VOLUNTARY SACRIFICE.

I realised I was missing something. Why did this little brat remember what he had done right before arriving here, while I didn't?

"I tell you again and again—you are cursed. And that's it. You reject enlightenment like a moth avoiding a flame."

"Cursed or not cursed, what does this have to do with what is happening and the fact that I forgot everything?"

"Ha, ha-ha-ha! You seem not mortal, but your resistance to wisdom is same level." The voice retorted with irritation. "Did you ever harbour any celestial knowledge, like at least any?"

Now the voice sounded more mad than irritated. I might have seemed like a burden for this daemon.

"It's better to have a burden, anyway, than to be one!" 

And that was true... As long as I remembered myself I had always been accompanied by someone and I could hardly remember being on my own.

"How do you know so much? About the Curse, about me being a Spirit, about where we are? And this Consciousness you keep mentioning—I still don't understand."

He chuckled, barely containing himself. "I extend my hand; you slap it away like a mosquito. So, why even try explaining..."

"Fine, then. Since you blame my absenteeism on me, I have nothing but playing guesses. So, were you in the monastery with me? Who were you there?"

Silence acted like hesitation, then the voice revealed, "I was considered you, a mere servant, until you appeared. I served that old lad. But when you arrived, I finally exhaled. My days improved. But… "

"But what?"

"The oldie asked me to keep an eye on you so that you wouldn't be tormented much by the rest."

"Wow, hold on… You are telling me now, that you jumped after me because you messed up and feared the Master's punishment?" I asked trying not to burst out with laughter.

"Something like that. This old brat is fiercer than a hungry tiger!"

It was exactly another proof of someone constantly watching me. 

"You still didn't answer my initial question? So?"

"What a pester... Your stubbornness could rival a mule's—both equally unyielding.

"Let's just say, I was an important figure once…"

Well, that's was quite new, as I thought he was a small naughty immortal fry...demoted God-like fry, to be precise.

"You yourself are a fry, and I am, by the way, not a small naughty immortal demoted God-like fry, I'm the Master of Water!"

"The former Water Master, be precise. Now known as just Water immortal! Ha-ha-ha! Naughty Water immortal, help me Stars, it's unbearable!..."

"You bastard, dare to mock me? Celestials, the torture methods have really evolved..."

"How could I? I'm a mere humble spirit now trapped in the Darkness, almost dying second time on the way to Abyss!"

"Correct, you are! Remember it!"

"I will, no worries. So, why just immortal?"

"They say ignorance is bliss. If I say nothing, you might remain practically euphoric. No need to know!"

"And what if I insist?"

"Is it a tea ceremony for extracting confessions? Annoying… Well, you I would have remained Master of Water, if not for this lousy Flower Goddess, who instead of being reborn for the mortal trial, escaped it and went to her lover! I tell you, when I find her, I tear her into pieces, pull out the core, crush and scatter it!"

It was a lot! A lot of information! I'd just found out a bit of Heavenly secrets... The Flower Goddess had a lover... Wow!…

"Well, it's not a secret at all. But not for the Heavens to point their fingers at me and in order to escape the wrath of the Emperor, I descended to mortals by jumping into the Shadow Well. Bad decision, as I found out later, as the Well absorbed part of my powers as a bargain I hadn't planned to agree to. That's how I sacrificed my rank to stay alive."

"Oh... The Great Master of Water was deceived by a girl blinded by a mortal feeling—love... And you call me stupid?!"

"She's definitely not you. Her mind once sharp, just was romantically challenged, and made her occasionally delusional."

"So became you too…"

"You truly wish your death to come! Well… I'm arguing with a mountain."

"My bad, my bad, you were just unlucky."

"Better."

"Anyway. You called me a spirit. And said that spirits can possess vessels because of no body of their own. But do you still have yours somewhere?"

"Correct! I still hope I have it somewhere and no one spoiled it! Let Celestial Stars guard it!"

"So, you suppose to get it back? But I, I can't do the same, because I'm cursed and I'm a spirit now?"

"Correct!"

"Well, then it looks like I can possess your body and become a low rank water deity…"

"Don't even dare to dream of borrowing my body, lousy spirit!" The so called former Water Master blurted out his disdain.

It seemed funny to hear that, like, being kept here, I could ever have a chance to possess anyone's body. So irresponsible of him.

"If you wish, I'll give you mine on return. Your heart, now free from your weak vessel's shackes, will beat in rhythm with mine…"

That voice, almost forgotten but very familiar. How come! It can't be! Impossible! I refuse!

"Muchen? Is it you?"

*Thx for reading.