Nyxia sat cross-legged on the bed, staring at the iron box.
It was sturdy, old, and had strange engravings on its surface.No matter how she pulled, twisted, or banged it against the bedpost (earning an angry knock from the room downstairs), the box refused to budge.
With a frustrated sigh,she turned to Miko.
"How do I open this thing?" she asked, rubbing her sore fingers.
Miko, floating lazily beside her, tilted his tiny glowing body.
"How would I know?" he said, his golden eyes gleaming mischievously. "I'm not a locksmith."
Nyxia's brows twitched.
"Then why are you here?"she muttered under her breath.
Miko ignored her grumbling and continued,"But! Most powerful treasures use a blood-locking system. This box doesn't look ordinary, so maybe it needs a drop of your blood."
Nyxia stared at him suspiciously."You're making this up, aren't you?"
Miko grinned."There's only one way to find out."
She sighed. At this point, she had nothing to lose.
With a determined nod, she bit the tip of her finger. A small bead of blood formed, glistening under the candlelight.
She let a single drop fall onto the lock.
Nothing.
A second drop.
Still nothing.
Nyxia shot Miko a look."You better not be messing with me—"
Before she could finish, the third drop landed.
Suddenly, the engravings on the box lit up in a dazzling crimson glow.
The entire box shuddered, vibrated, and then—
Poof!
It vanished.
Nyxia blinked.Her hands patted the empty space where the box had been. Her eyes widened in horror.
"WHAT?! WHERE DID IT GO?!" she shrieked, twisting around frantically. "Did I just sacrifice my blood for NOTHING?!"
She searched under the bed, inside her robes, even behind Miko (just in case).
Miko, who was watching with amusement, suddenly froze.
A childlike voice echoed inside Nyxia's mind.
"Don't bother looking around. I'm inside you."
Nyxia stiffened.
"...What?"
She slowly turned to Miko.
Miko floated back, alarmed."Don't look at me like that! I didn't say anything!"
Before she could react further, the box suddenly reappeared in front of her, hovering in the air.
The same childlike voice came from it.
"I am not just a box. I am the spirit of a great weapon!"
Nyxia stared.
Then, very slowly, she pointed a finger at the hovering object.
"You mean… you're a talking box?"
The box vibrated angrily.
"I AM NOT A TALKING BOX!" the voice huffed. "I was once a mighty, legendary weapon! But due to unfortunate circumstances… I've regressed into this form."
Nyxia rubbed her temples."So, you're telling me… you used to be some incredible weapon, but now, you're… this?"
"Yes."
"A box?"
"...Yes."
A long silence stretched between them.
Then, Nyxia sighed and flopped onto the bed.
"Great. First, a lazy glowing blob, and now, a useless talking box. What did I do to deserve this?"
Miko floated indignantly."HEY!"
The box, on the other hand, cleared its throat.
"Don't underestimate me, Master!" it declared proudly. "Even though I'm currently in this form, I am bound to your power! As you grow stronger, so will I. One day, I will regain my true form and transform into any weapon you desire!"
Nyxia stared at it for a long moment.
Then, she reached out, picked up the box, and tossed it into Vyāpti.
"Cool. You stay there until you're useful."
The box let out a tiny gasp."W-Wait! Don't just throw me awa—!"
Poof.
Silence.
Miko burst into laughter."Pfft—! That's the best thing I've seen all day!"
Nyxia sighed dramatically, lying back on the bed.
"At this rate, I'll have an entire collection of weird, useless things in my space."
Miko grinned."That's what makes life interesting."
Nyxia closed her eyes.
Maybe… just maybe… things were starting to get interesting.Great! Here's the refined version formatted as a novel chapter, with proper pacing, inner thoughts, and immersive narration.
The morning sun filtered through the canopy of market banners, casting shifting patterns on the stone-paved street below. Nyxia walked steadily, her mystic white robes brushing against her legs as she moved through the bustling crowd. Beside her floated Miko, glowing faintly under the sunlight, his tiny form bobbing up and down in sync with her steps.
She glanced sideways, her voice calm but purposeful.
"What other herbs do we need for the next stage of promotion?"
Miko's golden eyes sparkled as he turned to her with a wide grin.
"With these spiritual herbs, the promotion will be a breeze!" he said, almost too cheerfully. "You might even unlock a surprise or two. Now we just need a few basic guiding herbs to balance the energy flow. Nothing rare—we can grab those from any decent apothecary." He spun in the air. "Let's go!"
Nyxia came to a halt.
"Not yet. First, we need to stop by a clothing store. I need a proper dress."
Miko blinked. He floated a bit higher, then lowered himself again, visibly puzzled.
"A… dress? Now? Can't we do that after you advance? I mean, come on—the herbs are more important right now."
Nyxia raised an eyebrow and looked at him with her usual quiet intensity.
"Do we even have money to buy the herbs?"
Miko froze mid-air, his expression going blank.
"Uhh…" he muttered, then scratched the back of his glowing head, eyes darting sideways. "Well… not exactly."
Nyxia sighed, her lips curling into a faint smirk.
"And you still think I shouldn't look for a dress?"
"Wait, you mean—" Miko began, only to be cut off.
"Yes," she said firmly. "First, we make money."
Miko stared at her, utterly baffled.
"From a clothing store? How are we supposed to make money there?"
Nyxia rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed.
"Just follow me."
The marketplace was a swirling ocean of color and sound. Stalls stretched endlessly on either side, draped with flowing silks and dyed fabrics that shimmered in the light. Aromas of dried herbs and sizzling food mingled in the air. Merchants called out their prices in loud voices, some using spirit birds to echo their cries. Beasts—small and large—roamed freely with their masters, adding to the surreal harmony of chaos.
Nyxia weaved through the crowd like a thread in a loom, her presence steady and unshaken. Miko floated behind her, still confused, still questioning—but now curious.
She stopped in front of a modest shop tucked between a silk seller and a potion brewer. Its faded wooden sign read: "The Weaver's Wish."
Miko hovered closer.
"What's this place?"
Nyxia smiled softly.
"The beginning of something useful."