novelraw Chapter 310 - 309 - Kora
Chapter 310 - 309 - Kora
It was too big. Way, way too big to swallow for Lind. It was the kind of question one would toss around on Earth but know there was no true answer that could be reached. In his current world, that was not the case.
Clearly, Divine cultivators reached a level of understanding that they knew. It may only be an instinct but if he kept going, would he be empowered by that revelation or destroyed by it?
Gentle hands pulled him into a hug as his host patted his head. He did not mind it that time. He was lost.
"You are not ready but I wanted you to understand that we are real. I may have lived in the wider world, but when the boundary collapses, I will be swallowed by the void once more. I am not the owner of this place." The words made something senior Skinwalker said finally make sense.
"Skinwalker could live again?" She shook her head.
"He is not yet dead, nor is he really alive. If he can break through his bottleneck, then yes, he can return after facing the tribulation. Divine Realm cultivators face 3 tribulations in their lives. The first when they reach that realm, then for the 2 divisions." Lind nodded as he understood she was dumbing it down for him.
"What about, um, she did not tell me her name?" A giggle came from his host as she propped him up.
"You would not understand our names. In human terms, our intent would be conveyed but not as a name so much as concepts." Lind understood and glanced at Tal as a fond memory came to his mind.
"That is Tal and I named Ethry. While I would not presume, may I talk to her about a name for a friend?" Surprise passed over her molten gold eyes but she seemed troubled.
"You say you named that stone dral, do you understand what acceptance means?" Lind tilted his head in confusion and another giggle came from her.
"I forget that mortal realms do not know of the rules. In the Divine Realm, to name someone without and have their acceptance is to belong to them. The roles vary, but given how she treats you, I think she sees you as a parent." Lind went wide eyed.
Again! He did it again! Ethry bonded with him as a bride because he did not know and despite how that was working out, he had adopted Tal without understanding!
"What will happen to her when I leave?" He had not known Tal was female to begin with but it was nice to know. His host shrugged her shoulders.
"It is not like we die when you leave. This place endures as I said and does not pause when you are gone. Also an important point, that stone dral is supposed to be dead." Lind froze. He had not talked about his time in the Inheritance at all. How did she know?
"It was a gangly black beast I have never seen before. It seemed to enjoy giving pain more than hunting for food." A dark look passed over her face.
"I have seen them. I do not have a name for them precisely but they are in my race memory as an enemy to be killed on sight. They are parasites. They feed off of mental energy rather than meat. Their preference is obvious." Lind noted that for the future. He also made a note to check records as well.
"How do you know she was supposed to be dead?" She looked over at Tal and her eyes glowed.
"I am a Divine Realm. I lived and died in the larger reality outside. A beast that existed at the same time as me I know, but one that should have died shows as a strain to the things I can see." Lind understood. She was supposed to be here but Tal was not.
"What about your daughter, then? She died before now?" A slow nod came.
"I believed she could overcome it with my help but a secondary element is not the same as a primary one. I could never overcome the issues and she died in pain. I wish my other self was still alive to know she lived here." Lind felt strange.
The being in front of him lived and died, yet she was still living after a fashion inside the Inheritance of Skinwalker.
All of it was to save her daughter. He could appreciate that.
"I hope you have a long life here." A smile blossomed but her eyes looked strange to him. It was as if something he said was not quite right.
"As to naming my daughter, unless you take responsibility, do not bring it up again." A sudden flash of his own mother came to Lind. He had faced impossible monsters, frightening Immortals, and even a Relic that nearly killed him, but the fierce look of a mother terrified him like nothing else could.
"I simply wanted to call her something to make it easier between us. Perhaps you could give her a name, or she could choose one?" Lind now understood he had been a bit racist in assuming he could just give names out like he had. He had to break that mentality.
A knowing smile spread on her face as she dismissed the dome at last. Clearly, she was done discussing difficult topics.
"Mother, what were you doing with Lind?" Both jumped as a voice came to their ears. Lind looked over at the far open side of the canopies and there she was, but there were changes.
Her humanoid form was very rough before, with many of her avian features being retained, but now she looked far more human. It was then that he realized what had happened.
Diamond Tier. She had broken through completely to Diamond Tier!
"We were simply explaining our different opinions about your cultivation. I did not know that this human had a deep understanding of the elements." Lind felt his vein twitch on his forehead. She knew his name and seemed more kindly inclined, yet still called him 'this human.'
Lind then noticed something about his former charge's robes, they were lined in black!
"How are you feeling?" Lind changed the topic and both women seemed to accept it.
"I, um, ah, feel fine!" Lind felt his spine chill again as the young girl blushed and seemed to fidget. A strong stare was boring into his back while 5 other pairs of eyes were burning a hole in his skull!
Tal sauntered up and nuzzled him for which he was grateful.
"Excellent. May I confirm your fonts?" Lind assumed a tone he used for patients which seemed to work on the mother, until her daughter became deep crimson. "I simply want to ensure your darkness element is not causing any issues with your foundation."
She nodded and glanced around to see if she had to lay down but Lind used his Eyes to see the flow of elements. A frown crossed his face. There was a problem.
"How long have you been feeling a twinge in your meridians?" His question was deadly serious and changed both women instantly. His host looked concerned but his patient was surprised and then guilty.
"I–I thought I was still healing from all of that." Lind frowned and then turned to his host.
"Did she by chance transform a lot when you got back?" A swift nod made him sigh as he summoned ingredients immediately. He was about to start mixing when a crack was heard. He quickly stared at his storage ring.
It was one of the few items that had been with him since he truly started cultivating and now cracks appeared on it. It still worked but it clearly had reached the end of its life.
"Could I impose on you for several storage treasures, senior? My ring is about to fail." A quick glance at his ring was all she needed to confirm before she screeched out something just barely inside his hearing.
"It will take some time, please let me know if you need a cauldron for pill making." Lind smiled as he conjured fire and water as he had always done. He had tried cauldrons, but their design was primarily for pill concoction. They could not withstand what he did.
Several Cimmerian refiners were trying to make some, but it was a long way away from being helpful to him.
Shock was displayed on his host's face as he grasped aspects of several essences as he needed a more nuanced elixir. The elixir began to glow a mixture of dark and gold but it was not a tempering elixir.
It did make use of light Qi to help soothe the pain being caused by darkness.
A one off elixir like that would normally not need a name but since it was an aether beast, Lind suspected he would need to make more in the future for other overprotective parents' work.
"Drink this, then cultivate. I will observe." It was nearly a low grade 5 elixir but only just below the mark. More than enough as an elixir to help a Diamond Tier.
The elixir flowed into her dantian and meridians as she cycled Qi. The fissures he saw before began to fade and the darkness font seemed to settle at last with the fire and air. She had over exerted her meridians and dantian before they had time to adjust.
Darkness Qi could be very destructive.
"Do not transform for at least 3 months I think, and keep cultivating. Your meridians and dantian need time to adjust even though the font issue has been resolved." She nodded and then he heard the thud of something behind him.
He turned to find his host kneeling in supplication.
"Master Frey, I humbly apologize for my rude words and actions until now. If I had known your status, your welcome would have been much warmer from the start." Lind waved it off but she was not look at him
"It is fine. I have only ignorance and your wisdom has been immensely helpful." Lind spoke only truth. He had learned a great deal in that meeting and he hoped to learn more.
"Mother, may I allow Master Frey to give me a name?" Lind felt all blood drain from his face as his host now stood up with a smile that was definitely not a smile. He may be ignorant of what that question meant a moment ago, but he understood it now!
"Why, my dear daughter, do you think he would be inclined to do so?" The sickly sweet tone made Lind wish for a tribulation, cataclysm, or perhaps a power mad God to show up right then. Anything but the disaster he was currently in!
"Oh yes! He was very kind and kept me safe. I did not know about poison berries but he cured me despite me, uh, throwing up on him!" She was beet red and her words made her mother flinch. It was hard to hold on to anger when such a hilarious image was given. "Oh, and he helped me face my tribulation which almost got him killed!"
A change came over his host's face as she had actually seen that part. It was true, Lind had done something damned few would attempt but he did it. Her daughter was alive and better than ever. Just then, she had seen him condense an elixir to help her as well.
Lind could see where it was going but had no idea how to stop it! Would it be a rejection if he asked her to name herself?! He was already married! Wait!
"I have to get permission!" He nearly made the canopy shake with his words as his intent flared at last to convey it. It was a fumbling attempt but both women and Tal looked at him in curiosity.
"Permission, Master Frey?" His host was confused. Why would he need permission, her daughter clearly desired it, after all. His actions were also actually acceptable to her, herself.
"I am already happily married but we are equals. I would be betraying them if I assumed anything without speaking to them!" Lind felt like he had sprinted a marathon. Lysanna may be entering into a relationship but it was currently only budding. His wives had approved, even without telling him!
Still, he would not make an assumption on his own. He had SOME survival instincts.
"Ah, a wise husband. Given your situation, I can see why you are traveling alone. I agree, daughter, if you wish to have a name then you must choose one yourself and proceed from there." Lind felt like something was missed. What did that mean, exactly?
Still, his charge seemed ok with it and got to thinking. Lind said not a word while he comforted Tal, or she comforted him. He was not sure at that point.
"Kora! I want to be called Kora!" Lind looked to his host and saw her nod.
"Pleasure to meet you Kora." He bowed to her but was then bowled over in a hug! What was going on?!
"Thank you, Master Frey. You will be in charge of overseeing my daughter Kora on her cultivation journey. Your expertise is needed, after all." A trap, he had fallen for a trap! Why did that keep happening?!