Chains Of Heaven

Levy's P.O.V.

Power.

I must have power.

My entire life, I was just a street rat. A pebble, ignored by all and overlooked by the entire world. My first memories are of hunger and desperation. I saw exactly how the world is like for those without power, I can remember every little piece of it, engraved in my very being by now.

To survive I had to steal, a knife became my best friend at some point and I depended on it more than I am comfortable to admit it.

I survived because I was smart. I always took care and was a perfectionist, doing all I can to survive and taking care of my hygiene since I had seen many die from disease before. Infection was a very normal cause of death, if cleaning myself and injuries with some water can help of course I'd do so.

And then, here I am. An overly lucky happy-go-luck man who is too nice for his own good seems to have taken an interest in me.

He helped me, his teacher helped guide me while he was busy, and in only this little while I already am at the 5th level of the Elementary Profound Realm. Enkidu mentioned how it was quite fast already but I could only think that he must be patronizing me.

That Enkidu, he doesn't seem to fit.

I saw people with talent before, geniuses in that city are hardly rare to see but they all were always aloof, always acting like they were better than everyone else and, honestly, they are not wrong.

This is a dog eat dog world, people are hardly ever kind without ulterior reason.

Now, after meeting Enkidu, I can't help but feel like he doesn't fit. It is like his way of seeing the world, the way he acts, it is completely unlike what he should be no matter how one looks at it. He is doing all he can to help people he honestly would be better of without, for no reason besides wanting to help.

I also noticed how he reacted to his teacher's leaving and noticed how his eyes were when he arrived in the house, there was something I never thought I'd see on him. There was steel in his eyes, as if a decision being reached. Honestly, the more time I spend around him the less I understand how exactly does he works.

The profound art he gave me, I could barely even begin to comprehend but it still left me amazed at how it was easy to cultivate with it. My energy flowed smoothly and I could sense how it was absolutely perfect for me.

We now are on a flower field, Enkidu moved to a corner, sitting crosslegged and with his green hair down he seems almost like a part of nature, a towering tree and also just another rock, he was confusing like that. I get out of the carriage and see how the flowers here are so bright. It was honestly surprising, it was unlike anything back in the city and despite myself I end up enjoying this place.

Looking to the side I see another who is similarly enjoying this place.

Medusa, the Beastkin.

She is a beastkin and despite not showing much in the way of emotions her lips are curved up just a bit.

I have interacted with her for the last few days, there isn't much she talks about but she helped me when Yun Gu asked to training. She is stronger than me even if she can't see properly, she gave me some tips and one thing stood out the most in her explanations.

Speed.

She puts a lot of emphasis on it, how one should aim to be the fastest, strike hard and strike fast before your opponent can react. I get that, I think I should be able to aim for exactly that, being fast.

Her training with me is brutal, much worse than what I think Enkidu would recommend probably, but it was efficient. She never went to the point I would get crippled or that Yun Gu couldn't heal me, but it got quite close a few times.

Moving around I took notice of the two other additions to this little group.

Cai'er, I have no clue what to make of her. I have seen her during the fights, her stile was one that focused on speed and overpowering the enemy in one strike, I quite enjoyed it to be honest. She was cold and distant to anyone who approached her, but what brought my attention were her eyes. They were so empty, they remind me of the eyes I have seen for so long when looking at the mirror, even if now they are not quite the same since now I have hope, or at least a d.e.s.i.r.e to be strong enough to not be looked down upon.

Now, however, Cai'er was different. I have heard that she lost her memories from Enkidu when he was introducing her, but how could she change so much. She looks and acts more like a child, a young teen, innocent and happy to just be alive.

As far as I understand she and Enkidu had no prior connection but he treats her well, too well even. I have no idea as to why he does what he does, but honestly, if he wants to do it then there shouldn't be an issue. I just think that he might need someone to be close by just in case to help him, he seems like the type that would end up getting into way too much trouble if left by himself. I mean, from what I understand in barely more than a week without supervision he self-imposed on himself four people to take care of without any compensation or obligation.

He is abnormal, and naive.

Sigh, let us let this matter go for now. At least there is someone else around now that may be able to control some of the more ridiculous wishes of Enkidu.

... And she is collecting flowers without a care of the world while talking happily about a romance book with Cai'er.

Seriously, we better hope we don't get in troulbe here or that we don't come across any big problem, Gods know that this group's composition is way too weird.

I move to a small clearing and sit down, I start to think about the world, about how things are changing so fast and how I could never, ever had thought my life would change like this in just a matter of one week, but here I am now.

"Poke." Someone poked my cheek. Turning to the one who did so I see Cai'er there, the girl with a goofy smile on her face as she saw my scowl. She then put both her hands on the sides of my lips and forced them into a smile. "Hum, hum, much better now."

A vein throbbed in my forehead as she laughed happily at my expanses.

Oh, you did not just do that.

///---///

Bibi Dong P.O.V.

Sitting amongst the flowers I see Cai'er and Levy playing tag. Cai'er, despite having been crippled, is still much faster than Levy who is the youngest of us all. He also clearly doesn't enjoy this fact if the scowl he is making is anything to go by, not that he would ever admit he is scowling.

From what little I got from him, he is a prideful boy with plenty of potential and very certain of things, stubborn and the type that seeks power the most.

Honestly, he reminds me of a lot of most other cultivators in noble families looking for a position, all seeking power and glory to become supreme.

Cai'er's laugh, meanwhile, is so free and light I can only smile as I hear it. As she moves through this field, her beauty contrasts with the golden flowers and I can't help but smile at this, she was pure. She was innocent and honestly, she is probably my first actual female friend ever.

She listens to me talking and doesn't care or even understand my status or power or want anything from me, unlike others who tried to make friends with she was simply glad to talk to me for me. Seeing her and interacting with her, it is like I have a little sister, and I love it. I never had a family so having her around, even if we only knew each other for so short a time, it is... nice.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" I turn to look and Medusa, the Beastkin, was there. I don't really know how to interact with her, I have always been taught how Beastkins are all no better than beasts for labor and that they are stupid natural slaves for the glorious human race, but Medusa is not dumb. I cannot understand what is going on with her, as far as I know, beastkins should be an inferior race so why does she seem no different than me beside her face?

Also, she is gorgeous. Honestly, she is far too pretty, there is an undeniable charm to her. Her long purple hair and eyes are charming in a unique way, even her scales do not retract from her beauty.

Honestly speaking, with her and Cai'er nearby I feel a bit lacking, like I am not quite as pretty as them. But, I guess this depends on taste. Cai'er and Medusa look like beauties of the night, those who have the same allure as the moon. I have none of that, I am more akin to the beauty of the day, of the sun, or at least this is what I heard from the males who wanted to 'further their relationsh.i.p.s' with me.

Shacking my head of such thoughts, deciding not to think more on them, I smiled at Medusa and said.

"Please, take a seat." I said to which she nodded and did so.

We sat there quietly as I looked at the book I had in hand. I started reading until Medusa noticed it and spoke.

"Oh, you are reading Grisaia no Kaijutsu, is it good?" Medusa asked, which makes me raise an eyebrow at her.

"... Do you also like romance novels?" I ask hesitantly, this is a newfound love of mine and I would love to talk with someone about it. I tried it with Cai'er and while she understood some of it she didn't really seem to like as much as me. And as for Enkidu, he is much too busy with other things and he is the one to write them, asking and debating with him about this doesn't seem quite right.

"Yes, I like them. Yun Gu had a few with him and I enjoyed reading them. I particularly liked one, the beauty and the beast, it was, interesting."

"Oh, that one. It is so romantic. I especially liked when-"

And thus, I got a second friend.

This trip is already worth it just for this.