“Basically, you were about to die but master used a dark cocoon to keep you alive. However, after you came out, you nearly repeated the destructive process. I don’t know how… But he had something wrap itself around your body and sealing your cracks. It stopped your destruction” Shamac said to Talia.

Talia’s face brightened up when she heard this.

“Hexarion… You used an item to save me? Thank you. I am grateful” She said with a flashy smile as she bowed her head in thanks.

Whatever, that doesn’t matter to me.. What matters is that Talia can now be useful to me. Her powers even exceeds what I initially predicted. Could it be because the wings resonate with her well since she is a fairy?

“B-But… If it worked, where are my wings?” She asked, suddenly looking behind her and seeing no wings.

Shamac also noticed and got confused as well. How funny these slaves are.

“The wings are within you. I condensed everything into essence. You’ll most likely never have a proper wing any longer” I told her,

“W-Wha…? Talia expressed surprise.

“But in return, you’ve been granted phenomenal power. By condensing the Aspects that make up your wings, even absorbing one of the essence will make you more powerful than you would be with wings.” I said,

It’s a waste to have so much Aspect essence concentrated on the wings, It’s more efficient having the pool of Aspect within oneself. Another flaw in the gods’ creation. Though, knowing them, they most likely did this intentionally.

“Besides… It’s not like you can follow me around with wings behind you” I added.

Shamac and Talia both realized I made a good point…Naturally.

“But where is this cocoon? I mean, you said it wrapped around me” Talia asked.

“It’s within you” I told her.

“W-Wha…?” She expressed surprise.

“Or rather, you’re wearing it right now” I corrected.

“Wearing… It?” She repeated.

“It was the only way to ensure your survival. The Cocoon has the ability of preservation. Transforming it into an attire for you, covering your entire body, it serves as a preservation for you… As well as a limiter” I said.

“Whoah…” She let out in surprise.

“Until your body fully acclimates to that power, the full apparel will keep your newfound power checked. However, that should pose no problem… For now” I said.

Talia stared intensely at her skin and pinched at it, dragging her skin to feel any form of clothing on her.

“It’s useless… Don’t even bother.” I said to her.

She looked at me with embarrassed surprise.

“It has completely integrated with your body. As of now there’s really no difference between ‘you’ and ‘it’. Do you understand me?” I asked.

She nodded her head obediently.

I sighed.

To be honest, this opinion has always been available since I started this risky venture. However, I didn’t want to waste my resources. Dark Cocoon is a huge mass of a single Aspect, mine. This makes it very unique to me. And, very difficult to replace.

One can not make something out of nothing. In the same vein, one can not make nothing out of something. This means items made using my Aspect can not be replaced or replicated by ROOT. Also, since I lost my Aspect I can not make more.

Meaning… I sacrificed a one of a kind item for Talia. She better be worth it. If push comes to shove, and she proves useless and not worth the investment, I’ll have to retrieve the cocoon. The issue that lies there is that both Talia and the Cocoon have merged. In order to obtain the item… I would have to kill Talia.

And after going through so many pains to nurture her, that isn’t something I want to do yet.

“I… I can feel it. My body is brimming with so much power. Yet somehow it’s not overwhelming me. It’s like a dam surrounds my Aspects essence within me” She said, paying close attention to the changes in her body.

Shamac didn’t know what to say at this point. However, he had to contribute somehow. And contribute he did.

“My Lord… If I may venture to ask… What do we do now?”

I was initially silent after he asked me this. But, soon after I let out a grin. This grin became a chuckle which turned into laughter.

“Fufufufuahahahahahahaha” I laughed heartily.

“You ask a good question. What the next step is eh?” I smiled.

“I have stayed in Artia for over a week now… It’s time for us to leave this place” I said.

“Oh? Then when do we lea-” He replied.

“However… I’m not one to leave somewhere without making some form of mark in it… So how about I initiate a takeover” I said to him.

“T-Takeover?” He asked in surprise.

“Yes. I’ll be in control of this territory. Of course, it won’t be direct, since we’ll be leaving soon” I smiled.

“B-But then why do you want to take over the city? Who would you even place over it…?” Shamac asked, a little concerned.

“Hoh? Is that concern I see? Toward me?” I asked.

“N-No my lord” He quickly corrected himself.

Smart kid.

“I will establish this place as the first of my strongholds. I’ll need them in the future” I said.

“As for your second question… I have just the person in mind” I smiled, thinking of a certain master of the best Auction House in Artia.

“T-Then… Do we begin tomorrow?” Talia asked.

“No. While it is indeed the next step of the plan… There’s something that must come first.” I said, looking at both of my slaves.

” As your master, I deserve every right to every part of you. As such… It’s time the both of you prove yourselves to me!” I said.

“It can’t be… Could our master be…?” Shamac thought a dirty thought.

“Hexarion… Wants to…?” Talia also thought to herself too, blushing.

“In order to test your capabilities, I will witness them with my own eyes.” I stated.

The two expressed some form of disappointment and relief at the same time, unique to the both of them.

“So, my lord… What you man is that…” Shamac asked me.

“Indeed. The both of you… Will fight! I declared.

In order to decide if they are truly worthy of me, to continue to be with me on this journey… I must see with my very eyes…. The extent of their capabilities, no matter how little!