” Nana. How was your day? ”
Lin jumped beside Nanako, kissing her on the forehead before laying down on her lap. She stroked his forehead with a smile.
” The work on consolidating the barrier is almost done. Have you been able to implement it? ”
Lin nodded.
” Yes. We were able to cover most of the place that we mapped under this project. ”
Lin sighed, ” I just hope we are able to save as many lives as possible. ”
Nana nodded.
” I am still working on the riddle. I thing I found something one moment, the next moment it starts to seem absurd.
Isn’t it funny my dear boy. I myself don’t understand what I had said. ”
It made Lin chuckle, ” It wasn’t technically you. It was the Oracle. ”
” Hhhmmm. A part of the curse that fell on my share. ”
” It was also a gift. Wasn’t it? ”
Lin tried to make her see the positive.
” Nana, ” Lin suddenly turned to face his Nanako, lying on his chest, ” Have you ever wondered how your life must have turned out if there was not this misunderstanding. If you had the chance of living a life of peace with Mia’s uncle. ”
Nana pressed her lower lips with her upper lips as she sighed.
“You know Nana, I have been doing that a lot lately. I can’t stop thinking how it might have been if I could have kept my Mia beside me. Watch over her. Take care of our baby.
Nana, do you think a father feels the child the same way a mother does? ”
Nana sighed heavily again.
” I will not be able to tell much about that Lin but I remember the time when my baby was due.
Every cell in my body was craving to be with Jin. I had bared with it, thinking that he might have been preparing for our wedding and dowry. But who knew that he was facing living hell.
Ahhhh. And my child. My poor child. He was snatched from my arms, the moment he was born. I couldn’t even feed him once. ”
Lin sat up and wiped the pouring tears with his hands.
” Do you think Mia might be missing me as well? ”
” Of course she is Lin. We must work day in and out. Without break. It’s very important to bring her back. ”
” Nana, I really hope we find a way to save Mia’s uncle from the entanglements of the curse. I hope we find a way to bring out him. If any of it is left at all inside that mesh of a devil.”
Nana hit him on his head.
” You don’t need to console me silly boy. My Jin died with my child. I would not hesitate to kill that beast even for a moment if I have the means.
Now run along and let me work in peace.
Go get changed before you sleep. You are smelling of sweat and dirt. ”
Nana made a face. Lin hugged her tighter in an attempt to annoy her further.
He stood up to take his leave when suddenly somebody from the outside yelled.
” Permission to come in, my Lord. ”
” Come in. Permission granted. ”
A soldier came huffing and puffing inside
” What happened? ” Nana also stood up.
“My Lord, Lady Roe calls you immediately to her tent. ”
” Roe? Right now?
I hope everything is alright. Nana I will take my leave. ”
Lin disappeared without another word. He appeared right in front of Roe, who was bent over something. Using her spirit energy.
” What happened? ”
Lin asked.
” The Water Breather. The fake one that you have me to keep from the human King’s palace. ”
She pointed towards a huge planted pot. ” It’s leaves have started withering. It was fine in the morning, but suddenly I found the change occuring. Watch carefully. I can’t even control it using my Spirit Energy. ”
” Should I call Xie. May be he could help. ”
Lin watched helpless.
” Go ahead. His energy is stronger than mine. We could as well try him. ”
Lin went straight to meet Xie. He was sitting with his father, discussing something.
” Lin? What’s the matter? Why do you look so pale? ”
They immediately noticed his presence. Even before he could utter a word.
” Xie the Water Breather started to whither. Roe can’t stop it even with her Spirit Energy. ”
The Wolf king paid them his attention.
” What? Roe’s Spirit Energy can’t fix the withering of that plant? That is indeed very strange. ”
” Father. If it does out our chances to go to the Mer-World dwindles several steps. ”
Xie let him know it’s importance.
” Take me to there at once.”
The King came along with Lina and Xie. He personally wanted to examine the root cause of the withering and how possibly it could be reversed.
Roe took as step back as the King twisted and turned it. He did it for a few time, before finally putting it down on its place.
He shook his head.
” What is it father? ”
Xie asked unable to stay still without any further action.
” This plant is not withering. It is being killed by the very person who made it? ”
The three of them looked at him in surprise.
” Do something father. Summon the Spirit Beasts. Stop it from withering. How will we be able to go to sister if this dies. ”
Roe too was getting paranoid.
The King turned towards her. ” We will have to find another way Roe. This one is as good as dead and gone. It has been inflicted with the darkest form of sorcery.
The kind only the mer-witches ate capable of doing.
However, the plant is not our concern at the moment. ”
He turned his attention towards Lin.
” It seems like somebody does not want anybody to use this to get to the Mer-World. Does the mer-witches know who the present owner of this plant is? “