Damien couldn't even imagine how someone with her cultivation could sneak around Spirit Ethereal Realm beasts or even stronger ones!
"What do you mean?" Damien asked puzzledly.
Valentina popped the remaining slice of meat into her mouth and gobbled it up. Then she got up and said with an excited expression, "Here, watch this."
Damien focused his gaze on Valentina but still nothing happened. But suddenly he felt a hand from behind touching his back. Damien got startled and instantly turned around, catching the hand. But his eyes widened when he saw that it was Valentina!
"H-How is this…" Damien looked behind him to see if Valentina was still there at her original position. And to his surprise, she was still there, giggling at him!
Damien was seeing two Valentina's, one of them was behind him and the other was in front of him with her hand in his grip.
"Luna, what the hell did she just do?" Damien couldn't help but ask the only person who could make sense of it.
"Hmm...she is proficient in Illusion Laws. I guess that's why her soul is too strong. Try spreading your spiritual perception at its maximum and concentrate on the Valentina behind you." Luna said in an amused tone.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Damien didn't think too much and spread his spiritual perception with utmost concentration and as Luna said, he focused on the Valentina behind him. As he fully focused, he noticed that the Valentina behind him disappeared as if she was never there. But the Valentina in front of him was still there with her hand in his grip.
He released Valentina's hand and said, "You are the real one, aren't you."
Valentina had a blinking expression and asked, "H-How did you know?"
Damien smirked playfully, "Heh, you can't trick this big brother."
Valentina pouted adorably seeing that she wasn't able to show off in front of Damien.
But inwardly Damien was so amazed that he admired Valentina for having such a gobsmacking ability. He imagined having such ability himself and he couldn't stop thinking of the innumerous ways he could use them.
"There are even laws like Illusion Laws?" Damien asked Luna in an incredulous tone. He still couldn't imagine what other kinds of laws would exist out there and the people who are adept at them.
"Didn't I tell you, that the ethereal way is way more profound and vaster than you think. Illusion Laws are one of the Greater Laws just like Light and Darkness Laws. The profundity of her Blood Laws could also be said to be comparable to your Lightning Laws, superior than pure Water Laws. But I can't believe in such a lowly land, those adept at even Greater Laws are popping up. This all can't be a coincidence after all, this is the third time I am seeing an anomaly." Luna said in a reflecting tone.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Damien also felt that he had been experiencing and learning too many incredulous things these days. But he didn't expect even Luna to find it surprising. He thought he found it shocking because of his lack of knowledge about the ethereal way.
"Then how did she get hurt by that ethereal beast? Because unlike us humans, it's soul is weak, isn't it?" Damien asked Luna.
He thought that unless someone had a relatively strong soul cultivation, they wouldn't be able to even touch a single hair on Valentina. Even for him, he had to concentrate to find out the original Valentina. He guessed that maybe that was why Valentina always steered away from the places where she detected the presence of humans. Only because of the flower, she showed up in front of both him and Igor.
Even though Damien's soul cultivation was only at the Peak Origin Soul Stage, his soul was comparable to Peak Nascent Soul Stage because of the speciality of his soul. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to find out which Valentina was the real one.
"To discern between illusion and reality, one can also rely on their superior ethereal cultivation by spreading their ethereal aura to get feedback on the location of the original body. The ethereal beast which was guarding the flower must have had way higher ethereal cultivation than her. She foolishly overestimated herself because of her greed and got her face scarred." Luna said indifferently.
"Come on, she's just a kid. It won't hurt to be a little kind, you know." Damien said, hearing Luna's critical remarks.
"Hmph, look who's talking." Luna rolled her eyes inwardly.
Damien chuckled as he knew that he just gave hypocritical advice to Luna. Luna was similar to Damien in the sense that she wouldn't care about anyone who doesn't matter to her. She's only concerned about Damien since he is her lifeline.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})But thinking that she helped him just because she thought he saved her, Damien was getting fond of Valentina seeing how adorable and innocent she was. And since she was a young ethereal beast, he need not be wary of her, like against humans. He realized that despite what he had become, he was still fond of beautiful things.
But most of all, Valentina reminded him of a certain person from his previous life. Someone whom he treated like his little sister...someone who endearingly called him 'Big Brother Damien'... someone who still died for him in the end.
Before he realized it, his eyes had started becoming slightly moist.
'I can't believe I am still getting emotional over all these bygone memories.' Damien ruefully smiled inwardly. But a thought passed through his mind wondering if she would also have reincarnated like Sofie. But he shook off those thoughts asking himself why he was hoping to see her again other than Sofie.
He then looked at Valentina who still seemed sulky that she was easily found out.
He chuckled softly seeing her expression and crouched down as he patted her head, "Do you know how impressed I am by your ability? You are able to do amazing things that this big brother cannot do. Before, I had to really try hard to find you, and not everyone would be amazing like me. You should be happy that you have such awesome abilities and also because you have an awesome big brother like me."
Valentina's sulky expression slowly vanished as a gleeful expression replaced it upon hearing Damien's words. She felt on top of the world hearing how Damien complimented her and her abilities. When she heard the last part, she also felt glad that she met Damien.
Seeing her innocent and sparkling smile as beautiful as an illusion along with her bright ruby red eyes, Damien also felt a sense of happiness in his heart.
For some reason, Damien felt like he was becoming close to Valentina even though he had just met her today. But he was glad he met her.
Damien then got up and noticed how dark the sky has become and said with a smile, "I am going to take some rest. Are you sure ethereal beasts won't wander around here?"
Valentina nodded, "Mn. The ethereal beasts keep away from this area because of some strange flower in this region."
Damien guessed that it must be the Common Grade Sickly Flower which gives out a pungent smell that keeps away ethereal beasts.
"Then I will be leaving early tomorrow morning." Damien said.
"But why?" Valentina asked with an anxious expression as she enjoyed Damien's company and didn't want him to leave. She was living all alone this whole time in this dangerous forest and now Damien was the first human she befriended who taught her new things and also played with her.
Damien sighed, "I can't stay here. I have to go back to the place I am staying at."
"B-But...you can also stay here. I will also bring you fruits and meat for you to eat." Valentina said in a brittle tone.
He chuckled seeing how attached she was becoming to him and patted her head, "I really can't, as there is someone waiting for me. But don't worry, I will come to this forest every day for hunting and I will also spend some time with you. Happy?"
Hearing the last part of his sentence, Valentina had an elated expression as she jumped with joy, "En. I will wait right here for you, Big Brother Damien."
