As Jake awakens, he finds himself gazing up at the serene expanse of the clear blue sky. Sunlight dances through the leaves, casting twinkling patterns across his vision. The trees sway gently in the soft breeze, painting a tranquil picture against the azure backdrop. The cheerful chirping of birds adds vibrant splashes of color to this idyllic canvas.

    Overwhelmed by the beauty of the moment, Jake can''t resist the urge to close his eyes once more and fully immerse himself in the bliss of this beautiful day.

    Suddenly, a sensation jolts him from his reverie, prompting Jake to open his eyes with a sense of discomfort.

    As he peers downward, he discovers himself completely bare, a realization that sends a shiver down his spine. The once gentle breeze now takes on a chilling edge, sending a frosty sensation through his exposed skin, particularly his nether regions.

    Quickly getting up, Jake hastily pulls on his pants and demands, "Nexus, mind explaining what the heck I was being naked for?"@@@@

    "[Your clothes were destroyed after your metamorphosis, Grace tried to help you but your little bro was too excited and proved a hindrance, she got no choice but to leave you as it is]," Nexus says calmly.

    Jake narrows his eyes at the response, noticing the forced tone in Nexus''s voice. However, realizing he wouldn''t get a satisfactory answer, he decides to let it go.

    "By the way, where is she?" Jake asks, scanning his surroundings.

    "[Dunno, after waking up she glanced at your little brother and then blushing she ran off somewhere]," Nexus replies.

    "Myne," Jake hears Nexus say.

    "Just follow the golden bird and you will reach there," she adds, as a golden bird materializes mid-air and starts flying towards a particular direction.

    As Jake creates his own wings to follow after the Golden bird, he asks, "What was metamorphosis anyway?"

    "[I thought you forgot,]" Nexus teasingly says.

    "[Anyway, Usually going from Ranked awakened to Title awakened, an individual undergoes metamorphosis, meaning cleansing of Flesh, Soul, and Origin.]"

    "[It is a crucial step in the path of awakened.]"

    "[The longer one endures this process, the better their potential would be.]"

    "[Basically, it is a second chance of getting a better talent.]"

    "[However, it is not as easy as I said it to be.]"

    "[You can think of your most painful process and then multiply it by 100 times, and this amount of pain happens simultaneously at Flesh, Soul, and Origin or core.]"

    "[And the minimum requirement is 15 hours.]"

    "[By that time, no one remains capable of enduring any longer, and about 80% give up before 15 hours at their first try.]"

    "[Though they succeed at the next try, but at the next try they could no longer change their talent.]"

    Nexus explained it to him fully.

    With a final, solemn bow towards the towering stone, Grace concluded the ritual, her actions speaking volumes about her deep respect for those who had come before.

    Grace then took flight, leaving the town behind, and Jake wordlessly trailed after her, his thoughts swirling. As he observed her retreating figure, a nagging question persisted: "Don''t tell me this is her Priestess persona?"

    Unable to shake off his curiosity, Jake eventually spoke up. "Hey!"

    "What is it?" Grace responded, her tone still commanding and dignified.

    "Tsk tsk, what''s with this ''I am serious'' demeanor? There''s no one here to see you anyway," Jake teased, nonchalantly picking his nose.

    Her expression shifted, pausing in surprise before conceding, "You''re right."

    "I don''t have to maintain this image anymore," she admitted, her tone relaxing.

    "Honestly, it''s such a chore. Why the hell do we need to act all mighty and whatnot?" Grace continued, her frustration evident as she complained and fussed with her hair.

    Observing her antics, Jake couldn''t help but chuckle inwardly. "Yep, definitely no one can understand women," he thought, amused by the transformation from the once stoic and aloof sister to a spirited individual airing her grievances like a petulant child.

    *****

    Jake and Grace sat in the restaurant, savoring their meal in comfortable silence. Grace glanced around the bustling eatery before asking quietly, "So they are the remaining survivors?"

    Jake nodded solemnly. "All of them are Moon Elves, though."

    "Their racial ability is really impressive. They would have made excellent assassins in my time," Grace remarked, her gaze lingering on the elves.

    As they continued to dine, Jake paused, his expression becoming serious. "Ahem, I have something to tell you," he began, his voice tinged with apprehension.

    "What is it?" Grace asked casually, sampling a forkful of fruit salad.

    "Actually, your world was destroyed, and I found you in a dungeon," Jake admitted, his eyes fixed on the table below. "You were in a precarious situation, so my teacher healed you, and I brought you to this world for your recovery."

    Grace looked at Jake and sighed, a mixture of resignation and bitterness evident in her expression. "Raise your head. I already know about it," she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness.

    "When I was separated from you, I tried to sense the laws, but they weren''t responding. That''s when I realized the world is not the same as the one I used to live in; it''s different," she explained, toying with her fork as a sad smile touched her lips.

    "My last memories from my world involve fighting against an invader. He, with his undead army, invaded our world one day and proclaimed himself the God of this world," Grace recounted, her voice laced with resentment.

    "Our order fought against him, but he took a particular interest in me. When I refused his advances and spat in his face, it enraged him. He cursed me with an undead body and forced me to slaughter my own comrades," she confessed, her eyes reflecting the pain of those Memories.

    "Their cries as they begged, their tears as I slaughtered their families, are still evident in my memories," Grace confessed, her voice heavy with anguish, as she stared at her hands.

    "My hands, which once used to protect and guide people, were stained by the blood of the same innocents. I cried as I was trapped in that body, yet my body didn''t listen to me," she continued, tears streaming down her face, washing away the mask of indifference she carried, explaining the sorrowful expression of her

    Jake watched her with sympathy, his heart aching for her pain. He longed to console her, but words seemed inadequate in the face of such deep suffering. So instead, he reached out and gently took her hand in his, offering silent solidarity and understanding in their shared sorrow.