Maria walked away from the window and made her way down the mansion toward her office. She figured Mira would secretly pay her a visit at some point after they left the Secret Realm, but she wasn't sure when.
'It was faster than I thought.' She gently rubbed the engagement ring on her finger. '...I guess I was right. She didn't want to talk, or perhaps she was just too nervous.'
While she was thinking that, she opened the door to her office and noticed that a letter had replaced the one that she had left there for Mira.
"Although it's a bit awkward, this way of communicating is probably the most suitable for now," Maria muttered to herself while shivering, feeling phantom pain run down the middle of her body.
She still remembered the sensation of getting cut in half and dying.
'It still feels like a dream.' She thought, not wanting to remember but forced to.
The act of dying… it was indescribable. In that split second, before her consciousness faded and she was brought back to life, it felt like she was stretched endlessly. Like she was in the center of a black hole.
It was like an infinite void filled her consciousness for eons before she was brought back to the world of the living, despite only a second passing. Time meant nothing to her in that state, and she wasn't even sure if she was still 'her'.
'...Yet, Mira has experienced this multiple times?' She wasn't sure how to feel about that.
Was she mad, betrayed, upset, sad, sorrowful, or did she pity Mira? Everything was just so messed up that she wasn't sure how to process it all.
'I just need time–time to put my feelings in order. I'm sure Mira feels the same, or else she never would've come here.' Thinking about how Mira scrambled out of her mansion did put a smile on her face, as in some twisted fashion, it showed she cared and worried about her.
Picking up the letter on her desk, she opened it and noticed a spatial ring plus a few talismans fall out. Ignoring those, she read the short message that Mira had written:
[I'm taking Dominique to the Northern Continent to train. Come find me if you want to talk.]
"......"
"Pfft-HAHAHAHA~!" Maria burst out into uncontrollable laughter. "That woman… Hahahaha~! What a pain in the butt~!"
While still chuckling, she put the letter into her storage ring alongside the other items and stared out the window. "But, I guess she's my pain in the ass~"
***
On the other side, as she was on Rhydian's back, Mira didn't even think of looking at the items Maria left for her.
As they continued north, Mira took this opportunity to focus on Hana's cultivation, specifically her 'Organ Refinement Stage' within the Body Tempering Realm.
Using a technique she had created through studying the Body Tempering Realm, other techniques she had studied, and with the help of the FLDIL Mira guided Hana through the process of perfectly refining her organs.
Hana had already perfectly opened all her meridians, which hardly took any effort compared to the other stages.
This process of organ refinement was delicate, requiring Hana to channel her Qi in precise ways to strengthen and purify her internal organs.
Hana showed a remarkable aptitude for cultivation under Mira's tutelage. Her progress was steady, and she absorbed the teachings like a sponge. Through these training sessions, Hana's mother also learned what Mira meant by 'test subject'.
Linnea, of course, wasn't left behind. How could Mira just let someone in her group idly sit by as everyone else was training?
Thus, Mira put Linnea through the same series of strength training exercises that Hana had to go through when she started these 'experiments'. Linnea might technically be a cripple, but that didn't mean she couldn't strengthen herself at least a little.
Even mortals without talent could cultivate within the Body Tempering Realm, much less someone whose cultivation used to be far above that.
As they neared the northern edge of the Ancient Beast Mountain Range, the landscape began to change dramatically. The air grew colder, and the terrain became more rugged and treacherous.
After about a week of travel, they arrived at a large coastal city known as Frostshore Haven.
Frostshore Haven was a hub for traders, sailors, adventurers, and mercenaries. The city was built to withstand the harsh northern climate, with sturdy stone buildings and high walls protecting it from the fierce ocean winds.
Its ports were filled with ships of all sizes, some preparing to brave the dangerous waters of the northern seas.
Upon entering Frostshore Haven, the group immediately felt the shift in the atmosphere. It wasn't anything like the inland cities.
It was incredibly diverse, with all kinds of races and people they'd never seen before, along with a more silently chaotic undertone.
Just walking through the city for a few minutes, they saw numerous people break out into fights. However, there was a distinct lack of killing intent that caught Mira off-guard.
'So, they're just playing around? Or, I guess, asserting their dominance?' Her eyes gleamed with excitement, but Rhydian and Elenei kept her at bay, not wanting her to create a scene as soon as they stepped foot into the city.
Mira and her companions made their way to a modest but comfortable inn near the city center. The innkeeper was a burly man with a wrinkled face who greeted them with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
"You don't look like you're from around here." The man at the counter said with squinted eyes.
Before Mira could open her mouth, Linnea stepped up and smiled. "We'll take three rooms for a week, please."
The man just grunted, but he got the hint. He took out three keys and handed it to them. "That'll be 1,500 Spirit Stones."
Elenei tossed a bag over, and they went on their way.
After securing rooms for the night, Mira gathered the group in the common area of the inn. They needed to plan their next move carefully. The Northern Continent was infamous for its unpredictable weather and fierce sea creatures, making the journey across the ocean quite the challenge if they couldn't find the right people.
"We need to find a reliable captain and crew," Mira stated her voice firm. "Someone who knows these waters well and can navigate us safely to the Northern Continent."
Dominique nodded in agreement. "We should also gather more information about the continent itself. The more we know, the better prepared we'll be."
Rhydian, in her human form, leaned against the wall, her eyes scanning the room. "I'll take a look around the docks tomorrow."
Elenei, sitting quietly at the table, spoke up. "I'll accompany you."
Mira looked at Linnea and Hana. "You two will come with me. Who knows what sort of ruffians might try and take advantage of you."
Linnea nodded, a determined look in her eyes. "I understand. I'll do my best to help."
Hana, clutching Dominique's hand, gave a small smile. "I'll work hard too!"
