"Alaric, I'd like you to meet a very good friend of mine," Tian said, gesturing toward the beautiful woman. "Her name is Oliveria..."
Before he could continue his introduction, Oliveria pulled him into the cabin, leaving Alaric alone with the still-shy girl.
Silence hung in the air. For a few seconds, only the sound of the wind brushing against the tips of the grass could be heard. Alaric didn't mind the awkward silence; he was used to it. His companion, however, was different. She fidgeted with her fingers nervously, glancing at him and then down at her feet.
It took her close to twenty seconds before she broke the awkward silence.
"Um, hi, my name is Eva. It's nice to meet you." She said shyly.
He has come to discover that practitioners hardly ever give away their full names, only their first name, for reasons he has yet to answer. The only exception is those of well-known lineages who have no choice in the matter. If they could prevent it, they wouldn't give their name for any reason. This led him to believe that he had made a grave mistake in giving his name to others from the outset.
'I wonder what the consequences are?' He couldn't help it. Whatever troubles it brings, he will face them when the time comes. He has tried asking Old Tian about it before, but the only reply he got was Ýou never know who might be listening, so be careful when you give out such information.'
Just the thought that there might be unseen entities observing and listening to his every word is enough to send a chill down his spine.
"I am Alaric, the pleasure is all mine."
She seems well-educated enough not to give such crucial information to him. Some children born in this world are more mature than others, depending on the level of development in their bloodline. Their level of maturity is therefore proportional to their level of talent.
Just looking at her defensive, shy posture, he could see that she was well-trained for a six-year-old. He hadn't used the special ability of his eyes to analyse her; he was just warned, so it would be foolish to do so, but his eyes were able to see a lot of details even in this state.
They continued talking, after their introduction, as she began to speak more freely with him, showing signs of relaxation in his presence.
/TLF/
Within the cabin.
The cabin exuded a simple charm, cocooned in the embrace of towering pines, its rustic walls steeped in a heavy silence that enveloped the space like a thick fog. The air was infused with the musky aroma of aged timber mingled with the remnants of cold ashes, whispering stories of warmth long past. Dust hung suspended in the feeble light streaming through the timeworn windows, creating an ethereal glow that landed softly on a rough-hewn table, its surface scarred and pockmarked by the passage of years, a sign to the countless memories forged within these walls.
Sitting on the two chairs at the opposite ends of the table were Old Tian and Olivia. They quietly looked to the entrance, the closed door not obstructing them in the slightest. They were acutely aware of the lively interaction between two children playing outside, their laughter lightening the heavy atmosphere.
Oliveria was the first to break the silence, "I brought her here, in this isolated mountain, to protect her from the cruelty of the world outside, that was the last wish of her mother before she died," she said with sympathy written all over her face.
"Yet here we are."
"Yet here we are," Old Tian echoed, the resonance of his words a silent acknowledgement of the bitter irony that hung between them. He struggled to find the correct phrases to soothe her aching heart. If protecting the girl from the malicious grip of the practitioner world was truly her intent, why then was she training her?
"Following the boy would only put her in danger. Do you not care what happens to a child like her?" She asked.
"Mmm. Let us not pretend that I cannot see what bloodline that little child is holding. She is already in danger. The moment she steps outside the boundary you created, she would die. She needs all the help she can get at the moment." Tian replied with a calm voice.
Oliveria showed a helpless expression. She always knew protecting that innocent child from the world of practitioners was impossible. The moment she was born, she was already put in the centre of chaos.
When she saw Old Tian arrive with a young man, she could already clearly guess the situation. From the awakening that occurred nearly three months ago to this sudden visit, she could already discern that the young man was blessed, and the only reason Old Tian would bring him here was to bond with a life partner.
Part of her was reluctant to thrust the girl into the life of a practitioner, as it is very chaotic, while another part was glad that such an opportunity presented itself. Becoming life partners with one as talented as a blessed will be beneficial for her future. Anyone would jump at the chance. Still...
"Is there no other option?"
"No, I couldn't find anyone as talented as she is." There was also a condition for choosing a life partner.
To optimise the benefits, the age and date of birth of both parties involved must be close to one another. If they were born on the same day, it would bring better benefits than if they were born on the same month or week.
With his achievements in the Dao of Fate, Old Tian was able to find this little girl, who was not only talented but also born on the same day as Alaric. This divination had taken a toll on his main body, requiring days of effort to recover from. Thankfully, she was not difficult to find; better yet, she was located on the same planet he was on and staying with an old flame of his, no less. This couldn't be any better.
Seeing the child in person, he couldn't help but take pride in himself. She is one of the rare few who possess the talent and potential to challenge a blessed one and have a chance to emerge victorious.
"It would be decided in a fight then." Oliveria stood up. This was her creed: 'the winner takes it all.' She always believed strength decides it all.
"If he wins in a fair fight, he gets to decide; if she wins, she gets to determine her own future."
Old Tian remained silent, but nodded. Standing up from the creaking chair, he turned his attention to the nervous-looking child outside. Allowing such an expression to deceive you would only lead to disaster. He could see how much raw power her small body contains.
'She's more powerful than him by a small margin, but I am confident he wouldn't lose no matter what.'
Oliveria turned around, confused at seeing Old Tian not stepping out. "Are you not going to watch, old man?"
Tian shook his head. "I need to do some work within the cabin. I can't have his new residence looking like this."
She narrowed her eyes slightly, "You seem convinced he would win"
"I am quite confident he would," Tian affirmed, his gaze unwavering.
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A/N: Leave a comment and any criticism you may have.