UWU I know it's late. Please feel free to send me a message in any of my social media account for a reminder.

Considering the prideful nature that Black Flame had, I expected some unresigned attitude to loss. He did have it, but more than that he had a hint of wariness towards my direction. I would assume that the intimidation I planted had also given him some thoughts. Unfortunately, I was not privy to his mind, so I could only choke it up as some suspicion towards my ability.

If he hadn't picked up on anything strange, I would be surprised.

"Don't be too hung up about it," I told him. "I already knew what would happen...otherwise, hehe."

Although it was last minute and it came off a little pathetic, I wanted to try and keep up the image of having Vagun as my deliver. Now that I talked, I felt that it would've been better if I hadn't spoken at all.

I could feel Black Flame's pointed gaze on my person as he walked off the stage. His back was straight and he didn't dwell too much on the loss.

Anyway, it was too late to take back anything, so after receiving the praises for the winner, I immediately left and gloomily headed to rest. Amber had also stopped helping stabilize the aura surrounding me so I once again was thrown in a sea of discomfort I never knew I was in.

I got a taste of comfort for a while and now it was so hard to go back to the way things were before. I would assume that things would only proceed to get worse as night came. Perhaps it would be better to retreat to Mistress Kora's side early as well.

"Evy, you did well," Mistress Kora told me. "How are you feeling?"

"Uncomfortable," I said.

"Alright. I've already prepared everything. It's still a little early, but I think we can start," he said. "Wait here for a bit. I'll go and gather the materials. Maun, Eren, can you go look for the Abbot? Tell him we need to start."

The two bobbed their heads obediently and sped off to do as they were told.

"It must've been because you used it extensively in your fight just now," Mistress Veronika told me, patting my head. "I already talked with the Abbot. He'll be bringing us to a place with better location."

"Is that allowed?" I asked.

I had my doubts. We weren't usually allowed to roam other places other than the camp and the public facilities. Even though we were given a place to live free of charge, that didn't mean we had a free range over the entire place. The Temple was quite large. The camp was only about a fraction of its size. We hadn't actually gone into the actual place—only people affiliated directly with the Temple were allowed further inside.

"The acceptance ceremony will be officially held tomorrow and...reveal your identities to the public. However, considering you've already done the worshipping procedures and accepted him as your master, then you're already considered a disciple of Temple. It's fine," she reassured me. "It'll be safer like that too. We aren't very sure what will happen if you remain out here."

"Reveal our identities?" I asked. "Won't that...be bad for us?"

"It's alright. I've already talked with the Abbot. It's not necessary to reveal yourself unless you're in for the glory. This is usually done for the ones who weren't fortunate enough to win. If they desire to come forward and publicize themselves, it's an opportunity to be known," she told me.

"So I'm not required to take my mask off?" I asked.

"No. You're not. I'm sorry, Evy."

"No. It's okay. I'm not interested in those things," I said. "Besides...I'm way too conspicuous. If people heard about me, they'd know who I am." My features were a little too distinct. If people saw me, they would definitely be curious. There weren't many with red hair, purple eyes, and medium skin.

"Yes." Mistress Veronika carressed my hair apologetically. "Just bear with it for now. It's going to get better soon."

I nodded numbly. I wasn't in the mood to voice out my opinions—it's not like I had any to begin with. Right now, I was more concerned about the discomfort I was feeling as well as the numbness that was spreading inside me. Previously, the manifestations of my ability had been physical, but I felt now that it was affecting me differently. Although there would probably be no vitality-sucking frost around to cause trouble, I was suffering from the inside out.

Soon, Eren and Maun came back and told us that we could now head inside.

Maun could enter, considering his identity as the overall champion of the tournament, but Eren could not. In most circumstances, Mistress Kora would not also be allowed inside, but in lieu of his identity as someone to assist in my condition, the Abbot allowed him an exception.

Mistress Veronika decided she would stay outside with Erenol, who insisted that she didn't have to. However, the mistress did not change her mind.

"If anything happens, I'll be out here," she told me. "Anyhow, I'm not that much needed. Kora and Maun should be able to help you just fine."

That made sense. I remembered just now that mistress Kora had taken Maun as an apprentice of a sort. He must've been learning a lot recently.

"See you tomorrow," I said.

Eren gave me a smile and Mistress Veronika gave a nod as well. I turned to eye the gates leading into the inner temple and found a monk there waiting for us.

"Hello," he greeted. "My name is An. I'll be in charge of leading you to the Abbot's side," he said.

I bowed my head to him. "Hello," I whispered.

"We're technically martial siblings. I'm a disciple of the Abbot as well. You can call me senior brother."

"Senior brother," I solemnly addressed.

"Let's go."

By the time we entered through the gates leading into the inner parts of the temple, it was already dusk. The monk I regularly saw around lighting lanterns along the path was now actively doing his job. The gentle and warm light spilled onto the pavement and gave the solemn and tranquil path a unique charm. I would suppose that the best way to describe the place was very close to nature. The buildings all around were in harmony with the environment and were unlike the domineering and occupying nature that other structures had.

The energy was getting thicker. When compared to this place, the praying grounds could not compete at all.

"This is the Abbot's exclusive training grounds. We call it Sunset Hill," An told us. "You'll be staying here a lot from now on, so make sure to feel at home. Someone will show you around on a better day."

We opened to an elevated building that faced east. The roofs tipped upwards to the sky in the shape of a flaring skirt...or probably an ocean wave. The walls were painted red while the roofs were a solemn green. Plants dotted the pathway leading to the door and I found the place was even richer with energy. It had some character to it that made it somewhat distinct, although I could not quite put a finger on the feeling I was getting from it.

An led us inside and pointed to the direction of a door. "Head down this path and to that door. The Abbot will be waiting for you there," he said. "I'll be taking my leave. I'll return with some refreshments."

"Thank you," Mistress Kora told him.

"It's my pleasure."

We came up to the door and knocked. I'd expected we would hear a voice telling us to come in. However, contrary to expectations, the Abbot actually opened the door for us and gave us cordial greetings.

Once inside, I was suprised by the...emptiness of it.

Not literally, of course. There were furnitures. Simple decors. An incense was burning on the corner. It was minimalistic and there were not distracting details within.

But the most prominent characteristic I took notice of was that the place inside was devoid of the rich energy outside.

"Welcome," the Abbot said. "This is an isolation room. In order to get turbulent energies under control, it's best to separate you from your supply. This way, the degree will be controllable."

"Thank you for the thoughtfulness, Abbot," Mistress Kora said. "Come on, kids. We should begin as soon as possible."

With the help of Mistress Kora, the Abbot, and Maun, I passed the new moon relatively stably. I had some flare ups in the worse part of the night, but it was nothing that could not be managed. The Abbot left us in the room after a conversation over some tasty dinner and refreshments. Mistress Kora slept on the side with Maun and I took up some space in the corner comfortably.

It was much warmer in here.

I didn't complain about the tent, but the living conditions in the camp were inevitably not as comfortable as this place. A proper roof, a proper floor, a proper bed, a proper blanket, and a place I could freely stretch my legs and sprawl around without having to mind if I would infringe on the space of the person sleeping next to me.

Clutching Maun's carved life talisman, I curled up under the blankets and dreamed of the familiar comfort that I got from living in the House of Oblivion. That night, I dreamed of being with my mistresses again—how we would sit before the table and discuss about our days. How they would tell me stories and show me their crafts. How Mistress Marga's experiments would inexplicably go wrong and explode in the middle of the night.

When I woke up the next morning, I was quite surprised to realize that the aura of death had not disappeared like I thought it would. It was still there, albeit not as bad. It lingered and coiled from within me like a beast dozing off to sleep.

"Amber?" I asked, wondering if he would be there.

"What is it?"

I was relieved. "You can still communicate?"

"This is both good and bad news," he said.

"Good news is?"

"I have a supply of energy I can draw from to maintain communication with you at all times," he told me. "Bad news is that this means that things are getting worse."

"Just wait a while for me to learn more and stabilize my energy. I think it won't be long before you get strong enough to get a body as well, like you mentioned before. After that, we can go cruising around the West beating those things into submission."

"I look forward to it."

The Abbot came back with a simple breakfast. After checking on my condition and confirming I was well, he told us to get ready and don our costumes one last time. Today was the conferrment and acceptance ceremony for us new five disciples and it would be held early in the morning, when the weather was cool and prime for a celebration.

As I pulled on my clothes, I looked over to Maun, "Have you thought of which master you want to worship, yet? They're all fighting over you, you know. And I remember you have to choose today."

He looked at me thoughtfully. "I think Master Myrrh is good," he signed to me. "He has medical knowledge. I'm very interested in learning to be like Mistress Kora."

"Well..." I had some doubts about that old man's character, but I do admit...he might be the capable one. "I can't advise you on that. Good luck," I said.