Chapter 78: Plans to help her!

Silence lingered after Jax’s words, stretching long enough that even the soft trickle of water around the platform seemed hesitant to break it.

Ashanti stood perfectly still, remaining in that very apprehensive yet controlled mindset. Her wings remained folded, feathers barely stirring, but the mana around her shifted in subtle, unconscious ripples, reacting to the change in her posture.

The sanctuary’s stabilizing wards responded immediately, faint lines of light surfacing in the air like ripples in glass before settling again.

Xara watched it all with sharp eyes, exhaling softly before finally speaking, "So," she said, tone carefully neutral, "you’ve made your decision."

Jax nodded once, "I have."

He turned toward her fully now, golden eyes steady and assured, "I’ll take responsibility for her."

Xara’s shoulders loosened,just a fraction—, but the relief was unmistakable. "Temporarily?" she asked, already knowing the answer wouldn’t be simple.

"For now," Jax said. "I’m not pulling her out of your care permanently. Not yet."

Ashanti’s head tilted slightly.

"I’m taking her out of the city," Jax continued. "For a few days, without all these artificial dampeners sapping her power and talent,"

Xara’s wings twitched. "You plan to test her. Forgive my insolence but that could be dangerous don’t you think?"

"Don’t worry, I won’t let her rampage," He said, briefly glancing around the sanctuary, "This place keeps her stable by forcing her into stillness. That’s not guidance, it’s suspension."

Xara didn’t argue. She knew better than most when a system had reached its limit.

"And after?" she asked.

Jax smiled faintly, "After, I’ll return her. Then I’ll formally introduce myself to the rest of your people. Didn’t you say I need to solve Ashanti’s problem to get all of their good will, well I’ll return once I’ve helped her,

That earned a genuine smile from Xara at last, unmistakably relieved. "You have no idea what that will mean to them," she said quietly, "Everyone loves her and wishes her well,"

She turned her gaze to Ashanti, "You’re to go with him."

Ashanti’s lips parted slightly, then closed again as she gathered herself. "...Yes, Lady Xara."

Jax shifted his attention back to Ashanti, "Before we leave," he said, "you’re going to ask me something."

Her brow furrowed faintly beneath the silvery cloth, "...I am?"

"Yes," he said calmly. "Go ahead."

There was a brief pause.

"...Where are you taking me?" Ashanti asked.

A smile curved Jax’s lips, not sharp, not teasing, but warm with intent.

"Somewhere where we can have some fun of course," Jax said.

Ashanti blinked, clearly not expecting that answer.

"I want to see how your power reacts when it’s not being constantly told to sit down and behave," he continued, "Open terrain and fluctuating mana density."

Ashanti swallowed. "...That sounds dangerous."

"It will be," Jax agreed easily, "That’s the point."

Xara shot him a sideways look. "You do realize she hasn’t left this sanctuary in over a decade,"

"I know," Jax said. "That’s why we’ll keep it short."

He turned back to Ashanti. "We’ll test your senses and your control. Not by forcing output, but by letting your power

move

."

There was a pause, "And," he added, "we’ll have some fun."

Ashanti stiffened.

"...Fun?" she repeated, uncertain.

Jax chuckled softly, "You’ve been treated like a catastrophe waiting to happen for far too long. Power like yours need experience."

Her fingers tightened at her sides. "I don’t... remember what that’s like."

"Then we’ll remind you," he said gently.

He took a step back, giving her space. "Go get ready, change into a more comfortable outfit,"

Ashanti hesitated, "When do we leave?"

Jax glanced toward the distant skyline, where the city’s artificial light was beginning its slow transition toward evening hues. "At sundown."

Her wings fluttered faintly, an involuntary reaction.

"...Very well," she said quietly.

She bowed once to Xara, then turned with careful steps, following a familiar path out of the sanctuary. As she passed through the threshold, the wards adjusted automatically, sealing behind her with a soft hum.

For a moment, only Jax and Xara remained.

Xara watched the exit long after Ashanti was gone. "She’s terrified," she said softly.

"She should be," Jax replied. "That means she still cares about the outcome."

Xara turned to him, studying his expression. "If this goes wrong, "

"I’ll handle it," he said without hesitation.

Her gaze sharpened, "That wasn’t a concern for

you

."

Jax met her eyes evenly. "I know."

There was another pause, then Xara let out a slow breath. "You really are dangerous," she said.

As the sanctuary lights dimmed in preparation for sundown, Xara straightened, "I’ll inform the council that Ashanti is under your temporary authority."

"Good," Jax said, and Xara left the sanctuary.

Jax remained, walking around the space and admiring its beauty, still sensing the lingering remains of Ashanti’s power all over.

The light beyond the sanctuary’s translucent barriers deepened into twilight hues, amber, violet, faint silver.

Then, Jax felt a familiar sensation wrapping around his consciousness like cold silk.

"...Hah," Jax exhaled softly. "Of course."

The sanctuary vanished.

There was no transition in the conventional sense. One moment he stood amid obsidian and water and wards, the next, he stood beneath an endless sky of gold.

Light stretched infinitely in every direction, not blinding but overwhelming in its purity. Vast scripture-like symbols drifted through the air, forming and dissolving as if reality itself were thinking aloud.

The ground beneath his feet was smooth, radiant stone that reflected no image, only intent.

The Divine Realm.

Jax rolled his shoulders once, completely unbothered. "You could at least send a warning next time."

A laugh answered him. "Oh, where would the fun be in that?" came Lilith’s voice, rich with satisfaction.

She appeared first, reclining lazily upon a throne of living crimson light, one leg crossed over the other, curved horns gleaming as her scarlet eyes drank him in openly. Her smile was slow and possessive.

"I think it looks much cooler seeing your reaction, don’t you two think the same," Lilith said, looking to Skadi who manifested with a heavy thud and Sona who emerged through the moonlight, seated gracefully upon a floating sigil of arcane geometry.

"We do," Skadi responded.

Jax exhaled through his nose, "You didn’t pull me here just to compliment me."

Sona nodded, "Straight to the point. Good. We have a lot to discuss, so take a seat,"

As she said that, she snapped her fingers, and a throne appeared for Jax, where he promptly took a seat.