"Welcome to my tower," the lady in red stopped before a long building that reached up to the sky. It seemed to want to reach the heavens and not want to at the same time. For its tip touched the sky before it stopped its rise. It wanted to see the heavens, but it respected them too much to actually do anything but sneak a peek. The tower was not just tall. It was made with sturdy and strong materials of much greater quality and density than white or red stones. No one beneath the Ascension Realm had the power to breach its walls!
Mane frowned at the sight before him. For he could feel the power of Edict deeply entwined with the tower. He was still blindfolded, so it was his other senses he was relying on. And before his shut eyes what he could 'see' was a large towering solidification of Edict! Whatever this tower was, it was extraordinary. For not only was it so strong that Mane couldn't see a way to even create a scratch on its walls, he could sense that if the Edict that occupied every single stone in the walls was activated, the tower would become a different kind of beast!
"There is no way I can escape from this kind of place!" Mane's frown deepened. This tower was clearly an artefact, and one at the Divine Level. High Class Artefacts in this world were rare, yet here he was, before a tower that was only below an Origin Divine Artefact in class! Who would have thought that the first time he actually got himself in a pickle in this world, he would be entwined in a mess that he couldn't unmake. His first Divine Artefact viewing, and he was doing so as a prisoner.
"To escape from my tower, you must be at the level of an Ascender," the lady in red smiled and said.
"Telepaths," Mane gritted his teeth. Telepaths could read the minds of others as long as they marked that person; and the person was significantly weaker. And Mane fit both criteria. So now there was nothing he could think or say that would not be seen by this lady. Which meant that escaping was out of the question. The moment the thought was conceived, she would know. And any plans that would be made will also fall into her lovely palms.
"I know right?" the lady exposed a sweet smile and replied. Even Hildegarde who was of a different race and of the same sex was mesmerized by the smile for a few seconds before recovering her wits.
"It's a good thing that Mane's eyes are closed," Hildegarde thought silently to herself. If even she was drawn to this lady's eyes, Mane who was a young pubescent boy with a lot of energy and testosterone wouldn't be better off.
"Indeed," the lady in red smiled and turned to Hildegarde. "Few can resist my charm," she added, and Hildegarde blushed upon realizing that her thoughts had been seen through. How could she have ignored that she was in the presence of a Telepath!
"Let's get down," the lady seemed to have had enough fun the Supreme and his fairy. She waved her dainty hands, and they began their descent. As they got closer and closer to the ground, Mane could feel the presence of three figures waiting down below. Their life auras indicated that they were all women. And all of them were of the Nobility Realm!
"We greet the Mistress Ashera," the three women bowed when the lady in red arrived. As usual her feet didn't touch the ground, only hovering a few centimeters above it. Her playful expression from dealing with Mane and Hildegarde was no more. She looked like a stern mother about to berate her child. Her gaze was cold, very much like her eyes had been tempered in the cold waters of Cocytus. Yet even with such an expression, few would have found it hard not to be dazed by her good looks. Although the three women were beautiful and lovely, each endowed with their own respective charms, they paled greatly in comparison to Ashera.
"So her name is Ashera," Mane thought to himself. It was only now that he learned the name of his captor. He had no idea who Ashera was. He had never heard this name, or anything related to it. But it was no surprise since she was clearly a figure powerful enough to wipe all information about herself from the annals of history.
Ashera nodded her head at the three women and mentioned their names whilst pointing at each of them.
"Daisy is the one to the left. Rose is the one in the middle. And Sunflower is the one to your right."
Because Mane had his eyes closed he couldn't see the women, but he could tell them apart from their life auras. That was why Ashera took her time to mention the positions of the women so that Mane would take notice.
"What is with Elementals and naming their women after flowers?" Mane wondered. Just like Lily, these three women were named after plants. And Mane found that funny. So much so that even in his current circumstance he could appreciate it as comedy.
Ashera's lovely brows twitched in annoyance, and Mane smiled gleefully. Although he couldn't see what kind of expression she had on, he was willing to bet it wasn't great. And that pleased him.
"Lift your heads," Ashera ordered. It was only after she did so that the three beautiful ladies straightened themselves.
"Such beautiful women!" Hildegarde sighed. Daisy, Rose and Sunflower were each so beautiful that their looks were almost illusionary.
Daisy had a calm smile on her face and a cool demeanor that was capable of washing away even the most stressful of emotions. Her dark hair was long and wavy, stopping at her buttocks. Her curves weren't exaggerated but delicate and delightful. She wore a black gown that covered her entire figure and a small black diamond necklace.
Rose was just as beautiful as Daisy, but in a different kind of way. Her hair was shorter than Daisy's, only extending as far as her lovely shoulders. And unlike Daisy's her locks were straight and silver blond with streaks of red running through. Her curves were greater than Daisy's and every bulge she possessed a tad larger. She wore a long silver gown complementary to her hair, with a small red necklace hanging around her neck. Her eyes were full of innocence and grace that Hildegarde would have taken her as anything but a servant. She had the elegance of a Noble and the poise of a ruler.
Sunflower was the last of the three. She had yellow blonde hair like Mane and beautiful golden eyes – much like the flower she was named after. Of the three her hair was the longest, extending as far as her shin and almost kissing the ground. And of the three, she was the one capable of provoking the most perverse emotion in the heart of any man. Her eyes were limpid and charming. As if her eyes were playing a game of hide and seek her long eyelashes fluttered from time to time in the most rhythmic fashion. Her lips were as red as an apple, and her curves were greater than Rose's. Of the three, she was the most similar to Ashera in terms of charm. Only that Ashera went out of her way to hide her charm, wearing clothes that covered her entire figure and making it difficult to discern. Sunflower on the other hand was like the midday sun – exposed and scarcely hidden. For though she wore a gown just like the others – a yellow gown – her gown was designed differently. First and foremost it had a plunging neckline, revealing the white peaks that should have been hidden. Secondly, it had a long slit that extended all the way up to her waist, revealing a large portion of her left thigh. Unlike the others she wasn't conservative. Hildegarde thought that the name Wildflower suited her more.
"This is Mane. Say hello." Ashera introduced Mane to them, and Mane felt very strange. He was a captive, so why was he being treated like some kind of valuable treasure. He assumed that the best case scenario for him would be torture but here he was – being introduced to a bunch of women like he was at a social gathering.
"Hello"
All three ladies greeted in synchronicity. Daisy looked at Mane with a curious expression. Rose was more fascinated by the fact that their Mistress had brought a man to her tower. And Sunflower just licked her lips. Her eyes were focused on the Heavenly Nether Beast in the other green sphere. She was much more interested in that beast than she was in Mane.
"He has your hair," Daisy turned to Sunflower and said.
"Indeed," Sunflower nodded her head with a small smile.
"Who is he Mistress?" Rose asked. From the way they spoke, they weren't that cautious around their Mistress, which meant she wasn't heavy handed with them.
"He is a genius who would be staying here from today onwards," Ashera announced, and the three women were stunned. Their master had never allowed any man to stay here – not even Elemental Ancestors. Her male subordinates had never been allowed to enter, only being given the privilege of reporting to the entrance of the tower and nothing else. Yet their Mistress was saying that the boy before them was going to live here? They were naturally dumbfounded.
"Daisy," Ashera didn't mind their shock. She called out Daisy with the intention of handing her a task.
"Yes Mistress?"
"Take the Heavenly Nether Beast to the 5th floor," Ashera ordered.
"Yes Mistress," Daisy bowed slightly. As she approached the Heavenly Nether Beast, the beast grew fidgety and panicked. And it turned to look at Mane pleadingly whilst eliciting a few subdued roars.
"I know I am in no position to make any requests since I am your captive, but could I be allowed one?" Mane suddenly spoke. His words confused Daisy and the others. If he was a captive why was he being treated so well? They had seen what happened to their Mistress's captives. It was never good. This boy was allowed to even live here. He was no captive.
"Go on," Ashera replied, and the three ladies sighed. Their Mistress was being very tolerable of this kid. And that made them curious about him.
"Could she stay with me? Wherever you put me, could she come as well?" Mane asked. Hildegarde who was sitting on his shoulder was nervous from the cold gazes Mane was attracting from Daisy, Rose and Sunflower who thought that Mane was in no position to make any requests of their Mistress, especially with his strength as low as it was.
"Fine," Ashera waved her hand and said. "But he has to miniaturize," Ashera added.
"Sasha, can you do that?" Mane asked the Heavenly Nether Beast and it roared in reply. Mane learned from it as they spoke that it was called Sasha, and it was female. Beasts at the Nobility Realm could reduce their size to a more 'pet friendly frame'. And the Heavenly Nether Beast was more than happy to share this information with Mane.
Edict swirled around the beast, and a small whirlwind surrounded it. When the winds dispersed, the large lion was no more. In its place was a beautiful golden cat with tiny wings.
"So cute," Hildegarde's eyes involuntarily softened when she saw the cute little critter. And Daisy and her compatriots were no different.
Ashera waved her hand, and the green spheres that surrounded both Mane and the Heavenly Nether Beast disappeared. Sasha immediately beat its small wings and flew awkwardly to Mane's side before landing on Mane's shoulder. Coincidentally, that was the spot that Hildegarde occupied.
"Hey!" Hildegarde screamed and flew out of the way. Since Sasha couldn't see her she could only grumble to herself and move to Mane's other shoulder.
Ashera subconsciously leaked out a smile when she saw this, but she covered it quickly before anyone could notice it. Well, someone did see it – Rose. But the lovely lady only wrinkled her brows in thought and did nothing more.
"Did Ivor bring the other one?" Ashera asked Rose. Mane didn't know what this other one was, but he doubted it had anything to do with him. Of course he would soon realise how wrong he was.
"Yes Mistress. It's on the 5th floor."
When Mane heard the words '5th Floor', he understood that he had been wrong to think this conversation had nothing to do with him. Ashera stated before their journey that Lily was safe. The only person Mane knew could use Space Elements was Ivor. So it made sense to assume that he was the one that retrieved Lily. He must have returned after he run away.
Ashera wanted Sasha to be sent to the 5th Floor initially. Mane's request had overturned her decision, but it served to teach Mane that the 5th Floor must be a Beasts Keep. Which meant that the 'other one' Ashera was referring to was a beast. And there was a beast with Lily when Mane left her – Silver!
"I can't believe I forgot about him," Mane smiled wryly and said.
"Good," Ashera nodded her head. "Bring it to Mane's room as well."
"Yes Mistress"
"Sunflower," Ashera called.
"Mistress"
"Take Mane to the 7th Floor and tend to him. Let him have a bath and then bring him to see me," Ashera ordered before flying away.
"Yes Mistress," Sunflower bowed slightly towards Ashera's departing figure, and so did the others. Although they were surprised that Mane got to live on the 7th floor, they weren't ones to question their Mistress's decisions in front of a stranger. That could wait.