It's time to open your eyes
The car shook and Ling opened his eyes. He felt warm and comfortable as if he'd fallen asleep in his bed.
His Head rested on Cal's shoulder, and he held Ling in a ring of hands, imitating a seat belt.
His heart felt good, he wanted to see his savior's face, and turning his head, he immediately met a pair of glistening eyes.
«Awake already,» Ling heard a gentle voice say, «and we're almost there. The young man nodded and pressed his hot forehead against Cal's cool cheek.
He wished there had been more to them than a failed triple date, which made him blush with embarrassment at the thought.
He had especially distinguished himself by going spectacularly into the ocean, «the horror!» Ling embarrassed. On the other hand, he had been to the Aether, and now things could not be as they were...
Stepping out of the car, the men felt how cold the morning air was. They looked for the Headmaster of the Academy of Arts, looking back and forth at the people who were rushing in and out of the station.
Suddenly, he approached them from the side and immediately put a Crystal on a thin chain around Ling's neck. While everyone was stunned, he abruptly pulled the young man to him and squeezed him in his arms, and said:
«At last I have found you, nephew!»
«Nephew?!» Master and Cal stared at them in bewilderment.
«Long story,» waved, taking a step back from the headmaster, «you'll find out later.»
The men nodded and all got on the train together. A fast train, then a plane, then some other transport-all for the sake of muddling the tracks.
«Don't take the crystal off, it won't be easy to help you without a connection, okay?» He patted Ling where the precious artifact was hidden under his clothes.
«Okay, Fourth Elder,» Ling replied with a smile.
«Well, well, did those old nags add fuel to the fire after all?» The man laughed.
«But they couldn't get my memory back,» Ling said, «Of course not.»
"Of course, they can't do that," said the Fourth, "and it's none of their business."
«Could you do it?» Ling asked straight out.
«I can, but whether you win or lose...» and he looked at Cal meaningfully, «who knows?»
«What do you mean?»
The man beckoned him with his finger and whispered in his ear:
«You two have had a rather tangled and complicated relationship in the past. Wouldn't it be better to start all over again, especially since it's going quite well, don't you think?» He winked at Ling.
Ling thought for a few moments and then hesitated for a moment as he tried to uncover the truth. He looked at Cal, and his thoughts flickered even more intensely.
What if they had done wrong or disappointed each other in the past, what if in more than a hundred years they had grown sick of each other, or cheated on each other, or maybe they had never been close at all, but only tormented each other? Oh, gods! How can he stand it?!
Cal noticed Ling's confusion and tapped his thoughts.
«What had happened?»
Ling looked at him and decided to ask his advice, but then became even more confused.
Mysteries were growing like mushrooms after the rain and it was depressing. Why doesn't the Fourth just give them their memories back and whatever happens...
Without answering Cal, the young man went out to the restroom. There he fumbled for the Crystal and, touching it, called out to his new girlfriend, Third.
«Third, can you hear me?»
«Is that you?! What a surprise! How did you get here?» squealed the girl.
«Calm down, Fourth saved me and gave me the crystal. Cal and one other man are with me.»
«Oh, I see... be careful.»
«Third, I want to ask a question about my past.»
«Um, what do you know?»
«Me and Cal. What was going on between us that you know of?»
«Oh!» Third almost choked up, «everyone under two hundred was watching you without looking away.»
«Those must be the young ones,» Ling thought.
«So, what exactly was being watched?»
«Um, well... sort of... It's... I mean...»
«Third, don't keep me in suspense! Were we feuding?!»
"No, of course not!" The third one was indignant.
«Were we friends then?»
«Well, you could say that,» Third crumpled.
"What are you talking about?!" Ling lost his temper.
«Don't ask me for details, I promised not to tell!» Sincerely asked the Third Elder and cut the connection.
«Who did you promise?» Ling asked, but it was too late, the Third wasn't listening.
Ling washed his face and went back to the others. Everyone stared at him with a mute question, but he ignored them.
A glance at his pristine wrist convinced him that his life had changed irrevocably.
What did it matter now that there was Jiang Wei in the world?
Everything suddenly became insignificant. He leaned over to the Fourth and patted his knee, getting his attention.
«I'm afraid I have to ask you to bring back my memories. I want to call you Uncle for once,» the Fourth flinched at the last words.
He nodded for a moment, but then he added:
«You have lived a long and difficult life, there have been good and bad, but you have to figure it all out for yourself.»
Ling looked at the Fourth's face in surprise. He trusted him very much for letting him dispose of his memory, so why would he think I'll of his uncle?
«Can you detect the appearance of the Ancient Spirit?» Ling asked.
The Fourth nodded.
«Then wouldn't it be better to do everything now?» The young man suggested, not wanting to delay.
«Alright, but we'll have some high-level guards at the next station. We can do everything then.»
Ling nodded. And then questioned the Fourth in a whisper:
«Is it true that I took Cal's memory?»
"That will be known when the memory comes back," the Fourth answered evasively.
Logically, if all the memory comes back, there won't be any more questions. Ling only prayed to all the gods that this decision was not a mistake. He looked at Cal again, and he arched an eyebrow questioningly.
«I'm going on a trip,» Ling said without opening his mouth.
«What kind of trip? I want to go with you!»
«Look, something happened to me when I was out...»
And Ling told the astonished Cal all the details in sequence. When he was finished, Cal bit his lower lip.
«So you... and I... we...» He crumpled up, uncertain how to express the thought that flashed through his mind. Ling came to his aid.
«Everyone says that you and I are each other's past, and I'm going to get my memory back, to find out how to get yours back...»
«Isn't that dangerous?»
«I don't know, but why would it be, unless I find out your dirty secrets or you've come up with a hurtful nickname for me in the past...» tried to joke without being the least bit funny Ling.
Cal looked thoughtfully at his flawlessly beautiful hands. He thought about what would happen if it turned out that there was a horrible shameful secret hidden in his past...
What if he killed Ling in that life or disappointed him? What then?!
His eyes prickled at the thought and he turned quickly to the window. The teacher was still dozing, and the Headmaster, crossed arms, was immersed in his thoughts.
Ling alone occasionally cast short, testing glances at Cal. Cal wanted so badly to squeeze that chin with one hand and, tucking it in, kiss it until the young man passed out and stopped looking at him like that!
What torture! And then he sent his fantasy to Linga. The young man recoiled sharply and stared at Cal.
Digesting the message, he sent a reply. A vivid memory of Cal losing himself in his caresses and gasping at the peak of pleasure.
Black eyes threw lightning bolts at Ling, apparently, the answer was to his liking. The young man overestimated himself because his breathing hitched a little and his heart began to beat harder.
After exchanging a couple more luscious messages, they stopped so as not to arouse suspicion.
The train stopped, and a commotion began around them. People came in and out. The director scrutinized the entrants and, giving them a surreptitious signal, told Ling that everything was under control.
«Cal,» the young man called, «let's make a deal ahead of time.»
«About what?» Cal answered with interest.
«Whatever you or I have done in the past, let's not get carried away and remember that we are in this life together.»
Cal was thinking the same thing, so he nodded.
Ling turned to the Fourth and asked him to start. He sighed and pulled out his crystal under Cal's scrutiny.
Taking it from his neck, he placed the crystal in the young man's palm and wrapped the chain around his wrist.
Then he made a scratch on Ling's palm, and the blood droplets that protruded made the crystal glow white.
He slid the crystal into Ling's hand and squeezed his fingers.
After a few endless minutes, his eyes widened until he looked murderously at Cal, who cringed and shrank back.