1513: Final Gift

Final Gift

"I was happy. Though this man never accepted me as his wife, I was still happy. I understood that I was unworthy.1

"This man raised himself up from the lowest low to the highest high. He unified the whole of the mortal plane. His words brought peace… His head stood above the clouds and his feet were sturdier than even the earth itself. He destroyed his enemies with a sweep of his hand and protected his loved ones with a wide, strong back."

Rose trembled. Unifying an entire Plane? Just what kind of concept was that? It was bordering on fantasy. But, Rose didn't doubt her Master's words for even a moment.

"It was when this man reached his peak that he turned to face his greatest enemy, an enemy who sought to plunge the whole of the mortal plane into an era of Chaos.

"He fought valiantly, protecting us all to his back. But, in the end, he wasn't enough. Even for him, battling a Transcendent while chained to the bounds of the mortal plane was too much. And finally, that man I watched rise to the very top of all that was died.

"It was only after that that the seal on my memories shattered. I finally understood exactly why it was that I wasn't worthy to be his wife… But I also understood that he had spent his whole life protecting me.

"The man I loved was gone, and his empire crumbled before my eyes. However, I, the one most unworthy, survived. Fate loves to play these sorts of disgusting jokes. Who was I to be worthy of such a thing?

"I wondered for a long time. Watching the world fester on its own destruction... It was then that the Timeless Library, something my most beloved man believed he had destroyed, appeared once more…"

The more Jade spoke, the more it seemed her words faded into the background. Rose listened to every word, unwilling to miss the last representation of her master's existence.

"… Do you know why I chose the name Evangeline Moon, Little Rose?" Jade smiled. "My family name, Eostre, is actually translated to Moon in ancient Elvin language. But, when I learned about my most beloved man's homeland, I found out that Eostre was goddess who was celebrated by means of a pagan holiday which was decided by the phases of the Moon.

"I thought that this was most fitting. What better word was there to describe my family if not Pagan? We are truly the Moon. Always destined to reflect the Sun's rays, but never fated to produce light of our own.

"However, I still chose the name Evangeline which carries practically the opposite meaning. How funny, I chose a first name that embodies good, but a last name that always falls short.

"I came to this timeline with the hopes of changing my beloved man's future. He doesn't need my help to rise to the top. He is already destined to do so. No one on this pitiful mortal plane is qualified to be my beloved man's match.

"Although I've brought the troubles he will face forward by several thousand years, I have full confidence that he will crush them all. My only role is to sacrifice myself to give him the smallest of pushes.

"From today forward, this younger me will be your disciple. Do you understand, Little Rose?"

"… Yes, Master."

"This burden is not yours to carry. I only want you to pass on my teachings to her. Once you've finished this task, your life is your own to live. You are free, do you understand?"

Tears streamed down Rose's cherry cheeks. "Yes, Master."

"Good. Then I will give you one last gift."

Jade stood, embracing her disciple.

When one becomes a Higher Existence, the kernel of a Faith Seed begins to form. However, this Faith Seed is very different from one left behind be a Transcendent. This Faith Seed carries all of a Higher Existence's cultivation.

This was the final gift Jade left for Rose. In exchange for never reincarnating again, she left the world in silence.

Rose's hands overlapped over her chest as though she was grasping as Jade's dissipated body. She could feel what remained of her master stored deep within her, but it didn't make her feel any better… Despite knowing that the young lady that was slumbering before her was in fact her master as well, the sense of loss was overwhelming.

The Jade that was now gone was her own person, someone who had experienced countless million years of life. But, the Jade before her now wasn't that person. She wasn't anywhere near as mature, and even more obviously, was nowhere near as powerful.

Rose hadn't been much of anything before Jade found her. It could be said that Jade was the mother she never had. And now, that person was gone.

Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Rose walked to Jade's bedside and took her away.

"You have all the potential in the world." Rose said as she escaped Soul Palace. "You've paid enough of a price, I won't let you pay anymore."

Maybe Rose was still too immature herself. Rationality told her that it wasn't her place to forgive Jade, but how could she feel any different? To her, Jade was under her protection now. Anyone who disagreed, even if it was her beloved man, would feel her wrath.

Now, Rose had the capital to back up her words. Of course, integrating Jade's cultivation would take time, but she would be able to cultivate faster than even someone who had the aid of the Energy Core. Maybe it wouldn't be more than a hundred more years before a new Peak Dao Expert was born, and not more than ten thousand before a new Higher Existence was birthed.

As for Jade's potential, Rose didn't lie about this either.

Several decades ago, when Dyon awoke from his coma, he learned that the kernels were separated into yin and yang. He realized then that his soul kernel was missing its other half. What he didn't know was that this other half went to Jade!

pqdm.com