Affiliation

-The Celestial Nirvana Sect-

Beneath the somber canopy of a towering ancient tree, its branches laden with glistening droplets of dew, the revered figure of the Ancient Elder sat in deep meditation.

Cross-legged and with eyes closed, he emanated an aura of tranquillity and wisdom. A gentle stream of water, seemingly guided by an unseen force, encircled his serene form, creating a captivating scene.

As the droplets of water cascaded downward, the Ancient Elder's weathered eyelids fluttered, slowly unveiling his penetrating gaze.

"They have vanished…" The Ancient Elder murmured, his voice carrying the weight of wisdom. His gaze shifted, as if searching for their presence beyond the scale of Planet Verna, "Not in Verna, but I sense remnants of their energy across the vast expanse surrounding our world."

A crease formed between the Elder's brows, his expression a mixture of concern and interest. The implication of the trios' disappearance was vast, and he knew they probably ventured into a forbidden realm for a certain purpose or happened by sheer stupendous luck.

"I will interrupt not, for their path lies in them and they shall walk unperturbed."

-The Gods' Ruin-

"Gods' Ruin…?"

Labin and his group noticed the trios' unusual and surprised expression after hearing that they were in the fabled forbidden land, the Gods' Ruin.

"So, that portal we jumped in took us to…the Gods' Ruin?!" Ray muttered to himself with an unbelievable expression, at both the coincidence and fate.

Ash rocked his hands on his hips as he spoke with big-brain smile, "Lucky me huh? If it wasn't for me choosing that one portal, we wouldn't be here."

Bryan looked at him and said, "This time, I can't make fun of you. I give you props for that."

"Aww, how sweet of you, cutie Bryan." Ash said with a sickeningly sweet tone.

Bryan closed his eyes and exhaled heavily, "I take everything back!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Ray couldn't help but shake his head, a wry smile playing on his lips as he observed the usual banter of his best friends. Their carefree attitudes belied the gravity of the situation they found themselves in. Yet, in their own unique way, they were seizing a golden opportunity presented by the Gods' Ruin.

*Cough*

The loud cough caught the attention of the trio, drawing their gaze towards the group of five.

"Ahem!" Ray steadied his throat, and with a sheepish smile, apologized to the group, "We apologize. We were just caught off from the fact that we're actually in Gods' Ruin."

Vela's brow furrowed as she found something odd from his words, "Wait, you're saying it as if you've just arrived here in Gods' Ruin."

Hal caught note of the suspicious tone of Vela's and continued, "And we all know that the entrance to the Gods' Ruin was closed four months ago."

And all of a sudden, a sparkling tension rose amongst them. It was normal for the Requiem group to be on guard considering the Gods' Ruin was a treacherous realm, filled with deceitful and scheming cultivators.

The Requiem group had learned to be cautious, never letting their guard down in the face of strangers. So, it wouldn't be a surprise if the trio in front of them were making them let down their guard before they backstab them in in the future and loot whatever they had in their possession.

Ray understood the skepticism reflected in their expressions. He heard that the Gods' Ruin was a realm of treachery and cunningness, where trust was a precious commodity. He couldn't blame them for their wariness.

"Wait, allow me to clarify." Ray spoke calmly, his voice filled with sincerity, "You witnessed us fall from the sky, right? Well, that's because we three jumped into an unknown portal and have just arrived here. So, you can imagine the surprise on our faces when you mentioned that we are currently in the Gods' Ruin."

Bryan stepped forward, his eyes meeting theirs with a calm façade, "We understand your caution, and we respect your skepticism. Whether you believe us or not is mostly none of our concern and ultimately up to you. If you think we are untrustworthy, then we can go on our separate ways."

Silence hung in the air as the Requiem group exchanged uncertain glances. Although their wariness was still evident, they mulled over the words spoken by Bryan and Ray. The trio's sudden arrival and their confusion about their current location raised valid concerns.

Labin broke the silence with a thoughtful expression, "t's true that we are cautious, given the nature of the Gods' Ruin. But we also understand the importance of unity in such a perilous realm."

Alia, her gaze softened, spoke up. "Perhaps it would be hasty to judge them solely based on their arrival. After all, we ourselves have encountered many unexpected circumstances within the Gods' Ruin."

"Hmm, if their intentions were malicious, they would have not engaged us in a conversation." Vela repeatedly tapped her chin.

Bryan turned to Ray with a raised eyebrow, and spoke, "Why bother explaining ourselves to them? We should be on our way in search of what we need."

"No." Ray shook his head, and explained, "We need their help. We know nothing about the inner workings of Gods' Ruin and its dangers. If we stick by them, we can get information and ultimately, they be our guide."

Ash nodded in agreement, "Ray's right. There's no harm in asking for help."

"Right." Bryan turned away with crossed arms.

Alia continued, "We should consider joining forces with them. We saw them fight and we know they can handle themselves. Therefore, I doubt they would be a burden for us to carry."

Zara, the ever perceptive, added, "Actions speak louder than words. Let them join us, and we can keep a close eye on them. We shall observe their conduct and judge accordingly."

Hal shrugged and said, "Alright, I'm okay with that."

Labin nodded and extended his hand, "We will give this temporary alliance a chance, but remember, trust must be earned."

Ray stepped forward, and firmly grasped Labin's outstretched hand with a smile, "Likewise!"

*Clap*

"Before we proceed with our journey." Alia interrupted with a clap and suggested, "Shall we take a moment to introduce ourselves? I'll start. My name is Alia Sands, a member of the Requiem Clan."

Vela, now wearing a warm smile, chimed in next, "My name is Vela Sands, twin sister of Alia Sands, also a part of the Requiem Clan."

Hal, seizing the opportunity for some playful camaraderie, slung an arm around both sisters, earning protests and giggles from them., "I'm Hal Sands, proud elder brother of these two, and of course, a member of the Requiem Clan."

Zara, her dagger safely concealed, offered a small smile as she introduced herself. "I'm Zara Dream, another member of the Requiem Clan."

Labin smirked and playfully ruffled Zara's hair, "And I'm Labin Dream, Zara's elder brother and, as you might have guessed, a member of the Requiem Clan as well."

"The Requiem Clan…" Ash mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "Where have I heard that before?"

*Smack*

"You dumbass!" Bryan smacked his head, and explained, "Along with the Jadefire Clan, the Requiem Clan is another major subsidiary power under the Celestial Nirvana Sect."

Ash winced, rubbing his head with a sheepish grin. The realization dawned on him, and he exclaimed, "Ohhhhhhhh!"

"Of course!" Ray smacked his hand together, "How could I have not noticed it yet. The distinctive robes you all wear are a dead giveaway. It should have clicked earlier."

Alia chuckled lightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, I would be surprised if the name of our clan was unknown to you three. We carry the reputation of the Requiem Clan with pride."

"Now, what about you three?" Vela urged for them to introduce themselves.

"Well, don't be surprised or anything, alright?" Ash spoke as he put his hands up in a gesture.

Hal tilted his head, a curious expression on his face, as he asked with intrigue, "Why would we be surprised…"

Before Hal could complete his sentence, the trio each pulled out a vibrant purple robe from thin air and draped them over their bodies. The Requiem group's eyes widened with astonishment, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.

Ash placed both his hands on his hips and introduced with a big smile, "Allow me to introduce myself first. I am Ash, a Prime Disciple of the prestigious Celestial Nirvana Sect."

Bryan followed suit with a slight bow of his head as a sign of mutual respect, "I am Bryan, also a Prime Disciple of the Celestial Nirvana Sect."

"And I am Ray, a Prime Disciple of the Celestial Nirvana Sect as well. We are not only fellow disciples but best friends." Ray said while pointing his thumbs at them.

"Prime Disciples of the Celestial Nirvana Sect…Impressive." Vela's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she regarded the trio with a newfound interest.

"Judging from your robes, you three are indeed Prime Disciples…" Hal spoke, his shock still evident in his voice.

Zara butted and said with a relaxed but surprised tone, "Then, doesn't that mean we were already in an alliance because of our shared affiliation?"

Ray nodded, "Yeah, that should be the case. If I had identified your robes before, then we would have simply introduced ourselves earlier to dispel any misunderstandings."

Vela interjected, her tone a mix of amazement and relief, "So, all this time, we were already part of the same alliance."

"No way…" Alia looked at the three with a gaping mouth, still astonished upon learning their identity, "I can't believe we're in the presence of actual Prime Disciples."

"Although the authenticity of the purple robes can't be faked." Labin though still taken aback, spoke with a hint of curiosity, "How come we have never heard of you three before?"

"It's simple." Bryan offered an explanation, "We have been recently appointed as Prime Disciples and have set out to gain experience through adventuring the Forbidden Lands."

"That is a reasonable explanation." Labin nodded.

Ray thought about their opportunities and smiled, "Well, shall we be on our way?"