Shock

"What?" Stunned by the sudden, intimate question, Aina shrugged. 'Did I make a mistake? But why did he specify…' Initially keen to take the man for a simple pervert, the girl quickly realized that it was wrong. If he just wanted to ask about her private life, he wouldn't put a set time limit for the period!

"Are you… Could it be that…" Suddenly raising her head up, Aina looked at Sebian with terror in her eyes. And that alone was enough to confirm Sebian's guess.

"To think that this damned technique exists here as well… God fucking damn it." For the very first time, Sebian truly invoked the name of that fake god to curse. Because he was more than familiar with the method used on the girl.

"Excuse me, if you wouldn't mind telling, what seems to be the case?" Quickly finishing all his tasks, the alchemist left the mash of various herbs to soak in the materia prima. With nothing else to do, he just stood by the side with a concerned expression.

"Since when is this your business?" As much as Sebian wanted to be amicable towards the man, the wrath that he felt right now made it impossible for the alchemist to act politely. 'How can this prick be so insensitive…' grasping the girl by her shoulders, Sebian pulled her into an embrace. Then, the girl started shivering, as the truth behind her affliction started to dawn upon her.

"It's not like I'm trying to pry." Shaking his head, Sheeren rested his bottom against the edge of the table. "I just heard a lot of good things about her, so I can't help but feel concerned." Hiding his face under his palm, the elder turned his head to the side, as if ashamed of his feelings.

"About two years ago, she slept with someone. Judging from the situation, I assume that person promised her some kind of favour in exchange for pleasure." Tightening his hug over the girl's back, Sebian absorbed all her shivering, offering her the warmth and affection she so desperately needed right now. "But from what I saw, that… exchange aimed at implanting a special kind of parasite in this poor girl's soul. One that made her unable to form certain thoughts, forcefully frying them out of her memory."

As if reliving the climax of her intense, emotional pain, Aina grasped the fur on top of Sebian's chest, sobbing silently shaking her body up and down. But then, Sebian moved on.

"Right now, I managed to remove the bug and heal the wound it created… But it won't be a stretch to say that someone manipulated her for two long years. In the most vicious way possible." Gently patting the girl's head while offering her a shoulder to silently weep on, Sebian sighed. 'At least, now she is properly healed.

"Hey, little one," After several more moments of silence, Sebian finally made his move. Putting just a single finger of his below the girl's chin, he then slowly raised her head. Once Aina's teary eyes looked up at the alchemist's face, a strange thrill almost shook his body.

'To think that she would… Huh…' Slightly shaken by the appearance of this long-forgotten feeling, Sebian lightly smiled. "Are you okay?" After just a few moments of looking at the alchemist's face, Aina's mood finally started improving. Wiping the tears out of her eyes, she then looked at the man with gratitude before shyly lowering her head.

"Yeah. I… After two failed exams, I was approached by a certain disciple from the Gloryhouse sect. I was just seventeen at that time. He offered that if I dual cultivate with him for a month, he would push some requests to have me accepted." Shrugging once again, Aina quickly pushed her body back into Sebian's embrace, as if she was unwilling to face the demons of her past outside of his hug. "Now that my thoughts are clear, it was at that point when I suddenly dropped all the ideas of joining other organizations. Like, all at once."

There were two important things in what the girl said. The outward part, oriented at what she went through and how painful it was. But the inner part was all about her actual motive to join an organization. Because without the driving force to push forward, she would never be affected by that parasite in the first place!

"I'm sorry, but I never ever heard of a bug capable of doing something like that…" Clearly shaken by the revelation, Sheeren was out of words. But given the context, he could already tell what would be one of the important factors going into his future actions. Especially if he wished to affiliate himself with the master of alchemy in front of him.

"Okay then, let's not dawdle on the past any longer, but move forward instead." Shaking his head, Sebian grabbed Aina by her waist only to stand up. Now that the girl was back on her feet, his head moved back to the elder. "Go and check the potions." Waving Sheeren away, Sebian directed his eyes towards the girt, only to notice how her face suddenly filled with unease.

"What's wrong?" This time, there were too many possible reasons for the girl to turn anxious. With so many options to choose from, Sebian decided not to make any guess at all.

"Master… I… I don't know how can I repay you. Yet I'm still shameless enough to ask for your help…" Hanging her head low, the girl shook her head before suddenly grabbing Sebian's hand, only to bring it up and push it against her chest. "If it's my body…" With sudden determination in her voice, Aina attempted to say something only for Sebian to wrestle his hand out of her grasp before flicking her forehead.

"You should treasure yourself more." After flicking the girl's head, Sebian then brushed his fingers through her hair only to slide his hand down on her chin. "After all, didn't we agree that you would become mine if I threw the Gloryhole sect to your feet?" Once again misspelling the name of the organization, Sebian smiled as a flustered smile of realization blossomed on the girl's lips. Then, she suddenly noticed what it meant in regards to both future and the past.

'So all along, you already intended…' Shaken by her realization, Aina took a deep breath, before suddenly letting out a joyful giggle. Then, another voice joined the fray.

"Impossible! How could it happen! Am I dreaming?!" Shouting from the working area of the shop, Sheeren nearly fainted when recognizing the oils forming in the brew he prepared along with Sebian's instructions.