"...and the last member to join the Student Exchange: Val Karni." Elder Cai announced with a neutral expression.
Karni's eyes widened, he turned to look at Siduo, who was frozen in place.
"Huh?" Siduo finally sounded, turning to look at Karni. She rose up. "Elder Cai! What about me!?"
The whole class turned to look at her.
"For any complaints, you can find me after your classes." Elder Cai vanished.
Siduo wanted to hit the table, but was stopped by Karni, pulling her back down. "Calm down. We'll figure something out." He wore a half smile. A fake one. Siduo could tell it. This wasn't good news, and they both knew it.
Tang Wulin's group turned to them. They looked at Karni, who was supposed to join them on the way to Star Luo Continent.
Tang Wulin sighed. "I don't want to bring your hopes down. But…"
"Yeah, I know, Wulin." Karni said, slightly irritated. "I've been doing next to nothing on the event that was supposed to decide the members, yet was chosen over Siduo, who beat a 1-Word Battle Soul Master on that very same event." He sighed, putting his head into his hands.
"They did this intentionally." Siduo was filled with some spite, while trying to rationalise it. "Which likely means I wasn't chosen for a reason as well."
"It could be that they chose Karni because he hangs out with us more." Xu Xiaoyan said from the side. "Maybe you can convince them that Siduo should join, or for Karni not to."
They all understood it. Karni and Siduo were a couple in their eyes. Karni noticed Wulin looking at Gu Yue. The guy was likely thinking what he'd do in the same situation.
Dammit. And this was exactly part of the reason he didn't want to bring attention to himself, he wanted to enjoy the peaceful yet rich Shrek life! He didn't expect it would backfire like this.
… … …
"There is no room for negotiation." Elder Cai said. "Elder Long herself said that Siduo cannot go."
Siduo froze, just like she did in the classroom. Karni stepped in front. "What about me? Can't I stay? I feel that Shrek will suit me better in the future, give me more."
Elder Cai analysed Karni's expression but shook her head firmly. "No. The Pavilion Master said you are to go. In his own words, he does not have much to teach you anymore and is aware you have a teacher on that continent. You will learn more there."
Siduo jumped. "But I also have connections there! I know the princess of the Star Luo Empire! Their family has taught me! It's why I have a lot of the abilities I have now!"
Elder Cai let her mask fall for a split second, surprise flashing her eyes. The two barely caught it. Yet she still shook her head. "No. Besides, I doubt their teachings are worth the same as Elder Long's teachings. If you really want to complain, go complain to your teacher."
Siduo turned around with force. "I'll do just that!"
Karni was left alone in the room, an awkward expression on his face. "This happened for a reason, didn't it." He looked at Elder Cai.
Elder Cai nodded. "It's because you two have a…"
… … …
"...flaw." Elder Long looked at Siduo, explaining to her.
"What fucking flaw! We're both strong! We complement one another! We're better together!"
Long Yeyue stared at her student with worry. "Siduo, can't you see-"
"No! I can't! I cannot see a reason why we would have to be separated." She was heaving up and down. If Karni would have seen her, he would be utterly shocked, because Siduo was rarely so worked up over something.
"You have to be."
"No… No…" Siduo trembled. "I cannot lose him again!"
Long Yeyue paused. "Silly disciple, you won't lose home… this will be good for both of you-"
Siduo looked her teacher in the eyes. Anger, which turned calm, then turned into determination. "If you don't let us stay together… I won't see you as my master anymore." It was Siduo's last resort.
Long Yeyue's face turned from worry and compassion, to hurt. "Fine. You don't need to be my student anymore, if that's what you wish. I still won't let you go with him."
Siduo stood in place, unmoving. She whispered. "Why?" She could only stand still. She didn't have any energy to move. "Why, why, why, why, why?" By the end, she had to sit down. She was barely making a sound.
Long Yeyue crouched and grabbed her arms, stopping Siduo from trembling. Siduo was full of tears. "Because of this." She said softly. She pointed to all of Siduo. "This very reaction speaks to how correct my and Yun Ming's decision is. You two have been together for so long, you've become far too dependent on one another."
Siduo wiped her tears and looked at the wet arms. Gods, she was bowling her eyes out, but she couldn't stop. She wanted to stop but couldn't.
"Siduo." Long Yeyue said softly. "You're at a vulnerable age. Your body is at its most intensive growth rate. If we don't work on this now, this could turn dangerous. What would happen if you had to separate in the future? Will you collapse, get completely unfocused, like you are now? Say one of you is kidnapped, will you be able to keep your wits about you?"
Siduo stopped crying. Damn, but she hated how right her teacher was. She was reminded of her past life. Of reasons they were separated in the first place. How she felt when she found herself here, and again how she felt when she met him again—a similar yet different man.
She had been ignoring herself, despite knowing how unstable one is in their teenage years. How unstable she had been recently. It wasn't at the forefront, but it was always there.
She let her feelings get in the way against Gu Yue, pulling Karni into an elaborate and unnecessary plan to prove Gu Yue wrong. She was barely able to hold herself back when she was together with Karni. She only barely managed to keep herself together when her brother was with Wulin thanks to Karni. She was too dependent on him. And she never realised.
"What…" She tried to—still—fight her own rationale. "What if we won't be the same when he returns…"
"Silly girl." Long Yeyue said. "You should just do something that neither of you will ever forget. Something to keep you together when you're apart."
Siduo looked at her teacher weirdly.
"Not that! You're too young for that." Long Yeyue immediately made herself clear. "A moment, something special for just you two. Something you know will stay in both of your memories."
Siduo… nodded. Though she did not know why, she felt some relief. If barely any.
… … …
Karni sat on their usual bench, alone. Siduo was trying to convince Elder Long to change her mind, if he had to guess.
He looked at the people around him with a familiar feeling, one he'd almost forgotten. An existential dread. The only time he'd ever felt that was when he first arrived in this world.
Yet Siduo saved him from that. She forced herself on him at first, yet when she realised her own mistakes, it was scary how quickly he became attached. She became his most precious person.
Just like his family. He was now losing her as well. He'd be alone… again. He shook his head, trying to remember that this was only a temporary goodbye.
He had recently started to think that maybe it was okay to stay into this world, become old with her, and die. Her presence made him forget that pit at the very bottom of his stomach, forget about his family, his previous life. He had gotten content with it all.
And that was the problem! It was this mindset which had caused him to stop working harder. To stop going to the tournaments, stop trying to test himself. And the academy took notice.
Everything went wrong. He shouldn't have relaxed. The sense of dread returned, he felt so small. The wind, despite being only the start of autumn, felt so cold and ominous.
He looked up, hearing footsteps, hoping to see Siduo… It was Tang Wulin.
He sat next to Karni, looking at the bench. "This is your usual spot. I've seen you two sit here and chat a lot."
Karni nodded.
"You know," Wulin started. "I just told my sister the news. I've barely just met her again, and now, in a few months-"
"4." Karni said.
"In four months, I'll be separated from her again. I know how you feel."
Karni looked at him. And though he wanted to, he found it hard to sympathise at the moment.
Wulin continued. "I lost my family when I was young. I still don't know if I'll be able to find them. I've heard no news from them. Na'er is the only family I have left right now. The only family I know I have left."
That rang terrifyingly close to home for Karni. "I lost my family too. Though in my case, 'lost' is meant literally." He paused, sighing. "I will probably never see them again."
"If you lost them…"
Karni shook his head. "If I become a god, maybe, maybe I'd be able to see them again. Still unlikely."
Wulin didn't know how to react to that. His face remained somewhat neutral. "Well, I know one thing for certain." Though he himself didn't know how it would feel to have almost no hope at finding his family. "Na'er, Wu Siduo. Neither of them are the rest of our family, they're loved ones we know we'll meet again." He clenched Karni's shoulder.
"We will see them again, Karni. This is not a goodbye for forever." He stood up and gave one final look to Karni.
"You also have 4 months left. Might as well spend as much time as you can with her." He smiled at Karni and waved him goodbye.
Yeah. That was exactly what Karni would do.
… … …
"Ah, it's the Cocoa Connoisseurs. Oh, and you brought a friend today?" A receptionist greeted Karni, Siduo and another member of the Shrek Academy: Na'er.
Na'er smiled. "Hi! I'm here to find something that might give me and my big brother the chance to get a similar morning routine as the Cocoa Connoisseurs."
Karni and Siduo cringed. Na'er didn't question the nickname, she just went along with it.
It was hard not to like the girl. Despite Karni being her fellow disciple brother, he wasn't particularly close to her. Today she just decided to go along with them. Yesterday she found out that she won't be seeing her brother for a year after the end of the semester.
Meanwhile, Karni and Siduo were quite known for their little routine—at least Tang Wulin and the others in their class knew better than to disturb them in the morning. But due to that, people like Na'er also found out about this.
So, she simply went along with them, using her senior disciple sister card. The two didn't really mind. They went shopping for cocoa once a month, but they didn't treat it like some special day. In fact, the two even suggested to Na'er some other shops that might be cheaper than this one.
The group got to the cocoa section, and Karni grabbed their usual brand of cocoa. The one they found the tastiest.
Meanwhile, Na'er, the personal disciple of the Sea God's Pavilion Master, grabbed one of each brand. Siduo and Karni physically cringed. That was so much money.
They were already throwing away a lot of money for cocoa, especially since their favourite brand was on the more expensive side for an imported good of a faraway land. In fact, when they first became regulars, the shop intentionally added a few brands just for them. They only stopped when Karni and Siduo settled for a certain cocoa type.
Yet here was Na'er. Buying up all the different brands. One bag for each different one. A total of 8.
The group went to the counter and for once, the two saw the receptionist give them a look that they only saw the first time they grabbed cocoa here. Utter confusion mixed with delight.
They paid for the cocoa and returned to the academy. Here they parted ways, Na'er went towards the Sea God's Island, and the two of them went to their usual bench spot to relax.
Yet the two stayed quiet. Just enjoying each other's company. Not even preparing their cocoa. Memories of yesterday were still fresh in their memory. If anything, the fact that Na'er decided to make a little routine with her brother just reminded them more of that. She was like them, forced to part ways with her brother for a long time.
Siduo's head leaned on Karni's shoulder, who, in kind, leaned his head on her head.
"You know…" Siduo started, not moving her head. "Yesterday I had a little breakdown."
Karni didn't react, he could feel there was more for her to say.
"I never realised just how much… you affect me. And how this body of mine is influencing me. Kiki. I completely lost it."
"Well…" Karni answered. "I didn't have that kind of a breakdown… the last time I actually had a breakdown was when you didn't want to teach me. Back when we were six." Karni chuckled at the memory. It was a bitter chuckle.
"I felt so alone back then…" he took a big breath. "And yesterday, I felt the same. Just as alone. But Wulin reminded me why this is different than me losing my old life. Sisi. We will see each other again. It is guaranteed. We will."
Siduo stayed silent for a second. "You know… you are right. No matter what… I always met you. Again, and again." She raised her head and looked at him.
"Sisi?"
"You know, my reincarnation was not by choice. I had no decision in it. Even if I did start to understand many aspects of reincarnation. To be here, now was against my will. And now being separated from you, it is against my will again." Despite the words, she smiled. "And despite it all. I always find you." She put her head in his chest. "And I will wait for you to return to me. Again."
Karni hugged her, bringing her closer to him. She was so warm, and somehow, he felt… hopeful. He closed his eyes, and the two stayed. Just like that.
The warmth, the love. They didn't need to confirm they were official. And Karni knew he didn't understand all that she said, but he knew the important thing. She found him. And he had her. They had each other no matter what.
"Ah… Ahem." A voice, awkward, interrupted them. Someone else was here.
The two opened their eyes, staring at the new arrival.
"Gu Yue?" Siduo turned, blushing. Oh gods. She'd seen them. How long had she been there, just watching. "You could have said something."
"I… didn't want to disturb you."
"Sooooo…" Karni stretched the sound. "Why exactly are you here? Do you need us for something?"
Gu Yue nodded, then shook her head. "I'm here to give something, I don't exactly need you."
The two stared.
Gu Yue cleared her throat, again. "I'm here to give you my thanks. You two have opened my eyes in regard to how I feel about Wulin… and I don't know how I would react if I were separated from him forcefully. And yes, before you say, I am aware you two were being petty back then, but you still helped me."
She took out two pieces of papers. "This here is Spirit Pagoda certificates that would allow you to do the Tower Attack. I think you know what it is?"
The two nodded. Going through many floors of Soul Beasts, one would be able to make one of them a Spirit Soul.
"You'll be able to participate, though you will only be able to grab one Spirit Soul from there. Our group went before you, and we took two. Spirit Pagoda wouldn't let me give you two because of that. I'm sorry."
Siduo took the papers and smiled. "Thank you. This… means a lot."
Gu Yue looked at Siduo. "Thank you. This is my thank you to you, not yours to me. We can be considered even now." Her voice now turned somewhat neutral. She still put up a wall between them.
"Until when can we do this?" Karni asked, looking at the paper.
"You have a week. Afterwards, the certificate is invalid."
The two nodded and put the papers away.
Gu Yue stared for a bit, not knowing what to do, before turning away. "Well then. I'll be going."
The two waved her goodbye, but Gu Yue suddenly stopped and abruptly turned around. "Oh, and Val Karni. I don't know if this will make you feel better, but…" she seemed to hesitate. "In Star Luo Continent, you might have the chance to solve your problem with the All-Seeing Rattlesnake."
Karni's eyes went wide. He was about to question her, but she stopped him by raising her hand. "I'm afraid that's all I can say. You'll need to grab the opportunity yourself… Goodbye." And so she left, leaving Karni and Siduo somewhat confused.
Who would have thought. Gu Yue, out of all of them, decided to comfort them. In her own weird Gu Yue way.
Siduo glanced at the papers. "You know, we still have a few hours of free time today."
Karni grabbed one of the papers. "Now?"
"If you're up for it." Siduo shrugged.
Karni stretched. "Let's go."