Tatyana was sitting cross-legged by Yasenia's head. During the last two months, the size of her little treasure has been increasing, so she looked like an ant by the side of a human's shoe.
As Yasenia broke through into the next realm, her physical form underwent a staggering metamorphosis. Her body, excluding her tail, now stretched over a kilometer in length, a size that was mirrored in her wingspan, which spanned an impressive 1.2 kilometers. To put this into perspective, her wingspan covered an area of approximately one million square meters.
Then, her tail, which was no less massive than the rest of her colossal form, neared 900 meters in length. In total, the dragon had become a titanic 2-kilometer-long and 1.2-kilometer-wide creature with a height of 500 meters.
If before, she was compared to a large hill; now she would be compared to a small mountain. If she lay there unmoving for a while and a layer of dirt covered her, people would climb her as another mountain in the surroundings.
As Tatyana observed Yasenia's gradual changes, she felt a presence approaching from behind. Given their ability to approach this far, Tatyana was confident it wasn't a hostile presence. After all, the security measures around Yasenia would make it hard for even her to approach.
"Lady Tatyana, can I have a word with you?"
Tatyana didn't turn around and smiled. Patting the floor by her side, she commented. "Come here, Sierra. What's wrong?"
Sierra approached and sat on her knees, her posture always being respectful. For Sierra, the mother of the imposing dragon lying there, Tatyana, was nothing but a sacred being. She couldn't understand how a human creature could give birth to someone like Yasenia, but if her own progeny was one-tenth as talented as Yasenia, she would be able to go to sleep with a smile on her face.
"Hm. Lady Tatyana, remember how you told us not to ignore our vague premonitions or feelings?"
Tatyana nodded. "That's right. Did you feel something like that, child?"
Sierra was a few centuries old; however, compared to the person by her side, who was older by a few orders of magnitude, she was nothing but a young and immature being. Hence, Sierra didn't mind Tatyana's way of calling her at all.
Sierra nodded and commented. "Just a few moments ago, I felt my heart squeezing. Then, the sensations disappeared. I don't know what this means, though. However, since you said never to ignore these signals, I decided to come and tell you about it."
Tatyana stopped looking at Yasenia and turned to look at Sierra. "Hm… Sierra?"
"Yes, Lady Tatyana?"
Tatyana asked while looking into Sierra's eyes. "Do you trust me?"
Sierra was about to answer, but from Tatyana, a malevolent aura full of killing intent surrounded her like a mist of death. Her fur puffed up as her entire body erupted into danger signals, and the desire to flee invaded all her senses for a fraction of a second.
Sierra did not attack right away out of pure instinct because Tatyana was too strong of an opponent. Even in this situation, the option of attacking to defend herself never crossed her mind.
However, after the initial moments of pure instinctual panic, Sierra managed to rule over her instincts and cross gazes with the terrifying blood-red eyes.
The swirling color that appeared like a sea of blood was terrifying, but she knew that this being was not dangerous as long as you didn't come in Yasenia's way. Hence, she could calm her messy feelings and answered with a stutter. "I-I t-trust you, Lady Tatyana."
As soon as those words left her mouth, everything disappeared as if it was made of smoke, leaving behind a smiling Tatyana. The Death Empress laughed. "Great job, Sierra." Then, she explained. "I wanted to test you not because I don't trust you myself, but I wanted to see how far you've come in controlling your wild side. Even if you fled from me, I wouldn't have blamed you, and I would've answered your question. Don't worry."
Sierra nodded a few times, her ears flattened and her back straight. "I understand, Lady Tatyana. I'm nothing but a wild wolf. Testing if I've adapted to my new life is not wrong. Especially by someone of your strength. I have no complaints."
Tatyana snorted and chopped her forehead. "Silly child, you should complain." Tatyana laughed a bit and looked back at Yasenia's form, her eyes softening. "In truth, while one's might allows them to rule over everything in a cultivation world, the cultivation world is the freest place in existence. You can do whatever you want, and only the consequences of your actions will affect you. There are no strict social norms other than protecting juniors from seniors and a few others. However, if you think about it, isn't our cultivating culture the freest possible?"
Tatyana continued. "People often confuse it, but freedom is not equal to fairness. On the contrary, fairness comes in places where societal norms and laws exist. If not, who would protect the poor man who got robbed by a powerful cultivator and bring them justice? In a free world, the powerful cultivator is in their right to do whatever they please, even if it is stealing, killing, or committing any other atrocity."
Sierra pondered. "Now that Lady Tatyana says it… Isn't a cultivation society not much different from a wild forest?"
Tatyana laughed. "You are not wrong. Powerful beasts fight each other with disregard, not taking into account the lives of the small creatures that might be affected by their encounter. Then, those powerful creatures would defend their one descendant, even if their descendants are in the wrong. You won't see a wild wolf reprimanding a young wolf for eating a human child. If the parents of that child come to hunt the young wolf, the powerful wolf will defend the young one to its last breath." Tatyana smirked. "That's identical to what happens in cultivation societies."
Sierra nodded, having learned something. "It also applies to Lady Tatyana as well, right?"
Tatyana shrugged. "Do you think I will let my little treasure be killed by a random person she offended?" Tatyana's smile became murderous. "Those who endanger her life will become my undead eventually. That's not negotiable."
Tatyana said. "Of course. Later, I will reprimand Yasenia for doing dangerous things. However, it is not because it is wrong to do so. The admonishment will come because there might come a time when I can't protect her from those wrongs."
Sierra tilted her head, and Tatyana guided her in a mental exercise. "Imagine you give birth to a pretty pup. That pup, slowly grows up, cute, happy, always obedient, and it is very loving. Then, one day, the cute pup approaches another creature curiously and hunts it down. However, the parent of that other creature comes and tries to kill your beautiful pup. Would you stand aside and let it happen?"
Sierra opened her mouth and answered. "I wouldn't."
Tatyana nodded. "That's the right answer. Creatures who don't prioritize family are rare."
Sierra nodded, and Tatyana spoke. "Well, enough lessons. That feeling was because a close one was in danger. You should understand who that close one is, right?"
Sierra frowned and pondered. "Evelyn is well protected, so if it isn't her…" Sierra's eyes widened. "Zephyrith?"
Tatyana didn't answer and continued looking at Yasenia. "When my little treasure wakes up, you can discuss things with her. It will be around two or three days later. Also, don't worry about something happening so soon. It will be a few months from now, at the earliest. If you go to the maids and ask for information, you should find something interesting."
Sierra courteously bowed and spoke. "Thank you for the lesson and guidance, Lady Tatyana."
Tatyana smiled. "Now, go and prepare. There is not much time left until we get involved in a complicated conflict that will stretch on for a while."
Sierra paused before leaving and asked. "Did you see something with your Fate mastery, Lady Tatyana?"
Tatyana laughed. "Nothing like that. Experience is sometimes stronger than any prediction ability you can use."
Sierra smiled. "That's true, I guess."
As Sierra left, she felt a presence nearby and looked over. There, a beautiful and ethereal spirit with silver and golden energies swirling around her stood.
Her face was tangled as her thoughts swirled, and her exotic eyes, which carried Sun and Moon pupils, were constantly moving as she muttered.
Sierra approached and smiled. "Soluna, what are you doing here?"
Soluna was startled, looked around and locked eyes with her. The relatively small and cute being opened her mouth, and the ethereal resonating voice reached her. "Sierra, right? Do you need something?"
Sierra shook her head and spoke to her. "I saw that you were contemplating something, so I wanted to ask if you needed any help."
Soluna paused and looked at Sierra deeply. After a few moments, she nodded. "Actually, I do."
Sierra asked with a smile. "Do you want to move to another place?"
Soluna shook her head, making her double-colored hair wave like flames in the wind. "It's a personal question, so I'm not sure if you will be able to answer at all. So, first, hear me out, and then, we can continue."
The Wolf Queen nodded and stayed silent, waiting for Soluna to express her doubts. "You see, lately, I've been feeling strange towards Yasenia." Soluna frowned. "I want to stay closer; I want to be by her side, and when she was on the verge of dying, I wanted to rush forward and save her."
Sierra's eyebrow gently raised, but she kept silent and continued listening.
"I always thought, 'why is this happening?' But I've never really come to a conclusion. These new feelings are strange and unknown to me." Soluna looked at Sierra and continued. "Then, I learned about your relationship with Evelyn or Ebirah's relationship with Andrea, and something clicked inside me. What if I also become something similar to Yasenia?"
Sierra heard that, and her raised eyebrow was lowered. 'Oh, it is in that direction that her thoughts are going. I almost misunderstood.'
Soluna continued. "So, I wanted to ask you. How did you become what you currently are with Evelyn? How do I become the same for Yasenia? Or… Will Yasenia even want me to be by her side like you are by Evelyn's side?"
Sierra smiled. "Do you know how I became Evelyn's partner?"
Soluna shook her head, and Sierra laughed as she answered. "I fought to the death with her to consider if she was worthy or not."
Soluna blinked several times in confusion. "Eh?"
Sierra explained. "You see, at that time, I was cursed and had very little time to live. Hence, I was trying to find someone to become a partner with and take revenge on those who cursed me." Sierra sighed with a smile. "I was lucky to meet Evelyn during that time."
Soluna nodded. "So, why did Evelyn accept someone like you?"
Sierra explained. "The relationship we have is closer to a slave-master contract, and I'm on the slave part of the contract."
Soluna's eyes widened. "Huh?"
Sierra laughed. "Don't worry, though. I trust Evelyn won't do anything wrong with that connection. Therefore, it never bothered me. There are times I even forgot the type of our connection, because Evelyn has always treated me with respect."
Soluna smiled. "Evelyn is quite a good child."
Sierra smiled softly. "She is. Much more than her appearances make her out to be. She has a soft heart and is always thinking about others. Outwardly, she looks like a pervert, but in truth, she is extremely considerate."
Sierra then looked at Soluna and said. "Yasenia is the opposite."
Soluna blinked. "The opposite?"
Sierra nodded. "Outwardly, Yasenia appears very easygoing, soft, gentle, and beautiful, as if she were a little angel with a dragon tail. However, inwardly, Yasenia is one of the most ruthless creatures I've ever met. So, when you approach her with the intent of becoming her partner and she opens her heart to you, don't get startled by what you find inside that complex creature."
Sierra waved her and turned around, leaving behind a thoughtful Soluna.
**********************************************************
Author: Alo~.
Yasenia: Oh? Is it that time of the year?
Author: There are A LOT of pending questions, and since I have some time, I've decided to reopen the [Celestial Theater] again~.
Tatyana: Well, you are quite busy lately.
Author: … Yes. But well, I think I can do it! Hehe. Anyways, let's summon today's dear. I summon you!
HoldMyGame: Hey! I'm here!
Andrea: Welcome~.
HoldMyGame: Thanks! Also, this is what this place looks like? Nice!
Kali: So, what's your question, HoldMyGame?
HoldMyGame: Welp, this one is for someone who has had very little screen time. I wonder if Author can summon them?
Author: Well, shoot your shot.
HoldMyGame: I want the answer from the Old Man Trial Master or Secret Realm Creator!
Author: Wow… You are making things difficult, eh? Thankfully for you, not only is that character in my list, he also has a name! Of course, it won't be revealed yet~.
HoldMyGame: Oh really?
?????: Hm? Where is this place?
Author: Hey, you are here to answer a question for a mortal. How about it?
?????: You summon this old man abruptly just for that? Tell me why I shouldn't fight you.
Author: Well… It's just one question. Don't tell me you can't spend a few minutes doing something? I'll return you to rest after that.
?????: Hm… Let's hear it first.
HoldMyGame: If Sarah won the trial, what would've been her reward? Would it have been the same as Yasenia, or would it have been much different, as her trial comparatively was much easier, and simpler.
?????: Sarah, Yasenia?
HoldMyGame: Ehem, the ones that were in your secret realm recently. The dragon woman with giant ti- I mean, a vast personality, and the human woman.
?????: …?
Author: These people.
Magically inserts info directly into his head.
?????: Oh! Those children. Hm… Well, if the other one won, the reward would've been different. Only creatures of that dragon child's potential can get a piece of the [Primordial Energy Core].
HoldMyGame: What's that, by the way?
?????: That's the second question. Anyways, formless creature, send me back.
Author: Sure thing~.
HoldMyGame: HEY!
*Puff*
HoldMyGame: …
Author: And that's all for today's Celestial Theater~. I hope you had fun! Hehe~.
HoldMyGame: Tsk.
The girls: Bye-bye~.
Author: Bye!
Proofreader Ayan: Hmph~. Farewell, mortals~.
Proofreader Sarah: Hihi, bye~.
Proofreader Eila: Yahhaloooo~ and bai bai~