The courtyard was nice and peaceful with a pond, a patch of a grassy area at one spot, and a soft magical soil before the area where the two big abodes were built.
Rin, Erix, Lilith, Lily, and Maleina sat at a big dining table outside the abodes that Runia had prepared, and soon food dishes arrived one by one.
'Amu already warned us about her and also gave you those eyes, so let's see if this bitch is up to something,' Rin said to Erix spiritually.
'Yeah,' Erix nodded, his eyes cautious, and kept half of his focus on Runia to see through her intentions with Amu's temporary buff.
[Soul Spirit Eyes]: See through intentions and perceive thoughts of a target.
The problem was that Erix could only use it on Runia, or rather, those who had yet to awaken their souls.
If he targeted someone with an awakened soul, they would be able to resist and detect Erix spying on them. As such, he only planned to use it on Runia.
This buff would only last for ten hours, and Amu gave it to Erix because Amu knew Runia would be up to something.
Much like Granny May, Amu was also a special existence but of course, far weaker than Granny May.
Amu was a naturally born special existent here, but it also had special rules applied to it such that it couldn't directly hurt anyone. It was born from something, and that something had a purpose, so its power could only work for that purpose or things related to it.
Amu didn't know what Runia would do except that she would do something, so this buff was a precaution for the group.
"Let's eat. The food will give you various buffs and energize you fully in every way," Runia said with a grin.
Everyone started eating as the food arrived.
Runia started a conversation about their previous adventures for a bit before she decided to start the main topic and the plot.
"Since you've left the pond after training, why don't you participate in an event?"
"You can also solidify whatever gains you've made and improve by participating in the event and competing with others," Runia said with a smile.
"What event?" Erix asked, his eyes faintly lighting deep within as he used the Soul Spirit Eyes on her.
"It's called Bloomlight event and a specialty of this region."
'What?' Rin and others were surprised at Erix's words that rang in their mind and seeing his expression outside.
'This mother-daughter wants to get fucked by me....and even record it so they can show it to the King later.'
'What the fuck?' Rin was dumbfounded.
'Oh my...' Lily almost choked on her food.
'Eh? That's actually super good,' Lilith chuckled. 'Her mother is Empyrean-order with a more powerful and leveled bloodline than Runia, so if you suck her dry as well, you'll progress significantly.'
'I got her full thoughts and intentions now. This mother-daughter wants to kill all of you during the event while I fuck them in their bedroom.'
'They are courting death,' Rin cursed as her eyes turned cold.
'We'll have to counter-plan, but we can't do anything to them until we extract benefits from the ancient pond,' Lily coldly said. 'However, let's make sure that these two bitches die before we leave.'
'It seems this is also one of Granny May's challenges and boon,' Lilith chuckled.
The group internally planned what to do while eating and also talked outside as Erix said, "So, I am not going to participate, ladies. I have some work to do elsewhere."
"Yeah, sure," Rin rolled her eyes and internally snickered. 'Erix, copy that mirage crystal's content in another one after you fuck them. We'll spread it after leaving.'
'Good idea. Although it will be unfortunate this duo won't be alive to see people watching them,' Lily internally snorted.
'Actually, we can do something about that,' Lilith said. 'Given my unlocked potential thanks to Erix and the chain reaction of benefits that followed it, I'm sure to progress significantly with this pond's help.'
'I'll be powerful enough truly contend against the peak Empyrean-order of this Abyss, so even if that Queen is near the peak, as I suspect, I'll cripple her source of power to devolve and reduce her to Noble-order rank.'
'Great. All of this is unexpected, but we are benefiting, especially I am," Erix laughed, 'Let's fucking do it.'
Everyone was eating and internally discussing their next steps while talking with Runia with smiles as she informed them about the Bloomlight Event's rules and rewards.
'We'll go and register, but won't participate in the event when the time comes with some excuse and return. Since they planned to kill us, they'll be through, and we don't need to take needless risks,' Lilith said.
'Heh, let them cook plans to kill us,' Rin sneered. 'As long as Amu provides this buff daily when we go out of the pond, we'll see through them.'