Your Divination Has Erred
- "Sarry, I think he tried to hint that you need to get laid," Peri said. "I know for a fact that you haven't in this life. It might do you some good. Tamoko is dead, bro... and apart from matters of heart, there are some natural needs to take care of."
Imoen and Jelena were bathing and Winski was visiting Ang Ning's library with their host.
- "It is easy for you to say. You can live in the moment and enjoy carnal pleasures for what they are worth. I am not made that way. Every waking moment, and in my dreams, I am much aware of what is spiritual and of importance in the multiverse. Every deed carries a symbolic meaning, speakes of my dedication to what I deem important. Heat of passion and warm flesh... they only remind me of my youth, and of the bond I once shared with my true love. She is dead, yes. But if I must feel the natural urges only to despair remembering her, then it perhaps serves as a just punishment for driving her to her death."
Peri shook her head.
- "You are not kidding, are you," she said. "Just punishment indeed... you are immortal, get it! There are not many who could harm you, and..."
Sarevok's stubborn expression bespoke that nothing of Peri's sentiment went through. She walked next to her brother and stroked the smooth head. Sarevok sighed, staring ahead. Some minutes went by in this fashion, the happy silvery laughter of the artificial stream somehow absurd in the background.
A pretty servant girl arrived carrying a tray of tea and fortune cookies, the family and the host in tow.
- "There is a legend in Kozakura, familiar to me courtesy of research cooperation with a Kozakuran wu jen, you know..." Wu Ang Ning said pensively and gazed at Sarevok, his expression enigmatic.
- "Yes?" Jelena said encouragingly when Sarevok just cocked his eyebrow.
- "The legend states that there is an invisible thread connecting those who are each other's true love and destined to marry," the half-spirit went on, "and this spell can gauge on that thread."
- "Awww! A great spell!" Imoen smiled. "Can it show you who it is?"
- "No," Ang Ning smiled. "But it does show the approximate distance and the direction of your true love. In fact... I have a spool of red thread and a glass disk here, as is needed for casting the spell."
- "Why would you cast it?" Sarevok asked tensely, trying to hide a frown of displeasure.
- "I... thought that I would try to lift your spirit, sad one," the man replied.
- "Cast for me first! Pretty please!" Imoen said.
- "My pleasure. I do not wish to..." Sarevok muttered as Imoen was practically bouncing up and down.
- "Very well, most distinguished pink one," smiled Ang Ning. He concentrated for a moment, pulled some of the thread over the glass plate and uttered 'aiyoku noomoa akuen'.
He was quiet for a moment.
- "Well?" Imoen looked almost frightened. She fears that she won't find a love at all, Peri realized.
- "Your true love is far, far away. In the west, somewhere."
- "It's all right. I will find him," Imoen smiled.
- "Sarevok, let him cast the spell," Peri said. Sarevok shrugged, a cynical smile on his face. Ang Ning repeated the process of casting the spell, and after a while a wide smile spread on his face.
- "I was hoping for this," he said.
- "For what?" Sarevok frowned, a petulant expression on his face.
- "You have a true love waiting for you. This sadness will pass and you will yet be happy," the wu jen explained.
Sarevok snorted and was about to protest, but Peri cut in.
- "Where?" Her whole face was a radiant smile.
- "Not as far away as the one of the pink lady's. The sad one's true love waits for him in Kozakura! And that is where you are heading!" Ang Ning beamed.
- "Oh. That explains it," Sarevok said, deflated. "The lady, the dead one, was a samurai of Kozakura. Your spell is showing the thread yet..." he struggled against tears.
But the wu jen was shaking his head.
- "Oh no. Dead ones don't show up. This spell only shows those on the Material Plane. You will love again, believe me!"
- "No. I will never again feel such respect and bond with a woman. Even if I could, it would be wrong to dishonor her so. I will forever carry this melancholy in my soul," Sarevok said. "Your divination has erred."
Ang Ning was about to argue, but thought the better of it. He shrugged and flashed a brief smile at Peri, though.
