A Love Beyond Time

Where Love Draws the Line

TW: some mentions/suggestions of sexual assault

Love is not the hand that claims.

It is the shield that stands between harm and the beloved.

It is the vow to endure, not the hunger to possess.

The Valley—Central Region, current times

The Valley was silent as a sleeping infant, swaddled with a blanket of safety and tranquillity.

The way her sweet baby had been in her arms. The way she dreamt about, night after night after night, as she wept soundless tears of heartbreak and loss into her pillows.

Those tears welled up in her eyes right now as she stood over the bubbling pot, stirring, just as sorrow and conflict stirred her heart and made her hands shake.

She did not want to do this. Heaven knew she did not. She loved him too, as much as she loved her baby.

The one who trusted her. The one who taught her everything. The first in ages to treat her with respect. The one who made her feel both protective and infuriated, often at once.

By the Gods, she really loved him.

But the love that a mother had for her child was boundless. Incomparable.

And deeply, subjectively blind.

So with that blind love, she reached into her left sleeve. Gripped a tiny bottle in her white-knuckled fist.

I'm so sorry. But I have no choice.

She poured the contents into the pot.

===

"Ning, I am thinking of having the Thalassic military join you guys for the clean-up. It will be a good chance for them to work with the Valley clan and get a feel of Shinsekyo."

It took Shion a full minute to realise his oldest cousin was seeking his permission. Around the large circular table—golden azeztulite this time—several faces lit with anticipation. However, there were a few that darkened with caution and nerves.

Such as Asahi. Such as Sagiri. Such as Shion.

And Shion was not sure he should be the one to respond, given that he was neither the Valley clan chief nor the mastermind of the clean-up. He sipped his tea.

"Jia, maybe we should let Yu-Hu decide instead."

Little dragon. How considerate of you to throw the hot coal to me.

You're welcome, Big Brother Yu-Hu. But you're better at dealing with hot coals.

Rolling his eyes at his younger lover mentally, Seimei jabbed a finger hard into the latter's side.

"Prince Ao Jia," He smiled at the oldest dragon prince as he loosened his satin ribbon and tossed it to the chittering rope ghost braiding his hair. "I have to veto that suggestion."

The raised eyebrow drew a quiet sigh out of the Fox. "The Thalassic military isn't familiar with lands and forests. It would be most dangerous and unwise for their first land-bound experience to be in enemy territory. Formidable warriors they might be in the oceans and on wetlands, their prowess would be severely limited in Shinsekyo."

"Seimei is right, Your eastern sea Highness," Sagiri said. She eyed the giggling little ghost playing with Seimei's discarded ribbon beside her. "I don't want our allies to take unnecessary risks. Perhaps the Thalassic Military could train us in the Valley after the clean-up? That would prepare us for fighting in the oceanic regions and wetlands during the Battle." The samurai girl's idea was wise and sound, and brought murmurs of agreement from everyone. Xue Chen's eyes beamed brightly at her as his mouth busied with his grilled Saba.