The tree suddenly came with a ton of questions for Aster, apparently it was quite interested in human customs.
It could be both, because it is the first time it has been a long time since it has talked with anything, and the first time it has talked with a human out of its own will.
Unfortunately for the tree, Aster had more pending matters to tend to in his hands, both literally and figuratively, since he is still carrying Aria in his arms.
So, Aster simply said.
"We are tired after our fight, so we will be taking out leave, call us when you are ready for the incoming battle".
The tree couldn't do anything but nod and leave the questions for later, since it had its own preparations to do.
"Enjoy your stay and don't worry, the leader beasts are currently inactive, the method they used to influence the two moons turned the area around the other two central nodes, where they are recovering, spatially unstable, so even if we go right now, nothing can be done nor by them or us", said the tree.
Aster nodded and they then left the main hall guided by one of the roots, once they reached the rooms mentioned by the tree, the root left having fulfilled its task.
They entered a room and Aster closed the door behind them, he then gazed at Eris who smiled understanding what he wanted.
She snapped her fingers and one of the faces of her cube necklace lit up as she set up a barrier, the tree made an oath but one can never be too cautious.
Aster was next he took out the beds as well as the portable bathroom, as well as some other furniture like a table and chairs, since the room was empty previously, a tree doesn't need a bed or anything like that after all.
Each girl took laid down on their respective bed, it didn't escape their eyes that Aster didn't take a bed for him and Aria, but a couch in which he was sitting with Aria resting in his lap with a comfortable expression on her pretty face, but they didn't say anything.
Under normal circumstances, Aster would have been spoiling his cute Aria in a separate room as of current, but before that he had some doubts he wanted to clear with Eris's help.
"Eris, have you ever heard of that tree's species, for some reason it sounded made up to me", he said.
Ares slightly nodded as she answered him.
"Everyone who has a decent background in the rune mastering business, knows Runic Oaks, their wood is probably one of the best materials that can be used to make paper for talismans, since that tree species has the natural ability to accommodate runs with ease, any talisman made with it will have a 10% extra of efficiency".
"That being said they are really rare because supposedly only one per Divine Firmament grows and once it is destroyed a second will never appear, also the amount of wood needed to make a single talisman is quite large, so the families that are lucky enough to have found one, treat it as a treasure, a single paper made out of its wood is quite pricey".
"Back at the Heavenly Garden Divine Firmament, there is just one of them in existence and it is owned by the strongest force there, by the way my Heavenly Rose Clan and Mylene's Ash Nether clan are the number two and three forces respectively", said Eris.
Noticing the "It wasn't necessary to specify expression on the faces of the others, Eris cleared her throat and then continued.
"Ahem, in any case there is no such a thing as a Yang Runic Oak, my grandma would have known about it if that was the case, but the tree isn't necessarily lying, if its main body died and a small copy managed to survive to then merge with the yang chain, there is a possibility of mutation".
Eris eyes sparkled for a second, a unique variation of a Runic Oak, something never seen before, especially because in exchange for their pretty useful ability, a Runic Oak with self-awareness is something unheard off.
Aster processed everything Eris mentioned and there is something that didn't make sense for him.
"The tree said it was killed by the guys from the Yin Azure Palace, but if the Runic Oak is such a precious treasure why would they do that?", he asked.
Mylene made memory for a couple of seconds before she said.
"It's not like they wanted to, if my calculations are correct the formation, they set up is the Stellar Yin-Yang Cycle Array, which needs not only those chains specially made, but two things to work as anchors for the array, one for positive and another one for negative effects".
"For the yin they naturally chose the Glacial Liger to be nurtured, and they used the Runic Oak to seal it, that might be why it could integrate itself with the rests of the yang chain, the formations were engraved on the tree itself previously".
"As for why they didn't care to destroy the tree, the Yin Azure palace has conquered weaker Divine Firmaments and annexed their territories to the Frozen Cloud Divine Firmament, this secret realm as well as the Runic Oak probably came from one of them, as it shouldn't have been above the Mortal realms at its peak".
"So, since it didn't affect their native land, and the paper they could make only helped them make Mortal realm talismans, they didn't care to destroy it as long as that allowed them to finish nurturing the Glacial Liger".
Aster couldn't help but a feel a hint of admiration towards the Blood Despair Sovereign, he and his companions caused enough losses to the Yin Azure Palace, probably after he killed the patriarch of the branch that was in charge of this operation, which ended up forcing someone from the main family to interfere and destroy everything in a try to break their spirit, just to end up forcing that crazy guy to led basically all the high-level experts to bite back.
'One must never be complacent, even ants can bite a lion to death given the proper circumstances', thought Aster.
Eris's theory solved all the doubts Aster had for the time being, he asked the tree about it, but it said that it lost its memories from those times, this new tree was born due to a leftover copy of the original, which only kept the desire for revenge against the ones who killed it.
"Speaking of the tree, how is your investigation going, will you be able to do what you told me earlier?", asked Aster to Eris who nodded in response.
"If the other two nodes are similar to this one, then there is a 90% of success, but I'm going to need some time, and your help since I will be stuck at one of the nodes to make my magic, while you and the others deal with the third one".
Agnes who was lost during their previous conversation, which made her feel a bit bitter since she felt excluded, saw her chance to jump into the conversation and took it.
"Humph, what's there to worry about, while you take care of the second node, I will lead the attack to the third one, I would like to see someone below the Heavenly Realms who dares to receive my sword head on", she said.
It was obvious for everyone besides Agnes, that she had a slightly jealous expression on her pretty face as she spoke before, though she indeed felt a strange sensation in her chest earlier, which she discarded as tiredness due to her fight with the giant mantis.
Aster didn't know whether he should laugh or cry, the girls have become quite competitive among themselves, first Camila and Felicia seemed to have some sort of competition ongoing and now Agnes and Eris too, not to mention Aria and Tiana as well.
"Well, I think that's all for now, have some rest, I have some important matters to tend to so unless the heavens are falling don't interrupt me", jokingly said Aster as he stood up from the couch and walked towards the door of the room while he carried Aria in his arms.
But before he closed the door behind him, Aster turned to see Eris and said.
"Extend the barrier to the next room please, I don't particularly mind, but Aria is too shy after all".
The girls saw Aster's figure disappearing with different expressions, Tiana, Nerissa and Camila were somewhat blushed, Agnes was lost in her thoughts, while Felicia was giggling and Eris was chuckling.
"Shameless", mumbled Tiana, which made her mother hug her as she laughed at her "innocence", while she urged her to find a boyfriend too.
…
At the other side of the door of the room, Aria pouted at Aster, though once they left the room to go to another one, everyone will know they weren't just going to rest, it wasn't necessary for Aster to mention it, she felt her face burning right now.
"I'm not going to be able to look at them later you pervert dragon", she said with a feigned angry but ashamed voice.
Aster saw the embarrassed expression on Aisha's face and he sinisterly laughed as he rubbed his face against hers.
"I couldn't help it; my Aria looks so cute when she is embarrassed after all".
"Mmn~", for a moment Aria was lost in the gentle caresses and sweet words of Aster, but then she realized he was teasing her, just like when they met back then.
"Y-You are always the one bullying me… not fair", she mumbled.
Aster looked at the watery eyes of Aria, and he couldn't help but find her lovely, without any expression she is charming enough to make men want to do anything to protect her, now imagine the impact an emotion filled expression from Aria will have.
Her body constitution was made to easily touch the fibers in other people's hearts, they will want to treasure her and adore her, like the cute ice fairy she is.
That's in part what differentiated Aster from the others for her, if she were to act like this with any other men, they will fall at her feet and do anything to please her, but Aster not only was unaffected by the natural seduction of her constitution, he was the one to tease her all the time.
That being said, Aster indeed loved to see the ashamed Aria, just as much as he loved to see Alice acting submissive after being dominated or Lilia being aggressive in their lovemaking, not because of any sexual related reason, but because they didn't hide their true selves from him, they trusted him enough to open their hearts for him.
Aster closed the door behind and then he saw the barrier covering the room too, only then he put hands to work and took out his own bed which was spacious to fit at least ten people, but which today will only be accommodating his cute ice princess and himself.
"Kyaa~", Aria let out a startled sound, Aster suddenly jumped onto the bed without letting go of her, they bounced a couple of times and she ended up laying on top of Aster with her face resting on his chest.
Aria smiled and then snuggled with him, she even closed her eyes as she focused on listening to Aster's heartbeat, the fact that she had Aster for herself has been making her smile even in her sleep.
She also cursed Alice for being able to enjoy this way before here, since she accompanied Aster to Zartia's exploration.
Aster could feel Aria's lovely body radiating yin in a try to tempt him, but Aria wasn't doing anything besides enjoying being in his embrace.
She never noticed it, but ever since that day where she became his for the first time, she has done this unconsciously, they say that melting the heart of a girl with a yin constitution is incredibly hard, but the reward is worth it, because they are extremely loyal.
That is only if one is able to break the ice that usually protects their hearts like an armor, a natural barrier that exists with the purpose of protecting them from being taken advantage of by those who only want them for the beneficial effects they bring.
Contrary to what one would expect, Aster didn't jump on Aria right of the bat, he instead started by gently caressing her silky platinum hair.
"As always my Aria is the sweetest", whispered Aster at her ears as he smelled a lock of her hair, which made Aria blush since she understood the double meaning of that compliment.
Unfortunately, she had no way to deny it, the extremely pure yin in her body made her attract unwanted attention anyone who saw her or even caught a whiff of her natural perfume will go after her, something she used to hate about herself, that's also why she was always using a disguise, until she met Aster.
The only one by who she wanted to be noticed.
"Wuuuh~", Aria let out a cute sound as Aster gently nibbled on her ear, her thighs cutely rubbed together, Aster purposedly stopped giving her yang energy though his radiance, before all the excess of yin in her erogenous zones was cleared.
For the leftover, he was planning to give her his yang in a different way.
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