Xenia sat cross-legged as peaceful wind blew through the grass beneath her, her hair was packed neatly in a bun, and her sword rested between her upper and lower lips.

Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was steady.

She had sat there for about three hours on end, unshifting and unwavering.

The coachman tended to the horses in his usual fashion, daydreaming about going home to his family soon, not paying any mind to the red-haired woman cultivating.

Suddenly, a huge, shadowy, and rectangular shaped wormhole appeared. It was in the shape of a giant door, similar to the ones in the Ironfell castle halls.

The sudden appearance caused the coachman to jump slightly backwards. He quickly pulled his dagger and slowly backed up into the carriage unknowingly.

"Miss Xenia!" He called out to the woman who didn’t seem to notice that anything was happening at all.

From the distortion in space, he emerged a young man with flowing white hair and glowing blue eyes. His clothes were battered up, and his body was dirty, but he still looked as majestic as a prince.

The coachman’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t the faintest idea that the young master could just appear and reappear wherever he pleased.

"W—What?! Young master Jacob! H—how did you... what—" he stuttered, unable to find himself.

Xenia’s ears perked up at the sound of Jacob’s name, and she immediately ceased her cultivation and got to her feet, expressions of worry and satisfaction instantly mixing up on her face.

’Oh. She ignores me all day but immediately breaks her cultivation once he returns — Tch.’ The coachman mused inwardly, a faint scowl appearing on his face.

"Jacob!—I mean... young master, where in heaven’s name have you been. What did you get yourself into. Why are your clothes burned." She attacked him with a flurry of unanswered questions.

The boy just stared at both of them wearily, "I will answer any questions you have soon, but right now... I need a hot bath, a change of clothes and a delicious meal. Can a man at least have that?"

"Oh. Right away, sir." The coachman responded and immediately scurried along.

Xenia stared boy down from head to toe, unsure of what to say, but she remained calm regardless.

"I kept my promise, didn’t I?" Jacob asked with a serious expression.

"What?"

The boy immediately put two fingers up in a peace sign and smiled playfuly. "I didn’t exceed two days."

She almost smacked him on the head, but she restrained herself and smiled forcefully instead.

The boy was drawn a bath, given a change of clothes and a warm meal, he cleaned himself up and ate to his satisfaction.

"Young master, I think it’s time for you to tel—" Xenia started her question, but she was immediately interrupted by the boy’s snores.

She smiled and carried herself to her tent after deciding that she would ask him in the morning.

_ _ _

Morning quickly arrived, Jacob awoke from his slumber, the brightness of the early morning sun nearly blinding him.

He sat up with a languorous yawn and rubbed his eyes.

’She let me sleep outside?’ He mused inwardly as he looked around, slightly annoyed.

The boy got up and walked over to the river bank, splashing a handful of water on his face.

He sat there for some minutes, the battle with Savant replaying in his head, he wondered slightly if killing the man was the best move.

He dismissed the thought.

"Good day, Young master." A voice called out from behind him.

"Good morning, Xenia. Can you have the coachman prepare the carriage? There’s somewhere we have to go."

"Right away, young master." She stared at him briefly before turning around to deliver the message.

Jacob sat there still, staring into the distance. He paid keen attention to the birds pecking for worms and the tall grasses, swaying with the wind.

"Didn’t know peace was this comforting." He told himself, letting out a sigh.

He got up and went to prepare himself for the journey ahead.

Jacob had one last thing to do before leaving the area completely.

He walked over to where the coachman and Xenia stood.

"Xenia, can you accompany me, I have to go see someone." He asked her, a faint smile playing on his lips.

She nodded her head and then asked him, "Who is it?"

He turned his gaze towards the gates of the Flying Macabre sect in the distance.

"An old friend," he replied.

_ _ _

Zaheer had just returned to his small house on the east end of the sect grounds.

He removed the small bag that was slung over his shoulder carefully and tossed it on the bed, then he sat down and put locked his fingers together, lost in thought.

’I went to visit him but he wasn’t there, where could he have gone at this time. Nobody even knows where he is.’ The brown haired boy mused inwardly, his head hung in disappointment.

’I can’t even go to his house. He would kill me if I ever tried something that stupid.’

He sat there and pondered for a couple minutes, occasionally hissing or smacking his forehead lightly.

’I have to go pick up Jasmine from practice soon,’ was his final thought until.

WHOOSH!

A calm breeze went past him quickly, causing his clothes to sway with it.

And then he heard a very familiar voice.

"What is my friend so worried about?"

The boy turned around swiftly to meet the gaze of a young teenage boy with white hair, he sat so comfortably on the window pane.

"Jacob!?" An expression of surprise and confusion written all over his face.

"What the hell are you doing here?. Did anyone see you. Did the sect leader see you—" The boy started, rushing over to him and pulling him off the window pane and into the room.

"Whoa!" Jacob exclaimed, stumbling into the room. "Good to see you too, Old friend."

Xenia stood watch outside the small house, her presence concealed but very much aware.