Once Upon a Time, There was a Tragic Love

Minraca Star System, Division Planet 156, Magistrar’s Office

“Whatever happened to being the 7th person whom you’ve served tea? Aren’t you going pour a cup of tea for me this time?” Clay asked the Magistrar as he sat on the exact spot he was seated the first time they met. The last time, he had to pretend to be overly respectful but today, he came back as an Ascendant and a Captain.

“Well, you see… I’ve learned my lesson. I no longer pour tea for cultivators making stupid decisions.” Ordoti said as she sipped a cup of tea. When she received a notification that an S-Class ship is directly headed towards her division and not Minraca Base Zero, she was delighted however, upon checking the profile of the ship, she already knew their base won’t get anything. “And aside from making stupid decisions, I don’t pour tea for someone who does not even bring souvenirs.”

Clay smiled. He did not need to ask this old temptress’ dissatisfaction as it probably relates to him picking a ship instead of being tested to one of the Navarum Masters.

“Within your line of ancestry, does the name Fara Felinghan from Crescent Moon Sect shows up?”

Ordoti was thinking about playing and teasing with Clay a bit more but upon hearing Clay’s next question, her countenance immediately changed. It was a 360 change that made her view Clay as a foe.

“Captain, let me remind you that even classified information has categories that even the Upper Echelons of Minraca has to be careful of.” Ordoti stood up and went to open the door. “Since his excellence has not declared or have stated official business, I kindly ask Captain to leave. Otherwise, it will be construed as nuisance under Captain’s Code.”

Clay thought that asking direct and specific questions could get him a better response but he did not know how serious things are when it comes to information regarding Rimar. At least her reaction confirms she is a descendant of Fara.

But he is not willing to leave as there is a more important matter he needed to take care of. He took out the cerulean necklace and used his Qi to hand it over to Ordoti and said, “Forgive me if I’ve overstepped my boundaries but the real reason I’ve come to your base is because of that necklace. I will leave after I get my answers.”

Ordoti did not need to further investigate what the necklace is for and one look and she already understood what Clay is after. “I don’t know who’s behind you but 1 vial of Ascendance Breakthrough Potion should be a fair trade.”

Clay applied his Qi to the Captain’s Ring on his finger. It’s one of the tricks only Captain of Ascendant level can do to control the ship.

(You called Captain?)

“Yes Alice, order 1 vial of Ascendance Breakthrough Potion and send it to the Magistrar of Division 156, Ordoti.”

(Aye, Captain.)

One of the furnitures close to Clay moved and revealed a hidden elevator entrance. “Follow me.”

If Clay had had known that asking about Ordoti’s lineage would make the situation awkward, he should not have had asked about Mur Brung first.

The elevator descended underground and after a minute and Clay continued to follow Ordoti until they reached a certain room. The room looks like an un-maintained storage it did not even have Defensive Formation.

“I hope you leave peacefully after getting what you need.” Ordoti said as she opened the door.

“Promptly.”

Clay entered the room and looked around. The space is around 8 by 8 and similar to the Magistrar’s office, there are few furniture, a simple space to receive guest and finally the main desk on the middle corner.

(Welcome visitor. Would you like to me play the last recording?)

“Yes please.” Clay is not new to a voice just suddenly asking him a question. It is probably the A.I in charge of this base.

*Shhsssskkk

*ZZZZssskkkk

There were slight radio noises as the room is getting further illuminated then moments later, a realistic hologram was projected within the room.

A man who looked in his sixties appeared sitting on front of the main desk. The man is wearing a lab coat and is missing an arm and is having tea.

“My name is Dr. Mur Brung. If you have come here today to ask about my research, then let me tell you straight that it ended in failure and it is not worth pursuing. Unless you find that Spiritual Vein capable of producing those Spiritual Qi mentioned in my experiments, then you may have a chance.

*Sip

*Sigh

How should I start? I already knew I won’t live to see whether my thesis will work or not.

*Sip

I was still young when I joined the science council. I spent countless sleepless night figuring out if I could improve my theory but even with the help of other fellow scientist, we have achieve nothing.

Then one day, I was just casually searching for odd science and math problems with enough difficulty to be talked about in the scientific community, then I came across a test about a weird Psionic Delta Pattern. The reason I was interested was because it is directly related to my work and if this question were true, then we could have had figured out a way to mass produce Spiritual Veins.

I was confused as why would these kind of question would even pose challenge. It is obvious the reason one will not get the correct answer is solely subjective on the pre-requisite which is to determine if the question is correct or not so the answer clearly is, it is an incorrect question.

It’s like asking, does love and hate have color? Feelings and emotions in the physical world has no color and this is an example of an incorrect question, but we can come up with rules to associate colors in them just like how we invented Math. We can come up with things that have no realistic bearing and can only exist as a thought and that test question is no different.

That’s what I and everyone thought.

The issue is, those who calculated the problem and solved the dilemma on the Psionic Delta Pattern got merits as well during the test.

It certainly created a spark because in scientific community, there are thing s that can only be true or false and not both at the same time. Unless, that thing, has both properties of being true and false at the same time which is another story.

It was then I got inspired to look at my theory in another perspective. The people who proposed this question, I looked into them and where have they derived this question from. With my status I figured where the sample Spiritual Qi samples came from.

It came from an independent planet called A’U within Minraca Star System. This planet has some complicated history that it costed my arm to get what I wanted as you can see. The closest I’ve gotten is from the descendant of Ancient Family of this planet called Felinghan. But even they cannot provide a sample as these samples can only be generated by the Spiritual Vein which were destroyed or rather stolen by whoever these Sleepers are.

People say that these Sleepers, whatever and whoever they are, were after Immortal Rimar’s inheritance but in the eyes of someone like me, those Sleeper’s true objectives were the mysterious Spiritual Veins within Demon Continent of A’U planet. The war between Qi and Mana cultivators is beyond me. …

*Sip

Six hundred years of my life, gone and wasted just like that. If there’s a consolation, at least I’ve come to know that there are other people like me. If you really are determined in pursuing my research, then you’re only hope is to get a hold of these Sleepers for those missing Spiritual Veins. They belong to a mysterious organization called Nosfera Abyss Harbringers from the Upper World. They are mages responsible for the destruction of Ukacha Super Galaxy from 35 million years ago.

Who knows those Sleepers probably have better versions of my theory.

*Sip

*Sigh

You know sometimes I wonder if I have had a better life if I’ve chosen to stay with my girlfriend. At one point I had beautiful girlfriend.

What? You don’t believe me? You know what, see this necklace? This is a necklace I’ve worked hard to secure from my girlfriend’s grandma to get their blessing so I could propose to her but… you know…. Things happen.

*Exhale

That evening I caught her having a date with cultivator. Of all people, why a cultivator.

From afar, I saw how happy she was with that man.

*Sip

To this day, she probably has no idea I am a direct descendant of Mur of the real Mur. I’ve always pictured a simple life that I casted my identity but when I met her, she became my world. I loved her that if it means I go back to being a cultivator, I’ll do it in a snap of finger. But she never told me and I’m not that selfish to force her to me.

So, I ran away with my pride and many years later here I am, in a dumpster of a failed research. I wish I could return this necklace someday but it’s too late now.

And the reason I’m telling you this is because I don’t want you to become like me, alone and living in regret.

Today I’m retiring. I’ve lost my direction but I’ve decided to become a teacher. At least I could teach and guide a few younglings to not follow my path.

May you find meaning and contentment in life.

*Shhsssskkk

*ZZZZssskkkk

(End of recording. Please let me know if you want me to replay it.)

The hologram ended and Clay was back to the dim room where he was at.