Seth felt as though he was sitting between two behemoths, two behemoths that were on the verge of reducing him to meat paste.

The sensation was mostly psychological rather than physical, but Seth didn’t need to be a genius to understand the perils he was exposing himself.

Copper Rank wasn’t a joke.

If either of them decided to utilize even 1% of their power, Seth was as sure as hell not going to survive the exchange. It would be a question of how much of his remains would not get vaporized during the friction of their auras, a question he didn't have the slightest intention of answering.

Fortunately, both Liz and Zakira were considered enough to only employ the most gentle side of their beings; their auras. Which—to Seth's despair—didn't make the situation any less terrifying.

“TAKE YOUR FILTHY HANDS OUT OF MY SETH!!”

Liz’s voice echoed in Seth’s mind just as fast as he felt two overwhelming, crushing auras squeezing him from every direction. Freezing his body, mind and mana as though he was being immersed in the deep sea. The air itself seems to liquefy when put under so much pressure, limiting his movements to the extreme.

It was just the beginning.

As Seth was in the middle of two Copper Rank powerhouses clash, even his core wasn't left unscathed. He felt as though hundreds of needles were stabbing his spirit constantly as strong, blazing hot rays of light seared his eyes. Leaving him in a complete mess.

Seth was forced to shut his senses.

When put under the demonstration of what a Copper Ranker’s aura was capable of, Seth’s mind couldn't help but wander around the time Zakira’d explained to him the distinctions between aura and spirit. A topic she’d deemed as essential if he held any ambitions of reaching the next rank in the future.

From what I understood, the aura is generally regarded as the medium practitioners used to sense and show themselves to the world. Seth thought, obvious of the mammoth events happening outside. Instead, the spirit could be considered the link by which a practitioner can influence and manipulate the physical world.

The exact borders of both concepts weren’t static or simple to understand, especially in the less advanced ranks, where spirit and aura were basically the same. Seth himself would have never noticed it if it wasn't pointed out by the Noble. But even Zakira—with her Copper Rank—was still in the dark about some concepts.

Seth knew they were the byproducts of condensing a core and the most basic tools a practitioner had at its disposal, and the main reasons why the majority of practitioners never reach the Copper Rank in their lifetime.

From the most complex tasks like drawing a script to the most fundamental ones like sensing the atmospheric mana, they were employed in nearly all activities. Which spoke by itself of how important they were to a practitioner's growth and future prospects.

For instance, without a considerable level of mastery, breaking through to the White Core Stage would be nothing more than a pipe dream. And from the information he’d gathered from Ivor, Zakira and Liz, he didn't want to imagine the countless hours and immense quantity of resources the Copper Rank would demand.

Just the thought was giving him a headache.

The minutes passed as Seth was immersed in his world, wondering about many topics until he noticed the absence of pressure outside. When he opened his eyes again, he was welcomed by a pair of scarlet and another pair of purple eyes staring at him.

“Seth’s sooo cute when he thinks…”

Liz's childish voice echoed in his mind before he saw Zakira give her a too-much exaggerated nod.

“Yeah, his parents were probably some sort of lofty immortals,” she said, her eyes sparkling like gems as though he was some kind of treasure.

Seth’s lips twitched, “Since when do you care so much about me? I didn’t see any of you so concerned when you were about to burst me like a watermelon.” His voice carried a note of anger.

The Noble waved her hand dismissively. “It was just a game, little one. No need to get so vexed,”

Taking a seat, the Noble held the edges of her slightly torn were, showing vestiges of her little game with the Icy White-Clawed fox. A couple of lines formed on her fairly white forehead, she peered in the direction of Liz. But after spotting the black-charred hair-tips on her hide, her mood improved. Somewhat.

Seth could only pray in his head for the farmers who would find their fields reduced to wastelands, a sight that wasn’t a rarity in these lands.

Liz caught the Noble’s gaze, but the Icy White-Clawed fox didn't spare her a glance. Zakira snorted before drawing her attention back to Seth.

"Anyway, what did you say you wanted to talk about?" she asked, leaning over the desk and, on purpose or not, displaying her deep cleavage.

"I need two of your lackeys." Seth salivated, shifting his gaze out of the pair of plump spheres that had been part of his fantasies innumerable times.

Zakira didn't seem to be bothered by this. Instead, she folded her arms. Finding Seth’s request quite interesting.

"I thought you had had enough of my kin, little one."

“This is business, my personal beliefs are not important.”

Zakira looked at him intensely, all playfulness in her expression missing as her aura seemed to twist around her. The next second. Seth felt as though he’d been stripped naked.

Every nook and cranny of being lay bare, ready to be inspected by the mature Noble. A feeling Seth didn't appreciate much. Fortunately, it was over after a few seconds.

“Was that really necessary?” It wasn’t as though he’d something to hide from her, or at least not something he wasn’t confident of concealing from her. But keeping his cards close to the chest had been carved into his being since he was little, and this was the complete opposite; he was not comfortable.

Zakira's expression stayed hard, and Seth—for the first time in a while—began to get nervous. This side of her was far more dangerous than the naughty one.

The Noble smirked, “Don't worry, I’m not going to eat you. Not in that way at least.” She sized him up, “but I can think of some ways from where we can have some fun.”

After a few little teases on her part, Zakira brought back the topic of his visit, aside from spending some time with Liz, who was soundlessly snoozing on his lap as he stroked her back.

“Anyway, why do you need the little bloodsuckers? I don't really have much use for them, but they're not cheap to make.” Zakira said, her expression this time shifting into one of a businesswoman.

Seth smiled, tossing a washed sky-blue piece of crystal over the desk. It was all it took to throw Zakira out of character, she looked at it with wonder, her eyes flashing in realization. “Are my senses tricking me or is this thing what I believ—

Seth nodded, a wide smile forming across his face. “It’s just a shell, but I know where we can find the great stuff.” He didn't really intend to reveal his treasure so early, but now was not the moment to be sticky with his money.

Taking the bean-sized dead crystal, Zakira studied it for a few seconds. When she looked back at him, Seth didn’t have enough time to make head or tails of her expression before he found her face, and soft, mature body, sticking close to him.

Her cold hands caressed his face, and Seth could see Zakira’s face flushed with hot blood. However, despite the alluring sight—and sensations—there was something in her gaze he didn't quite like.

But to the hot-blooded youth, there was little resistance he could erect against just an offence, so accepted his fate with open arms.

“I think it's time to make you a man, Little Seth~”

Those were the last words the Noble pronounced before leaning in and giving him the first, and best kiss he had ever had. Making his fair hair stand and blood boil in ways he’d only dreamed. Zakira leaned closer, kissing him harder.

Seth felt as though she was literally trying to suck his spirit dry.

It was the closest thing he’d ever felt like touching the sky with his bare hands. There was something in her body’s scent, warmth and softness that drove him crazy, and at this moment, the sentiment got amplified a hundred times. His mind went blank.

But everything came to a stop as a presence unlike any other descended on them, freezing everything except their thoughts.