power of willpower

got harder pulling Naya up in the air, the chains now begin circling her body making her breathe heavily from both the pain and the heat the chains were so tight to the point where she begins to feel that she is going to explode "why do you want the manual?" she heard an impassive voice inside her head from the looks of it, it seemed that it's the book's consciousness "I want to get powerful" having said that with difficulty, sweat was dripping from her at an excessive rate "getting something always requires that you offer in return, what's the thing that you have that can make my owner ?" she kept thinking indeed what does she have?.

while the heat started getting higher her flash was in the process of being grilled now she can't feel her legs she thought that even if she didn't have anything now she still got her willpower that craves for the guidance in this book, her willpower that is keeping her to move forward in this second life she will cherish it for sure and live it to the fullest but she has enemies, enemies who are waiting to kill her and make her perish, so even if she is weak physically now her determination to be powerful won't be less then when she will become strong "you are not going to stop me from getting strong, rotten iron" she scoffed her voice was hoarse, eyes red now she added more of her remained energy and struck the chains with all her force a chuckle was heard "indeed, girl you need to fight back".

the chains begin to counter-attack, flames emerged dashing toward her "if that's what you want then you have to prove it" this was the last thing the robotic voice spoke of.

after a long session of pushing and taking the chains started to lose their heat, they turned to pale orange until they shuttered after that the book glowed with golden and silvery dust circling Naya, the sparks with their glow entered her body slowly, a flow of energy entered her meridian as if an ancient force was trying to band with her she falls to her knees from the overwhelming power, veins appeared and sweet still dropped from her forehead "don't let the power consume you control it, lead it through your meridian" his voice echoed with a hint of seriousness " it's easier said then done " she stated.

sitting in a lotus position to control the force "I have just to lead the energy for that I need to be calm, it's there, the glow that's in my meridians I see it, just follow me" at first the red-purple energy was unresponsive it's its nature after all the power of flame, the energy was creating havoc inside her but after some time it started to be tamed the energy followed and circulated inside her eight meridians she smiled this was the first time in this world that she smiled with such a serenity since she came, "that's it ", after some time she opened her eyes with a smile "so that's how it feels to have power" looking at the book she opened it quickly she was thrilled not because she got an ancient rare manual but that she obtained it with her own efforts!!! after opening the book she remarked that all the pages were blank!!!.

she flipped the book one more time to check whether the battle with the chains affected her brain.

she saw that the first page held just two phrases and she understood it while the other pages were blank" what the hell?" farrowing her eyebrows because what was written made her even be confused " you shall accept yourself and remember You shall not eat more than you need and make sure everyone has their fair share" I don't understand?" seeking for answers from the other person "girl it's your problem here, this is cultivation, not an exam where you can get answers easily".

"aren't you here to help me" asking shamelessly.

"no I can't this is your journey in cultivation it depends on your understanding, not mine" seeing how uncooperative he was "Emmm" she resigned to her situation for now after a long silence she said "what is your name ?" it was until this moment where she remembered that she didn't know his name " inquiring about my name until now? asking her with a sneer even he can't believe that she kept conversing with him while not making a simple introduction he is literally inside her, other people would freak out at such a situation how can a being be inside another one from the moment that they met all that she talked about is how to get strong? how to cultivate? and so on, that's how their conversation was, she really is dull.

"You can call me whatever you want" there was a hint of indifference.

"doesn't he have a name? or he doesn't want to tell me his?" thinking why did his behavior change all of a sudden it's like a child throwing a tantrum, after a time of thinking she said then I will call you "shen Xiyue".

"what does it mean?" not understanding the language of this weird name it's his first time hearing such words "shen means spirit, Yue is moon and xi is hope "is it from your previous world?" this took her by surprise she stared at the void with a lost gaze " even though I don't recall my memories of that life I didn't forget the language and the basic knowledge though".

trying to appease the atmosphere he said "Emmm what an interesting name little girl, did you name me "hope" because I am, or do you hope for something else " the voice giggled as it seemed that teasing her is his source of joy but as if he met his nemesis she didn't have any reaction.

"indeed you were my hope in my dying state at the desert and my moon in the night yo…" she tried talking sweet things according to her knowledge praising people is the first step to friendship while xiyue, on the other hand, COUGHHH COUGHHHH not waiting for this response, Xiyue chocked at her flattery combined with her stoic face that gave a weird combination "don't try to do that" he requested with a serious like-tone she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion "why?".

"Are you like that with all the people?" not understanding her, this is different from the image he had of her "no, just when I want to be friends with someone that's all" "little girl, to befriend another person, praising them isn't necessary".

"Friends are the people who stay by your side even if you were rude to them or hate them they are the people that wish you the best in life, you will gain friends with time and experience not by flattery and sweet-talks, so don't do that to other people unless it's me" he couldn't believe that such a person could exist even though she is smart she is totally clueless when it came to emotions and the affairs of dealing with people how cute, while she smiled at his reaction "okay, then why are you inside my heart's lake?" still sitting in the floating stone "I don't know, what I know is that you need to get powerful for me to get out as it seemed we have a connection".

this point gets her interest "if I get stronger you can appear on the outside?" "yes" "how much strong?" "let's not talk about how much because it required a huge amount of energy, "you have to share your energy with me which means that half of what you cultivate return to me" she raised her eyebrows "and why would that be?" because that's how things work" aren't there other possibilities she was annoyed now if that's going to happen than half of her efforts will go as profits for him.

she won't accept such a loss seeing that he kept silent she understood.

"what do you want?" he chuckled at her quick mind "let's make a contract" what kind of contract?" wondering what kind of trick is he up to "the soul biding contract, it's a contract that forbid us from betraying each other, it's a perfect one for you since you are a paranoid person" stating facts, indeed, making a contract with him to ensure his loyalty is a good thing.

after some time she accepted the deal since she could do nothing "now prick your finger and let your blood drop to the ground stay close to it after that close your eyes and release the energy to that drop and repeat after me.

"Tyranegris Magniactus Agonelio je Slugesco Intimidis Agonendius Shen xiyue Locomoempra".

while chanting the drop of blood turned into a glowing Quaternary Eternity Knot that linked both her and Xiyue she felt that his presence in her has solidified and became more attached as if he was blended with her she couldn't describe this feeling it's as if they are one, what he didn't tell her is that this contract will bind them even after death if her soul did go through reincarnation he will be with her.

after finishing the ritual she said, "then what's the alternative?" "now you can gather spiritual objects"

"What are they?" "Generally it's magic cores, divine artifacts, spiritual treasures, spiritual beasts to simplify things to you everything that has energy".

"can you absorb human energy?" now she was really wondering who is he, how could a person absorb other people energy? "yes," he said that indifferently "what do I get from gathering treasures for you?" she is not stupid he mentioned about taking her energy first to make her sign the contract even though she isn't regretful about it she has to take something from him, punishing him for tricking her.

"I can teach you how to be an immortal" "is that all" even though it's a seducing offer she wants to milk the cow until it dries "along with protection in life-threatening situations" she smiled and asked, "then can you sense if there is a danger in my surroundings ?" "I can "

a vein popped on her forehead "Why didn't you prevent me when there was a danger before?"

"you didn't ask" he responded nonchalantly twitching her mouth at him." stop forgetting that you have a body outside, especially since you have already gained the wrath of those two mosquitos" remembering Alice and Isabel made her annoyed indeed those two girls may do something closing her eyes to get out in an instant she vanished.

In the quiet place, Xiyue whispered, "shen Xiyue" enjoying the echoes of his name.

"Nathan, she meditated for half a day it's dusk already don't we have to wake her up," Allen asked while coming from the waterfall it seemed that he bathed his wet brown hair sleeks down his shoulders "why are worried about this fat girl it's better if she stays like that waiting for a beast to eat her".

"sister, don't say that it's horrible," said Alice with a gentle voice and grabbing Isabel's arm not accepting her sister words, the three-man were already accustomed to their behavior if they weren't the daughters of the mercenary association's head they wouldn't have let them joined in.

Naya have long been awakened opening her empty eyes she saw that Allen was lighting up the fire while chanting some incantation and out of nowhere fire lit up in his finger, they were small fireballs and with a swoosh there it was a camping fire, Nathan was slicing meat with his long sword, Evered was sitting near the fire with a contemplating look in his eyes even though he wears a mask she still saw his look he was wearing a dark blue assassin like-uniform in the ground there was a long double-bladed sword it was decorated with black pattern Naya kept gazing at Evered's sword.

she moved her line of sight where she met his eyes, two mauve orbits staring straight at her she was startled, his eyes were shining like the stars they held a profound look, they were having an eye-battle with Evered.

seeing that evered attention was only on Naya from the start of the journey, hatred flashed by Alice's eyes to which it quickly disappeared.

"sister we didn't know your name until now "asking Naya while arranging her backpack nearby "oh I didn't watch a good show for a long time" Xiyue spoke in Naya's head biting her lips she was already starring at the foolish girl with ridicule, of course, she won't tell them they are just passers-by they don't have any connections with her plus even she doesn't know her name seeing that Naya didn't answer, an awkward silence filled the atmosphere.

" you dumn fat girl she is asking you" Isabel yelled, anger filled her face "if she doesn't want to tell then we have to respect her wishes" Nathan stated while grilling the meat "can't you see obviously she is doing it on purpose acting high and aloof " "stop it now," he said with a cold voice threatening her, he already had enough of her absurd jealousy the sisters watched the unfamiliar Nathan