As the wielder of the Silver Wheel of Stars, I’m more aware of the passing of time and the accumulation of karma—not even gods are immune to these things. Sister, if I send you through reincarnation, all familial ties between us end here. The balance is more important than one person, no matter who they are. Are you sure this is what you want?

~Arianrhod, Goddess of Rebirth and Fate

Song Xue was chasing Crow across a bridge in the back courtyard. The bridge spanned a narrow section of the lake leading towards the rock shelf. A small mountain rose thirty meters high, and a waterfall spilled out from near the top, crashing into the lake below.

The entire courtyard exemplified the ability of Druids and their engineering capabilities. Even witnessing its construction, the back half of the Maddox manor looked like they’d preserved the area in time. It was a testament to the cleverness of the design.

There was also a medicinal garden blended in with the landscape. Those without a Source might find the layout wasteful, but ordinary humans could not see that each location, while seemingly inconvenient, was ideal for those plants. It allowed them to absorb more mana from their surroundings.

Animals, mostly small and harmless, cohabited the place as well. They, too, exuded mana that was important to the overall ecology created. However, all of it was to benefit cultivators. The balance of mana in certain areas helped those with specific affinities.

It was also safe for children because Druids took special note of children around them. Letting a child come to harm violated everything Mother Danu taught them and was why older generations wouldn’t meddle in the younger generation’s affairs. Acting as guides, teachers, and protectors—this is the expectation of the older generations. Intervening in their disputes was taboo unless death was a consequence. It was a hard world with tyrannical rules.

Conall and Song Lin followed Crow and Xue’er into the courtyard. Rather than chase the kids, both sat on a bench in front of the lake. He’d known the truth of the Song sister’s plight, even the lies she had to tell. It wasn’t even the Morrison clan that forced her into this situation. Druid law states that if a child has no mother, the clan will take the child in and place it with a family that can provide for it.

Everyone knew Song Lin wasn’t Xue’er’s mother. Those with a strong enough Source would know the girl had never lain with a man, so she had born no children. It was a blatant lie, but Druid’s understood the situation and tactfully looked the other way. As long as Song Lin provided for the girl, no one would say anything.

That was a small lie to hide the even bigger secret—one that hadn’t even escaped the eastern continent. A secret that Conall, Luthais, and Song Lin kept secret for the last five years. Powerful forces existed that all cultivators treated with care, like the Druid Order. The Song clan was one of these entities too—‘was’ as in it no longer existed. The Song sisters were the last of their line.

“You can stay with us if this is going to be a problem,” Conall said, finally breaking the silence.

“I…can’t. Our clan might not exist, but with the number of treasures I have on me, the Xu clan will come for us—eventually. I won’t implicate the people that saved us.”

“Silly girl, you think I fear the Xu clan? My enemy is far more dangerous.”

“It is fine. It’s resolved for now, and Morris won’t dare cause trouble for now. Clan head Lach still adamantly protects us. No one dares mistreat us, not yet anyway.”

“If that day comes, I insist you join us. No arguing, got it?” Conall stared at the girl until she slightly bowed her head. “Good.”

“Xu Chen is a monster,” Song Lin breathed. “I opened my Source so early all to absorb that vestige left by my mother, so no one else could get it. I nearly destroyed my mind to do it. I’m not a prodigy Alchemist. I just have the accumulation of all our clan’s Alchemy knowledge in my head. I also opened my Source so I could climb the tower and escape my fate. I look at those two playing and recall I’m also part of the younger generation. I only turned fifteen this year. I am still a child. Did you know that?”

Song Lin silently sobbed, and Conall’s large hand rested on her small back, offering what comfort he could.

“Responsibility comes for us all. It’s a test of heart and resolve. Either you rise to the challenge or suffer defeat at its hands. Even my boy is suffering despite what you see out there. No one knows this, but he’s opened his Druid bloodline. His memory is near perfect, and he won’t forget anything—including his mother’s abduction. People like you and him have little choice. Grow stronger or bury your grievances and live a normal life, you two don’t have a third option.”

“All I feel is anger in my heart, and want to break that evil man with my bare hands. And your advice is to accept the hand of fate?” Song Lin’s voice grew angry, and her tears dried up. It was no longer the shaky voice of a confused child.

“No. Your people often confuse fate and destiny. Fate is based on prediction, and it isn’t about acceptance but determination. Never accept an outcome you don’t like and never use fate as a crutch. Fate is a road to guide you to your destination, but it doesn’t mean you have to follow it.”

Song Lin’s little fists clenched tightly, but she was nodding her head. They remained in silence for a while before Song Lin finally unclenched her hands.

“Do…” She spoke and paused. “Do you think my mother is alive?”

Conall’s head snapped up. He’d assumed the girl had witnessed her parents’ death.

“You don’t know?”

“Mother rushed us into the tower once the inner defenses fell. I wasn’t there at the end. Nor did I have time to wait because our safehold inside the tower was under attack. Holding onto Song Xue, I fled for the Ascent.

“I know little of the Song clan, but I know your mother was a powerful woman, with an admirable skill set which you’ve inherited. That makes her valuable. I also know your father is just as strong, if not stronger than me. He isn’t the fighter I am, but he was a master strategist. If anyone could survive, it is him—if he still draws breath, then so does your mother.”

“You didn’t answer the question.”

Conall sighed in exasperation, knowing she was forcing him to answer a question he did not want to answer. It hit a little too close to home.

“I want to tell you she is dead, so you give up on the notion and move past it, so it doesn’t ruin your cultivation.” Conall let out his pent up breath. “But…if I did, I’d have to tell myself my wife is also dead. Hope can inspire greatness, but it can also crush the soul. Instead, I will say this—focus on your cultivation. Only with strength will you be able to know for sure. Only with power can you take her from the mouth of the dragon, or slay it if she no longer exists in this world.”

Song Lin’s round little face went through a series of emotions before it finally sank into the abyss. Conall was startled and thought he hadn’t said anything wrong.

“There is something else I’ve not told any of you,” she mumbled. “My fiancé chased me through the tower, forcing my climb. A Sapphire Shield is the end for me. I ruined my cultivation to protect my sister. I’ll never be able to vent my anger or get my revenge.”

“Your foundation is broken?”

“Yes. It is too unstable to climb to another floor. I tried, and it almost killed me. There are no medicines or methods to fix this issue.”

Conall remained silent, but his mouth opened before he slowly closed it again. Not that he had nothing to say, but feared to say what he knew. He could hear Ciara telling him to remain silent, but Conall couldn’t do that. The girl deserved a chance, even if the opportunity was slim.

“Years ago, when I first met my wife, a man attacked me. He refused to let me take Ciara away, but he wasn’t there in person, so in a desperate move, he clasped onto my Shield and tried to wrench it out of my body. The pain itself nearly killed me, but I refined my Shield while the connection was weak. I used its energy to resist. There might be a way to fix your issue, but you must tell no one this story.”

“Tell me.” Song Lin’s voice hardened. It was no longer the weak little girl speaking, but the mistress of a clan. Conall’s eyes glowed upon seeing this and realized this girl had a lot more inner strength than he’d thought. On the other hand, her inner demons had grabbed hold tightly enough that her tribulations would only become more intense.

“Very well. Because I could refine my Shield, I believe the protection is just solidified mana, or Qi if you prefer. The tower is a method for purifying the Shield of elemental particulates. The Maddox clan has a device of ancient design that converts Source into mana crystals. It is not the same as that generic technique everyone uses.”

“How does that help?” Song Lin tried to process everything but didn’t see how a device would help her Shield. She’d made mana crystals, but it didn’t help during cultivation.

“If your Shield is mana, then it is reasonable to assume you could insert it into the machine and convert it to mana crystals. It’d be excruciating, but if you endure, you could refine it until you’ve eliminated the Shield and started over.”

“Do it.” She said decisively.

“Relax. It isn’t something we can rush. Ten years will be long enough to complete it, and we must work with my brother on the process. No one understands our bodies better than him.”

“Why ten years?”

Conall looked towards the children playing. “You are still part of the younger generation. So you can enter with them. I’m going to warn you again; it is extremely painful. We won’t do it all at once, and you’ll probably need a year to recover in between sessions.”

“Fine,” she said with a fire in her eyes that wasn’t there before.

“Hope is a powerful thing, but it’s just as dangerous. Steel your heart for what is coming.”

Conall turned to see the kids huddled together as if up to no good. He couldn’t help but smile. He wasn’t sure how many good days his boy had left like this. Even after a year, Conall couldn’t understand one thing—why was the boy naked?