First light

Seth first thought was that his lust and perception sources were acting up again, and he was about to stop them when his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

The process inside Leora’s source looked quite the opposite of what he expected. The energy inside her source seemed to be struggling to leave it while the lust and perception energies were trying to contain it.

The bright light all around, scattering back into the atmosphere, also affirmed the same conclusion. Leora’s energy was leaving her.

He had never seen or heard anything like this happening before, at least to a fourth shell ascended, but he knew his lust and perception energies were trying to help. Without moving, since he feared that would make things worse, he brought his body closer to hers and called softly: “Lust, can you hear me?”

Silence.

Just like his system, his Lust source was not replying. He didn’t know the reason, but whatever his sources were doing, it was only slowly down Leora’s source’s destruction.

Opening a portal to the side, he screamed inside: “Hollie, I need help.”

Hollie rushed through the portal a moment later and looked at the two. Since she couldn’t see lust and perception energy, it only looked like Leora was unconscious and her body covered in light energy.

“What happened?” asked Hollie, not drawing closer, understanding the situation was not good from Seth’s look.

“Her source is spinning in reverse, falling apart and leaking energy. My perception and lust are working on stabilizing it but failing. Other than that, I have no idea.”

Hollie frowned and asked: “Do you know why this happened? What were you doing before?”

“I have no idea. We were discussing Leora’s and my past, trying to make her more comfortable with you know what, but as she looked like she had calmed down, this happened.”

Hollie’s frown deepened, not making any sense of anything either. After carefully considering for a few seconds, she said: “You said your lust and perception are trying to help on their own?”

“Yes.”

“Have you marked Leora?”

Seth’s eyes widened, and he looked down again before frowning.

“I didn’t, but this…”

“I have no idea what is happening either,” said Hollie, “but considering what happened last time your souls connected, with the difference between your connection with her and the rest of us, it might help.”

Seth was frustrated, remembering what happened with Caitlin, but he also understood where Hollie was coming from. Neither understood what was going on, but strengthening his connection with her was a good idea."

Sighing, Seth’s moved his hand to her waist, placing it right at her crotch and using his destruction energy to remove her pants and underwear. Moving slowly above her, Seth removed his clothes as well, hardening himself and placing his penis at her entrance.

“Can’t believe I’m doing this after all we spoke about…” muttered Seth, pressing forward and sliding right inside Leora.

Hollie also turned her head to the side, knowing how much this must have hurt Seth to have to do.

Once inside her, Seth pushed himself to cum deep inside his womb, releasing his lust energy. Leora was utterly unconscious, and even this didn’t wake her up.

Soon the mark started appearing right above her womb.

Seth heaved a sigh of relief and was prepared to pull out when the world around him started spinning, and he fell over her unconscious.

Hollie turned to look back and was stunned to see both of them were now getting surrounded by a rainbow-colored bubble of energy. After unsuccessfully probing the bubble with her energy and then her hand, Hollie rushed outside to bring the others.

———

Following his fall into unconsciousness in the real world, Seth appeared inside a pure dark space. He had seen this place before. It was the inside of Leora’s soul.

Just as he was about to start looking around, the scene around him changed, and he could see a dome similar to the dome of light from the last time he was there. It was now formed out of pink, golden, and black energies, and the two orbs of light were attacking the new dome from the inside.

The little girl lying unconscious at the center of the dome has also changed. She was Leora. She had fully grown up, and her identity was unmistakable now.

“Her will is rebelling?!…” muttered Seth, walking forward and entering the dome of lust and perception with no issue. The two orbs of light stopped struggling and turned to look at him.

“Destruction. Have you returned to finish the job?” the voice of the light will resounded into Seth’s ears, but he ignored it, looking at Leora’s unconscious body.

She was sleeping peacefully, a contagious smile plastered at the corner of her lips. That was that astral representation of her consciousness, and compared to the past, the progress she had made was clear for anyone to see.

Turning towards the will of light, Seth shook his head and said: “I did not. I want to know why you’re trying to leave her soul.”

“Leave her soul? Why would I do that? I finally gained a trace of awareness, and you think I’ll try to leave? She’s the one pushing me out.” To prove its point, the representation of the light will floated closer to Leora, and its form started fading away.

“Why is she pushing you out?”

“Because of you. Didn’t you see what is happening outside? She’s rejecting everything for you. The darkness inside her is fading, but so is the light.”

Seth eased up at the will’s words and muttered: “She’s breaking her own will, rejecting everything she was before….”

Seth didn’t know if he should feel honored or annoyed.

Approaching the sleeping Leora, Seth lifted her head gently. Just as he expected, his consciousness was not rejected by her.

After kissing her forehead, Seth shouted. “Perception. Come here.”

A little girl flew out of the bubble surrounding the two, floating next to Seth and falling on her little knees. “Yes, master.”

“Wake her up.”

“Yes, master.” Replied the little girl, turning into a tiny golden seed and flowing right inside the sleeping Leora’s head.

Her eyes snapped open moments after, a confused look inside them as she looked at the scene around her. The confusion disappeared once she spotted Seth, replaced by a look of adoration and reverence.

As she tried to stand up, Seth forced her to remain lying down and shook his head.

“What you’re doing is stupid, Leora. You might die if you continue.”

Leora also shook her head: “I will not.” She then turned to look at the incarnation of her light will and said with a smile: “Why are you lying? You’re just refusing to dedicate yourself to Seth. Then you can go and die for all I care. I don’t need you if you’re not going to be on our side.”

Seth was stunned and turned to look at the light will incarnation.

“Are you stupid? He’s not worthy of the path of light. He’s a - “

“He’s worthy to me.” Replied Leora, standing up and kissing Seth’s lips. “Let me do this.”

Seth was stunned, but seeing the confidence inside Leora’s eyes, he just nodded and let her stand up.

Leora kissed his lips in passing before her face turned serious, and she approached the light will. “I know what you’ve been whispering to me. To leave Seth, to leave this world consumed by darkness and follow the path of light, but did you forget he is my light?”

“I am only rejecting you because you try to push me away from the one person who didn’t shun me away, didn’t treat me as an object, and even gave me everything. If you don’t fall in line, you can leave. I don’t need your power anymore.”

The orbs of light shook, and the voice of the light will returned. “He might have saved you and brought us two together, but he’s a monster. The darkness inside of him will consume you and me as well.”

“Do you really think so? For a higher will you are dumber than I have ever imagined. Has your own light blinded you? Can’t you see the light he’s been bringing to the world around him? Can’t you see the darkness inside him is the burden he took upon himself?”

“He’s carrying that darkness so others can step into the light. Is there someone worthier than that for us to follow in this corrupted world? Isn’t he everything you stand for and even more?”

The will of light started moving away from Leora, the orbs forming its manifestation shaking visibly.

Once the will of light reached the dome of lust and couldn’t move back anymore, Leora brought her palm under it, and the severe look on her face turned into a gentle one.

“I don’t want to shun you away; I have no choice but to do it. I plan on dedicating everything I am to him, both the light and the darkness inside me. It might not be what you planned, but you’ve also witnessed everything through my eyes. Can you not see he’s shining even brighter than you?”

The will of light shook again and changed its focus on Seth, who was watching everything with a stunned face. Focusing back on Leora, more precisely on her outstretched hand, the will of light said with a trace of unwillingness: “What if he’s not what you believe him to be? What if he corrupts us?”

“What if he is exactly who I believe him to be? What if he’s exactly the one who will bring this world out of its darkness, and you fly away now?”

Seth could see the will of light starting to die down and float towards Leora’s palm, but a frown appeared on his face.

Once the will of light entered Leora’s astral body, perception was pushed out, and Leora turned around with a smile.

Her voice turned slightly ancient and horse as she said: “We accept you.”

Once her words finished, her astral body disappeared completely, leaving Seth to stare with a frown at the place where she was standing just before.

“Why is master frowning? Is master sad?” asked perception as she came closer and brought her small hand to fix the frown on his face.

Seth rubbed her head and looked at the pink dome all around. “Perception, your sister should also be here. Can you wake her up?”

“Sister?” asked perception in confusion, bringing Seth’s attention back towards her.

Seth nodded and pointed to the dome surrounding them.

“Yes. The will controlling that energy. Even if you don’t remember, she’s your sister, and your master needs her help now.”

Perception turned towards the pink dome and nodded: “I’ll try.”

Turning into golden black energy, she rushed straight into the lust dome, leaving Seth alone to sigh.

After what felt like a long time, the lust energy slowly took human form, Katy’s human form, but she looked pretty exhausted as she held little perception’s hand.

“I know what you’re worrying about, and it is indeed as you fear. She had passed the trial of light. Once she wakes up, their wills would have fused, and she’ll summon a divinity.”