40 Revelations (2/2)
Sirius's shout sent out a shockwave, causing Helga's hair to flutter. In the distance, a peaceful hill was torn asunder, disintegrating into the wind.
With a flick of Helga's hand, dark coiling shadows gushed from the earth. In an instant, the hill was repaired, as if nothing had ever happened.
Sirius cleared his throat, and I noticed a pinkish tinge to his cheeks.
”I apologise.”
Helga sighed, raising a hand and conjuring a cup of tea. She took a long sip, scowling at Sirius over its rim as he squirmed in his seat. I took the opportunity to ask a question.
”Who are the others?”
”They are the other participants in my experiment,” Sirius replied, ”do not concern yourself with them. They are not on your world.”
”Are they all from Earth?”
”That is indeed where I gathered them from.”
”Does this all have something to do with my qi? When we first met, you mentioned something about my innate qi…”
”Many apologies, but I will have to stop you there. I cannot mention any details concerning the hypothesis, or it may interfere with the results.”
”Sirius darling, you are terrible at deceit.”
”Helga! This is important!”
”Pish posh.”
She took another sip of tea, a wry smile on her face.
”And will you stop doing that? Drinking your own qi is quite unpleasant.”
”Of course I'm not drinking it, it's simply for effect darling.”
”Oh. I see…”
Their conversation began to fade as my thoughts became stunted.
”Look, look! He's breaking apart!”
Helga fragmented before my eyes, the world becoming a kaleidoscope of shapes and colours. Inside my head, I heard her voice.
”Ding ding! You were right about your qi! You keep doing you, but please, if you're going to die, do it better next time! Ta ta sweetie!”
The fractals before my eyes swirled and coalesced before fading to black.
I woke up to a familiar ceiling. I was at home, in the nursery. Tentatively opening my hand resulted in a series of concerning cracks.
My body was incredibly stiff, but I wasn't in pain. Steadily propping myself up on the bed, I surveyed the damage.
Long, winding scars covered my torso and right arm. But scars weren't an issue. Carefully teasing my right arm out of its locked position, I found I still had full mobility.
Taking a deep breath, my bones shuddered in complaint, but I could still breath normally! I spent a few minutes easing my body out of its deterioration, moving every limb and stretching every muscle.
Finally, I felt ready to stand up. I took a few stumbling steps to the door, opening it to glaring sunlight. Mother sat tending the garden, her hair tied up in a high bun.
”Mother!”
She startled at my voice, dropping her tools and rushing to me.
”Baby! You're awake!”
She enveloped me in a warm hug, her body quivering as she sobbed into my shoulder.
”I'm so glad you're awake… I'm so, so glad…”
”I'm so sorry I scared you...”
”Oscar, why?!” mother's tears turned to anger, ”Why did you push yourself so hard cultivating?”
Mother thought this had happened cultivating? That didn't seem right, but I buried my unease.
”I'm really sorry. Are you okay?”
”Yes, I'm okay, it's just… I was just so worried. Wait, I need to tell your father,” she let me go for a second, turning towards the study, ”Carlo! He's awake!”
There was a muffled crash, before father burst from his study and dashed across the courtyard.
”Is he okay?” he asked mother, before frantically turning to me, ”Oscar, are you okay? Can you see me? Tell me if you understand what I'm saying.”
”Father, I'm really okay.”
”Oh, thank the heavens.”
I had questions, but they could wait. It felt like years since I had seen my parents, and all I wanted to do was spend time with them.
”You must be starving, let me make some food.”
While mother cooked, I talked with father about my eventful first days at school. I told him about master, about Xiaogui, about Dong, and finally about Tai.
”So that's how it really happened.”
”Father, you knew?”
”Those were fighter's wounds. But the school's spreading a different story. Probably to protect the name of their head scholar.”
”So, Tai's still there?”
”As far as I've heard, yes.”
A smile spread across my face.
”So, I can get my revenge.”
”That's the spirit,” father patted me on the back, ”next term, show him what you're made of.”
Those words shocked me.
”Next term? How long have I been out?”
”Four months. Term starts again next week.”
A cold sweat formed on my brow. Not only had I missed four months of cultivation, but they were a crucial four months. Next term meant one important thing. Hunting season.
I was unprepared and weak. And of all the scholars, I was the biggest target.
Next week, the hunt would begin. The hunt for my head.