"Yasenia!"

The call from the harmonic voice was difficult to confuse with anyone else's other than Soluna's. 

Turning to look, Yasenia saw the adorable spirit flying her way with a wide smile, those exotic eyes glowing beautifully. She couldn't help but smile at the enthusiastic spirit and waved at her. 

Soluna approached, her eyes locking on Yasenia's lap, but she held herself back because Flame and Kaleina were on Yasenia's sides. 'If they touch me by accident, something bad might happen. 

So, without being able to come close to her other than hugging her from behind, Soluna did so, sticking her head over Yasenia's shoulder. "It has been a while, Yasenia!"

Yasenia turned her head and rolled her eyes playfully. "We haven't seen each other for just a few hours. Do you call that 'a while'?"

Soluna saw Yasenia's gorgeous face up-close and suddenly became strangely nervous. The beautiful golden slit eyes reminded her of the warm sun, while her pleasant aura and goddess-like seductive face made Soluna feel strangely flustered. 'H-Huh? W-What's wrong with me?' 

The dragoness didn't hear an answer, and not knowing what the spirit looking at her was thinking, she smoothly continued the conversation. "I didn't think your group would arrive here. Have you come to cheer me on?"

Yasenia asked so because the only spirit that would be able to participate was Soluna. The other spirits were all too strong for the cultivation limit imposed on the competition. 

Soluna's eyes followed Yasenia's luscious lips, but this time, she answered after blinking cutely once. "I've come to participate!"

Yasenia tilted her head, confused. "But, other than you, there aren't people who can participate, right? Remember that you must have a group of five."

Soluna shook her head. "I asked the Mermaid Queen, and she told me that five people was the maximum number of participants per group. I can take part by myself!"

Yasenia didn't know about this rule. Still, looking at the cute spirit clinging to her back and strangely close to her face, she asked with a bit of worry, meeting eye to eye. "Are you confident, Soluna? While it is true that this place is a bit backward, the strength of Body Cultivators is not something to take lightly."

Soluna answered a step behind, her two eyes becoming unfocused for a few moments as she looked at Yasenia. "Yes! I am quite strong!"

Embera heard Yasenia's concern, so she reassured her. "While Soluna is just a First Level Spirit Core Harmony Realm Spirit, the equivalent to the First Level of the Dantian Spiritualization Realm, her strength is profound. Don't worry too much, Yasenia."

Yasenia nodded and looked sideways at Cecile with an amused smile. She felt a battle spirit coming from her sweetheart when Embera explained it. 'Are you that eager?'

Cecile nodded lightly outwardly, but inside, she began talking almost without end.

'I wanted to fight her at least once since I saw her. I can feel her strength and deep connection with the Moon attribute, so that's something I want to compete with. It would be interesting if I win compatibility-wise against a spirit like Soluna. My Moon Phoenix bloodline is strong, after all. More so after I bathed in the tears of that Primordial True Phoenix. Moreover, other than Valeria, I've never fought a proper spirit, so it will be quite fun to see what kind of tactics they have.'

Cecile continued. 'What do you think I should do to fight her? I think that a dragged-out fight will be unfavorable for me even when I'm a Phoenix, and I excel at long battles. Spirits feel like they would be monster-like stamina-wise because they are born from the very essence of energy. Plus, Mirrory has said that they can be as strong as Dragons and Phoenixes at the same level. Although she just implied that some can and most aren't, Soluna is probably in that category. Otherwise, she wouldn't have captured your interest as much. After all, with your Celestial Energy, unless the purity of Moon, Sun, and Star energies reaches a certain threshold, you would ignore them.'

Cecile rationalized. 'I was thinking about using space to mess up with her body, but did you know that space around her is extremely solid? The small probing attempts I've sent her way were similar to throwing a rock in an extremely deep pond. I think I would have an easier time moving the space around you than the one around her.' 

Cecile then added. "She is also in the fifth realm. While I practice three paths, the jump from the fourth to the fifth realm is enormous, so I should be at a disadvantage in that regard as well.'

Thinking like such, Cecile commented. 'But even with all of this, I think I have a chance to win because of the edge my space attribute gives me. While it might be unusable offensively, it will become a very powerful defensive advantage. Soluna seems like the type to stomp her enemies with pure might and large-scale skills. Because of her privileged birth, she probably has yet to face creatures that forced her to fight with finesse, stomping everything with raw might.'

Cecile then asked. 'By the way, what intent level do you think she has? Should we ask? It might be a bit rude, but I think that if she answers, I can have an advantage. In the worst-case scenario, she has a level 6 intent. If she does so… Then, my chances of winning will go from forty to less than ten percent. We are advancing in cultivation relatively quickly, but leveling up intents is something we can't rush. This reminds me…'

Cecile's pleasant and cool voice kept ringing in Yasenia's head nonstop, making Yasenia want to laugh. Yasenia thought to herself as she memorized the questions that Cecile threw her way to answer when she had a chance. 'She is speaking so fast that I can't find an opportunity to speak.' 

Regardless, Yasenia found her extremely adorable when Cecile went on her rants in her head. 

Soluna looked from the side and saw Yasenia's lips arch in a seductive arc, those golden eyes softening as she looked at someone. Following her gaze, she saw the indifferent and cold-looking Phoenix woman. 

For a moment, she couldn't help but feel a strange squeeze in her heart, making Soluna puzzled again. 'What's happening to me?' 

Looking back and forth for a few moments, an impulse of wanting Yasenia to look at herself as she was looking at the Phoenix sprouted in her heart, pushing her to call her. "Y-Yasenia!"

Soluna saw Yasenia looking at her, making her feel some kind of anticipation, but the moment the enchanting golden slit eyes landed on her, instead of the tenderness she had felt before, just a gentle look remained without any deep emotions. "Yes?"

A sense of loss filled Soluna's heart, and the next words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat. "I- Um. Nothing, hehe. I just wanted to call."

Soluna saw Yasenia laugh, making the seductive face lit up with her smile. The sight of her lips arching forced Soluna's eyes downwards again. 'I wish she could look at me like that and then use her lips…'

Soluna paused, blinking and feeling confused. 'Huh? Using her lips?'

The image of her lips and Yasenia's lips overlapping suddenly appeared in Soluna's mind, and her entire face brightened in embarrassment. Soluna, surprised by the sudden urge, blushed embarrassedly. 'What am I thinking about? Do I want to overlap my lips with Yasenia? Why?'

Yasenia, who had turned to speak when Flame called her, felt a wave of heat that didn't bother her from the side. She turned to look at the spirit. 'She has been acting strange for a while. Is she okay?'

Yasenia saw Soluna's bright face and asked softly, raising her hand to place it on Soluna's forehead. "Are you okay, Soluna? You've been acting strange for a while."

Soluna exclaimed and backed away as if the feeling of Yasenia's soft skin burned her. "Ah!? Yes, yes! I'm okay, hahaha. Don't worry, Yasenia!"

Her exotic eyes moved around frantically, sneaking glances at Yasenia's perfectly soft and moist lips. Soluna gulped. 'T-They look really nice… Not! What's this strange urge!? Have I been cursed!? I need to ask Embera later to check on me… Maybe my core has something wrong with it.' 

Yasenia tilted her head, touching her own face. "Is there something in my face?"

With her core pounding, she looked sideways, avoiding Yasenia's figure. With a shy voice, Soluna whispered. "Nothing, you are just very pretty."

Yasenia blinked and laughed. It was common knowledge to know that normal spirits didn't have sexual urges; their method to reproduce was asexual for the main part, after all. So, Yasenia didn't think deeply about her words. "Thank you, Soluna. There is no need to sneak around like that. If you want to look, you are most welcome."

Soluna looked at the floor, her hair dancing with bright flames in embarrassment. "Yes…" Then, Soluna opened her mouth, wanting to ask if it was okay to sit on her lap, but someone interrupted her.

"Yasenia~!" 

She turned to the side and saw Angel running over with a few books between her arms. Extremely naturally, Angel approached and was lifted by Yasenia's tail. Angel then lifted her knees, and Yasenia planted Angel on her lap, hugging her waist and landing a soft kiss on her lips.

Soluna's dancing hair calmed down, and her face became strange. 

Embera approached and asked. "Soluna, are you okay?"

Soluna looked at her, and taking advantage of Angel's showing things to Yasenia and taking away her attention, she approached and whispered, "E-Embera, I think my core is damaged."

Embera's face fell, and she quickly asked. "Are you sure? Do you need to use healing medicine? If it is too serious, we can ask…"

Soluna quickly stopped her from raising her voice. "Shh! That's not what I meant. Also, don't speak aloud. I'm whispering for a reason here!"

Embera leaned down and nodded. "Okay, tell me." 

Soluna took a deep breath and commented. "It's just a few strange feelings that are in my mind."

Embera looked at her, waiting for her to explain. Soluna began. "W-Well, you see, after that day when Yasenia fought with that powerful person, she has always been in my mind."

Embera nodded in agreement. "She fought admirably. It's normal to think about it. For someone at her level, it was a masterfully fought battle." 

Soluna's eyes glowed. "Right!?" She was about to ramble, but she suddenly remembered what she wanted to ask. "D-Don't distract me!"

Embera nodded seriously. "I won't speak again until you explain."

Soluna nodded and commented. "So, when we separated after Yasenia took over that sect, I've been very eager to see her again. The urge is also increasing by the second."

Embera blinked and nodded, still confused as to where this was going.

Soluna commented, her face becoming a bit brighter. "T-Then, when I saw her face up close, my mind started thinking strangely!"

Embera asked with her eyes because she was unable to speak. Soluna coughed and said with a flustered and shy voice. "I-I suddenly wanted to overlap my lips with Yasenia, and my core started pounding and tingling when I imagined that."

Embera was puzzled. "Why would you want to overlap lips with Yasenia?"

Soluna commented embarrassedly. "I don't know!"

Embera looked at the dragoness and asked. "Do you want to copy what she usually does with her mates?"

Soluna looked over and imagined herself in Angel's position, making her core pound again. "Y-Yes."

Embera rubbed her chin. "Hm… Then, why don't you ask when you and Yasenia are alone? I feel that asking before her mates might be rude. After all, you'll be taking away from them."

Soluna nodded a few times, looking at Embera with serious eyes.

Embera added. "When you are together, you should ask if Yasenia could overlap her lips with yours." Soluna imagined the situation.

She was in Yasenia's arms, her waist firmly held by her two strong and firm arms. Looking down at her, Yasenia's soft and tender eyes she had previously seen only had her in the reflection. 

Then, Yasenia slowly lowered her head, whispering words with her enchanting voice, and their lips overlapped. 

Soluna's face lit up like a small Sun, and her energies began to go berserk. 

Embera quickly calmed her down before she actually exploded. "W-Wait. If that's too much, you can ask for her to place her lips somewhere else."

The spirit of the Sun and the Moon calmed down, blinking in confusion. "Where?"

Embera, who had blurted it out in desperation, was lost. 'You ask me, who do I ask!?' 

She suddenly caught Yasenia kissing Angel on the cheek from her periphery and coughed. "How about here?"

Looking at where Embera pointed, Soluna tilted her head, imagining the situation. 

This time, she was embraced in Yasenia's arms, looking up at her. Yasenia's face came closer, her face resembling the usual gentle look instead of that tender gaze she gave the phoenix, and those moist and soft lips landed on her cheeks. 

Soluna screamed in her head and placed her hands on her face. 'Ahhhh!!!!'

Embera became twitchy as she saw Soluna's energies going wild. Thankfully, this time, she felt no risk of exploding. 

Soluna went back to Yasenia's side, but unable to concentrate for a single moment, she just answered things a bit dazedly. 

Yasenia didn't know what the spirit had in mind, but thinking that she might be nervous about participating alone, she took care of her until the hour to meet up with her sect members arrived. 

Everyone started returning shortly after, but Yasenia realized that three Ethereal Soul elders were missing. 

Yasenia frowned and ordered. "Search for them."