A New Look

James could tell he was getting close to the peak of the Stellar Attunement realm, but he could also feel something odd.

'The closer you get to the peak of a realm, the slower the intake of energy; but it's the exact opposite.'

He furrowed his brows even though he had his eyes closed as whatever was happening was outside the scope of his knowledge or anyone else's for that matter.

'My core is taking in too much and feels like an endless pit; where is it going?'

No one should understand their body more than the being themselves, but James couldn't tell where the energy was going. He could feel the intake and its circulation in his almost completed energy pathways to the core, yet his core wasn't feeling full.

'Hmm… I'll eventually find out.'

He threw the subject to the back of his mind and focused on completing what he came here to do.

And an hour later, he opened his eyes and they glowed a brilliant gold before dimming. When he attempted to get back to his feet, he froze for a moment.

"What the…

"Where did all that water go?"

He looked around frantically as if someone had stolen the water, but he was the only one in the cavern that was now darker than when he arrived with the only source of light being the glowing herbs.

"Did I absorb all of that?"

He looked at his palm in wonder, feeling the energy circulating in his body. His body felt lighter and more powerful than ever. Spells that proved to be more challenging were now but simple tricks he could pull with his eyes closed.

"With the quantity of liquified celestial energy here, I should be in the stage if I truly absorbed everything, yet…"

"Haa…"

Another mystery he had no answer too. "Too many strange things have been happening lately. But it won't change my goal."

He clenched his fist with a firm gaze, feeling the power course through him. He felt like he could take on anyone with ease.

"Mm... Let's see."

He circulated his mana through his channels and flicked his middle finger and thumb. A small ball of condensed energy shot out at incredible speeds and impacted the cave walls.

*BOOOM!*

The shot broke through the walls, shattering everything in its path and came out from the other side.

James's eyes widened at the result of his test.

"That… That is definitely above what my level can do with just a flick!"

He couldn't believe his eyes, yet that was the result. He looked down again at the basin left behind after absorbing all the water, staring at it for a few seconds.

"…."

There was nothing to say as nothing made sense. Regardless, he was glad about the power-up. He felt alive and unstoppable.

"It's still not enough."

The figure of the king and his powerful subordinates flashed in his head, pouring cold water on his growing pride.

He put back his shirt and then took another look at the tablet as his eyes lingered on the last parts that was washed away.

He had a feeling whatever happened to him might be due to the last ones and why he was drawn to the pool.

With nothing else needed from this place, he left, leaving behind the bundles of natural treasures that would have made anyone a fortune.

He didn't come here for riches, but for a way to grow stronger and with that goal partially achieved, he intends to find others.

.....

James arrived at the space where he left Thalia and the elves.

But he didn't spot them immediately which confused him a bit as he knew Thalia wouldn't leave without him.

"Thalia?"

He called out and began searching for them when he noticed three people passed out in the distance. He got closer only to be left speechless from what he saw.

"Did they have a threesome or something?"

Thalia and the elves were passed out with flushed faces, drool leaking from the corner of their lips and with stupid smiles on.

Underneath them was a pool of liquid James knew was their release. He stared at them for a few more moments, enjoying the view more than he expected.

He flashed a grin before moving forward to wake Thalia.

"Passing out in an unknown space? Tsk, tsk, tsk, …"

"Hey, Thalia. Wake up, I'm here now."

He shook her slightly and Thalia promptly woke up, way more alert than he expected. James had to shrink back a bit.

"Woah… Easy there. You alright?"

Thalia was confused for a moment as she looked around a bit before focusing on James.

"James?"

She called out softly and shortly after recalled what happened to her. A blush painted her face red and her hand touched her inner regions only to feel the moisture there.

Slowly, she raised her head to look at James who only had a sly grin on his face, deepening her blush even more.

"It's not what you think."

She tried to regain some face, not that it mattered to James as he had seen her inside and out. He chuckled at her expression.

"I didn't say anything, woman."

He defended and gave her a hand which she took gladly.

"Do tell though, what happened to you guys?"

He shifted his attention to the two elves who looked like they weren't waking up any time soon. Thalia looked at them as well and understood why James had that grin.

'Was I the same? I need to change as soon as possible.'

She couldn't go around looking like that now, could she? James, maybe she could allow, after all, she belonged to him, but others? Definitely a no.

A small smile flashed at the corner of her lips.

James stared at the elves thinking what the best course of action would be. He could already tell they'd be a handful. The first one he interacted with was already annoying enough, the second one might be worse.

"You're not thinking of leaving them like that, are you?"

Thalia asked after James remained staring at them for too long to be normal.

"Why not?"

He tilted his head and looked at Thalia. He had no relation with the two and whatever they were searching for here was none of his business, well not anymore, at least.

"Well, for starters, you saved them. Leaving them here would me undoing the work you did. Secondly, they could prove useful someday."

James though briefly about it and understood her point. But…

"You guys have been out before I got here and there was no danger around."

"Well count us lucky then. Who knows what else might be lurking in here." She added and looked around cautiously.

"Fine…" he folded and was about to go wake them up when, "Wait!"

He groaned his displeasure, "What now?"

"Your appearance, it's back to normal and there's something different too," Thalia explained with a slight furrow of her brows.

"Really?"

She nodded and then retrieved a mirror from her storage and handed it to James. When he looked at his appearance, he froze momentarily before focusing on it again.

"Is this really me?"

The image staring back at him was indeed him, but there were also noticeable changes. His golden hair now had large patches of raven black in them with small dark red details.

And his golden eyes also had some portions that were red, blending with the gold to give a unique new look.

'Red eyes…'

He finally understood what Thalia had been saying. Of course, he heard her the first time and all the times she mentioned it, but he always shrugged it off.

'Another change. What is happening to me?'

"Are you alright?"

Thalia asked with concern, drawing closer to him as she rubbed his shoulders.

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

He muttered and then passed the mirror back to Thalia. Then he reapplied the face-changing spell before turning to awake the elves.

Unlike Thalia who he shook gently awake, he kicked the two elves awake, eliciting groans of pain from the two. He had no patience for people in passing.

"Ouch.."

Sylvara held her side as she opened her eyes and was soon followed by her sister. Like Thalia, they were confused for a moment before recalling everything that transpired.

Liraeth swiftly got to her feet and distance herself from James the moment she noticed him and retrieved her mage.

Sylvara on the other hand recognized him and did noting besides getting back to her feet.

"Sister?"

"Get over here, Sylvara. That man was the reason we fell under that spell."

Her eyes spewed fire as she advised her sister to come close to her.

"Spell?"

Of course, she was confused for a moment when she felt the wet sensation between her legs and her eyes widened and a blush formed on her face.

Her head snapped to James and she froze under his gaze, not sure whether to listen to her sister or stay put. She clasped her thighs together and remained in place.

James remained composed and just observed the older elf glare at him.

'Spell?'

He too was confused what the elf was talking about, so he looked towards Thalia.

Noticing his questioning gaze, Thalia sighed before explaining to James what caused them to pass out.