As the skill activated, that familiar pixelated teleportation wormhole unfolded before her eyes.
Firefly just thought it bore a strong resemblance to Silver Wolf's ability, but Silver Wolf's eyes had already gone wide, and she sat bolt upright in an instant.
"Wait, hold on—isn't this Aether Editing? How do you know how to use Aether Editing?!"
Faced with Silver Wolf's bewilderment, Sylvia blinked, thought for a moment, and replied hesitantly,
"Well… probably… I learned it from you?"
(ᗜ ˰ ᗜ)?
Silver Wolf's head was full of question marks.
What did she mean, learned it from her?
When had she ever taught that?
But it didn't take long for Silver Wolf to catch on.
"So this is your ability? After making a contract with me, you can gain some of my power?"
Sylvia nodded, then shook her head.
"More accurately, it's random—just something related to you. Like this ability of mine, it's only teleportation."
Hearing this, Silver Wolf actually grew interested. Tossing her controller aside, she scurried over to Sylvia and pressed eagerly,
"Then can you understand the principles behind Aether Editing?"
"Afraid not. I don't understand it at all."
"…"
Silver Wolf furrowed her brows in thought, turning over many possibilities in her mind.
But she soon let it go.
Aether Editing was complex—at its core, it was the ability to invade and manipulate the information of this world.
From what Sylvia described, what she'd acquired seemed more like a pre-packaged skill set.
No understanding needed. Just input specific values when desired, and it would automatically compute the result.
How boring.
Theoretically, it might be possible to unpack and comprehend the essence of Aether Editing while the teleport was active.
But whatever. Whether Sylvia could handle Aether Editing or not—what did it have to do with her?
Besides, she certainly didn't have the spare time to teach Sylvia.
Unless this woman came begging her herself—maybe then she'd consider it.
"Whatever. Go on, get going. Can't be bothered with you."
Silver Wolf waved a hand dismissively as she settled back into her seat, paying Sylvia no further mind.
Sylvia smiled without taking offense, said her goodbyes to the two of them, and headed back.
--+--
She hadn't been home lying down for long when Sylvia picked up her phone and opened Acheron's chat.
[Sylvia: Coming back tonight?]
Fortunately, Acheron was still somewhere with signal coverage, so a reply came quickly.
[Acheron: Yes. I'd like to take a shower.]
Reading the reply, Sylvia pursed her lips. This woman couldn't even bring herself to say it was because of her.
[Sylvia: Then call me 'Big Sister,' and I'll open a teleport for you.]
[Acheron: ?]
The question mark came back almost instantly, making Sylvia chuckle.
But before her amusement could linger, a voice message popped up:
[Acheron: [Voice message]]
Sylvia tapped to play. Acheron's voice, laced with static, sounded beside her ear:
"Big Sister Sylvia."
Calm and entirely without shame, that single utterance of 'Big Sister' sent a jolt through Sylvia.
It snapped her fully awake.
She hadn't expected Acheron to actually call her that.
For a moment, Sylvia wasn't sure what to feel, but her fingers honestly chose to favorite and save the message.
She felt psychologically balanced all at once.
Score one for me!
Thinking this, Sylvia spoke candidly:
"Help me, Big Sister Acheron."
And the next second, Acheron, covered in bloodstains, her hair still white, gripping her blade, appeared right before Sylvia.
A thick scent of blood instantly spread through the air, startling Sylvia badly.
She instinctively asked, "Are you alright?!"
Before the words had fully left her mouth, Sylvia suddenly remembered—why would she need to worry about an Emanator-level powerhouse?
So without waiting for Acheron to reply, she took Acheron's hand and began leading her toward the bathroom, immediately adding,
"What did you run into? How'd you get so dirty?"
Acheron watched Sylvia's small hand, now stained with blood after grabbing hers.
The white in her hair faded entirely, returning to deep blue.
The long blade, untouched by a single drop of blood, slid back into its scabbard with a sharp shing.
Acheron offered no resistance as Sylvia pulled her along, simply carrying her sheathed blade into the bathroom.
Watching Sylvia fluster about, undoing her clothes and wiping away the foul bloodstains with a clean towel, she spoke up:
"Swarm. I ran into a small group of the Swarm, so I fought them."
Sylvia paused and looked up.
"Really, you're okay? Were there many of them?"
Seeing Sylvia's worried expression, Acheron instinctively wanted to pinch her cheek, but remembering her own dirty hand, she lowered it again.
So Acheron shook her head and explained, "Not many, just a small cluster. The leader wasn't very strong either—I cut it down with one strike. Mostly it was just troublesome. And very dirty."
Hearing this, Sylvia took the chance to check Acheron's body, indeed finding no visible wounds.
Only then did she relax, before nudging Acheron into the shower stall.
"No wonder you were willing to call me 'Big Sister' just to come back and wash up. So that's why."
Sylvia chuckled through the frosted glass door while stuffing Acheron's clothes into the washing machine.
Thankfully, the bloodstains weren't fully dried yet, and the Luofu's detergent was plenty strong. She just wondered if Swarm blood was different.
If it didn't come out, she'd have to buy something tomorrow to clean it properly.
On the other side of the frosted door, Acheron tilted her head back, letting the warm spray and steam wash over her, carrying away the grime and filth.
Through the thin glass, just a slight glance was enough to see Sylvia bustling about.
Hearing Sylvia's teasing remark, the corner of her mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.
"It wasn't 'willing' or not. You liked it, so I said it for you."
Acheron believed that if Sylvia had seen her disheveled state earlier, she definitely wouldn't have insisted on being called 'Big Sister.'
Though this person always talked tough, in every way, she took good care of her—this amnesiac 'patient.'
It was Sylvia who had gradually made Acheron feel like a living person again lately.
Outside, Sylvia started the washing machine. Hearing Acheron's voice mingling with the sound of water, she smiled and picked up Acheron's phone.
The phone also bore smudged, bloody fingerprints—probably from when Acheron had taken it out.
Thinking this, Sylvia grabbed a clean towel and began cleaning the phone at the sink.
But as she worked, a question suddenly occurred to her.
When Acheron returned, her hair had been white, and her blade was drawn.
Which meant—when Acheron called her 'Big Sister,' she must have been in her fully manifested state?!
The image surfaced in her mind:
Acheron, having just slain the Swarm, radiating killing intent and covered in bloodstains.
Hearing the notification from her phone, gripping her blade in one hand, pulling out the phone with the other.
Then right there on the spot, still in her white-haired form, with those blood-red eyes,
pressing the voice input button and calling her 'Big Sister.'
"Sss—"
Realizing this, Sylvia couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
--+--
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.