way too scared to actually ask him that though so instead he asked something else.
"Azaire is always welcome in my Domain but why are you asking me to allow this and are you trying to come in as well?"
As Jared replied to Master Talya he gave a small chuckle of satisfaction as he heard the green haired man let out a small "Eep" when he'd mentioned the young man was always welcome in his Domain, and focused carefully on Talya's answer.
"Firstly yes I'll need to go in too...at least at first. Secondly I don't want that nosy sand wyrm nosing around Azaire while he's trying to cultivate or any one else who might get any funny ideas seeing what he's capable of. After all Azaire is truly a prodigy."
"H-hey...."
Azaire couldn't believe they kept discussing things without him like he wasn't even there and he could feel his burning cheeks get hotter and brighter especially after his Master called him a true prodigy.
"Very well, but you're going to have to swear to me you'll follow my rules and won't try to flex your power or hijack control there. This is my Domain so my rules my way by stepping into it most wouldn't stand a chance in going against my wishes....bu we both know things wouldn't be the same for you....."
'They're hardcore ignoring me! You freakin' jerks!'
Azaire couldn't believe the two as they continued making the deal without giving him any more input at all! While Azaire was whining in his mind Talya begrudgingly swore to behave herself in Jared's Domain and Jared begrudgingly gave her permission and agreed to allow her into his Domain.
Jared suddenly grabbed Azaire and pulled him into the giant's now familiar embrace. Azaire nearly threw a tantrum as he prepared to fight the giant as he struggled to put out the heat in his cheeks. Jared held back from chuckling at Azaire's antics and keeping barely composed he nuzzled the man gently with his rugged face as he realized it had already grown out even more already, Normally he would prepare to cut it soon but Jared couldn't help but think back on how Azaire reacted to his scruff earlier and he watched as once again the young man was easily transfixed as he started almost imperceptibly nuzzling back.
"I want you to see it....to join me there....to share it with you..."
Azaire shivered as Jared whispered this into his ear sounding so sincere with his deep silky voice, he suddenly felt a little dizzy and there was a tight tug at his stomach.
'I really hope I'm not getting sick now of all times.'
Azaire swallowed as he realized his throat had gone dry and it took him a few times trying to reply before he eventually just nodded his head obediently.
With a fluffy smile and eyes full of excitement Jared laughed joyously in victory and suddenly the room seemed to pop with a ringing thunder and only after the fact did Azaire realize Jared had swiftly stepped forward seemingly randomly and now they were no longer on the sand boat for sure.
The first thing you noticed was the chaotic storm in the sky....yes...SKY. The clouds were in whites, grays, and blacks and flashing out of them was lightning in every color of the rainbow and more. The area was HUGE and the floor was also made up of clouds and there clouds were arranged in different colors in the shape of circles with a half black and half gold circle in the center. The next ring was red and it expanded for miles, then next was green and its where the two currently stood it was twice the size or the red and this pattern continued on farther further then Azaire's eye could see.
"I-i-its....this.....Jared is beautiful!"
Azaire was awed at the beauty of it all as he stood and admired the place his voice becoming a near whisper as his voice shook with an intimate sounding appreciation. Jared had to quickly take a step back as he felt something grow under his robe ending up tripping over his robes landing on his butt.
Azaire giggled at the giant's silly antics a little confused at the sudden trip-up but still entertained.
With a self-ridiculing smile Jared couldn't help but feel his heart warm-up at Azaire's carefree laughing and the sweet look his face made as he let himself go for once.
Azaire ran his hand through his hair as he composed himself a small smile hanging on his face and a slight rosy tint on his cheeks.
Jared felt the warmth expand as he slowly stood back up and made a welcoming gesture at his surroundings.
"Welcome to the Seven Storm Castle!"