Erik's lair

"What?!" Caizhong exclaimed, running to hug her. "Don't talk nonsense, my love."

"It's not nonsense. I've lived too long for everything the gods have imposed on me, and I've done so many bad things that it wouldn't be surprising if karma decides to pay."

"Dear, you've been doing this for years, you can't just give it all up now!" Caizhong shook her gently, trying to make her forget such gloomy thoughts.

"Exactly, I can't. I never learned to stop... Thats what's going to kill me tomorrow," he said, never turning around to look Caizhong in the eye. "And maybe it'll kill you."

"I won't let anything happen to you. I swore my life to protect you."

They both remained silent, staring out toward where the ocean met the night sky.

She spoke again.

"Caizhong... Do you believe in fate?"

He hesitated a little. "I think something wanted us to be together."

"Because I made a prediction... And you know they rarely fail."

"You made it drunk, that's not reliable."