Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 867 - 866 - The Weight of a Life

[I see. I am sorry, Lind Frey, but even we do not have a better grasp of Time compared to what you already told me.] Esmerelda's words came through a large jade stone communication artifact embedded into a wall.

It was literally a special communication room for long range contact. Internal communication was difficult due to the flow of Qi in the ship unless it was resting in place. To reach the dry dock from their distance, it would normally take a relay artifact set up but Lind had far more power at his disposal.

The dry dock had similar levels of power as well.

[I had to try everything, even knowing the answers. I–I don't know what to do.] Lind felt lost. He had been a leader in war. He had sent people to die. It was different though.

They were fighting to survive against the Soulmancers, the Fiends, and just other powers trying to crush them for being free. They were all in the same boat and in a real way, they had all been soldiers.

All hands had to be up to resist, but in the current circumstance, while death hung over them all, Hope was not a soldier. The fact she existed at all was a miracle.

She was a bright, joyful woman that stood by everyone and helped in any way she could. She tried so hard and made friends with so many as easy as breathing.

He also knew that she was right about her cultivation. She had reached the limit from what he had learned but it made no sense to him. Why were Celestials' cultivation fixed? What was the purpose of having a race that hit such a hard road block no one else did?

Lind knew he was ignoring the main issue.

[Do you have any alternative?] He hoped she would and the pause actually gave him hope.

[Could she teach you?] His hopes were dashed at that moment. It was not like he hadn't thought of it.

[She gave me a demonstration for that very reason. Even that little bit I could observe told me nothing but hurt her extensively. She can't survive teaching me.] Lind felt his eyes burn and his heart rage.

His dark gray robes seemed a mockery of his desire to be a shield to all. A simple man who had now become a True Lord of Dragons. He had so much power and he could not save the life of 1 person he cared about!

[I am sorry, Lind Frey. Please, give my love to her. She is a wonderful person and I will cherish our time for as long as I live.] The connection broke and the stone went dark.

He sat in that room in the dark for an unknown amount of time. Finally, he looked up and his red rimmed eyes were now full of rage.

"What do you want from me? Why must this happen? Why can't you just help me one more time?! One more time?! Would it break some cosmic rule?!" He had nowhere for his rage to go and he was powerless to change it.

How many times had he faced impossible odds and the Heavens saved him? How many times had his harmony allowed him to break the limits of fighting being so much stronger than him and it all worked out? Why?!

Why was he not allowed to save an innocent when everyone's life was on the line?

His worry was the distortion of Heaven and Earth. The thing, whatever it was, broke Heaven and Earth on a fundamental level. It meant karma and other things that might save Hope at the last moment would not work at all with 100% certainty.

He was backed into a corner and felt like the weight of all reality was not even a feather compared to the weight of Hope's life.

"Spirits, please, give me a clue. Give me even a hint that can save her life. I beg of you, please." His voice was distorted as he broke down. He had not felt so hurt in such a long time. He knew a heart demon might be at risk but he had to face his emotions.

Lind went to cultivate in his quarters as he felt all 3500 years of his life.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

Wen held Hope in her arms. They lay together in Wen's quarters.

When had it started? She recalled being amused by the young girl and how her own grandfather actually feared her wrath.

As the True Lord had become busy, she spent far more time with Hope. At first, it was simply to keep an eye out for someone important to him, but then they became friends.

Wen had been the legendary Suneater for so long and there were no male dragons that could defeat her. She refused to mate with weaklings.

Love, however, came in forms none ever considered. Also, Wen never realized how much she craved feeling loved.

The True Lord's offhand comments had flustered her but when examined in a sober light, she realized it was the fact he could overpower her with his aura alone. Her will did not come into it at all.

It was an aspect she had not considered until then, but Hope had come along and simply pulled her on another 'adventure.'

Hope loved learning and loved to ask many questions, but Wen realized at some point she sought out the woman on her own. Hope never seemed bothered and smiled so wide it should make half her head tilt back!

"I am sorry I did not talk to you before I chose." A small voice came from Hope but Wen only hugged her tighter.

"I have told you that it is an honor to help the clan. You are willing to help the whole of reality. Who am I to–" A cool golden finger touched her lips and made her feel a shiver in her soul.

"Big Brother always told me about his family. How even though others dictated as a tyrant, he was only ever a partner. He always said hard decisions could not be avoided but to never exclude those in your heart if you could." Her eyes were wet with tears.

Wen kissed her and pulled her close once more.

They listened to the beat of their hearts and Wen felt the pressure of it all.

It was going to be the last time. Hope was going to die. The True Lord had not hidden the truth from them.

From the few stories of his past, he had been saved but without that last moment intervention, he would not have lived to see the present. The world was not so kind as to let so many miracles happen even in a cultivator's long life.

"Wen, you have to promise me. Big Brother will need you. He will break and the people that can help him are far away. He can help you too." Wen slowly nodded but could not imagine the powerful True Lord needing anyone.

He was so firm and unstoppable. He would not need her, but the reverse was not true. Wen could not imagine never holding Hope ever again.

It had become as natural as waking up after sleeping. It was a fact of her life she did not want to change.

She had faced entire empires and armies without an ounce of fear but the thought of Hope not being alive made her fear like nothing else!

Why was she so weak?!

"Hope, please don't go. I will try to find another way. There has to be another–" Hope's head looked up but it was a bottomless pair of eyes looking at her now.

[Time is running out. Time is not on our side. The spirits can't save us. Lind Frey is the last hope of all.] It was Hope's voice but it was not her speaking! Wen's crimson gold eyes flared but then the eyes became normal once more.

"The ancestors are sad and frustrated. They don't want me to die either!" Wen felt shocked. The spirits! The actual spirits of Heaven and Earth!

"Why?! Why can't they help you?!" Hope's small hands went through Wen's hair but the sad smile said it all.

"Heaven and Earth are fair. They can't break the rules no matter their feelings. They are a reflection of us but also the source of us. It is difficult to explain but it feels right to me. Big Brother is not just our hope, but theirs too. He doesn't know it yet, but he can do more, so much more." Hope had new tears trail down her cheeks. "I can't let him die because I love him too. It would be like letting you die. I can't do it."

Wen broke and now Hope pulled her in. She could not fight her logic! It was not fair!

So why did Wen only meet her now when she had been alive for so long?!

She wanted more time, even one more day beyond what she had!

They fell asleep at some point holding each other. An aura flared in Hope for a moment before she smiled in her sleep.

"...I love you too, Wen…" The strange aura passed and only sleep returned. The Wings of Freedom was full of working bodies but all had a bit of red rims on their eyes but they did not stop.

It was all heartbreak and prayer to the spirits for mercy as they worked to make sure the sacrifice will be worth it.