Chapter 583 129.2 - Weird Place

Chapter 583 129.2 - Weird Place

Astron stood frozen; his eyes locked onto the ethereal orchid, the vibrant colors of its leaves reflecting in his purple eyes. He wasn't just staring—he was entranced, completely absorbed by the sight of the strange flower. His expression, usually so calm and composed, had softened into something far more vulnerable as if the orchid held a meaning that only he could see.

"Junior?" Maya called out softly, her voice tinged with concern. She took a step toward him, but he didn't respond, his gaze still fixed on the flower. It was as if the world around him had faded, leaving only him and the orchid in a shared, silent connection.

Maya's heart skipped a beat. She had never seen Astron like this. No matter what situation they had faced before—whether in battle or during moments of deep strategy—Astron had always been in control, never showing any sign of being overwhelmed. But now, standing before this delicate orchid, it was as if something had broken through his usual defenses.

"Junior!" she tried again, more urgently this time.

Still no response.

Seeing that there was no response, Maya's worry deepened. She took another step forward, reaching out her hand to shake him out of his trance, but just as her fingers were about to touch Astron, the Lunaphen that had been guiding them suddenly leaped from its perch and landed right in front of her, its small body positioned protectively between her and Astron.

"Kyu!" the Lunaphen growled, a surprisingly fierce sound for such a tiny creature. Its large eyes narrowed, and its usually gentle demeanor had shifted into something more serious. The creature was warning her—don't disturb him.

Maya recoiled in surprise, her hand freezing midair as she looked at the Lunaphen. "What...?" she whispered, her brow furrowing in confusion. The Lunaphen was normally shy, and for it to act so defensively, something important was happening.

She hesitated, glancing between the small creature and Astron, who still stood as though he were frozen in time, his eyes locked on the radiant orchid. "But he's... trapped or something. I need to—"

"Kyu!" the Lunaphen repeated, more forcefully this time, its tail flicking sharply as it stood its ground.

Maya bit her lip, unsure of what to do. She had never seen Astron like this, and the idea of leaving him in such a vulnerable state did not sound well.

But she had nothing to do.

Just as Maya was about to step forward again, she froze, her breath catching in her throat as Astron began to move. His steps were slow and deliberate as if guided by something far beyond his conscious control. He walked toward the orchid, his movements unnaturally gentle, almost reverent.

Maya's eyes widened as she watched, her heart racing. "Junior...?"

But no words seemed able to reach him. His gaze was still fixed solely on the glowing orchid, and with one last step, he finally reached out, his fingers brushing against the delicate petals.

The moment his fingertips made contact with the flower, the clearing was bathed in a brilliant light. The orchid shone with an intensity that seemed to radiate from the very core of its being, its colors blending together in a vibrant display. Maya shielded her eyes against the sudden brightness, but her gaze remained locked on Astron.

She watched in awe as the orchid's light began to envelop Astron, wrapping around him like a cocoon of pure mana. The vibrant colors of the flower—red, green, blue, purple, grey—swirled around him, creating a dazzling spectacle that filled the air with an almost tangible energy. The mana pulsed and danced, each color representing a different essence, a different flow of life.

Maya's sharp senses kicked in, and she immediately began to analyze what was happening. The mana wasn't random—it was deliberate, focused. Each of the six distinct colors rose from the orchid in soft streams and entered Astron's body, one by one.

Red, Green, Blue, Grey, Purple and White.

'Even like this, you manage to surprise me,' she thought, her gaze lingering on his peaceful expression.

The Lunaphen that had been watching them from a nearby branch gave a soft "Kyu" as if reassuring her that everything was still proceeding as it should. Maya nodded quietly, content to wait for Astron to finish whatever process he was going through.

As Maya sat there, lost in her thoughts, a soft glow began to emerge around Astron's neck. At first, it was barely noticeable—a faint shimmer, like moonlight reflecting on water—but it gradually grew brighter, forming the delicate shape of a necklace. The pendant was a small crescent moon, ethereal in its glow, as though it had been crafted from the light of the stars themselves.

Maya's breath caught in her throat as she stared at the necklace, her heart racing. "What...?" she whispered, her eyes wide with shock. She had never seen anything like this before, not even with her extensive knowledge of mystical phenomena.

Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, a soft voice echoed in the clearing—a voice that sounded distant, otherworldly, and filled with emotion.

"Brother."

The single word was filled with warmth and sadness, spoken so softly that Maya wondered if she had imagined it. But then, from the glow of the crescent moon, a figure began to materialize. Slowly, the silhouette of a young girl appeared, her form delicate and translucent, as if she were woven from the very fabric of the moonlight surrounding them.

The girl was ethereal, her presence both calming and haunting. She seemed to hover just above the ground, her soft, pale features framed by long, flowing hair that shimmered with the same glow as the crescent necklace. Her eyes were wide and kind, filled with an ancient sadness that seemed far too deep for someone of her apparent age.

Maya instinctively tightened her grip on Astron, unsure of what to do. "Who... who are you?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

The girl's head slowly turned, her translucent form now facing Maya. Her once soft and kind eyes narrowed, and the sudden shift in her expression sent an icy shiver down Maya's spine. The weight of the girl's gaze was suffocating, as if the very air around them had thickened, pressing down on her with an unseen force.

Maya's breath caught in her throat, her mouth opening slightly, but no words came out. The pressure from the girl's presence felt overwhelming, and for the first time, Maya found herself completely frozen, unable to muster her usual confidence.

"Parasite," the girl hissed, her voice no longer gentle but cold and sharp, like the edge of a blade. "Taking advantage of him."

Maya's eyes widened in shock, the accusation cutting deep. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of the girl's words, but she couldn't find her voice to respond. The weight of the girl's presence felt too oppressive, crushing any response before it could form.

"You don't deserve to be near him...Yet this is his wish, so I will respect it for now," the girl continued, her tone growing more venomous. "It is too early for you to know about me... too early for you to understand. So go to sleep."

Maya's body felt heavy, her eyelids growing impossibly heavy as if the girl's words were pulling her into unconsciousness. She fought against it, her instincts screaming at her to resist, but it was like an unstoppable tide pulling her under.

"And don't ever forget..." the girl's voice softened into a chilling whisper, though the malice remained. "I will be watching you. Always."

With that final warning, the ethereal figure raised her hand, and a soft pulse of light emanated from her, washing over Maya like a wave. The last thing Maya saw before her vision faded was the girl's piercing, cold eyes.

And then, darkness.

-----------A/N----------

With college starting, the amount of time I can spend on writing is reduced a little. So, I may not be able to post two chapters every day, though I will try. Also, I now have 10 fast pass redeem codes I can give (each code will redeem 10 fast passes). I will plan something for them, though not sure.