Deviant: No Longer Human

"You haven't answered me yet, when did you become a mage?" Wang Xiao probed again, his interest piqued.

Seraphina shrugged, her understanding vague, "I don't remember exactly... It started with a strange feeling in my body after the outbreak two years ago. I felt an unusual coldness, and took medical advice, but no doctor could pinpoint any issue."

"Then, a few months later, I dreamt of a glowing dot in a freezing part of my consciousness. This happened a few days after I first heard about the Star Map."

While Seraphina recounted her experience casually, Wang Xiao listened with a bitter smile.

Indeed, the Star Map was not the end-all of their powers.

It served as a visual framework, helping practitioners structure and understand their abilities.

Since learning of the Star Map, Seraphina had unconsciously chosen to follow its path.

Wang Xiao had experimented with it himself, altering the shape of the star at will and awakening hundreds of dots—actions that, according to Athene, should have been impossible.

But Athene had explained that such a technique was merely a tool, and given Wang Xiao's immense strength, he could manipulate it without repercussions.

For the average person, connecting even five dots was a significant challenge.

Wang Xiao, however, could manipulate multiple elements in his sea of consciousness effortlessly, though it offered him no additional advantage.

When he discussed this with Athene, she had reacted with irritation, questioning what more he could possibly gain.

He already had mastery over the elements—what more could there be?

Reflecting on this, Wang Xiao realized she might be right.

Whether it was fire or ice, for him, the distinction was negligible.

Ultimately, what others deemed precious and powerful techniques were for Wang Xiao merely ornamental.

They added aesthetic value to his sea of consciousness but held no practical benefit, serving only as decorative elements in his vast repertoire of abilities.

Wang Xiao's interest lay more in the 'sea of swords' used by Athene, a technique filled with mystery and power.

He might have gone as far as to beat her to uncover all her secrets, were it not for the delicate situation involving 'Aurora's daughter.'

Aurora had placed her trust in Athene, but Wang Xiao harbored deep reservations.

Given the slightest chance, he would reclaim his daughter from Athene's grasp without hesitation.

His restraint was only due to the potential inadvertent harm his actions could cause.

If not for this, he would have scoured the heavens to pinpoint her whereabouts.

The unknowns surrounding Athene were troubling; she might still hold some hidden aces.

Even more distressing was that he did not yet know his daughter's name, a fact that soured him.

Athene typically avoided casual interactions with him, maintaining a demeanor too aloof for trivial conversations.

She only made appearances to interact with his other daughters, adding another layer of surprise to their relationship.

Through various information, Wang Xiao had learned that Athene and Eveline were acquainted and had past connections, which was surprising considering they were from different eras.

It appeared that Eveline was the link between Aurora and Athene, a connection that baffled him.

Despite these perplexing alliances, what Athene had done to his daughters Wenxi and Yue was unforgivable.

Her sword energy now lingered in their sea of consciousness, a powerful force that they were ill-equipped to handle.

If not for pressing matters demanding his attention today, Athene would have been his primary target.

"Are... we there yet?"

His thoughts of retribution were interrupted by Yue's sleepy voice.

She gently rubbed her eyes, her movements delicate and unhurried.

She lifted her head slightly, her gaze slowly taking in her surroundings with a soft curiosity.

With a small yawn, she stretched comfortably, then nestled closer, finding even more comfort in her position.

Her actions conveyed a quiet trust and contentment, subtly catching Seraphina off guard and prompting her to raise her eyebrows in mild curiousity.

Initially, Yue and the others were mildly curious about the device known as a 'Helicopter,' but their fascination evaporated quickly.

Within a few minutes, boredom overtook them; the aircraft was painfully slow.

Compared to the exciting speed of flying with Wang Xiao or Eleanor, this 'mechanical bird' seemed to crawl through the air.

Disenchanted, Yue decided to continue her nap, her interest in the mundane drone of the helicopter's blades entirely lost.

Wang Xiao observed Yue's disinterest, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought.

He reached out and gently pinched her cheek, his tone shifting to one of unexpected sternness. "Yue, your actions might lead others to misunderstand our relationship," he said, a trace of fake concern in his words. "Now even Sera is under the impression that I favor Wenxi, that I'm harsh with you, and that you resent me for it."

"Huh?" Yue's mouth formed a small 'o' of surprise, her brows knitting together in confusion.

She was still groggy from sleep but tried to process her father's words. "...Why would I ever hate Dad?" she whispered, her voice soft and tinged with sleep and protectiveness.

'Who is weaving such deceptive tales?' she thought, a slight irritation pricking at her drowsy consciousness.

As the fog of sleep cleared and she realized it was Seraphina who held these misconceptions—not an accusation from him—Yue's tense expression eased into one of mild curiosity and concern.

She turned her head slowly, scanning the cabin for Seraphina.

"..."

Seraphina hesitated, her words catching in her throat. "Uhhh... those weren't exactly my words..." she murmured, caught between an impulse to whether laugh or cry.

It seemed Wang Xiao was intentionally fanning the flames of misunderstanding between her and Yue.

In response, Yue's grip on her father's clothes tightened momentarily as she recalibrated her assessment of Seraphina, now categorizing her under 'Vigilant' in her mental ledger.

The rest of the journey passed uneventfully, and as they drew closer to the island, a dense, mist enveloped everything in an ethereal shroud.

_____

Jan Mayen Island, Dragon Canyon!

The landscape atop Dragon Canyon had transformed dramatically; the grassy expanse was now a crystal sheet, encased in ice as if by divine decree.

Below, the massive ocean crashed against the jagged rocks, sending plumes of salty spray into the frosty air with each crash.

"Purrr..."

Perched at the edge, a colossal dragon lay in repose, its form so vast that each eye was the size of a human.

Its scales were the purest white, shimmering like the heart of winter under a full moon, while its eyes glinted with flecks of gold.

Underneath its massive frame, the scales emitted a bone-chilling aura that seemed to warp the very air around it.

Despite the icy exterior, the dragon was a nexus of aether, drawing the mystical energy into itself not merely as a refuge but as a sanctuary of healing.

The confluence of heaven and earth's energies around the beast was so intense that it manifested as visible spectral light, casting an otherworldly glow that wove through the mist, creating a scene of surreal beauty and power.

The dragon, a sentinel between the realms of the ethereal and the earthly, lay there, commanding the elemental forces to knit its wounds, as if choreographing the dance of the cosmos itself.