Even when a lot of casualties happen in these excursions, the reasons that they still happened were mainly two. One, for the disciples to gain experience with the jades as a safety net. Two, the disciples gained three-quarters of the treasures they hunt. The other part went to the Academy.
The academy took so much because of that safety net they provide. Not only the teleportation jade is important, but the presence of the teachers also makes rogue cultivators scared.
The other hidden benefit was fame. You could use your rank and the number of hunted treasures when creating a mercenary group or send it to the people that put higher-ranked missions. In short, it works as proof of strength.
The reward for being first was one chance to enter the armory of the academy and get a low-level heaven treasure. The excursion ended and they returned to the academy in the battleship.
What they didn't see is the hand of Alysa's corpse moved after they left. A woman with raven black hair and glowing red eyes landed in front of that rising corpse. "Although I can't punish you in life… I can punish you in death~"
Tatyana opened her hand and a colorless energy ball was on top of her hand, It was Alysa's soul! With Alysa's intact soul and her corpse, she managed to create her weakest general. The death energy wrapped around Alysa's body and regenerated her missing parts, "To think that you would be able to reach general class… My resentment toward you is bigger than I thought."
Tatyana looked at the zombie in front of her and smiled eerily, "Thanks to your basically intact soul, you will remain conscious of everything but unable to do anything. Don't worry about being lonely, a certain family in the Nature Kingdom will disappear and become your underlings soon, Hahaha~"
Both of them disappeared from the spot and only Tatyana's laughter echoed in the now deserted meeting point.
While they were returning, Yasenia's group was approached from time to time by Lucia's group and others. They wanted to apologize for not knowing the situation and insulting her. Yasenia waved her hand and said not to worry.
Three days passed fast inside the battleship. When the battleship landed a lot of people were below, waiting for the disciples to return. Especially parents that could come to the academy grounds.
If a disciple died, the people will be given half of the recovered treasures by the academy that belonged to that disciple.
If they are a mortal family this will let them live a luxurious lifestyle for the rest of their days. If they are a cultivator family, then it served as compensation. If there weren't recovered treasures, the family could have discounts in the academy shops all over the continent for a limited amount of time.
Although it was a little scummy. The people knew that with all the cultivators dying left and right, the academy couldn't compensate everyone equally. The people also didn't have the guts to offend a major power and demand more compensation. Those that had them…Well, they didn't have a good end.
On the Academy grounds, Andrea was waiting for Yasenia and the others a little restlessly. Even if she had confidence in their strength, anything could happen in those forbidden zones.
When Andrea saw Yasenia and the rest arrive safe and sound, she sighed in relief. She has truly been antsy about her dragoness these days. She was hoping for them to become an inner disciple faster, this way, they will be able to be together during these kinds of excursions.
When Andrea locked her gaze on Yasenia, she was stunned, 'Did she become even more beautiful?'
Yasenia looked around to see if she could find her darling. She saw Andrea at the side gawking at her, and the corners of her charming lips raised. Yasenia's tail started to wag and then, she broke into a little run towards Andrea. "Darliiing~"
Yasenia jumped towards Andrea while laughing beautifully. Andrea, delighted at her actions, caught the soft and fragrant body between her arms. The sweet floral scent that has become familiar now assaulted her senses making her hug the beautiful dragoness between her arms a little tighter. She also realized the increased breast size and softness of her butt. She didn't know whether to cry or laugh, 'Is she trying to kill people with her beauty or something?'
Yasenia rubbed her head on Andrea's chest a little and she raised her head. Yasenia looked at Andrea's beautiful and heroic face and she wasn't able to resist tip-toeing and kissing Andrea softly. Andrea returned the kiss happily. Angel and the others approached and saw Yasenia's wagging tail and kissing Andrea like a happy little wife and couldn't help but laugh at the cuteness that she sometimes shows.
Andrea separated from the kiss and, without loosening her hug, she spoke in her deep and clear voice, "I'm glad that all of you returned safely. I hope you all advance fast and become inner disciples. I don't like staying away while you are in danger."
Evelyn said, "Don't worry Andrea, you will be seeing us there in a month at most!"
Andrea raised her eyebrow in doubt. Evelyn blushed and said "With the… Help from Yasenia, our cultivation speed is like a rocket!"
Andrea realized and laughed in her deep voice, "So you have advanced in the relationship? Congratulations Evelyn, let's take care of each other from now on."
Evelyn nodded shyly, she also liked Andrea, she appears very reliable. Cecile approached Yasenia and spoke in her naturally cold voice, "Yasenia, come with me, we need to talk."
Yasenia separated from Andrea and hugged Cecile from behind. Cecile didn't avoid her and both of them walked away in that position. Andrea chuckled and asked, "Not only Evelyn, now Cecile too? How many girls does she want?"
Angel laughed and answered, "I think she doesn't want anymore. We spoke with her in the battleship these days, and she said that with us it is enough... However, there is a pair of twins from the indigo class that she speaks with from time to time. There is also Lucia..."
Angel continued thoughtfully, "She told us that she doesn't want wallflowers. She wants people to pass her years with. People to love. People that she can cherish and pass her time with. People that she can trust in moments of peril. That is why she found the four of us who are talented enough to keep up with her."
Angel finished saying, "The twins I spoke about are almost at the end of their indigo class, so I don't think they have a chance. Lucia was actually one of the girls she had an eye on, but with what happened I don't think she will ever look at her that way."
Andrea asked curiously, "What happened?"
They walked towards their residence. On their way back, Angel and Evelyn explained what happened, Andrea nodded and asked for their wellbeing a little concerned. They also spoke about their adventures and the things that Tatyana said to them. Angel also related her conversation with Tatyana. This made Evelyn and Andrea smile happily.
Meanwhile, Yasenia and Cecile reached an isolated place inside a forest. Yasenia put a concealing formation and freed Cecile from her embrace, they have been walking in their previous position the whole way here.
Yasenia turned Cecile around and looked at her gently, "Don't rush, sweetheart, order your thoughts and speak to me. We have all the time in the world."
Cecile looked at the gentle smile on her face and, with the way she called her, she felt her heart melt. For Cecile, Yasenia was like the moon in the night sky. One day she came into her life and illuminated the dark world around her.
Cecile moved to the side and sat on top of one rock. They relaxed for a while hearing the rustling leaves and the birds around. Cecile ordered her thoughts and spoke with an expressionless face. "When I was little after my parents knew that I had a triple elemental affinity and that my constitution matched with those elements perfectly they were delighted. "
Cecile continued, "I was born in a city near the capital of the Water Kingdom. My parents told their friends about my… Talent, and it actually spread more than they wanted. At first, it was the nobles, but my father's and mother's position wasn't low, so they could defend easily against their demands"
"However, It eventually reached the ears of the King. Even if they are a first-rate power, the Water Kingdom doesn't have a strong hold on their lands, so they recruit every talented cultivator they can. In short, they wanted to raise me in the palace to become one of the powerhouses of the Kingdom in the future."
Cecile frowned a little, "However, they had hidden plans about my future. Because of my constitution, The King and his advisors wanted to groom me to be a future member of the harem of the king."
Yasenia sweated a little, 'Wait, isn't that what my mom did!? W-Will she hate mom if she knows about it?'
At that same moment, In a faraway place, inside the Nature kingdom, a beautiful woman with raven black hair and red eyes suddenly sneezed, Ignoring the people crying in anguish below her she said, "My little treasure is thinking about me! Don't worry love, your mommy will appear beside you soon!!"
Before the people could understand what was she speaking about, she waved her sword once as she commanded "[Perish]."
A wave of death energy that seemed to cover the sky was released from her sword! It devoured the whole mountain range where these people lived and extinguished all the life inside of it, she spared no one.
She looked at the side, at a green-haired zombie, and she said with a smile, "Rejoice! the army you will command will be born today! A happy day worth celebrating! [All encompassing resurrection]"
While the corpses in front of the undead raised, a single tear could be seen going down the undead's cheek. However, its body kneeled in respect and gratitude towards its eternal master.
Meanwhile, on the Academy grounds, Yasenia continued listening to Cecile's tale, "Even if a lot of people would be delighted of being part of his harem, my father didn't want me to be part of a harem with more than 300 women so he tried to resist… My mother, however, thought that it was my blessing to be liked by the king, so they had a fight. This happened when I was 12."
Cecile stopped speaking and thought about how to continue. Yasenia took out an armchair, then approached Cecile and guided her to it. When they reached, Yasenia sat first and sat Cecile on her lap. She liked to listen to their problems, and she liked to surround them with her natural scent and softness to alleviate their worries. Like a cushion for their heavy feelings.
Cecile felt Yasenia's hug and didn't evade it, she hugged Yasenia back and buried her face on her neck. After feeling her arms around her, and that soft tail petting her. She continued with her heart lighter. "My mother planned with the king to kidnap me to the castle. However, my father found out and we fled. To summarize it... We managed to escape the kingdom after three years of fleeing."
Cecile took a deep breath and continued, "During these three years, my father fought back against our pursuers… However, even if they didn't send their strongest cultivators because I wasn't important enough for them to come, one person can only do so much when they are being chased. My father put me in the care of some of his friends and attracted the attention of pursuers. Those friends went towards the sky continent with me."
Cecile separated her head from her bosom and looked up at Yasenia's golden-red slit eyes. Yasenia's gaze, from the first time she opened her eyes in that carriage, felt like the warm sun at dusk. The red around her pupils, that red that consumes her golden iris when she gets angry for them, feels especially charming.
Cecile finished while looking at her eyes, her expression was the same as when she started telling her tale, "My father died, I arrived at the sky continent, started my cultivation path, and now, here I am."
Yasenia looked deeply at her icy blue eyes. Cecile has said that last sentence very easily as if it was unrelated to her. There wasn't sadness anymore in those blue eyes, nor there was anger towards her mother. The only thing left was indifference.
Cecile right now looked… As if the rest of the world and she are completely unrelated. The first time Yasenia saw these artic blue eyes, although indifferent, they were a little flustered, a little surprised, a little awkward, and a little embarrassed.
That is why… "Cecile, I won't ask you if you want revenge, I won't ask you about your journey here, I won't even ask you if you miss your father."
After she said that, Yasenia gave her a kiss on her forehead. She saw a slight surprise and fluster in her eyes and Yasenia smiled happily. "What I will do from now on is fill your heart with those emotions that you seem to have covered in ice. I want to see you flustered, I want to see you laugh, to see you sad, to see you excited, or see you cry."
Yasenia put her forehead on hers and looked at those now trembling blue eyes. "When you can feel these emotions clearly again, I will ask you those questions. At that time, instead of your covered feelings, I will be asking the hidden Cecile, who, some time ago, laughed with her father and cried at night in sadness."
Cecile felt her eyesight get a little blurry, and she didn't know why. She saw Yasenia smile and felt her hands lowering her head. Her head got surrounded by her softness. Yasenia caressed her blue hair and tightened her hug.
Cecile felt secure and returned her hug, however... *Sob* 'Huh? Who is doing this sound?'
*Sob* 'Is it… me?'
"W-why am I? *Sob*"
Yasenia pushed her deeper so that she can muffle her cries. "Let it out sweetheart, I'm here and will always be here. I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart."
Cecile couldn't help but overlap that sentence with a distant memory and a soft cry left her mouth. Yasenia kept hugging Cecile while she felt her cleavage becoming wet. They stayed like that until Cecile calmed down.