Chapter 19 #3
Alex sighed, having deliberately put it off before he blinked and smiled, realizing that the perfect solution was before him.
“Linnea, could you form the party link with Rachel? If she’s sharing an interface map, that’s a lot less risky than forcing her to bear the weight of a fuck-ton of secrets and garbage I feel bad enough about dumping on you.”
Linnea’s smirk was much like Alex’s own because she was as much him as herself, already moving forward to do just that, Alex’s words almost a pep talk and showing heartfelt respect to both sides of himself, never one to force a communion.
Yet all it took were a few reassuring words and a nod and suddenly Rachel was a warm, happy bump of awareness in the corner of his mind that he could effortlessly send surges of potency or healing to…
or orders, if he so chose, which he most certainly did not.
For even if he was able to keep her poor head free of forbidden knowledge, he was an idiot not to realize that even indirectly, their communion was still just a hairsbreadth from being absolute.
He had, after all, forged a link with her before—a link so strong that he had effectively pulled her free of the rivers of causality. Restored her saved state.
Brought her back from the dead.
And the way her eyes widened and her features paled, if she had ever had any doubts about it before, just looking into his eyes and somehow sensing so many terrible secrets within had obliterated all doubt.
For the Fox’s Disciple had already danced in the tale of her life, and as bittersweet as his adventures so often were, he was the only reason her fragile tome wasn’t already dissolving in the River of Souls.
“Master! It was you! You didn’t just save me, you gave me life!” Her words were a sob in her native tongue, which fortunately only he and Linnea could parse.
Yet Kuaisu wasn’t the only one to look back with a bemused snort for the sobbing girl suddenly kowtowing at Alex’s feet. Before Alex gently lifted her to stand by their side once more, brushing a stray lock of curly hair back into its braid after he so carefully squeezed her hand.
“No need for that, Rachel. Friends help friends. You helped me as well, remember? Now let’s work together and have ourselves a grand adventure!”
Rachel stared helplessly at him, flushed and flustered with the desperate need to say so much, yet the pointed looks and throat clearing that both Kuaisu and Tang were giving them resulted in a quick nod.
“As you wish… battle leader.”
Alex froze at those words. “No, Rachel,” he said, switching back to the desert tongue favored by these people. “Lao Tie’s the one who will be orchestrating the flow of combat. I’ll just be an auxiliary flanker, slipping into and out of enemy ranks or guarding our own, wherever I’m needed.”
Rachel blinked, before bowing her head in instant acceptance. “Of course, Alex. It will be as you say.”
“Good. Because if the look Lao’s giving us as he waits impatiently by the gate is anything to go by, he wants us linking up right now in an ideal configuration with you and Linnea by his side, supported by Tang and Wu Xien, while Ya Ling, Kuaisu, and myself serve as offensive flankers.”
Kuaisu gave him an approving nod. “Good. You know your place, then. Now if you children are quite through with your bonding ritual, let’s join hands and embrace the delve of a lifetime!”
Alex dared to hesitate, flashing an apologetic smile that was almost a grimace.
“And we will do just that,” he said, eyeing the entrance to the gate, then looking at the far-off rift that led back to the world counting on them.
A world filled with desperate souls, loyal friends, and enemies who would do all they could to strangle any attempts to pull Wanshi from the brink of dire peril.
“But first, a test of Rachel’s abilities right here and now, in the most ideal and peaceful of environments.”
Lao Tie gave Alex a pointed look. “Alex…”
“It will take but a moment, battle leader. And what wiser move could one in your position make than to know the talents of his allies?”
Tang’s brow furrowed. “Boy, if I didn’t know better…”
Lao Tie smirked, waving off his friend’s concern. “It’s all right. Sure, Alex. You’ll serve as my auxiliary, assuring to the needs of your companions.”
“Thank you,” Alex said, before turning back to the increasingly anxious-looking girl before him, fluffy curls once more springing free of her braid as soft hazel-green eyes peered so intently into his own. “Rachel?”
“Yes, hero?”
He forced a chuckle. “I’d like you to do me a favor.”
“Anything!”
He ignored Linnea’s suddenly pointed look and Ya Ling’s teasing smile.
“You see the flagstone tiles all around the portal?”
“Of course!”
“I don’t suppose you can get grass—or moss, lichen, or even trees—to sprout and take hold?”
Rachel gazed at him oddly. “You wish me to summon echoes of the forest?”
Alex nodded solemnly. “Remember, our friend made it clear that the far side of this tiny realm is actually covered in forest, so… hopefully it’s not too—”
His words cut off as Rachel closed her eyes, her face taking on a visibly strained expression.
Kuaisu tutted. “The poor child looks like she’s in desperate need of a bowel movement. Did she truly not take care of such, before daring this delve?”
Wu Xien snorted. “She does at that, but no real harm. We need but turn around and…” He blinked in surprise. “We’re in a delve. How is that possible?”
Yet Alex couldn’t help but flash a relieved smile, even when Rachel took a gasping breath, wincing with apology.
“I’m sorry, Alex. But trees are beyond me.”
He chuckled softly, gazing at the field of grass now covering the flagstones, thick and lush for a good thirty feet in all directions, sparse but visible for another thirty feet beyond. “I have no complaints, Rachel. None at all.”
She looked around and sighed. “It’s only because this place does have the memory of some ancient grove, but it’s just an echo of what it once was. And I don’t know if I’ll have any ability to summon forth any plants at all, once we enter that chilly delve.”
“Fear not. It was still a worthy experiment, and your ability as a jewel master has now most definitely been proven,” Lao Tie assured. “Now let us capitalize on that success, take comfort in our prowess, and dare this delve before the hour gets any later.”
Alex nodded his agreement, linking hands with Rachel, who was holding the hand of Linnea as was Ya Ling, linking their companions. His lips stretched wide in an excited smile, sensing everyone’s heart racing with excitement for what was to come.
Then they stepped forward, touching the gate in perfect unison, and the massive astral courtyard faded to a whirlwind of howling winds and blinding white snow.