During the night before the setting out of House of Origin's Sir Godeyes, Rein, Lyne and Suey travelled through a few forest patches before arriving at one with rocky formations that sunk into the earth. Within these rocky formations was a pond of unique quality.
Steam rose above this pond. Clearly, its water source came from deep underground, and the heat below caused this water to rise to the surface, forming a hot spring within these rocky formations.
Its steamy warmth and oddly relieving sulphurous odour caused differing reactions from the two beauties in Rein's arms. Suey was overjoyed, while Lyne carried a bitter expression.
The three soon soon entered a notch in the rocky formations that provided cover. They are, of course, planning to perform the agreed deed.
With Suey, it was a matter of principle and ritual. Rein soon proceeded to pour his essence into her very depths.
As usual with Suey, she became a limp flexible doll that allowed Rein to thoroughly pummel her folds with reckless abandon. Rein understood that this was what Suey desired.
Her petite body was stretched around his girth, and her flexible water-based tempered body bent in all sorts of ways.
Every single of Rein's thrust would cause her soft flesh to ripple as her slender body magically absorbed the strength of Rein's body while she squealed to the heavens in delight.
Eventually, Rein filled her with his seed. As part of the ritual, it was important for the twin head priestesses to appear the same in the eyes of the so-called Goddess of Fate that hunted Suey and Jory.
Of course, the other factor was that Suey, as the first to devote herself to Rein, desired to have the chance to carry Rein's firstborn.
As for this supposed Goddess of Fate, Rein naturally knew not who she was.
After a short rest, it was Lyne's turn.
Due to Rein's body tempering arts being that of a dragon's, his vitality and recovery abilities are superb. His affinity to the wooden element also helped.
Lyne gave a slight push with her palms to indicate for Rein to lie down on the ground, which he promptly did.
"Do you know?" Lyne said as she stroked Rein's erect manhood with her right foot. "For us female advancers… if we lose our virginity before completing the telekinetic realm, uniting our soul and body thus becoming a deity… it becomes an uphill battle for us?"
Rein's rod reflexively pulsed and further hardened under Lyne's foot.
"How dare you take advantage of my situation," she icily said in mock anger, inwardly beaming as she pressed down on Rein's member with the sole of her right foot. This was something that Rein had non-verbally communicated to her when they had briefly met during her imprisonment.
Back then, Rein had engaged in this similar play, hoping that she would regain some of her pride. In fact, he preferred her to carry her usual cool air. Little did he know that that normal cool demeanor was actually Lyne's restraining her icy nature to create a slightly warmer public view of the Xuere Clan as a whole.
"If not for my desperation to escape the Second Prince's grasp… Do you think I would allow you to do as you please to my body?" She said as she now lowered onto her knees and used a palm to lightly slap Rein's manhood, causing it to swing left and right like a pendulum.
"How dare you take advantage of my weakness to… defile my noble body. You are but nameless scum at the bottom rungs of society!" As she said this, Lyne blew her cool breath that erotically tickled the tip of Rein's tower. Lyne most definitely has some sort of typical fantasy of a nobility falling to a commoner.
Though Lyne sounded somewhat of a bitch due to her current voice, Rein found himself rather enjoying her tone. As for why? Some men enjoy the idea of having a usually cold and haughty woman writhing under their body. Rein certainly does.
Still. Although Lyne's words increased Rein's hunger, a voice in his head also felt concern.
"I am only able to take advantage of your circumstance due to your unwillingness to simply leave this realm. To leave behind your clan," Rein sighed as he frowned. "To sacrifice your chances at ascending the world of advancers…"
Lyne glared at Rein after she heard his words. Initially, she was acting out a sort of play, but now, she was truly miffed.
"How can I abandon my clan like my father did? Do you not know their political struggles? The necessity for a strong heir to safeguard various positions? Every single life within the Xuere Clan is at risk. Unlike my father, I take my responsibilities seriously! The various members of each generation of the Dingien Clan have attempted to absorb our Xuere Clan every succession battle for the throne!"
Rein sat up as he realized he really lacked details regarding the succession competition for the throne of the Minhr Nation, and the effect on the surrounding major and minor clans.
"My Celest," Suey's weak voice after her battering muttered as her originally limp form rolled onto her side. "The Dingien Clan's ancestors assisted the Allfather in slaying the Ancestor Dragon, and were rewarded a notable crimson dragon's body and bloodline. The Xuere Clan, supposedly carrying the stolen bloodline of an Ice Phoenix, is seen as a threat, but also an opportunity."
Rein finally understood that the waters of the Minhr Nation are far more muddled than he initially thought.
He stood onto his feet and his form now towered over Lyne's.
Lyne was simultaneously intimidated and entranced. She forgot her momentary anger as she bit her delicate lips.
Still, her slight fear caused her to reflexively back away. Rein advanced with determination. Finally, Lyne discovered that her back was against a sandy rock wall, and there was no longer any space for escape.
"Are you truly making this sacrifice for your Xuere Clan?" Rein seriously questioned. Indeed, he now recalled from some tome he had skimmed while learning under Master Yirn, did indeed mention that female advancers generally needed to maintain their purity until a certain point. The point would appear to be after the telekinetic realm.
"It is no sacrifice. There are always other paths to walk upon. It may be more difficult, but I will walk down those other paths nonetheless," Lyne whispered.
"Very well," Rein could see the firmness within Lyne's silver cloud eyes. "If I ever can be of assistance… I will support you on said unique path."
Rein now understood Lyne's determination. Frankly, he felt an even stronger desire to 'defile' Lyne due to this understanding.
Rein took another step forward and his bulky form now pressed Lyne against the rock wall, his engorged member jabbing threateningly against Lyne's flat and toned abdomen.
"H…How dare you do this to me!" Lyne readopted her initial approach, a mock defiant tone.
Suey, though weak after accomplishing said deed with Rein, could not believe that even now, Lyne was still attempting to continue her roleplay.
However, Rein indulged the woman. He leaned his head down and they shared a sloppy kiss. Lyne was now fully initiated, her tongue voluntarily entering Rein's mouth to communicate that despite her outward resistance, she was in fact very much ready.
As such, Rein gripped her two arms and pinned them above her head as Lyne acted out a helpless struggle.
The tip of Rein's manhood then pressed against Lyne's lower opening as he adjusted his body to accommodate for his height.
He was somewhat concerned that Lyne might not be able to accommodate his whole girth, particularly since he had tempered his body. To his knowledge, Lyne had not. Thus, he was careful as he inserted his length into Lyne.
Lyne winced as she felt her virginity taken, but the more overwhelming sensation was herself being split apart into two at her crotch.
"Wait…" she pleaded.
Rein paused, recognizing the genuine tone in her voice.
An icy blue mark appeared on Lyne's forehead and ignited, causing Rein's eyes to widen.
"Was that a forbidden art?" He questioned.
"Yes, but not exactly," Lyne replied. "In the Ice Phoenix bloodline, there is a unique tempering art that strengthens the body, a method that prioritizes the user's ability to employ precise attacks."
"However, the overwhelming nature of the skill is to allow healing and recovery-- a form of rebirth."
"I've only dabbled in this tempering art," Lyne lowered her voice, currently feeling regret. Many female advancers avoided tempering arts due to the cost and painful process of mastering said art. "But I can burn my ice phoenix bloodline to push what I've dabbled in past its limits for a time. My body should heal faster than any damage you may do to me…"
"Worry not," she added. "I will only feel weak for a day. In the future, I will practice the tempering art more seriously!"
After that explanation, Rein slowly increased his pace as he plunged into Lyne's depth while crushing her with his form against the rocky wall.
He observed Lyne's expression to gauge the situation. Although Lyne still winced with every single one of his thrusts, the overactivation of her art also limited this to pleasurable pain for her body.
Lyne's face now carried a slovenly expression, mouth open and heavily panting with her cute tongue poking out, repeatedly interrupted by her attempt to regain her haughtiness.
Despite her lewd appearance, she still occasionally struggled as insults unbefitting a supposed noble flowed out of her mouth, a cold and haughty act that caused Rein to deliver a more forceful thrust, dispelling said momentary iciness.
Rein also recalled how Lyne had previously appreciated his act of pouring his draconic heat, created from burning the wooden element in his body with his draconic lightning, into her body.
He did so again and poured this into Lyne's mouth, and the woman further melted under his form.
Rein then spun her around, and Lyne placed her hands against the wall as she threw out another insult while grinding her round and firm bottom against Rein's stiffness.
Reni reentered and ran his hands down Lyne's toned curves from her shoulder blades to her waist that widened to her hips.
His arms then reached around to play with Lyne's pineapple-sized breasts, a degree larger than Suey's coconut-sized ones. Most lovely was the fact that Lyne reacted to every flick of her sensitive nipples-- each still pierced with a ring.
"Why have you kept these?" Rein asked.
"I…" Lyne did not want to admit the truth. That truth being that some twisted part of her enjoyed the idea of having been 'defiled'. And she recalled an excited feeling when Rein's eyes were drawn to those rings.
"No matter," Rein inwardly snickered but did not press Lyne. "As a blacksmith, I will create better ones for you. Unique ones with inscriptions of… questionable effects," he whispered.
"How… how dare you!" Lyne replied in mock rage, hiding her inner joy. She was beginning to understand Suey's devotion.
After a time, Rein finally poured his seed into Lyne. She nearly collapsed onto the ground, only to be caught by Rein, who carried her and lowered her gently beside Suey's limp form.
As he glanced at the two beauties, he couldn't help but consider the situation.
For many, sexual interactions are simply just that. However, for Rein, it was an expression of the mind.
After interacting with his half-senior Chenhr, he no longer conceitedly thought of himself as some incredibly sharp and intelligent young man.
However, he was still certain of himself as a rather observant person.
One thing he had seen and analyzed was the nature of supposed sexual fetishes. Currently, Rein believes there to be three categories.
The first category contains traits that signalled readiness to mate and provide care. Rein knew his own love of ample breasts, and his love for a well-proportioned body with wide hips to be partially representative of that.
The second category was trauma. Suey's excessive peering into the future had caused her to see countless timelines in which she was enslaved, rooting those experiences into her very soul. Her incredible devotion, and her desire for the 'Sole Cauldron' Art, was very much a result of this.
Rein's understanding of this phenomenon was that Suey, in an attempt to overcome said trauma, needed someone to perform similar debaucherous acts upon her with one major difference-- he would need to perform said acts while ensuring she felt… a warm secureness, thus overwriting those memories of horrid experience.
As such, Rein knew that his sharing of pleasure with Suey was much more than simple desire and pleasure. If anything, he felt a heavy responsibility throughout the process, and could not guarantee his success every time even with his best efforts to ensure Suey felt the necessary care.
As for the third category, that would be the supposedly 'wrongness' of said act. Lyne, for example, indulged in the 'wrong' sensation of mating with the currently statusless Rein.
Well… with Lyne, there might also be the trauma of being abandoned by her parents. From what little Rein had heard, Lyne's parents had left this very realm, leaving her alone in the Xuere Clan. In Rein's mind, that may be the source of her iciness. Perhaps she both desired yet rejected warmth.
As such, Rein believed the sexual expressions of both Lyne and Suey to be a reflection of part of the pain within their souls.
Rein sighed inwardly as he laid down to rest. He never expected all of this to occur. When he first joined the Hall of Heroes, he had no intention to form relationships with women, only desiring to use the Hall of Heroes to track down his lost younger brother.
Yet, all of this had happened instead. At least, he now knew that his younger brother entered that portal in the Harvest Devil Sect, to a hellish realm belonging to Devil God Hehrn.
Thus passed the night.
When the sun rose the next day, Rein and Suey cleaned themselves in the hot spring, but Lyne could not.
"When I return, I must have the appearance of one tortured and defiled by demons and devils of the Western Wilderness," she explained. "Only then can I escape my political predicament." That was why she was bitter when she saw the hot springs. She very much desired to wash herself, her body having been tainted and tortured under Harvest Devil Ailehr.
Rein sighed. Frankly, he still felt somewhat guilty after 'defiling' Lyne.
"Do not feel sorry for my situation," Lyne harrumphed at Rein. "In this world, we cannot control what we are given. We can only do what we can as we face the world."
Rein could only nod at her words.
"Smile for me," Lyne suddenly demanded.
Rein coughed as he submerged himself in the warm and soothing hot spring beside Suey, unsure of why Lyne demanded this.
"My grandfather, the current patriarch of the Xuere Clan often demanded that I smile and wave at crowds to uplift the Xuere Clan's reputation!" Lyne said.
"I…" Rein stuttered but then he rose to his feet, having waded through the shallow hot spring in a crouched form. He beamed with his shining wet muscular body exposed and his manhood glowing in splendour.
This was of no difficulty for Rein. In fact, he himself had been trained to smile and act welcomely to conduct good business for the Hehr Merchant Group. Even if he inwardly thought the other to be a fool.
"That's… that's enough." Lyne was somewhat bashful, reminded of her previous night due to the exposure of Rein's tool.
She quickly controlled herself and became expressionless again.
"Thank you. You should feel joy and not pity for me," she continued then declared. "For some women, giving birth and taking care of a child is their end. But for me, this is just the beginning of my freedom!"
"I no longer need to deal with the so-called approach of suitors, especially the members of the Dingien Clan. Though news of my 'fate' may be publicly humiliating, I know this child to be yours. And that is enough," Lyne stated.
Her words certainly delivered pride into Rein's mind. Rein was also filled with glee at having somehow gotten revenge against the Dingien Clan. Part of the reason for the Golden Desert Town's destruction was linked to the Dingien Clan's princes, that much Rein knew.
"This child will be able to ensure the Xuere Clan's continuation, of that I am certain. You have a unique body, and thus I have accomplished my duty to the Xuere Clan. I will be able to truly completely exit the secular world in the future with no regrets," Lyne explained.
Rein now understood Lyne's actions better. However, he frowned after hearing of 'the child'. He felt very conflicted. His own father was there for him throughout his childhood. Yet, he could not reveal himself to be this child's father. If he did so, the Dingien Clan would take his life. He was too weak to resist.
"A pity that I cannot be there for the child…" he muttered.
"Many children have grown into fine adults without their fathers or mothers," Lyne said. She herself had done so, though she was certainly doted upon by her grandfather. "What is more important is for you to make a name for yourself."
"What do you mean?" Rein asked.
"I once wondered how I might feel more positively about my missing parents. I eventually determined that if I knew my father or mother was accomplishing something monumental… I might feel better for their absence. You understand?" She harrumphed.
"This child will eventually grow to understand the world and the unfortunate circumstances that we humans all live through. This child will grow to understand our situation. If at least your name can be high in the heavens, a mark I can point to for the child… "
Rein nodded. He increasingly desired strength. If he was stronger, he could have prevented his younger brother's kidnapping. If he was stronger, he wouldn't need to hide from the Dingien Clan, and this future child would have a proper father.
At this point in time, he suddenly recalled Suey.
"Our child…"
"You are not to return to my home with me," Suey also indicated. "It is not the right moment yet. You will only be slaughtered and eaten alive if you do so now. You must have strength. Strength to upend the heavens."
Rein found this difficult to accept. Frankly, the whole situation felt ridiculous. Normally, a man would somehow go through all sorts of trials and tribulations, finally winning beauties after proving his worth, before settling down, no?
At least, that was how many of the heroic tales Rein heard progressed.
Instead, here he was, not really having proven himself. Suey had acted based on her future sight, while Lyne had acted due to her desperation.
Rein did not know that Lyne was acting on more than desperation. She was, indeed, at first, desperate to escape from her situation. However, after interacting with Rein, her heart became convinced that there was something unique with Rein. It was hard to explain, but she was inwardly overjoyed that Rein had appeared when the Second Prince pushed for her hand.
Regardless, Rein found his situation to be comical. Instead of proving his worth to earn a beauty's hand, he needed to gain strength to safely interact with the children he placed into these two beauties' wombs.
"I…" Rein shook his head. "What a maddening circumstance this is," he expressed. "The children--"
"M…Mister bastard," Lyne randomly spat out an insult that came to her head as she momentarily recalled the process of their child's conception. "You need to understand one thing. The world is no fairytale. There is no such concept as an expected order of… life events."
"What has happened has happened, and you… Mister bastard who defiled my womb, simply need to walk forward as I do so!" Lyne demanded.
"That is true," Suey softly said as she smiled in contrast to Lyne.
Rein accepted his circumstances. There was no other way. He simply needed to keep walking forward. And if they all continued onwards, their paths would cross again, if it be fated. That is a belief of advancers.
As they prepared to leave, Lyne withdrew robes from her recovered spatial ring for herself as well as Rein and Suey. The size was slightly too large for Suey's petite form, and too small for Rein's larger frame. At least they are now well covered.
Suey gestured to Lyne and the two women left Rein by himself, walking behind a rock formation to discuss god-knows-what. When they returned. Lyne had a perturbed expression., but she quickly dispelled the source of her confusion.
"I can sense from my bloodline that someone of the Xuere Clan is close. I cannot be seen with you. Farewell, bastard," Lyne coolly stated as she left towards the south west direction. The Xuere Clan members searching for Lyne must have gone further west than intended.
As for Rein and Suey, they headed south east, back towards the central outpost belonging to the Hall of Heroes.
Rein, of course, no longer employed his spatial blinking skill. That was no longer necessary, and Rein would rather not risk having his unique origin ability discovered.
Little did he know that carefulness saved him that day. For after leaping with his 'Lightning Frog Leg Release' Art for some time, Rein found himself and Suey to be suddenly surrounded by a group of figures in unblemished white robes!
Rein had no idea who these people were.
A pale and frail man with sharp brows, bright eyes, high cheekbones and long sleek black hair extending below his shoulders walked to the front. His most distinguishing feature was the slit in the center of his forehead that Rein immediately noticed.
"Who are you?!" Rein narrowed his eyes.
"Sir Godeyes of the House of Origins," the man replied.
Rein widened his eyes in disbelief. How had the Hall of Origins identified him?
"You simply need to cooperate. You have no need to feel guilty. You are but a tool for us to capture your brother Xeeseir," Sir Godeyes stated.
Rein now understood that these men weren't here for him. Rather, he was now a hostage for these men to deal with Xeeseir. Rein knew Xeeesir's nature. Xeeseir's origin ability was publicly revealed when he could not stand the sight of an innocent young girl of his travel caravan being attacked by bandits. That was simply the man's nature. Stubborn, reckless, but noble.
The unfortunate reality, though, was that Rein could not resist even though he did not want to become the cause of Xeeseir's capture. He could tell that the five men surrounding them must be of a much higher realm than him.
"Hmm?" Sir Godeyes seemed to have suddenly noticed some clue. The slit on his forehead opened and that third eye became fixated on Suey.
After a breath of time, Sir Godeyes began to laugh uproariously.
"Truly, the heavens have blessed me, blessed us!" Sir Godeyes clutched at his belly. "We might no longer even have to negotiate with the Hall of Heroes!"
"Sir…" a man who also wore a plain white mask wondered.
"Take a look!" Sir Godeyes declared as a golden beam shot out from his third eye directly at Suey!
Neither Rein or Suey could react. Luckily, that golden beam did no damage, for Suey appeared unharmed after that golden light faded.
However, Rein soon noticed that Suey appeared… different.
"A… demon water fox?!" the white-masked man exclaimed.
Rein was shocked to see that Suey's hair had now turned into varying tones of blue. It was a mix of snow blue, sky blue, and lapis blue fur. Her normally raven hair was now mostly sky blue with lapis blue highlights. The corner of her ears carried snow blue highlights.
As for her body, it remained human, except for a sky blue tail that now extended from her tail bone. Naturally, her eyebrows had also transformed into this color.
"No," Sir Godeyes replied. "Half demon fox. Half human!"
"Impossible!" the white-masked man cried. "Any human that has bred with demon beasts-- their spawn is always demon! Demon beasts are born with greater strength, thus at birth, their bloodline is thoroughly dominant!"
This was well known. It was why some demon beasts infiltrated human society, more than happy to seduce the men and impregnate the women. The demon beast bloodline is always dominant at birth and thus those children are always born demon beasts.
"Hmmm…" A man with flat eyebrows, horizontal eyes and plump cheeks spoke. "The Hall of Heroes, many years ago, announced that they would pay a price to any who could deliver to them these half-breeds. Everyone thought the Allfather to be a fool. So they knew, all along, of their existence!"
"Indeed," Sir Godeyes smiled. "Our capture of Xeeseir will be overlooked. We will research his origin ability while understanding this half-demon water fox's make-up, before sending her as a gift to the Halls. The Halls might even reward us, haha!"
That plump-cheeked man sighed as he gazed at Rein with a complicated expression.
"It's a pity, young man. We know little of half-demon beasts, but as demon beasts are, they prey and take advantage of human desires. Demon beasts have an eternal enmity with us humans, so this must be a shock," the man shook his head as he sighed again.
"Still, we must put chains upon you. I hope you understand. Demons… especially demon foxes, have ensnared human minds in the past. I cannot risk you doing something stupid to betray us humankind. You understand, yes?"
Rein could only nod while the call of another vision arose from his heart., which he temporarily ignored. Frankly, he was still in shock with Suey's current appearance. That golden beam from Sir Godeyes' third eye had broken Suey's human appearance which was, no doubt, an illusion.
Sir Godeyes tapped a spatial ring on his hand and a metallic caravan made of a sort of dark cold iron appeared.
Within was a jail cell of thick iron bars, with inscriptions carved to strengthen each bar. These bars were connected to an indentation slotted with power crystal the supplied aurae to the inscriptions of the jail.
The power crystal was not the infamous cloud jade. It was a lesser type of gem that Rein recognized to be a type of quartz.
Suey was first placed in a type of cuff that limited her aurae circulation, before being tossed into this jail cell, in the corner of the caravan.
Rein quietly entered the caravan as he, too, was cuffed. Unlike Suey, he was allowed to sit beside the white-robed men.
"Geihr," the man with flat eyes and eyebrows with plump cheeks introduced himself.
"Rein." By now, Rein had overcome his initial shock. His mind was contemplating many things. As for Suey, she kept her gaze upon Rein, inwardly filled with apprehension.
Her apprehension was due to the fact that Rein wasn't meant to discover that she was a half-breed this early. That was not the plan, her plan. Rein was meant to experience much of the advancer world before coming to the knowledge of her true identity.
She felt fear. She had been warned many times not to overly interfere with the so-called fate. All her predecessors only did so carefully. She, instead, had chosen to take action, with the intention to completely flip the board.
Was the current situation her punishment? She could not see any warmth in Rein's eyes directed towards her anymore. He still occasionally ran his eyes over her, examining her hair and ears in detail, yet she could not tell what he was thinking.
"Young man," Geihr sighed. "We will simply ensure that whatever illusion the demon fox has placed upon you is dispelled. It will take some time-- after all, demon foxes usually use an art over an extended time to slowly capture a man's mind."
"I… simply struggle to believe it," Rein replied with a frown. "To think that a woman who I considered to be a potential lifelong mate was nothing but one of the hated demons that have long terrorized humanity… how many years have we suffered before we wrested control of the world back from their grasp?!"
"Ha!" Geihr smiled. "I am relieved to hear these words from your mouth. It can only mean that your mind is still mostly your own. Say… are you interested in joining the House of Origin?"
The white-masked man tilted his head upwards in surprise across from Rein. For Geihr to invite someone into the House of Origins was rare.
"I…" Rein wasn't sure what to say. Inwardly, he, of course, had long developed a low opinion of these research organizations that abused the bodies of their research experiments.
"We, House of Origin, have dedicated ourselves to understanding origin abilities, abilities said to be the primal expression of advancer abilities. It is through our research that humanity has developed so many varying combinations of abilities, allowing us to overcome the demon beasts."
"Ah yes," he continued, "Your brother Xeeseir, carrier of 'Retrace'. We have, in fact, asked for the cooperation of the previous users of 'Retrace'. It is in our records."
"Unfortunately, most origin users never cooperate with us. As for the users of 'Retrace', they all share the same opinion. Only if us House of Origins never divulge our research to… well those they deem immoral, will they cooperate."
"How ridiculous. Those stubborn, righteous fools of 'Retrace'. Who can even be certain of what is right or wrong across the ages?! As far as we are concerned, us House of Origins will research, experiment, and the fruits of our labor will benefit humankind. It is the duty of origin users to sacrifice their lives and bodies for our research."
"Do you not agree?" Geihr squinted his eyes at Rein and the atmosphere became tense as the other four white robed men, especially Sir Godeyes, stared at Rein.
Rein was inwardly alarmed. Was Geihr's sudden monologue a sort of test? Rein wasn't sure if he should agree or disagree.
"I don't know," Rein eventually chose to not answer at all. "After all…I've seen little of the world…And I've already fallen into a demon water fox's trap."
"I am relieved to hear your uncertainty," Geihr smiled. "Many men, ensnared by demon foxes across the ages, agree with their captor's words in an attempt to lower their guard."
Cold sweat rolled down Rein's back. They eventually sank into silence.
The metal caravan was pulled along by a mechanical puppet that seemed to be an imitation of a bull combined with a horse.
Rein finally had the time and peace to view the vision beckoning from within his heart. He closed his eyes.
The blank canvas was once again gradually filled with color and Rein found himself in Gent's body again.
Gent rushed forward into a cave system, but the darkness did not limit Gent's vision. His draconic abilities gave him impressive night vision, and Rein, in sharing Gent's body, easily transversed the darkness of the winding cave system.
Finally, they reached a well-lit small cavern with a forest of varying sizes of grayish stalactites and stalagmites top and bottom.
An unkempt man of golden hair dressed in tattered gold and silver robes, with a crazed look, stood up to welcome Gent.
To Rein's shock, he recognized this man! He had seen a statue of Xune, the so-called progenitor of humanity's heroes erected in front of the Halls! This man, though very much dishevelled, is Xune!
"Xune," Gent's voice growled in restrained anger. "Why did you call for me, your enemy?!"
"Gent," Xune deliriously smiled. "I have interacted with many of your kind. Though my father detests your existence, I know your reputation to be true. You live up to your name. I need your help! It is for a good cause. A true cause!"
"Xune," Gent spat. "I once trusted you. You say you fell in love with the white snake. Yet instead, you took her life in the Battle of the Chaotic Skies! I even guaranteed you safety in your meetings!"
Rein could feel the roiling rage repressed within Gent's mind.
A hint of clarity returned to Xune's delirious eyes at Gent's words.
"I… no I did not! It was not me! My father, the Allfather…I…" Xune's eyes flashed with a number of different emotions as his pupils dilated then relaxed. He suddenly kneeled down and repeatedly hammered his fists against the ground!
Gent was bewildered. Rein knew what Gent must be thinking. Xune must have gone mad. Perhaps the Allfather had tampered with his son's mind?!
After a few breaths of time, Xune calmed down.
"Look, Gent! It matters not! The past… we just need to create a new future!" Xune said as he gestured with an arm. "Come! Quickly! My father is already searching for this cavern!"
Gent was perturbed, and the dragon-in-human-form followed Xune through a gap into another side cavern.
Within this cavern was a spherical dark mass, a portal to elsewhere!
"Follow me!" Xune entered and his form swirled into the portal.
Gent followed and they travelled through a spatial channel for a time, before arriving in another world!
Gent peered at his surroundings, failing to recognize the place. He had travelled across many realms in his life.
"Is this... a newborn realm?" Gent's instincts caused him to ask this question. He sensed the environment around him, and he could feel through the surrounding aurae that this place was young. The surrounding forest, mountains and lakes, was all quiet, with only weak forms of existence.
"Yes, indeed!" Xune's eyes now seemed bright, his delirium somehow forgotten and dispelled.
Gent followed Xune's steps, and they reached a grassland with many pitched tents. To Gent's shock, and also Rein's who now stood in his steps, there was a rancid odor from the side. Peering over, Gent and Rein saw the corpses of many different demon beasts and humans, piled into a large pit!
"What have you done?!" Gent demanded.
"Look! Look!" Xune pointed as a tent flap opened. A humanoid figure came out, and it was a young boy that looked to be ten, with some snake-scales decorating various parts of his body.
"I managed to finally identify the curse within human and demon beast bodies! The fallen gods placed a curse deep within our flesh and blood to prevent half-breeds between our people!" Xune was ecstatic.
"So much experimentation… so many lives lost, but finally I was successful! Look!" Xune gazed upon that snake-scaled young humanoid half-breed with pride.
"You… you've gone mad," Gent muttered as his eyes remained fixed on the pit of demon beast and human corpses.
Noticing Gent's gaze, Xune merely shrugged.
"Gent, old dragon," he said. "For many years, I thought the demon beasts to be my eternal enemy. So much blood… so many lives lost. And for what?"
"I speak to the humans, and they want to butcher the demon beasts. I speak to the demon beasts, and they simply desire to swallow me!"
"The white snake…" Xune's eyes seemed to carry pain but his thoughts turned elsewhere before he could be consumed by his inner demons.
"I captured some humans and demon beasts and forcefully bred them! I naturally could not allow the demon beasts and humans to pass on their generational culture of hatred, or perhaps even hate the half-breeds that are their children! Thus they were promptly slain."
"Still. Now… Now there is hope! When two races have irreconcilable differences, is the best method not to simply force the two to create a future generation?! But my father would never allow these half-breeds to exist. Nor will the ancestral beasts tolerate their existence!"
"You are one of three that I can trust!" Xune said as his eyes filled with resolve. "The nine-tailed demon fox has been defeated many times by the Goddess of Fate, eternally trapped within her web. As such, she dispelled her very essence and will pass on her fate into this new race!"
"The second… my mother… unfortunately, I do not know where she had vanished."
"And you, Gent! It is said that your draconic lightning is the fiercest of them all! If you could surround this realm and block potential intruders…"
"You truly have gone mad!" Gent suddenly reached forth as his arm transformed into an almighty dragon claw the trapped Xune against the ground.
Xune, however, did not resist. Instead, he laughed out loud.
"I know you, Gent!" Xune was filled with joy and satisfaction. "These half-breeds are a new life, innocent life, and you will ultimately protect them against the Allfather and the forces of the origin beasts! Or other human and beastly factions! You simply can't help yourself!"
"So kill me! Crush me! It would be far better. As I have said, my father and his followers of unique arts have finally divined this knowledge. He is already coming for me!" Xune was filled with a crazed and fearless expression.
Gent's claws morphed back into an arm. Rein could sense the rage but also helplessness within Gent's mind. Indeed, these half-breeds, though created through questionable means, are a new race, its members innocent.
As for why the fallen gods had cursed demon beasts and humans to prevent their crossbreeding, that was a mystery. That is, if Xune's words of the curse were true.
"Xune. You won't have a good death," Gent could only snarlin response.
"Indeed. I won't," Xune agreed with a smile.
Two muddy wings extended from Gent's back, and he flew like a sharp arrow towards the limits of this new world's skies.
Hovering high above, viewing the spherical form of this new world, lightning sparked from his body and extended in every direction, forming a dense whitish purple lightning web that wrapped around the whole realm.
Gent would repeat this many more times until the whole world was encased in an impenetrable lightning sphere.
"It is done," Gent said after his return to the ground. "That is all that I will do, and no more. You have broken far too many taboos, Xune."
With that he returned to the portal, and Xune followed Gent in leaving the realm.
They arrived back in that cavern and Rein, in Gent's body, observed Xune destroy a number of pillars of inscription, as well as ground markers to completely dissipate the spatial tunnel to that mysterious world.
"Do those half-breeds not need care?" Gent grumbled.
"My father and likely, the many human and demon beast factions are coming," Xune explained. "I have already left my guidance for my children. The nine-tailed fox's memories will also guide them. My death is near. But I can die satisfied. Silveray, My white snake…." He sighed as he sat down with his back against the cavern wall. "We will meet soon enough again. And this world? It will be forced to reckon with the results of our love!"
Rein opened his eyes as the vision ended and he returned to the metallic jail caravan. He finally knew of Suey's world, her origin! A new light rose within Rein's eyes.