Mikael's movements flowed like a ray of moonlight, graceful and fluid. His sword shimmered in the night, weaving arcs that exuded serenity and poise—yet beneath that elegance lay a barely veiled lethality.
Surprisingly, even though this was his very first attempt at executing the Moonlight Sword Dance, he moved as if he had practiced it a thousand times before. The near-perfect control he had forged through his earlier training, combined with his collection of powerful high-level talents, was beginning to manifest in full terror.
While his performance wasn't flawless, it was still breathtaking in its execution. Relying solely on the manual he had studied earlier, Mikael was able to replicate the dance's intricate steps with uncanny precision, approaching perfection despite his lack of practical experience.
Of course, this didn't mean he had reached the Entry level of the Moonpiercer Sword Art. In truth, he was merely mimicking the form of the Moonlight Sword Dance, not embodying its deeper essence. And yet—even while this surface-level replication marked the easiest phase of cultivation—his speed of progress remained nothing short of monstrous.
"Swish."
Sangrelia continued to hum through the air as Mikael flowed across the clearing, his movements gradually becoming more harmonious, more attuned to the moonlight that bathed him. Step by step, his rhythm deepened, and his presence grew more fluid—almost as if the moon itself was guiding his sword.
Eventually, he came to a stop, lowering himself into a meditative posture. With steady breath, he turned his attention back to the manual, delving into its words to digest each layer of meaning. Once he achieved a new understanding—or refined an existing one—he would rise again, resuming the Moonlight Sword Dance or shifting to another related practice such as the Moonlight Meditation.
Theory and practice blended seamlessly into a continuous cycle. Each time comprehension took root, it was solidified through training. Each time the physical motion resonated with him, it birthed fresh insight. And so the pattern repeated—insight giving way to motion, motion deepening insight.
This rhythm endured until the moon's final ray vanished beyond the horizon, replaced by the first golden touch of sunlight. At that moment, Mikael ceased his practice of the Moonpiercer Sword Art and shifted seamlessly into his study of the Sword Nurturing Art.
Thus, the days began to blur into one another. During the day, he immersed himself in the Sword Nurturing Art. At night, he devoted himself fully to the Moonpiercer Sword Art. One cycle flowed into the next, uninterrupted.
And with each passing cycle, Mikael grew steadily more proficient, his mastery progressing in silence—yet unbeknownst to him, another event was quietly unfolding elsewhere.
***
The quiet of Sword Heart Peak wrapped around Lyra like a familiar blanket. She sat near the edge of a sun-warmed terrace, back straight, fingers delicately turning a page. Her eyes moved across the text, but she wasn't truly reading. The breeze that danced through the trees carried the scent of pine and drifting blossoms—soothing, like the silence.
A soft scuffle broke her focus.
"Ah… There you are."
Lyra turned her head. Hua Lianyu stood a few steps away, slightly out of breath, a half-creased smile curving her lips. Her long robe was dusted with a few stray petals, and she looked as though she might've tripped at least once on her way here.
"You always find the best spots," Lianyu said, brushing leaves off her sleeves before plopping down beside Lyra with a relieved sigh. "It's so peaceful."
Lyra gave a small nod. "I like the quiet."
"Yeah… me too. Sometimes." Lianyu glanced sideways, folding her legs underneath her with practiced ease. "But every now and then it gets too quiet, and then I start talking to myself. Or humming. Or both."
Lyra's lips curved ever so slightly. "That explains the humming I heard this morning."
"Really?" Lianyu looked mildly horrified, then chuckled. "Guess I need to find better hiding places."
They fell into silence again, though it wasn't uncomfortable. Lianyu busied herself with absentmindedly plucking at the grass growing between the tiles, while Lyra continued to stare at her book without turning the page.
"Hey," Lianyu eventually said, tilting her head. "Junior Sister Lyra, you seem lost in thought. What's on your mind?"
"Nothing…" she answered half-heartedly.
Lian'er gasped. "Are you getting bullied!?"
"What?" Lyra exclaimed, visibly confused as her purple eyes snapped toward her lively Senior Sister.
Lian'er's cute expression twisted into a scowl. "Damn them—who dares bully my Junior Sister!?" she cursed, before pausing and softening her gaze as she looked back at Lyra. "Don't worry, you can tell me who it is. Your Senior Sister's going to take care of it—and I promise, they'll regret it!" she declared proudly, patting her chest with conviction.
For a moment, Lyra was utterly stupefied.
Then her lips began to twitch, and before she could stop herself, she erupted into laughter.
"Ehh?" Hua Lianyu blinked in confusion. Why was her Junior Sister laughing at her words? Shouldn't she be crying tears of gratitude and hugging her for offering to protect her from bullies? Or at the very least… say thank you? That's how it was supposed to go, right?
Lian'er was confused.
Lyra continued to laugh for a while under her Senior Sister's puzzled stare. "Sorry… sorry for laughing," she finally managed to say as she caught her breath.
"I don't mind," Lian'er replied, still visibly confused. "But I don't get it—why did you laugh? You're not getting bullied, right?"
Lyra gently shook her head. "No, I'm not getting bullied. Don't worry."
"Oh…" Lian'er let out a soft, disappointed murmur before suddenly perking up as if struck by a realization. "Oh! Then that means you're not actually sad?"
"Sad?" Lyra echoed, hesitating for a moment as if unsure how to respond. For a brief instant, she seemed caught between speaking and staying silent. But in the end, she gave a small shake of her head. "I'm not sad."
"Are you sure?" Lian'er asked, her voice softer now, more earnest. Despite her usual playfulness, her sharp eyes had noticed that fleeting hesitation. "If something's bothering you, you can talk to your Senior Sister about it."
"This…" Lyra paused again, but the warmth in Lian'er's voice and the sincere concern shining in her eyes gave her the courage to continue. "You see, I met Mikael and my two Dao Sisters almost four years ago now, and since then… I've been happy. There's nothing I could complain about."
As she spoke, a gentle light flickered in her eyes—joy mixed with soft reminiscence. "I remember the first time I met Mikael. It was at the library, where I worked as an assistant librarian. He simply came to borrow some books, and we ended up having a pleasant conversation. At the time, I didn't think much of it… but without realizing it, that man would soon become incredibly important to my heart."
She chuckled lightly, a reminiscent smile curving her lips.
Hua Lianyu remained silent, attentively listening. Partly because she genuinely wanted to understand the reason behind her Junior Sister's earlier expression, and partly because, well… the story was far too good to interrupt. Learning how her Junior Brother and Junior Sister had met felt like a rare treat.
"After that, we ran into each other several more times, and before I knew it… I found my heart beating for him."
'Ahh, this is too romantic…' Lian'er gushed inwardly, entirely absorbed in the unfolding tale.
"Of course, a lot happened afterward—I won't bore you with all the details—but the main point is that I met Mikael and my two Dao Sisters, and our relationship has been really good."
Lyra went on, entirely unaware of the subtle pout forming on Lian'er's lips. The moment she mentioned skipping over some parts, a faint glint appeared in Lian'er's eyes—her gaze narrowing just a little. She clearly wanted the full version.
But Lyra, lost in her memories, didn't notice.
"After that," she continued softly, "time kept moving forward, and my relationship with Amelia and Kiara grew deeper. Eventually, we became so close it felt like we were real sisters. Things with Mikael also changed. Our bond strengthened until, one day, we officially became 'Dao Companions'—as it's called in this world."
She paused briefly before adding, "Then, after some time had passed, the four of us made the decision to enter the Akashic Records Universe together. It was the natural next step—the only path forward if we truly wanted to continue growing stronger."
Hua Lianyu nodded, understanding their reasoning. At the same time, curiosity flickered in her eyes. What was the world outside the Akashic Records Universe like? She had never stepped beyond its bounds and couldn't help but wonder. Still, not wanting to interrupt her Junior Sister, she remained quiet.
"We arrived on Diron and took our breakthrough trial at the Evolution Center. After that, we joined the Wandering Sword Sect—and, well, the rest you probably already know."
Lyra paused briefly before continuing, her tone shifting ever so slightly. "Since we entered the Akashic Records Universe… maybe because of the more serious and pressure-filled atmosphere… something resurfaced in me. Something that hadn't happened since I met Mikael and the girls." She looked down slightly, her voice quieter. "My social anxiety came back."
"Social anxiety?" Lian'er asked, tilting her head with curiosity.
Lyra let out a deep, drawn-out sigh that carried more weight than words could express. "Yeah… social anxiety. Honestly, I thought I had overcome this curse. It's been years since I last truly felt it."
She turned her gaze toward the horizon, melancholy filling her eyes. "I think it all started because of how I was raised. As a royal princess, every step I took, every word I spoke, was scrutinized. The constant judgment wore me down until I began to dread appearing in public—or even talking to strangers. That's why I took refuge in the library. It was quiet… peaceful… a place filled with books and free of people."
She paused, her voice softening with a mixture of resignation and disappointment. "It haunted me for years. But these last few years… I finally felt free. I could breathe again, live without fear. But now… for the past couple of weeks, it's back." Another sigh escaped her lips—this one heavy with discouragement.
"This…" Lian'er faltered, unsure how to respond. But as silence settled, a flicker of anger surfaced in her expression. "If you've been feeling this way for weeks, then why didn't Junior Brother Mikael, Junior Sister Amelia, or Junior Sister Kiara help you?" she asked, her voice sharper than usual.
Hearing that uncharacteristic edge in her usually mischievous Senior Sister's voice, Lyra felt an unexpected warmth rise in her chest. She offered a small, bittersweet smile as she answered, "They didn't know. I never told them. I didn't want to worry them about it. I didn't think it was necessary—especially not now, with everything we have to deal with in the Akashic Records Universe. In truth… I hadn't planned to tell you either. It just… slipped out."
Lian'er's anger dissipated as soon as she heard those words. "Yeah, my cute Juniors aren't inconsiderate," she muttered with a nod of approval. "They wouldn't ignore you if they knew. Makes sense!"
Then, without warning, Lian'er stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Lyra in a sudden, heartfelt hug.
"There, there. Don't be sad," she whispered softly. "Your Senior Sister is here—and she's going to help you deal with this, no matter what!"
When the brief embrace ended, Lyra looked up at her in surprise. "Help me?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Author Note:
EnjoyingAscension Through the Records?
A quick Power Stone, short review, or thoughtful comment helps the novel rise in the rankings.
Want to read ahead? Unlock advanced chapters on Patreon—just search SDASLUMMY.
You're part of this story's ascent. Thanks for being here.
— End of Chapter —