Chapter 20: A Day in the Sect (R-18)
Waking up to the hush of dawn, Tharia stretched across her stone bed with a lazy, mischievous little grin.
The plain Duskwind disciple grey robes she’d not bothered wearing for a while lay crumpled on the floor like a surrendered flag. Bare shoulders. A hint of cleavage. The kind of mess that would've had Kaela lecturing her about "discipline" and "presentation."
'Good thing she's not here.'
A deep yawn escaped her lips.
The cave entrance gaped wide open. Again. She hadn’t closed it since that morning Renji and the other disciple had casually walked in and gotten an eyeful of her bare chest. Heat crawled up her cheeks at the memory.
‘Should probably start closing it… someday.’
She bit her lower lip, eyes sparkling with a dangerous mix of curiosity and leftover morning itch. One hand slipped under the sheet. The moment her fingertips brushed her own warm skin a full-body shiver hit her so hard her breath caught.
‘Oh… ohh.’
Not her first time touching herself on purpose. That forest disaster still haunted her. But this? This was different. Slower. Deliberate. In her own cave. With the stupid door wide open like a gremlin invitation.
She sat up, leaning against the stone wall, and closed her eyes.
Her hands kept moving, slow and greedy. The second she brushed the underside of her breasts a hot spark shot straight down her spine. Lower. Her fingers found herself already slick and aching.
The illusory fabric there had already thinned to almost nothing. A soft needy sound slipped out before she could stop it.
“Nn… haa…”
‘Why does this… feel so much better… ? Stupid fox nerves…’
She pressed two fingers right where she was most sensitive, her clit, and circled. Her breath hitched instantly. Heat flooded her cheeks so fast she felt dizzy.
Another little grin broke across her face. Equal parts embarrassed and greedy. She spread her legs wider without thinking, hips rolling up to chase her own fingers. The pleasure thickened, syrupy and addictive.
For once she didn’t fight the chaotic little sparks dancing over her skin. They made every stroke feel thicker. Hotter. Like her own power was happily encouraging the mess.
“Mmh—!”
Footsteps outside. Two outer disciples chatting sleepily as they passed the open cave mouth.
Tharia’s eyes flew wide open. She slapped one hand over her mouth. The other still working desperately between her legs. Heart hammering. The risk sent a filthy thrill straight to her core. Had to bite her palm to keep from moaning aloud.
The steps faded.
She didn’t stop. Couldn’t. Fingers moved faster. Slick sounds barely muffled by the sheet. Another needy little “Nya—!” escaped against her hand.
Then a new voice drifted up the path. Calm. Slightly soft. Unmistakable.
Renji.
Tharia’s brain short-circuited. ‘Hide hide hide—'
Panic hit. She twisted hard, trying to hide against the wall, but her trembling limbs betrayed her completely. Instead she ended up on her knees, face buried in the bedding, ass raised high toward the open cave mouth like an offering. Her tail shot straight up in pure traitor mode. One hand was still desperately reaching back because stopping right now felt impossible.
‘No no no why am I… this is worse… oh gods my ass is literally pointed straight…'
One burning cheek pressed into the cool bedding. Ears scorched crimson The new angle made everything hit so much deeper she nearly choked on her own moan.
‘Don’t look don’t look… don’t you dare enter—'
Renji's voice drew closer. His shadow passed right across the entrance.
"Ahh—nnn!" The muffled broken sound tore out of her anyway. Hips jerked back against her own fingers.
The shadow kept moving. He didn't stop. Didn't hesitate.
'He didn't hear. He didn't…oh gods.'
The shadow kept moving. He didn’t stop.
The second he was gone she lost it completely. Tharia buried her face deeper into the bedding and came hard. Body shaking. Tail thrashing side to side like it had a mind of its own.
A long shaky “Nyyyaa—!” vibrated against the bed as pleasure crashed through her in rolling waves. Chaos Qi sparkling wildly around her trembling form.
She stayed like that, knees trembling, face buried deep in the bedding, chasing every last aftershock with tiny, greedy rolls of her hips. Her mind was deliciously blank.
Her thighs finally stopped quivering. Tharia collapsed sideways, chest heaving, a dazed, stupidly satisfied grin spreading across her burning face before she could stop it.
She curled up tight, arms wrapped around her knees, tail still twitching traitorously against the stone.
Her breathing finally slowed. ‘…Holy shit. Okay. So that happened.’
Her ears flicked forward, listening.
Silence.
'Good. No one heard. No one knows. This is fine. Everything is fine.'
A lazy blue box popped into existence right in front of her half-lidded eyes.
System:
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Chaos Essence Gained: +5
Category: Private Chaos Resonance (Self-Indulgence + Risky public show Edition)
Very on-brand, gremlin.
[collapse]
Tharia blinked slowly, floating in warm afterglow. Then the words sank in.
‘Five? For… for that?!’
Her ears shot straight up. The satisfied grin vanished.
“System?!” she hissed, voice still hoarse. “You’ve been handing me these glowing points for days and you never once, what the hell are they even for?!”
System:
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
…
Finally. Took you long enough to ask while your fingers were still sticky and your ass was still in the air.
Chaos Essence = your raw chaos distilled. Limited. Valuable. Don’t waste it.
Note: Because your cultivation is trash and you’re this slow on the uptake, this humble System will deduct 5 Essence as an early-access courtesy fee.
Chaos Essence: 55 → 50.
[collapse]
"System you thief… I hate you!" She thrashed and almost screamed seeing the deduction.
[Silence]
Then a new interface unfolded in front of her, slightly smug in its presentation.
SHOP:
[EARLY ACCESS SHOP – ILLUSORY RAIMENT MODULAR BUILDER]
Default Unlocked: Mini Red Kimono (Free. Happy now?)
Available Parts (Mix & Match – Subtotal at Confirmation):
Bottom Options: Variable Length/Color.
- Micro Skirt (Mesh Overlay).
- Micro Skirt (Solid).
- Thigh highs (Variable styles).
- Cropped Jacket (Open Front).
- Cropped Top (Tight).
- Lewd Strap Dress – “Barely There” Edition.
- Lewd Sheer Cheongsam – “Chaos Temptation” Edition.
- Transparency Slider (Emotion-Resistant)
- Stability Boost (+Min Coverage)
[collapse]
Tharia stared.
'Lewd Strap Dress? Sheer Cheongsam? SYSTEM, I JUST—'
Her cheeks burned hotter than fresh Chaos fire. She was still naked, sticky, legs tangled in the sheet, and now the System was showing her customizable versions of the exact micro-skirt outfits that kept betraying her in public. Plus two very lewd dresses that made her tail twitch in embarrassed interest.
'Fifty left. That's… I don't even know if that's good. The shop wants thirty-five for ONE outfit. This currency is a scam.'
System:
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Secondary note: Bigger stuff later. Real Law Stitching when you’re ready. Wardrobe Roulette unlocks at higher Raiment rank — risky, cheaper, based on luck. No complaints are taken.
Spend wisely. Or don’t.
[collapse]
“Fuc—"
The shop interface blinked out.
The morning bell echoed across the sect.
Tharia's ears shot straight up.
'MORNING BELL. PEOPLE. OUTSIDE.'
She bolted upright, scrambling for the clay basin on the flat stone shelf, splashing water over her face, arms, tail; anywhere that felt warm or flushed or incriminating.
Her fur stuck up at odd angles. She smoothed it down with patient, frantic strokes, combing through her hair until it looked presentable.
'Composed. I am composed. I am a dignified outer disciple who definitely did not just—'
Her tail flicked.
'—nope. Not thinking about it.'
By the time she finished, the cave smelled faintly of soap and dew. She felt clean. Almost composed.
'No one will ever know.'
System:
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Morning Routine: Completed (Eventfully)
Qi Manifestation: Spontaneous (Unprecedented Context)
Chaos Stability: Improved (+2%)
Note: Your powers are very supportive of personal exploration.
Secondary Note: The System will not elaborate on this. Ever.
[collapse]
Tharia's face burned.
"I hate you."
The System, predictably, said nothing.
…
The air outside tasted fresh, touched by dew gathered along the mossy stone steps.
Tharia stepped into the soft hush of dawn, tail curling lazily behind her.
Her outfit? The system’s free red kimono.
Her ears swiveled forward, picking up the distant sounds of disciples starting their routines.
With no senior watching, the day felt open.
She let her feet carry her without destination.
The path sloped downward, stone damp with morning dew, until it joined the main road that threaded along the cliff face.
Outer disciple caves lined the wall, each entry marked by a small lantern and a hanging tag with names. From one cluster came a laugh. From another, grumbling about chores.
Tharia's ears twitched, tracking every sound.
'Everyone's so... normal. Like they didn't just wake up. Like they have plans. Structure.'
She didn't have structure anymore.
It felt freeing and terrifying in equal measure.
The road curved toward a hanging bridge.
Ropes reinforced with glyph knots. Wooden planks numbered and pinned with iron studs. The wind tugged at her hair as she stepped onto the swaying surface.
Below, the valley stretched wide, forests stirring in the breeze.
Her tail flicked nervously.
'Don't look down. You're fine. Bridges are fine. Unlike this morning. Which was NOT fine. We are NOT thinking about this morning.'
The bridge swayed.
'BRIDGES ARE A MISTAKE.'
She crossed quickly, ears flat, and didn't stop until her feet hit solid stone on the other side.
Ahead, the central mountain rose, its tip carved flat to hold the sect's heart.
Broad courtyards. Sparring platforms. The Scripture Hall's carved pillars sitting behind warded doors. The Mission Hall's notice boards clacking under the wind.
Tharia stopped in front of the Scripture Hall, ears perked as she traced the cloud-pattern carvings with her eyes.
Guarded. Warded. Sealed.
Only inner disciples, core disciples, and sect elders were permitted inside.
'So close… and so damn far.' Her tail gave an irritated flick.
A hall attendant in green robes swept the steps, humming. His qi felt cool and steady.
He glanced up. “Curious?”
Tharia’s ears twitched. “A little.”
“You’ll get there eventually,” he said, like it was obvious.
Her stomach did a small, uncertain flip.
'Will I?'
She followed the ramp upward. The path curved along cliff faces lined with inner disciple courtyards.
On one platform, inner disciples sparred; precise, contained, no wasted motion.
Tharia’s ears locked forward so hard they practically vibrated.
'That’s what control looks like.'
She mapped their movements in her mind, tracing the rhythm of each strike.
A shadow swept across her.
A core disciple passed. Tharia’s breath caught hard. The aura rolled over her, vast, like standing at the edge of an ocean.
Not fear. Not even real envy. Just…
'Okay, maybe a little envy. But mostly curiosity. Definitely curiosity.' Her tail gave a nervous little swish.
Her steps carried her higher, until the tallest mountain loomed above, crowned by the halls of the high elders and sect master. Lower along its slopes, the courtyards of core disciples spread like steps ascending toward authority.
She stopped at a high vantage point. Lanterns flickered across bridges like fireflies. The whole sect hummed beneath her. Alive. Vast. Buzzing.
Her tail swished once, slow and thoughtful.
'This place is so much bigger than I thought… Good. Means there’s room to grow.'
System:
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Observation Detected: Sect Hierarchy Fully Mapped.
Ambition Level: Rising.
Reality Check: You are still at the bottom.
Encouragement: The bottom is a great place to start climbing from.
Note: The System believes in you. Barely.
[collapse]
Tharia smiled.
'I'll take it.'
By dusk, she returned to her cave.
The world outside buzzed with training and competition, but her space was quiet, lit only by scattered motes of soft pink light.
She cycled small forms. Line. Curve. Mask. Dissolve.
Each shape held one count longer than yesterday.
'Progress. Tiny. But progress.'
When her focus slipped, she settled cross-legged and shifted into qi circulation.
Resistance slammed into her immediately. A stubborn knot in her meridians that refused to budge no matter how hard she pushed.
She pressed against it with measured breaths.
'This is fine. Totally fine. Just me and my stubborn meridians having a very calm disagreement.'
Sweat gathered at her temples. Her heartbeat thickened. She pushed deeper.
'Move. Move.'
Finally, the knot loosened.
Warmth briefly spread through her limbs.
The overlay appeared:
System:
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Progress Detected: Minimal But Consistent.
Illusion Proficiency: 34% (+1%).
Chaos Stability: Fragile (Improving).
Vein Resonance Threshold: 15% (+1%).
Stability Index: 11% (Rest up!).
Note: You are still slow. But you are no longer standing still.
Recommendation: Tomorrow, take a mission. Test yourself outside the cave.
[collapse]
She exhaled slowly and flopped backward onto her bedding. Her tail gave one tired, satisfied flick.
'Freedom means I set the pace.' Pink sparks drifted across the ceiling, illusions fading into soft trails of light.
She watched them scatter.
"The sect is vast," she murmured. "The world's larger."
Her ears drooped slightly, exhaustion creeping in.
"One step at a time."
Her eyes closed.
Tomorrow, the Mission Hall.
Her first solo mission waited just beyond the dawn.
'I'm ready.'
Her tail curled around her legs.
'...Probably.'
System Status:
Host: Tharia | Age: 18
Status: Healthy
[TECHNIQUE ANALYSIS]
Illusion Proficiency: 34%
Chaos Stability: Fragile (Improving).
Qi Circulation: Vein resonance threshold - 15%.
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%.
SHOP.
[collapse]