Arc was feigning sleep as he cultivated. Frequent naps were typical of young children so it did not raise much suspicion. He was still conscious and aware of his surroundings to a certain degree.
He had lost track of when he arrived at this paradise, his days seemed smashed together. They weren't bad days, but they didn't really have any impact on him. His frequent use of the null state did not help with the matter as he lost track of time far too easily. Probably the only inconvenience he noticed with it was that he couldn't really control when he went into that state, his following of the procedure Bell put him through made him fall into it without notice.
Recently, he had been practicing holding himself out of null state by focusing on Merri or Breda when they cleaned his room.
Currently, he was listening to the conversation between the two as they dusted and swept the floor.
"So Merri, I have to ask, how did you come to fancy Zerrin? I take it's more than his looks and power, you seem more refined than to just care about that." Breda initiated the conversation, clearly wanting a better picture of who Merri really is.
"To be honest, it's kind of complicated." If Arc had his eyes open, he would notice a little blush to her cheeks. "He saved me when I was in a rough spot and gave me a place to go. I also like his personality and want to see him happy."
Breda had a knowing look. She could understand that reason, but she was still curious. "If you don't mind my asking, how did you meet? My guess is you met on one of his missions, but I could see a chance meeting in town. Oh how I love those sorts of dreamy situations."
"I'll have to disappoint you then. He did meet me on a mission, but I didn't make the request." Thinking back to how they met she seemed to become quite sad. "I used to be the daughter and disciple of a rather renowned alchemical sect, though that was many years ago now."
"I was considered to be fairly talented among the lower years, top ten in fact, and that was something I took pride in. Just I was about to become an core student, it was subjected to an attack by a school of corrupted and evil cultivators."
"Oh that's horrible!" Breda let her sympathies be known as she moved to hug Merri. "If you don't want to tell me I understand."
Arc was starting to feel a little bit uncomfortable with this conversation. 'Is this eavesdropping? I feel like I shouldn't be hearing this.' He would be fine if it was some simple little love story, but Arc was quickly getting the impression that it was going to be a very personal story.
"Don't worry about it. I've gotten over it by now. I have a new goal now." Merri accepted her hug, assuring her that it was fine. "It was infiltrated at every level through the use of possession. I take it you know how precious medicinal pills are?"
Breda's only response was a nod. She was paying attention to Merri's every word, showing she cared in her own way.
"Apparently they had been infecting our sect for the better part of a century, slowly taking away information and valuable pills. Many of the higher level leaders of the sect had been directly controlled by those corrupt sects, steering us away from the unaligned path. Eventually, they directed a force to capture us and take us to their territory." Merri started to tear up as she remembered her time there.
"We were forced day in and day out to make various salves, potions, and pills for them. Those who refused to do so were put under mind control. Those who resisted mind control were directly possessed by their old old or dying members. Those who could not be possessed... I don't know what happened to them, but they definitely died in the end."
"I spent years in a dark room without any light but the flame from my furnaces and glowing materials. I lived in fear of being raped like some of the others, all the while being physically abused by that bastard." Her teary face contained a clear expression of rage as she recalled her past trauma, Breda sitting next to her on Arc's bed patting her shoulder reassuringly.
"Zerrin was the first person I saw that did not want to use or abuse me for as long as I could remember. I can still remember his silhouette in the doorway, my flames lighting up his face as he got closer to me. His eyes and hair, the way he held his sword with such confidence, the way his voice sounded as he asked me my name." Her tears and anger were replaced by a smile. "The only regret I have is not being able to respond. I had not used my voice in a very long time and my throat had been damaged thanks to the abuse, so he had to knock me out. I don't blame him, I would have done the same."
"When I came to, Zerrin was with me in the carriage. I think Jamie and Marlev were also present, but I clearly remember Zerrin. I learned that I was the only one left of my sect, the rest had all either been possessed and killed in the fighting, or tortured and executed. It was only then that I realized that my life was only guaranteed by the death of my friends and family." She wore a bitter smile at the mention of the deceased.
"From there, with nothing to do or return to, I worked in the employ of the Scattered Stars sect, following Zerrin from a distance. I would always be in the same town as him, but never in the same building, always willing and available to provide any medicines or concoctions that he might need. I'm sure that you have had a few of the cultivation and recovery medicines I created, you were part of Jamie's entourage were you not? You should also know that I was the one that made that formula that Arc was fed. I was determined to not let Zerrin feel the pain of having a loved one be possessed."
Breda nodded, remembering the ease at which they seemed to get valuable and precious tools for progressing. "I think that is enough for now sweetie. We still have half the house to tidy up, and Arc should be ready to eat soon."