Maxine felt like bashing her head against a wall in frustration as she struggled to walk properly through a park with Emily. She had needed to only rest for a single day before she regained some of her mobility and that was only because Guan had given her a pill to speed things along. It would be another few days at least before she was fully recovered. However, that wasn't why she was frustrated.

The reporters had grown bolder and quite literately wouldn't leave her alone for more than a few minutes at a time. She had debated whether or not to ride one of her shadow wolves around to discourage them, since they were now larger than most horses, but discarded that idea. Even if it worked on some of them, there would still be a large number of reporters that wouldn't give up anyways. Seriously, how stupid can they be? They've literately seen me unleash attacks that could END the planet and still they come to harass me. It makes me wonder sometimes if humanity is getting dumber as a species or that our self-preservation instincts are failing. Either way, it doesn't look good.

"Are you sure you don't need me to help you walk?" Emily asked in concern, "You can barely walk straight without stumbling."

"I'll be fine," Maxine said with a weak smile and she felt angry when she recalled what Guan had told her earlier, "I'm still pissed at that assassin. That fucking prick put Earth at risk just to lure daddy away." Although, I doubt that guy took into consideration the level of firepower I had up my sleeve. Still, he recreated the effect of my singularity arrow to make it look like an accident. If Horatio Quay hadn't been present, there is a very good chance he would've succeeded in killing me without any foul play being suspected. Unfortunately, that also means he knows that I'm Guan's daughter. Too bad for him that he fucked up.

"You know I'm not a violent person, but even I want to skin that bastard alive," Emily said with clear anger in her voice.

"It's also unprofessional to put innocents in harms way," Maxine added, "So, that's a strong indicator that he's not part of the Black Hand assassins. They have a very specific code of conduct and would be livid if one of their members pulled a stunt like this. That simple fact will make figuring out who he is much easier. There can't be that many freelance spatial-type assassins running around and even fewer that are in the area." Emily nodded her head in agreement.

[I apologize for interrupting, but I must go back to Hive territory,] Me'Lantra said via spiritual sense, [Both the inhabitants of your world and the Alliance have made it quite clear that they wish me to return to Hive territory. Although, not in those words. Your people can be quite ... colorful in their verbal attempts to drive me away.]

[Farewell, Me'Lantra. May your journey be a safe one,] Maxine replied.

[Farewell, Maxine,] Me'Lantra replied, [May you recover swiftly.] With that, the spiritual sense connection was severed.

Maxine continued her walk for awhile longer before, she turned to Emily. "I think we should head back. I'm starting to get tired," Maxine announced.

"Alright, you can rest at Amanda's guild while I go back to work," Emily replied.

"Sounds good to me," Maxine said as she turned to make her way towards Amanda's guild, but noticed a foot print in the grass to her left. That foot is too small for it to belong to Turan, but it's clearly an elven footprint due to how narrow it is. Could it be that high elven bitch? Hmm, a better question is how she is using such a good stealth technique. There are not many techniques available that are able to conceal one's presence so completely that doesn't use the shadow attribute.

They began heading towards the Fire and Ice guild headquarters, and Maxine tried her best to ignore their invisible stalker. Unfortunately, now that she knew there was one, it was hard to ignore their existence.

"Do you need me to help you find a room to rest in?" Emily asked once they were in the main lobby.

"No, I'm fine," Maxine replied, "And if I need help, I can always ask the receptionist for it."

"Alright," Emily said and she gave Maxine a quick peck on the cheek, "Take care of yourself."

"I will," Maxine said to Emily as she left.

Maxine quietly walked past the receptionist and headed towards a room that Amanda had set up for her earlier in the day. However, when she entered it, she saw a very faint silhouette of a woman out of the corner of her eye just before she shut the door. It's definitely a woman, but I can't tell much else about her beyond her height. It might be another shadow lord that's keeping tabs on me from the shadows, but it's best to be certain.

"Don't bother hiding anymore," Maxine announced, "I know that your there." But as a precaution, she had already summoned dozens of her wolves into her shadow and they were primed to strike at the first sign of hostility from her invisible stalker.

"How did you spot me?" the high elven woman said in elven as she became visible, "And when?"

"Just before I decided to return I saw your foot displace some grass," Maxine answered, "No matter how good the stealth technique, it's impossible to conceal your physical presence."

"Thank you. I'll keep that detail in mind when I next stalk someone and I apologize for my earlier behavior the other day," the high elven woman said sincerely, "My master instructed me to check on you and that seemed like the most expedient method available to me. He is quite concerned about your wellbeing."

"I can imagine so," Maxine replied coldly, "It's not every day that he botches an assassination on someone with so many powerful elders."

"That's the very reason that I'm here," the high elven woman said calmly, "My master no longer wishes your death. Instead, he's trying to find a loophole in his contract. Sadly, he's only found one that he can work with."

"Oh?" Maxine asked as she raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, the wording in the contract stated that he had to make you disappear. However, they never stated if it had to be permanent or not," the high elven woman said with a slight smirk.

"And why are you telling me this?" Maxine asked.

"Well, my master wants to cooperate with him in making you disappear," the high elven woman replied.

"I can make myself disappear to satisfy his contract," Maxine retorted as she remembered a world she hadn't explored beyond expanding a certain cave, "So, why should I cooperate?"

"Because both me and my master know that you have a fused soul and that the world you saw is closely linked to the other half of your soul. Otherwise, a portal to the same timeline wouldn't form every time that you used your special attack," the high elven woman said with a smirk, "My master can send you there without causing you any significant injury and he'll give you the means to come back." I'll sooner believe that the sky is green than believe he won't use that chance to kill me.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"You must think I'm quite stupid to even suggest that," Maxine said.

"Hardly," the high elven woman said, "My master knows better than to kill you at this point. It would only ensure his legacy will disappear with him. It would be far wiser of him to simply make you disappear for a few months to fulfill his contract."

"That's where you are wrong," Maxine pointed out, "Your master is already a dead man walking. There is nothing he can do that will change that simple fact."

"I fear you are correct," the high elven woman agreed, "If he has no other choice, he will reveal the name of his employer to your father, but only as a last resort. He has a reputation to maintain."

"That might work, but I wouldn't count on it," Maxine replied smoothly, "Daddy is rather brutal to anyone that tries to attack me." Although, he's been showing more restraint lately, but his response is still quite brutal. However, it's not out of the realm of possibility that he would spare the would-be assassin's students, if he were to give up his employer. But his life will end no matter who he gives up.

"Couldn't you have a word with your father about showing my master mercy?" the high elven woman asked.

"I could, but I seem to remember that prick trying to kill me," Maxine said as she crossed her arms, "Anyways, daddy's idea of mercy is to kill painlessly, which probably isn't what your master had in mind when he sent you here to beg for his life."

"He isn't begging for his life," the high elven woman said calmly, "He simply doesn't wish for his career and life to end in this manner. He doesn't care if he were to die while fulfilling a contract. What irks him is leaving a contract unfulfilled. He's trying to find a way for my survival. Saving his own would just be a bonus. He has no illusions that he will die." Wow, I never considered that option. Wait, she mentioned the he wanted to preserve his legacy. Does that mean his family? Or rather his students?

"I'll have a word with him, but no promises," Maxine answered.

"Thank you," the high elven woman replied, "I'll be by tomorrow for your father's answer."

As soon as Maxine was certain that the high elven woman had actually left, she collapsed into a chair. Damn her. I didn't want to know if it was possible to go back to that timeline and now, here she is offering me a free fucking ticket to return there. If this offer had been given to me before, I would've said fuck no, but now, I'm not so sure. I feel some responsibility towards it after daddy of that timeline royally fucked them over, but I've integrated into this timeline. There's just not a big enough reason for me to go. Not to mention that I have no idea if the time stream has synced up or if there is a 10 year difference. It's literately impossible to know unless I actually go there. There are just too many unknowns and Emily is pregnant. I want to be nearby in case she needs me. I should still talk to everyone else to see what they think before I make a real decision.

[It's up to you to stay or go, and you're right. I will kill that man regardless of what he tells me,] Guan said via spiritual sense. Hearing his voice out of nowhere startled Maxine and she quickly put her hand over her racing heart.

[Damn it, daddy. Don't you know the meaning of privacy?] Maxine asked.

[Not when it comes to your safety. When I discovered that woman following you, I had to be certain of her intentions,] Guan replied, [However, she is correct. It's possible for an immortal stage spatial cultivator to arrange transport between timelines, but whoever is involved will be punished harshly by the Alliance. But that's only if they can both catch you and prove that you did so intentionally.]

[So, he can physically send me to another timeline?] Maxine asked in surprise.

[He would have to key the portal to the male half of your soul, but yes, it's doable,] Guan answered calmly, [But I don't know how time flows in that timeline. It could very well be dozens of years ahead of this one or mere minutes. It would require that someone peer into it to be certain though. However, I could estimate the time difference if, and only if, I knew what that world looks like.]

[I got a good look at it,] Maxine replied as she sent a mental image of the 'greener' Earth to Guan.

[Hmm, it's in between three and six years ahead of ours,] Guan answered calmly, [Before you refute, you have to remember that humans in that timeline have suffered horribly and their numbers have dropped to a tiny fraction of what it was originally. It's left the forests nearly unhindered in it's growth. With essence to accelerate this process, it is quite possible for that Earth to become noticeably greener over that time.]

[That still doesn't eliminate the big possibility that this assassin will simply kill me to fulfill his contact,] Maxine pointed out.

[He won't kill you,] Guan answered with certainty, [He knows that if he does that I will kill his student and anyone else related to him.] Daddy's ruthless as always.

[But there is still that possibility,] Maxine said.

[It exists, but it's so close to zero as to be ignored,] Guan answered with calm, [If it bothers you that much, I can give you a defensive artifact that should automatically shield you for at least a full minute from a being at his level. That should give you plenty of time to flee or for me to end him.]

[Fine, but I'm going to talk with Emily about this before I make a decision,] Maxine replied, [She's pregnant and I don't want to leave her while she in her present condition without talking to her about this.]

[I know of her condition,] Guan answered, [And I wouldn't recommend letting it become public knowledge just yet. I need to set up a few safety measures for my grandchild before that.] That's kind of sweet, I think. But when it comes to him, safety measures usually mean murder traps from which no one can escape. I only needed to take one look outside of our home on the moon to realize how serious he is about protecting his family and that defensive artifact around Orianna's neck is only defensive in name. That thing that comes out of it to protect her would give most immortals a fight for their lives. I actually feel bad for anyone that tries to hurt her.

[Just let me know when you think Emily's suitably defended,] Maxine replied.

[I will,] Guan answered, [We will have to chat another time. Your mother is giving me an angry glare and I have no idea why.] Sucks to be you.

[Talk to you later then,] Maxine replied just before their spiritual sense connection was severed.

Maxine gently spread out her spiritual sense and connected to Emily's mind to ask her, [Are you free to talk?]

[For the moment,] Emily replied, [What's up?]

[I just got a visit from someone unexpected,] Maxine answered and sent her memories of her chat with the high elven woman.

[She has to be lying, right?] Emily asked, [I don't see how someone can go between timelines.]

[I would've agreed with you if daddy hadn't said it was possible for that woman's master,] Maxine said.

[Do you want to go there?] Emily asked hesitantly.

[Part of me does, but I'm not sure if I will or not,] Maxine answered, [There is just no one left for me back there and I have responsibilities as Earth's representative, not to mention that you're pregnant. There are just too many things keeping me here for me to even consider it.]

[We both know that you're going to go regardless of your excuses,] Emily said in a knowing tone, [You've always jumped into danger to help others. It didn't matter if you knew them or what you were doing. That's one of the reasons I love you. So, just do what you need to do.] She knows me all too well. It was really bad over in that timeline and I want to help them, even after all this time. Although, I hate to admit it, but the thought of seeing Jane's grave in the other timeline makes me feel as if someone is twisting a knife in my guts. She died because I failed to protect her. If she was struck anywhere else other than her heart, she could've survived by healing herself. I'm such a fucking.. wait a second. Is it possible she could heal an injury to her own heart? I never considered it. I could do it over time by patching up a hole in my heart or creating a heart construct until I grew a new one.

[Maxine?! Is everything alright?!] Emily asked with concern. Crap, I didn't realize that my emotions were bleeding through the spiritual sense connection.

[Yes, I'm alright,] Maxine replied unsteadily, [But I have a question. Do you think you could heal your heart if had a hole shot through it?]

[Um, I don't know where that came from, but maybe?] Emily replied uncertainly, [I might be able to keep myself alive for a few months if I immediately patched the hole, but it would be impossible for me to survive on my own for more than a few months. Why do you ask?] That kind of patch job would make her heartbeat weak or put her in a death-like state for a short while until her body got used to it. The chances that Howard's men both found her and realized who she was in that timeframe are dismally low. The chances that she would still be alive even with machine assistance are even lower.

[Because the you in the other timeline had her heart pierced,] Maxine answered.

[I'm sorry,] Emily said sadly, [But I don't see how that me is still amongst the living.]

[Yeah, I thought as much myself,] Maxine admitted, [Thanks for talking. See you later on tonight.]

[See you later, then,] Emily said. Yeah, I will and we will make the most of our time. I'm definitely going to have my work cut out for me when I go to the other timeline. Hell, I don't even have a clue as to improve their situation over there.