The light tap-tap is not a knock Id expect from a Death Corps soldier, so its no surprise to find Lins glowing smile waiting on the other side, still uplifting even when viewed through a crack in the door. Hi hubby, she exclaims, displaying the box in her dainty hands as she tries to peer around and into my yurt. I brought shrimp, so lem in ya? Leaning close, she whispers, I wanna see the turtle please.
Double checking to see Pong Pong still asleep in Mama Buns embrace, I hold a finger to my lips for silence and step aside just enough for my sweet wifey to slip in, intent on closing the door behind her the mont shes through. Peering out one last ti to make sure no one is watching, a hand appears out of thin air just in ti to stop from planting my face in Guard Leaders moderate, yet inviting bosom. With a one handed grip, Guard Leader lifts off the ground with ease and plants back down at arms length before stepping into my yurt with a huff, as if its sohow my fault I didnt see her hiding there.
Its always disorienting when an Expert materializes out of nowhere. One second, youre staring at nothing and the next, youve almost caught a face full of boob. Rubbing the future bruises left by her vice-like grip, my cheeks burn as I reflect on the past few seconds, because my brain tells Guard Leader didnt step out of the shadows or move faster than my eyes could register. According to my mories, the mysterious Expert was standing in plain view the entire ti. I opened the door, saw Lins smile, scanned the surroundings without noticing my view was blocked by Guard Leader, and told myself the coast was clear without ever registering the veiled Experts presence. Even Im not suicidal enough to motor boat Guard Leader against her will, so there must be a trick to it. Thinking out loud, I mutter, Its not invisibility, is it? Youre still visible, but sohow, you made overlook your presence...
Interrupting my introspection with a haughty sniff, Guard Leader chides, If youve puzzled it out, then you know to be more careful from now on. Rudely grabbing hold of Lin, Guard Leader pulls my wifey behind her and turns her ire to a different target. So, this is the creature who attacked us.
Following her line of sight, I find Pong Pong on the ground and ready to fight, his legs braced and mouth open in a mirror image of Ping Pings siege-mode. Itd almost be adorable if I didnt know how much damage he can cause, so I quickly step in before the situation escalates. Its okay Pong Pong, I whisper, keeping my voice light and happy. Theres nothing to be afraid of, she wont hurt you. I hope. Without turning away from the angry turtle, I motion for Guard Leader to back down and pray she follows through. You wanted shrimp right? Look what Lin brought.
Thankfully, Pong Pong is intelligent enough to recognize the word and he raises his head in interest. A few minutes later, the three of us sit around my table and watch the little turtle enjoy his al while the bun buns settle around us. Its kind of petty, but it annoys seeing how much the bun buns love Guard Leader, happy to flop at her feet and hop into her lap even though she rarely ever interacts with them. I worked hard to earn their trust, feeding, brushing, and cuddling them for many days before they felt safe in my presence, but not her. She never pets or plays with them, but they love her as much as they love and its infuriating.
Et Tu Fluffy Bunnykins? You furry little long-eared traitor, how dare you burrow into her lap instead of mine?!
Kneeling behind due to Guard Leaders stubborn insistence, Lin peers over my shoulder at Pong Pong and giggles in girlish delight while cuddling the sleeping Mama Bun. Hes so pretty hubby, she says with a wistful sigh. Do you think Pong Pong will let pet him?
Best if you stayed far away, girl. Sitting closer than Id like, Guard Leader sips her tea before continuing. Pretty it may be, but its still a dangerous wild creature, one more powerful than you can imagine. The only reason its so docile is because its exhausted and your fool of a betrothed promised it safety and comfort, promises he lacks the ability to keep. Hard to say how it will react when it learns the truth, but I for one refuse to endure its wrath.
I know, but still... Puffing her cheeks, Lin grumbles, What a an old rat, hunting poor Pong Pong for weeks without rest so he can steal the Heavenly Water. Im glad Daddy ruined their stupid boat, now those stupid Ascendants cant hide their presence and harass the sweet little turtle without repercussions. If they try it again, Pong Pong will smash the silly rat to pieces, wont you?
Heart leaping in my chest, I gently admonish my sweet wifey, even though it breaks my heart to do so. You should never talk about it, even in private. Were safe now with your guard sitting beside us, but in different circumstances, a slip of the tongue could land us all in hot water. Especially .
Gnawing on my shoulder with an adorable growl, Lin crinkles her nose and pouts. anie Rainy. Dont look down on Lin-Lin, I know how to keep secrets, ya?
Yea right. Mischievous as she is, my sweet wifey is an innocent and naive soul, ignorant to the harsh realities of the world, but its a part of her charm. I know and I dont an to nag, but better safe than sorry. We cant let anyone find out who or what Pong Pong really is, because doing so would invite disaster. Honestly, Im not sure why Taduk told Lin in the first place, we wouldve been better off letting her think he was just a normal turtle, but its too late now. Leaning back to give her a peck on the cheek, I add, Your guards not wrong either, Pong Pong is ridiculously strong. You should see his Natal Palace, its enormous.
Elbowing sharply, Guard Leader asks, You saw the creatures Natal Palace? How?
Dammit. And here i was just warning Lin about slips of the tongue. Er... well... its a long story.
Unsure how much Guard Leader or Lin knows, I explain the most obscure and confusing of my abilities. Lin nods along like she already knows, but Guard Leader recoils away once she learns the gist. You are never to use this ability on myself, she warns, her voice leaving no doubt what would happen if I did.
Wouldnt even if I could. Its suicidal, Im at the rcy of whoever owns the Natal Palace and easily destroyed with an errant thought. I dont exactly understand the chanics, but Im in no rush to find out what happens if my Spiritual Body dies. Gesturing at the gorging turtle, I add, Im not even sure why it happened. Ive tried going into other peoples Natal Palaces before, but Ive never done it on purpose, and its only happened a handful of tis. Dagen, Bei, then Yo Ling, and now Pong Pong, Im not seeing a pattern. The first three were tied together by being Demon-adjacent, but now, with Pong Pong in the mix, this is no longer true. Ah, no, stop!
Startled by my yell, Pong Pong narrows his eyes in suspicion as he floats next to his food, his al not even half-finished but already making his pooping face. Steeling my nerves, I gently pluck him out of the food box and place him in a nearby pan, already filled with water for just this purpose. Youre a Divine Beast, dont shit where you eat.
Ignoring Lin-Lins giggles, I gently coax the turtle to relax with a terrible, made up pooping song and eventually he does his thing. Once finished, I lavish him with praise and offer a reward of dried fruit which he greedily devours with a smile. After making sure I have no more sweets, he scurries back to the food box and leaps in with a squeak of delight, paddling around the clean water as he devours yet another shrimp.
Hes so fast and agile, hubby!
Strong too. Strangely proud of his accomplishnts, I brag, Like I was saying, Pong Pongs Natal Palace is so imnse, I was like a grain of sand inside it, so tiny and insignificant I couldnt even comprehend its grandeur until he shared it with . Its so beautiful and pristine, a perfect little underwater world full of vibrant colours and stunning constructs.
Its his own little domain, ya?
Ignoring Guard Leaders huff, I twist around and pull Lin into my lap, though still rember to keep myself between her and Pong Pong. Guard Leaders not the only one worried about Pong Pongs temper, the little guy can be an when he wants to. Yes it was, and there he sat at the centre of it all, napping atop his very own coral throne. I should craft myself a Natal Throne too, assuming I figure out how to make things stick around.
Her delight fading, Lin crooks her head in concern. Youre having troubles with your Natal Palace? Isnt that bad?
Wow, twice in a row now. I bla exhaustion. Its no big deal, I lie, smiling at Mama Buns sleeping face. I err... I wanted to remodel my Natal Palace, but ran into a few minor snags after demolishing most of it. Live and learn, I suppose.
You demolished your Natal Palace? Once again interrupting my alone ti with Lin, Guard Leaders tone is one of disbelief. Why would you do sothing so foolish??
Because depression, okay? Ignoring Guard Leaders incredulity, I hug Lin close and watch Pong Pong eat. Sensing my need for comfort, Lin snuggles into the crook of my shoulder and waits, neither pestering with questions or pressing for answers. Minutes pass in easy silence and soon Pong Pong finishes his al with gusto. After shooting a glance, he makes his way over to the pan without prompting and does his business a second ti, and is once again rewarded with a piece of fruit. Thank god he learns fast, because his tabolism works at light speed and I cant be busying myself cleaning turtle poop receptacles all day.
Nice and dry after a brief tussle with his handkerchief, Pong Pong studies Lin for a full minute before dismissing her as a threat. From a standing position, he leaps off the table and lands neatly atop Mama Bun, a feat I find more impressive than defeating five peak Experts and sinking a Runic Barge. I an, the little guy is like eight centitres from tip to tail, so a thirty centitre jump is pretty damn daunting, but he made it look easy. Crawling under Mama Buns paws, the tiny turtle lets loose with a massive yawn before retreating into the safety of his shell for yet another nap, thoroughly satisfied with the accommodations.
I should have business cards made: Falling Rain, professional pet pamperer extraordinaire.
Slipping out of my embrace, Lin pouts while handing Mama Bun and Pong Pong over, likely at Guard Leaders silent prompting. Pinching my cheeks, Lin looks into my eyes with a mournful expression, a sight which breaks my heart in two. Hubby, I dont know whats wrong and I know you dont want to talk about it, but Im here if you ever do, ya? Not just either, Mi-Mi too, and Daddy, and... and everyone. You dont have to face this alone.
I know, I lie, taking her hand and kissing her fingers. And thank you. Its not a big deal, Im just a worrier, is all. I cant help it, but Ill be fine, dont you worry.
Huh... That last part didnt feel like a lie. I might have ant it. I will be fine. Not right this mont, and definitely not tomorrow, but eventually, in ti, I will be okay. Soday.
Flashing her beautiful, toothy smile, Lin pinches my cheeks a little harder. Good. You lay down for a nap now, you look exhausted. Jumping to her feet before I can quietly ask her to join , Lin skips away and calls over her shoulder, Weve been invited to a party tonight in honour of Yan-Yans grandpapa, so you gotta look your best, ya? Rember, only five, so no more okay?
But... Lin, Mila, Luo-Luo, and Yan only makes four...
Finishing her tea while my wifey makes her escape, Guard Leader slowly stands up to leave, but her gaze lingers on my conflicted expression. After a long silence, she clears her throat and says, I have little advice regarding your difficulties with your Natal Palace, for forming mine ca as easily as breathing. I recall you were the sa, so your understanding is similarly limited. Just rember what the girl said.
Aww, thats sweet, shes trying to offer help. Thank you, I reply with a smile, presenting her a seated bow to show my sincerity. I understand, my loved ones are here to help and will seek their advice as soon as possible. Im working on a theory of my own, but -
No, not that. So exasperated I can almost hear her rolling her eyes behind her veil, Guard Leader clarifies, About the turtle being master of his own domain. His Natal Palace is an aquatic paradise, yes? He controls everything within it and could craft anything he so chooses, so why stick with whats familiar? Think on it boy, and think on all the other Natal Palaces youve seen. What commonalities do they share?
Thinking back on the experiences, sothing clicks in the back of my mind and it all makes sense. Opening my mouth to thank her again, the words freeze in my throat as I realize shes already left and closed the door behind her. Too excited to rest, I wrap Mama Bun and Pong Pong in a blanket and place them off to the side to avoid a second trip into soone elses Natal Palace before settling down to ditate. Pushing aside all doubts and uncertainties, I reach for Balance and step into the void, confident Ive puzzled most of it out. As expected, Qing Qings hut is nowhere to be found, though Baledaghs room is still there, floating in the emptiness of the void.
As much as I miss her and cherish our ti together, Qing-Qings hut could never be a part of my Natal Palace. Its not about strong emotional ties, but about emotional security, and I never felt safe in Qing-Qings ho, because I was weak and vulnerable while stranded in the middle of nowhere. Its all in the na: a Natal Palace, and a palace is nothing more than a fancy house. Dagen modelled his Natal Palace after the house he shared with his first family, while Beis was crafted in the image of her village ho, and I picked the village in the mountains, all places where we felt safe and secure. Thats why I was so disillusioned by my Natal Palace, why I could never feel comfortable and at peace in there no matter how I tried, and stuck to training outside in the void. No matter how much I wish it were otherwise, the village isnt ho anymore, not after Sanshu and my near exile. Although I didnt know it at the ti, tearing it down was the right thing to do.
Story of my life, accidentally failing upwards.
Theres more to it than ho. While I couldnt see most of Yo Lings Natal Palace because of all the Spectres, I rember the ornate, golden throne he sat upon, so similar in function to Pong Pongs coral bed. A central seat of power overlooking their domain, much like Baledaghs room, my room, used to look out over the village, my ho until it wasnt ho anymore.
Entering my seat of power, I see it exactly as I rember it, a simple, white room with windows on all sides and containing only a bed, a nightstand, an ornate ceiling, and its newest addition, a plain wooden goblet. Crawling into bed, I lay back and stare at the carved ceiling and all the depictions of heroics I once dread of, pretending they werent my dreams because they seed too childish and silly to admit to. Not only that, but battle and bloodshed was so savage and barbaric, it offended my modern sensibilities to derive joy from it, but this is who I am, whether I call myself Falling Rain or Baledagh. Hell, calling myself Baledagh would probably be closer to the truth, for it ans warrior in the language of the Bekhai, and when you boil it down, thats exactly what I am. Strip away all my titles and epithets and Im left with Falling Rain, Warrior. That is who I am and the path Ive chosen, and while its not who Ive always been, and not exactly what I aspired to, its who Ive beco and its high ti I accept it.
I am Falling Rain. I love peace, and I love fighting for peace. Contradictory? Maybe, but what can I say. Im a complex guy.
Having rested long enough, I sit up and stride over to the window. The void stretches out in all directions, but its almost reassuring now. I see not empty nothingness, but limitless potential, a blank canvas or an empty page waiting to beco what I will it, but I leave it untouched for now. Theres more to consider, for size is not everything. Pong Pongs endless ocean and extensive coral mazes werent built rely for show, for they have a purpose. I believe the Natal Palace is also a defence against the Spectres, because Ive seen it happen ti and ti again. Blobby built a wall of water to keep them out, and before that I locked them in a room to keep them from spreading, yet even then I almost succumbed to their false promises and whispered lies, because I wanted to.
Its like the Monk said, the Defiled are not controlled by the Spectres, but rather allow the Spectres to control them. A distinction without a difference, or so I thought until now.
It explains how once I appeared and ruined the imrsion, Dagen was wholly freed from Demon Viveks grasp, or why the Spectres tornted Bei even after she surrendered and tainted her mory of ho, or how Yo Ling invited so many Spectres into his mind, tied his identity to the information they brought him, yet still kept hold of his sanity, tenuous though his grip may have been.
All of this was possible because each person is the master of their minds domain.
Even then, its not as simple as it sounds. The mind is a fickle thing, and what it wants and what is best for an individual are not always the sa thing. Dagen wanted to see his wife and children again and spend the rest of his life with them, even if that life was a lie. After I pointed out the falsehoods, he still wanted to believe, because only by believing could he remain happy. With Bei, things were a little different. Even though she already surrendered and went full Demon, the Spectres continued tornting her because she still could have cast them aside and retaken control. It wouldnt have been easy, for it ant accepting responsibility for murdering and eating her father, but it was possible.
As for ? The Spectres offered not only strength without struggle, but they also promised peace of mind. Never again would I need to question my decisions, because they would all be made for . By surrendering my sense of self and ability to make decisions, I would be granted a twisted sense of freedom, and I was conflicted and desperate enough to almost accept it.
The Monk was right again. It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, which lures him to evil ways.
Seriously, if it wasnt for the whole vegetarian thing, I might be tempted to join. Either way, it wouldnt hurt to pay the mysterious Abbot a visit and have a nice, long talk.
Leaving the void as it stands, I settle onto the bed to replenish my Chi and take a nap. I should discuss my findings with Baatar and Akanai and see what they think, but knowing my ntor and Grand ntor, theyll scoff and say Im overthinking things. I probably am, but who knows. Maybe Im onto sothing, so I might as well see where it goes. Better to try and fail than to never try at all. Besides, truth be told, despite all my recent revelations, Im still the sa person who almost succumbed to the Spectres and not entirely confident in my judgnt. The only difference is, now I know my weakness and can take steps to correct it.
Will it make a difference?
I fucking hope so, else all this suffering would be for nothing.
As usual, supposed answers only lead to more questions, and I still havent figured out how to get Water Chi to do sothing useful, or tested my theory on why Ping Ping sticks around, or cured my dissociative identity disorder. Now I have an even more pressing decision to make: What am I supposed to say to Yan?
Hello, I missed you and still love you, so wont you please be my fourth wifey?
...
No, thats a terrible idea. Itd never work, not in a million years.
Right?
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