"You gave me those babies of mine..."
Ash asked in confusion as he felt lost and uncomfortable.
"Once again...what are they exactly?"
"Psyche," Serenity said.
Ash, who was dumbfounded by this sudden crazy information, still couldn't help but doubt the authenticity of it. "What?!... Never in my life have I ever been in contact with any spiritual beast, let alone gifted it to others... You must be kidding me?!"
Serenity seemed annoyed by his words; she can't tolerate being doubted by anyone, especially not him. "I am not...and I want you to remember three words: 'I never lie.' Keep those words engraved in your head from now on because you're going to need them."
Ash stood in his place from the shock, trying to process what he just heard: beasts can be classified by rank and nature, just like how wild beasts are classified as A, B, C, D, S, and SS, and special mutations are within the SSS rank; their cores are absorbed to increase mana and make magical artifacts.
On the other hand, spiritual beasts are classified as earth, sky, mortal, immortal, legend, and rule as the top of their hierarchy, but they are so rare to the point as if they never existed. But spiritual beasts in general make contracts with others, aiding their cultivation and providing great protection at times of crisis. A spiritual beast with no contract can't leave the spiritual realm.
Ash thought in his mind, 'Although no one has been in contact with a rule in millenniums, there are still records about them, but apart from some basic abilities about some of them, we know nothing...'
He turned his gaze at Serenity, asking,
"A psyche?!...I gave you a psyche?!"
Serenity crossed both hands and legs, leaning forward. "Not exactly...you gifted it as a birthday present; you said something like 'have fun' or something like that...whatever, it's been so long anyway."
Ash was wholeheartedly shocked. "That was a rule beast, and he gave it away just like that. 'Fun?!' Did a donkey hit my head at that time, or was I hypnotized?"
Serenity nodded in agreement. "See...now that's a normal person's reaction...believe me, I couldn't close my eyes for three days; every time I remembered what you said, I snapped awake."
"Although it's shocking, I won't say it's impossible."
With thoughts felt jumbled like a messy puzzle, he sat on his chair staring blankly at the ceiling, deep in thought.
'From what I know, a psyche is classified as a rule spiritual beast. The specifics are a complete mystery. While other rules' magical abilities are known, the psyche is an exception; neither shape nor power is known. The only record proving its existence is being a contracted beast for Queen Seraphina, but that was long ago, and she's already dead...to think my indulgence for her reached such a point.'
'Although we haven't met for long, I could tell I have a soft spot when it comes to that lady...' He diverted his gaze from the ceiling, staring at the lady sitting on the window; he spoke his mind honestly.
"What was our relationship exactly?...Who were you to me?"
Serenity's face changed for the first time since they met; she smiled warmly at him while answering,
"A very special person"
He was surprised seeing her smile, but that smile was so sincere, but a hint of sadness was in it, making his heart ache. Although he didn't want to burden her, his mouth just couldn't help but say it.
"Explain our relationship exactly?"
"...Time is up. "
Serenity caught him off guard, cutting the serious mood from earlier.
"Huh?
"60 seconds are now over, so I will say no more."
He felt wronged that time had to end at such a critical moment.
"That's not fair, you know."
"Life is never fair...you taught me that."
"And you're a prodigal student, using my teaching against me."
He mocked his past self, feeling that if they were to meet, he might strangle him to death, which was an impossible fantasy, 'but for real, if the past me knew that she is using what he taught on the future him, I wonder if I would feel proud or pissed?'
Serenity calmly said, "Thanks for the compliment."
She waved her hand, and all the crystal butterflies merged with her once more, but this time, instead of regaining her vision, she put on a lace mask with two big diamonds dangling from behind her ears, adding weight to fix it in place, and she extended her hand for him to hold.
"Let's get out of here," she said.
"Haah...I really owe you from a past life; wait till I put my mask on."
He said that, but he didn't let her wait; he still held her hand as he was looking, but at the time when he bent to get her fur scarf, he caught a glimpse of her smiling, turning his face bright red.
"...Who knows?" she said.
Ash was so caught up in the moment he didn't realize he was also smiling at her. He put her fur on her shoulder, wearing his masks again. They held hands and headed outside....
Serenity was walking in the streets outside, holding hands tightly with Ash. They kept walking and looking around them at the other shops.
"Did you find something you like?" Serenity asked.
"Not exactly; there are a lot of treasures in here, but I don't really fancy any of them."
"Some habits never change.... You're still as hard to please as ever, huh.…"
Ash tried to defend himself by saying, "I am not; they are just not suitable for my constituent, that's all...just what was I like in your memories?"
"I won't tell you...I won't fall for your provocations. Try something else, you pretty face."
Feeling exposed, he didn't even try to hide it.
"Ugh...It was worth trying at least."
"I know you're anxious about the past. To be honest, I really don't want you to know, but some things are happening that might eventually put you face-to-face with those events...and I am afraid of the outcome."
Ash felt confused; he stopped walking and faced her with his question, "What are you trying to say...what's going to happen exactly?"
Serenity stayed silent for a while before she patted his head gently.
"Previously I didn't even know you were alive, so...I was going to interfere at some point, but...the fact that you're alive changed everything. You're bound to get involved just like how you will eventually regain those memories whether you want it or not..."
Serenity slowly removed her hand, she clenched her fist hard, saying in a serious tone, leaving all the jokes behind,
"All I want is for you to know that I have all the answers, so whenever the time is right, I will share what you really need and always have your back."
Feeling her worries, he calmly said, "Are you afraid someone might deceive me?...I tell you, you don't need to."
Serenity slammed her fan on her palm in anger, saying, "You don't really realize how dangerous your memory loss states are right now... All I want from you is that if new things that give you the feeling of the past, just like today, appear, you must tell me before doing anything."
Ash tried to comfort her by reassuring her that she will always be kept informed.
"I don't think it's as exaggerated as you say it is...but if it really happens, you will be the first to know, even if I don't understand it myself, but I know for sure you won't harm me."
"Where did this confidence come from?...We only met today, you know."
"Just a hunch, and I am never wrong."
Serenity burst into laughter after hearing him talk with such confidence.
"Pfft...hahahahaha...a...hunch. You really are something else."
Ash squeezed her cheeks between his arms in anger.
"Hahaha-oh."
-squeeze-
"That's enough laughter already."
Serenity shoved his hands away using her fan; she opened her fan to hide her face behind.
"My cheeks hurt...don't do this again."
"I can't promise you when you are this adorable."
Serenity's face turned red in an instant; she pouted as her gaze diverted to the ground. She murmured, "This pervert never changed even after all those years."
'Who is the pervert, huh?!...What the hell did I do to this little kid in the past?' Although he heard what she said, he chose to pretend not to.
"What did you say?"
"N...nothing."
She turned her face the other way, pouting. All he was thinking about is how cute the little rabbit in front of him was.
With a soft voice full of emotions, he gently said,
"Right now you look more appealing to the eye.... It feels like being free-spirited is more like you."
Serenity held his arms tightly once again, saying, "You know, I personally think I have lived long enough, but you know, you are a first in everything related to me."
"I would say I am honored, but I don't remember anything."
"Don't worry, soon enough you will."
A hand suddenly came from behind; before it touched Ash, he grabbed it and flipped the person on the ground. Only then did he see who that person was.
-fwoosh...bang-
"Pwaagh…"
"Eh, wait a second...Syrous?...What are you doing here?"
Astrum's voice came from behind, "We were following a suspicious person when we finally cornered him; he used a dimensional key, dragging us here with him." "
Bella appeared from behind Astrum, waving her hands and feeling awkward. "We were trying to find our way out when we spotted you. That idiot Syrous ran towards you, and the result is as you can see."
"..." Ash stood there as a stone, not giving a damn what they said.
"N…no words, huh?...By the way, what are you doing here?...And..." Bella turned her gaze from the girl in black standing beside Ash. "Who is she?"
"She...is...a friend, I guess..." Ash looked at Serenity and hesitated to answer for a while, only looking at her.
"...saying she is a friend for now doesn't seem like a bad idea, right?...I wonder what her thoughts are about this?"
Serenity caught on to his intentions and introduced herself.
"You are Ash's... subordinates, right? Nice to meet you."
"!!?"
The way she introduced their relationship with Ash as subordinates made them guarded towards her. Bella extended her hand to greet her; she was quite cautious when doing so.
"Nice to meet you, I am Belladonna. May I ask what your name is, ma'am?"
Serenity only nodded her head slightly but still ignored her and turned to Ash, saying,
"They reacted well; they have great potential. As expected, you still have a good eye for talent."
"But not good enough; you still managed to get them."
With Ash's answer, they were utterly confused as to the nature of their relationship.
Bella thought as she pulled her hand back in embarrassment mixed with pure anger, "Apart from work matters, that was the longest sentence I have heard so far...just who the hell is she?"
Astrum spoke in anger with both his hands behind his back, carefully saying,
"You still didn't answer...."
Serenity faced him expressionless, calmly saying,
"I believe not a sane person would raise his weapon against a person they met for the first time."
"What?!"
Serenity released a strong killing intent at them, targeting the three of them and forcing them to kneel. She said as a warning,
"Carelessly preparing your weapons against someone who is truly stronger won't change the outcome, just like right now."
The people from around them started retreating one after another, escaping her killing pressure. As for them, their breathing was getting harder the longer they stayed under her pressure. Serenity realized they were no match, so she snapped her fingers, releasing them.
"Weak…"
-snap-
Bella's body was numb all over; she leaned her head over her hand, gasping for air.
"Pwah...hah, hah, hah...I almost suffocated to death."
"What the hell was that?"
Bella and Syrous finally regained their freedom; feeling light again was priceless. But Astrum, on the other hand, was staring at her just like how a wild monster stares at his prey. Serenity felt it and calmly said,
"If you don't even have the ability to withstand this much, don't even think about being of any help for him; better break the contract yourself."
Bella snapped angrily at her, showing the golden needles she was hiding. "Hey, you, I have tolerated you for long enough. Who do you think you are, talking like that to him, huh?"
Finishing her words, she suddenly felt cold; she dropped her needles from fright. She didn't dare turn her gaze at him. Knowing Ash for as long as she does, she knows if he targets someone using his mana, then it's over. 'Fucking hell,
Syrous and Astrum, witnessing, were just as shocked; the man who is as good as a stone when it comes to others is actually showing his emotions for an unknown woman they just met for the first time.
All of them resonated at the same time with the same thought.
'Who on earth is she?'
Serenity tapped Ash's shoulder using her fan to divert his attention from her. "Stop it; that little girl might literally be frightened to death by you."
Ash nodded, and his anger quietly vanished, amazing them, but not a second later, Serenity lowered her head, facing Bella.
"I think there is a huge misunderstanding between us…"
"!??"
"I wasn't talking to Astrun specifically; my words are directed at the three of you. Even if you have some special talents, it's still nothing. If you drag on any longer, you will end up as a burden on his back, and I absolutely won't allow it."
Ash covered his mouth using his hand even though he was wearing a mask. He was secretly delighted. "Just how am I supposed to tell him that this middle-aged woman who pinned him to the ground is actually his sister whom he was worried about because she is a weak human...?"
Even through the mask you could feel she was glaring at them; her words were like a knife in their pride. They couldn't argue because they individually knew it was true.
Seeing his subordinates like that, Ash wasn't angry but rather hopeful. "I hope her words make them face their problems, not head in the other direction."
Ash suddenly spoke, "Let's get out of here."
The other three followed them silently, heading outside, till they got back to Astrum's villa. Ash and Serenity were alone in his room on the second floor.
Ash asked, "So what do you want to say?"
"Wait a second...I guarantee you will absolutely like this."
Serenity opened her dimensional sack and handed him a total of three boxes...