Chapter 107: Uncharted Paths
"Don’t worry about that," Soren chuckled softly, completely untroubled by her words. "As long as you can learn it and benefit from it, that’s completely fine with me. Besides, the technique is exclusively for females anyway. I couldn’t use it even if I wanted to."
Ethea fell silent for a brief moment, her eyes fixed on his calm, reassuring face. A fierce, quiet determination took root deep within her chest as she made a silent vow.
’Then I will just have to develop one for you myself.’
With that silent promise echoing in her mind, a comfortable, lingering warmth finally replaced the chaotic tension in the room.
Across from her, Soren took a sip of tea, his posture fully returning to its usual steady, dependable state, completely unaware of the monumental task his wife had just set for herself.
Modifying or creating a technique from scratch was a feat usually reserved for Emperors or even stronger figures who possessed immense experience. For someone in her current, crippled state to even attempt it with a legendary-grade heritage technique like the Stellar Soul Weaver Sutra was pure madness.
Yet, Ethea didn’t feel a single shred of doubt.
Well, it’s not like she hasn’t done it before.
With that grounding realization, she let the ambitious thought drift to the back of her mind and relaxed back into her seat as Soren switched the display screen back on to finish the broadcast. They quietly watched the rest of the program together before he carefully carried her back to the bedroom, bringing a peaceful end to a night that had changed everything between them.
───────
Over the next few days, Soren remained at home, splitting his time between his own training and accompanying Ethea.
The constant proximity naturally shrank the distance between them, melting away the old formal barriers until their daily interactions felt completely effortless.
Yet, a strange new friction quietly took its place.
Whenever he lifted her from her seat or leaned in close to adjust her blankets, his movements would suddenly stall, his hands hovering for a fraction of a second as if he had suddenly forgotten how to breathe.
He found himself tracking the subtle curve of her lips when she smiled, only to abruptly snap his gaze away and clear his throat the moment she caught him looking.
He couldn’t understand why a simple, accidental brush of their fingers now sent a sudden jolt straight to his chest, but the inexplicable awkwardness left him meticulously policing his every move, desperately trying to look normal while hyper-aware of her every breath.
Fortunately, he was finally heading out today.
After his morning appointment, he intended to take some time for himself to clear his head and figure out why his own body was suddenly acting like a broken script around her.
"I’ll be back by dinner, stay safe," Soren said, offering a brief wave to Ethea and Clara before stepping through the front door.
───────
Twenty minutes later, the taxi pulled up outside a modest apartment building situated just a short distance from the city center. Soren stepped out into the crisp air and lightly stretched his arms, hearing a satisfying pop in his shoulders.
’Perhaps I should just buy a car soon,’ he mused, noting how much time he was spending on commutes lately.
Pulling his phone from his pocket, he glanced at the screen to double-check the address one last time. Confirming he was at the right place, he slipped the device away, entered the building, and took the stairs. He maintained a steady pace until he reached the fifth floor, stopping directly in front of the door number listed in his messages, and firmly pressed the doorbell.
A moment later, the door clicked open, and a familiar, youthful face popped out.
"Oh, you’re here, sir!"
"Mmm." Soren offered a nod. " And I told you, you can just call me Brother Soren, Ryan."
The boy gave an embarrassed nod and quickly stepped aside, gesturing for him to come in. "Please come inside, we have been waiting for you."
"Excuse me," Soren murmured, stepping over the threshold.
Ryan led him down the short hallway and into the cozy living room, where the rest of his family was gathered. The moment his sibling and parents noticed his arrival, they immediately stood up from the sofa, their posture straight with a mix of deep respect and nervous anticipation.
They exchanged greetings quickly.
"Please, come in! It is an honor to have you in our home," Ryan’s father said, stepping forward with an open, welcoming smile to shake Soren’s hand warmly.
"Thank you for having me," Soren replied, returning the firm handshake before exchanging polite greetings with Ryan’s mother and younger sister.
The family eagerly gestured for him to take the most comfortable seat in the living room.
Once everyone had settled down, Ryan’s mother quickly disappeared into the kitchen, returning a moment later with a large, steaming platter of freshly made dumplings. The savory aroma instantly filled the cozy space.
"You must be hungry after your trip here. Please, eat up while they are still hot," she urged, placing a fork and a small side dish in front of him.
Soren didn’t stand on ceremony at the sight of one of his favorite meals.
’I guess this is why he asked me about it.’
He chuckled inwardly before taking a bite of a dumpling, the rich, flavorful filling hitting the spot perfectly.
"These are excellent, thank you," he said, genuinely enjoying the meal.
For the next ten or more minutes, they exchanged relaxed small talk, discussing Ryan’s progress and families. Eventually, the tone shifted, and Ryan’s father looked at Soren with a gaze full of deep gratitude.
"We really cannot thank you enough, Mr. Soren," his father said, his voice thick with emotion. "If you hadn’t been there to save our son, we don’t even want to think about what would have happened to him and our family."
"Yes, you gave our boy a second chance at life," his mother added, nodding in agreement.
Soren finished his food and set his fork down, offering them a reassuring smile. "Please, don’t mention it. I only did what anyone in my position should have done, and I’m just glad Ryan is safe and doing well."
He paused, letting the atmosphere settle, before his expression turned serious. "Actually, I agreed to this meeting today because I wanted to have an important talk with you. It’s about..."