Symbiote 0272: Revelation

For once, Alex and Natasha's night was spent talking instead of doing anything else. By the time morning came along, neither had gotten any sleep — not that they needed it, it was more of a general pleasure that they enjoyed, the same as eating or bathing.

They got out of bed and got ready before going to the usual area to continue their training.

[Have you made any progress?] The dragoness asked just as the three started training with Ying Nan. After the first few days, Alex had stopped keeping a physical body with the dragon. They mostly communicated via telepathy while sharing their respective energies for analysis.

[Somewhat. I believe that with my constant intervention to enrich Natasha's Qi, she should be able to manipulate it by tomorrow at the latest.]

[That means her Qi core will be condensing soon.]

[About that, I still can't see this Qi core inside her body. All I see is the Qi coalescing into a spherical shape before disappearing from view. I can still sense its presence within her body, but I can't track its source after that.]

[You are trying to look for a physical construct. Qi doesn't work like that. The spherical core you're looking for is an ethereal construct connected to a human in the same way that their soul is connected to them.]

[As you say, whenever this … Qi core is condensed, my host will finally be able to produce extra Qi that goes beyond the natural requirements of functioning, correct?]

[Exactly. At that point, you should probably be able to directly control your host's core to manipulate the Qi production. With your natural abilities, you should be able to effortlessly utilize their Qi to either enhance them or enrich your Bioenergy.]

[Sounds fun. After we're done with this whole Qi business, I have an offer for you, Dragoness.]

[I know your potential request, and my answer is no, Mr. Apex. I cannot leave Ta Lo undefended against that soul sucker… And before you start planning to get rid of that demon once and for all, I will still not be able to leave this place in case that happens. I am oathbound to guard this subdimension for my life. That is my purpose and my mission.]

[I don't think this subdimension is going to last your lifespan, to be completely honest. You're what? A couple of thousand years old? This dimension won't last more than ten millennia. You can easily live for a hundred thousand years or more, depending on your specific draconic lineage. It would be a waste to give up your life for a dimension that won't need you after its threat has been neutralized.]

[I will not budge on my decision.]

[What if I take this dimension for myself? If I decide to establish my long-term base or operations here, will you try to resist me?]

[Only if you threaten the dimension or cross my bottom line with your actions. So, no destroying the ecosystem and murdering the lifeforms here.]

[That's a given. I will instead integrate the people of Ta Lo into my personal forces.]

[Do as you will. Now, if you will provide me with some more Bioenergy, I would like to get back to studying it. It has fascinating properties.]

[Be my guest.] Alex told her before continuing to focus on Natasha's Qi development.

…

"How long do you think we will be staying here?" Alex, Natasha, and Xialing were having dinner when Natasha brought up the question.

"Another week or so at most. Once I'm done with the initial phase, we can leave for Gaia," Alex told Natasha.

"Are we going to leave?" Xialing raised her head and asked, a hint of reluctance in her tone.

"We are, honey," Natasha said. "You are very young and still need to continue your education."

"The people here aren't illiterate," Xialing said, a sense of agitation in her tone. "They have an established education system for their young. I asked the girls here about it."

"Yes," Natasha nodded before speaking calmly. "And while it works for them, it is equivalent to homeschooling. Their children aren't exposed to the outside world, limiting their worldview entirely. Now, considering that they will be spending almost their entire lives within this dimension, it works for them. But it won't work for you." She gave Xialing a pointed look after finishing her lecture.

"But I thought …" Xialing's agitation only seemed to increase after Natasha's patient lecture. "I don't want to leave this place. It brings me peace and happiness."

"Do you not want to go to school, Xialing?" Natasha asked patiently as the girl shook her head.

"I don't have any friends that I talk to. It's a boring place where the teachers always expect too much out of me. I hate it," She said, making Natasha frown — more in confusion than in displeasure.

"We will be moving to Gaia, Xialing. A different planet completely. I will get you admitted to a good public school —"

"I don't want to!" Natasha couldn't finish because of Xialing's outburst, as the twelve-year-old girl started crying. "I don't want to leave Ta Lo. I won't leave! I'll complain to Aunt Nan. She'll stop you!"

Alex noticed how the girl's words about talking to her aunt seemed to strike a chord in Natasha.

[Don't.] He was quick to put his hand on Natasha's shoulder, stopping her subsequent words. Words that he was sure she would come to regret in the future.

"Xialing," Alex spoke in a slightly heavy voice, scaring the girl into a weak whimper as her tears continued. "Tell me something. Are you hearing a voice in your head?" His words had Natasha widening her eyes as Xialing flinched.

"N-no …" She refused, her tears stopping in an unnatural manner.

"A gentle, feminine voice that sounds eerily similar to your mother's, am I right? Has it asked you to break the seal on that mountain yet?" Alex's words continued to rattle both Natasha and Xialing in different ways.

"Mother is trapped there!" Xialing broke. "She was trapped there by Father. He lied to us. He lied to us all. There is no dweller-in-darkness. He's turned my mother into a monster." Once the dam broke, all of the things that Xialing's head had been filled with came to light. These lies wouldn't have skewed the perception of an adult, so quickly at least, but a naive child such as Xialing, who had idolized her father to an almost god-like extent while also hating him, was easily manipulated into believing that he was the big bad behind everything.

"There you go, Nat. The real reason that our Xialing doesn't want to leave this place," Alex said to Natasha. She was also shaken up so much that she hadn't even realized that Xialing was hearing voices in her head.

"Xialing, honey …" Natasha started.

"I won't leave! No!" The girl seemed adamant about refusing.

"It's late. How about we go to sleep, hm?" Natasha asked in a coaxing tone. "I won't mention leaving as long as you are willing to sleep beside me tonight, deal?"

"Fine," Xialing said, her cheeks puffing up as she looked away.

[How do we block that voice from affecting her?] Natasha asked, a renewed determination in her eyes as she stood up with Xialing and held her hand.

[The most violent answer is usually the simplest one. By killing the Dweller-in-Darkness.]

[Can't you do your hypnosis magic or something to make her forget about it? Or at least block the voice from reaching her.]

[I will not be manipulating her memories, Natasha. I think you, of all people, know what that does to a person.] After his experience with Gwen, Alex wasn't going to risk manipulating the memories of anyone whom he deemed as somewhat important in his grand scheme. And Natasha's adoptive daughter figure definitely came under the important section of that grand scheme.

[Then what can I do? Let that monster fill her head with thoughts of reviving her mother?]

[Talk to her and console her. Don't deny what she believes in, but subtly make her see the truth. She's twelve; you know enough about psychology to bring her back to reality without making her lash out at you. As for the voice in her head. It's going to be gone before the end of the week.]

Natasha couldn't help but subtly smile at Alex's tone. [Finally warming up to her, huh?]

[You're the one who's important to me. Since Xialing is important to you, I will naturally keep her safe and sound.]

Natasha snorted at Alex's non-committal answer. [How long have you known about the voice in her head?]

[Known? I wasn't sure until her outburst just now. Suspicious? When we reached the entrance to that bamboo maze. Her actions of wanting to hurry toward Ta Lo and general absent-mindedness told me that something was off. And after my conversations with the dragon in the lake, I somewhat understood the nature of that demon behind that seal.]

[You should've told me of your suspicions.] Natasha said without admonishment. But a hint of disappointment was clear in her tone.

[I guess. I'm just more used to dealing with these kinds of things by myself.]

***

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