The next three nights passed by like a blur.
Selene's condition fully stabilised, and she was healthy enough to wander the complex with Dawn and Sun. They spent those nights catching up with the other refugees; most of whom were shaken, some were still mourning their loved ones.
There is no doubt that their experience left heavy mental scars; neither Dawn, Sun, nor Selene was exempt from this either.
Dawn was still coming to terms with her Father's demise and those beings who had slaughtered him. She wasn't a person driven solely by revenge; her hatred and sorrow were strong, but that did not impair her reason.
Sun was awfully quiet. He was righteous and valued people dearly. The people he lost would naturally spark intense emotions, but his response seemed stifled.
Selene didn't seem so emotional, which was unusual, even for her. Although she wouldn't have as much sentiment towards either the Star Gazing Settlement or its people, she wouldn't be so unfazed towards their situation.
But they had little time to address these problems; the time for Immortal Union's visit was coming around, the refugees prepared themselves.
The inner courtyard was spacious enough to hold what few people they had. Immortal Union gathered all of them under the starlight.
His tone was solemn and carried a hint of his old age.
"It is a relief to know that everyone has recovered. I offer my sincerest condolences for your losses. The following nights have not been easy on you all, but you have all survived such a harrowing experience."
"I understand that what happened can not be forgotten so easily. I, Immortal Union, am currently working with a Settlement Lord of the Great Riverbank Settlement, Immortal Adamant, to salvage as much of the situation as possible."
"In the meantime, I wish to offer you all hospitality and the chance to assimilate back into your normal lifestyles."
Immortal Union offered hospitality and occupations in various fields, trying to settle everyone into a modest lifestyle. People tearfully thanked him and praised him for his magnanimity.
He paused to let the atmosphere settle, coughing as he began to reflect on the situation,
"I can not hide this from you. Unfortunately, Settlement Lord Immortal Defiance had fallen in battle; he fought valiantly till the end and gave us enough time to intervene."
"The perpetrators behind Star Gazing Settlement's destruction were powerful and demonic. Unfortunately, Immortal Adamant and I could not aid Immortal Defiance in time, we only managed to arrive after his sacrifice."
"While I retrieved and evacuated you all, Immortal Adamant battled with the perpetrators for the following six nights, and chased after them for the next dozen hours, but they managed to escape her in the end."
The silence was heavy among the refugees, Dawn was especially shaken.
Immortal Union continued to talk with the refugees, declaring that they would continue to pursue the perpetrators and enact justice. Additionally, he provided a funding scheme to further aid the refugees to get back on their feet.
After half an hour, Immortal Union sent away the crowd. Only Dawn, Sun, and Selene remained in the silence.
Dawn was the first to speak up, bowing as she questioned.
"Lord Immortal Union, what really attacked our Settlement? With such sinister but natural abilities, could it have been a Spirit or a Demonic Immortal?
With a sigh, Immortal Union shook his head as he replied,
"No, it was not a spirit, few are the kind that can stand against an Immortal's strength. It wasn't a Demonic Immortal either."
"Then what?"
"We refer to them as Demons, beings with purely malicious intent. They do have similarities to spirits, but are completely different existences."
Dawn was surprised, and so were Sun and Selene.
"Demons? I've heard suchlike as part of a title, like the 'Demonic Immortal Maniac' or the 'Flaming Demon Child'. But if they are a unique existence, are these a new type of threat?"
"No, their appearances are few, and the information surrounding them is minimal, but they have been around for thousands of years."
"They have the battle strength of an Immortal, and most of their appearances follow with destruction and mass slaughtering."
Immortal Union revealed a whole new world to Dawn, Sun, and Selene.
It was common knowledge that Immortals stood at the top of the world--under Night's sky. Immortals were the strongest beings among the lands, seas, and skies; spirits and beasts could, at most, rival an Immortal's strength.
These Demons, however, wielded power on par with an Immortal's, likely even surpassing the average Immortal's battle strength.
Their powers were conjured similarly to how spirits conjure their own abilities, except more sinister and disorientating.
"If they are that powerful, how many of them are there? I only saw two fighting my father, but if there were more..."
Dawn asked, as her voice shook, it was a terrifying idea to think about. Immortal Union, however, looked unfazed. He consoled as he revealed,
"No, they aren't very high in number, or rather, they don't frequently appear. I do not know how they come about, if they manifest like spirits or are born like beasts, but they don't seem to be a flourishing species."
"On another note, that also means that their appearances can't be prevented like spirits and beasts, especially with what little information we have on them."
"The only concern is that their appearances aren't secluded to any specific environments, they can appear anywhere with little warning."
Immortal Union shook his head as he addressed a new topic.
"These matters are not for the youth to concern themselves with. What matters now are your 'next steps'."
"The three of you are more prominent cultivators among your surviving people, which means your horizons are broader than the rest."
"I wish to offer you the opportunity to develop further."
Sun and Selene were silent.
Dawn wanted to continue questioning about these Demons, but paused as she considered her next words.
What could she do now? She decided to focus on the present, pushing those Demons to the 'future' she will eventually confront.
Reflecting on her life, as the daughter of an Immortal, as the heir of Star Gazing Settlement, as just another victim of this world's cruelty.
She cupped her hands and bowed, declaring with deep emotion.
"I understand... I would be most grateful for your guidance, Immortal Union."
"But I will not forget about those Demons. If I should not worry about them now, then I will concern myself with them later."
"For now, I wish to cultivate. For my father, I will cultivate my 'Way'. For myself, I will become stronger!"
Her voice did not waver, she was wholeheartedly devoted to progressing.
Dawn's declaration inspired Sun to speak up next.
His chest tightened as he reflected on everything prior, grief towards those he lost, pity towards himself for being so helpless, and enmity towards those cruel Demons.
Tears began to build in his eyes as he cupped his hands and bowed.
"I wish to follow your lead. I would be most grateful for your guidance, Immortal Union."
"But I will never forget those Demons... I will cultivate until I can kill them! Even if I can not kill them, I will oppose them with my life."
"For the people I lost, and for those who continue to suffer; I will walk the road to become stronger, I will cultivate my 'Way'!"
His voice did not crack even as tears slid down his cheeks.
Selene was the last to speak up; she calmly spoke after Sun.
"I, too, wish to follow your lead. I would be most grateful for your guidance, Immortal Union."
"I wish to pursue strength, so that I may stand strong on my own."
"For myself, I will cultivate my 'Way'."
Although her voice was calm, there was great meaning behind her words.
Immortal Union received their devotion with a satisfied smile.
"You all see the world beyond the horizon, you are definitely going to succeed in your cultivation journeys, and I will be sure not to disappoint you with my support."
"Of course, I can only offer you resources and information, your cultivation and the development of your 'Way' is completely in your hands."
"That is all I have to say at this moment. I will take my leave and evaluate your development the next night."
Immortal Union informed the three where he could be found. After wishing them some peace and respite, he bid them farewell.
They remained in the now-empty courtyard. Selene sighed and beckoned them to follow along.
"It is getting late, we should return to our rooms."
"I'm surprised, Selene, that you are actually progressing with your cultivation."
Dawn asked as they moved inside. The hallways were equally as quiet and empty as the courtyard.
"I have no other choice... Even though I don't have much experience in cultivation, even though I might not be able to match you two in your cultivation, I at least want to stand by myself."
"How could I allow myself to be totally helpless?"
It was truly a simple reason, while her resolve might not be as profound as Dawn's or Sun's, it was just as unwavering.
They understood Selene's motivation. The journey to accomplish such desires would not be easy.
The Demons, the fall of Star Gazing Settlement, and the scars of loss and hardship; it all founded an adamant will within their hearts.
Dawn, Sun, and Selene would take the next few steps and look upon a new horizon.
After a moment of reminiscence, they would enter their assigned room and ready themselves to embrace a new night.
...