Siyu was beating his staff against a tree.

**WHACK**

**WHACK**

“Goes to his girlfriend's house and starts beating his stick,” A ghostly apparition says.

“What, what do you want,” Siyu says.

“I need a body, something heavenly, like a tiger, a coiling dragon,” Zohr Acore, says.

“Would you like a woman's body?” Siyu asks.

The ghost smiles, “Why would you say something so silly,” He says. “But if that's what I get, that's what I get,” He says with a smile.

“We'll hunt for one on the road,” Siyu says.

“Thank you,” Zohr says. “As for the second thing, did you want to talk about it?” He asks.

“The secret third thing, yeah,” Siyu says.

“Why didn’t we act? We could have slayed him there,” Zohr says.

Siyu smiles, “Let it built up,” he says, before looking into the distance, “But soon, our fates are colliding, the story ripples.”

Zohr frowns. “I must kill him, Siyu. We should have done it there.” He says, frustrated.

Siyu smiles. “Why eat a fruit before it is ripe… No, the story continues… But one day, we’ll have his life.” He says.

Zohr lets out a sigh. “I hope we make it to the end.” He says.

Siyu smiles. “I hope so as well.” He says.

Suddenly, Siyu feels his vision go blurry, the world around him begins to warm, and visions begin to haunt him. His body, Elizabeth’s body, the devil’s whisper.

A haunting vision of the previous night begins to flow through his mind. Siyu’s eyes begin to flood red, and black veins begin to bulge on his forehead. The beast within him began to whisper, Alas, it could have been, it should have been… If you weren’t a coward…

Siyu’s mind frantically goes through the previous night. No, no, that never happened. I rested normally, as a friend would! He exclaims in his mind.

The stimulation from the vision, the force of the demon within breaking out, caused Siyu’s stress to reach the peak.

“NOOOOO!!!!” He screams out, grabbing his head and kneeling onto the ground. “I’M NOT A BEAST!!!!!” He yells, his frustration continuing to climb, before he collapses onto the ground, his mind releasing him from his anguish.

…

…

Siyu awoke, drowsy, and unwilling to see.

“You’re up,” A gentle voice says.

Siyu’s eyes drift to the source, a flower, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth smiles. “Here,” She says, “Have some tea.”

Siyu sits up, places his hand on the ceramic cup. It was warm, and it reminded him of blood. Siyu’s mind is shocked awake, reminding him of those visions.

Siyu looks at Elizabeth’s eyes. “I dreamt of you,” He says.

Elizabeth offers a bitter smile. “The tea, its from a red rose. It grows in the valley. Tell me, is it tasty?” She asks.

Siyu takes a sip. “It’s delightful,” He says.

“The water is from a spring nearby,” Elizabeth says, looking into Siyu’s eyes. “Say, Siyu. What do you think when you look at the moon in the night sky?” She asks.

Siyu smiles. “I think of a gentle mother. I hope to know her one day.” He says.

Elizabeth smiles, and a tear is pushed out of her eye. “I dreamt of you as well.” She says.

…

…

Frey looks at the ring and the ghost that was coming out of it. “So you’ll be sticking around?” He asks.

The ghost smiles. “I’m here till the end, or maybe I’ll haunt this place, my story unfinished.” He says.

A thought comes to Zohr Acore’s mind. He looks at Frey’s graceful body, muscles, tensed, limbs, extended, like a cheetah, ready to pounce. He smiles, eager to play. “Say, young Frey. Would you ever have children?” He says.

Frey smiles. “Do you wish to bet?” He asks.

Zohr Acore smiles. “No spell has been cast, but alas, I'm a gambling man, I can’t help but be curious.” He says.

“I would never have kids,” Frey says. He lets out a sigh. “But if you ever collect, I wonder, if I would have lived a blessed life.” He says.

The story is always incomplete.

Those choices; we still had to make them.

Does the river diverge? Frey wonders. This game, do we still have to play it?