Chapter 49: Celestial radiance arts

[Olivia's POV].

I was considering the remarks made by Cecaelia and Arachnid regarding nightmares. Was it a curse, really? I'm not sure when Iggy will return. I let out a sigh as I gathered my thoughts and began to relish the wind blowing over my black furs. My tail, which has a lot of silver and black tones, was floating in the air like petals from a flower. My nose started to itch all of a sudden, so I quickly rubbed it with one of her tails without opening my eyes. Once more, I experienced the sense of something creeping up my nose and a strong, sharp stench.

My eyes sprung open as I winced and twitched my nose. I looked and noticed a butterfly perched on my nose, its wings waving in the air. I caught the butterfly with my tail and attempted, but was unable, to shake off all of its little legs. "Morpheus's veil?" I whispered as I peered through her spooky pattern-shimmering wings. The butterfly appeared to stick to my nose as I swiftly perched on my rear claws and attempted to catch it with my front claws.

It is a nightmare weaver butterfly that enters people's dreams and creates ominous, unsettling sights that materialize as nightmares. "Could this be the reason why I had a nightmare today?" As I tried to shrug it off, I thought. I feel like the Morpheus veil is staring directly into my eyes. I was unable to move or avert my eyes from the odd sight. My eyes appear to spin and shift in hue. It nearly appears as though the Morpheus veil is formless and just flows in different directions. I could feel the subtle, icy vibe that sent shivers down my spine. I'm not even sure I could understand her stare.

What is it doing here, though? I pondered. Iggy once told me about this nightmare weaver butterfly, which is said to frequently be hiding in eerie woodlands and dark nooks. It feeds on the weakened emotions it arouses and becomes more powerful with every nightmare. According to old legends, the Nightmare Weaver Butterfly was physically created to torment people's sleep after emerging from the nightmares of demons. When it appears, bad things are usually about to happen or evil forces are trying to make their enemies less strong will-driven and sane. Those who make it through Nightmare Weaver Butterfly encounters bear a lasting sense of dread and a deep-seated terror of the dark.

I checked my surroundings to make sure I was still close to the cave behind the enchanted illusion that Iggy had made for my safety, but this wasn't the gloomy corner or frightening woodland. Then it can only imply one thing: there is some evil energy there, and the only reason I was able to draw this butterfly was because of my dread and the weak feelings my nightmares had given me. Otherwise, how could it get inside of me, I wondered. Abruptly, the Morpheus curtain vanished without any action taken.

There is no Morpheus veil anywhere, so I scowled and dashed behind it, my claws beating and making prints on the muddy ground as I made my way out of the illusionary barrier. I let out a deep breath and turned to walk back when I noticed a mothcat staring at me. I put on my arm cuff once more and resumed my love for the mothcat. I attempted to pat her head as I sat down next to her, but she appeared afraid for the first time.

She tipped her head slightly in an attempt to free herself from my grasp, but all I managed to do was frighten her even more as I pulled out a tiny paper bag containing chocolate bars and extended it towards her. After giving me a wary look, the mothcat let me carefully open the paper bag. The mothcat grabbed one of the candy bars, crumpled the wrapper between her teeth, and then gulped it down, licking the wrapper clean. As the chocolate melted her white fur, I couldn't help but smile at her. Her hair is silky and luxurious, shimmering in the sunlight, and each strand appears to contain a tiny hint of silver.

Her moth eyes are pools of dazzling azure that contrast sharply with the white fur, resembling sapphires set in the snow. Her eyes also appear longer than usual due to the merging of her antennas with her cat ears. Her long, white tail was concealed by the variously patterned moth wings. However, her weight prevented them from ever being able to soar. I cuddled her in my arms and touched her fur with my nose. Her scent was a cross between the delicate sweetness of honeysuckle blossoms and the fresh petals of jasmine. This fragrance carries a sense of peace and tranquillity that makes me think of moonlit gardens and peaceful, starry nights. It leaves a calm aftertaste that remains softly in my nostrils.

With her tail swishing lazily and her ears flat against her body, the mothcat purred. "You're the cutest cat." I mumbled something to her. Sniffling, she moved closer to my arms. With gentle fur strokes, the mothcat leaned in closer. I gave her a kind grin and caressed her cheek against her fur. She shut her eyes and relished the instant. A meow, very quiet, made me grin. The mothcat suddenly began rushing behind Morpheus as soon as it saw her veil. When I called her out, she ran behind me and appeared to be having fun. Morpheus' curtain eventually lifts after a few minutes, and I let out a loud sigh of relief.

I heard the sound of a blade against the woods just as I was ready to run towards her and pick her up again in my arms. I stopped and paid close attention to the sound, attempting to locate its source. As it got closer, the sounds of footsteps and swords clashing became more audible. And when the footsteps resounded across the deserted woodland, they seemed familiar.

I quickly turned to face the outside world in search of any threats, and I noticed a man dressed in ivory, lightweight, breathable tunics. It is decorated with beautiful needlework or motifs that signify sunbursts and geometric patterns that symbolize the light and dark cycles. He can move around easily on thorns and shrubs because he has a tattoo of the sun on the back of his neck and wears bracelets with the image of the sun on one wrist.

"Which tribe does he belong?" As I looked from head to toe, honing his martial arts techniques, I thought. The man's face was as smooth as marble, and in the sunlight, his facial muscles and bones were visible. His hair was disheveled yet tastefully styled, and his jaw was strong and full. He had a broad belt for his sword across his shoulders and a black leather belt around his waist. He was skilled with a sword; I assumed that he received training at the warrior school.

He abruptly halted, and I hastily cowered behind the tree truck out of fear of being discovered. The mothcat leaped onto the tree and waved her tail merrily. After a while, I peered around the tree and noticed him standing with his feet shoulder-width apart and his palms pointing in the direction of his chest, seemingly absorbing ambient energy. He quickly assumed the shadowstep posture, shifting his weight to the back foot and extending his hands in a defensive manner so he could move between shadows.

Step forward with your front foot and, in a gesture that represents tying your opponent's soul, sweep one hand in a low arc and reach upward with the other. Drop into a low crouch, hands clenching into claws, cursed energy seeping through every move as you prepare to attack. Exuberantly stand up, your arms outstretched as though you're embracing the energy that has been collected from the environment to release in a flash. Finally, he struck a final blow to seal the soul. He stood erect, crossed his arms over his chest, and formed an inverted triangle with his hands over his heart.

Starlight Sweep, Celestial Alignment, Cosmic Surge, Harmony Blossom Strike, and Luminous Lotus Seal are some examples of strides. I cocked my head, contemplating what appeared to be celestial brilliance warfare. Is he engaging in war with celestial radiance? Right here? However, how? It's the divine martial arts that celestial beings with higher levels of Zenith Sovereignty cultivation practice. How can he when not even I have attained that level yet? I sighed and gave him a close inspection. Where is he from if he isn't even from heaven?

He moved with all five elements with grace and expertise, able to generate an earthquake, hurricane, or whirlwind with a single movement. He flows with the fluidity of water running through its path. He doesn't seem to step on any soil or plants because his feet move so smoothly. He moved with such grace and elegance. As I observed him intently, I saw that he turned to face me and his posture and stance stiffened, as if he sensed that I was observing him. With haste, I retreated behind the tree.

I heard his footsteps getting closer to that tree, and my heart started to speed. I also felt a chill go down my spine.I couldn't let him catch me, and I wasn't sure why I was so anxious. Just behind the tree, his footsteps abruptly stopped, and I held my breath in fear. A brief period of silence occurs. I was waiting for him to move, for him to do anything, and I could feel my heart thumping against my throat.