Linnea gazed up at him in wide-eyed awe. “Alex, that’s incredible!”
Alex smirked. “Thanks, I think.”
“No, I mean it. Your baseline stats and your rate of growth are absolutely absurd!” She flashed a beatific grin. “You learn and grow at the rate of an old master knocking the rust off a much beloved skill. Not a 20-year-old noob actually learning it all for the first time.”
Alex flushed before his eyes widened, seeing the twinkle in Linnea’s eyes. “Linnea….”
Her countenance took on an innocent mien. “But that would be absurd, of course. This is the real world, not the home of thousand-year-old legends.”
Alex froze painfully still when Reny gave them both an exasperated look. “How about you tease your man outside the sick room, Linnea? I think there’s enough tension in this house as it stands.”
Linnea lowered her head, a rosy blush coming to her dusky cheeks. “This one apologizes,” she whispered, but Reny was already waving her concerns away. “The important thing is that those we love got home safe. Now it’s time to rest and recover ourselves and allow the true powerhouses of this school to put to rights what malice or simple neglect has so grievously wronged.”
“Oh it was definitely malice,” Linnea adamantly declared. “Alex sensed the infernal formation in the heart of the one building he and Ya Ling couldn’t put out… but um… forget I said that, okay? Ha ha. Oh look, there’s my cousin. I’m sure he wants to tell me something important! Bye, love!”
She flashed Alex an impish, apologetic smile as she darted out of the room as fast as her feet could take her, Alex closing his eyes and sighing because it was bad enough that Linnea could read so much of the story of his soul. The fact that she still sometimes forgot herself and allowed her tongue to run away with her made it that much worse.
“Alex?”
Alex winced, the no-nonsense tone in Reny’s words preventing any easy exit as she pinned him with her stare.
He immediately went the innocuous smile route. “Yes, Lady Wu?”
But her hard eyes made it clear she wasn’t having any of it. “Is it true?”
“Is what true?”
“Alex...”
He winced under her glare.
“Yes,” he admitted with a dip of his head. “There’s the remnant of an infernal formation in the heart of the central block that caught ablaze.” Alex’s solemn gaze turned hard as salt. “Which means that the inferno was deliberately set with malicious intent.”
Reny’s gaze hardened. “Clearly the storm my husband and I thought long past has only gained power in the time we were away.”
Alex shrugged saying nothing.
“My question is… how exactly do you know that?”
Alex held her gaze for long moments. “Let’s just say, six of those seven block fires were put out long before the headmistress of this school and her coterie of Silver wujen arrived to finish the job.”
“My husband’s part of that coterie, Alex.”
Alex flashed a rueful smile. “I know.”
“And you didn’t think to immediately report to him?”
Alex held her gaze for long moments. “Assuming even one of the Silver wujen present had ties to what was going on there or wanted the prince deposed, what do you think their response would be to me sticking out like a sudden sore thumb?”
Reny paled, before sighing and shaking her head. “Attempting to instantly obliterate you with their most powerful spell, before immediately apologizing and claiming it was a heat-of-the-moment reaction to an obvious threat… before doing everything they could to somehow pin the fires on you.”
Alex nodded. “And even if I could normally guard myself from anything they cared to throw my way… it’s a bit trickier now with my new Wind Qi affinity, and Ya Ling was helpless in my arms at that point.”
Reny’s eyes widened. “That’s right! With your absurd synergy of affinities… having one so out of sync with the others in terms of potency… I can see how it would be challenging bringing them all in line.”
Alex nodded. “And it’s not like I’ve had any time to do so, with so much shit hitting the metaphoric fan… never mind. The point is, today was all about restoring Ya Ling to the best of health. I thought I’d have all the time in the world I might need to better myself, but it seems that life events are demanding desperate action without giving a damn for my own preferred pace of doing things.”
Reny gave Alex a sympathetic smile. “You’d be surprised how often that’s the case… or perhaps not.”
Alex chuckled ruefully. “Well, on the plus side, my Wind Qi arts and abilities are advancing at a gloriously absurd pace… but nothing like my Water Shield. A shield I can now bring to such vibrant life that it’s nothing short of absurd.” His gaze grew intent. “And even if the headmistress and her coterie had only the best of intentions… what do you think would happen if they found out that, between us, Ya Ling and I could manifest an entire lake’s worth of water to quench a fire designed to wreck havoc through the entire city?”
Reny instantly stilled, gazing at Alex for long moments. “It was you?”
Alex winced, then forced a nod. “Six blocks and most of the seventh… but the building the fire originated from was burning with all the bitter hate of a hell that has nothing to do with the River of Souls. But before we could investigate further, Ya Ling collapsed in my arms from exhaustion and the headmistress was rapidly closing in on our location, so I let them claim all the credit, happy just to get out of there while I could.” He winced, shaking his head. “Even if I had to reveal a couple of truths to the dozens of frightened people looking our way, lest rumors of kidnapping Ruidians surface, which would please my enemies to no end.”
Reny gaze at Alex for long moments. “If you can truly generate enough water to fill a lake bed...”
Alex winced, dipping his head. “No need to say it, Ya Ling and I will find ourselves pampered song birds in unbreakable cages of steel bars and privilege. Not to mention the prince’s enemies would then do all that they could to assassinate the pair of us, because trying to burn the city and sabotage the rifts just isn’t enough.”
Reny’s eyes widened in alarm. “Ware your words, Alex! If you have no proof...”
Alex angrily shook his head. “I know. I know! But after the Western Rift went from being safe as houses to a shadow cat deathtrap...” He suddenly froze, eyes widening, when it suddenly clicked. “I knew something seemed off in that rift!”
Reny tilted her head. “Alex?”
But Alex just shook his head, the tightness in his chest telling him like nothing else that they were running out of time.
“I think I know what’s wrong with the Western Rift,” he said, eyes growing strangely intent. “If I’m right...”
Reny clasped his hand with grandmotherly concern. “I think what you need most of all is a good night’s sleep, Alex. I’m sure everything will become clearer with the dawn.”
Alex flashed a bitter smile. “With so many things happening so quickly, our enemies slamming so many cards down at once… I’m not sure if we dare delay, not even for a second!”
He then bowed once at the waist in respect to a bemused looking Reny before turning around and racing to Linnea’s side, feeling a mix of excitement and awful tension, all at once.
Alex was more pleased than he wanted to admit to see Linnea’s heartfelt smile. And when a rueful-looking Hands caught his gaze with a sheepish wave, he grinned right back, as if there had never been an awkward moment between them.
“Alex!” It’s um… good to see you.”
“And you,” Alex said right back, clasping the relieved-looking youth’s wrist.
Hanz flashed an awkward smile. “First, let me apologize on behalf of my father. I know he comes across as abrasive and headstrong, but he means well, in his own way, and he’s desperate to fulfill his duty and keep our clan safe and well-fed.”
Alex clenched his jaw and nodded, already knowing what was coming.
Hanz flushed, lowering his gaze. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but is there any way my father could, um… make amends for previous differences?”
Alex blinked. “Seriously? That’s the line he’s going with?”
Hanz’s flush deepened. “You’ve proven yourself a strong fighter, a worthy opponent, and so have um… successfully quenched any argument that could be made against your bloodline. For nothing proves worth to the tribe better than glory and triumph in battle.”
Alex snorted at that. “How about he stop hiding in the foyer and actually come out here and face me? He can say whatever he wants to say to my face.”
Hanz winced. “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”
Alex shrugged. “We’re wasting time. In about thirty seconds I’m heading to the campus quarters to see who’s willing to join me on what’s likely to be the most perilous mission of their lives.”
Hanz paled at that. “Alex...”
“I was wrong!”
Alex blinked, surprised despite himself to see a pale-faced and trembling Lieberman suddenly prostrating himself before Alex, the man’s words coming out in a desperate flood.
“You were right! I was...not. I was so desperate to achieve my own dreams that I lost sight of my duty as an uncle. As Linnea’s adoptive father. To find her a strong mate who wasn’t just fit biologically, but fit her heart as well.”
Alex glared down at the man but didn’t interrupt as Lieberman took a ragged breath and spoke on.
“When you bested me so completely in the ring… that proved your worth beyond what any pedigree or breeding program could possibly hope to. At that moment, I should have welcomed you as kin with open arms.”
The man sighed bitterly. “But in my own bitterness and despair… I failed to do so.” He forced himself to rise to shaking feet. “This one apologizes sincerely for his shortcomings.” Lieberman flashed a mirthless smile. “The past few days has given me plenty of time to reflect upon my many failings. It is my sincere hope that you will give me the chance to make amends for my mistakes… battle-leader.”
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Alex’s eyes widened. “Battle-leader?”
Lieberman immediately bowed to his waist once more. “This flawed jewel-master prays you will give him the chance to redeem himself, fighting by your side.”
Alex blinked, truly surprised, turning to whisper to Hanz. “Alright, I’ll admit that it’s nice having him give me some face while acknowledging that he fucked up, finally getting off his absurdly high horse. I don’t hate him nearly as much as I did five minutes ago. Hell, maybe I don’t hate him at all. That duel we had was actually pretty good for my own cultivation, and he’s the only opponent I ever recall apologizing to me with even an ounce of humility. I’ll give him points for that. But calling me battle-leader? Eager to redeem himself in my eyes?”
Hanz flashed Alex a sad smile. “The Duo Li clan truly is a rot without end. They’ve successfully managed to poison the school’s view of our tribe to a degree not seen in years. Add to that their veiled threats against any cultivator seen associating with our clan in any way whatsoever...”
Linnea nodded. “Basically, none of the Bronze delvers are willing to delve with us, and considering how hard the Duo Li clan’s working to get the entire city to despise us once more, though I don’t think they’ve managed to do more than intimidate a few cultivators pragmatic enough not to risk antagonizing one of the most powerful clans in the city… maybe it’s time for our clans to find another desert city willing to forge treaties with us that aren’t so deeply enmeshed with a bitter old clan of former water merchants who can only prosper when we fall.”
Alex furrowed his brow. “Last I checked, the average citizen has nothing but warmth for us. So those assholes can intimidate a handful of Bronze. What about Silvers? I doubt they care for the Duo Li clan’s bluster.”
Hanz chuckled bitterly. “In case you haven’t realized, the city’s in a panic right now, with fires on multiple fronts, both literal and metaphorical. Rumors have recently started claiming that half the waterfalls are nothing but illusion, and that we barely have enough water to survive, and that our cistern is actually empty. And the completely dry pumps so desperately needed to put out the fires lends unfortunate credence to their tales, made even worse when those bastards say it’s our fault that no Water cores have been found in those delves for months.”
Alex gazed at an apologetic Hanz and a kowtowing Lieberman for long moments, before sighing and nodding his head. “Alright, you’re both in.”
He quickly raised his hand before Hanz’s relieved smile and Lieberman’s look of joyous gratitude.
“Thank you so much, battle-leader! I swear to you that...”
Alex’s bemused smile turned hard as granite, cutting off their words with a clenched fist. “So long as it’s understood that we’ll be communing as closely as mecha pilots, thinking and acting as one.”
He ignored Lieberman’s horrified blanch, Linnea’s joyous grin, and the look of confused curiosity on Hanz’s features.
“Because we’ll be facing down Silver tier ambushing Shadow Cats, and if you lack a Deep Bronze’s physical reflexes, than we’ll be relying on casting as fast as thought, and we’ll be a hell of a lot better off if we’re thinking and fighting as one.”
Lieberman’s eyebrows rose comically high as his eyes danced between Alex and Linnea, the pair of them communing as one once more, the words alternating from each of their mouths.
Hanz’s eyes were wide with wonder. “They did it. They’ve actually formed a gestalt!”
But Lieberman stumbled back in panic. “No… such things are forbidden!”
“Bullshit!” Alex and Linnea said as one. “This is a feature of our common ancestors, not a bug. No matter how badly your clans fear it.” The pair flashed a bitter smile. “Feared it enough for a splinter faction to flee an entire world, hoping to make a fresh life in this one, before finding out that the spiritual energy rendered electromagnetic and electromana currents obsolete, which meant no high tech toys to overwhelm the natives. Even if your elemental powers have never been greater than they are now, without any advanced equipment at all.”
Lieberman gazed at Alex for long moments, shaking his head with dismayed wonder. “After struggling to flee your kind for millennia, somehow you found us still. All of us, just slaves to your master race of tyrannical pilots.”
Here, Linnea gave a sad shake of her head. “You do know that he has absolutely no idea what you’re talking about, don’t you, uncle?”
“Impossible!” Lieberman hissed. “The old texts warn of his kind!”
“His kind. Uncle, if he were a tyrannical monster, do you think he would have opened himself up to a gestalt with me?” She gently squeezed Alex’s hand, pressing it up to her cheek. “He’s a mixed blood. He doesn’t even know who or what his mother truly is, or its significance. Yet I understand it with the gentlest brush of his psyche. Even these words wound him, that I can sense truths he is blind to. Just as I’m humbled by his insights. Through his eyes I see what a foolish, impulsive girl I can sometimes be. Suffering from a genetic impairment, thanks to being born to an inbred clan… and that I’m just a couple Perception, Scholarship, and Willpower points away from correcting it for once and for all. Both for my own sake, and my future children. Because together we are stronger and see what the other misses. Together we are gestalt, not master and servant.”
Hanz gazed at the pair for long moments before flashing a cheeky smile. “Heck yeah, I’m in! Reporting for duty, battle-leader!”
Lieberman’s features paled. “Hanz… no.”
Hanz flashed a sad smile. “With the Duo Li clan making their move now, there’s no way anyone else will even give us the time of day. Not until our enemies rise triumphant or are crushed to dust by opposing forces. Any smart cultivator worth his salt knows the peril of politics and will be keeping their heads low until trouble has past. Which means that few will openly insult us, but their smiles will become strained and they will find a thousand and one reasons to reschedule any delves for another day. Which, if those Li assholes have their way, will be never.” He sighed. “Father, let’s face it. If we’re going to get any delving done at all, it’s going to be by partying up with Alex. Besides, if the old tales are right, a gestalt is truly a lethal and deadly configuration. Almost impossible to take out by normal soldiers still relying on shouted commands to communicate.”
Lieberman trembled, clearly struggling with himself. “But what if he never lets us go?”
Alex smirked at that, before closing his eyes and letting Linnea free of his mind.
She immediately gave him a crestfallen look, biting her lip far more fetchingly than he wanted to admit, her emerald green eyes holding his own. “Why did you do that, Alex? I was so warm and comfy feeling you in my mind. Now I feel so alone… and I have no idea what you’re thinking!”
Alex flashed a sad smile. “And now you’re totally free. And I’d never do anything with you that you didn’t want me to.”
This earned a teasing grin. “Silly boy. I want you to do everything with me! Except leave me feeling sad and alone.”
Alex flushed, Hanz chuckling ruefully, and Alex could sense Reny’s embarrassed smile as she turned her gaze back to her still sleeping granddaughter.
“I think it’s clear that theirs is a very… consensual relationship, father.” Hanz then turned to Alex, swallowing once, nervously. “I’m ready, battle-leader.”
Alex grimaced, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. “Sure. Just um… please remember that I can’t exactly control my thoughts. They are what they are… and I mean no offense by them.”
Hanz nodded. “Of course. The same goes for me.”
With those words Alex clasped the man’s thin shoulder and a heartbeat later their connection was forged.
You have successfully forged a Gestalt with Slave Node designated as Hanz-A1. Autonomy has been granted. Surface thoughts open to shared communion. Note. As designated Battle-leader (and the only member with a Master node!) thoughts and actions will be by your direction. All parties will move and act in communion with your will, for your will IS their will!
Alex grimaced as the words washed over and through him, sensing Hanz’s flush as he locked gazes with him.
“So you know,” Hanz softly said, lowering his gaze. “That’s embarrassing.” Then he frowned. “But why should it be? You like who you like, and a high Perception is an asset, not a flaw.”
Alex and Hanz smiled as one, the mild embarrassment of Alex’s lack of interest and gentle pity for the youth becoming newfound respect for his obvious talents and mastery of Ice. Alex immediately sensed a dozen ways he could put the youth’s ability to freeze and unleash storms of ice spears and shrapnel to deadly effect against their shared enemies. After a few seconds and receiving a nod from both halves of himself, he then opened his communion to Linnea once more.
As one, they then turned to Lieberman.
The man paled, before giving a tired sigh. “Perhaps it is fitting that the punishment for my arrogance is to be forced to face my greatest fear.”
“You’re not the only one,” Alex said with a wry grin as the man trembled but still found the strength to put his slender palm upon Alex’s shoulder…
And suddenly Alex was hit by a wave of grief and bitter regret for the memory of a woman he had loved so dearly for so many years… only to lose her in childbirth, tormented with the knowledge that if they had just met and fallen in love a few years before, Lucia and the twins would be alive even now.
He closed his eyes feeling a painful envy for the three youths he was also now a part of, able to find their chosen partners and love freely, with no one shaming them for their slender builds, bitter temperament, or age they hated and fought against every day they lifted steel bars for strength, or ran for endurance, determined to live as a strong vital man for decades, achieving heights of elemental mastery few in his clan could match. He could be a worthy and loving husband to anyone, if only another woman would look past his graying hair and give him a chance.
Then his eyes widened in wonder, and the flood of warmth and gratitude he felt toward the pilot of their gestalt knew no bounds. “You have the answer… you found the cure!”
Alex flashed the man a sympathetic smile, as his pain was now Alex’s own. And Alex’s own struggles and a tale so bitter he knew it would give him nightmares, glimpses of secrets he knew the youth was still desperately trying to hide but of course couldn’t since he had foolishly, bravely, fused them as one… made it clear he understood.
Lieberman bowed to that half of himself that had just revealed the first glimmerings of genuine hope that he had felt in half a decade. “Do you really think it’s possible?”
Alex grinned. “I do. Dark Qi isn’t wrapped up in and around your meridians in a plaque I dare not jostle too heavily as it is with cultivators, particularly those who have been around for awhile. It’s far more… crystalline in nature with jewel masters, and far easier to remove.”
Lieberman’s eyes widened. “But do you really think that if I dared to invest so many points into Vitality...”
Alex grinned. “Honestly, what do you have to lose? If things work as I hope… as we hope… you’ll be able to fight endlessly, level up endlessly, with no worries about Dark Qi buildup. So why not all three of you see if you can surpass 20 Vitality? Achieving what would be, for any mortal, inhuman Vitality. That accomplishment, along with the removal of all Dark Qi buildup, and I think it just might unlock an Ageless perk you can purchase, that will act very much like an art I dare not mention allowed that’s open only to cultivators.”
Linnea grinned. “Eternal...”
Before Alex put a hand over her mouth… hers following a heartbeat later, Alex smirking at their odd mixture of gestalt and autonomy, as he slowly eased their tight bond to a looser association. “That’s one of those things...”
“That I shouldn’t say aloud,” she finished with a cheeky grin. “Don’t worry, Alex. I’ll be putting those points exactly where they need to go, with my next level up.”
Her gaze then filled with heartfelt concern. “And I can feel our crystalline focus slipping.” She tilted her head. “When was the last time you had a good night’s rest, Alex?”
Alex blinked at her teasing smile.
“That was a rhetorical question, Alex. Because you managed to have no less than seven breakthroughs in the form of skill-ups since the last time you slept, and we’d be an absolute idiot if we dared Silver-tier abominations with your brain, anchoring us all, foggy with amino acid waste buildup when survival is a single mistake away.”
Alex would have opened his mouth to protest, had Linnea’s bemused worry not struck such a strong cord within him. For her thoughts truly were intermingled with his own. “Because together we are stronger and see what the other misses,” Alex admitted with a rueful chuckle.
Cheeks flushing, he turned back to the sickroom, all four of them fearing what Reny would think of what they had so openly dared in the middle of her home.
But all she did is gaze at Alex with kind, motherly eyes, silently leading Alex and Linnea to a wicker bed lined with plush spirit beast furs. She frowned only momentarily to chide Alex. “If I couldn’t sense your fatigue and if you were anyone else, I’d have you sleep in the yard til you properly bathed, but...” Her eyes widened. “But you have no smell at all.”
Alex flashed a cheeky smile. “I know, right? Biochemical mastery for the win. And my attire, well, let’s just say you can’t keep this changshan shirt down for long.”
“Because it’s magical,” Linnea whispered with a cheeky grin of her own.
For some reason, Reny was smiling fondly at them both. “I’ll let you two get some rest.” Her smile turned strained. “I sense that tomorrow will be a tumultuous day for us all. But you’ve already more than done your part, and I’ll make sure that the right people know, and that no one else knows a word.”
Alex frowned, knowing there was something vitally important that he had to do, before Linnea’s gentle hand had him lying prone, snuggling in soft furs as she wrapped her arms about him.
The warmth of Reny’s voice soothed him to gentle clouds of oblivion and dream. “Don’t worry. We have plenty of guest bedrooms for your companions, and Ya Ling, by some miracle, is already perking up like the desert blossom that she is. I have no doubt that she will be eager to join you on your adventures come morning.”
Those words were the last thing Alex could sense before drifting off with the gentle breeze he felt circulating through the room, whispering so many intriguing secrets as Linnea sighed, muttering exasperatedly about fools who just had to knot their Dantians when sweetest bliss could be a single breakthrough away.
And maybe Alex did grin just a bit as his thoughts left with the breeze, but then he was swirling in warm eddies about the pagoda even as his body fell into deepest slumber.
Alex could only pray that nightmares wouldn’t jolt him immediately awake once more.