Page 92 of Light Leech

Eyes wide and mouths agape, her captives nodded. Their pale affect caused me to wonder.

“Yes, she is using Sha,” Zhu confirmed.

And she looks more confident than usual.

“Yet her heart remains distant. She is using him like a flame on the end of a pole that she would drop before it reaches her.”

Don’t think poorly of her because of it.

“I never suggested that I did.”

I know, I just…

“She is not to blame. Sha has been distant since we joined with you all.”

And he was normal before that?

“I suppose so, but my perception of time is not like yours. What is my yesterday may very well be centuries ago to you.”

So Sha has been a problem for centuries?“I never said that. Sha has been distant. That is all I will confirm. Perhaps that is why he was chosen to accompany the most amiable among you. Ralia may be the only one capable of bearing such a burden.”

Had it taken a spiritual swine’s words for me to see that? I loved Ralia but couldn’t shirk the frustration I felt for her uncooperative behavior as far as Gui were concerned. Seeing her before me now embracing her enemies to defeat them in this competition, I recalled all she had done for me. When in darkness, her hand was light, reaching out into the depths of the abyss even if the shadows stung her. Where she deserved aid, I bridled scorn. As she had served us, she deserved love to conquer the divide between her and her Gui. Noting her struggles with Sha, I wondered if Boyband or I would have failed in her position.

Ralia let go of their arms and stepped back. She whispered to them and turned away, bringing her two new recruits along with her towards another group of unsuspecting scholars.

Ralia didn’t need my help. I could have used hers but did not want to inhibit her course to victory.

I found the man I had convinced of my falsehood and joined him in conversation with two scholars whose tented eyebrows and cunning smiles beckoned my and Zhu’s persuasion.

Chapter sixteen

On the Same Wavelength

Translucent fish swam through the air. I reached out to touch one but felt nothing as my fingers passed through the light construct.

3Rochi led us towards a table surrounded by a circular bench with floating backrests. Everything was cast in a blue glow as if we were underwater with pale highlights shimmering in the air like rippling light from the sea’s surface.

Soft, bubbly Finian-produced instrumentals gave a subtle ambience to the tame conversations around Wavelength. Half of the tables were occupied by smaller groups than ours of five. Some sat alone, sipping vibrant light-infused drinks while their eyes flashed with neurospace usage.

Koa took a handful of the fish-shaped snacks from the bowl in the center of the table and kicked her legs onto the empty seat next to her.

“Try some,” she said as she noticed my eyes on her. “You like fish?”

I nodded, took three, and shoved them into my mouth. I was growing hungry for more than food and hoped a small snack would compensate for however long we would be with them. It had a slight fishy taste, but it was not strong enough to leave the residual feeling of the sea in my mouth. Each piece was airy and dissolved within a few bites. After eating, the smell of sea water overcame my senses.

A Finian approached us in a sleeveless tuxedo, displaying pale arms with glowing tattoo sleeves. He placed a coaster before each of us. “Anything to drink?” he asked.

“Surprise me,” Kao said.

“Whiskey on the rocks,” Koro said.

“Milk,” Kyo said.

She raised her eyebrows, noticing my attention on her.

“Yes, of course they have the real stuff here. I won’t order any of that artificial guk and have grown sick of trying to find it elsewhere but here you can count on.”

I looked up at the waiter. Maybe Akna was onto something, but I doubted she drank anything as real as this. “I’ll have a glass of milk as well.”