Page 293 of Light Leech

Ralia was looking at me. Seeing her confused was a rare sight. Even when she was, she tended to hide it.

Her eyes widened, then she pointed at another person who was passing through the veil.

I pulled up my nose and snorted. Without the air to produce the sound, it was a silent gesture that made me look like a fool. She scowled, then raised her eyebrows, not pleased. She understood what I had done to gain a hint and I hoped she was willing to work with her Gui as well.

“Beat you there,” I said. I didn’t have any confidence but feigned the competitive attitude that I knew would drive her.

She smiled, then focused on the characters again.

Let me guess, this would have been easier had I already ascended?

“You are ascending, bakuh. You have already, and you must continue to do so. Do you understand what it means to ascend?”

No. If I did, I figure I wouldn’t be stuck listening to your begging anymore.

“When we joined, you were but a Violet soul on the antispectrum. You were quick to reach Indigo and with my aid, managed to reach Blue. You are pushing yourself well now, but Green is still out of reach.”

And Red? What happens at the end?

Zhu snorted. Despite me being a human and him being… well, adjacent to a human and a swine, I had learned to pick up on his emotions. He had them, despite his hardened approach and continual scorn that reminded me of my running coach back in Medislavia.

This laugh was not the familiar jovial mocking.

Zhu was worried.

If I could have seen his face, I’m sure that I would be able to see past the wrinkles and tusks, recognizing trepidation in this ancient being.

“If you hope to defeat Gong, you must pass Red.”

And what lies beyond?

“Forgive me, for even I do not know.”

I stared at the characters.

Did any of this matter if we could only defeat Gong by passing what I once thought to be the highest stage of ascension? Shouldn’t we be focusing on ascending rather than wasting our time here?

Even though the thoughts weren’t aimed at him, he responded.

“This is how you ascend. Furthering yourself in both mind and body.”

Couldn’t you have told me that from the beginning?

“Making you learn for yourself pushed you towards ascension. If you remain stagnant, the world will perish. Push yourself by any means possible.”

What about the others and their Gui?

“Focus on yourself.”

But do we all have to reach beyond Red to defeat Gong?

“Every victory has its cost. The fewer of you there are, the greater the price.”

Would I have to sacrifice myself if the others failed? Would one of them have to if I failed them?

“Focus on the present.”

I had no desire to look at those characters. The sight of them revulsed me.