Early the next morning first to show up was Alrin who was still wearing the same color of robes as always. Part of the reason for this was his inherent nature of not caring but part of it was also the nature of cultivators whose sense of time got warped the stronger they got. Because this most would just wear the same style of clothes only changing it up for special occasions.
Alrin had ended up showing up quite a bit early since he had agreed not to train today. At the moment he was wishing he had tried to see if she would have wanted something else but now it was too late so he could only lament. It was after all the first time in years he was potentially going a day without training and combined with the fact he had no other friends or hobbies it left him feeling uncomfortable leading him to his current situation.
A while later Alara arrived and spotted Alrin leaning against a tree under the shade with his eyes closed trying to mediate to relax. He had traveled through the wilderness of beasts to avoid people and in that time he had honed his senses to the extreme in order to survive but now he was struggling due to that. Sound, hearing, smells all the people moving about the sect were now overwhelming him. Not only that he was on edge with so many people because of the thought a demonic cultivator could be lurking around. His previous encounter was the reason he chose to deal with beasts instead of people.
Should I really be wasting time like this? No this time is a necessary investment. I can't understand what about me interested her but I should make full use of her interest while I have it. If I want revenge then I need to grow stronger and I need far too many resources so regardless of the risks Alara's help is essential.
"Alrin…Alrin…ALRIN!" Only after hearing her shout the last time did his eyes snap open and he saw Alara who was wearing a loose white and gold dress.
"Alara sorry I didn't hear you."
"Its fine but you seem a little down are you ok?"
"I'm fine." He said to which Alara could only sigh.
"Then first things first lets get some food I'll show you my favorite restaurant in the city." Saying so she and Alrin traveled like any ordinary mortal couple and took a train.
It was a recent addition to the sect the significantly sped up travel between Star Sect and Sun City. Because of this it was also both of their first times riding one. The operators of the train seeing their star badges let them onboard free of charge into their own compartment.
Sitting down across from each other Alara was enjoying the experience as she looked out the window.
"I could have never imagined something like this people sure are amazing." Alara said as the train began to move.
"I agree this isn't something a cultivator would ever come up with." As a cultivator they would never really have a use for something such as this since they would surpass the speed of a train.
"Would you like to play a game while we wait?"
"Game?" He asked out of curiosity.
"Yes it's called Thress its a game of strategy." She said summoning a board onto the desk between them before explaining the rules.
Appearing floating in the air above the board on one side was 32 pieces in a 4x2x4 pattern of white pieces with the same pastern mirrored on the other side with black pieces with a gap of for squares between the pieces.
The front layer of pieces were all entirely of the same type known as beasts that had 3 options to choose from. They could only move forward, attack if an enemy pieces was close enough or defend.
Behind the beasts 16 pieces composed of four types, the mortal 8 pieces that could move , immortal 6, and gods 2 with the goal of the game to take down both gods.
The game had no turns but each round both players could move 2 pieces and once both players finished the round the pieces would move on their own.
After going into a bit more detail Alara finished explaining how to play to Alrin and they began their first game.
One one side was Alrin with play with the white pieces while on the other was Alara play with the black pieces.
Not even five minutes later Alara had won the first game completely crushing Alrin.
"It is your first time playing I guess I should have easier." She said a bit smugly after winning.
"No it won't mean anything if I don't beat you at your best." He replied not at all disappointed in his loss.
"Good, then I won't hold back."
Another five minutes later Alrin had once again lost only lasting one more round than the last game.
"Want some advice?" Alara asked.
"Yes."
"You are never choosing to defend which then loses you pieces and further limits your options."
"I see thanks."
After that they played 3 more matches all of which Alrin lost before they finally arrived at Sun City.
"Come on we will have plenty of time to play in the future." She said to Alrin who looked like he wanted to keep playing.
"Alright." He replied getting up to follow her a bit disappointed he could not keep playing.
Despite being next to the Circle of Sen Beasts, Sun city was the biggest city in the region since it had the protection of Star Sect. Thanks to this protection the city had recently been able to enter a period of rapid growth in many ways from population, to architecture, to technology, to clothing. This caused Alrin a sense of whiplash since it was much different from Star Sect and left him feeling completely out of place.
As Alrin strolled through the city he felt worse than before due to the new things he had never experienced before further overwhelming his senses.
"Do you want help?" Alara asked seeing him not quite right.
"No need I'm fine." He once again denied her help.
"Well I'm going to give it anyways." She said grabbing his hand and sending her Sencia into his body. It had a dulling effect on his mind as the surroundings began to quiet down.
Although doing this without actual permission was considered offensive Alrin did not resist. He only looked at her from behind silently following her footsteps as she dragged him along. In his vision now the only thing left was her.
After another few minutes of walking the pair finally arrived at their destination. Entering the small restaurant it was run by an older married couple who had run the place for generations.
"Alara! It has been too long since you've last come back." The older woman spoke.
"Hehe sorry I've been really busy lately aunty."
"Looks like you've got yourself a boyfriend looks like our son will have his first broken heart." The older man said seeing Alara still holding Alrin's hand.
"Ah uncle no we are not dating he is my friend not by boyfriend wait I guess this is supposed to be a date." She said still holding Alrin's hand leaving her uncle confused.
"It's nice to meet you I'm Alrin, Alara is a good friend who had been taking care of me since I've joined Star Sect." He said walking up to shake their hands greeting them like mortals.
"My how polite you should have also brought Vivi along it would have been nice to see her too." The aunt said.
"I would have but she caused some trouble and has to clean up her mess." Alara said.
"She has always been a troublemaker that one but is he really not your bo—." The uncle said with a laugh.
As her husband was about to keep talking the wife began pushing him away, "Ok ok why don't you two have a seat Alrin do you have any food preferences?"
"No I'm fine with anything thank you."
In the kitchen the couple were having a small scuffle.
"Why did you suddenly push me away like that?"
"You talk too much you were going to make things awkward for them if you kept going. People go at different paces just leave them alone until the food is ready." She said scolding the man.
While the married couple was doing that Alrin and Alara had taken a seat next to a window.
"You're aunt and uncle aren't cultivators?" He asked showing interest in her for the first time.
"No they are not my blood relatives and even if they were they have no interest in it and I tried to get them to start."
"I don't blame them they already look happy and cultivation just creates its own problems." He said being someone who was no longer cultivating for the sake of it.
Hearing that Alara was slightly stunned , "I'm surprised what makes you think that?"
"I'll use us an example, we're the same age yet you've already reached the sixth core while at best I'll soon reach the fourth core. Now imagine we are married or have even formed a union but you've already long reached immortality. While I'm confident in my ability to reach immortality I technically don't have the talent so I might die and you have to live the rest of your life without me."
"I disagree you are far too negative about the situation. Just by cultivating you will live far longer and even if you still died in the end we would have still gotten far more time together than not. And!!! If I loved someone enough to form a union with them and even with all my help they still failed to ascend I would follow them into the cycle of reincarnation in hopes we meet again would you not?"
Looking into Alara's eyes Alrin was able to feel the passion they contained meaning everyone word she said but just as he was about to reply they were interrupted.
"Kids your food is ready!" The uncle said bring them the food.
Being served ordinary egg pancakes and side of steam buns this was the first time in quite a while that Alrin was eating ordinary mortal food. He primarily ate Sen beasts because they were filled with Sencia for him to absorb for his cultivation.
Taking a bite out of the food to Alrin it could only be called good since he was quite an adept cook himself but this was far more enjoyable than anything he had ever made. He wasn't sure it tasted so good until he looked up and saw Alara eating her food as if was about to be snatched. Seeing that he was stunned for a second since she also had twice as much as food as he did.
"Haha." Seeing that scene even Alrin could not help but chuckle.
Hearing the sudden laughter Alara quickly did her best to swallow the food she was chewing so she could speak, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing I was just thinking about a fortune I was once told about." Alrin said thinking about his little bird Kor.
"Somebody of the fate path told you your fortune?" Alara said surprised since they almost never did that due to the fact they more often than not became self fulfilling prophecies.
"No it was just a little bird that said only big eaters are trustworthy."
"You had me worried for a second well even if you did it couldn't have been worse than the prophecy of the world destroyer." Alara causing Alrin to remember the prophecy everyone knows even mortals.
When the Immortal Beast breaks through the confines set upon the world to ascend beyond immortality ruin will fall upon the world as it destroyed.
"I suppose competing with an ancient prophecy about the world being destroyed would be difficult."
Not long later the two finished their meals and said their goodbyes when Alara grabbed Alrin and rushed off. Her aunt and uncle never charged Alara for a meal treating her like a daughter so she always left plenty of Sen stones for them before taking off.
"That girl… I'm glad she was looking happier." The aunt said seeing the money she left.
After a little bit of running Alara came to a stop, "Sorry about that, they never let me pay so I have to leave before they can try to return the money."
Hearing that Alrin had a faint smile on his face as he looked back at her, "You don't need to be sorry I'm enjoying my time."
Hearing that Alrin was actually enjoying himself a big smile appeared on her face. Feeling happy Alara grabbed Alrin's hand once again and spent the rest of the day exploring the city.
Once night fell their was one last thing Alara wanted to do with Alrin.
Siting inside of a theater Alara had gotten them private tickets to watch a play. She had originally intended to watch the play from normal seats but decided to switch them so Alrin could better relax.
"I never thought I would end up watching a play." Alrin said as they took their seats.
"And why is that?"
"I can't see the appeal in watching a made up story."
"That's what makes them fun if its made up anything can happen in the path and the ending."
"Is that any different to life?"
"For many yes but not for everyone. "
Seeing Alara's face Alrin thought about not continuing but chose to do so anyways, "Are you are someone whose path is decided?"
Alara didn't respond.
"It seems we disagree once again. I would never let a fate told to me by another dictate my life. If I was told my fate was too destroy the world that would not change my plans, actions or decisions in the slightest. My fate is my own If I destroyed the world it was because I decided it had to be done not because not because of some prophecy. My fate is a result of my choices.
"You make it sound so easy."
"Even if its not so what I will keep moving forward no matter how difficult it is and if you can't do it alone come find me I will help you."
This is why it was you I fell for.
Before Alara could reply the play started interrupting the two. Although it started Alrin did not show much interest until the second half.
"LILA! After everything we've been through why leave!?"
"Darron… in your pursuit of revenge you've gone too far and I can't follow you anymore." The woman Lila spoke unable to reveal the truth about a powerful force coercing her into abandoning him to weaken him.
Hearing that Darron's anger faded and only shame was left, "Lila… please I'm so close once it is done never again."
"Even now you are soaked in blood you are no longer the man I fell for all those years ago."
"Lila we have been through so much are you really going to so easily give it up?"
"You turned me into the person I am today but if the you of old saw what you have become how do you think he would feel. Would he justify as you have all in the name of revenge you pushed everyone away and even now their is one question I could never ask you. Would you be willing to give up your revenge for me but I know how it much it means to you so how could I ask you to stop but I also can't support what you are doing in the name of it."
"…Lila."
"Goodbye Darron." She said flying off. "I wish I had another choice."
The scene ended their and the curtains closed before opening up to a new scene. Darron was surrounded by dozens of corpses blankly looking at the sky.
"DARRON!" A woman's voice came stumbling in heavily injured. "WHY! Why did you kill them all brother?"
"It had to be done now our clan can finally rest in peace." He spoke listlessly
"They weren't all like that their were so many innocents who did nothing wrong yet you killed them all. You've became a worse monster than they ever were."
"Do you even remember the faces of our parents? You don't do you, you were too young at the time they kidnapped you."
"But so many were innocent not everyone was involved that day."
"Even still they had to die no traces of them could be left."
"Then brother no Darron you must kill me too I am one of them."
"Sister you too… then if I must he said taking out a sword."
In that moment the sister charged Darron she knew it was a futile effort with how injured she already was but she had to do it. As she charged she closed her eyes expecting to die.
Yet the feeling of being cut down never came instead she felt a piercing sensation with her sword and she opened her eyes to see her sword impaling his heart.
"Darron…why?"
"How could I cut you down… you look just like mom." He said patting her head for the first time since childhood.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" A gut wrench scream echoed as she watched her brother fall to the ground.
As the scream echoed the scene ended. The next scene opened up with Lila placing Darron's body in a coffin.
"Darron I'm sorry if only it had not been me if you had fallen for anyone else you would still be here. I reached the realm of the gods and freed myself yet its still not to bring you back from your slumber. Even if fate cannot be changed I will wait no matter how many eons it takes for your return."
Lila shut the coffin and the play ended as audience cheered.
With the play over Alrin turned his gaze to Alara but when he saw her he froze. She was sitting there as if the play was still going with tears running down her face.
"Alara are you alright?" Alrin asked seeing the tears.
"Oh yeah I was just sad that the play did not have a happy ending." She replied.
"This won't be your story so just enjoy it for what it is." He said trying to reassure her.
"Maybe your right." She said sounding unconfident for once.
"You said were friends right?"
"Yeah?"
"Then give me your hand." He said grabbing her hand when she held it out, "As I said earlier my fate is a result of my choices and right now I've decided on another one." He continued talking wrapping his pinkie around hers, "This will be my promise to you. If you don't like your fate then I will be there to change it whether that be a 1 year, 1000 years, or even eons from now."Although a pinkie promise may have been childish but he was still young. The one had made in the past had always reassured him and he wanted to do the same for her in the best way he knew how.
Hearing that Alara couldn't help but smile, "I guess that means we will be together for along time so don't get tired of me."
Alara I don't know nor can I understand why you are so spending so much time on me but I hope you don't regret it. Once my goal is achieved my I will finally be able to rest so I hope you have nothing more than a fleeting interest in me because I don't think I will be able to repay you. Truly I do not wish to hurt you but revenge is my last purpose I simply don't feel anything not when you smile at me, nor when we played games together, or even when you held my hand.