Defiance of the Fall

They talked for a while , then turned to their own matters . Zac continued going over his Core Formation Method while she tried to clear her head and recapture that feeling . But her thoughts weren’t as calm as her face let on , making it hard to enter a meditative state . The notes in Zac’s hands were a constant reminder of the inescapable reality they faced .

How many left now? - Catheya asked , breaking the silence of the past half hour .

Of what? - Zac said with confusion . - Mutated Chillhearts? As many as we can find . -

No , - Catheya said , gazing at the sunset . - Things for your tool . -

Oh , - Zac said . - Just two . This one and one from the Peak of Chaos . -

Which you can get any time you want , - Catheya sighed , feeling a bit lost .

Hey , what’s wrong? -

You know . . . We’ve never talked about what we’ll do later . On the outside . We just keep skirting the subject . Three years have passed , and you’re getting ready to rush for the finish line . -

Zac froze . Catheya could tell he was about to play stupid again , but he surprised her by shaking his head .

Then let’s talk about it , - Zac said .

Are we kidding ourselves , playing house inside a Time Chamber? - Catheya asked , and it felt like the chill of the world crept into her heart . - Does our relationship have an expiration date? -

I don’t⁠— -

How would it even work? - Catheya pressed , the words she’d held back over the past year spilling out of her like a broken dam . - You can’t even visit the Kavriel Province because someone might target you . And I’m constantly afraid I’ll be forced to act against you or hide things . I’m just a pawn .

And even if everything works out , would it change anything? I can’t keep up . I’ve tried . I’ve tried so hard , but it feels like you’re getting further and further away . I’ve crushed both my and my family’s expectations of me , but so what? Most of my accomplishments are thanks to my leaning on you . The Abyssal Shores . The Left Imperial Palace . The Perennial Vastness . All of it . -

Catheya felt drained after unloading the misgivings in her heart .

I don’t want to be a blip on your journey before you move on to bigger and better things , - she whispered . - But I can’t see this ending any other way . -

Catheya didn’t dare look him in the eyes . It felt like an eternity passed . Then , she felt a thick arm wrap around her and drag her closer .

I keep worrying about the future as well , - Zac sighed . - I’ve been wracking my brains , but I don’t have any answers or solutions . -

I’m sorry , - Catheya whispered as she leaned against Zac’s shoulder . - I wasn’t planning to⁠— -

I only know one thing : I’m not satisfied , - Zac interjected , and the determination in his words made Catheya shudder . - A few years with you isn’t enough . I want more . Centuries , millennia . I’ll do anything in my power to make that happen . -

Chill turned to warmth , and Catheya found herself unable to say anything . She just wanted to sit like this forever .

I’m not satisfied either , - Catheya eventually said . - What do we do? -

Well . We just need to get through the trial in three years , - Zac said . - After the Undead Empire has what it wants and some ancient faction has claimed the Eternal Heritage , my identity as a Flamebearer will be useless . It’ll give us the breathing room to figure these things out . Perhaps we can go to the Abyssal Shores? -

It doesn’t change the fact that you’re progressing with terrifying speed , - Catheya said . - And I feel that the gap between us will only increase inside the Left Imperial Palace . -

Then , continue to lean on me , - Zac said . - My accomplishments are not because I’m especially hard-working or talented . Part of it is dumb luck , and another is because people have helped me out or paved the way for me . You said many of your accomplishments are because of me . So what? That’s how it’s supposed to work . -

Still , our fates⁠— -

The universe has its plans , but we make our own fate , - Zac said . - Only we can decide what this is and how it’ll end . Even if I would progress faster than you , who cares? It would allow me to protect you . And there’s no way the only successful couples out there are those whose cultivation level is at the same stage . What , it’s impossible for a Late-stage Hegemon to love a Monarch? -

Catheya took a steadying breath , her messy thoughts calming . That’s right . So what if he grew stronger than her? What was wrong with having a powerful partner to lean on? Couldn’t she live with his avatar inside his Inner World if his cultivation left hers behind? There were plenty of couples living that kind of lifestyle . With his dual races and mysterious ability to shield the Heavens , he could even bring her to the kind of regions she’d always dreamed of seeing .

Besides , it’s not because of your strength I love you , - Zac added , a mischievous smile spreading across his face . - It’s because of your big—Ow! -