Ravessa squinted, her full attention on the women who gossiped.
"Hey, I heard some little rumors from the other elves. That nameless child hasn't been heard from and the customers who knocked at her door requesting swords returned home in fear," one woman whispered, her tone sounding aged and cracked.
Tho other nodded, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Such weak children. Can you believe a common woman scared them? They even mentioned hearing soft grunts and moans coming from her upper floor. It's clear she has a male visitor over," she added with a chuckle.
The first elven woman gasped, feigning shock. "Don't be so unclean!" she scolded, though her tone suggested she was equally intrigued by the gossip.
Ravessa's eyebrows slightly knitted together, her lips tightening in disgust. It was certain that whatever was going on in her mind was cursing the women who dared to spread such baseless rumors about Sora even though she had just met the young lady yesterday. Without hesitation, she waved her hand, and Sora's front door was pushed open by an unknown force which Ravessa commanded, not bothering to knock.
Her guards remained outside, turning their backs to the home as they stood at attention while she stepped inside.
The interior felt different this time—colder, almost eerie. Though it still had its dry and neat crevices, it still had a little difference. Ravessa's sharp eyes scanned the entire room, taking in the dining table, the kitchen, and then the stairs leading to the upper floor. She suddenly recalled the women's gossip about noises coming from above and decided to investigate.
Ascending the stairs, she found herself facing two doors. The sound of heavy breathing came from the left, drawing her attention. She opened the door, expecting to find Sora, but instead, she was met with a room filled with shelves stocked with objects made from her scrap business.
'How strange'
The sight was impressive, but Ravessa's focus remained on finding Sora. The only option was the other room. She hurried to it and pushed the door open, her eyes widening at the scene before her.
It was Sora standing in the middle of her room, her body bare with no single garment and she looked like she had gone through the realms of demons and returned.
On her skin were little scars which she had gotten from her battle with the Gaunt followed by sweat trickling down all the corners of her body.
"Oh, dear.... I have ruined myself now.... I hope it heals soon" she muttered. Then she turned her head to meet Ravessa's gaze, and the high elf felt her breath catch in her throat.
Sora's eyes held a depth and intensity that hadn't been there before, and her voice, when she spoke, was deeper and more commanding. "Oh... You have returned," she said, her tone calm and unfazed by Ravessa's sudden intrusion.
Ravessa was momentarily speechless, her heart pounding in her chest, she wanted to shut her eyes but Sora's oblivious gaze made her stop. She had come here expecting to find the same young, uncertain girl she had left behind, but the person standing before her was someone entirely different—someone stronger, more assured, and undeniably captivating.
"My apologies for stumbling into your home. Please excuse me!"
Sora raised a brow, seemingly indifferent.
'What is she talking about? Aren't we both of the same gender?'
Being unaware of the effect she was having on Ravessa, gestured toward a small room. "Well.... I must be heading to my chamber to wash myself... If you don't mind... Please wait for me." she said, her voice steady and composed.
Without waiting for any response from the woman, Sora stepped into the bathroom, leaving Ravessa standing in the middle of the room, her mind racing with so many pleasurable thoughts. The noblewoman's initial purpose for visiting had been overshadowed by the sheer force of Sora's transformation. She couldn't help but feel a mix of awe, curiosity, and something else she couldn't quite name.
As the sound of running water echoed from inside the chamber, Ravessa finally moved, descending the stairs to wait as instructed. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, but one thing was clear: Sora was no longer the scrap collector child she had once known. She was something far more extraordinary.
As Sora sat submerged in the warm embrace of the pool, memories from the dream world crashed into her mind like a relentless waterfall. The chilling realization crept in—she was teetering on the edge of death. That surreal, gnawing sensation sent her heart pounding, each beat echoing like a drum in her chest.
To shake off the weight of useless thoughts, she forced her focus onto the system and its offerings.
Name: Sora Miragale
Title: Slayer
Stage: 2nd Stage
Class: Chaos User
Rank: C
Physical Amplification (PA): 60
Chaos Output (CO): 45
Adaptation (ADT): 56
Entropy Control (EC): 51
Stability (STB): 55
Mental Resistance: 37/55
A flicker of satisfaction warmed her despite the cold. The digits were good—better than before. But this? This wasn't enough. She needed more. Power. Growth. Strength. Even if it meant clawing her way through hell itself.
After an hour of bathing, Sora decided to finish up, cleaning herself up before putting on her most profitable clothing. From there she made her way downstairs where she thought Ravessa awaited her arrival, but she was nowhere to be seen.
'It seems she has already left,' Sora thought glancing around. She hadn't heard the door slamming from downstairs and the items in the entire room looked untouched.
Something felt wrong as she felt something strange reaching out from behind her like a hand. Sora quickly glanced back, reaching out into the air as she happened catch Ravessa by the wrist as she tried to place her hand on her.
Ravessa who was startled by this, smiled pleasurably, "Wow, you're quite the quick one, nobody has been able to catch me when I'm so far behind them," she said, having emerged from her kitchen with a red apple in her hand.
Sora finally let go of Ravessa's hand, her grip loosening from her wrist, "What were yo—," she asked halfway, confused about her sneaky motives.
Ravessa chuckled, "Don't mind this old elven woman," she muttered cheerfully, "I had to wait so long that I was bored and decided to snoop around, forgive me"
Sora watched in utter silence trying to mouth a few words as her gaze followed Ravessa who made her way towards the dining table.
'Old? You might even be younger than my mother'
Ravessa finally sat down, not before throwing away the apple she had somewhat, miraculously eating under a few seconds. She gestured for Sora to sit as well, a smile on her face.
Sora nodded, doing as the woman had gestured her to do. The two sat in awkward silence facing each other, with Ravessa smiling very wildly, shaking Sora a bit.
'Gosh... Why does she smile like that?'
"Aren't you going to tell?," Ravessa spoke, breaking the tension in the room.
Sora was confused by such a question, "Tell you what?" she asked, replying with a question.
Ravessa's smile quickly died down to that of sorrow, "Oh my....you have already forgotten about the invitation," she said with a mocking but motherly tone that gave Sora some sense of assurance.
'Oh... That... Well of course'
Sora scratched her head with an awkward smile on her face, "Ah," she exclaimed, "Forgive me.... I think... I lost it"
Ravessa sighed with a heavy heart, the disappointment in her tone being quite evident enough. She then continued, "There is no need to feel sorry, child," she assured the young lady, her bright expression returning, "But do tell me, are you ready to begin?"
Sora's stern expression returned again, "Before I make any decision, I must inquire about a few things first," she muttered with a tone carrying the weight of an interrogation officer.
Ravessa's smile turned soft as she nodded, "Sure, you may ask," she replied.
Sora dipped her head, before sharing a soft but stern, "My gratitude is yours for as long as I live," then, without hesitation, she continued, "The last time we had spoken. You seem to have known my name, knowing fully well that no elf knows who I am. In here I am nameless.... So tell me, how do you know?"
Ravessa seemed shaken by the question. She hesitated, thinking of something.