The Core Part 8
1379 Words
Xei pretended not to notice Nephrite’s indifference.
They looked at each other. “Next time, it’s your turn to do this so try to remember everything.”
Nephrite only nodded in agreement.
They went down from the platform, Nephrite followed him in silence.
“What do you think? Doesn’t it look nice?” Xei asked again. Nephrite considered before he hummed, “Flashy.” Then he continued walking. However, he could never fool Xei forever.
Nephrite was about to walk towards their vehicle when a strong pair of hands pulled him. Xei gripped on him like there was no tomorrow and pushed Nephrite on the wall.
Both of them should be celebrating the success of their first mission. But the tension between them made it all thrown at the back of their heads.
“Why are you avoiding me, Nephrite?” Xei questioned him, his voice laced with confusion and other thick emotions.
He did not know what happened. Nephrite avoided him since they left Ram’s house. And even if the other responded to him, it’s all perfunctory.
The question snapped something inside of Nephrite. “Am I obligated to talk to you?”
Xei wasn’t able to refute.
Nephrite glared at him, “You even kept some things from me. What exactly happened during our first mission?”
“What—”
Before Xei could even speak, Nephrite pushed and twisted their position. In a flash, Xei was already the one standing by the wall, cornered. Xei was taller than Nephrite and his presence was usually stronger and more dominant. Even so, Nephrite still gathered his courage and looked him straight in the eyes.
“Do you think I’m blind?! Do you really think I won't notice that there’s a change between us?”
Xei also looked at his eyes. Nephrite felt something churned in his stomach but he ignored it.
“I heard you say it was useless to tell it because I don’t remember. How would you know? You already judged me on your own. What kind of thoughts did you harbor all this time? Wait, maybe there are no thoughts at all. Am I not worthy to know the truth?”
Nephrite’s bottled-up emotions overflowed without warning, catching Xei off-guard.
Even Nephrite did not anticipate this reaction from himself.
The person he trusted the most turned out to be filled with lies. But Agase saved him by asking Xei for a favor.
Despite the lies Agase fed him, he saved him. So this person Agase trusted, Nephrite also decided to trust. But what did he get?
Yes, Xei did not lie but did not trust him in return, keeping the details that Nephrite had the right to know.
How can he not be angry? How can he not be upset?
Shock flashed in Xei’s eyes. Nephrite continued, “Don’t you think I did not realize? When you were near, when I touched you, something felt different! But it made me confused. Questions filled my brain, Xei! But there was no answer. You wanted to keep me in the dark. Am I not worthy or do you think I am worthless?”
Xei stood there, dumbfounded. He was so shocked his brain could not follow up. He kept his gaze at Nephrite. He never expected things would lead to this confrontation.
Nephrite knew he was also being unreasonable but he couldn't help but feel angry. For some reason, he felt like Xei played him.
No one spoke anymore. All of a sudden, Nephrite felt his body lose a lot of energy. Without leaving another word, Nephrite walked back to their vehicle, leaving the confused Xei to reflect on his mistake.
_______
They still had to prepare and enter the next world. But Nephrite did not want to stay with Xei in one place for a moment. Since he already had access to most parts of the Memory Bank, he decided to familiarize himself with the surroundings.
The employees he came across greeted him but there’s something in their eyes that made him feel like it cut through his skin, as if being dissected.
Nephrite sighed. He still doesn’t understand why most people seem like they don’t like his presence. If he based on the info Xei’s group provided, was not his role advantageous in saving this universe from falling apart? He saw it himself how the memory fragment healed the dead branch representation at the Heart earlier. So it was not a ruse, was it?
“Are you worried why people are looking at you like that?”
Nephrite jumped off in surprise.
“Did I scare you?” the man said nonchalantly, his amber eyes fixed at Nephrite.
“May I know what Director Lu means?” Nephrite asked, vigilant.
Lu Huxian leaned against the wall, stared at Nephrite for a long time. “Beats me.”
Nephrite did not need another word. He walked away. What the fudge, where’s the serious man with a villainous aura during the meeting? Was director Lu possessed or something?
“I’m sorry,” Nephrite halted. He did expect to hear those words but not from this person. Either way, he had no choice but to look back.
Director Lu stood properly as he turned and continued, “ I know you might think I have evil intentions to you. After all, I did suggest turning your Q-Light… to turn you into a tool.”
Nephrite did not answer so he continued, “You probably think I was inhumane, cruel, heartless. But I had reasons why I said that.”
“When travelers sign a contract with Soul Hunters, they pay us their chance to reincarnate. Do you know why?”
Nephrite had an idea but he shook his head.
“It was to maintain the balance of the worlds. Without a price to pay, how could you keep things in place?”
Director Lu walked towards the glass wall and peered at the busy skyline outside. It looked almost identical to the metropolis' skyline in Nephrite’s world. If only there were no aircraft and air traffic control devices and the clear and beautiful starry sky, Nephrite would think he was home.
Home.
If not for the lack of alternative words, he won’t use this term.
He had a house but not anymore.
Back when he lived alone, he considered Agase as his family but…
Nephrite stopped thinking about it.
Director Lu turned back at him. “What do you think Memory Hunters pay as a price?”
He continued without waiting for Nephrite’s answer, “Memory Hunters enter the world using their memories. The vessel they used was signed with Soul Hunters but once they used it, they only used the vessel’s memories. No payment was required and a part of the vessel’s soul remained.”
“Was that not a bad thing?”
“Have you ever considered the effect of making a deal without payment?”
Nephrite could not get Director Lu wanted to point out. But before he could ask, someone grabbed his arm. “Director Lu.”
“Master Xei.”
They did not give a perfunctory greeting to each other. Director Lu turned to him again.
“Mr. Wang, please think of what I said today. You might discover the answer while exploring those worlds, anyway.” Only that and he left.
No one spoke between him and Xei at first. They just stood there motionless.
It was Nephrite who broke the silence, “Are we leaving?”
Xei nodded.
They walked together to the laboratory.
“Next time, tell me.”
Xei turned at him, startled out of stupor.
Nephrite continued, “Tell me. Even if you think I will hate it. Even if you think I will not accept it. Don’t lie to me and let me decide on my own. I won’t be unfair.” I’m not unreasonable.
Nephrite did not wait for Xei’s reply. Though he was not angry anymore, he’s still a bit upset.
He closed his eyes as he entered the capsule and quietly waited for his partner.
Things would be okay. No rush.
Before Nephrite’s consciousness faded, he felt a soft warm touch on the tips of his finger.
Careful. Patient. Dissipating the uncertainty inside his heart.
- Writer
