I laughed loudly, this was truly funny!
"Are we talking about the same Jiya?" I giggled "Mrs. - I do everything for the good of my people?" I couldn't help it, it was funny and not only that. He seemed to believe it himself.
"You know the grand master?" He asked.
"Not quite," I tried quelling my laughter "she's simply my sworn enemy, nothing more nothing less."
"Then-"
"-No!" I cut him off.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what he was thinking and honestly I would have no part in it.
Yes, I really do hate Jiya for what she did but honestly I don't have a way to defeat her so going to her It would be tantamount to courting death and I have no such dealings.
"If you want to stop her you're gonna have to do it yourself. Also don't assume I believe you just because of this, because I actually don't believe you at all! Jiya is too much a stickler for the rules to do that." I wanted to believe my own words this time but, it was hard. this seemed right up her ally the whole doing things that are completely unexpected of her.
Slightly irritated I beckoned for him to get up, watching as he slowly did.
"you know, this whole time I'd been treating you pretty badly and here I don't even know your name."
"I didn't take it personally," he rubbed his wrist before continuing. "I figured you weren't interested enough to ask, Its Ren by the way."
"well Ren, I'm gonna need your help again."
I lifted my hand to show him badly wrapped wound.
"Huh?" He looked confused.
"Yes it's not fake and no I didn't do this to myself besides, You offered to help didn't you?"
"And if I refuse?"
"Lets just say you don't want to do that!"
*******
Some time later I had made it back and with the man in tow, he was bound of course, his feet free so he could walk on his own. We didn't own horses after-all and as complacent as he was now ready to accept the consequences for hiding and keeping information from the proxies I couldn't take the chance that he'd try to escape.
After all, I need him.
Soon enough we were at the place where I had sparred with Aurelia, the abandoned courtyard and even though it wasn't dark yet there she was waiting for me with an angry expression on her face which turned to one of surprise as soon as she saw me.
"You." she stated in surprise after turning to face him, before glancing back to me. "You'd better explain this... no forget it we don't have much time."
She seemed panicked by the turn of events and it didn't take a mind reader to figure out what was really going on but I needed to hear it from her. "Aurelia, What's wrong? I thought you wanted him. I mean isn't that why you have the guards blocking the entrances to the town's outer district?"
She sighs "Its complicated." before "and Cyra's daughter?"
I remained silent, not wanting to betray the man's request.
She quickly turns to him.
"Ren, Cyra's sacrifice, you promised to protect her daughter, now where is she?"
"Wait, what?"
I chimed in, this wasn't what I expected her to say.
I turned to him as upset as I was confused.
"You lied to me?"
"Ren! The monarchs they're aware of what Jiya is trying to do and they are working to stop it already!"
Her panic only seemed to be increasing.
"they plan to erase everyone with knowledge of jiya's plan before dealing with her themselves! So, Cyra's daughter cannot fall into their hands! If she does and they get that memory it's over for all of us!"
"Ha, haha you guys, really-" Aurelia pushed me aside in a hurry to untie Ren. The fact that she knew his name said so much and brought up even more questions, but it didn't matter how many questions I now had because Aurelia refused to give me the time of day.
"Hey."
She still ignored me.
"Ren, the seal hiding her from them has always been on you. If you aren't where she is the can find her immediately. "
-Still talking like that, ignoring me when I did this... for her and even casting me aside like trash, I've had it with her!-
"Aurelia... where is my master?"
"What?" She asked surprised before shaking her head "No, what ever your problem is it can wait!"
"ughhh!!" I charged and pushed her hard causing her to fall.
"My master!" I yelled before she had the time to get up. "where is she?"
She seemed pissed "What the hell is your problem?" She finally yelled.
"You and Jiya hurt my master and chained her to that rock that day! Where is she!!" I screamed.
"Huh? Your mast- you..." realization filled her eyes. "That's not possible, Jiya... she took care of you, you can't be alive! No! I don't have time for this! Ren! Is she still at- ugh!"
Both Aurelia and Ren fell to the ground seemingly being pressed by an invisible force.
I of course felt it too but it's effect was far less on me.
But this force, I knew it well, this was the same force I cultivated under. Was master here? Did she find me?
"Mast-!" the words died in my throat before I had the opportunity to complete my sentence.
In the distant a few meters away floated a woman shrouded in flames that flowed like burning cloth which didn't seem to affect her.
I stood there mesmerized as she floated closer. All the while seemingly sizing us up. Eyeing us with with disdain and an imperious and overbearing gaze.
Who is that?
The closer she came the harder it was to bear the pressure and heat.
She looked at us individually burning the rope which bound Ren with a single glance.
What ever she was it shone true, she was no human or dragonborn for that matter.. She was an existence truly above all of us.
"Interesting!" She spoke gracefully yet her every word seemed to carry with it an underlining of emended power unfathomable by any of us present even so far as to cause ripples in the air.
"Those are..!" Hou strands! It's been so long since I've seen them that I forgot how beautiful they were. Strands of the transparent energy rippled with her every word causing me to comprehend even more of the mysteries and profoundness of hou.
Something surged within me deeply and flowing a strong ebb and tide of something I thought I'd long forgotten.
It felt so good that tears came to my eyes, I had missed this! All apprehension and fear I had towards it simply faded.
Was I really ever afraid of something so beautiful? I could feel the energy circulate-through my body.
My cultivation, its finally back!
Was her prowess so profound that it awakened what I'd once lost?
If so then how deep must her strength be?
"Breaking through to the ki-gathering stage in front of this elder aren't you afraid I'll cripple your cultivation?"
Huh?
I hadn't noticed that I'd broken through.
And even though I was indeed stronger my foundation was still very weak and scattered, I'd need time to condense it again.
My core on the other hand...
Eh?
It radiates a consuming black, devoid of any form of pure ki, it's extremely dense and sinister ki wrapped in heavy ki intent very different from the one I had absorbed, almost primal in nature. Not releasing even a shred of energy but at the same time, still constantly absorbing world energy.
Have I been absorbing hou all this time?
But even then I still found it difficult to manipulate even the hou strands which floated around so freely.
It's just as I thought.
Even with my cultivation back I'm not her opponent.
She floated closer, "Little one, what are you?" The pressure intensified sevenfold! At this point even with my resistance to the extreme pressure, I could still feel it bearing down on me causing my knees to shake.
"kuehk!!" the pain continued to grow with the pressure and I was rapidly approaching my limit!
"Why do you have the blessings belonging to vehatra?"
She floated around me calm and curious while her ambient pressure pressed me from all sides.
Both Ren and Aurelia were already forced down their movements completely restricted. While I struggled not to join them.
The lady moved even closer and locked eyes with me looking down on me.
"That one over there is vehatra," she pointed at Aurelia without breaking eye contact. "And two vehatra can't exist simultaneously So, once again, what are you?" she folded her arms.
"Venerable senior, if this one has done something to offend your highness I beg that you forgive me just this once."
"Answer the question!" she urged the tone in her voice leaning towards that of being annoyed.
Damnit..
"I am vehatra! disciple of elder su-yan ji!"
Her eyes widened before anger contorted her face. "You dare utter that name before of me!?"