Page 306 of Light Leech

Zhu snorted a laugh. “You disagree with what you share, yet you sound so convinced.”

I have to do the same to myself to convince myself that I deserve to eat teeth. Self-deception and my training as a corporate virus has prepared me for this.

“You find that scholarship fits you well then?”

I never said that. Convincing others of falsehoods is a pitiful trait for a scholar.

“The modern world would disagree with you.”

Because it convinced everyone that we’re living on the old earth and that light is nothing more than a currency.

“Exactly.”

I guess I see how this fits the Correction part of the Luxists story. We’re on the right path?

“As far as I can tell, yes, but I do not anticipate that it will be so smooth until your journey’s end.”

Neither do I.

“There is a disturbance in the living light here. Be wary of deception.”

Always.

“On with it. Continue your deception. I will wean off my influence now that you have a start.”

I figured that was too easy.

“I have influence here. Because I do, others like me will as well.”

Like Light Leeches?

“I am uncertain.”

Ralia’s voice pulled me from my reverie. “Not this skin, but the skin on your real body. It’s all fake and I can prove it.”

I turned to find her standing with five other people at her side, facing two individuals who looked like the fearful victims of predatory salesmen.

Ralia grabbed their arms. They gasped as she pulled them in, replying to their fright with increased volume.

“I could argue that this is our true reality, but that is beside the point. Skin is what matters–no, I’m not going to hear you talk about feet again. Yes, this is important and no, you’re not going to pull me away until you listen, you plug?”

Eyes wide and mouths agape, her captives nodded. Their pale affect caused me to wonder.

“Yes, she is using Sha,” Zhu confirmed.

And she looks more confident than usual.

“Yet her heart remains distant. She is using him like a flame on the end of a pole that she would drop before it reaches her.”

Don’t think poorly of her because of it.

“I never suggested that I did.”

I know, I just…

“She is not to blame. Sha has been distant since we joined with you all.”

And he was normal before that?