27 Ceress story Part 2 (1/2)

Enxuo was aware of Li Cheung's feelings for Hippolyta. The boy had grown from a spoiled, pampered idiot to a man of quiet dignity and bearing in all the years he had known him. Unluckily for him, Hippolyta wasn't even aware of these changes since she treated him like air every time she saw him.

There was a slight change in her treatment of Li Cheung, however, when his dogged infatuation entered its fifth year. She smiled at him, which nearly put him in a catatonic shock. Luckily, Enxuo was there to help prop him up when Hippolyta drew nearer and actually spoke to him.

”You are a magician?” she asked, like it was the first time she had ever seen him before.

The sophisticated and elegant Li Cheung stammered some inane response.

”There is a book I am currently reading that deals with magic and alchemy. I am actually confused which is which so maybe you can help me?”

Hippolyta at closer range was more devastating than Li Cheung ever suspected. Her eyes shone a pure onyx, her lips had the softest tinge of pink he had ever seen in a woman. Her body was made for loving a man that looking at her actually dried his mouth and fried his brains. Enxuo again came to his rescue by chatting with Hippolyta about what little he knew of alchemy until Li Cheung finally took a grip of his emotions and asked Hippolyta if she could show her the book she was reading.

It turned out to be a disputed book written by an alchemist who was denounced by the magic world as a bigot.In one of the most argued chapters in the book, the man gave his opinion that magic arose from superstition and unacknowledged fears arising from carnality; that alchemy was the truest form of magic because it was based on reason and logic backed up by the evidence of science.

Li Cheung was conflicted. He was a man of magic so he didn't believe in alchemy. But he was also a man of reason so he believes in evidence. But evidence can be manufactured. A powerful magician like him can manipulate evidence to back up a lie; and a lie can be manufactured to back up evidence.He looked at Hippolyta and didn't know what to say. Seeing the conflict on his face, Hippolyta laughed and threw the book aside.

One good thing that came out of that incident was that Hippolyta started talking to him more and more.He was now in his early twenties and had fully grown into his own. He was taller, his face leaner and his eyes keener than when he was a youth.His mother had even started matchmaking him to the daughters of other influential families but Li Cheung wasn't interested. He had even disbanded his harem, calling them a distraction on his path towards greatness as the most powerful magician of his time.

The world admired and loved him, women wanted to marry him and have his baby and the only woman in the world he ever likes didn't even know him from Adam.

He was encouraged by his growing relationship with Hippolyta though. She was starting to notice him more and more. They would discuss science, gardening, food and sometimes, astrology.He was starting to get his hopes up until Enxuo of course dashed his lovesick head against a brick with a few words.

”What did you say?” he stared at Enxuo with eyes almost falling off their sockets.

”I said Hippolyta is preparing to leave so she could find a mate to father her child.It's about time she has an heir,” Enxuo said casually, like he was talking about sex in a manner of plucking chickens before frying or broiling them in oil.

”What?” he asked, staring curiously at Li Cheung's thunderstruck face.

”A mate for her child? Who is this mate we're talking about?”

”Who knows? They go out, find a strong man they think qualifies as a father, have sex with them and waits until the baby is born to see if it's a boy or girl. The boy baby is given back to the dad and the girl baby stays with the mother. That's about it.”