Chapter 56. The Unexpected
"Yuki, you're better than this! Stop staring at her!" I scolded myself as my eyes traced the body of a true dryad. "Yes, she's almost animalistic! Yes, incredibly sexy! But this is wrong!" Yet, the voice inside me called me a hypocrite—after all, Drya was essentially a plant...
"Yuki, I want to introduce you to my new older sister! Her name is Gaia, and she's taught me so many techniques!" Drya led her to me after our obligatory hugs.
"Nice to meet you, young ma—mm—spirit?" Gaia tilted her head in confusion, sensing the duality of my energy.
"She's too adorable!" I thought, keeping my face dignified and proper—or so I hoped. "As you prefer," my inner gentleman chimed in. "I'm glad Drya has a new friend. I hope we'll grow just as close," I smiled sincerely, meeting her beautiful eyes and trying to gauge her feelings toward me.
"What a cute boy," she said, placing her palms on my cheeks, stretching them slightly, making it harder to smile. Yeah, I'm just a kid to her, but still, it's a bit hurtful. But this game can be played by two.
The most important rule drilled into me by Van Shi Tong's training is to always maintain the natural pressure of my aura outward, to remain undetected by spirits. Not all of them are skilled in sensing, so there's always a chance to surprise—or even fatally surprise—an enemy.
When I briefly released my aura as a high-level water spirit, her gaze changed, now seeing me as an equal. Without breaking eye contact, I took her hand, brought it to my lips, and pretended to kiss it. A floral scent hit my nose. If Drya smelled of blooming wild and exotic flowers, Gaia carried the aroma of mature houseplants in their prime—a kind of "ripeness." And honestly, I'm not seeking mature women; they just happen to find me!
"Yuki, you're already at the highest level! Congratulations!" Drya jumped on me, hugging me with one arm and Gaia with the other, bringing us uncomfortably close. Something ended up pressed against Gaia's stomach—yes, she also has a scent that stimulates desire. It was incredibly awkward...
"Time is short," the spirit of knowledge finally spoke, rescuing me. I quickly regained control, dropping my battle-ready stance, and glanced at the dryad, who no longer seemed so unattainable. Her cheeks flushed, and she looked around, as if searching for a place to hide.
"Right, let's get to work!" I walked briskly toward Van Shi Tong, holding Drya's hand. "It was nice meeting you, Gaia. I hope we'll meet again!"
"Bye, sister!" Drya waved to the dryad.