Rory had already gathered herself and changed her clothes before coming downstairs. When she heard Xarion’s words, she looked at him warily.
"What are you trying to do now?"
It had only been one night, and she was already a little afraid of him.
For once, Xarion moved quickly. He took a few swift steps and stopped in front of her, studying her carefully.
"Female Master, Vincent said you soothed . My ntal power didn’t hurt you, did it?"
He actually knew how to show concern. That caught Rory off guard.
"No," she said, shaking her head. She thought of the jagged ice spikes filling his ntal sea. After a brief hesitation, she added, "I’ll soothe you once every two days from now on."
It wasn’t that she felt sorry for him. She simply had no choice. There was no way Xarion could be sent back to the Snow Domain. She was angry before, but once she’d cald down, it was painfully clear –– if she didn’t soothe him, his ability would spiral out of control again.
This ti, they had been lucky—Vincent was there. But what if next ti Xarion lost control and Vincent happened to be away?
Right now, Rory was the only one who could stabilize him. If she didn’t do it, no one else could.
"Female Master, I know my own condition. If soothing is too taxing for you, you don’t have to." Xarion was used to it already.
"No," Rory said firmly. "If I don’t soothe you and your ability goes out of control again, what then?"
This was the Central District. If he froze the place over, countless beastn could die.
"You’ll listen to . Once every two days." She laid down the rule. "And without my permission, you are not allowed to climb into my bed again. Absolutely no more suicide attempts in this house. Especially hanging yourself."
Xarion considered it for a mont. That was rather acceptable.
But...
"Female Master, when will we form a bond?" He was still in a hurry. A hurry to die.
Rory took a deep breath. "I know you’re eager to die, but bonding isn’t sothing that can be rushed. In my house, you follow my rules. I promised Jasper I would bond with him first."
Xarion knew Jasper was about to advance to Rank Ten. That ant waiting a while.
"Fine." He nodded. "Then I’ll wait until after he bonds with you."
"No, no." Rory shook her head. "Nix is second. Yuel is third."
Xarion held up his fingers and counted.
That many?
"So I’m fourth?"
Rory shook her head again. "No. Right now you’re fifth."
Fifth?
"Jasper, Nix, Yuel... myself..." That seed right. He counted again carefully.
He hadn’t miscounted. He looked at her suspiciously.
"Female Master, aren’t there just the three of them? Am I missing soone?"
There were only five matched partners in total.
Vincent had already bonded. That left the four of them.
"Fourth is Vincent. We haven’t formally bonded yet. We used the Firebird Clan’s secret technique to bond early." Rory explained.
"I see..." Xarion sighed. So he was fifth after all. "...Fine."
He didn’t really have a choice. He couldn’t force his own Female Master.
"Call if you need anything. If not, I’ll go back to sleep." He turned and shuffled back toward his room.
Yuel, now dressed in uniform, walked over and glanced at Xarion.
"Don’t worry about him, Rory. He won’t die."
As long as he stopped causing chaos.
Rory’s gaze fell on Yuel’s attire—and she froze for a mont.
He wasn’t wearing his commander’s uniform, but the standard imperial officer’s uniform.
Silver-gray fabric fit neatly across his shoulders and back. The insignia on his epaulettes shimred faintly under the light, yet his natural warmth still softened the severe lines.
The tie at his collar was perfectly fastened, emphasizing the elegant curve of his neck. The cuffs revealed slender, well-defined wrists.
He didn’t miss the flash of admiration in her eyes.
So she liked him in uniform, huh?
Yuel stepped forward and pressed a light kiss to her ear. "Rory, I have several uniforms. When I co back tonight, go to my room. I’ll wear them for you."
They couldn’t formally bond yet, but that didn’t an they couldn’t do other things.
"I also have so other outfits. I promise you’ll like them."
Rory’s heart fluttered. He really knew how to tease.
She rembered the rather revealing sleepwear he’d once prepared for her. Did he have matching ones for himself?
Her cheeks ward.
"After I finish cultivating tonight, I’ll co find you."
Yuel’s eyes sparkled like starlight. He lowered his head and kissed her lips. If he had more ti, he might have carried her off to his room right then.
Reluctantly, he straightened her slightly rumpled collar and finally left. "Rory, wait for ."
Once he was gone, Vincent erged from the kitchen. "Rory, breakfast is ready."
So she liked n in military uniforms.
Rory snapped back to herself and walked toward him. "I’m coming."
Vincent had made the stead dumplings and porridge she had taught him before. He’d made plenty and called Jasper—and even Xarion, who had just gone back to lie in his crystal coffin.
Xarion had changed clothes. He was dressed in white again. He stared at the food on the table, puzzled. "What is this?"
"Breakfast Vincent made," Jasper said, handing him a fork. "Try it. It’s good."
Xarion speared a dumpling and swallowed it whole. No chewing.
Rory had no idea how he had survived to adulthood. "Xarion, don’t you chew your food?"
He slumped against the table, voice weak as ever. "It’s too much trouble. I can’t taste anything anyway."
"You can’t taste?" Rory frowned. "Are you sick?"
Vincent explained gently, "His ntal turbulence is severe. He’s likely lost his sense of taste."
Jasper added, "When ntal instability becos serious, it doesn’t just affect taste. All five senses can be impacted."
Xarion said flatly, "Right now, I’ve lost taste and sll. Only sight, hearing, and touch remain."
Rory looked at them. "Why have I never seen anything about this on the light-brain?"
The public information only ntioned that males might self-destruct if their ntal power spiraled out of control.
Nothing about losing senses.
Vincent replied calmly, "Because those reports are sealed by the Empire’s upper ranks. What you see on the light-brain is what they choose to show."
"Many truths aren’t accessible. Even if soone asks directly, the system will suppress answers it deems restricted."
Rory’s understanding of the Empire ca almost entirely from the light-brain.
She couldn’t compare to n like Vincent.
Xarion ate another dumpling, chewing twice this ti. He could feel the texture, but still no taste.
Rory suddenly understood a little better why he had said life felt aningless.
After breakfast, Jasper stayed behind to supervise the cleaning robots. Xarion returned to his room to lie in his crystal coffin again.
Rory had already decided what gift she would prepare for Yuel. She was just about to go upstairs to select materials when Vincent called out to her.
"Rory, could you co to my room for a mont? I need your help with sothing."
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