Lassim’s eyes fixated on Lustria Alisone the moment he entered the hall, unable to focus on anything else as her figure, now far more mature and different from the girl he had known at the Myriad Spirit Academy, drew his attention.
She had transformed, and it wasn’t just in cultivation.
Her pitch-black attire from the Shadow Sect clung to her, an intricate weave of shadow and leather that seemed alive with an ethereal, dark energy.
It moved subtly, like the shadows around her breathed with her presence. The fabric was adorned with intricate, swirling silver patterns, each design resembling the fluid, dancing form of shadows caught in moonlight.
Her hood was drawn up still, but the enchantment that previously darkened and hid her face and added glowing eyes was disabled. Even then, its covering couldn’t hide her beauty—dark, flowing hair cascaded around her shoulders like an inky waterfall, framing her porcelain skin that seemed to almost glow under the mood lighting of the council hall.
He had noticed it earlier too, but she had grown much taller. Where she was a solid 140cm in height before, she had grown to 160cm. She was still much shorter than Lassim’s 193cm, but the change must have accompanied her advancement to the current Spirit Transformation stage, level 2 that he noticed she was from her subtle spirit pressure.
Her piercing now purple and somewhat crimson amethyst eyes glowed faintly beneath the hood, giving her an otherworldly air, a deadly bloodlust filled grace that made her seem almost unreal.
She had sharpened in every way. Where there had once been a youthful energy, now there was the steely resolve of a seasoned sharpshooter. Unless Lassim’s gaze was directly on her, she seemed to fade into the background, as if the darkness itself conspired to conceal her.
Yet, as Lassim’s gaze met hers, he could still feel that familiar bond between them, pulsing through the Soul Echo necklace resting against his and her chests.
He hadn’t even realized just how smitten he had grown to be for her and the time apart added to that confusion. Plus her physical changes that the advancement caused everyone that progressed into the Spirit Transformation stage, made him feel every bit of the feelings a normal 15, almost 16 year old, teenager would feel looking at his crush.
His heartbeat quickened, the connection between their necklaces sparking with a rush of emotions—nervousness, anticipation, and something deeper. It was as if their souls were speaking to each other without words, a silent acknowledgment of the years they had been apart, yet still connected.
Lustria hadn’t looked directly at him yet, her focus seemingly elsewhere. But Lassim knew she felt it too.
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The tension from earlier—the emotions swirling between them—was nearly unbearable now.
He swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in his throat as memories of their time at the Academy flooded back. The days spent training together, the promise that she would catch up to him that he had held onto for nearly eight years.
And now here she was, no longer the girl he had once known, but with the group of elites of the Shadow Sect.
Before he could say anything to her and ask how she’d been, Volten’s voice broke through the tension. "Lassim, stop standing there like a fool. We have business to attend to," he said with a hint of amusement, gesturing for him to join the table.
Lassim tore his gaze away from Lustria, blinking as he realized everyone’s eyes were on him.
He nodded and made his way forward, his feet feeling heavier than they had in battle.
As he approached the table, he couldn’t help but glance at her again, hoping for even the smallest acknowledgement, but she still didn’t meet his gaze yet.
Taking his seat beside Volten, Lassim tried to focus on the matter at hand, though his mind was still a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.
The First Blade of the Shadow Sect, the towering man who had mocked him earlier, leaned back in his chair with a casual smirk. His voice rumbled through the room like distant thunder. "So, is the famous twin elemental boy I’ve seen the reports for? Strange choice for a personal disciple, if you ask me. He still reeks of an initiate’s sweat."
Volten let out a short chuckle, ignoring the insult. "Well, I only just decided that someone has to teach him. I kept watching him swinging that halberd around without thinking or even utilizing his powerful cultivation base. If he keeps it up this way like a simple brute, he’ll end up cutting off his own arm. Or worse, blowing up half the sect before he learns any better ways."
The First Blade’s grin widened, but his eyes remained locked on Lassim, as if evaluating him. "A wild one, huh? Maybe I should take him for a spar or two. See if he can survive without the Grandmaster babysitting him."
Lassim clenched his fists under the table, "You keep saying I’m swinging my halberd like an idiot. What do you even mean? When are you going to explain yourself for the sudden change in attitude too?" His sharp tongue directed at the Sect Master.
"Now, now. As I said, I’ll discuss things with you later. You clearly need more assistance than I thought, but don’t worry that blessed little head of yours. We’ll talk privately later." Volten tapped his head like he was consoling a child with a head pat while Lassim rolled his eyes..
The First Blade’s eyes flickered toward the figure seated beside him, his arm gesturing lazily in her direction. "Let me introduce you to someone who knows how to stay in the shadows. My personal disciple, Shadow Sniper. One of the newest but highest mark scoring talents across all of the assassin courses in our entire sect for the last 2000 years. Precise, silent, deadly. She’s never missed a target."
The room seemed to grow colder as the shadows went giddy while the First Blade spoke, his pride evident as his early Spirit Mystic stage cultivation leaked out.
Lustria, now code named Shadow Sniper, finally turned her head ever so slightly, her masked gaze sweeping across the room until it landed on Lassim.
Lassim could feel the intensity of her gaze piercing through him. His chest tightened with a mix of emotions.
The First Blade, oblivious to the undercurrent between them, continued to boast. "Shadow Sniper can hit an enemy’s vital point from thousands of meters away, despite her current cultivation level, and without so much as a whisper. One of the finest. She may be a bit on the weaker side to the rest of the elites I brought, but I brought her along for the experience."
Volten, who had been silently observing the exchange between the two personal disciples, raised an eyebrow, his eyes flickering between Lassim and the ’Shadow Sniper’.
He seemed to sense the tension but didn’t comment, instead leaning back in his chair with an amused smirk. "Impressive. But judging by the way Lassim’s staring, I’d say there’s more going on here than just admiration for her skill."
Lassim’s heart skipped a beat, heat rising to his face. He hadn’t expected Volten to call him out so directly, and now all eyes were on him.
Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke, though his voice was more awkward than he intended. "Well… we already know each other." He glanced at Lustria, but she remained silent, her posture stiff. "She’s… she’s the girl I’ve known and liked since our days at the Myriad Spirit Academy."
The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade.
The First Blade blinked, his expression shifting from pride to confusion.
His gaze darted toward Lustria, his brow furrowing beneath his mask. "Is this true? He knows you?" he asked, his voice carrying a sudden fatherly sternness.
Lustria’s head dipped slightly, her hands clenched into fists on the table. For a moment, Lassim feared she wouldn’t respond, but then, in a voice so soft it barely reached him, she muttered, "Yes… it’s true."
Lassim’s chest tightened.
"I… like him too," she finished, her voice a little louder, though still tinged with embarrassment.
He couldn’t stop the small smile that crept onto his face, his heart lightened by her confession.
After years apart, she had just confirmed she still held the same feelings they had been holding onto since their goodbyes.
The First Blade groaned, his hand running over his masked face in exasperation. "And here I thought training assassins was hard. Now I have to deal with this."
Volten, on the other hand, looked thoroughly entertained. "Interesting," he mused, his orange eyes twinkling with amusement. "This certainly adds an unexpected twist to our little gathering."
The First Blade shot a sharp glance at Lustria, his voice a bit more stern now. "So, all this time, you’ve been harboring feelings for some snot-nosed Lightning Sect brat? What qualifications does he have to be worthy of my own disciple? Ugh…"
Lustria’s gaze didn’t waver this time as she looked her master in the eye. "Yes, Master. It’s complicated, but… yes."
The First Blade sighed deeply, shaking his head. "Fine. We’ll deal with this later." He turned to Volten, his voice returning to its usual gruff tone. "For now, we have a war to clean up and make our patron deity satisfied."
Volten nodded, the seriousness of the situation returning to the room. "Indeed. The remnants of the Sun Sect must be eradicated, and there’s still the matter of potential portal openings across the Southern Continent. While it seems none have opened yet, according to my senses, there’s always the risk that those who’ve kept their sanity may attempt something before they are dealt with.
That’s why I’ll have my disciple join your team as you go out."
The First Blade looked confused, "Wouldn’t an array specialist team be better suited for closing any new portals? Why should I bring along this brat? I’m not going to babysit him if he can’t hold his own."
Volten’s smile was calm, even mischievous. "Because my personal disciple has talents that go beyond mere arrays. You’ll see soon enough."
The First Blade raised an eyebrow, but didn’t press the matter further. Volten’s cryptic answer was enough for now.
As the strategy meeting continued, Lassim’s thoughts kept drifting back to Lustria. After all these years, she was still the same and he looked forward to finding a moment later so they could catch up and he could learn all that she’d been through in the last 8 years.