"Please, have a seat," the boy said, gesturing to the chairs they had set up around the table.
Everyone settled down, with Zane taking a seat directly across from Veena. The relaxed atmosphere allowed them to finally catch their breath and share a moment of levity.
As they sipped on their drinks, Veena turned to Nile with a mischievous smile. "Nile, do you know that Zane here had a childhood crush on me?"
Nile blinked, startled. "What?"
Jessica nearly choked on her drink, while James raised an eyebrow in amusement.
Veena continued with a teasing tone, "Back in his teenage years, he was hopelessly smitten with a woman in her fifties."
Jessica couldn't hold back her laughter, and even James chuckled. The boy and girl exchanged wide-eyed looks, whispering to each other in disbelief.
Zane, however, remained unfazed. He sat straight and looked directly at Veena. "And that hasn't changed," he said firmly.
The room fell silent, the laughter dying as everyone turned to Zane in shock.
Veena blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Zane… you can't be serious."
"I am," he replied, his voice steady and resolute. "I've admired you since I was a boy, and as I grew older, my feelings only deepened. Veena, I love you, and I'm not afraid to say it. I want to stand by your side, not as the boy who once looked up to you, but as the man I've become."
The weight of his words hung in the air, leaving everyone stunned.
Nile shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling a strange mixture of emotions he couldn't quite place.
Veena sighed, a soft smile on her face. "Zane, I appreciate your feelings, but I can't accept them. You deserve someone who can be your equal in the path of cultivation, someone who can walk the same journey with you."
Zane shook his head. "I don't need someone else. My love for you is my conviction—it gives me strength. It pushes me to face challenges head-on and fuels my adventures. If I were to abandon it, I'd lose a part of myself."
Veena looked at him, her expression softening. "Conviction is a powerful thing, Zane. But love is more than that. It's about building a life together, about compatibility and shared paths. I hope you'll understand that one day."
Zane smiled faintly, standing up. "I understand, but my feelings won't change. I'll continue to walk my path, and if fate allows, I'll return stronger."
He walked over to the counter, collected his recharged mana stones, and placed a pouch of empty ones on the table. Turning to the boy and girl, he said, "Take care of these for me, alright?"
They nodded eagerly. "Of course, sir!"
Before leaving, Zane looked back at Veena one last time. "I'll be back. Maybe not as someone seeking your heart, but as someone who will always support you, no matter what."
As he stepped out of the shop, Zane glanced back at the building, his gaze lingering on its familiar walls. His thoughts turned to Frost, and a faint smile crossed his lips.
"Frost, you truly are a mystery. You gave me that incredible cultivation technique and asked for nothing in return. And now, you've brought me back here, to this shop. I can't help but think you foresaw all of this."
He clenched his fist, a determined look in his eyes. "Don't worry, Frost. Wherever you are, I'll do my best to help the one you've chosen. I'll make sure this shop thrives."
With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the bustling streets of the town.
After Zane left and everyone came out of the spell of his conviction, Arin and Lyra approached with a tray. On it were two blood-colored petals, gleaming ominously. Both Arin and Lyra knelt before Nile, presenting the petals. Nile's eyes widened in shock, while the others felt sympathy. The blood-colored petals were slave brands, symbols of binding control. Once generated, they forced the bearer to follow the bidding of their master, losing their autonomy and living at the whims of the one who branded them.
Nile, still in disbelief, asked, "Why are you giving these to me?"
Arin and Lyra exchanged a glance before speaking in unison. "When we were seven, our parents died in a fire. We were away at village school, learning the compulsory education. By the time we returned and learned of the tragedy, our relatives had already sold us into the black market. That's when the brands were placed on us."
Lyra's voice trembled but she continued. "We were waiting for death until Frost found us. He brought us here to the shop, told us that one day Master Nile would come, and we were meant to serve you with our lives."
Nile, overwhelmed by their story, asked, "Why didn't you run away? Why didn't you try to escape from the seals?"
Veena, who had been silently listening, spoke up, explaining to Nile what he did not know. "Once these seals are placed, cultivation without the master's permission is impossible. They can't simply escape or grow stronger on their own."
Nile nodded thoughtfully and then asked, "Then why didn't you absorb each other's petals and order each other to do so?"
Veena looked at him with an odd expression. "That's an interesting thought, Nile, but once one absorbs the other's petal, the second person would never be able to absorb it, no matter what. It binds them permanently."
Nile looked at Arin and Lyra, his gaze softening. "Are you sure about this? Are you truly okay with giving up everything to serve me?"
Both Arin and Lyra's expressions were unwavering. They nodded without hesitation, determination in their eyes. With no more words needed, Nile pricked his fingers and dropped his blood onto the petals.
The petals shimmered and floated before him, glowing with power. As Nile's blood touched them, they transformed into raw energy, and then, with a flash of light, they were absorbed into Nile's ASD.
The transformation was complete.