Chapter 387: Questionable References

Words : 1558 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

Chapter 387: Questionable References "What’s wrong, brother?" Ollie, in his grease-stained overalls, asked Luca, who had just returned with a look of utter confusion. "I’m not sure, brother. I...I came back from talking to the elders about spiritual cultivation techniques..." trailed the confused cultivator, who was still trying to process what he heard. He looked like someone who had read an instruction manual upside down. Twice. "I thought it would help to ask them directly," Luca added, rubbing the side of his neck. "But something strange happened." The dungeon owner hesitated. For a moment, he thought about asking others to try to talk to the elders about it, but after remembering how his core heated up when he suddenly couldn’t understand what was being said, he figured it wasn’t something he could recommend. But oddly enough, the first parts were easy to understand and were generally an expansion of what they knew about spiritual energy. However, when the elders started talking about spiritual bonds, their speech became garbled, and he couldn’t understand what they were saying. Although if he did, then he might find it surprising how even different planes would have equivalences. After all, while they’re sometimes given different names, they were still energy. Something that could not be created or destroyed, and was usually just converted from one form to another. And as someone who was a guide, some sort of esper, and now a cultivator, he’s got options upon options of how to better cultivate the abundant natural force around him. But as someone who was bound like he was, the fastest, safest way would probably be through guiding, or dual cultivation. They could meditate together. Yes, meditate. Or exchange and circulate energy exactly like they usually do when guiding. However, the elders couldn’t say it like that because, as people from a much higher realm, this recognition of equivalence would acknowledge how there were multiple governing rules based on the different realms. So they talked about being one together, bonding, and staying deeply connected to better cultivate their seas of consciousness. After all, emotional resonance would surely help. But maybe out of sheer luck or fate’s joke, Luca managed to encounter Ollie first, with whom he shared what he understood from the elders. "Brother, the elders said that because I’m bound, it was best to be one together." he blinked up at him, trying to ask how that would even be possible. But Ollie, in his surprise, had to take a sudden step back. "Wha—what did you say, brother? One together?" "Yeah, then they said to cultivate as one and to bond and stay deeply connected so that the sea of consciousness could be further developed." There was a pause. Then Ollie choked before shrieking, "WHAT?!" voice cracking as his hand smacked the wall. "I mean—I’m not sure how that works, brother," Luca continued, utterly sincere as the blonde before him had a meltdown. "But they sounded really sure about it." The frazzled mechanic didn’t know how to react. Wasn’t his good brother married to the suspected prince because of a few unfortunate circumstances? In fact, he had been so confused because he thought they were really together, but then he heard all that and had to re-evaluate his life plans until Kyle showed him that there was hope for his brother. But considering what he learned, maybe they weren’t doing what his mother called "The Battleships and the Docking Bays," or what she said could also be "The Meteor and the Soft Planetary Crust," though until now Ollie couldn’t see how that was the same. Then what to do now? What should he tell his brother when he didn’t really know much about actually doing that?! If anything, what he knew by heart were all the warnings about sleeping together unless they’re okay with risking a lifelong bond. Heck, when he saw it happen to a few of their family friends, he ended up so mortified of the possibility that he made sure to avoid touching or being too near cute girls just to be safe! Because what if he got the wrong person, and they end up accidentally bound for life? Which was sadly common for so many young adults because his parents said that they weren’t able to differentiate between love and like. Accidental spiritual bonding, they’d called it. But right now, this would only apply to people like him who still had a choice. On the other hand, his brother...he’s already in a lifelong bond and should probably be focusing on improving it. So, maybe the elders weren’t too far off? Still, Ollie thought it would be better if they could cultivate feelings before docking each other, right? The blonde thought hard, but as it was, Luca was starting to worry because of the ever-changing expressions on his brother’s face. "Is it that bad, brother?" he asked, wanting to know why Ollie was reacting like that. "No... I mean, not bad. But brother, I wanted to ask you about your feelings before anything else." "Huh? My feelings?" "Yes," nodded the blonde who was now leaning closer as if he was about to talk about the secrets of the Empire. "I was wondering about how you feel about him?" "Him?" "About him, your husband, brother," he whispered while looking around as if someone else was going to be in the lab. "What about my feelings for him, brother?" asked Luca, blinking innocently, truly trying to follow. Ollie rubbed his temples. This was harder than expected. "Okay, let’s start small," he said. "Do you hate Xavier?" "Hate him?" Luca’s brows scrunched because he didn’t really like the sound of that. "No, definitely not, brother! How could I possibly hate him?" "Alright, good start." Ollie nodded slowly, relieved. "So, do you...like him?" Luca lit up. "Yes! I like Xavier very much. He’s kind, he’s patient, and he always makes sure I eat properly." In fact, he even makes sure they always have money and that there is CP for expenses. And the little wife thought that D-29 was right when it said that the benefactor was a good husband according to the checklists. Ollie smiled. "Okay, okay. But... do you like him the same way you like everyone else?" Luca opened his mouth, he was ready to say "yes," but then— A pause. Then, he closed it again, his expression suddenly turning thoughtful. Very thoughtful. Because he does like everyone! And he especially adored Ollie, who was his best brother, his first friend, his first supporter. But...Xavier? That was different. He frowned, trying to put it into words. "I...I’m not sure," Luca admitted softly, eyebrows drawing together. He’s never been happier, and everyone around him makes him feel warm and seen. But with Xavier, it was that and, well...Luca’s brain was shorting a bit because there were just so many things whenever he thought about the prince. Ollie blinked, realizing that his brother was having a difficult time but at least was getting somewhere. Hopefully a good place. "Okay," Ollie said slowly, mind trying to come up with something. "It’s okay if you don’t like us the same way, brother. In fact, that’s normal," he added gently. "After all, he’s your husband." "Oh," Luca nodded, relieved. "Thank you, brother. I was worried I was doing something wrong." "You’re not." Ollie coughed into his fist. "But uh... what about love?" Luca’s head tilted, eyes clear as he repeated the word. "Love?" For some reason, the word rang in his ears like a bell. Something soft. Something electric. He didn’t know why, but it made the tips of his ears tingle. Honestly, it was not like he had never heard of the word love. If anything, he’s heard it so many times that he’s confused because he wasn’t sure what it meant. He knew like, hate, jealousy. Because at least those seemed consistent. But love? The headmistress said humans were loved so they were going to be saved. But he was an awakened so he wasn’t. Then the guides he encountered said they were in love, but because love apparently hurts, they would look for someone to hurt in return. Then was that a good thing? But Luca knew better now that maybe it was just because he didn’t know. And Xavier said to ask when he wasn’t sure. So he did. "Brother, what’s love? And how can we tell?" he asked seriously. Ollie wheezed. He looked at those big and eager eyes and panicked because he had never been in love and while he knew how to love his family and friends, his version of romantic love hadn’t been tested. But he didn’t want to lie, so he admitted honestly and said. "I-I am also unsure, brother. But I have read books and testimonials about it from so many people!" he stammered, careful as he offered advice. "There are books about love?" Wondered Luca, who didn’t remember seeing anything like it back at their library. "Yes, well..." he hesitated before convincing himself that they could just use the books as a reference. "There may be a few reference materials, brother..." "Would it help if I read them?" asked the guide who genuinely wanted to learn. Ollie swallowed hard. Maybe a few pages at a time? With supervision?

Chapter 387: Questionable References

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