āSomeone who knows us?ā Lan Jueās breath was coming faster. There werenāt very many people he knew both he and Hera. That narrowed it down, and with some investigation he might be able to find a thread.
The Clairvoyant went on. āI believe now is when she would show you this.ā He lifted his hand, laden with a small box.
The sight of it made Lan Jue quake. It was the same box she was holding the night she saw him with Xiuxiu. The pang of sorrow in his chest sharpened.
The Clairvoyant opened the box to reveal that it was in fact a computer. The screen inside flickered to life and displayed a stream of data.
Lan Jue looked at the screen, then back to Qianlin. Her pretty eyes were open but saw nothing. His hands clenched in to quivering fists.
The truth was steadily revealed.
When the computer was booted, the Clairvoyant navigated to a specific folder and opened it up. Within were a number of video files. The Paragon chose the first one, and they were greeted by a pretty face. Beautiful figure, black hair, blue eyes. A long, white dress. She was standing on a sunlit beach with the ocean waves crashing behind her.
Hera!
She and Qianlin were very, very similar. But Lan Jue knew his his lost love. He could recognize her spirit in her eyes. Her eyes were warmer, whereas Qianlinās were more alive.
āI met him today.ā Heraās slightly distorted voice issued from the computer. āHeās a little arrogant ā looks ok I guess. Cocky, certainly. Master wants me to get close to him. Weāll see. Hereās hoping he isnāt too hateful.ā
The first clip stopped.
Lan Jue got a far-away look as he stared at the screen. He recognized that place, a resort planet called Zodenka. That was where he met Hera, yes! That was where theyād first met. And the same day ā this was like a journal, or a mission report. The Clairvoyant opened the second video. This one also featured Hera, though the location was different.
āUgh, Iām so tired. We were out playing around all day, and Iām sure heās trying to get closer to me. Heh, I guess Iām pretty charming. Heās pretty haughty but heās got class, I have to give him that. He knows a lot so at least itās interesting being around him. Alright, thatās about all for today. I need a shower.ā
Entry two finished. They opened the third.
āIt was a good day today. I was apprehensive when Master gave me this mission, but it isnāt looking too difficult. This is a good guy. Yeah, a good guy. I fell today and sprained my ankle. He carried me all the way to the hospital on his back. Even when we got there he wouldnāt put me down. When they were done he picked me back up, and carried me back. I could feel that he was anxious, and he didnāt try anything.ā
Entry four.
āAh, why is my face so red? Today there was a development. Heā¦ well he took my hand. He said he liked me. What should I do? What should I do! Should I tell Master? I was told to guide him, butā¦ oh what should I do! Iām so confused.ā
Entry five.
āHehehe, excellent! Master said I could make my own decision, he had no opinion. I mean, he didnāt look upset. So should I tell him I like him back? No ā no, it canāt be that easy. He wonāt appreciate it if itās easy. Iāve got to string him along a little! Heheheā¦ā
Entry six.
āZhou Jinyu, you are useless! I said Iād string him along, right? Then why, the moment Iām in front of him I lose all restraint. Ugh, his eyes. You get lost in themā¦ Alright, alright. I said yes, and thatās that. Gah, why is my face so red. I mean, reallyā¦ā
āI canāt keep watching!ā Lan Jue grabbed the Clairvoyantās hand, stopping him. He was choked with sobs, and tears streamed freely down his face. Each video was a knife in his chest. Heraā¦ it was Hera! As she used to be, as the girl he loved. This was a record of all their time together. He didnāt seem to appear anywhere, but the memories were clear and bittersweet.
Lan Jue liked to think he was a strong and stable man, but these videos exposed the chink in his armor. Six short videos had reduced him to a sobbing mess.
The Clairvoyant looked at the younger man with an expression of sorrow and pity. With a sigh, he opened the last video in the folder. A scene of ruined metal buildings appeared. Hera stood among them, scanning her surroundings.
āSomething isnāt right! Iām here, but why isnāt he coming out? This isnāt right! When he told me to come I thought it was strange, but I didnāt have any reason to suspectā¦ Now Iām here and ā ah! Whatās that!ā
The video panned to bring an enormous beam of light into frame. When it struck, the entire planet began to shake. It made landfall hundreds of miles away, but the destruction it caused came surging towards Hera at terrifying speed.
āNoā¦ no I donāt want to die! A-Jue, A-Jue!ā She whimpered for a moment, but then grew calm. Courage started in her eyes then bolstered her whole person. As the world shook itself apart, she looked right into the camera.
āMaster. If I dieā¦ if you find this recording, give them to Qianlin. Have her study them, and take up my mission. Noā¦ no thatās not good. Iām being too selfish, arenāt I. Heāll be so sad! Qianlin, baby sister. Iām begging youā¦ Iām begging you.ā
The world-swallowing light was moments away, poised to eat Hera up alongside everything else. Heraās jaw was set in determination as everything around her fell into chaos. She ripped the communicator from her arm and threw it into a box. Then everything went dark.
Lan Jue watched, silent. His tears had stopped.
Heraā¦ even when staring down death she was afraid I would be sad. When she said she didnāt want to die it wasnāt because she was scared. She was angry, and unwilling. She was reluctant to leave me. Hera! My Hera! It was meā¦ I couldnāt protect you. It was my fault! How could I let her leave on her own? Why?
Lan Jue was cursed with a clear memory of the day. Hera said she had a surprise for him then left. Later he got the news that the planet had been destroyed. It was all so sudden. There was no trace.
The Clairvoyantās low, soft voice returned. āThe data on Jinyuās communicator had been hacked, which means whoever was responsible had enough clout to authorize tampering with a communicatorās operating system. We could tell from her tone and what she said that whoever it was that lured here there must know you two. However, after a great deal of searching I could uncover nothing. Those at your side are loyal, as far as Iāve been able to divine. For years I have searched, but have come up empty-handed.ā
Lan Jueās fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. After all this time the pain and anger were no less than the day she died. When he heard the news he hardly wished to live. It had destroyed him.
They had plans. They were going to pick out her wedding dress and make invitations. They were supposed to argue over who would it where. Instead she died, and no trace that she ever existed remained.
From that day he was lost, confused, hardly a man at all. He spent years nursing his emotional wounds. In all that time he never gave up his thirst for vengeance, but without any information to go on he was castrated. Everything was atomized when the planet exploded.
The fact that the Clairvoyant had even this small piece meant heād exhausted all resources to find whatever he could. Finding a single box in the mangled remains of a planet could not have been easy.
āDoes thisā¦ am I a bad person? I canāt think of any reason why someone would hurt her. If this person has so much power and hates me so much, why donāt they go after me directly? What was the point of killing someone whose only goal was to be a good person?ā Lan Jueās eyes were screwed shut against the painful questions. He maintained his composure, though. It was an old wound, even if all of this was tearing it back open.
The Clairvoyant gave a hard and bitter smile. āI share all your same questions. Itās the lack of answers that has had my hands tied. There is one more thing I want to show you.ā
The Clairvoyant closed the video folder and opened another one. This one was also filled with video clips, fewer than the first but still many. The Clairvoyant opened the first one.
The heart-wrenching sounds of sobs met their ears. A tear-streaked face appeared on screen.
āSisterā¦ sister, sister!ā She was screaming herself hoarse. Her black hair was wild. Her blue eyes were red and swollen. Great big tears rolled down Qianlinās face.