Silva

  The faint aroma of black tea lingered as Silva watched as Mark collapsed in his chair. The token killed him instantly, and she knew he didn’t feel a thing. Still, she couldn’t stop the tears from falling onto her lap over the sight of Mark’s body. She knew it was the beginning of a new life for him, a life that would be full of miraculous adventures, with ample amounts of both treasure and danger. She also enhanced the token by using her blood and borrowed mana from her summons, this small action will improve Mark’s new life in a big way. This will make them related by blood and also her heir. Mark didn’t know that she was a princess of the Resplendent Orchid Sect.

  Wanting him to do this not for her or out of greed but for a want for adventure and a new life. Mark proved that he was as selfless as his parents and was never afraid to take the path less traveled. This gift, while a big one, wasn't an instant boost to power or gold. He would receive one gift, like all blood related members from her father, but after he would receive the same treatment as all new cultivators of the Resplendent Orchid Sect. Blood related or not, he would have to work for his inheritance, just like she did. After that, he would get the rest by reaching certain levels and cultivation ranks. There was one more reason for doing this besides helping him on his path. She asked Mark to tell her father that she was alive and a normal person with no royal blood wouldn't get access to the king.

  She would miss him. She has been watching over him when he was only seven years old, taking on the responsibility after Mark’s parents had died protecting her. Her of all people, she who had once stood in front of an army of demonic angels and slew them all with her impressive speed and sword prowess alongside her powerful summoned creatures. Yet because of a simple mistake, she ended up trapped in a realm with no mana and she wasn't able to find a way back. Everyone that took the path of the realm lord knew that there was this risk and a simple check of the realm crystal could stop this from happening ninety-nine percent of the time.

  “Why the tears?” a quiet yet screechy voice asked. “He wanted this, and you wanted this. Although I don’t see why he deserves this gift and your only real escape from this mana bare realm. I have personally checked more than a dozen times for a world in this realm with enough mana to get you home. Not a one, it has even been slowly draining my vast mana pool.”

  “You know why Nova.” Silva dried her eyes with a tissue she pulled from a small box on her desk and turned to look at the little owl sitting on his wood perch. “I owe his father and mother that much for saving me. They defended me when I was at my weakest moment.”

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  “You should of…”

  “I know what you think I should have done.” Cutting Nova off. “I have explained this many times to you. If I would have chosen one of them, they would have never forgiven me. They would have been thrust into a world never knowing what happened to their spouse or their child. Heart broke, wishing that they had died and not the other. The grief would have gotten unbearable.”

  “I still think you should have used that token yourself to get back to your realm. I am beyond bored on this planet and going a bit stir crazy, I know you believe this boy might have the potential to free you, but who knows if that is true and what if it is. How long will we have to wait for him to find this realm?”

  “I know it is a gamble, but I believe this is a better option than losing all the progress I have made. The token would completely reset my level and cultivation, which you very well know. While it was a valuable escape item for the desperate, it comes at a very high cost. It is essentially a rebirth through death, an item to use when you have no other choice. My father, who has a seemingly never-ending vault of wealth, could only have a few of these made and given to the immediate family. I would also lose you and Fyre.” She looked down and softly patted her pocket on her hoodie. Fyre poked her small nose out of the pocket and sniffed at the air and quickly pulled her head back into the pocket. “You two are the only companions I have left, and I don’t want to lose you as well. But if you would like to leave, I won’t keep you here against your will. I can still break the contract as I don’t need mana for that.”

  Nova shook his head with a loud “hoot” in astonishment. He would never leave her side, regardless of the outcome. “No, I don't want to leave your side, I will wait with you to see what comes with your gamble. Although we have scoured this realm and your mana is depleted, we need to keep searching on our end. A realm crystal might still be hidden in a concealed area.

  “I agree even though I have made good friends on this planet, I would still like to get back home. Why don't you go out and do another sweep of this realm. I will contact you through your grimoire if anything changes.”

  “I will hopefully comeback with some good news. Why don’t you also send… look.” Hooted Nova.

  Silva wasn't able to turn away from the chair where Mark’s body sat as she watched Mark’s body slowly turn transparent and then, without a sound, it vanished. “That was quicker than I would have imagined.”

  “Time moves differently in the vast either.”

  Silva got up and picked up the teacup off the small table next to the chair Mark was sitting in. “Mark’s new life is now starting.”

  “Hooot, what do you think Mark’s new race will be?”

  “I have no idea as that will depend on his core. I am more interested in what his core class will be.”

  “Well, I will head out now. You should send Fyre to search underground near the center of the planet. She is a crimson badger, after all.”

  Silva watched as Nova spread his wings quick and silent he flew out the window and vanished into the night. Silva looked down at the little moving lump in her pocket, Nova was right of course. She looked to the chair where Mark was sitting just an hour ago and sighed. “Good luck Mark.”