An unhealthy obsession with her soon-to-be disciple bloomed quietly yet violently within Tamasya's heart, taking root before she could even recognize it for what it was.
It was not something she wanted, nor something she understood, but it grew nonetheless, fed by centuries of isolation and the sudden, impossible presence of someone who had given her freedom without demanding submission in return.
The feeling was forbidden by every instinct she had forged over millennia, yet it was also too intense to simply discard or suppress.
Will, meanwhile, remained completely unaware of the storm forming within her. From his perspective, all he could see was a lonely poor woman who had been imprisoned for far too long, clinging to the first genuine connection she had experienced in ages.
To him, her behavior did not feel out of place, It felt human. He pitied her, in a quiet and restrained way, believing that her actions were merely the result of prolonged isolation rather than something romantic.
In his mind, she was like a koala clinging desperately to the nearest tree after being stranded for too long.
Several long minutes passed before Will managed to gently pry himself free from her embrace. It was not a quick or effortless separation.
Tamasya's grip, though not intentionally forceful, carried the weight of desperation and unfamiliar attachment.
Will had to carefully shift his stance and apply steady pressure to loosen her arms without pushing her away.
By the time they finally separated, Will was breathing heavily, as if he had just endured a prolonged physical workout rather than an emotional exchange.
As he stepped back, Will noticed a subtle but unmistakable change in her gaze. The sharp aloofness that had once defined her eyes was no longer there.
In its place was something unfocused and lingering, something that followed his movements a second longer than necessary.
He dismissed it as he told himself that she would be fine once she regained her composure and that emotional instability was expected after thousands of years of imprisonment. There was no reason, in his mind, to assume anything more.
Before she could speak or regain control of the situation herself, Will turned back toward her and spoke again.
"I hope Master can accept me as her disciple."
As he said those words, he bowed deeply, following tradition. The gesture was formal and sincere.
Meanwhile, Tamasya's expression shifted dramatically. Her face flushed a vivid shade of red, and the thoughts racing through her mind were anything but appropriate for the moment.
The sudden transition from strangers to master and disciple had collided violently with the unresolved emotions surging within her.
Whatever she was thinking, it was undeniably not right in any conventional sense, and she knew it.
"Yy…yes, I accept," she said with a few gasps.
Will straightened immediately after hearing her answer, relief was evident in the way his shoulders relaxed. A small smile appeared on his face.
"Disciple greets Master."
Tamasya turned away briefly, angling her body just enough to break eye contact. She forced herself to inhale slowly, steadying her breathing while suppressing the chaotic emotions threatening to surface again.
It took several seconds before she felt confident enough to face him without betraying herself.
"Master," Will continued after giving her that moment, "may I ask you for something?"
"Yes, say it," she replied, her voice returning to an aloof tone as she forcibly suppressed all lingering feelings.
"Will you give me a recommendation for the World Academy?" Will asked nervously, the uncertainty in his voice betraying him despite his efforts to remain calm.
He genuinely feared that she might reject the request or feel disappointed, believing that this had been his motive from the very beginning.
To his surprise, Tamasya smiled gently and nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, it is good since the academy will teach you all the basics. It actually saves me the effort of mentoring you in the boring stuff. Before I start training you, it is essential that you enroll in the World Academy."
The simplicity and practicality of her response caught Will off guard, but it also filled him with immense relief.
Will heaved a sigh of relief, now he could peacefully enroll in the academy and take the ranking test almost a year from now. This solved a significant portion of his immediate concerns and allowed his long-term plans to progress without obstruction.
"Let's go," suddenly Tamasya said.
"Huh? Where to?"
"You don't want to live in this place, do you? Now that you are my disciple, you will live with me until you attend the academy."
The statement surprised Will, and he paused to consider it. He had not expected her to propose something so immediately.
However, after a brief moment of reflection, he realized that there was no real reason to refuse. He did not have anyone waiting for him elsewhere, nor did he have a permanent residence that tied him down.
Staying with her would also provide him safety and guidance in his cultivation.
"Where are we going?" Will asked her.
"Our home!!" Tamasya replied with an unexpected cheer, only to realize how odd the tone sounded.
" ahem! I…I mean my previous house."
Will chuckled lightly.
"Well, since I am your disciple now, it is my home too," he said, trying to make her feel comfortable.
The words were spoken casually, without any deeper intention on his part. However, the effect they had on Tamasya was anything but light. Her heart tightened sharply at the phrase "my home too,"
Without warning, she stepped forward and reached out, taking his hand firmly. Her grip was steady, and her expression had regained its seriousness.
"Brace yourself."
Before Will could sense anything unusual or prepare himself, darkness surged toward both of them from all directions. It did not feel hostile, but it was overwhelming in scale, swallowing the chamber, the floor, and even the air itself.
In an instant, both of them vanished from the prison completely.
Will felt his vision distort violently. The oppressive atmosphere disappeared, replaced by open space. When his senses stabilized, he realized that he was floating high above a thick blanket of clouds that completely covered the realm of the Prison of the Fallen Gods.
Sunlight Immediately blessed him as if it was waiting for him to appear. His body immediately recovered all the fatigue and pent-up tension from days of struggle in the hell below.
Tamasya turned toward him and smiled.
Without warning, he felt a sudden jerk, and the realization hit him immediately that he had started flying along with his master. The sensation was disorienting at first, his stomach dropping as acceleration took hold.
A transparent bubble formed around him as their speed crossed a certain threshold. The air outside the barrier screamed as it tried to cut through, and the surroundings blurred due to the sheer velocity of their movement.
Several minutes passed before their speed gradually slowed. Will's senses finally caught up with his surroundings, and he looked ahead to see an enormous piece of land floating freely in the sky.
This time, he was genuinely surprised.
The novel had never mentioned anything like this in relation to Tamasya. Her character had been barely explored, reduced to a minor supporting role that appeared briefly before being discarded.
The only thing the novel had described was how she had assisted Ethan during a later arc when he challenged several gods.
Even then, her involvement was minimal, and she had been killed unceremoniously by a powerful and omniscient being shortly afterward.
"That author was a piece of shit," Will thought as he looked at her. "He completely wasted her potential."
Before he could dwell further on that realization, notifications appeared in front of him.
[ding!! a significant part of fate has been disrupted by the host]
[ding!! host has changed the destiny of individual 'Tamasya']
[ding!! the disruption is deemed too significant to ignore, talent effect: Lawless awakening is acting up..]
[ding!! Talent: Lord of slavery (legendary) is evolving....]