Prime Originator

Ironically, even the demons, creatures of darkness, also fear the darkness—or rather, they fear the unknown that lurks within the darkness.

Nevertheless, the demons' hesitation allowed Darlene to retreat to shore without a problem—or so it should have been.

However, her expression revealed pain, and one of her feet dangled like jelly, which was a clear sign of being broken.

The recoil of performing Spatial Step was so much greater in water than it was in the air due to their density difference.

At the same time, the dark faes' arrival alerted Aria and the rest of the Dark Fae Clan in the medicine bath, disturbing all their cultivation.

Even though Aria had her cultivation interrupted before she could comprehend her Sword Intent again, it did not concern her as much as Darlene's injury.

"You're hurt," Aria stated with knitted brows.

Before Darlene could reply, Aria quickly took out a plain white cloth from her interspatial ring and broke two straight twigs from a nearby shrub.

Then, she used the items to apply first-aid on Darlene's ankle, wrapping them up with the two twigs as support.

Once that was done, she took out a Tier-3 All-Purpose Healing Pill and gave it to Darlene.

"It's not much, but this will have to do until Leon checks on you and see if there are further issues," Aria stated before asking with a frown, "Why didn't you call us? Why did you try to fight alone?"

"I wanted to gain battle experience and adapt to my new strength quickly. At the same time, I thought I could handle them, which I kind of did—See? The demons are frozen in fear."

After Darlene accepted the pill and ingested it, she pointed into the distance with a wry yet grateful smile.

"Thank you, Sister Aria… This injury was a result of my miscalculation in performing my spatial abilities… Though I did gain some valuable information out of it," she added.

"Still, it's no reason to get yourself like this. If something serious happens to you, we'll be sad," Aria stated.

Darlene was surprised by her words.

It was one thing if her injury saddened Leon, but she didn't think that Aria would feel the same as well.

As if Aria understood what she was thinking by reading her expression, she said, "We're a family, so we naturally have to care and look after each other."

"And although I hate to admit it, I, alone, am not enough to support Leon. The future he holds is filled with trials and tribulations. Thus, I hope you will also be one of his strengths when the time comes."

Having Aria White's memories, she understood that Leon's revenge could not be stopped and only delayed.

The inevitable will not change; a bloodsoaked Divine Realm.

Nevertheless, Darlene was surprised by Aria's deep feelings for Leon and could not help but feel curious about their history together.

What did it take to develop such feelings?

"I can tell Sister Aria has deep feelings for Leon, but how did it come to be. What did he do to earn such love from you, Sister Aria?" she asked.

"These days, I wonder myself. But if I have to say something, then I guess I am just a simple woman. Sometimes, it just takes a single act of kindness to earn a lifetime of devotion," Aria replied with a distant look.

She could no longer differentiate her feelings from Aria White; their memories mingled, and so did their lives.

It was as if Aria White was still alive within her, silently watching over them.

Sometimes, it baffles her that two pairs of identical people from different worlds and different lives would come together.

Was it the strings of fate? Or was it the machination of destiny?

Alas, she tries not to think too deeply into it; she wants to believe that the feelings she holds are of her own choice and not due to something vague like fate and destiny.

Meanwhile, Darlene refrained from prying further even though she wasn't satisfied with Aria's answer.

Even so, she could tell that her feelings were not on Aria's level, which made her feel a hint of envy.

Swoosh—!

Leon rushed over after receiving words of Darlene's injury from the realm spirit.

His powerful divine sense quickly swept over her limp feet wrapped in cloth before noticing it was already healed.

However, the twigs and cloth told him all he needed to know about her once-broken ankle.

"Thank goodness; you're alright," Leon said to Darlene after completing his check-up before kindly reminding her, "Remember to be more careful next time."

"You're not going to reprimand me for getting myself hurt?" Darlene asked with surprise.

"Injuries are bound to happen when you fight. As long as it's not too serious, why would I reprimand you? Should I let my overprotective side get the better of me and hold you back from your improvements? The same goes for you too, Aria."

Leon replied with a wry smile.

He threw himself into danger head-first and nearly died a few times.

Furthermore, each time he nearly died, he also experienced a significant breakthrough or improvement out of it.

What right did he have to lecture his women on safety and stop them from improving themselves?

That was too selfish of him.

Nevertheless, Aria and Darlene were touched after listening to his words; he was very understanding.

After being embraced by the two ladies for a short while, Leon pulled himself away from them before taking out the Tier-7 Golden Grail and began filling bottles up with tier-3 healing water.

"Take these bottles of healing water," said Leon while handing the bottles of tier-3 healing water over to Aria and Darlene.

Three bottles were given to each lady, to be exact.

"Although getting injured isn't good, I hope these bottles of tier-3 healing water will prove to be of use when I am not around," he said to them.

It was unfortunate that he had to reset the timer on the Tier-7 Golden Grail's healing water when he was trying to see if the quality of healing water could improve over time.

However, it was important to supply his people with all the healing medicine they may need in the case of emergencies.