Ambrose leaned against the wall, his eyes lightly closed as he panted laboriously. The others were relieved to see he was tired. It meant there was still hope for him. Grantz who were nearing the end recovered at an astonishing pace and rarely showed signs of fatigue.
Ambrose opened his eyes after catching his breath. His gaze swept past the other occupants of the room to the child sitting on a small stool in the corner.
As the Grantz who had faced Ye Muo’s psychic power head-on, he was well aware of every change that had taken place within his psychic domain. He closed his eyes and smiled faintly. “Could you come over here, Xavier?”
The other Grantz turned to look at him. Fiona stepped aside from her position up front. She lowered her voice, “It’s fine if you don’t want to. Not everyone wants to hang around with this old geezer. I wouldn’t either, but he is my brother.”
Ambrose just continued smiling.
Salem glanced at her and murmured, “That’s kinda gross.”
He doubled over in pain as Fiona promptly jabbed him in the stomach.
Casper, accustomed to this, murmured from the back, “You’re the same as ever, Salem. You know you don’t have to provoke her, right?”
Ye Muo stood up, less tense than before. “It’s fine.”
He went over with Theodore in his arms and slowly knelt on the floor. He covered Ambrose’s palm with his own.
Ambrose’s smile deepened. He glanced at the others, then looked at his own hand and clenched it close with some effort. “Well, this is a new experience.”
“You’re a good kid, Xavier. So tell me…”
The smile vanished from his face. “Did what happened early have an impact on you?”
Ye Muo met his gaze. After a few seconds, he shook his head. “No, it didn’t affect me.”
“You understand what I’m asking about, yes?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Death is a natural thing. I’m not opposed to it anymore.”
Ye Muo fell silent for a beat, “But I haven’t gotten used to it, not yet.”
Norton and the others had protected him well, but Ye Muo was no stranger to death. He too had once formed his psychic power into blades and decapitated his enemies without hesitation. Still, it was different when it involved someone he knew.
Ambrose spoke slowly, “No one ever gets used to it. You’re forced to accept it over time. It’s painful, but it’s also a part of growing up.”
Ye Muo’s psychic power flowed through their clasped hands into Ambrose’s psychic domain.
The intrusion was abrupt and forceful. Ambrose paused. He took a few seconds to steady himself before chuckling softly. “Alright, let’s leave it here for now. You’re still a child. You can afford to be stubborn.”
Theodore stared silently at their joined hands, his tail wrapping around Ye Muo’s wrist.
Ambrose glanced over his head at Ethan, who shook his head. He knew what Ambrose wanted to ask, but he wasn’t sure if this would affect Ye Muo either. But Ye Muo didn’t seem like the type to lie.
Ye Muo lowered his head, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.
Ambrose sighed. “Perhaps some quiet will do us good.”
The Grantz in the room began to stir. Those crouching rose to their feet, and those leaning against walls straightened up.
Theodore also hopped down from Ye Muo’s lap, something he rarely did. He told Ye Muo when he turned to look. “It’s alright, Xavier. I’ll always be here. Everything will be alright. Take a nap if you feel tired.”
Ye Muo felt those words were familiar somehow. He obediently rested his head on the bed, some of his anxiety settling. “Just don’t go too far away, okay?”
“I’ll be downstairs, Xavier.”
Ambrose looked at the small head nestled beside his hand. He had to restrain the urge to reach over and touch it.
The last to leave was Rika, who held the door for Theodore. Only after he stepped out did he turn to Ye Muo. Casper peered over his shoulder. “Just call me if you get hungry, okay?”
Ye Muo had already closed his eyes and settled into a comfortable position. He gave a soft hum in response.
……
Ethan and the other stood up as the Grantz came downstairs. He spoke first, “How did it go?”
“He seems fine for now,” Fiona replied, “Xavier is with him.”
She paused, “Keep your mouths shut about this. Not a word is to leave this room.”
Brian responded first, “Of course, we understand.”
His eyes sparkled. “So that means we’ve saved Ambrose.”
Theodore hopped onto the table and primly sat down. There was a very serious look on his furry face.
The Grantz paused and turned to watch him.
Casper opened a can of preserved fruit and pushed it toward him. “Hungry? I’ve got juice too. It’s hard to come by these days but I can share a bottle.”
“Thanks, but I can get all the energy I need from sunlight.”
Brian nodded from the side. “He’s a robot, a high-end one that can even lie. He was like this before too–”
Brian paused mid-sentence, his gaze shifting to Theodore. “So when you told me there was no solution, that was a lie too?”
“What are you implying? I rarely lie.”
Brian, who moments ago seemed even-keeled, now bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, every hair on his body stood on end in fury. “Then why did you only lie to me?”
Theodore sat perfectly upright. “Perhaps it’s because you’re easily deceived. But it’s true that I rarely lie.”
“It’s also true that those in the Grantz family will continue to inevitably die young. The only factor I left out was Xavier.”
The hall fell silent.
Theodore looked up as if he could see Ye Muo curled up in the room overhead.
“Xavier is a good boy. I watched him grow up from the moment he was born to now. None of you have any idea about the hardships he’s endured, the sacrifices he’s made.”
Ethan frowned, looking as if he wanted to head back upstairs.
The cat on the table twirled around, transforming into a youth as translucent as ice. His skin was even paler than his light-coloured clothes. “Xavier wouldn’t want to see you.”
Ethan seemed unconvinced. “It almost appears like I care more about him than you do.”
Theodore remained crouched on the table like a big cat. “This approach won’t work on me. The only side I’m on is Xavier’s.”
Ethan fell silent with a gesture from Fiona. He stopped where he was but had no intentions of coming back.
Fiona turned to Theodore. “Would you mind cluing us in? There must be a reason you left Xavier’s side and followed us. We’re not your enemies.”
Theodore ignored the first question. “Help us find a broadsword.”
“Any distinguishing features?”
“Yes.”
Theodore tilted his head. “A gemstone from the Tanzar treasury is embedded in its hilt.”
Beside him, Arval abruptly straightened before lowering his head in deep thought. As an offworlder, he was more familiar with those outside nations.
Tanzar was a major power whose strength was not to be underestimated. Originally an empire, its decision to transition to a parliamentary system was linked inexorably to the situation here. It was Tanzar that had first proposed the Rift Initiative.
Even now, many components of the starships patrolling overhead bore Tanzar’s markings. Arval had once observed technicians at work, the rows upon rows of parts before them all bearing the Tanzanian emblem.
Ethan turned slightly. “That’s a broad description. What kind of gemstone?”
“A very famous one, the Moon Glow.”
Arval’s head snapped this way.
Brian noticed. “What? You know of it? Tell us then so we can go grab it.”
Arval wasn’t stingy with words for once, “If it’s the Moon Glow I’m thinking of, it currently resides in the Tanzanian National Museum. It was crafted at an immense cost as the centerpiece of their crown by Tanzar’s most renowned ruler during the nation’s golden age.”
He turned to Theodore to confirm, “Is that the one you want?”
Theodore’s expression remained neutral, as if he’d requested a can of food instead of a famous gem. “If a sword called Yinghui isn’t here, then yes, that must be it.”
Arval frowned. “I’m certain there’s no sword that extravagant here.”
The best swords they had available were reserved for the Grantz. Most were practical above all else. Not to mention jewels, they struggled to find any suitable materials here. Aesthetics weren’t that important here. Whether a sword was beautiful or not all depended on the wielder. Some might inlay a bit of eyecatching mineral on the hilt, certainly nothing worthy of being called gems.
Brian pondered for a moment before turning back to Theodore. “So this sword hasn’t been forged yet?”
“Correct,” Theodore replied matter-of-factly.
Brian clicked his tongue, “Then we just need to get our hands on it, right?”
Arval turned to look at him in disbelief. “Do you even know what kind of gemstone it is?”
Brian lowered his voice. “I don’t know, but he seems to want it badly. He’s even named the sword already. And since when do we take orders from you? Remember, kid, you don’t call the shots around here.”
With that, he let go of Arval’s shoulder.
Fiona was quick to agree, “Alright, we’ll look into it.”
Ethan chimed in, “It’s just a gem. I’ll get it first thing once we’re out. Now, about Xavier– ”
Theodore cut him off, “Xavier is fine. He’s perfectly healthy. I would’ve put a stop to it at once if any harm could come to him. Don’t forget the sword you promised me.”
Ethan stared at him for a moment before slowly coming back down the stairs.
Theodore nimbly hopped off the table and headed upstairs. His footsteps were light as he called back without turning his head, “Xavier likes to eat meat. Please prepare plenty of fresh dishes.”
Yinghui was rarely used, and the gem adorning its hilt was scarcely mentioned in any relevant records either. Set deep within the pommel, part of it remained hidden, its shape indistinguishable.
Theodore only recalled how closely its colour resembled the Moon Glow, which had vanished long ago.
In that case, why couldn’t the gem on its hilt be the Tanzanian Moon Glow? And the name ‘Yinghui1Moon Glow (应月之辉, yingyue zhihui) and Yinghui (应辉) share the first and last character.’ would be especially fitting in that case as well.
If Yinghui could not be found, then the sword destined to be sent their way in the future would be Yinghui, barring any other sword from claiming the name.
