Lind packed away the last of his things into his storage ring. His quarters had not accumulated a great many things, but the puzzles from Cyntilla and his herb garden were his own materials. He could not take the planters as they were supplied by the Academy, but Qing had procured some for him to transplant the herbs.
"Not much to show for close to 2 years of living here." Lind smiled forlornly as he turned to the sound of footsteps. A gorgeous woman with platinum lochs was followed by a much taller blue skinned woman.
"All packed up, young man?" Lind was about to nod when he was enclosed in a deep hug. It would have been touching had he not felt hands roaming his body!
"ELDER SISTER!" Qing's voice confirmed that Tyr was the one holding him, but Lind had no idea why he was being felt all over. Her strength far surpassed his, but he felt he could move away if he wanted, yet suddenly tears stung his eyes. For some reason he began to sob into her shoulder.
"I knew you were holding it in. It has been hard on you even with Qing the last few months. You need to trust her more and tell her how you are feeling if you want to overcome those 2 heart demons inside you." Tyr's voice was gentle and her hands were now carefully holding Lind as all the bottled up frustration of his time at the Lotus Academy seemed to drain away.
"What did you do to me?" Lind was not a fool. He would not just spontaneously start crying because he was hugged. He may not have felt it, but he suspected a technique was used on him.
"A cultivator has many spots on their body that can unlock emotions, but I learned a technique to stimulate repressed feelings. It also gives me liberties with my targets!" Tyr's smile did not soften the last sentence even though he could tell it was in jest. Lind had known this senior for over a month now, but her eccentric approach rarely included physical touch.
She had in fact not even patted his head more than once or twice until today. Qing looked suspiciously at Tyr but even she could not argue that Lind seemed more relaxed than before. It also told Qing she had a long way to go if Tyr could see such a problem but she could not.
"That wee little princess has been waiting long enough. You also have a few more meetings before we can leave, but we are ready to go if you want to skip it all!" Tyr was not joking this time. She really would whisk him away if he gave the go ahead, but Lind would not leave so quickly.
"I promised to meet them all, but I really don't know what the Zephyr Clan Master wants with me." Lind was not entirely clueless, but everyone knew he was leaving, so what did the clan master want with Lind? He hugged Qing as he walked past and missed the surprised look flash across Tyr's face before a mischievous smile filled it.
"Go, we will meet you at the main gates." Tyr shooed him off and suddenly seemed to pull Qing along like a doll. Lind was surprised but their relationship often seemed like an overprotective older sister picking on her favorite sibling. Lind smiled as he made his way to a different Core Student tower.
Lind took in the various towers near him and looked out towards the Inner and Outer Student wards. He had spent a short portion of his life here but the most transformative time was here too. He had made breakthroughs on his cultivation, elixirs, and his own personal heart demons as well. So much compressed into the time here but it was also so lonely too.
Lind had spent much of his life alone save a few close people. He had hoped leaving the Frey Clan would fix it, but it was not to be. Lind was surprised he would miss this place, but he moved on as he finally saw the number he was looking for.
There were several demons and humans looking at him oddly. Normally, black robes or violet robes would be seen, but Lind was wearing crimson colors with black lining once more. He would always keep his roots and they were the only robes he had aside from Academy robes. Still, his duel had made him a legend, thus no one stopped him.
There was a group of demons in particular that were grinding their teeth as he passed but Lind ignored the group of 8. They had lost the chance for Crown Prince Ryu to marry their mistress and Trynith was raging at them. Some of them knew they would have unfortunate accidents in the near future, but for now, they focused their rage at Lind.
Cyntilla was waiting with her door open and smiled as he approached. Despite leaving him gifts for close to 2 years now and their adventures in the Ruins, neither of them knew how to proceed when they finally reunited.
Cyntilla attempted to brew tea but her nerves made her spill the first pot so Lind took over. It actually broke the awkward feelings as they both recalled how Lind prepared food in the Ruins.
"You got taller." Her first words nearly made Lind spill tea as he poured but he stayed steady as he nodded. He had noticed she had become more beautiful, but she was also near the peak of the Soul Realm. He smirked as he took a seat across from her.
"I had to get these robes resized so it was a bit annoying, yet I am happy as it should be my last. Now, how about you tell me, yourself, about the mark on my right cheek." Lind sat back and looked into her virulent green eyes. He had wanted to understand what she wanted from him now that he understood what the mark meant.
Her lavender skin darkened and she actually began to twiddle her index fingers together! Lind had to restrain a desire to laugh as he found it adorable. She seemed to search for words and then looked into Lind's calm face and seemed to relax a bit.
"I swore an oath to heaven and earth that whosoever could heal my mother, I would become theirs. I know you don't like that, but she is my world." The plea at the end touched Lind and he recognized the desperation in her eyes. She loved her mother dearly and clearly no one else had tried to help them until he did. Lind sighed as he looked at her.
"I appreciate you greatly, Cyntilla. You have been my thread of hope in this place where no one else gave me anything. I cannot emphasize how much the puzzles and the information you relayed to me when you had the chance. For that, I cannot ever thank you enough." Lind meant every word. The puzzles had been the only respite from his dry cultivation progress and the miracle of his time with Younger Twin. It was a sign that someone gave a damn he was alive.
"I wanted to talk to you, but there was never a chance thanks to those jackals my father pushed on me." Lind nodded to her and waved off this concern. She risked enough to give him gifts, but Lind still did not know who protected those gifts from being destroyed or stolen until Lind returned to his quarters.
"I consider you my friend, certainly, but we hardly know anything else about each other. Are you fine with me having this mark?" Lind wanted to know what she actually felt about this. There had to be a way to remove such a thing, but Lind knew the oath she swore would cause a Qi deviation if she did. It did not mean that Lind could not have it removed. Tyr assured him that if they took actions to remove it, Cyntilla should not suffer a backlash.
Silence descended but she looked at him seriously and seemed resolved at that point.
"Do you feel like I am using you?" Her words were not harsh, but Lind could tell this was important to her. The very framing of the question showed her concern and that she truly understood Lind's concerns. He thought over everything that had happened and brought it into words.
"No, you are not using me. I fulfilled your oath so far as giving me the mark, you were doing what you had to." His words seemed to make her wilt and Lind was surprised but he was not done. "Later, when I learned you were the one giving me puzzles despite the orders given, I was touched. You did not have to do that. The mark fulfilled your oath, but the puzzles were a choice."
Life returned to her eyes and Lind doubted she was aware of it. He had clearly made an impact on her, but she needed to accept some of reality now.
"I cannot stay, but I will come to you if you need me. I will keep your mark and see what will happen from there. Can you accept this?" Lind knew this was unfair but it kept her safe from several issues. He saw her eyes narrow, but nod.
"I know you have to go, but be warned, my father is a bastard." Lind nearly choked on his tea when she said that. He knew her father was not well thought of, but this time Cyntilla went straight to insults. She really did not like her father and Lind found he liked Cyntilla more for that reason.
"You and I have that in common. I am not opposed to exploring a deeper relationship with you, but whether we both agree on that remains to be seen. So, for now, friends?" Lind offered his hand and was instead crushed in a hug. Lind smiled and returned the hug.
"Take care of yourself, and don't you dare fall for a Maiden until we figure this out!" Lind chuckled and nodded as he parted from her. His eyes teared up a bit but just as he was about to leave, a name froze him in place. "Astrella. It was Astrella who stated that any vandalism or destruction to your quarters would be punished by the Lotus Empire."
Lind was stunned but then bowed as he resumed walking out of Cyntilla's quarters.
****
"You seem to be spending a great deal of time with his highness, Etrigan." Clover Zephyr was one of the few clan leaders that could call the Crown Prince of the Lotus Empire by name. He saw his daughters blush but where Leah was clearly smitten, Cassandra was just embarrassed. It was not quite what he expected but Etrigan was quite handsome.
He had not settled on a bride yet either, but Clover did not want his daughters to be only a concubine if he could help it. Still, if they were happy, he could swallow his pride a bit.
"Nevermind that, father, Elder Lan does not know about this, right?" Cassandra seemed quite concerned but Clover made himself look like he was really thinking at that moment. He seemed like he might have passed it along and saw her face suddenly pale while Leah smiled.
"I might have let him know our old friend finally showed interest in fine women…" Clover was quickly hit by air Qi but it did nothing to him as he was in low Iron Tier. He smiled wide as his daughter began to pout at his abuse but Leah was cackling. Clover wondered what would happen if he had told Lan anything. The young man was only an Elder for 3 years, yet he too had no wife as of yet.
In his case, however, it was due to his fascination with cultivation itself more than anything else. Etrigan was much the same but knew his duty.
"Enough daughters, he should be here soon and I want to know if you will finally reveal how he helped the both of you." His firm face was no longer the doting father, but the Clan Master of Zephyr Clan. Both women straightened up but looked to each other before their golden eyes they shared with their father became closed off.
"We swore to heaven and earth to never reveal this Clan Master. If Lind Frey releases us, we may share it, but I would think it is better to not know." Clover arched his eyebrow but nodded at their words. An oath was a heavy thing and both his girls knew how dire it could be. He still wondered but the clear benefits in front of him made him withhold his concerns until the man in question was in front of him.
As if summoned, Lind Frey in his crimson robes arrived at their door.
"Sir, Lind Frey is here to speak with you as requested." Clover waved and then had his daughters move to each side of him to free up a couch. All 3 were in the colors of pale green of their clan, but where the women were made more beautiful by it, Clover was more imposing. He was a storm waiting to happen.
They waited for LInd to enter the room.