Chapter 18: First Mission
The morning courtyard buzzed with chaos long before the sun cleared the cliffs.
Tharia stood near the back, one ear lazily tracking the complaints while the other flicked toward a distant bird. The new outfit was.... different. Bolder. The black mesh beneath the cropped battle jacket clung to her skin, the micro leather skirt barely brushing high on her thighs, and the heels made every step click against the stone with a sharp, deliberate sound that somehow made her tail want to swish.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
Every so often the edges shimmered, as if the illusion was testing whether she was really paying attention. One disciple glanced at it. Then at her. Then looked away.
She tapped the band of her dimensional ring, checking supplies.
Across the courtyard, a disciple held up a bulging cloth bag and groaned. "I swear someone stole half my rations."
Another shook his head. "You mean you ate half your rations last night."
A third puffed up with wounded pride. "At least I packed efficiently. Look." He produced a full-sized embroidered pillow. He added slowly, "For head support."
The courtyard fell silent, then erupted.
"Why the hell would you bring that?"
"You think we're going to a holiday retreat?"
Tharia tapped the pillow with one fingertip. “It is very soft,” she said sweetly. “You might survive a battle simply by refusing to get up.”
Laughter rippled through the group. Someone from the back raised a flute. "This is for morale."
The disciple who’d been robbed of his flute screamed. "No. Put it back."
Groans followed. "Senior Sister Kaela will murder you."
"No, she will murder all of us."
Kaela stepped into the courtyard.
Silence. Tharia’s tail stilled. Even the wind seemed to have gone somewhere.
She swept her cool gaze over the group. “Form a line.” Her voice was quiet, but it carried. “If any of you forgot your assignments, remember them now.”
They scrambled into place, whispering frantically.
"She doesn't even have to speak loudly to terrify me."
"I'm pretty sure she can kill us with her eyes."
Tharia settled into the line with a serene expression, though her tail gave one slow, mischievous curl behind her. "Do not worry. If she kills anyone, I will make an illusion to conceal the body."
"Please don't joke like that."
Kaela's footfall cracked against stone as she paced before them. "This is your first assignment outside the sect. You will follow formation rules, remain within sight of the group, and obey commands the instant they are given. If you do not understand an order, follow it anyway."
Tharia could feel her eyes linger on her half a second longer than the others.
"Try not to embarrass the sect."
Several heads turned toward Tharia.
Tharia lifted her chin, ears perked innocently. “I will do my very best, Senior Sister.”
Kaela inhaled as if preparing to lecture, then stopped herself. "Move."
...
They left the sect in two neat lines. The formation lasted until the first hill.
After that, it was mostly noise, tripping, and one very tired outer disciple who already wanted a break. Tharia walked near the center, breathing in the forest. It smelled alive — pine, damp moss, faint spirit herbs glowing in the morning light. So different from the cold stone and incense of her old life. Her tail swayed freely, brushing against the back of her leather skirt with every step.
She liked it here.
"Hhaaaa.... I feel at home."
Behind Kaela marched the same outer disciple who mirrored her every move. He matched her pace. Copied her breathing. Even adjusted his stance when she shifted. His imitation was so exact that two disciples near him unconsciously straightened their own posture.
Tharia hadn't bothered learning his name, but his dedication was bizarrely impressive.
The trail wound upward into hills dotted with spirit herbs that glimmered faintly in morning light. Their task was simple: gather beginner-grade herbs, record locations, hunt minor spirit beasts.
Kaela signaled them to slow. "Pairs. Spread to the marked zones. Do not wander. I want to hear your voices at all times."
"Yes, Senior Sister."
Tharia found herself paired with a disciple whose nervous glance she recognized at once.
He froze when their eyes met. The memory struck them both. The glow of her illusionary stars spilling into the corridor. His wide-eyed stumble into her cave. The mortifying glimpse neither had forgotten.
Silence stretched.
Renji's ears burned red. Tharia's tail twitched with the same sharp agitation she'd felt that morning.
"You," she said flatly, tilting her head.
Renji swallowed hard. "I… didn't mean to. Back then." His hands fumbled with the herb pouch like it might shield him from memory.
Her lips curved into a sly smile, though her cheeks still warmed. "Didn't mean to call me shameless, or didn't mean to see what you saw?"
He shifted uncomfortably, then forced himself to speak. "My name is Renji… I’m sorry,” he blurted. “For… both things. Calling you shameless. And… seeing.”
"Tharia," she replied, though he clearly already knew. A heartbeat later, she crouched beside a violet fern, ears swiveling as she worked. “Apology accepted. Mostly.” Her tail flicked. “Though you did stare.”
“I didn’t— I mean—” Renji fumbled with his herb pouch.
The tension eased as they collected blossoms that pulsed faintly with spiritual energy. Renji kept sneaking glances at her, embarrassed by the memory... and her current "outfit". Probably. She found herself not minding his fumbling.
Ghhhrraaaah.
Every disciple froze. Tharia’s ears snapped forward and her tail bristled. The air turned sour — corrupted qi, like rot beneath sweet sap.
The hill boar burst from the undergrowth, massive, warped, eyes glowing with ugly green malice. Several disciples yelped. Kaela barked orders, trying to pull them into formation.
Tharia felt her heartbeat spike. Her illusion shimmered dangerously along her thighs for a moment, not fully slipping, but enough that the mesh beneath became noticeably more visible. A small thrill ran down her spine — half mortification, half something she absolutely was not thinking about right now.
Then it charged. Hooves gouging earth. Tusks lowered. Its roar rattled teeth and sent birds scattering from the canopy.
Tharia saw panic ripple across the weaker disciples. Her heartbeat quickened. Kaela shouted for the front line. "Brace!"
Instead of bracing, Tharia flicked her fingers.
Sparks of pink light spiraled upward, coalescing into fluttering shapes. Illusionary fireflies circled the beast's eyes, weaving a glowing ring that pulsed and shifted. The boar skidded, shaking its head to dispel the lights.
System
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Current Status: Creative Disruption in Combat.
Chaos Essence Gained: +5.
Note: Looking cool is not the same as following orders.
It worked though.
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Kaela barked, "Do not break formation. Tharia, fall back."
'Only 5? Tsk.'
She stepped sideways, tail swishing with excitement, and sent another wave of lights spiraling. The boar snarled, confused and veered off course instead of slamming into the disciples.
Her illusion flickered once more — higher this time. The cropped jacket and mesh top became momentarily translucent. Renji made a strangled sound beside her. Tharia’s ears flattened instantly, face burning, but she didn’t stop. The rush of cool morning air against suddenly exposed skin sent a confusing mix of mortification and electric delight through her.
'Later', she told herself. 'We are dealing with this later.'
Kaela stepped forward, palm flashing. A wall of wind hit the boar's head and twisted its second charge. The beast staggered, its tusks carved a groove in the nearest tree.
Then it went down as corrupted qi sputtered out like a dying lamp.
The hilltop went quiet.
Several disciples exhaled shakily. Tharia let the fireflies fade. Her outfit stabilized... mostly. A faint shimmer still clung to the hem of her skirt.
"That was terrifying."
"Did we just kill a corrupted beast?"
"Senior Sister Kaela saved us."
Kaela turned, eyes locked onto Tharia with icy sharpness. "You disobeyed an order."
Tharia spread her hands in a gentle shrug, tail flicking lazily. "I saved several of them from being trampled. That counts for something, doesn’t it?"
Kaela's jaw tightened. "Illusions during formation combat can destabilize the group."
Tharia tilted her head, ears twitching. A small, defiant smile played on her lips. "Not if used creatively."
Kaela stared at her for a long moment. The older girl’s jaw worked once, but she finally exhaled and turned away. “Return to the line.”
Renji fell into step beside Tharia without being asked.
As they resumed gathering herbs, he kept stealing glances at her. She didn't look back. Her tail swished anyway.
...
The sun dipped low as they headed back down the slope. The group made camp to rest.
As night settled over the hills, Tharia lifted two fingers and conjured a cluster of soft pink fireflies. They drifted above the camp, glowing softly against the dark.
A few outer disciples murmured, some reaching out as if to catch them.
"It's pretty."
"Are they warm?"
Kaela sat apart. Arms crossed. Posture rigid. She said nothing, but her eyes flicked once toward the lights.
Tharia caught it. She whispered a small adjustment. The fireflies shifted, glowing softer.
Kaela didn't look away.
Tharia said nothing. Just watched the lights drift.
...
Morning came.
The mission ended without further danger. As the sect's outer gate came into view, Kaela halted the group.
"This assignment concludes your supervised training. Elder Maren will oversee your progress from now on. I have taught you enough to function. If you fail, it will be your responsibility." She paused, then added, "Report to the task hall and collect your mission reward. Consider it proof you can stand on your own."
Several disciples stiffened, the weight of her words sinking in. Kaela's gaze swept over them one last time and paused on Tharia. In the end she only said, "Do not waste the footing you have been given."
When the others dispersed, Tharia lingered, watching Kaela's retreating back.
She touched the hem of her skirt, feeling the faint illusion threads still humming against her skin. Not perfect. Not fully under control.
She didn't mind.
System
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Active Techniques Progress: Illusory Raiment (Rank: D)
New Trait Unlocked: ‘Willing Exposure’ (Passive).
Effect: Illusion stability scales with exposure intensity and eyes watching.
Translation: You perform better with less clothes and others watching.
Note: The System has no comment on how much you enjoyed that second flicker. None whatsoever.
[collapse]
Tharia’s ears burned. She flicked her tail once, hard, and walked through the gate with a small, secret smile she didn’t try to hide.
System Status:
Host: Tharia | Age: 18
Status: Healthy
[TECHNIQUE ANALYSIS]
Illusion Proficiency: 33%
Chaos Stability: Fragile (Holding).
Qi Circulation: Vein resonance threshold - 12%.
Achievement: 'Style Over Substance'
Traits: 'The Reluctant Royal' (Passive). ‘Willing Exposure’ (Passive)
Passive Techniques: 'Shame-Guard' (Passive)
Module: 'Path of the Unseen'
Active Techniques: Illusory Raiment (Rank: D)
Chaos Essence: 50.
Status: Duskwind Sect - Outer Disciple.
Active Quests: Exceed Vein resonance threshold 50%.
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