After another long journey, Sorelia arrived at Titan Forge, her presence and structure commanding attention as it always did. Flanked by four guards clad in gleaming golden armor, she moved regal authority that turned heads wherever she went. The commoners whispered and stared, but Sorelia paid them no mind. She was accustomed to such reactions, especially in a place like Titan Forge, where her visits were rare but always memorable.
Her usual cheerful and carefree but dangerous demeanor was absent this time around, replaced by a composed and emotionless expression which was quite a rare thing to see even amongst her trusted guards. She had come with a purpose this time, and she hoped that nothing would distract her from it or atleast, nothing could. As she approached Sora's home, she overheard the murmurs of two women standing nearby, their voices low but carrying enough for her sharp ears to catch.
"Hey, I heard some little rumors from the other townsfolk. That nameless child hasn't been heard from and the customers who knocked at her door requesting for swords returned home in fear," one woman whispered, her tone sounding aged and cracked.
Tho other nodded, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Such weak children. Can you believe a common woman scared them? They even mentioned hearing soft grunts and moans coming from her upper floor. It's clear she has a male visitor over," she added with a chuckle.
The first woman gasped, feigning shock. "Don't be so unclean!" she scolded, though her tone suggested she was equally intrigued by the gossip.
Sorelia's eyebrows slightly knitted together, ber lips tightening in disgust. It was certain that what ever was going on in her mind was curses at the women who had such audacity to spread such baseless rumors about Sora even though she had just met the young lady yesterday. Without hesitation, she waved her hand and Sora's front door was pushed open by an unknown force which Sorelia commanded, not bothering to knock. Her guards remained outside, turning their backs to the home as they stood at attention while Sorelia stepped inside.
The interior of the felt different this time—colder, almost eerie. Though it still had its dry and neat crevices, it still had a little difference. Sorelia's sharp eyes scanned the entire room, taking in the dining table, the kitchen and then the stairs leading to the upper floor. She suddenly recalled the women's gossip about noises coming from above and decided to investigate.
Ascending the stairs, she found herself facing two doors. The sound of heavy breathing came from the left, drawing her attention. She opened the door, expecting to find Sora, but instead, she was met with a room filled with shelves stocked with materials for crafting weapons. The sight was impressive, but Sorelia's focus remained on finding Sora.
The only remaining option was the other room. She hurried to it and pushed the door open, her eyes widening at the scene before her.
Sora was kneeling on the floor, one knee down and a fist pressed against the wooden platform. Sweat dripped from her body, pooling on the floor beneath her. Her clothes were drenched, clinging to her skin as if she had been caught in a downpour. Her chest heaved with each labored breath, her head bowed low.
Sorelia's gaze swept over Sora, taking in the changes. Her hair had grown longer, now reaching her shoulders, and her body was more toned, giving her a leaner, more athletic appearance. But what truly caught Sorelia's attention was Sora's face. The structure of her features had shifted, making her look older, more mature, and strikingly attractive. A slightly healed scar ran from the bridge of her nose down to her cheek, adding a rugged edge to her appearance.
As Sora lifted her head to meet Sorelia's gaze, the noblewoman felt her breath catch in her throat. Sora's eyes held a depth and intensity that hadn't been there before, and her voice, when she spoke, was deeper and more commanding.
"You are back," Sora said, her tone calm and unfazed by Sorelia's sudden intrusion. She rose to her feet, her movements fluid and confident despite her evident exhaustion.
Sorelia was momentarily speechless, her heart pounding in her chest. She had come here expecting to find the same young, uncertain girl she had left behind, but the person standing before her was someone entirely different—someone stronger, more assured, and undeniably captivating.
Sora, seemingly unaware of the effect she was having on Sorelia, gestured toward a small room. "I'll be heading to the shower. If you can wait for me downstairs, I'll be with you shortly," she said, her voice steady and composed.
Without waiting for any response from the woman, Sora stepped into the bathroom, leaving Sorelia standing in the middle of the room, her mind racing with so many pleasurable thoughts. The noblewoman's initial purpose for visiting had been overshadowed by the sheer force of Sora's transformation. She couldn't help but feel a mix of awe, curiosity, and something else she couldn't quite name.
As the sound of running water filled the air, Sorelia finally moved, descending the stairs to wait as instructed. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, but one thing was clear: Sora was no longer the nameless child she had once known. She was something far more extraordinary.
As Sora sat submerged in the icy embrace of the pool, memories from the dream world crashed into her mind like a relentless waterfall. The chilling realization crept in—she was teetering on the edge of death. That surreal, gnawing sensation sent her heart pounding, each beat echoing like a drum in her chest.
To shake off the weight of useless thoughts, she forced her focus onto the system and its offerings. "Status," she whispered. Instantly, the familiar interface materialized before her.
—STATUS—
• Crafter: Sora
• Level:15
• Class: ???
• Title: Soul Extractor
• Main Quest: Craft and Level Up
• Special Points: 30
• LifePoints: 200
• Strength: 700+
• Agility: 180+
• Speed: 200+
• Durability: 350+
A flicker of satisfaction warmed her despite the cold. The numbers were good—better than before. But this? This wasn't enough. She needed more. Power. Growth. Strength. Even if it meant clawing her way through hell itself.
After an hour long of bathing, Sora decided to finish up, cleaning her self up before putting on her most profitable clothing. From there she made her way downstairs where she thought Sorelia awaited for her to arrive, but she was nowhere to be seen.
'Did she leave yet?,' Sora thought glancing around. She hadn't heard the door slamming from downstairs and the items in the entire room looked untouched.
Something felt wrong as she felt something strange reaching out from behind her like a hand. Sora quickly glanced back, reaching out into the air as she happened catch Sorelia by the wrist as she tried to place her hand on her.
Sorelia who was startled by this, smiled pleasurably, "Wow, you're quite the quick one, nobody has been able to catch me when I such behind them," she said, having emerged from her kitchen with a red apple in the caught hand.
Sora finally let go of Sorelia's hand, her grip loosening from her wrist, "What were yo—," she asked halfway, confused about her sneaky motives.
Sorelia chuckled, "Don't mind this old woman," she muttered cheerfully, "I had to wait so long that I was bored and decided to snoop around, forgive me"
Sora watched in utter silence trying to mouth a few words as her gaze followed Sorelia who made her way towards the dining table, 'Old woman?,' Sora thought in utter disbelief.
Sorelia finally sat down, not before throwing away the apple she had somewhat, miraculously eating under a few seconds. She gestured for Sora to sit as well, an unhinged smile in her face.
Sora nodded, doing as the woman had gestured her to do. The two sat in awkward silence facing each other, with Sorelia smiling very wildly and Sora not having the courage to look her in the eye as she made her uncomfortable.
"Aren't you going to tell?," Sorelia spoke, breaking up the tense in the room.
Sora was confused by such question, "Tell you what, exactly?," she asked, replying with a question.
Sorelia's smile quickly died down to that of sorrow, "Oh my, you have already forgotten about the invitation," she said with a mocking but motherly tone that gave Sora some sense of assurance.
Sora scratched her head with an awkward smile her face, "Ah," she exclaimed,"Forgive me, I must've lost it"
Sorelia sighed with a heavy hearty, the disappointment in her tone being quite evident enough. She then continued, "There is no need to feel sorry, chilld," she assured the young lady, her bright expression returning, "But do tell me, are you ready to begin?"
Sora's stern expression returned again, "Before I make any decision, I need to inquire about a few things first," she muttered with a tone carrying the weight of an interrogation officer.