Silence had become their next accommodation. 

The roaring waterfalls nearby washed their worries away as Grayson tangled his fingers in Jiayue's hair, combing them gently. He sighed, leaning his head on hers and kissing the top of it lightly. He had to admit deep down that he was aware of this day. He had been too afraid to succumb to such truth. Hence, every day, he carved a perfect lie to himself that everything that happened at the Red Rose Clan was just a lie. He had lived in misery for far too long, so he wanted to sink himself into a sea of deceit, even though he was well aware that one day, he would resurface and realise it was all a gimmick.

He did not want to be hurt, but he had to be hurt.

"You know, it is unfair," Grayson started, adjusting himself as he allowed Jiayue to rest on his chest comfortably. "That each time, I am the one who has to sacrifice something."

He swallowed the lump in his throat and sighed. He could feel Jiayue's calm breath; her chest rose and fell as she listened to his every word with attentiveness.

"I am not saying that I am not grateful, but it is cruel to have someone remember every single bit of their past, yet having to sacrifice their greatest desire," continued Grayson with a dreadful chuckle. "I can't let you go yet. We had so little time together. I..."

Burying his nose in her hair, Grayson shut his eyes. He recalled the weeks after he had returned from the Red Rose Clan. His mind was in a haze, and his breathing became unstable for a couple of nights. It was among those times, his memories resurfaced, bit by bit.

At first, it was just the sight of Perennial alone. Then, came the candles and the singing library. Eventually, the so-called spell he recited. Back then, he had taken nights to discover the meaning of it, even tapping into the crest he bore for answers, but none responded. Nothing came through.

It wasn't until the night, when the pink moons aligned and the stars twinkled a little brighter, that answers surfaced, not from any books but the one person who had walked the Paths and broken through the little riddle. The answer was right before him.

A living being.

The person who had sheltered him from every corner of the universe.

The person who tamed his rage at all times.

His one and only tiger lily.

His Jiayue.

"Time was never on our side, Qing'er. I was never meant to walk these lands again," Jiayue answered, sitting up to meet his eyes. "I was never meant to meet you. But you found a loophole. You used the one chance given to you to bring me back. To bring a dead person back to these lands meant having to pay the price."

"So, why can't they? Just this life, just this once, I am willing to exchange anything for you," Grayson spoke firmly, holding onto her.

He met her calming eyes and sighed, leaning his forehead on hers.

"I think you and I both know the answer to it," Jiayue chuckled, fingers brushing his cheeks gently to assure him. "I am not alive because I am reborn, but because I am tethered to a plant and a promise. I am considered as something Perennial owes you in her past."

Grayson scoffed. Even though Jiayue was uttering truths, his mind and heart turned them into a lie.

He refused to believe them, but an eolian sound echoed in his mind.

Perennial owes more than what can be provided.

"It is time we make a choice, Qing'er," Jiayue whispered, cupping his cheeks and kissing his lips before pulling away. "You might be the symbol of chaos to the world, but to me, you are more than that. You bring chaos, but your chaos saves the world, not disrupting it. And, I cannot be the one who is keeping you from your path in this life."

"No... Jiayue," Grayson shook his head. "You are not. You are the only reason why I am still around. The one reason why I walk this path, even though I dread it. For almost a thousand years, I told myself I would find you. And I did. If you leave, when can we meet again?"

"I... I... don't have an answer to your question, Qing'er," Jiayue answered, lowering her head as she blinked her eyes, preventing tears from rolling down her cheeks. "But, I know you cannot burn the world for me."

"How?" Grayson asked in whispers, meeting her gaze the second she lifted her head. "How did you know?"

Grayson reached out, holding onto her palms as he tightened his grip.

"Of course I do. I've known you for more than a thousand years. And, I too know that you were actually willing to sacrifice the Red Rose Clan for me," Jiayue said and shook her head.

"Qing'er, you cannot burn the world for me because if you do, where can I meet you again?" Jiayue questioned. "And more so, you cannot ruin yourself for me, or else if I return one day, it will be for nothing."

Grayson was lost for words. He stared into those brown eyes that reflected his features. His fingers were trembling as he heard her words. His chest heaved at Jiayue's sudden revelation. Those plans were his secret. No one was supposed to know.

It was his secret. His alone.

"Jiayue, this..." Grayson paused.

"You were thinking to hide it from me, but Qing'er, I've known you for a thousand years," Jiayue spoke calmly and smiled. "We both know the best solution to your condition and for the people at the Red Rose Clan."

Grayson shook his head at her words. He wrapped his arms around Jiayue, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Jiayue," he spoke softly, burying his face on her shoulders. "I am sorry. I am sorry that I am the cause of your suffering year after year."

Grayson's long-held tears eventually fell from their home. It landed on Jiayue's shoulders, wetting her dress as he wrapped his arms tightly around her, not wanting to let go.

"Look at me, Qing'er," Jiayue said, as they both untangled themselves and she wiped those crystal tears off his cheeks. "This is the right choice. The best choice. Like I said, if the world turned to ashes or if you ruin yourself, I will be returning to nothing. And, that will break both of us even more."

"I will wait," Grayson answered, sniffling as he held onto her, memorising every inch of her face. "There is no if because I will wait. You will return, and even though you might not remember me, I will stay. Should the next life not allow us to be together, then I will make sure even fate will be in my control."

Swearing to the crest he bore, Grayson made a vow that he would destroy Perennial to free Jiayue from her suffering. The day he uttered those words, ordered by Perennial, was the day Jiayue and his fate were tied to it. As he met Jiayue's gaze, his desire to free his lover from such an evil fate grew, causing a loud screech in their tavern.

"Perennial made a deal! Made a seal!" it yelled and vines burst from Grayson's shoulder.

Activating the crest on his forehead, Grayson drew the power from his core, forming a large shield before Jiayue, separating her from Perennial's ultimate desire.

"A saviour who broke his promise is a sinner!" Perennial scowled, vines slapping on the shield, trying hard to break through it.

"Enough is enough!" Grayson growled.

Using his magic, he searched for the vine that latched onto his heart. The wriggling vines were causing more blood to seep through the robe Grayson was wearing, almost tearing it off his body.

Before him, Jiayue surrendered herself to her fate. She sat in silence, her eyes closed as she pressed her palms close, reciting a speech that was ever familiar to Grayson's ears.

A spell he created during their first meeting in The First Eclipsing Echoes, when the lands were covered with plague. It was meant to destroy everything the reciter desired.

"Such an unfair couple! Tian Jiayue, the Paths will curse you..."

"Stop it, Perennial!" Grayson cut its words off, his shield breaking most of its growing vines. "You do not provoke me with such petty tactics. Your curses are invalid. You are nothing but a shred of my kindness. You took it and ripped it off."

"Liar! Liar! Perennial grant you your desire. You allowed me to devour your flesh and bones," Perennial fought and yelled when Grayson's magic filled her and began to shake violently as Jiayue's spell grew louder.

Grayson said nothing. He knew it was a trick, and he smirked when he felt the magic from the Vine Verdant detecting the core of Perennial's survival. Its roots lodged deep in his core and heart, eating him alive. Forcing his magic deep into it, Grayson dug Perennial's evil source desperately.

Like a madman digging for a grave to hide a dead body, Grayson executed the magic of his crest, fully uprooting Perennial, who shierked and growled. Blood poured from his shoulders as Perennial's vines were removed bit by bit. Its thorns were trying their best to latch onto his skin.

"I do not allow you to relinquish my suffering, and I do not trust you for it," Grayson spoke, and the Vine Verdant crest grew brightly, melting every part of Perennial.

Jiayue's chanting on the spells grew louder, playing its part in tearing Perennial apart. As she continued, Grayson watched as her body began to turn into golden sand. Her limbs melting away on the ground as Perennial's voice drifted along.

With the final vine detached fully from Grayson's body, Jiayue's features exploded into golden sands, tainting Grayson's shield like stars that fell from the skies. He removed his shield, collapsing onto the cold ground, which matched his broken heart. Grayson gripped onto the blanket before him that still held the scent of hers, burying his nose deep within it.

Far across the roaring waterfalls, he heard ancient songs being sung and a voice whispering from afar.

It is our turn to take care of her, Xiao Qing. She will be in good hands.

"Jiayue..." Grayson whispered among the blankets they shared and shut his eyes. "Jiayue."

"I love you. I will always love you, for every lifetime that binds us together."

The previously cracked Vine Verdent crest began to mend itself on Grayson's forehead, healing all wounds on his body. Aside from the scar with vines and red petal marks on Grayson's shoulder and neck, every wound on his skin was fully healed like a brand new glass.

As if the crest was fully awoken, Grayson's Castleton green eyes glowed brightly like the stars the minute his eyes fluttered open.

And, like a brand new soldier, he stepped out of the Green Snow Tavern towards the waterfalls without looking back as if it were a page of the scroll he had torn and sent to the stars.

== xxx ==

The discussion went off the charts. As much as Yong Min knew there was only one solution, he and his brothers had wholeheartedly agreed that it was cruel to separate Grayson and Jiayue. The jade plate showed them more than what they desired, and Yong Min understood that Perennial was not just using Grayson as a source, but also as an escape. It was Perennial's greatest desire to see the world as described by Grayson when she spent her time in the Jin Lao mountains. There was too much that Perennial wanted that no one could offer. So, after being used as a source in the Red Rose Clan, it began to be wary of the situation and wanted a change. So happened, Grayson came along, and he became a target for bargains no one wanted to make.

Just as Yong Min was searching for answers, he felt a strong surge of movement in his magic. Grayson's blood was boiling with rage and fire, like a bourbon heating itself to produce a strong vial. Just as it reached its peak, all connections vanished, and Yong Min no longer felt the tug in his chest or the constant fight for survival in his veins. He removed the leather gloves on his palms, and the dark green blood in his veins began to disappear.

"It seems like they have both made a decision," Nathaniel said.

"Grayson is determined to destroy Perennial," Yong Min continued, looking at Nathaniel. "It means..."

"He is activating the Shen Ming crests fully to destroy it," Hayden spoke, his Moonlight Bloom crest glowed brightly.

"But, Hayden, no one in history ever activated the crest fully," Artie interfered as he stood up. "I am heading to The Green Snow Tavern."

"Brother, don't," Hayden warned, meeting Artie's red eyes. "It's too late."

The glow on Hayden's crest began to dim as he held onto his chest at the sudden pull on his magic. Yong Min watched the other leaning his head against Artie's shoulder, his features seemingly pale, but stable.

"What happens to those who choose to activate one of the Shen Ming Crests?" Azlea questioned, heading towards Hayden and offered to massage his forehead.

"The Vine Verdant crest is unlike The Moonlight Bloom. The Vine Verdant provides salvation to its carrier. A new path forged of shattered glass from the stars," Wane recited as he recalled a memory from one of the scrolls he read.

"A Castleton warrior rose from ash where none can break and none can order. A ruthless storm." 

Word Count: 2,289 words 

Cumulative Words: 26,704 words