Saga of Atlantis
Chapter 156 : Spirit Core

"Yes, Aeloria needs to touch you for you to awaken your core," Ivy explained with a sly smile.

"What?" Emily asked in a sharp tone as she stood up as she looked at the fairy hovering in front of me.

"Well, they need to come into physical contact for Eden to awaken his spirit core," Ivy calmly explained, but her smile didn't leave her face.

"Wait... When did I ever agree to do it?" Aeloria asked, frowning as she looked at Ivy.

"Hmm, that's the only way, Ria," Ivy hovered around me as she replied. "He didn't awaken his spirit core when he was young, and neither did he get help from Mother like you did, so to stimulate his core, he needs to come into contact with spirit energy."

"Wait, so he needs to come into contact with spirit energy, is that all right?" Aeloria asked as she glanced at Ivy.

"Yes, you just need to infuse the spirit energy into his body," Ivy replied, nodding her head.

"Say it properly next time," Aeloria said, glaring as she let out a frustrated sigh.

"You're the ones with dirty minds who were thinking something else," Ivy shrugged in reply.

"Sigh..."

A relaxed sigh escaped Emily's mouth as she stumbled back onto her bed.

Why are you sighing?

"So I don't need to take off my clothes, right?" I asked as I sat quietly in the chair.

"No, you have to take your shirt off. Ria wants to see," Ivy shook her hand as she gestured for me to take my shirt off.

"Hey! Stop dragging me into this mess, Ivy," Aeloria said as she again glared at her contracted spirit.

"Take off your shirt, Eden. What are you waiting for?" Ivy, ignoring Aeloria's comment, looked at me eagerly.

Sigh.

Sighing, I stood up and placed the chair back in its place before starting to unbutton my shirt.

As I took off my shirt, I glanced at the girls sitting inside the room.

First, I chose to ignore the fairy, who was smiling slyly as she looked at me and then at Aeloria.

Next, I glanced at Aeloria, who was watching me as I took my shirt off. She wasn't shying away from looking at me; come to think of it, she never shied away from any matter that happened between us.

Then, I looked at Emily, who had the most innocent girl-like reaction.

She was taking small glances at my body from time to time before averting her gaze.

But as I looked at her, for a second, her gaze met mine, and even from here, I could see goosebumps forming all over her body.

For once, and just for a while, I felt wrong and immoral for corrupting her now and for all the corruption I would do to her in the future.

But that thought didn't last long as I took off my shirt and placed it on the table while standing in the middle of the room.

"Now, what?" I asked as I looked at Ivy.

"Now, Aeloria will tell you how spirit energy works," Ivy said as she glanced at Aeloria.

"...Couldn't she have done that before he took off his shirt?" Emily asked, voicing the question that was on my mind as well.

"No, what's the point in that? Just enjoy the show, girl. Why are you complaining?" Ivy shook her head as she glanced at Emily.

"You have some guts, fairy, don't you?" I immediately picked her up, pinching her wings as I mumbled while giving her a chilly smile.

"Hehe," she laughed cutely as she tried to move away from my grip, "don't be mad, Eden. It was important; otherwise, Aeloria will always—"

"Okay, stop, Ivy. I will explain to him," Aeloria interrupted her words as she stood up.

I left Ivy alone as I took the seat Aeloria had been sitting in...beside Emily.

And Aeloria took my place as she stood in front of us.

"So, in simple terms that even a small brain like yours can understand, spirit energy is the energy that forms the basis of life for spirits and fairies," Aeloria explained, looking at me.But seriously, was the first part necessary?

"This energy can help enhance the body of other people or yourself during combat, and it can also be useful in recovering from fatigue," she continued as I nodded.

"Kinda lame if you ask me," I mumbled, rubbing my chin.

But it could work, if somehow I can combine with Star Energy.

Aeloria's eyes twitched slightly as she glared at me.

"And you can do this as well," she said, looking at Ivy, who nodded.

With that, Ivy moved towards Aeloria as she...merged with her?

"The fuck?" I let out a startled voice as I looked at Aeloria.

Translucent dragonfly-like wings, arranged in pairs of four, formed behind her.

They began to flap—slowly at first, but then increasing in speed until they were fluttering rapidly.

Gradually, she hovered midair inside the room.

Aeloria's hands were on her waist as she showed off, and, while I hate to admit it, she surely looked like a fairy.

Unlike what I had thought, her wings didn't emit any sound as she hovered in place.

"How is it?" She asked, smirking as she looked at both of us.

"It's beautiful," Emily mumbled, sitting beside me and looking at her in awe.

"You look like a big bug," I commented, unable to hold back my sarcasm.

She glared at me as the wings behind her started to dim, and Ivy once again emerged from Aeloria's body.

"Now that you know what spirit energy is, sit down on the floor and let Aeloria do her job," Ivy instructed, looking at me.

I nodded in reply, getting off the bed and sitting on the floor cross-legged, my back towards Aeloria and Emily as I stretched.

"Aeloria, sit behind him and place your hand on his back," Ivy instructed, and I felt someone approach me from behind before sitting there.

"Remind me again why I am helping you," Aeloria mumbled as she hesitantly touched my back.

"Because we're partners, aren't we?" I replied with a chuckle as she came closer to me.

"...At least say thank you, idiot," she grumbled as she settled down.

"For what?" I asked. "You're able to touch my body, and that alone is enough for a thank you. You might not know, but only a few girls have touched my body."

"Seriously, Eden?" Aeloria asked, glaring at me. "Only a few? Only a few? And why are you even proud of it? What are you, a gigolo?"

"Yeah, remind me again why I should ever help you?" I glared back at her as I asked.

"You know what, never mind. I'll make you help me someday, whether you like it or not," she replied, her hot breath on my neck.

Wait, why was she this close to me?

"Eden, relax your body," Ivy said as she hovered in front of me. "Because you are awakening at a very late age, you will feel a lot more uncomfortable because of it."

"I get it," I nodded in reply, looking at her. "Anything else you wanted to add?"

"And yeah, be mindful of your manners when you see her," Ivy said seriously as she looked at me.

"Wait... What do you mean, see who?" I asked, frowning.

"Who else, idiot? Of course, the goddess," Aeloria replied instead as she smacked my back for who knows why.

"Wait, you met her or what?" I asked as I looked at Aeloria.

"No, but for a few seconds, she brought me towards the spirit realm. That's all she did," Aeloria replied, shaking her head.

"Wow, you met a literal goddess," Emily said in awe as she looked at Aeloria, who proudly nodded with a smile.

Wait, when did she arrived here?

"So, there's a chance she might bring me towards the spirit realm," I asked, frowning. "How does this shit even work?"

"I don't know, don't ask me," I said, looking at Ivy for the answer. She replied, shrugging.

"You know what, I think I shouldn't do it," I mumbled, having a hard time accepting the idea of seeing a goddess.

The last I remembered, I had a connection with a madman who slew gods. There's no way it's a good idea to meet a goddess now.

"It will be fine, Eden," I said as I tried to stand up, but Aeloria quickly grabbed my hand, "She knows about me, but she did nothing, so don't worry."

"...What?" I asked after a delay in response.

"Wait, how old is she?" I asked, turning to Ivy. I wanted to confirm if she was even present during the time of the 'deities of demise.'

"I don't know, maybe she's around half a million?" Ivy replied as I sat down.

"Isn't she an old hag then?" I replied with a nervous chuckle as Aeloria placed her hand on my back.

"Don't say that, idiot," Ivy glared at me as she replied.

"What? I'm just calling an old hag an old ha—." My words immediately stopped as I felt a slight discomfort in my body and my vision blurred.

And the next thing I knew, I felt a pair of eyes glaring at me.

...Ahh..Fuck.