"Jiejiejie! Girl, you are maturing well!"

The shadow spoke ominously. Its words seemed to echo through space, as the shadow had no mouth of its own.

"You.." Zara muttered, glaring coldly at it. "So you are my Demonic Providence?"

"Jiejiejie! So you have unlocked a portion of your bloodline memories. Good! This one's holder should at least be at this level."

Zara didn't respond. She'd seen this shadow only once before, and at that time, it had threatened to consume her and steal her body.

Naturally, she didn't have any good feelings toward it.

But that didn't change the fact that it was her Demonic Providence.

The third most important concept that Zara learned through her bloodline memories was of Demonic Providence.

Demonic Providence was something like a coalescence of a Nox being's life and power before sentience. This agglomeration would grow along with its user, and when its user reached the required level, it would merge with them and provide them a special power.

Just like the Plaguelord's ability to control disease, or even the Saint Emperor's ability to mimic other elements.

Every Nox being that achieved sentience would automatically gain their own Demonic Providence, and though she was a halfbreed, Zara also had her own.

The shadow manifested before her was its ego. It was her own power, but at the same time, it stood against her.

"State your purpose." She said succinctly.

"Jiejiejie! I merely came to check on my owner! Is that such a crime?"

"It is. You know as well as I do what you represent."

"Oho? Has the little girl finally matured a bit?"

Zara's eyes sharpened. She didn't have any mind to entertain this being.

Another Nox's Demonic Providence would be completely in sync with them and obey them unconditionally, but Zara wasn't so lucky.

Because of her halfbreed status, her Demonic Providence took a skewed path to growth. While it did emulate her life and power as she grew, it also served as a container for her Nox abilities before she'd developed her bloodline.

In this way, her Demonic Providence gained the thought process of a Nox, along with all of Zara's negative thoughts and energy. Though it was formless, she couldn't help but see it as a convoluted mirror of herself.

'To fully come into my power, I must make it submit.'

She understood that, but she also understood that it wasn't in her current capacity. Perhaps after she mastered the techniques in her memory..

"Girl, I have not appeared today to fight. Lower your guard." The shadow said suddenly.

"Then why have you come?"

"Jiejiejie! I merely wished to see your progress! I felt such a beautiful rush of energy and emotion a bit ago; how could I not come?"

"You aren't needed, so go back."

"Is that a command..?"

Grr..

Zara growled at the shadow's mocking words. It seemed that even it was aware of its position.

But just as it said, it didn't come today to fight.

"Girl, I will give you five years. If you cannot mature in five years..jiejiejiejie!"

The shadow began to retreat into Zara's body, continuing until it completely vanished from the air.

Zara sat on the ground with a frown on her face.

The shadow's visit today signified two things.

Firstly, it wanted to remind her of its existence. Now that Zara was aware of its connotation, it had come to flaunt its existence and mock her.

And secondly, Zara was being accepted as a Nox being. If the shadow didn't find her worthy of her lineage, it would've consumed her already.

While these things didn't seem extremely significant, reality was different.

The second fact was a boon since it meant Zara wouldn't be immediately killed by other Nox beings who had yet to identify her as an enemy. Her status would grant her a lot of leeway on the battlefield.

The first was a relief. Since the shadow took initiative to contact her..

'It is at least somewhat on my side.'

If the shadow was an enemy, it would've been in its best interest to let Zara forget it for now, only appearing at the critical moment to kill her.

'But its allegiance is fragile. 5 years..'

If she couldn't meet that deadline, she'd die and be replaced by her mirror version.

Before that, she needed to grow stronger and find the origin of that mysterious spark.

Zara's body changed and shrunk into human form. She sat down on the floor with her legs crossed and closed her eyes.

She couldn't leave this Prison Realm until Damien came to get her, so until that time came..

She would train like a beast.

***

Somewhere within the vast sea of stars, two bodies rapidly moved without any sense of direction or purpose.historical

Eventually, these two beings came across a beginner world where they stopped to rest.

A beautiful man and woman walked through the streets of this world, their existence alone infatuating many denizens of the world.

But the two themselves were entirely disconnected. They seemed to have formed a bubble around them that none could penetrate.

"Isn't it great? Here, try this— ooh! This too!"

The woman happily rushed through the streets and purchased an array of sweets and treats, forcing a majority of them into her male companion's mouth.

He begrudgingly chewed with dull eyes. He had to admit that this woman was interesting, but after seeing how she acquired the money she was so wantonly spending now, he couldn't see her the same.

"Hm? What's wrong?" She questioned as she turned to face him. Her large green eyes were filled with curiosity and innocence, making him doubt whether or not she had a split personality.

"Nothing. I am merely perusing the world as you suggested." He responded noncommittally. His bored gaze watched the same sights as the woman, but he simply couldn't understand her excitement.

Nevertheless, she smiled at him warmly. "It's okay if you don't understand yet. How could I expect you to immediately change? Don't worry. We'll slowly make our way through the universe, and by the time we're done, you'll fall in love!"

The man glanced away awkwardly.

Just what was he doing right now?

Since when was he someone who could casually peruse a world?

Honestly speaking, this was his first time walking through a world without its residents cowering in fear.

His hand touched his face subconsciously. His skin didn't feel any different from before, but a mere change in color was able to cause perception to change to such a degree.

It was a different feeling, an interesting one.

He didn't hate it.

But to say he'd fall in love..

He didn't know if this universe could truly appeal to him enough to make him feel something as esoteric as love.

However, to say that there wasn't anything in the universe that could do so..

Was a complete lie.

The woman smiled.

Change was an extremely gradual process, but it was a process nonetheless. At some point, it would reach its proper end,

This particular process, the experience of showing a young and naive foreigner the beauty of life..

How could Aaliyah not feel excited at the mere prospect?