Thank you for waiting! It was a tough month last month so it took me a while to continue writing. Although I'm slow, I'll definitely continue with this book.

I have some time this week, so I'll try and release a new update real soon too!

With the opponent on the ground wheezing for air and the crowd wild with cheers of approval, I stepped back for a bit to recover and rest. The monk came up to conclude the fight, and the ten-second count was over.

Just like that.

I didn't even know what had happened—the whole fight was like a whirlwind that blew over my head. As I sat down before the healer to have my injuries addressed, I slipped off into the sanctuary of my mind trying to comprehend the experience that I just went through. The adrenalin eventually tapered off, and the strength that I thought I had seemed to ebb away from my bones. Exhaustion came creeping in along. It brought with it the pain from my open wounds, and the sting in the burns on my skin.

Though the healer was able to very quickly speed up the healing process, helping close some of the open flesh, the burns were much harder to heal. Maun and Erenol seemed to be both worried, seeing my uncanny silence, and I gave them a smile for reassurance.

I was fine. This much was not really bad—though I found it much harder to say out loud because I was worn out.

These two were such a blessing, now that I thought about it. No matter how dark the days, they were always somehow able to find a bright spot to look at and hope for better times. Maun had had much worse to go through than I did in this life, and yet he remained very innocent and somehow optimistic of the outcome.

Once treatment was done, I made my way to watch the fights that came after mine. Considering my clothes were wrecked, I could not make my way back into the arena's dugout area—which offered the best view of the fight. Instead, I donned a cloak to hide my injuries and squeezed my way into the cramped bleachers with the rest of the audience.

I did not like thick crowds, so I paused at the mouth of the entrance, hesitating whether to continue or not. I did not want to miss the opportunity of watching the other contestants at all—and I wasn't allowed down with the other contestants without being properly clothed in my costume. Observing the fights would be beneficial to my skills and repertoire—not to mention it also allowed some insight into their capabilities, should I actually have to face them later on.

"Evyionne," a calm voice drew my attention over. I looked up to see Mistress Veronika.

"Mistress," I replied.

"You did well," she said. "Come with me."

She walked past me, leaving behind the screaming crowd and making her way down—back into the freer paths leading to the back of the arena. I threw one last glance at the bleachers before hastening after her.

"I want to watch the fight..." I said but was replied silence instead.

I did not know where we were supposed to go, but I knew better than to question the woman. Mistress Veronika had once trained in the Temple, after all. She should know this place better than me.

We trekked through a broken terrain that led to high towers I didn't know existed. It was a struggle going to because it seemed the place was determined to keep out visitors. Just the path to it was already discouraging enough as it was.

"Mistress, where are we going?" I asked as I struggled over a tall debris that was around my height. I wasn't well enough yet, and there were many places in my body that hurt. I bore with it and tried to step where my mistress had, but my legs were far too short to reach the places where hers had gone. Thankfully, she held out a hand to me and helped me up. "Are we allowed here?"

There were many places in the Temple that we weren't allowed to go to, mainly because we weren't part of it yet. But I was told much of the restrictions would be lifted once we enter under them for teachings.

"No worries. You won't be breaking any rules," she said.

We finally stopped climbing. Before us was an open sky and the vast sea. The breeze was strong. Though somewhat warm from the sun, the air was cool and refreshing to the skin. It wasn't as high as the tallest points of the whole structure, but it was high enough to offer a decent vantage point of the fight occurring in the arena. What's more, the noise was now muted by the distance. It was like a silent sanctuary, free of the troubles of the world yet allowed a view of it. Like a one-way bubble.

"I came here a lot when I discovered it a few years ago. I'm not really like your other mistresses—or like Liane and your mother, who loves being with other people," she said.

"How did you end up in Venerya, mistress? Or in Oblivion?" I asked.

The chances I got with asking questions and clarifying what had happened with the House were low, and it wasn't every day I had the confidence and opportunity to be asking questions. My mistresses, after all, held very guarded secrets. Secrets that they wouldn't tell even me

"It..." she sighed. "It's a very long story."

I sat down, letting my feet dangle from the edge of the ruined structure. It was quite a way down if I fell, but being in the mouth of danger yet safe from it at the same time gave me a sort of comforting thrill. It was a paradoxical thing to feel, but it wasn't bad. I gave her an eager smile, telling her in my own, silent way that I would love to listen.

She sat down beside me, the midnight blue hair whipping against the howling breeze. I hadn't had such a quiet time since the passing of my mother.

"I don't really know how it happened. It's just like a bomb just breezing above my head. It didn't kill me, but I didn't know how I survived either," she said. "Maybe the life of misfortune is really with me. The only time it actually turned for the better is when I met your mistresses...But I don't want to remember those things anymore. I found a place when I found Oblivion, and that's all that matters."

"Would you tell me more when I pass this trial?" I asked. "About where the other mistresses are?"

"The location of the other mistresses is unknown to me," she said. "And they most likely do not know where we are as well. That makes our whereabouts much safer. In time, when you do actually need it, they will help you, and you can find them at the right time too. Who knows? They may actually be needing your help more so than you do theirs."

"I hope so. I really miss everyone," I said. At times, I would feel like I was out in that garden dozing off under that tree. The open-air and the seemingly eternal summer breeze made me feel like so. Seasons tended to drop so far as to snow in winter in Venerya, but the climate was much warmer and temperate here in Lovarda.

"I know. Me too. It was good while it lasted, but it was due to happen sometime. You know...Oblivion was in the middle of all things tricky. It had been tough to balance, and there came the point where everything toppled over."

"Was it the same with that empress too?" I asked. "She talked as though she knew everyone..."

Mistress Veronika gazed at me and sighed.

"You knew her, right?" I prodded.

"I actually joined the latest compared to everyone else, so I've only heard of Freyna. I never really knew her personally," Mistress Veronika said. "Oblivion, you see, wasn't always the Oblivion that you knew. When Hellenia first brought you in, there was a whole argument about it. It took some convincing on our part to have both of you and your mother stay. Lamia opposed it at first...primarily because of the history of the House."

I do remember that one, I thought silently.

"I heard it was Lamia and Freyna who were brought up by the Old Madam. Lamia grew up with the House, and so did Freyna."

"The Old Madam?" I reiterated.

"The headmistress of the House before Lamia took over," Mistress Veronika said. "A reallll bitch, I tell you. It's the reason why a lot of the others have issues. Anyhow, I don't know the specifics, and I've only ever heard from Neilly and your mother...but it seems there was a bit of rivalry happening between Freyna and your Mistress Lamia. In terms of talent and beauty. Both of them really had it.

"Somehow, the other one clawed her way to become Empress because of ambition. The other one stayed behind to revise the House from foundation to tip. And they've been in this tug-of-war ever since. Apparently, you don't really need to enter the royal court to wield some real power," Mistress Veronika gave me a smile. "Oblivion was powerful in the sense that it connected with some really deep roots, and your Mistress Lamia knew to use it. That connection was, for a while, the lifesaving grace."

"And we lost in the end?"

"Hardly. That was just one of the many battles to be fought. It's far from over," Mistress Veronika said. "We just cannot stay in Venerya at the moment...because we no longer have control of things. If we insist, we might as well be handing over our lives. We can still go back to how we were...and we'll have a chance at that redemption, now, won't we?"

I nodded.

"Then, would you make me a promise?" I asked.

"What is it?"

"I really want to help the mistresses...would you tell me everything from now on? I promise I can keep a secret, and I will really try my best to help in whatever way I can," I said sincerely. "I know I'm not that great yet... I lack in a lot of areas, but I can do well. And I will win this competition. I will learn more martial arts."

Mistress Veronika gazed at my sincere face and smiled. "You know the only thing you're lacking?" she asked.

I was silent, waiting for her next words.

"It's not martial arts. It's confidence," she said. "I sense a lot of hesitation in you...I don't know where they come from. Since you were a child, you've been cautious and negative, and we weren't sure why."

I hung my head.

"Whatever burden you carry, you are brave, lionheart. You are bright. We taught you everything we could teach you, short as the time had been. You are every bit as capable and talented as we are because you are the daughter of Oblivion. The only limitation you should ever think to overcome is not what someone else has imposed on you—only you can dictate how high you can reach. Whether it is this sky or beyond. Your only limit is yourself."

She stared into my eyes, and I felt the heat of her words. I felt the passion and fury dripping from her voice. And there was that uplifting strength.

"Whenever you find yourself being pulled into that pit of doubt...remember who you are. Remember who's behind you."

I nodded. I could not say anything, no matter how much I wanted to reply. The words had struck me quite deep.

"Is this...what you wanted to tell me?"

Mistress Veronika pulled back. "Well, a part of it," she said with a grin. "I have something here for you." She pulled out something from her clothes and gave it to me.

It was a book.

"It's a technique," she said. "An art, if you would say. It's not a part of the Temple's teachings, so I can pass it to you. You won't be penalized if you use it in the arena."

"A technique?" I flipped it open and scanned the first pages. Inside, there were descriptions and illustrations of movements.

"I have looked through your opponents, and I have seen what you have done with that match earlier. I was very hesitant with giving this one to you. This was tailored for me since I made it, but there's no saying what it can do for you. It might help enlighten you in some way."

"Can I share it with Eren and Maun?"

"Maun is already formidable enough. He can easily win this competition. I'll be shocked if he didn't. Eren...on the other hand, this is not suitable for her. I'll find other things to give them. In the meantime, keep this for yourself and do not pass it on to anyone else without my permission. This technique is specialized, so there's a big chance they won't get anything from it anyway. If ever, it might even lead them down the wrong path," she said.

"I understand," I replied. "But why now?"

"I'm giving this to you to even the field. Just using the basic Movement won't be enough to tide you through completely, especially since you'll be facing a monster in the later round."

"A monster?"

"That Black Flame won't be a simple opponent. He has the making of a powerful family. His techniques would be specialized. No doubt, he was trained for combat. Eren would be facing him tomorrow. You and I know of the disparity between the two of them, so the outcome is practically clear."

"She'll lose?"

"Ninety-nine percent chance, yes. Unless a miracle happens."

"That's not very good to hear."

"She can still afford one loss. There's a chance to come back from the bottom, and this is against a powerful opponent. In the loser's tournament, she'll have a better chance of climbing to the top. I have hopes for that girl. She's as tenacious as they come. That kind of will is something god-given. It speaks waves of who her patron is."

"The dragon Raki, of the earth?"

"Yes."

"And you...I suppose you also live up to your Deliverer."

Yes, I would suppose so. Somehow, I always felt dead inside.

This is what I've been busy with: the comic launch! The Webtoon version will be coming your way on the 20th! Just 3 days from now! It's a bit different from the novel, so I hope the experience will be new for you as well.

Hope to see you there! Really excited with this one!