Chapter 252

Chapter 252

Five hallways and two flights of stairs away from Sarnais room, I finally feel far enough to let the mask slip, my forced smile melting away into a more natural frown. Its tough pretending to be optimistic and cheery, especially after a long days travel followed by an entire night spent making soup, but my Mentor needed love and support, so that's what I gave him. Alsantset and Akanai are too... practical. While they both love Baatar, their concept of moral support starts and ends with a swift kick in the ass. Its not that theyre unaffected or unsympathetic, far from it. Alsantset clung to Charok the entire time and went misty-eyed more than once, while Akanai implied no less than a half-dozen times I should visit Baatar as soon as possible. The problem is, neither one of them knows how to help my grieving Mentor, their sensible, matter-of-fact approach only driving him away.

Both of them kept saying he needs to let Sarnai go and move on, but I disagree. They keep trying to muscle him out of his depression, but anyone who knows Baatar will tell you hes a stubborn and, dare I say, dogged man. With the love of his life still drawing breath, theres no way hell ever give up and neither will I. Though my jolly demeanour was faked, I meant what I said: So long as there is life, there is hope.

Even if Sarnais situation were more dire, Baatar isnt ready to give up and neither am I. Coma aside, she's actually in pretty good health. Her heartbeat is steady and circulation is good, plus shes capable of drinking and breathing on her own. Bedsores and infections are manageable with a little light healing and her muscles have a long way to go before atrophy kicks in.

I cant imagine what Id do in Baatars shoes, though I know giving up would be the last thing on my mind. Hes handling it better than Id expected, sitting with her and tending to her needs instead of raging around and destroying furniture. Not that I've ever seen him lose control, but this is his wife. Hell, I was worried hed be Tainted, but when I got there, I found a grand total of two Spectres hanging around him, unable to get through his iron will. Ive seen happy-go-lucky idiots with more Spectres hanging around them.

Thats my Mentor, unblemished and untouched by lies and deceit.

Lins finger pokes my cheek and somehow eases away all my troubles, her sweet smile like a balm for the soul. Its okay hubby, she says, swinging our clasped hands back and forth. Youll figure something out, I know you will. Did you find a book about comas? Can I read it?

Mm... I read the book a long time ago, cant remember its name. There wasnt much though, a paragraph or two mentioned in passing regarding patient care. Hiding my past life's memories is getting harder by the day, but my lovely Lin takes my explanation in stride. I feel guilty about lying to her, but admitting Im from another world and significantly older than I appear is something I hope to never do again. Yea sure, Baledagh accepted it easily but hes so adorably trusting and naive, I cant help but worry about him. Without me, hed make so many mistakes, I shudder to think what wouldve happened if I'd never arrived.

Then again, its technically his life and his mistakes to make. Who am I to stop him?

Whatever. Maybe hes right, maybe hes my reincarnation and our soul split in two for reasons unknown. Or maybe I have multiple personality disorder and Baledagh and the Spectres are figments of my imagination. Or Im a figment of Baledaghs imagination... Ugh, great. As if existential crises werent enough, now Im pondering if Im even real. Now Im half convinced the world is an illusion and my brain is floating in a jar of nutritional fluids stored inside a warehouse to be used for scientific research...

...

I mean... Its not... not possible, right?

A second poke to the cheek snaps me out of my thoughts as Lin tilts her head in concern. Rainy, youre worrying too much. Yawning, Lin hugs my arm and adds, Things will work out or they wont, ya? Worrying wont change anything, so why bother?

Stroking her chubby cheek, I smile and ask, Oh? When did you get so old and wise? What happened to the unruly little brat who pouted all day because I wouldnt take her out to fly a kite?

That was one time! And it wasnt all day, I only pouted for an hour, maybe two.

Yea, because I gave in and brought you out, which almost cost us our lives.

Dont be dramatic hubby, it wasnt so serious.

A flock of jattuyas grabbed the kite and almost carried us away because a certain silly girl wouldnt let go of the strings. We were almost dragged off a cliff, so yea, Id say it was serious.

Flashing me a toothy grin, Lin shrugs and yawns and says, I didnt want to lose my kite. It was my first gift from you.

Silly girl. Noticing her dragging feet and frequent yawns, I stop to let her climb on my back. Piggy-backing her through the Inner Wall, I ask, So whered you go last night? No one knew where to find you or Teacher.

The guards brought me to see Daddy, Lin replies, her voice muffled as she nuzzles into my back. He's treating someone and couldnt talk, so I fell asleep on the couch. After I woke up, he asked me to come find you and bring you there. He needs your help hubby, so hurry.Follow current novels at novelhall.com)

Keeping my retort to myself, I collect Mafu and follow her sleepy directions out into the ruins of the city, where the scars of battle are still plain to see. The stretch of land between the Inner and Outer wall is bustling with life as the hardy citizens and stalwart soldiers work to repair the damage done by the Defiled, with not a single stone left unturned by their murderous advance. Off in the distance, I can barely make out the ruined remains of the Outer Wall, the sight of fallen gates and crumbling battlements sending a chill down my spine. Just over a month ago, those formidable defences were breached by Demons and Defiled, leaving only a single Inner Wall standing between them and the utter annihilation of the Northern Province.

It wouldve made for a really shitty cherry on top of my sweet victory sundae at Sanshu.

Thankfully, the Defiled retreated, but rebuilding the city and repairing the Outer Wall is a colossal undertaking which will take years to complete. Years we probably wont have before they return. Knowing this, Han BoHai is more focused on putting up defences and fortifying the area as opposed to building housing. Problem is, since the Inner Wall was designed to cater to visiting diplomats and dignitaries and now filled to the brim with soldiers and supplies, most workers are roughing it out in flimsy tents and makeshift shelters. Even Alsantset didnt warrant a room on the Inner Wall after refusing a billet on the Outer Wall, which says a lot about the situation.

Create matter using Chi. Sensing my confusion, he explains, Vivek Daatei, the Defiled Chieftain. While turning into a Demon, he grew twice as large in a matter of heartbeats. Heavier too, his footprints went deeper into the soil than before. Wasnt he creating bone and muscle out of Chi? Or the Demon equivalent or whatever?

Opening my mouth to refute him, Im unable to produce a counter argument. It doesnt mean hes wrong, its just that I dont know enough to dispute it. Instead, I pose the same question to Taduk who frowns and shakes his head. A good question, but I hardly see how the answer will help.

Once again, Baledagh picks up the slack. Could it have something to do with these Spectral remains?

Seeing no harm in asking, I take Taduks hand and explain everything about the purified Spectres through Sending, including my tests on the subject. While travelling home, we found that although the Spectral remains differ from Chi, neither Baledagh nor I can explain how its different. Its more... more, I guess. I cant absorb it like Baledagh does, but I can use it in place of Chi. In fact, I think it's better than Chi, easier and more responsive to my directions. Otherwise, it's the same.

When Baledagh absorbs the Spectral remains, it doesnt change our physical body, but his Forms have shown marked improvements in a short time. Despite only being in the drivers seat for short periods of time, Baledaghs grace, control, and reflexes have left me in the dust. Why, I don't know, but I assume it's giving him some form of Enlightenment or something. Why him and not me? I dunno.

When Im done explaining everything aside from the twinned-soul aspect, Taduk ponders my words in silence, cradling the sleeping Lin in his arms. Boiling a pot of tea while he thinks, he snaps out of it as I hand him the cup. After you killed the Demon in the city, you were covered in its fluids yes? Too much for your friend to neutralize in time?

Yea.

And you used some of that... Energy to heal. Did you suffer significant weight loss?

Nothing notable. Actually, I remember thinking I looked surprisingly healthy. I was half covered in burns, but I still had the hand that got soaked in Ichor. I never did thank the Healer who saved me the trouble of regrowing it.

Shaking his head, Taduk points out the flaw in my logic. You were burned by Demon Ichor, unconscious, and in the midst of battle. Any Healer worth their salt would have stabilized you and moved on. The hand would have been ignored. Its possible you healed yourself, or rather, the... ahem, Energy, helped heal you. Perking up, he asks, Do you have any left? Ive a theory on what these remains are, so try to transfer it to Nian Zu and well test it out.

What if something goes wrong?

Taduk shrugs. Then he dies and the nation grieves. At least itll spare him from another two weeks of agony.

Well... better to try and fail than fail to try, I guess. Wrapping the Spectral remains in Chi, I whisper a small prayer before placing my hand on Nian Zu's chest and directing the Spectral remains into him. My Chi dissipates into nothingness the moment it leaves my body, but the Spectral remains are unaffected, flowing into the wounded hero without resistance. I used more than half of what I collected on Yo Lings island in testing, so I hope what remains is enough to save Nian Zu.

Stand aside, Taduk says as he lays hands on Nian Zu. Holding my breath in anticipation, Im not left waiting for long as Taduk removes his hands only seconds later. While my teacher stands in shocked silence, a tear falls from my eye in honour of this celebrated hero, waiting as he draws his last breaths. Beloved by the people, he dedicated almost half his life to the Wall, following an already impressive military career. A high ranking member of the Situ Clan, his story could have gone much differently were he a lesser, more self-serving person, but his love for his fellow countrymen led him to give up his pursuit of power and accept the thankless task of Commander of the Bridge. For decades, he held the Wall against wave after wave of Defiled warriors, killing Champions and Demons like plucking chickens, and Im running out of things to say, because honestly, I didnt know him all that well and only met him that one time, where he prevented me from killing his nephew. Is Zian his nephew? No that doesnt seem right, but then again, I dont really understand the family bonds. So confusing, sharing the same name yet not really being blood related, how does that happen?

...

Not to be rude, but why isn't he dead yet?

Breaking the silence with a whoop of joy, Taduk lifts me into the air and twirls me about, laughing as Lin wakes up and joins the celebration. Rain my boy, we did it! he exclaims, relief and satisfaction flooding his face. Do you know what this means?

Er... we saved a national heros life?

Putting me down, Taduk scowls and throws his hands into the air. Who cares about one life. Switching to a silent Sending, he explains, Those Spectral remains? Thats pure Heavenly Energy. Heavenly Energy which you can manipulate at will! This is the discovery of a lifetime!

...

Maybe Im dumb, or maybe it's because I haven't slept in thirty-six hours, but I dont get it.

What's the difference between Chi and Heavenly Energy?

...Whatever. Taduk's happy, Lin's happy, Nian Zu's alive, so I'm happy. I'll take the wins wherever I can.

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