The Author's Viewpoint

Tave, Lily, and Aura moved swiftly from their base toward the island's edge, racing until they reached a rocky island edge. Aura paused and gestured for them to wait a short distance back.

Then, she stepped over the cliff's transparent ledge.

"Wait here. I'll scout for the monster," she said, and before they could react, she tumbled over the edge and disappeared into the surf below as if falling was perfectly natural.

Tave and Lily peered over the edge in stunned silence.

"Wait… does Lady Aura really know about the Bloodline Override?"

Tave exhaled. "You'd be surprised how much she knows. More than you'd ever guess."

"Really?" Lily whispered.

"More than either of us can comprehend," he answered, his voice low and firm as he watched the water churn where Aura had disappeared. "She's not just strong. She sees everything."

Tave and Lily steadied themselves atop a wide rock, bracing against the strong gusts that swept along the island's edge.

After a while, a swirl of energy opened above them, like a shimmering portal tearing into the sky.

They stood, alert, as Aura stepped out. One of her arms was still inside the portal.

"Hi, sorry that took a while," she said casually, then fully stepped onto the ground. The portal widened behind her, and with a swift pull, she yanked something massive through it.

A heavy, scaled creature crashed down onto the rocky ground with a guttural thud. Its slick black body coiled and writhed, clearly a sea serpent, far larger than either of them.

"What's that?!" Lily shouted, backing up instinctively.

Aura hopped down beside the beast, her voice smooth as always. "Tier 5, Elite-grade sea serpent. What do you think?"

Lily eyed the snake warily, watching its weakened, gasping form thrash against the dry surface.

Tave squinted at it thoughtfully. "Honestly, it's a good option. Those scales could pass on defensive traits. Might help reinforce Lily's skin, protect her better."

"No! I don't want a snake!"

"Why not?" Tave chuckled. "It's practical."

Before he could finish, Aura gave a graceful flick of her hand. The snake monster shot through the air like a launched arrow, right toward them.

Tave instinctively grabbed Lily, diving to the side just in time. The sea serpent soared off the island's edge and vanished into the abyss below.

Aura looked entirely unfazed, still smiling that infuriatingly gentle smile. "Good reflexes. I'm impressed."

"You did that on purpose!" Tave yelled.

"Wait here," Aura replied sweetly. "I'll find another one." And with that, she vanished back into her swirling portal.

***

After a tense moment, Aura reappeared, but this time, the portal was massive, nearly three times their height. Tave and Lily instinctively stepped back as the swirling energy pulled something enormous through the rift.

A gigantic, crimson octopus-like creature emerged, its body studded with barnacles and half its tentacles shredded and broken. It thrashed weakly on the rocks, clearly injured and near death.

"An octopus?" Lily whispered in awe.

"Yes, Tier 5, Elite-grade. What do you think?" Aura asked, stepping closer.

Tave glanced at both of them before responding coolly. "It's a solid choice. Lily won't just regain her hand, she might gain more… like eight arms. That'd be… kind of awesome. Or legs, eight legs. That would also be amazing."

Lily looked horrified. "I'd rather just have one working hand than end up with eight arms! No!"

"Why not?" Tave grinned. "Imagine fighting with eight arms, eight swords at once."

"You're joking!" Lily shouted.

Tave and Aura giggled at her reaction. Aura then raised her hand, and with a graceful flick, sent the struggling monster body hurtling back into the ocean below.

"Wait…" Tave said,. "Octopus meat is actually good."

"Oh, really?" Aura smirked. "You're late to the game. I'll bring another, maybe Tier 6, higher grade, still alive and fresh. You can even fight it first, for training."

Tave shook his head. "No, no. Just bring something suitable for Lily."

Aura winked and smiled. "Of course." She turned and vanished into the portal once more.

Seriously? Aura had been summoning these huge monsters as casually as if they were pets. She must have plunged deep into the ocean just to catch those Tier 5 creatures, but none were suitable for Lily.

"Maybe I should've just accepted the sea serpent… Aura would have to repeat this over and over," Lily muttered, frustrated.

Tave chuckled and replied, "The sea serpent could even let you transform into one of your own, cool, right?"

"Absolutely not! Let's just finish this!" Lily grumbled.

Tave laughed, realizing the irony. He'd already done a Bloodline Override with a demon, yet Lily hesitated at becoming a sea creature.

Moments later, Aura returned. This time, the portal was normal-sized. She stepped through, her hands concealed behind her back.

"Hi…" she said with that calm, confident smile.

Lily leaned forward, curious. "Is it…?"

Aura brought her hands forward, revealing something soft and glowing, a pulsating, jellyfish-like orb, its blue-and-gold hues glowing gently.

"This is Tier 4, Epic‑grade," Aura said, presenting it with quiet pride. "What do you think?"

Lily stared, wide-eyed.

Tave straightened and nodded. "It's got potent venom and powerful regeneration. It can practically revive itself from near death. Hard to kill, fast swimmer. On land it might be awkward, but underwater… it'd give you real underwater abilities."

Aura smiled. "I think it's perfect for Lily then."

Lily's eyes sparkled. "It's so cute."

"Yeah," Tave agreed. "And it's Epic-grade, a high tier. Though it's small, if a Gaia Awakener like us encountered it at sea, its venom could easily kill a Gaia Master."

Aura's calm demeanor remained flawless. "Exactly why it's a great choice."

Lily and Tave exchanged a look. A tiny, glowing jellyfish? Hardly terrifying, but incredible. And it felt like the risk Lily was most ready to take.

Tave took a deep breath, they were finally here. This creature, the glowing, venomous, regenerative jellyfish, was truly the right choice. He turned to Lily, giving her the space to make the decision.

Lily looked back at him, determination blazing in her eyes. "Yes, I will do it," she said quietly.

"Are you completely sure?" he asked, gently.

She nodded firmly. "Even without seeing you do it first, I'll go forward. I'll do whatever it takes to become stronger."

This was the spirit that had fueled Lily's leap through levels. A young prodigy, driven and brave, and deserving of every chance to reclaim her full potential.

They returned to Aura's home and made their way to Lily's room. Carefully and respectfully, Tave helped set up the ritual circle. Lily took her place, sitting cross-legged at its center.

Tave and Aura settled on a nearby couch, keeping their eyes on Lily's calm, resolved expression.

They all understood this could take time, perhaps two or three hours. Rituals involving a Tier 5 creature weren't quick. Lily, still at Gaia Master rank, was one stage below. But the gap was manageable, and the jellyfish's clean elemental traits made it a gentle, if powerful, fit. There were no grotesque transformations on the horizon, just the chance for Lily to inherit innate skills that could dramatically enhance her healing, agility, and toxin resistance.

Still, the wait was long. The silence in the room was thick. Tave shifted, noticing Aura's presence. She had refused to leave. He sighed quietly.

The ritual began. And they waited.

They watched in silence as elemental energies gathered, swirling like glowing threads between Lily and the jellyfish. She sat calmly, her body relaxed in meditation, utterly composed.

Tave glanced at the girl in the center of the circle, his little sister, now cloaked in pulsing power.

Then Aura's voice broke the quiet. "Tell me… how did you even learn to do this?"

"To do what?" he replied casually.

She turned to look at him, their eyes locking. "Ah, so now you're playing the secrecy game?"

Tave gave a slight smirk. "I thought you were the one who always knew things no one else should."

Aura nodded, returning his smile. "Oh, I do know more than most. Are you curious?"

"Not really. I'd say you're the one who's curious."

They both looked back at Lily, her figure glowing faintly in the center of the ritual.

"How about a trade?" Tave said lightly. "I'm sure I have something worth exchanging for those precious secrets you're hiding, Lady Aura."

Aura chuckled. "And you think your little scraps of information are enough to earn mine?"

"You'll never know unless you try."

"I'd sound arrogant if I said… I already do."

Tave fell silent, lips pressed into a thin line. Damn it. She was good. Too good.

Was it really worth forming a second soul pact, just to unravel the truth behind Aura's cryptic knowledge?

Tave's thoughts raced: What's the real cost?

He truly wouldn't lose anything, would he? Or was that just what it seemed?

If Tave took damage through a soul link with Aura, then Vanya wouldn't suffer the full brunt of it like she would if he were hurt directly. That alone made the second pact sound safer, even beneficial.

But that was the surface.

The real question was whether Aura's intentions were as simple as they seemed. Forming a pact with her meant stepping closer into whatever plan she was weaving, and Tave still didn't have the answer to what she truly wanted.

He needed time, time to talk it through with Vanya before making such a binding decision. But there was no word on when he'd see her again. Nothing from the palace. No messages. No date.

He swallowed, the weight of delay heavier than ever.

"You know…" Aura's voice cut through his thoughts. "You could stay at the palace. It'd make everything easier. What do you think?"