A light from the notification screen shot out.
Rejecting Shinah's consciousness out the memory wheel projector, back into her Mindscape.
"Mother your back! Wuu I was so lonely."
"Yeah let's never do that again." I hold my head down to my knees fighting the sudden whiplash.
"Ok. Mother are you hungry want a peach or some fish?" He happily glides up the trunk of the peach tree before I could respond.
I lay back on the grass, unable to enjoy the peaceful moment.
How am I supposed to find someone that would know my past? That happened like eons ago! Ahhh! What did I do, that was so bad to have this kind of curse placed on me.
Did I offend some all powerful Dungeon Master or something? I think to myself picking at the grass.
No if anything it was that bastard he definitely cursed me, I probably wanted to leave him for someone younger, and more handsome with a bigger ... bank account.
Ahh I bet he cursed me, to always find him so he can exact his revenge.
Then why does he never seem to know me ... if that's the case he'd let it slip or not be that BORED to go at it for lifetimes of suffering.
Maybe he's being cursed like me, and somehow our souls recognize each other. Does he have a memory wheel? Maybe there's something in his memories that would help?
Nah I rather die then ask him for help. Or rather... I will die again when I meet him.
Maybe it has to do with my missing lifetimes?
If ones my last life I died in this world then other is most likely my first life as for the third I'll worry about that one later. How should look into this when I go back, where should I start-
"Mother look I found a big juicy!"
I look up to see a peach mid-air, being bear hugged by the little dragon.
"Careful, good job! Here have a rest." I grab ahold of the peach and place him on the stone bath, I realize that I'm on the opposite side of the pond away from the tree.
"XiaoLong..how strong are you?"
"Strong?" XiaoLong stops splashing in his bath water and tilts his head looking at me with a confused look.
"Yes if not you, am I to believe the wind blew me diagonally across to this side of the pond?"
"Mm it has been windy lately..." he nods.
This cheeky brat.
Xiaolong looks at Shinah with an innocent expression.
"Xiaolong let's talk, I understand that the memory wheel system recognizes you as it's master, so its possible for you show me anything from my last life right?
I won't continue to ask you questions your uncomfortable with, and will respect your privacy. But trust isn't a given, it's a privilege that's to be earned so if you expect it from me then shouldn't you give me that same courtesy.
A lie is a lie, and unless we plot to lie to another together...then there's no reason for lies to be between us. If you continue to lie or withhold the truth from me, then the further from my trust you'll be."
Oh yeah I just Yoda'd him...
I sigh when I notice Xiaolong change in expression, and continue in a softer tone.
"I really appreciated the help and advice you gave me, while I was in the past projector. And I'd really like to keep working together like that. Especially since your the only one who knows what I'm going through. I believe we can either be one others greatest allies, or we can set some boundaries to avoid unnecessary issues in the future going our own ways.
However if we do become allies understand that, I suspect you aren't as simple as you perceive to be and that's okay as long as we are good to one another and never intentionally bring harm to the other.
So how about just this once we start over and all will be pardoned and both aware. Be yourself and stop calling me mother, and I'll respect your privacy in return.
Since don't know how long we will be cohabitating together; we should at least try to get along and understanding one another's personalities and boundaries during that time, got it?
You don't have to give me your answer now, I'll give you a while to think about it while I check my notifications." I rub his little head with my finger before picking up my peach.
I walk back to the tree lean back against the trunk.
I close my eyes and think about the screen and it pops up. Haha yeah learned that neat trick in one of my past lives, this system is more like VR settings in modern eras.
*Ping! View Task Reward(x2) and Task Punishment*
Huh when did I get two rewards?
*Ping! You Accepted Rewards And Task Punishment*
[Partial Reward for Task 'Poisoned Tea' choose a charm from the section below]
*turtle
*chameleon
*porcupine
*gibbon
*cheetah
Huh am I getting another pet? I can barely manage the one I have now.
Mmm I guess if I have to chose one..
It'd be the cheetah but ... I can't exactly come home with a cheetah, besides it'll definitely fight with me for food.
I select the chameleon charm and a light green light zaps the skin above my ankle leaving a faint marking of a spiral. Huh a tattoo? I thought I was getting a pet. I feel slightly disappointed.
*Ping! Task Punishment Activated*
[Chameleon Charm's potential is reduced by Eighty-Five Percent till Shinah advances to Spirit Apprentice Level Three.]
Great just great... this system is such an Indian-giver![1]
I look at my new ink noticing it's a lot more transparent!
*Ping! Reward for Accepting Hidden Task*
[Sacred Gourds:
Female Gourd- Pulls in all elements and natural spirit energy, converting into Heavenly Pure Spirit energy.
Male Gourd- Sheild's by siphoning all opponents within range life source converting it into Spirit essence.]
"..."
Holy shit balls! I playfully shoot an imaginary ball..Haha! That's a major redemption.
A black pouch appears in my hands. I pull aside the cloth opening, to find two small gourds one silver with blue markings and the other blue with silver markings about three inches in length. While the blue one has an engraving of a flower the silver has an engraved blue flame.