ACCR Chapter 8 Weight


    My mood was a soaking wet blanket. The atmosphere was the same, except that there was a very large amount of awkwardness in the air.


    I was standing by the vertical window... Though, it was more of a rectangular hole with an energy film spread across it. Behind me, was Mr. Mumaso Reed, a man I did not want to be in the same room with.


    There was a certain problem that all of us cultivators faced in the presence of those with higher realms, you couldn''t ignore them.


    Their presence was something that could acutely be felt. No matter how much they tried to hide or suppress their energy signature, even mere instincts were enough to alert you of their presence.


    The man was behind me. I could feel him. The reason we were now being tortured with being in the same unobstructed space was simply the fact that we had arrived at our destination... Not mine, as I would have to board a transport back to Earth.


    Mars was looming right before me, down below my feet. Glass-like panes, in a grid pattern were covering every inch of its circular stratosphere, serving the purpose of trapping the atmosphere from being stripped away by the void of space because of its weak gravitational forces.


    I would have been awed any other day, yet now, it only served as a minor distraction from the awkwardness. It had been a long time since I had last physically seen it up close.


    Below the panels, green and blue interwove, coupled with some metallic gleams here and there. And to think that over 400 years ago it had just been plain red soil and rock!


    Above the panels, there stood stations that served to receive the massive volume of crafts that delivered people and things to the planet, not to mention those leaving. The ports within my gaze were in a frenzy of activity.


    The craft got increasingly closer to the port, with the butterflies within my stomach increasing in the intensity of their fluttering.


    Only a single thought occupied my mind right now. We were going to have to talk. I couldn''t just leave without even a bye, right?


    The moment the subtle vibration of a successful docking passed through me, Mr. Mumaso walked towards me. I could feel myself stiffening up, dreading the idea of speaking to him.


    "Ms... Toba, I hope you can come to a swift decision. I will be waiting for good news."


    I turned around, feeling a surge of irritation within which was smothered the moment I gazed into those emerald eyes brimming with sincerity. All the expletives I had been about to spew out died within the my throat, with only an exasperated sigh leaking out.


    After giving a nod in acknowledgement, I alighted from the vessel into the port, where a cacophony of sound bombarded me as if a loud speaker was blaring right next to my ears.


    I mellowed down my heightened sense of hearing after a moment of regathering myself, then mingled within the crowd.


    I took steps, swarm through the crowd, with my mind occupied with thoughts about what I could do.


    Zeus!


    I had never understood how people could develop a dislike towards another, one which evoked distaste within the person. Yet now, I was feeling it.


    Just by showing an intention to have me, my life, coupled with that of my clan had been overturned. Was this how those people I had favored in the past had felt?


    Someone brushed up against me within the crowd, rubbing themselves against the thin film surrounding my body to protect me from spiritual energy pollution. It had been a weak Spirit Gathering girl.


    This crowd was a mixture of snakes and dragons, yet each were oddly tame. Of course they had to be. This was the Federation!This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Should I find a way to get in touch with the President?


    The question lingered within my mind even as photons wrestled with each other to get into my eyes from the many holographic advertisements floating above. If it hadn''t been because of regulations, then businesses might have been bombarding this crowd with spiritual messages.


    Shopping malls, restaurants, Healthcare facilities, array masters, Array artists... Basically every single profession and means of entertainment that could exist were here, nestled within the sprawling corridors of the space station, one of many.


    -----


    Upon closing the door to my tiny booked room, all sound vanished, just like back within Mr. Mumaso''s craft.


    I leaned against it while cradling my knees.


    I had thought it had been because of my star qualifications. The job. Yet, I had only been accepted because of the fact that I could be a chess piece that could be used against that man, Zeus.


    Atleast he told you before it could go any deeper, right?


    But that wasn''t enough justification!


    You were hurt because you had fallen deeply within those emerald eyes.


    I snorted at that stray thought. We had just met! How could I have been taken in that easily!


    Lies!


    With a groan, i picked myself off the floor before my restless thoughts could devour me and headed towards the bathroom, where I received a query from Mawar.


    As the water cascaded down my back, I wondered how I could answer her because I didn''t have anything to speak about now. Though, I still sent back emotions of being okay and also the intent that I was busy, calming her temporarily.


    Mumaso Reed was a man that had risen from being a mere orphan to a powerful cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage within just a mere 300+ years. Yet, what made him endearing to many was the fact that he was someone who didn''t put on airs.


    All this had been made known to me simply because of Mawar''s fangirling. She was a sucker for the man. And the idea of me turning to him for help had also been proposed by her.


    He is a good man.


    That... Was true. I didn''t want to admit it, but this situation wouldn''t have come about if he hadn''t been honest with me. I would have been blissfully unaware of everything.


    But I still couldn''t find it in me to forgive the man. Though...


    I brought my hand close to my face. I had slapped him. I had slapped a Nascent Soul cultivator. And lived to tell the tale! Though, there was no way I would tell anyone, even Mawar.


    My mind was in turmoil. Calming down was going to be far further than I had thought.


    How can I escape my mind?


    I wondered about that while perusing my recent memories, searching for something that might help only for something, a particular business advertisement, to catch my attention. Even with a cursory glance, I had managed to retain the layout of the entire route I had taken to reach this room.


    But... I have never been to such a place.


    That was true, but I had to unwind. And any normal, quiet place wouldn''t work. It would only magnify my thoughts.


    After a shower, I stepped back into the room and headed towards the accompanying wardrobe, where a variety of clothing designs was on display. They were nice, but I still searched for something racy. That was the the only piece that could allow me to step into that place.


    After getting myself all dolled up, I stood there, with a silvery mirror floating right in front of me. A pink blush, one of embarrassment at my current ensemble, lit up my otherwise pale cheeks.


    This was most definitely an attire Mawar should never see. No, not just Mawar!


    With a flex of my intent, my spiritual energy coalesced into a long coat that covered me entirely before I went out the door, upon which distant sounds of the crowded streets reached my ears.


    For a moment, I hesitated. This was going to be a new experience. And I was starting to question that decision.


    No! I have to go!


    I raised my chin and walked out onto the brown paved streets, where families, robots, workers and people from all walks of life could be seen going about their business.


    The glances sent my way unintentionally caused me to hold the long coat tighter around myself. I knew that they couldn''t really see what I was wearing underneath the coat unless they were a Nascent Soul, and even then, I was certain that I could detect their senses. But I still felt as if everyone could see the attire beneath the baggy coat.


    The road beside the streets was filled with all manner of levitating transport devices which were crammed with people each. Private transportation methods weren''t allowed here, apparently.


    I picked a direction, and joined the throng of people, making sure to head towards my destination, a place that might allow me to temporarily get rid of my complicated thoughts.


    Upon reaching the place, and making my way inside, sound from the blaring music assaulted my ears. For a moment, a sliver of a micro-second, I froze.


    And the reason that happened was because of the scene before my eyes. Bodies were stuck to each other in an amalgam of movements that brought heat to my face, with short skirts, hot pants, and tops that bordered on being mere bras, adorning the women. For the men, some lacked shirts, though, that was as obscene as they could go.


    I second guessed myself, even developing the intention to simply turn on my heel and high tail out of here. But, I was Lily Toba. A woman with nerves of steel!


    So, with a sharp intake of breath, I dived into the crowd, pushing my way through to reach the counter I could glimpse through the tiny openings within the forest of people.


    It was akin to a farm, one loaded with reared spirit beasts. Odors, impurities, and the tell-tale signs of spiritual energy discharge in heightened emotional states, were the prevalent things that continously assaulted my senses, making me feel so grossed out that I elected to apply my spiritual energy into a shield skirting the contour of my body.


    Then there were the hormones, the sexual juices in the air, coupled with people going at it while dancing, trying to come off as being discreet. I could feel my nipples firming up from just the atmosphere alone, but I ignored the arousal in favor of reaching my destination, which was just within reach.


    "OH! It''s surprising that a lady such as yourself has come to such a place."


    A smooth, silky voice entered my ears over the music blaring within the space. It was the bartender, a blonde haired crimson eyed man that gave off the aura of being in the Core Formation stage.


    "You work here. What''s the difference?" I spat back while taking a seat upon the tall stool.


    "Honey, we are different people. You are akin to a lamb that has just waltzed into the midst of a lion pride."


    "Heh! Will these people even dare!?" I flexed my aura.


    "I didn''t mean it in that way." He said before shrugging.


    "I need something that is strong enough to get me tipsy." I said after some time in deliberation.


    "Coming right up!" After a gaze that was borderline scrutinizing, the man turned towards his alcohol cabinet while I swiveled to gaze down into the crowd below.


    This... Memory was surely something that I will never be able to casually forget. The visual stimulation alone was too much.


    "Here!"


    A glass slid over, with me catching it without even turning my head. Then I brought it into my eyesight. It was a curious blend of purple with flickering dots of light, akin to stars. The surface of the liquid was blazing with a white flame that was over 150°.


    I brought it to my lips before chugging the entire concoction down my throat. I heard the click of a tongue but I didn''t care. I had some messy thoughts to banish... Even if only temporarily.