Sylvia cracked her eyes open just a sliver, watching the woman lying so close to her.
Acheron remained still, with no sign of waking.
Perhaps it was Acheron's apparent 'indifference' that made Sylvia grow bolder. What began as a tentative, fleeting touch gradually deepened, and she even dared to reach out and gently pull Acheron into her embrace.
But Sylvia still worried she might wake her.
So she didn't let it last long.
After this small act of 'revenge,' Sylvia softly released her.
"Mmm…"
Perhaps sensing something on an instinctual level, Acheron's eyelashes fluttered faintly. Her lips, now tinged with a rosy sheen, parted slightly in a subtle movement.
Was it the relief of being freed, or perhaps she was savoring some sudden, delicious dream?
"...Are you awake?"
Sylvia breathed a little heavily, her gaze fixed intently on Acheron's face. But her soft whisper was met with only silence.
The only reply was the steady rhythm of Acheron's breathing and the warmth of her exhales.
"…"
Sylvia pouted, unsure what to make of it all.
She hadn't even done that much, so how could Acheron not wake up?
She'd already rehearsed her entire speech in her head. The moment Acheron opened her eyes and questioned her, she'd seize the initiative, take the moral high ground, and give her a piece of her mind.
But instead, Acheron was sleeping like a log…
It was that frustrating feeling of preparing for a big boss fight, only for the boss to be a no-show.
A jumble of thoughts swirled in her mind as Sylvia reached out and gently brushed aside the long strands of hair falling over Acheron's forehead.
It was so long, it nearly covered half her face. With a slight movement of Sylvia's fingers, the heavy bangs were carefully swept aside.
Acheron's exquisite features were now fully revealed before her.
"So beautiful…"
Watching the other woman sleep peacefully against the pillow, Sylvia couldn't help but murmur in admiration.
"Mmm…"
Perhaps tickled by the stray locks, Acheron's brow furrowed slightly. She nuzzled against the pillow a couple of times before settling again.
The movement caused the gently held hair to slip free and fall back into place.
Sylvia's lips pursed in dissatisfaction.
"So you don't want me to see you clearly, is that it? You still haven't told me your real name. Were you just never going to bring it up unless I asked?"
'Acheron' was, of course, just an alias. One she might have used for a long, long time.
But it could never be her true name.
"…"
Naturally, the deeply sleeping Acheron could only respond to Sylvia's minor grievance with silence.
Feeling a bit bored, Sylvia poked Acheron's cheek lightly.
How could this woman let her fuss and fiddle for so long without any interaction?
She'd only stolen a little kiss and hadn't even managed a few words. Already, she felt bored talking to herself without any response.
Even if she were allowed to do as she pleased, if Acheron gave no reaction at all, where was the fun in that?
"Whatever… time to sleep."
Finding it all rather pointless, Sylvia wrapped her arms around Acheron, pulling her close. She pressed her face against Acheron's forehead, burying her nose in her silken hair, and let the scent lull her to sleep.
--+--
Elsewhere on the Luofu.
Word spread from the Seat of Divine Foresight today.
It seemed the General and the Master Diviner were joining forces, aiming to launch a comprehensive investigation and overhaul of the Luofu's Six Commissions.
The reason? Some Cloud Knights, abusing their authority and showing prejudice, had managed to offend a friend of the Luofu.
The fallout was severe.
Rumor had it that to appease this friend's anger, General Jing Yuan paid a steep price, even humbling himself to atone for the actions of a few rotten apples.
Furious, the Master Diviner of the Divination Commission used the Matrix of Prescience to immediately identify and arrest all those involved.
They were punished with the maximum severity on the spot, and a decision was made to publicize the incident across the entire Luofu as a stern warning!
The entire Seat of Divine Foresight, and even the Cloud Knights themselves, were outraged.
They had witnessed their proud General, who had never bowed to the Abundance's abominations, forced to bend his spine because of his own people's absurd misconduct.
Such a scandal was utterly ridiculous.
The Cloud Knights were in an uproar when they heard the news.
The benevolent General believed this was the work of a few individuals, and that the Cloud Knights as a whole could not have fallen so low.
However, the high-ranking Cloud Knight officers, the Master Diviner, and the Sky-Faring Commission's Helm Master all stepped forward. The three commissions jointly petitioned the General to order a full investigation into all Six Commissions.
Unable to withstand the pressure from all three, the General reluctantly ordered a thorough investigation of the entire Luofu, to be led by the Master Diviner, with elite personnel drawn from all departments of the Six Commissions.
Furthermore, as the incident stemmed from the Luofu's treatment of the 'Incomplete Ones,' the General ordered the Realm-Keeping Commission to take the lead in establishing a special department dedicated solely to this issue.
Its mission: to eradicate the root of the problem and reform the Luofu's social climate.
The matter spread like wildfire within the Six Commissions, with various versions of the story circulating.
The Cloud Knights were fired up; no one wanted the identity they took such pride in to be tarnished.
Over at the Realm-Keeping Commission, however, there was widespread lamentation. This troublesome task meant the entire power structure of their commission was in for a major shake-up.
In just a single day, tension gripped all levels of the Luofu's Six Commissions.
The Alchemy Commission seemed unaffected, but Dan Shu naturally caught wind of the news.
Given her high status, Dan Shu was privy to more insider information.
While others didn't know the identity of the 'friend' who had been provoked, Dan Shu had been informed of the person's name and origins.
A friend invited back by the Sky-Faring Commission's Helm Master, a powerful individual in their own right, with the backing of an Emanator.
Moreover, the impetus to change the circumstances of the Incomplete Ones had actually come from the words of that very Sylvia.
When Dan Shu heard this, the first thing that came to mind was what Sylvia had said to her after disciplining those children.
"...So, you were serious. You truly want to make things better for us."
Dan Shu gazed into the distance, her sightless eyes unsure where to rest.
"What a pity."
The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had numerous informants planted within the Six Commissions. A real investigation was bound to cost them many assets.
Yet, Dan Shu found she couldn't bring herself to hate Sylvia.
After just one encounter, Sylvia had single-handedly stirred the General into action to improve the lives of the Incomplete Ones.
She'd even heard that Sylvia had refused any reward the General offered.
What could Dan Shu possibly criticize her for?
This path Sylvia was on was unorthodox. It didn't seek to 'cure' the Incomplete Ones, but instead aimed to make society treat them better.
Was such a path feasible? Dan Shu didn't know. It was something she had never considered or encountered before.
She wanted to see Sylvia again.
--+--
The Next Day—
Sunlight filled the bedroom.
Sylvia slowly opened her eyes to the morning light.
Only to find Acheron's gaze already meeting hers.
"Good morning, Sylvia."
"Mornin'…"
Sylvia rubbed her eyes and instinctively shifted closer to Acheron, avoiding the direct sunlight from the window.
"When did you wake up?"
"A while ago… I was waiting for you, since you wouldn't let go."
"Ah…"
Before Sylvia's sleep-addled brain could fully boot up, Acheron propped herself up on her arm, sitting up. Her long hair cascaded over Sylvia's face, blocking the morning sun.
She gently pinched Sylvia's cheek.
"Your face really is more pinchable than mine."
"...Wh—?!"
Sylvia shot up as if electrified, but Acheron had already turned away and was getting out of bed.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.