Farewell Gifts

In the siblings' house, the atmosphere was still dreary. The twins were in the cultivation room while Sia was in her bedroom. Ryan, Lily and Lilia were all seated in the living room/dining area. Through their own means, they had all heard about the final masterpiece of the harmony series that was going on auction, and all three of them knew that Shui was the one who made it.

They hoped he would make a visit, but the amount of trust they had in that possibility varied. Lilia was sure Shui would visit soon and while not as much, Ryan was rather sure as well, however, Lily had half given up already. She naturally wanted to see him, but if he didn't want to come then she would just accept it as her fault.

Dealing with this pessimistic Lily had both Ryan and Lilia exhausted so even if Shui didn't come today, Lilia was planning on finding Yur and forcing his location out of him. Fortunately, when it was around ten p.m. and Lily got up to go to her room, there was a knock at the door. Everyone was stunned because they all thought it would be him. As the one who was already standing, it would make sense if Lily opened the door, but Lilia could see her hesitation locking her feet in place, so she did it.

Lilia took a deep breath before touching the door knob and then pulling it. Fortunately, the one that stood in front of her was the same one she hoped it would be.

"Hey, since I was here I thought I would drop-"

Shui tried to give a casual greeting but the response he got was a slap to the right side of the head. It didn't hurt, but he touched his head and looked at Lilia incredulously.

"What was that for...?"

"Is that all you have to say after running away without telling me when you would be back?"

The anger on Lilia's face was something that he couldn't go against despite his great strength. The pain didn't make him afraid, but he couldn't stand the queasiness in his chest. Shui winced just from her raising her hand again and hastily apologized.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

After seeing him apologize, Lilia drew back her hand and let him in. Away from his eyes, she shook the hand she used to hit him.

'Why is he so tough?'

"Shui!"

Once Shui stepped in, Ryan excitedly hugged him and called the other siblings out to see him.

"Hey guys, I've got presents."

"Yay!!"

The twins were the first to raise their voices while everyone else raised an eyebrow in anticipation. They knew that Shui always gave some amazing things as presents.

He gave Sia a longsword with a pink hilt. The moment she touched it, the sword seemed to have been hers since she was born. Even though she had only touched a sword a few times before, this sword truly seemed to be part of her own body.

"Do you like it?"

Shui's question woke Sia up from her fascination, but she was determined not to tell him that.

"Hmph, don't think this makes up for suddenly leaving! But, I will accept your sincerity."

She said this while hugging the sword like it was half her life.

"Okay."

Shui then went to the twins and took out a pair of gloves as well as a war hammer. He gave the gloves to Ross and the war hammer to Josh.

"Tomorrow, I'll also teach the two of you something for when you reach the Soul Realm."

"Is it a spell?!" the twins looked at him with glittering eyes but he only patted their shoulders and moved on to Ryan.

"Take out your sword."

Without needing to be told twice, Ryan obediently showed him his sword. It was an ordinary blessed special-rank artifact, but Shui could sense how much time Ryan had spent with it as well as his proficiency.

'He's got real dedication.'

Despite how much he loved the sword, Ryan wasn't very talented in it, but his efforts could open the door to the true way of the sword. Shui hadn't stepped onto that path either, but he could at least give Ryan some guidance. He gave him back the sword and tapped his forehead.

'The sword is the ruler of my world. There is nothing my sword can't reach as long my heart can believe it.'

"Did you get that?"

Ryan's eyes seemed to be glazed over, but it didn't take long before he returned to normal. After he did, Ryan solemnly bowed to Shui.

"Thank you."

It was short, but no one doubted the sincerity in his gratitude.

Next was Lilia. Like the women of Fairies' Wardrobe, he gave her a piece of jewellery. It was a bracelet that worked like the necklace he put on Lily.

"Oh, you made it yourself didn't you? Thank you, Shui."

Almost everyone was given a gift, but there was still a bit of gloom left. Looking around the room, at the faces that still held tension, Shui chuckled and said, "Well, that's everything. Guess it's time for bed."

"Oi!"

"Shui!"

"Don't let me have to..."

"Woah, woah, it's just a joke!"

Sia, Ryan and Lilia were the first to exclaim. Shui only meant to change the mood but when even the twins, who didn't know the full story, showed gloomy expressions Shui knew that he had screwed up and quickly corrected himself. He walked over to Lily as she keot her head down. When he said that was all of the presents, she was able to accept it, but something in her heart started to break. She didn't need anything from him to continue her promise, but the fact that she wouldn't get any more attention left an empty hole in her chest.

However, now that he was walking towards her, she had no idea how she was supposed to react. It would be painful, but easy to put on a gentle expression and accept that they wouldn't be as close as before. But, when she was the one who declared that she wasn't good enough, she didn't know if she should be okay with this.

"Um, Master, you don't have to..."

In the middle of trying to refuse him, Shui was close enough to touch her. He raised his hand and used martial intent to lift the necklace from her chest. A part of her felt afraid. She thought that maybe, just maybe, he would take back this memorable gift of his. But even so, she couldn't stop him. With her hands balled up into fists at her sides, she allowed him to do as he wished.

While the rest of the family was watching how this would go, Shui used both hands to cover the jade pendent of her necklace and closed his eyes. After some practicing, he was able to detect the golden purple string of fate even in this state. With this string as the link between them, he strengthened their connection.

'Master and servant, father and child, employer and employee. Our bond is like these but unique. It is different but still similar. May only death bring us parting, but until then please serve me with all of your heart.'

It was a weak glow, but as the pendant started to emit a blue light, it floated in the air despite Shui letting go. Like everyone else, Lily also didn't know what was happening, but that was only before the glow. Once it lit up, she felt as if she knew exactly what to do next.

Without needing to be told, when Shui cut his palm with his fingernail, she did the same with her palm. They held hands with the pendant in between their palms. This time, Lily said the words of covenant in her mind.

'A throne to serve, a master to live for. I swear that my life will only end before or at the same time as yours, never after unless I must bring down punishment upon your enemies. I offer my everything so that this bond may last as long as possible.'

Then, as the light burst and filled the room, they said simultaneously.

"Alaste Percus."

Shortly after, the light died down and the pendant dropped to her chest. Even the wounds that they had were healed so little proved what just happened. But everyone could tell that Lily was different. The fact that her eyes were also blue was shocking, just as much as her change in aura. In terms of intensity, it wasn't the same but it was just so similar.

"Why are your auras so similar?" asked Sia.

Just like Shui, Lily gave off a soothing aura that had a mysterious charm. After studying up more on the fate and heaven and earth oaths, Shui was able to deduce that there was a higher level to the bond and this was the ceremony to achieve. Something could have gone wrong if either of them was insincere, but he knew that wouldn't be the case.

Shui and Lily looked at each other, without any of the previous awkwardness.

"It's a secret." they both said.

This was the answer that Shui came up with. Now that the Alaste Percus ceremony was complete, both of them could understand what the other was feeling. Shui could tell that Lily hadn't given up on getting stringer to be of use to him, but she also knew that he didn't consider her as just a servant, but as someone akin to family.