During a night out, Freen, the daughter and heir of a conglomerate awakens a part of herself when she locks eyes with a young physics professor, Becky.
They fall HARD and FAST before realising all the obstacles that prevent them from being together...
The next day, Becky was sprawled out across the grass in the garden. She was breathing very heavily as though she had just run a marathon. Hovering over her was Marlin who didn't look nearly as tired or flushed.
"Marlin .. why .. are you .. doing this?" Becky asked "Doing what?" Marlin replied "Putting me .. through .. all of this." Becky asked
Marlin laughed, "You've already passed the test of time and empathy. Only one test remains, the test of fortitude, and you're still complaining? How can YOU be Rebecca's descendant not to mention her reincarnation? It's pitiful." "Yeah yeah. 🙄" Becky replied
"You don't seem to understand the stakes here. You and the rest of your line will end if you fail to pass my trials. That is more important to me." Marlin said "Yes but can we do that AFTER we save Freen's brother? You already got your power back, you're just choosing to have me go through the trials to appease yourself and fulfil your own rules. All while someone's life hangs in the balance." Becky said
"It's interesting you see it that way. YOUR LIFE HANGS IN THE BALANCE. Consider this, you've spent so much of your life putting yourself last, showing up for others and never showing up for yourself. It's not dis-similar to my Rebecca, she in fact had the same cross to bare. So consider that maybe, just maybe I've decided to put you first for once instead of worrying about someone else's life. Maybe I'm concern with yours first!" Marlin said "But I didn't ask you to be" Becky said "You don't have to. You're ..." Marlin stopped himself "I'm what?" Becky said "You're going to pass these trials or Heng is going to die." Marlin said
Marlin retreated. He cast his spell once again and encased Becky in dark magic. Becky began to focus and meditate but she could not bare to think of what it would mean for Freen to lose her brother. After loosing her parents Becky knew that it would almost certainly be something Freen would not be able to come back from. Becky was so desperate to help Freen, you could see it in her stance and in her eyes.
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The heat inside the sphere was unbearable. Becky began to sweat again as she closed her eyes and tried to slow her breathing. She tried not to move too much as a way to conserve her energy. Breathing in and out was painful. It felt like she was breathing in fire and exhaling in vain. The last try had lasted only 4 minutes before she had to bail out but this time her resolve was stronger.
Becky had placed a visual picture of Freen at the forefront of her mind. She was getting close to the 4 minute mark again and her lungs had begun to give out. Becky persevered. She started to visualise Freen having a panic attack and that gave her more resolve. She then visualise her Ma and Richie and how relieved they were when she found all of Marlin's essence.
Becky's lungs were about to give out again. "Marlin let me out" she pleaded This time, Marlin did not. "Focus. You're thinking of others again not of yourself." he said "Marlin..." Becky called out
"Rebecca. Fortitude is not developed from external motivations. It has to come from internal motivations. You have to think of yourself. If you don't you will die." Marlin said
Becky began to think selfishly. She once again with her eyes closed thought about Freen but this time she thought about wanting more time with her. Not making due with what she had. She thought about how she needed to stay alive long enough to watch Richie and Irin eventually fall in love. She thought about the dream she had about wanting to change the world through research and study and how much good she still had left to do. For the first time in a long time Becky realised she still had so much to live for.
Finally, she thought about her Da's letter. "You have a life so live it!" Da's words in his letter to her rang in her ears so loudly it snapped her out of her meditative state.
When Becky opened her eyes the dark sphere that had engulfed her had disappeared. Marlin was smiling at her which was a terrifying sight but she realise that she had done it. She had passed the final test.
