SDIWD - Chapter 67
Chapter 67
It was more accurate to call the necklace a symbolic object of suggestion than an inhibitor.
Bai Zhen wasn't one for gossip, but being in the Tower and having close ties to the seat of power, she knew more about the abilities of the Leader and the Queen than most.
The strength of a Sentinel's or Guide's abilities was primarily manifested in two areas: raw power and special skills. While the Tower officially only assessed academic performance and didn't grade abilities, a set of conventionally accepted evaluation methods circulated in private.
It was common knowledge that a Sentinel's abilities enhanced their five senses, while a Guide's involved mental interference and protection. However, depending on their spirit animal and personal experiences, many individuals also developed other unique abilities.
For instance, if one of a Sentinel's five senses was particularly acute, it could very well develop into a wide-area skill. This type of skill differed from simple sensory acuity; its range and accuracy could rival that of a multi-functional radar.
A Guide's special abilities, on the other hand, were mostly mental in nature, with illusion-based attacks targeting the five senses being relatively common.
Typically, Sentinels and Guides with special abilities received special attention from the Tower.
Of course, special skills weren't everything. The amplification provided by one's spirit animal carried more weight in the evaluation process. Possessing a special ability was somewhat meaningless if its amplification was too weak to affect anyone but ordinary people.
Bai Zhen's graduation at the top of her class was inextricably linked to these two factors.
The final graduation assessment was jointly overseen by the Queen and the Leader. Only three candidates passed every test, and Bai Zhen was the one who completed them in the shortest time.
She had formed some suspicions about the Queen's abilities during that assessment, and now she could finally confirm them.
Her Majesty the Queen must possess an incredibly powerful ability of psychological suggestion. This type of ability was typically less than half as effective against other Guides. If even the Young Lady could be hypnotized, then virtually no Sentinel could escape it—with the probable exception of a Dark Sentinel.
"Are you saying there was never any inhibitor? That it was all in my head?"
Hua Mu had never been very interested in this subject and had only a superficial understanding of it. Now, hearing Bai Zhen's explanation, she found it all sounded incredibly metaphysical.
"Based on my current assessment, yes. The necklace is merely a symbol for the suggestion, a lock on your abilities. Once you open it and begin using your powers, the suggestion will gradually weaken until it fails completely."
"So that means you can smell my Guide-hormone now?" Hua Mu had no way to verify this and couldn't make a judgment based solely on Bai Zhen's speculation. Rather than dwell on that, she felt there was a more pressing issue—didn't this mean Bai Zhen could go into binding heat at any moment?
Bai Zhen blushed slightly, her gaze dropping as she nodded.
God, that was too—too dangerous!
"Then… are you okay smelling it now?"
"For the time being, it should be fine… But I don't know how long I can last. This situation… I have no experience with it."
It would be worse if you did have experience, wouldn't it?
Hua Mu was rendered speechless by the Sentinel's bashful demeanor.
If this big oaf had any experience, Hua Mu would strangle her.
"Well, since things are… like this, can I let Luna out in front of you? You still have to teach me, after all."
Bai Zhen readily agreed.
Sentinel and Guide abilities were rarely passive, so it was highly likely the Young Lady's skill was controllable. It was just that her power had run rampant when she first awakened, and it had been sealed away immediately, leaving her in her current state.
Now that the inhibitor was no longer effective, if the Young Lady didn't learn to control her ability, it could lead to disastrous consequences when they were finally rescued.
"When would you like to begin?"
"How about now?"
Hua Mu couldn't expect any initiative from Bai Zhen now. After everything that had happened between them, the Sentinel still looked dazed and utterly clueless.
Had it been anyone else, they would have seized the opportunity to press their advantage, making the situation irreversible and then some, until there was nothing left to take.
But Bai Zhen? This bowl of perfectly cooked rice had been served right to her lips, yet she still needed her head pushed down to take a single bite.
Having to push her head down for every single bite was exhausting. And it made Hua Mu seem so forward, so wanton, so shameless!
But if she could master her abilities… hehehe!
The Young Lady's mind was running wild, though her face remained prim and proper.
She had already taken matters into her own hands. Now, there was nothing she wouldn't do!
Hua Mu's proactiveness, however, led Bai Zhen to completely misinterpret her intentions.
In Bai Zhen's eyes, Hua Mu had already forced herself to accommodate her. This new eagerness meant she must regret it and wanted to master her abilities as quickly as possible to avoid any further relations with her.
A wave of gloom washed over Bai Zhen at the thought.
But it was only natural. The Young Lady had already made such a great sacrifice for her; how could she dare to entertain any other desires?
"Yes…"
Full of drive, Hua Mu didn't immediately notice Bai Zhen's mood. She reached up, removed the necklace, and with a mere thought, a black unicorn materialized before them.
"Yee?" Luna tilted her head, seemingly confused, but the moment she saw Bai Zhen, she eagerly trotted over to nuzzle against her.
Hua Mu had felt exhausted after practicing for over an hour earlier. She hadn't expected that after her entanglement with Bai Zhen, she would now feel so invigorated—aside from a few aches and pains.
Bai Zhen had seen many spirit animals, but few were as innocent, joyful, and lively as Luna. A spirit animal's personality usually shared some similarities with its master's, and after years of training in the Tower, most became docile, obedient, and strictly followed commands.
Her ice wolf was a prime example. No matter how badly it wanted to emerge, it would never leave her mental landscape unless she gave the command.
"M-Miss…"
With no command from her master, Luna pounced on Bai Zhen, licking her cheeks incessantly with a small, wet tongue.
Caught off guard by the licking, Bai Zhen didn't dare push the unicorn away. She could only hold its hooves, turn her face aside, and look to Hua Mu for help.
Hua Mu threw up her hands, signaling that she was helpless. She had thought about calling Luna off, but Bai Zhen's reaction was so cute that she changed her mind.
Indulged by her master, the unicorn practically pressed her entire body against the Sentinel, cooing as she licked Bai Zhen's face from every angle. She would lick a few times and then pause, as if in anticipation.
Bai Zhen suddenly realized what Luna was doing—she wanted Hati to come out. For the first time, Bai Zhen felt her own spirit animal become so agitated.
"Miss, this…"
Hua Mu had known all along what Luna wanted. What other grand, beastly ambitions could this silly, disloyal unicorn have besides getting some licks in with the big wolf?
"Why don't you just let Hati out?"
"But if spirit animals become too intimate…"
While soldiers often had their spirit animals cooperate for tactical purposes, this was completely different. There was clearly an unnatural attraction between Luna and Hati. If allowed to continue, they might spontaneously form a mental bond.
This phenomenon was known as "subconscious attraction" and typically occurred between naive adolescent Sentinels and Guides who were mutually fond of each other.
Most Sentinels and Guides awakened between childhood and adolescence and entered the Tower at a young age. The isolated training they underwent there made them quite emotionally immature in some respects. It wasn't uncommon for some to be unaware of their mutual affection for a peer, and because they were too young to fully control their spirit animals, excessive intimacy could lead to a spontaneous bond between them.
When this occurred, the Tower would typically separate the pair until the mental bond faded, then consult both parties before deciding on the next course of action. One of Bai Zhen's colleagues was in such a relationship; they had eventually chosen to get together after reaching a suitable age.
But not all instances of "subconscious attraction" ended well, nor were they all caused by mutual affection. Research indicated that spirit animal abilities, drug induction, and even the suspension bridge effect could trigger the phenomenon.
Bai Zhen was afraid that Hua Mu and Luna were too naive, and that she wouldn't be able to control Hati, leading to an awkward incident.
For some reason, Hua Mu loved seeing the formidable Sentinel flustered and unable to cope. Whether it was her doing or Luna's, it gave her a great sense of accomplishment.
"What's the harm? You have no idea how close those two little… big guys are. Let Hati out. I'd like to see him."
She really hadn't seen the big white wolf in a long time, and she still hadn't properly thanked him.
Bai Zhen tried to explain, but Luna had already pinned her down completely, eagerly and fervently calling for the white wolf. Bai Zhen could feel Hati's agitation, a sensation not unlike what she'd felt during her binding heat.
Finally, with a sense of resignation, she released her spirit animal.
Unlike the unicorn, who stood just over 1.6 meters tall, the ice wolf's nearly three-meter frame materialized outside the shelter like a small hill appearing from thin air.
"Yee-woooo!" Luna immediately abandoned Bai Zhen and dove headfirst into the ice wolf's thick, white fur.
The two spirit animals, separated for many days, were finally reunited.
Hua Mu was so moved she nearly cried. What a touching display of true love!
Bai Zhen finally managed to sit up, looking rather disheveled. Though she had released Hati, she didn't indulge him, ordering him to lie down just as he was about to start licking the unicorn with abandon.
She knew what Hati wanted to do. No spirit animal would pass up an opportunity with Luna. Mutual grooming was an intimate act among animals, and the same held true for spirit animals.
The white wolf was clearly trying to "assimilate" the unicorn, to mark her with his scent. Considering Luna's actual age, this was tantamount to kidnapping in human terms!
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