"Aria!" Zach called out to Aria from outside the house.
After a few seconds, Aria came out with Aurora and asked, "What happened?"
"Come with me for a second," Zach said with a serious look on his face.
"Uhh.." Aria shot a glance at Aurora and said, "Me… alone?"
"Yes," Zach nodded.
"Okay…"
Aurora went back into the house again to help Misha cook dinner, and Zach took Aria to the farm where no one was around.
Zach was walking ahead, and Aria was slowly following him behind.
Zach looked back to see Aria squirming while walking.
"Stop fidgeting like an innocent girl," Zach remarked.
"Why…" Aria turned her face to the side and asked, "Why did you call me out here on the farm where no one is around?"
"I wanted to show you something," Zach responded in a calm voice.
'Is this because I kissed him?!' Aria asked herself. 'I still regret that. I don't know why I did that. But it felt like the right thing to do after what happened. I was also worried like Aurora, but I had to maintain my calm.'
Aria placed her hand on her lips and uttered inwardly: 'It felt good even though only our lips touched. That kiss wasn't even like how Aurora kisses him.'
Aria stopped thinking when she noticed Zach staring at her in disbelief. She pulled her hand back and asked, "What?"
"I have been calling your name for ages, but you were lost in some deep thought," Zach sighed. "What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"
'It's you!' Aria yelled inwardly.
"It's nothing. Now, tell me…" Aria glanced around the farm and asked, "What is the reason you brought me here?"
Zach raised his hand and moved it towards Aria's face.
Aria thought Zach was going to touch her, so she closed her eyes and waited for Zach's touch.
"What are you doing?" Zach groaned. "Open your eyes. I want to show you something."
"…" Aria opened her eyes and looked at Zach's hand to see a strange symbol on the back of his palm near the thumb area.
She raised her brows and said, "Can I touch it?"
"Sure." Aria inspected the symbol and asked, "When did you get this?"
"I am not sure, but I think I got it after what happened in the bathroom today," Zach replied.
"Are you sure?" Aria asked with a judging look on her face. "Since you always had gloves on, maybe you didn't notice this before?"
Zach pondered for a while and nodded after saying, "Yeah. Because when I fingered Aurora and squeezed her boobs, there was no mark on my hand."
"…" Aria didn't like how Zach came to a conclusion, but it was valid.
"Do you have any idea or knowledge about this symbol?" Zach asked in a calm voice with a curious look on his face. He was genuinely putting his trust in Aria and relied on her for the answer.
Aria looked at the symbol from all sides and said, "What does this symbol look like to you?"
"I… am not… sure…" Zach looked at the symbol closely and muttered," Maybe… a bird?"
Aria nodded and said, "It's a phoenix."
"Oh…" Xie Lua's face flashed before Zach's eyes.
"I remember you mentioned that you have a phoenix's blessing too," Aria asserted. "This might be it. It got activated."
'The blessings will automatically activate when your body meets the requirement.' Zach recalled the seventh's words.
"But… why so suddenly?" Zach wondered. "I am sure it wasn't because Aurora sucked me off because I did a lot more things with Ruli."
"But the Sea god hadn't undone the seal at that time, right?"
"Yes…" Zach placed his hand on his chin and muttered, "But this doesn't make any sense. Why only phoenix's blessing got activated.'
'Maybe because Xie Lua and my relationship got better?' Zach wondered. 'We are on good terms now. We are traders, friends… maybe? And since she is one of my father's friends, I naturally put my trust in her.'
'So does that mean the power of the blessings can be affected by the relationship I have with them? But I don't think I am ever going to meet the rest of my benefactors, though…'
"Wait a minute…" Aria raised her brows in confusion and said, "But you used the 'wrath of the phoenix' even before you had your soul awakening, right?"
"Yes…" Zach nodded.
"Hmm…" Aria pondered for a while and said, "Maybe the blessings can also be affected by your feelings and emotions?"
"If that's the case… then…" Zach couldn't dare to complete his sentence.
"Yeah," Aria nodded and uttered, "You have to keep your emotions and feelings in control, or it might not end up well."
Zach equipped his gloves and said, "As long as you are with me, I am sure that won't happen."
DING!
Aria and Zach received a message from Aurora.
[Dinner is ready.]
Zach glanced at Aria and nodded at her. Then, they started walking to the house.
Aria's walking speed gradually decreased, and Zach walked ahead of her.
"Hey, Zach!" Suddenly, Aria called out to Zach.
"Hmm?" Zach turned around to see what Aria wanted, but he was pinned down on the ground by Aria.
Aria looked into Zach's eyes without saying anything.
"What… is the meaning of this?" Zach asked in a low voice.
It wasn't as though Aria was applying pressure on Zach's body to keep him down. He could easily push Aria to the side if he wanted, but he wanted to see what Aria was planning.
Aria gulped down and pressed her lips on Zach's lips.
"…"
Then, she inserted her tongue inside Zach's mouth and started kissing him. She kissed him for one minute straight and then stared into his eyes without saying anything.
"…."
"This was the revenge for the second kiss." Aria got up and walked a few steps before saying, "Now we are even~"
After saying that, Aria dashed to the house.
Zach stayed on the ground and stared at the starry sky.
"I am happy that she is living like a normal girl…" He closed his eyes and muttered, "I will keep the truth to myself and live with the guilt, so we both can be happy."
***
Total players in the game- 1102457
0 new players logged in.
25 players died.
====
Author's Note- Is this a sacrifice or simply selfishness?