“It’s fine.” She shrugs. “You’re a good guy, Nyk.” She smiles brightly at me.
I force a smile. Right. I’m a good guy. If she only knew what goes on through this good guy’s mind… I let out a long breath. If I thought living in the same house was torture before, I don’t think I truly knew the definition of it. Now I’ll have to sleep, actuallyrestnext to herandbe considerate of her delicate sensibilities?
FUCK ME!
For her safety, and my sanity, I arrange a blanket between us inside the tent.
I close my eyes, thinking she’s going to do the same after such a busy day. But moments later and all I hear is shuffling around.
“Nyk?” Her voice rings out.
“Yes?”
“Tell me more about the mission?”
“You can’t sleep?”
“I’m curious,” she replies instead.
“It’s not exactly a mission, since no one is paying me for it. It’s more personal.”
“How so?”
She turns around and pats down the blanket so she can see me.
“You know I’m not that great at being an immortal,” I joke. “It’s mostly because my body cannot metabolize energy. My meridians are clogged so I cannot cultivate or even use basic runes.”
“So you need to unclog them.”
“Yes.” I nod. “The healer recommended me a potion that might help, but the ingredients are very rare. I managed to secure three out of five, but for the last two…” I take a deep breath. “I need to find two mythical beasts that live in Horan Forest. Not only are the beasts themselves very difficult to findandsubdue, but as I told you, people who go there end up missing.”
“So why risk it?”
“I could ask you the same, why risk coming with me.”
“I asked you first!” She hits me playfully on the shoulder.
“Because I’ve always wanted to cultivate. It’s been my dream since I was little. And because… My identity has always been defined by mylackof abilities. I’m curious to know who I would bewithabilities.”
For some reason, I can’t bring myself to tell her that I’ll die if I don’t clear my meridians; or how my strange family dynamics prompted me to risk it all with this mission. Perhaps later.
“I’m curious too,” she whispers. At my surprised expression, she smiles. “I’m happy I can help you accomplish your dream, Nyk.”
“We’re still at the start…”
“We’ll do it. I know we will.” Her eyes are closed now, but her lips remain smiling. “Together we can do it—” she trails off as sleep claims her.
As tired as I am, I can’t sleep for a long time. My eyes are on her, watching her almost unblinking.
We will,I vow to myself.
32
An eerie light filters through the material of the tent. I scrub my eyes. Sleepiness still clings to my lashes. To my side, Moe is sleeping peacefully, and I can’t bear to wake her.
Carefully, I make my way out.
The light is entirely too vivid; too artificial. No place in Tartareia is this bright. Naturally, I’m curious about its origins.
