The room was quiet, the faint rustling of leaves outside the window the only sound in the stillness. Yohan lay on his bed, his eyes shut but his senses sharp, his mind caught between sleep and wakefulness. It wasn't the serenity of the night that stirred him, but the subtle creak of the wooden floor and the muffled sound of hesitant footsteps approaching.
Without moving, Yohan's sharp intuition told him who it was. Selene. He didn't need to open his eyes to confirm it; the light scent of her flowery perfume gave her away.
She paused at the edge of his bed, as though debating whether to take the final step. Then, with a delicate movement, she lifted the blanket and slid in beside him.
Yohan suppressed a sigh. He could feel her presence, close but careful not to wake him—or so she thought. She curled up, tucking her knees, and let out a small, contented sigh.
"What a pain," he thought, keeping his breathing steady. She was warm against his side, her head resting lightly on his arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Yohan's mind wandered briefly. Why had she done this? Was it fear? Loneliness? Or just her usual way of clinging to him? Whatever the reason, confronting her about it would lead to nothing but unnecessary drama.
"Let her be," he murmured to himself internally. "She'll get bored eventually."
As the minutes passed, Selene's breathing slowed, a clear sign she had drifted into a peaceful sleep. Yohan remained still, his thoughts returning to the challenges ahead. The Verdant Sky Sect would not be an easy place to navigate, and distractions like this could be dangerous.
He finally allowed himself to relax, slipping back into the half-sleep he'd been in before Selene's intrusion. "This girl is going to be a headache."
The faint moonlight streaming through the window illuminated the room as the night carried on, leaving only the sound of two steady breaths to fill the silence.
The first rays of sunlight crept through the thin curtains, casting a warm glow over the small room. Elara stretched as she stepped out of her bedroom, her thoughts already focused on waking Yohan.
"He's probably still asleep," she muttered to herself with a soft smile, imagining his usual stoic expression even while at rest. "I'll wake him up before Selene gets any ideas."
She walked to Yohan's door and knocked lightly. There was no answer. Frowning, she pushed the door open.
What she saw made her freeze.
Selene was curled up beside Yohan on his bed, her arms wrapped snugly around him as if he were a personal body pillow. Her silver hair spilled across the sheets, contrasting with Yohan's dark locks. Both looked peaceful, with Selene's head resting against his chest.
Elara's eyes widened, her face heating up as a mix of emotions surged through her—confusion, irritation, and unmistakable jealousy.
"Selene!" she hissed under her breath, storming over to the bed.
At the sound of her voice, Selene stirred, her crimson eyes fluttering open. She blinked a few times before realizing where she was—and the scowl on Elara's face.
"Oh, good morning, Elara!" Selene greeted cheerfully, not moving an inch from her position.
"What are you doing in his bed?" Elara demanded, trying to keep her voice low but failing to hide her frustration.
Selene tilted her head innocently. "I couldn't sleep in my room. It was lonely, and Yohan didn't seem to mind." She gave Yohan's arm a light squeeze as if to emphasize her point.
Elara's fists clenched at her sides. "That doesn't mean you can just… ugh!" She turned to Yohan, who was now awake, his crimson eyes watching the exchange with the same cold detachment he always had.
"Yohan, why didn't you say anything?" she snapped.
He sighed, sitting up and pulling his arm free from Selene's grasp. "Because it wasn't worth the effort," he said plainly. "She would've done it anyway."
Selene sat up too, a teasing smile on her lips as she stretched. "See? Yohan doesn't mind. You're overreacting, Elara."
Elara's glare could have burned through steel. "You're unbelievable."
Ignoring the tension between the two girls, Yohan swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. "If you're both done, we have things to do. Let's not waste time."
Selene hopped off the bed, clearly pleased with herself, while Elara muttered under her breath. As they left the room, Elara shot one last pointed look at Selene, who simply grinned in return.
Yohan, walking ahead of them, sighed inwardly. "This is going to be a long day."
Yohan decides to go outside to avoid Selene and Elara bickering.
The early morning air was crisp, filled with the chirping of distant birds and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. Yohan stood in the small courtyard behind their lodgings, his black assassin armor gleaming faintly under the rising sun.
With slow, deliberate movements, he began practicing a series of dagger techniques including the phantom slash, blending fluidity and precision. The twin blades of his Shadowfang Daggers sliced through the air, their edges catching the light as he moved seamlessly from one stance to another.
Each strike was purposeful, each motion calculated. The training wasn't just physical—it was meditative. His body and mind were in perfect sync, his aura calm yet brimming with hidden power.
Unbeknownst to him, Elara and Selene had quietly made their way outside, drawn by the rhythmic sound of his movements.
"Guess he wanted to avoid us," Selene whispered, leaning against the doorway with a playful smirk.
Elara rolled her eyes but said nothing, her focus entirely on Yohan. As she observed him, her eyes widened in shock.
"Wait… his aura," she murmured, taking a step forward.
Selene frowned, sensing it too. "It's stronger."
Both girls watched in astonishment as Yohan moved with an intensity that hadn't been there before. His cultivation energy was more potent, radiating from him in faint, controlled waves.
"That's… impossible," Elara said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "He was only at the first stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm yesterday. How could he have reached the fifth stage overnight?"
Selene's crimson eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Maybe he's just that talented. Or maybe he has a secret he's not telling us."
Yohan finished his routine with a swift, final strike, the daggers cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. He stood still for a moment, his breathing steady, before sheathing the blades and turning toward the girls.
Elara stepped forward, her curiosity overcoming her usual restraint. "Yohan, your cultivation… did you—"
"It doesn't matter," he interrupted, his crimson eyes meeting hers. "We have more important things to focus on."
Selene smirked, walking closer. "You're full of surprises, aren't you, Yohan?"
He ignored her comment, instead gesturing toward the courtyard. "If you're here, start training. We don't have time to waste."
Elara and Selene exchanged a glance, their questions lingering, but they didn't press further. As they began their own training routines, they couldn't help but steal glances at Yohan.
"Just who are you, Yohan?" Elara wondered silently, her admiration and frustration growing in equal measure.
Meanwhile, Yohan stood off to the side, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "The Phantom Eclipse Art works faster than I thought," he mused to himself. "But I'll keep that to myself for now."
Once the girls were distracted with their training, Yohan stepped away, his expression serious. "System," he thought, his inner voice calm but demanding, "is there anything in the shop that can hide my cultivation level? I can't afford to attract attention for advancing this quickly."
The system's mechanical voice responded almost immediately.
"Scanning… An item has been located. The 'Veil of Obfuscation' is available in the shop. It is a discreet accessory that suppresses and conceals the host's cultivation level, making it appear average to others, regardless of actual progression."
Yohan's eyes narrowed. "What's the cost?"
"100 Path Tokens. Current balance: 200 Path Tokens."
Without hesitation, Yohan made the purchase. A small black bracelet materialized in his hand, its design simple but elegant, etched with faint runes that pulsed softly with energy.
"This will do," he muttered, slipping the bracelet onto his wrist. Immediately, he felt the artifact's energy envelop him, dampening the aura he had unintentionally released during his training.
Satisfied, he returned to the courtyard, his presence now unassuming.
Meanwhile, Elara and Selene continued their training, none the wiser to Yohan's recent purchase.
"Good," Yohan thought, watching them silently. "I'll keep my advancement to myself for now."