Angel followed Yasenia's words and sensed the dragoness's presence.
She felt how her arms sank into her body, how one of Yasenia's long legs went over her waist and pressed their lower bodies close enough to feel each other closely.
Yasenia's height also allowed Angel to feel snug and comfortable in her arms. Yasenia could easily cover her entire body and surround her.
Then, with the help of the smooth and long tail, Angel was wholly hidden from the outside world.
'Heavenly~.'
Her nose twitched with Yasenia's sweet scent, and her ears were blessed with Yasenia's low and mellow voice. "Do you feel it, baby? Look deeply inside, and you'll understand even further."
Angel dove deeper into her soul and fused with their temporary soul connection. Mirrory helped a bit and amplified Angel's soul-reading powers for this short moment.
When Mirrory interfered, Angel opened her eyes wide as Yasenia's heart appeared as transparent as glass before herself.
The deep feelings of care, love, devotion, warmth, and protectiveness flooded her like a gentle wave.
Her inexplicably sad heart because of the inability to continue being her soulmate dissipated as her body was filled with an ocean of warmth and love coming from Yasenia, making her want to cry.
Angel felt it so clearly that a sense of shame grew in her heart. Yasenia separated Angel's face from her breasts and leaned down to kiss her softly. "Did you feel it, baby? I adore you so much that I can't help myself when pampering you. Do you still feel sad? Do you still feel like you would lose something if our connection disappears?"
Angel's tears fell, and she shook her head. Then, she sniffed. "S-Sorry, I-"
Yasenia interrupted with a kiss. "Don't say sorry, love. I don't really understand why, but I can feel that all of you have a small fear deep within about losing my affection."
Yasenia pressed her forehead with hers and smiled, her reptilian golden eyes glowing affectionately. "Dear, I can't make promises that my feelings will be eternal. I can't make promises that things can't change since time is merciless."
"However, whether they change or not, my feelings won't be influenced by external factors. I love you too much for that. Therefore, as long as you love me, baby, I'm confident in loving you forever. You girls are my treasure, my most precious and beloved treasure."
Angel nodded quickly.
In truth, Angel was not confident in herself. She has never been a confident girl.
Becoming Yasenia's soulmate had always been her dream, so when she achieved it, she felt like nothing could separate her from Yasenia.
It felt surreal. The soul connection had eased her previous insecurities and made Angel feel like living a dream.
However, in the corner of Angel's heart, this connection became something that held back her feelings. Angel's feelings slowly began shifting from pure love to love because of this.
Hearing that it could disappear made her afraid from the bottom of her heart that the probability of Yasenia leaving her had reappeared.
Even if it was minuscule, it was no longer zero. Therefore, a fear like no other gushed inside her. Hence, her previous reaction.
But after feeling Yasenia's heart, she felt silly.
Angel could only blame it on herself if love as deep and profound as Yasenia's disappeared.
The feeling of Yasenia's love was like lying on a bed of care and being covered in a blanket of happiness while the dragoness sang you the most beautiful of love songs and cradled you in dreams and hope for the future.
The dragoness's affection was like that, and everyone felt it deeply at that moment.
Mirrory used a unique technique to create a ripple that spread through the inn's room and resonated with every girl's soul.
They all felt it deeply in their hearts, and they felt a lump in their throats for a few moments.
"I love you, Yasenia. I love you so much."
Yasenia felt her cleavage getting wet again, but she didn't say anything this time as she could feel her baby's happiness.
Yasenia smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Baby, my baby. I love you all so much. I would remember you even if I lost my memories. Even if I reincarnate or my soul disappears into the void. I will always, always love all of you dearly."
Angel cried and nodded while tightly hugging Yasenia.
The others outside had heard and felt the aura from Yasenia, and they were all sobbing a bit.
Even Tatyana felt her nose a little sour, even though she showed nothing on the outside.
Far away, Cecile could also feel everything thanks to the deep connection with Yasenia. However, unlike the others, she didn't get emotional.
Cecile knew all of this as Yasenia's soul was always as clear as Angel saw it a moment ago for her.
Cecile flapped her phoenix wings, carrying every girl in a transport she held with her phoenix talons. "I hope they are all a bit more aware of how deeply Yasenia cares for all of us."
Fifteen minutes later, Yasenia appeared while carrying Angel. The little girl's cheeks were red as an apple while happiness emanated from every pore of her body.
Yasenia looked at them and asked. "Shall we go, dears? We have to make it for Kali's tournament. My honey must show everyone how talented she is."
They all nodded with loving smiles and walked outside.
During the journey, the girls stayed one step closer than usual to Yasenia, and every person that saw them could feel the harmonious aura they emanated together.
Without delays, they arrived at the tournament area for alchemists. Kali muttered. "If we speed up, we may be able to see the Tattoo master final. Do you want to go, Yasenia?"
"No need. I briefly looked at it on the outside screens while searching for the alchemy arena. There aren't humans as models, but other beast humans. The enhancements seem to require a minimum level of body strength to support them."
"Therefore, it isn't necessary to go in person as I don't need to check the humans there. We can hire one and tell them to work for us in the future. There is no haste in learning everything in this tournament."
The place in the stands they walked towards was where Jorey commented them to come yesterday.
As Yasenia expected, the elders from the Nine sects were waiting for her with Jorey. This time, there were extra people.
Even the Fu Clan was present among the clans, and Yasenia greeted everyone.
The dragoness could also spot Young Master Fu on the side.
It was not strange since he would participate in the alchemy competition. He was also very talented compared to juniors around the Distancia continent. That was why the Alchemy Nine Sect wanted to make him an inner disciple.
'Hmm. It is difficult to find an opening in their guard and kill him. We used spy formation yesterday to scout the area, and the security was too tight to sneak in safely without any risks. Should we act while returning to Koran City?'
Yasenia frowned. 'But that would make me a clear suspect. They don't need any laws to incriminate me if it is too clear. Moreover, killing that brat is a good excuse for the Fu family to wage War against us. I lack the resources to win if the true seniors help them. Even if they don't, their current strength is difficult to gauge accurately.'
Yasenia sighed, and Andrea walked behind her to massage her shoulders. 'Killing him is much more dangerous than leaving him alive, love. Why don't we ignore him?'
Yasenia mumbled. 'But it is too bothersome having him around. He is even meddling with our affairs back in Koran City.'
Tatyana suggested. 'How about using Cecile and the small human army to ambush him? Cecile should still be midway toward Koran City. They can ambush him on the way back.'
Yasenia frowned and thought about it.
Then, she took out the communication device and activated it.
She had tried connecting with Angel's sister, Lidia, with it. However, it failed. No one of the ones she gave the device to could be contacted.
Yasenia guessed that the spatial turbulences destroyed them or the connection range was insufficient.
No matter which option, this device's connection range was gigantic, so she was sure they weren't near her.
Either way, when she connected with Cecile, she began discussing the plans.
Cecile commented. "What if the Fu family returns with you?"
Yasenia blinked. "That's right… Hmm. I need to think about this deeply. Cecile, have the device always on you. I'll contact you later to finalize details, just in case."
"Sure, my love. Take care, and don't do anything stupid."
Yasenia looked at the stadium and saw the competition's judge stepping onto the stage at the edge. He looked old but gentle.
Yasenia asked. 'Mom, why do alchemy practitioners look more elderly than others?'
Tatyana answered. 'Well, those who truly devote themselves to alchemy don't usually mind their appearance. I bet that the old man there could look much younger if he took a year to cultivate properly. However, alchemy masters are usually entrapped in the complex and interesting art, so they look like they age faster.'
Kali's three tails stiffened. 'I mustn't forget my cultivation. The last thing I want is to become uglier than I currently am.'
Valeria commented. 'Your scars are cute.'
'They are truly not. Only you and Yasenia are weird enough to find them cute, hahaha.' Kali laughed, but her heart felt warm.
Elder Mu asked. "Junior Kali, you'll be participating in this one, right?"
Kali nodded with a smile under her veil. "I will."
"I did not expect the creator of the [Soul Enhancing Pill] to be this young… Sigh, truly the young beat the old."
Kali smiled. "I was not the creator, Elder Mu. Since our human girls have masters, why would you think that I, a beast human, would not have one?"
Elder Mu realized. "Right, such an oversight."
Yasenia smiled. "Her master is really powerful. I dare to say that no one in this continent is stronger than her Alchemy-wise."
Elder Mu squinted. "Those words are too big, Lady Yasenia."
Yasenia shrugged. "You should already understand me by now. I don't say anything I'm not confident at."
If Dr. Avalonia and Elder Frederick from the Academy appeared on this continent, they would truly be unmatched. Even the third one, which was comparably weaker, was nothing to scoff at. Flora, a literal dryad that mastered the craft, would make any Alchemist in this continent feel like a junior.
"Welcome to the Alchemy Competition. I'm grateful for all of you to have come to see our juniors perform one of the oldest crafts in our world, Alchemy."
"Please, juniors, come down to the arena."
Kali hugged Yasenia and kissed her over the veil. Yasenia laughed happily, and her tail wagged. "Go for it, love. Don't be merciful because you are getting fond of Elder Mu."
Elder Mu chuckled. "Oh my. Disciples, don't go easy on Kali, or you'll suffer."
They all had already learned that those from the Astral Sky Clan were mighty competitors and maybe out of their reach. However, none of them lost their motivation and shouted. "We'll do our best, Master Mu!"
Yasenia looked at Fu Yu sideways and saw him jump behind Kali, looking at her fox's back with curiosity and something else she didn't fully catch.
Yasenia spoke aloud. "Fu Yu, I know you are not a fan of us. However, I hope you don't do anything funny, or I won't care anymore about being low-key."
The cold and indifferent voice of the dragoness reached the deepest parts of everyone who heard it, making them shiver.
Fu Yu looked up and met with Yasenia's golden irises and thinned black vertical pupils. The warning was clear.
Fu Yu was arrogant, but Yasenia's gaze was too terrifying, so any little thoughts that took root in his mind dissipated.
Once the juniors left, Yasenia turned toward the seniors from the Fu clan and spoke. "Sorry for that, seniors. I know your clan is to be respected, but you should understand the behavior of your juniors. Before anything bad happens that makes us irreconcilable enemies, I rather stop it and cut it from the roots. I hope this offense is acceptable after listening to me."
Their frowning faces eased up. Yasenia has also not said this softly, so almost all those who heard her previously heard this. Naturally, our dragoness made sure Fu Yu didn't hear her.
One of them nodded. "After hearing this explanation, I truly feel better. Sigh, Lady Yasenia, you are truly someone worth being allied with. However, our young master is too narrow-minded. I hope you can be a little tolerant in the future."
Yasenia smiled. "If he does something like that, I'll do my best." In her mind, she finished the sentence. 'To kill him and everyone related without getting caught as painfully and slowly as possible.'
Then, the Alchemy competition started.