Bad feeling

There was one thing he was unable to get out of his mind. Well, one thing among a whole arsenal of other things. The tone of his voice was haunting, his desperation almost intoxicating. Mingze had told him where he could find help, but he was unsure if it was enough.

Standing near the temple brought back memories of its own. For a good while he stood at the base, simply gazing towards it. Jiu stood at his side, her red eyes paying close attention. There was still a protection active inside, he knew that now.

Mindful of what place he was entering, he tried to hide the affinity burning through him as much as possible. There was only one problem and that was that he had no idea what he was doing exactly. All he could think of was that it was probably better than doing nothing at all.

After filling his lungs, Mingze entered the temple where he had met her the first time. He payed close attention to his surroundings, hoping to find someone who worked there. Once thought Mingze did, he approached the person. "Excuse me, do you know if Shae is here today?" Now he could only hope this person indeed worked here and that she was present.

Míngzé was lucky. The person was indeed someone who worked here and they mentioned Shae was here today. He thanked them when they told him they were going to get her.

Calmly he waited, until her familiar voice rang in his ears. Míngzé turned around. “Uh yeah, that’s right, hi,” he greeted her, not as smoothly as he wished it to be.

This was strange. Before they were strangers. Now they were still strangers, but with more connections than before. Míngzé was no longer sure if he had made the right decision by coming here. He could’ve asked Lamar for her number and called her instead. Yet, here he was.

Loosely he let his cane roll between his hands. “I was wondering if someone came to visit you these last few days,” Míngzé started. There was no reason to run around the bush. “Green hair, goes by the name Vince?” That was all he could give her. No matter what had happened between them in the past, he was worried for the young man.

How he was trying to keep his cool. To pretend like they were— what exactly? Not friends? This was also not professional? There really was no way to describe this.

A worried look settled itself when she mentioned he had not been here. There was no reason to doubt it or ask her to double check. If he had been her, she would know. “Right,” Míngzé sighed deeply. How he wished Vince had followed his advice already.

Míngzé nodded when she asked to sit down and followed her. Last time had almost been the same. The conversation they had back then still floated in his mind as it had changed a lot. Míngzé stayed quiet for a moment, trying to figure out what to say and how to start.

“His affinity, he lost it, and not by choice.” There really was no way to tell her. “I told him about you, because after our last conversation here, I thought perhaps you could help him.” And he hoped it would keep him from making stupid mistakes.

Almost in shame he looked down at his hands. Of course she would bring up that conversation. It was to be expected, yet he had not imagined the words flowing out of her mouth. The hint to an accusation that lay within them.

His brow furrowed deeply. “I—” he started before he cut himself off, biting his tongue before he would say something stupid. He pulled his sleeves further over his arms, hiding the bandages. Never had he thought about it that way and for a moment it felt like a possibility. But no. This was not on him. Míngzé had nothing to do with the piece Vince lost and his affinity that was no more.

When he made up his mind, he shook his head resolutely. “No,” Míngzé said, looking up in an attempt to make some sort of eye contact. He wanted her to know he was not lying. “While he gave me no details about what happened, it had nothing to do with me.”

“Our conversation last time made me reflect on my way of thinking. Made me see the flaws. This is not a fate I wish upon anyone.” Not anymore. Not after witnessing the empty shell Vince was left as.

A relieved sigh escaped when Shae said she believed him. It was not often that someone did, even when he said nothing but the truth. Especially with an accusation like this one, he did not want her to have any wrong ideas about him.

Míngzé felt his jaw tighten. While he had no details, he was well aware of the basics. But could he tell her? The answer was an easy one really. The same he had given everyone before when they came asking their questions.

“No, he did not tell me, just that he lost it,” he said, keeping his voice as neutral as possible. There was no way he could tell her how a deity had taken it from him, made promises He would likely not keep. “It’s not like we are on great terms, never have been,” he added, giving her a reason why he would not have told him.

Míngzé opened his mouth, ready to come up with an excuse as to how he was not lying, only to shut it immediately. Going against her would only confirm that he was in fact lying. Just like staying quiet.

A deep sigh escaped, mixed with frustration. He shook his head before saying more. Why was he going through this extra mile, to help someone who perhaps did not even want his help. “No I don’t.” There was only one person he could ask for a number, but he would not bother him with this.

“I don’t even have a full name,” Míngzé said, again that frustration was shining through. Why was everyone being so difficult? No one ever listened. Not to him at least. He brought his hand to his eyes and rubbed through them. “That fucking idiot. I had hoped he would have sought you out by now.” But of course not. He would rather go after the artifacts probably.

“He really loved that affinity of his, which makes it probably even worse that it was taken from him.” While he did not understand the sentiment someone could feel, he could imagine how devastating it would be.