“Besides, he had duties in his own time, his own homeland.”
At this, the Master nodded and stroked his long, white beard, looking enigmatic and thoughtful.
Rui was quiet then, wallowing deeply in her own heartbreak and sorrow. Unbidden, her human eyes welled with grape-sized tears, plopping steadily onto the spotless floor.
“It appears youhavelearned,” the Master said in a voice that sounded almost gentle. Fatherly even.
“What will you do with your newfound knowledge, I wonder,” he mused. “Knowledge is worthless unless you apply it.”
Though she heard the Master’s words, Rui barely paid attention. She kept her tear-filled gaze focused waveringly on the floor.
She’d failed her mission. If the Master was to be believed, the Universal Balance would be distorted because of her failure. Dire consequences would befall them all.
And yet, she didn’t give a fuck.
Just didn’t.
Losing the one true love of her entire existence numbed her to everything else. Her duty, her thrill for treasures, her sense of purpose, every simple enjoyment she had in life.
She barely felt the heavy yet gentle hand on her shoulder, placed there by the mostly silent Sorin. She didn’t react to the comforting strokes of Ere’s fingers through her hair, or the kitten mews of sympathy he sent her way.
“Perhaps you should visit the Mirror Pond before you return to your home in the Four Seas,” the Master suggested, his tone as gentle as she’d ever heard him use.
“To reflect upon all that you have learned. You may leave here when you are ready. Your duty has been fulfilled.”
To Ere and Sorin, the Master said, “You two will remain here until I am back. I must attend to other duties at the moment. When I return, we shall see about the debt you owe the Jade Emperor, dragon.”
This, he directed at Ere with a slight arch of his bushy white brow.
Ere glared mutinously back, hissing defiance in his kittenish voice.
“By my estimate, your debt has increased in the negative,” the Master intoned. “I suggest you reflect on this as well before I return and adjust your attitude. Perhaps, then, you shall find your voice again.”
With that, he poofed into thin air, just like thexian nu, leaving Ere, Sorin and Rui alone.
Rui pulled herself together long enough to look up at the two males who had become her friends.
“This is goodbye,” she said tonelessly, her tears finally dry. “If you ever have need of me, just ask Cloud.Shi-gewill know where to find me.”
Ere pulled her into an awkward hug, for Rui was as stiff as a board.
Physical affection was a big step for her. She was only comfortable with her Wolfe.
Her Wolfe…
Her eyes felt swollen and wrung out, yet they filled with tears again.
Sorin gave her back a quick, manly pat.
“Take care,” was all the warrior said in that deep, smoky voice of his.
Rui nodded once, turned around, and walked away without looking back.
Somehow, she wandered through the palace gardens to the Mirror Pond. She hadn’t meant to obey the Master’s instructions; she didn’t care any more about anything.
But her feet simply led her here. Right back where she started.
And too, just like before, Seventh Sister was there, idly humming at the edge of the pond with a basket of exotic flowers she’d cut from the gardens.