Chapter 86: Outbursts

I walked out after having my ego thoroughly shattered by Luna, half-expecting to have to wait. Instead, I was greeted by a tall pile of brown, tapping her foot impatiently.

"Seriously, how could one guy take so long to throw on some loose-fitting clothes?"

Getting on my nerves. "I have a reputation to maintain as a Core Disciple." I assume anyway. "I needed to make sure I was presentable, unlike my servant."

She didn't even bother turning around as she opened the door, just muttered, "In other words, you were staring at yourself."

'Maybe she can read minds too.' Luna giggled, vibrating on my wrist and flashing several shades of yellow.

I sighed and followed behind Synthia as we made our way back to the market stalls. "So, what did you do when you ran away from home?" I asked.

She shot me a sideways glance. "I thought you didn't want to talk anymore?"

"I meant about your country's politics and techniques. This is just… small talk. We still don't know our objective, so we should work together. And if we're going to, we should at least try to be friendly, right?"

It felt wholly unnecessary to explain this, but I was starting to feel like I was trying to build a relationship with a wall of ice.

Synthia raised an eyebrow. "Maybe start with a lighter topic, then." Genuine confusion laced her voice. "Is talking about private details common where you're from?"

She might have me there. I shook my head. "No. You're right. Then how abouuut… how'd you get into this place? The trail, I mean."

'Hey, when we gonna fuse?'

'Soon.' It still felt like a bad time, but if Synthia wasn't going to be receptive to my excellent oratory, then I might as well ignore her and focus on something else.

"I found another statue," she answered.

"Another?"

She hesitated just before we stepped into the heart of the bustling market. "You found one too," she said carefully. "So yes, another." That sounded more like a recovery from a conversational blunder than a genuine statement.

Maybe some chaos would help. 'Alright, Luna. Ready?'

'Let's go!'

'Just let me take the reins. You're just practicing how to observe through me, right?' Luna didn't respond, but I could feel her anticipation.

I willed my Beast Force to wake, fused it with my Precursor Energy, and sent it through to Luna, this time with the intent of merging our minds within me instead of her.

The moment it happened, I felt the shift.

'Whoa! Is this really how I see?'

'Yeah. Wait, hold on… Yep that's Luna. You're not me. I'm me.'

'I feel like we're getting better at differentiating now,' Luna mused.

I had to agree. It was getting easier now that we understood each other better.

We walked down the stairs, awed by the countless trails of color weaving through the air. Some of the energy focused around objects in the stalls. Weapons, plants, armor, and even trinkets. Some had faint, barely perceptible traces of power, while others burned with raw intensity.

"Did you want to look at something in particular?" Synthia asked, breaking the silence.

'Let me handle the talking, alright?' I directed at Luna, not wanting to deal with the headache of figuring out who should speak.

'No problem. I don't even know how to use thi—' "—s mouth thing works."

Synthia stopped mid-step and stared at me. "What?"

'LUNA!'

"What? I didn't do it on purpose!" We shouted.

Synthia immediately took a few steps away. Before, she'd been looking at me with mild discomfort. Now? Actual concern, but not for me. "…Are you okay?"

'Luna, just… don't say anything until you figure out how to separate thoughts from speech.'

Hard to blame her. I wasn't exactly great at filtering my words before speaking either. "I'm fine. Sorry. Let's just browse around."

'We're changing colors.'

'I got embarrassed. Thank you for that.'

We walked past the stalls, and I noticed that most didn't have any prices listed. Just items set out for display.

"You think we have to ask the price every time?" I glanced at Synthia, hoping she had a better idea.

"Probably a haggling situation," she said. "If you ask, the answer will probably be a much higher price."

But so many of these items were completely foreign to me.

Sure, armor and weapons were easy enough to identify, but evaluating them? That was another story.

One sword was surrounded by a deep brown aura, while a dagger shimmered in fiery red. Did that add some sort of ability? Raw increase in power? Who knew?

And then there were the stranger objects. Plants soaked in vibrant green energy, crystals caked in golden radiance that shimmered from within, and other artifacts pulsing with power.

I gestured at the collection of oddities. "Any idea what's actually valuable?"

Synthia barely spared them a glance before flatly responding. "I wasn't born here. Everything is just as new to me as it is to you."

"Hmmm." I rubbed my chin. "Maybe we start with something cheap and go from there?"

'Oh, get—' "—something that helps with cultivation methods!" Once again, my mouth was robbed from me.

Synthia blinked. "Uh. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea… but where would we even find something like that?"

I frowned slightly. 'Why do you want that?'

'I'm struggling with progressing in cultivation. My energy is full, but you never explained how to form the Grand Channel. You think it can be improved, right? If we get more information, we can refine it. I'll resume my grass-body transformation once we find something perfect.'

'Perfect, huh?' I mused. 'Maybe you really will turn into something like your legend. A legendary we—*Ahem*. A legendary blade, reflecting the light of the sky, carving through mountains with your impressive roots.'

"Right!"

'Luna, stop talking.'

"Yeaaah. Right." Synthia gave me a strange look but let it go. "Maybe we start small and just ask the disciple at the stall." She pointed ahead. "There."

She walked toward a modest stall, its surface cluttered with mostly ordinary-looking trinkets. A few, however, had that unmistakable faint glow of energy hovering around them.

Synthia stopped, eyeing a small silver bracelet with a green gemstone embedded in its center. Tiny wisps of green energy flickered around it. Not nearly as intense as some of the other items, but still unique in its own way.

"How much for this?" she asked, pointing at the bracelet.

As I stepped up behind her, I caught the stall owner's expression.

The blue-robed disciple scowled at first, barely sparing Synthia a glance. "Why would I te—"

He froze mid-sentence as he met my eyes, his face shifting from mild irritation to outright panic. His lips pressed together as if physically stopping himself from saying something stupid.

So hierarchy was a big deal here.

"Answer her." I let my voice drop, keeping it as cold and authoritative as possible.

The reaction was immediate. His gaze darted to the ground like I was some evil being about to crush his soul. Small beads of sweat formed on his temple. "I—it's ten contribution points." He risked a glance upward, hesitated at my expression, then quickly added, "O–or two Force Crystals."

A change in price or just another currency?

Either way, Force Crystals.

That's new.

Synthia, completely unfazed by the exchange, let her attention drift to another stall. Her gaze landed on a pair of earrings, each surrounded by a much stronger energy than the bracelet…Did she like jewelry?

'Is she like me?' Luna wondered.

'I don't know,' I admitted. 'But between the fight earlier and now this, it's starting to feel like too much of a coincidence.'

I had Luna to enhance my sight, but Synthia had no visible trick like that. Yet she had zero hesitation picking out objects radiating Force.

Could the old man have gifted her something just like he did my group? Something like my ability?

Before she could move toward the earrings, I reached out and grabbed her shoulder, using Phantom Whisper. '*Synthia. Can you tell what that is?*'

She blinked and gave me a blank look before answering, "Earrings?"

So she was a good liar.

But I wasn't going to push. Not yet. She might need me to stay here, but whatever the real goal of this trial was, it might have nothing to do with this sect. For now, this was just a learning opportunity.

I released my grip, choosing to drop the subject, and turned back to the stall owner.

"Where can we find unique cultivation methods?" I asked. "Even basic ones are fine."

I just needed something to compare with my own methods.

"Those kinds of things are only available in the Treasure Hall for exchange or…" The stall owner trailed off, hesitating, like he expected me to already know.

I arched a brow.

"Or what? My master asked you a question." Synthia's voice was sharp, slipping effortlessly into the role. The word master felt weird to hear, but at least she played along.

The merchant rubbed his hands together, suddenly looking uneasy. "The market in the valley. Outside the sect. The town has a merchant house where cultivation techniques and other goods are auctioned." He swallowed. "You'll have to bid against others, though."

A town? Where?

I hadn't seen anything outside the sect grounds when I arrived. Was it hidden? Or had I just not been paying attention?

I turned to Synthia. "What do you think?" We stepped away from the stall, lowering our voices.

"Depends," she said. "If you really want a cultivation method, we could check the Hall first. Then, if there's nothing good, we can head to the town."

"Did you see it when you came here?"

She shook her head. "No. But I'm sure we can find someone to guide us." A small smirk crept onto her face. "You have that fancy robe and some points. Use them."

I chuckled. "Didn't take you for someone who likes lording over people."

"Not unless I'm the one doing the lording."

I scoffed. "I'm the one with the power here, not you."

"Pretty sure that guy was telling you off just now." She tapped her chin in mock thoughtfulness. "I should really get used to throwing around my 'master's' authority."

I narrowed my eyes and sarcastically added. "You're not planning to drag us into trouble, right?"

"Any more trouble than your weird outbursts already have?" She flashed an amused look.

'I do not make weird outbursts.'

'Yes, you do, Luna.'

I sighed. "I have an explanation for that."

Synthia raised a brow. "Oh? Let's hear it."

I took a breath. "I ha—I'm a big freak monster that struggles to make human friends."

'Luna?'

'Hmmm?' Her voice rang in my head, dripping with innocence.

But before I could even start my interrogation, the laughter started.

Synthia doubled over, barely managing to gasp between chuckles while grasping her stomach.

'See? She thought it was funny. It's fine.'

'IT IS NOT FINE!' I shot back, outraged.

I turned to Synthia, ready to defend my dignity. "Synthia, that was ju—"

She waved a hand, still recovering from laughter. "Your…" She wiped her eyes, taking a deep breath before managing to get the words out. "Your explanation right? I'm not letting you change it."

Another chuckle slipped out, and she shook her head. "I'm guessing this is some kind of strange technique?"

I sighed, rubbing the back of my head. "Something like th—"

"There you are!" A sharp voice cut through the moment.

I turned to see a man dressed in robes similar to mine, striding toward us with a group of brown-robed followers at his back.

He approached casually as I instinctively activated my abilities, just in case.

'Oh! This vision is new too!' Luna's excitement momentarily distracted me, breaking a bit of the tension.

The guy stopped within arm's reach, wearing a smile so fake I wouldn't be surprised if it was a tattoo. "I heard there was a new Core Disciple. But I don't recall any recent promotion exams."

I opened my mouth, ready to defuse the situation.

But before I could get a word out, my tongue was commandeered. "What is with all you big freaks and your manners here?

'LUNA?!' But she ignored me. Somehow, she was overpowering my will in my own body as well.

"Does no one teach you anything? Even grass knows better than to act like this."

A heavy silence followed.

I was still trying to contemplate the absurdity of the moment. Synthia may have been right about getting myself into trouble.

Before I could think more, Luna, who was very much not done, finished off her rant.

"Plus, you're ugly."