Mira hurriedly went down the mountain to inform Maria and Dominique of the information she had just learned.
"There are people after you? Why? What happened to make these women so hell-bent on finding you?" Maria asked with worry in her eyes, which only grew as she could tell Mira seemed more apathetic and distant than before.
Mira sighed and asked, "Do you remember when I told you I've reincarnated numerous times?"
Maria was puzzled but nodded as she did remember Mira saying something like that a few years ago.
"Well, it seems like the person behind all this has lost his patience and is now sending people after me to make my life hell on earth," Mira said nonchalantly, but the fierce gleam in her eyes was impossible to miss.
"But why? Why would he do something like this?" Maria's confusion grew as she couldn't understand the man's motive.
While Mira has shared with her a little about the tough times she went through in one of her previous life, she still didn't fully understand the situation.
Mira's expression sank, "...I think part of the reason is that he's bored, but he mostly wants to force me to submit to him and become his concubine."
"..."
"..."
While Dominique didn't quite understand what was happening, Maria didn't know what to say.
"...That's it?" Maria asked in disbelief.
"...Yeah, as far as I know," Mira said, her eyes narrowing. She also found the whole thing skeptical, but those are the reasons the god gave, and she couldn't find a reason why it should be anything else.
Though she was a bit unique in her first life, she didn't think it was enough to catch the attention of a god-like figure. So, for now, those were the only two reasons she could go with.
"...Then, what's going to happen now? What should we do?" Maria asked.
"Well, I can guarantee those women won't try and kill me. Not yet, at least. Instead, they will target you and Dominique first. I don't know what they'll do, but from my experience, they'll start off by driving a wedge in our relationship. Then, they'll slowly whittle you down until there's nothing left to take, in which they'll kill you," Mira said with such an indifferent face that it sent shivers down Maria's spine.
It felt like Mira had regressed back to what she was when they first met, but this didn't make Maria mad or upset. Instead, she just felt sad.
Sad that she wasn't strong enough.
Sad that Mira had to go through something like this.
Sad that Mira feels the need to close off her emotions in this situation, most likely in case something does happen, her mind doesn't completely collapse.
Unknowingly, her eyes reddened, and tears started rolling down her face. Maria got up and embraced Mira in a tight hug.
"No matter what happens, I won't blame you, Mira. After all, it's not your fault that some psychopathic asshole is hell-bent on chasing you to the ends of the earth," Maria reassured, but Mira didn't say or do anything and just stood there like a statue.
'Sigh… You might think that now, but will you be able to keep that same resolve when shit hits the fan?' Mira thought. While she did believe that what Maria was saying now was the truth, things change when someone is on the brink of despair.
To make matters worse, even though Mira knew that the 'god' had already made his move, what could she do to stop them?
She doesn't know who they are, where they are, what they look like, or what they're currently after.
'No, if I know him and the way he acts, they won't simply go after those around me. Their plans definitely run deeper than just wanting to drive a wedge between me and those close to me.'
Her mind began running at full capacity, trying to figure out their next move and what she should do to counter it.
'The only person close to me that they can reach right now is Maria. Dominique should be much harder to deal with because I'm essentially the only person in her life. However, Maria is different. Her parents are still out there somewhere.'
Mira contemplated whether she should share this information with Maria, but ultimately, she decided to tell her, as she felt it would be disingenuous if she didn't.
"Maria, I have something to say, and you're probably not going to like it," Mira pushed Maria back slightly.
"Hmmm?" Maria tilted her head.
"Your parents will most likely be their first target," Mira said calmly.
"WHAT?!" Maria jumped up and shouted!
"Why?!"
"I just told you; to drive a wedge between us," Mira said, causing Maria to bite her lip.
"T-Then… what can we do to save them? Last I heard, they had gone on a trip, so I have no idea where they are now," Maria stuttered, feeling extremely disheartened.
Mira thought for a moment, "I would… talk with Aelina. If there's anyone who can find them in the shortest amount of time, it's her. She seemed quite pleased with your behavior earlier. I don't think she'd reject you if you asked her to find your parents. In fact, you should go right now because those women might already be hot on your parents' tail."
Maria agreed and let go of Mira. While she cared for Mira immensely, this matter was urgent and couldn't be pushed back any longer. She tidied up her appearance a bit and turned around to leave, but before she did, she looked at Mira and said with a bright smile, "...Thank you for telling me, Mira."
Hearing this, Mira's indifferent face cracked, and her lips curled ever so slightly. She gave Maria a firm nod, and then the latter turned around and left to meet with Aelina.
After Maria left, Mira turned to Dominique and said, "Don't leave my sight in the near future. I can only protect you from those bad guys as long as you don't wander off."
"Don't worry, Mother! I'll stay with you no matter what!" Dominique said with a large smile.
Mira returned the smile and gave her a few head pats, "Then, do you want to take a break from training to watch me spar?"
"Yeah! Let's go!"
***
In the Core Disciple Court, Mira walked on the road, hand in hand with Dominique. None of the Elders stopped her as they knew she was the Prime Disciple Candidate that Aelina had chosen. Plus, they knew that Mira had just completed a mission with Nova, Eden, Seraphine, Everly, and Rayna, so they thought she was here to discuss something with them.
Soon after she entered the Core Disciple Court, Nova and the others appeared.
"Why are you here, Mira? Is there something you'd like to discuss? And who is this little girl?" Nova asked while looking at Dominique.
Mira ignored her last question and said, "I'd like to spar with you all."
"..."
"...Right now? But we just finished a difficult mission…." Eden said with a slight frown.
"Hmph! Are Direct Disciples like you guys so lazy? Is this all the pride of the Sect amounts to? A couple of lazy bums? And here I thought I was in a Sect full of warriors," Mira said with disdain written all over her face.
"?!"
They were all surprised by the sudden declaration, and their eyes sharpened as they looked at Mira. Although they knew she was intentionally provoking them, wasn't this a bit much? Was there a need to go so far just to spar with them?
"Hahaha! I guess you've gotten a little arrogant after that mission! Alright! We'll take you up on your challenge!" Nova laughed, walked up to Mira, and gave her a 'light' slap on the back.
"Nova!!" Eden screamed, feeling indignant about this whole situation, but she also felt like Mira was being a bit too arrogant.
"Ugh! Whatever! But I'm fighting her first!" Eden raised her fist at Mira.
Nova waved her hand dismissively, "Sure, sure. Go ahead. I'm curious how she'll fair against you, anyways."
Eden marched to the sparring arena meant for those in the Soul Transformation Realm.
Mira and Eden stepped onto the arena and stared at each other. Eden pulled out her bow and arrow, and Mira took out her scythe.
"I know you've gotten a lot stronger over the last month, but don't think that's enough to deal with us! You've still got a ways to go before you reach our level! As such, I'll limit my strength to the 5th Stage of the Core Formation Realm." Eden knocked her arrow and shouted, lowering her cultivation to equal Mira's.
However, Mira just stared at her, not saying anything.
"Hmph!" Eden snorted and aimed her bow at Mira.
Nova saw that the two were ready and said, "Alright! The spar will start in 3… 2… 1… BEGIN!"
Mira's eyes turned slightly pink, and pink mist exuded from her body, covering the area around Eden.
The woman tried to dodge, but she could not avoid all of it, and some pink mist entered her skin.
Mira quickly controlled it so that the pink mist went straight to her brain, and quickly, illusory hearts shone in Eden's pupils. When this happened, Mira knew she had successfully charmed her.
'Reaper!'
Mira muttered and activated the 2nd Stage of the [Ruler of Death] Technique and shot at Eden.
Before the Elf could even react, Mira had appeared behind her, with her scythe pressed against her neck.
Mira canceled her charm and whispered into Eden's ear, "...Looks like it's my win."
