44 Prepare for Upcoming Trouble
It was warm. Jophiel returned to her senses and felt she was enveloped in tenderness and warmth.
She remembered that she was waiting for her master, but she fell asleep?
She opened her crystal pink eyes and found herself in her master's arms. They were covered in a thick blanket, and the warm light from the fire orb illuminated the cave. A sense of relief and comfort enveloped her from the inside out.
Her master finally came back for her. Her master's soothing scent, soft breath, gentle heartbeat, and tender touch. Everything was real. It was not a dream.
She could even feel her master's fluffy tails wrapping around her body under the blanket, touching her skin directly.
Directly to her skin?
Jophiel's satisfied smile soon turned into confusion and curiosity. She peeked into their blanket and found she was wearing only her sexy pink underwear.
Her face flushed red, but her smile didn't fade. As soon as she gazed at her master's face, she was shocked.
Her master just cried. The trail of tears was still not yet dry, so she felt sure.
"That's right... I fell asleep while waiting, and my artifact didn't work when I passed out. The bonfire crystal was extinguished, and the magic items had not been activated. I, I almost died, didn't I?' Jophiel muttered in her mind. Her master saved her before she froze to death.
"Hmm?" Ely woke up because of Jophiel's sudden movement. She looked at her sixth disciple's flushed face and spoke tenderly. "Jophi-chan, your master, let you suffer. I failed to return in time and almost let you freeze to death. Please forgive me."
"Master, it's not your fault. I'm sure something happened on your side. It was me being stupid and almost letting myself freeze to death." Jophiel replied with a warm smile on her face. She gently wiped the trail of tears from her master's cheeks.
"It's been a tiring day. I've set up a protective array. We can sleep until dawn without worry." Ely stroked Jophiel's head.
"Ehehe, then master also needs to sleep. Please forgive me for being spoiled. It's already very late, but will we sleep like this?" Jophiel chuckled lightly. She was indeed still sleepy.
"Mm, I'll sleep in this position." Ely didn't mind sleeping in a sitting position, leaning against the wall.
Therefore, Jophiel pulled the hand on her waist and intertwined her fingers with her master's. She wrapped her other hand around her master's waist before closing her eyes.
Her master didn't abandon her, and she didn't wish to bring up any depressing topic to ruin the pleasant mood. Nevertheless, her master was soft and comforting...
She drifted off into sleep in her master's arms shortly after.
"Thank you, mama.."
"Sleep talk?"
"Huu... huu..."
Ely blinked her eyes in bewilderment, but she only got Jophiel's soft breath in response. She then brought Jophiel closer and adjusted their blanket. Only their head was visible outside, and it was really like a big cocoon.
She was still feeling guilty. Hence, she hugged Jophiel closely because she wanted to again convince herself that her sixth disciple was safe and sound.
'You care so much for that pink elf, Ely. You said she is your disciple, but why does she call you mama?' Yuuki peeked into the cave.
Ely took out a telepathy talisman and used her simple wind magic to send it to Yuuki. She couldn't use direct telepathy.
Yuuki received it, and then Ely answered with a concerned tone. 'Could you come in here first, Yuuki? It's cold and lonely out there!
'I'll be on guard here. Snow, ice and cold are where I come from! Yuuki leaned against the cave entrance, gazing up at the northern night sky illuminated by the aurora.
'Please come in. Ely repeated her request.
... Yuuki observed Ely's expression with her perception for a few seconds. She finally complied with Ely's request and entered the warm cave.
'She is Jophiel, my sixth core disciple. Each of my disciples has their own backstory because of their bloodline. I am not only their master but their guardian as well. Some of them even regarded me as their mother: Ely rested Jophiel's head on her shoulder.
'What's wrong with their bloodline? I'd love to hear the details! Yuuki observed this stunning pink elf closely with her magical eyes. Yet, she couldn't find any curses that might lead to anything terrible.
"They have the bloodline of Gods who died in the previous circle because of the Heavenly Demon's curse. We call them the heroes' descendants. Due to their impeccable affinity with their ancestral divine power, the curse was also passed to them. They were demonic creatures before I saved them by purification. Have you ever heard of this story, Yuuki?' Ely looked at Yuuki's foxy eyes as she tried to pry deeper into Yuuki's train of thought.
'Heavenly demon, curse... So, it's a story recorded in the ancient bible of the Holy Church in the Great Yan Empire, Human Realm. The heroes saved the world from the Heavenly Demons, but the destruction of the second circle had nothing to do with that battle. Ely, are you also aware of Heavenly Rebels?' Yuuki put her hand to her chin as she felt Ely knew more than she could have guessed.
'Heavenly Rebels? I've heard of this but don't know the details. However, I miraculously killed one a few days ago! Ely recalled the emergency quest sent directly by the Constellation of Fate.
'Hunh!? W-what!?' Yuuki was dumbfounded, full of shock.
She crawled closer and looked closely at Ely's face. She could tell it wasn't a joke, but a few days ago!? Ely just triggered a big event and killed a Heavenly Rebel!
"That's surprising, right? I was also surprised! Ely glanced sideways. She didn't know why this snow fox was fond of looking at her face so closely.
"Tell me more about it. Even though the path to the Divine World was severed and tightly sealed, what just happened is truly dire, Ely! Yuuki sat right in front of Ely with a solemn expression.
Ely then explained what happened in Lumina City, but she didn't explain the quest because it wasn't necessary.
'I see... But are you sure you are okay? You didn't receive any curse or anything?' Yuuki was genuinely worried. She scanned and double-checked Ely to ensure everything.
'I am healthy and fit! Ely smiled brightly to reassure Yuuki.
'Phew, to think those lunatics would go as far as to make the sacrifices to open their sect's forbidden gate and summon their Demon God to the mortal world... Yuuki sighed.
Yuuki, for that sacred land. You just threw that big guy into the faraway sky, but how could a Demi-God be seriously injured that easily? It's just a ridiculous excuse, right?' Ely shifted the topic to the event they had to handle soon.
'Yeah, they won't let me off the hook, that Elder Fiery Bear and his troublesome sacred land... Palace Master will definitely send people to deal with us too. They all want a piece of me!
'Do you have a plan to deal with them?'
"They will end up dead if they cross my bottom line!
'So, no plan? I have a brilliant idea if you need a proper plan to deal with upcoming trouble. Would you like to hear it, Elder Yuuki?' 'Uhm... You have the pseudonym, Miko, so I need one too. I used Celestial Fox in recent years, but now it's time to change. Please give me a good pseudonym, Ely!
'Miko means shrine priestess, you know? It's more of a stage name or title than a pseudonym. But, well... If you need it, I'll suggest a nice pseudonym for you. What about Gumiho? It means nine-tailed fox. What do you think?'
'Eh? I see, but I still need one for some situations. Gumiho is good. I shall use this one, then. Regarding the previous topic, I'd like to hear your plans, Ely!
'Good.'
Ely then explained details about her plans to deal with the upcoming trouble.
Once she was finished and Yuuki agreed, she put on an additional protective array and concealment. It was time to rest.
'Yuuki, please tell me about the three members of our family who are still in this Tearobis Great Continent: Ely closed her eyes, but she decided to ask that before sleeping.
'That's me, the devil Sylvia, and the radiant knight Evelyn. Evelyn is in Aubourus Empire, Human Realm. She served the Sword Maiden to get the Empire's help to find you.
Sylvia should be in the Demon Realm's central region, and she is half devil and half demonic dragon. However, her nature has become very strange since we last managed to find you for years, Ely. Please be careful of her! Yuuki heaved a subtle sigh as she could only discover two out of everyone.
She already expected their group members would split up due to Ely's absence, but it was time for them to unite again.
'Devil? It will be tricky, but that's not a problem!
'Huh? Why?'
'Demon, human, and the devil are just races. There is good and evil. Jophi-chan is a demoness, but she is a sweet girl. Sylvia and Evelyn, huh... We will meet them soon!
'All right, but we should start with Evelyn first!
'Alright then. Yuuki, thank you, and... Goodnight~'
'Sleep well, Ely!'
Ely, Yuuki, and Jophiel then rested until dawn.
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