The dry, somewhat aloof conversation was between two Reflections of Protogenia. The Epochrion regarded the Terminator warmly, while the Terminatorâs face was less readable.
âHuan Xue⌠I feel regret. For the first time in my life.â The Terminator said softly.
The Epochrion paused. Was this the same strong, inflexible man she once knew? In all this time she never thought regret was part of his vocabulary.
The Terminatorâs dark and creviced features broke into a small smile. âIâve felt it ever since you left. I regret giving up so much of a normal life for power. But thereâs one thing I couldnât cut out â feeling. I realize now that youâve always had a special place in my heart, but I never felt I was good enough for you.â
He spoke frankly, holding nothing back. At their age and station they didnât need to be coy. He wasnât telling her this because he wanted something.
Conflicting emotions trilled through the Epochrionâs eyes, and she sighed. âDavis, youâre a good man. Honest, determined. Pursuing your goals is nothing to regret. The situations life put before you left you few choices, but you did the best you could and became a national hero. You have always been a close friend, a brother. That will never change. As I told you when I left the Conclave, no matter what happens you will never be my enemy. These last years youâve have to shoulder incredible burdens. You must allow yourself time to relax sometimes.â
The Terminator chuckled wryly. âIâm afraid Iâll have to rest when Iâm dead.â
She helplessly shook her head. âYouâve weighed yourself down with so many shackles. This is for you.â She produced a glimmering vital crystal and handed it to him.
He gathered it with a nod. âIâll have my people send over a Capital ship.â
But the Epochrion shook her head. âNo need. This is a gift from me. After all the years you looked after me, itâs the least I can do. I hope it can help heal you.â
âI canât accept such a gift without payment,â he replied. âBesides, the politicians will find out and grow suspicious Iâm sure. We should pay, and I will. You know, although you might not believe it I hope to see a prosperous East. We will need everyone to face the alien threat. The politicians donât seem to understand that resisting destruction is the top priority. The aliens arenât just bearers of vital crystals.â
Admiration was plain on her face. âAs clear-headed as ever. Iâm glad you understand.â
âAnyway, a transaction isnât representative of our friendship,â he continued. âAnd who knows, maybe if this crystal heals me I will be worthy of you. Perhaps by then youâll want me in the Avenue, and maybe I wonât turn the offer down.â
âThis will never happen!â There was a flash of silver light. Suddenly, another figure appeared beside the Epochrion â the Wine Master. The Cosmagusâ face was a thunderhead.
âHuan Xue will be my wife, and no one will take her from me.â The Wine Masterâs voice was fierce and aggressive.
A forced smile spread across the Terminatorâs face. âIs that so? I see no husband â only a coward.â
âYou!â The Wine Masterâs anger flared. This man was a rival both politically and for Huan Xueâs affections. He found it difficult to contain his temper.
The Terminator continued, unperturbed. âAm I wrong? What has stopped you from plainly stating your love? You expect results without the work? If I were you I would have gone to the Conclave years ago to seek out the one I loved, no matter the odds. There are no excuses in the face of true love. But what did you do? I have never believed emotions to be unchangeable. Time and age change all things, psychology included. In all this time you have refused to change, to try, because you fear failure. Is this not cowardice? Is this not selfishness?â
The Wine Masterâs breathing was quick with anger. He fixed the Northern Paragon with burning eyes and waves of protogenia pulsed from him.
The Terminator broke into laughter. âYou may be a coward but you have a conscience. Youâre single-minded. Your heartâs been unchanged all these years. My blessings to the both of you, then. But I warn you, if she ever comes back to me and the Conclave, I will never let her go again.â He ended his reproaches there, and left the two of them alone.
The Wine Master blinked, stunned. The Terminatorâs sudden shift in mannerism threw him. He was hard and composed, but suddenly gave in. But he turned his focus to the Clockmaker. Her feelings were most important.
She looked back at him with a faint smile touching her lips. The Wine Master awkwardly spoke. âIâm sorry, just thenâŚâ
She gently shook her head. âI liked seeing the bad side of you. A pleasant break from the norm, donât you think?â
The Wine Master didnât know how to respond. âIâŚâ
She stopped him with a chuckle. âHe knew you were listening. He said those things on purpose, he knows how I feel.â
The Wine Masterâs face became deep red as he realized heâd been fooled by the Terminator. He was so incensed that he couldnât see the truth. The perils of a heart in chaos!
The Clockmaker stepped forward, and the Wine Master instinctively stepped back.
âDid you mean what you said?â She asked.
âWhat part?â He stuttered.
She stared into his eyes. âIt sounded like you wanted to propose! Iâm an old woman, I canât wait forever.â
Finally the Wine Master realized what was plain in front of his face. He smiled. âTrue. It was all true. Marry me, Huan Xue. I will be good to you, youâre the only woman Iâve ever loved.â
âProve it,â she replied.
With a smile the Wine Master flicked his wrist, and a wring appeared cradled in his palm. It was lavender hue, and its faceted surface sparkled prettily. It was the picture of grace and dignity. It was a power gem, masterfully crafted.
âI remember you like purple. I made this myself, little by little, with my own hands. I did not use my Discipline. I finished it a long time ago and have fantasized about putting it on your finger ever since. Will you give me the chance to make this fantasy a reality? If you do, it will make me the happiest man in all the universe.â
As he spoke the Paragon held the ring aloft in both hands and dropped to one knee before her.
As she looked down on him she bit her lip. Her smile was gone, replaced with a mixture of joy and anticipation.
This was the day theyâd been anticipating for so, so long.
âIt took me so long to come to my senses, youâve had to wait all this time. Iâve wasted the spring of our lives, but I hope it isnât too late.â The Clockmaker presented her pale, delicate hand to the Wine Master. A comforting white light enveloped them. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. The two looked lovingly at each other as the Wine Master slowly slipped the power gem ring onto her finger. 1
Îś
The Auction was more successful and impactful than anyone would have dreamed. Now that it was over, Skyfire Avenue was abnormally rowdy. Word had gotten out that the black market had a few crystals to sell. Since the crystals came from the Avenue itself, no one was going to corroborate these rumors. However when the first crystal appeared that was proof enough.
A pale blue light swirled around Lan Jue as he opened his eyes. He looked like an azure crystal statue. His skin was clear as glass and the blood pumping through him was plain to the eye. Although the energies radiating from him werenât strong, they bore a unique quality. His appearance wasnât frightening, what was frightening was the aura around him.
In the center of his chest, his diamond-shaped Core glittered with a faintly discernable light. Threads of silvery light embraced it. Though the immortal qi was fluctuating and unstable, it gave the sense of flowing through his whole body.
It was done. Finally, after so many days of training, the evolution of his Discipline was complete. The yin and yang lightning was joined, thick with the marvelous powers of the thunder essence and immortal qi. Lan Jueâs powers had undergone a complete transformation.
A dual-natured lightning was a rare and marvelous thing in the world of Adepts, but Lan Jueâs powers had risen to a whole new level. It went beyond his own comprehension, meaning only once heâd broken through to Paragon could he use it to its full potential.
1. The Chinese call the ring finger âthe nameless finger,â Iâm not sure why.