"So it is true!"
The look of absolute shock on the grand priestess's face appropriately reflected her tumulous emotions.
Jin Wang confirmed once again.
"Yes, this is not my first life. I was born at the start of the Desolate Era, many millions of years ago. And since then I have lived, died, and been reborn more times than I care to remember."
He glanced towards her with half a smile, nodding upon seeing the disbelief and fear in her gaze.
"You can relax a little, I'm much younger than I look," he flashed a smile, "I was not immediately reborn at the end of each life. In fact, every subsequent rebirth takes longer than the last. I think I was born into this life after 5 to 8 million years or something."
"It is not easy to keep track of time when the systems are so fragmented and the smaller worlds like this one are completely out of the loop. Not to mention that they keep re-writing history every god damn time someone new is in power."
"Making up ancestors that never existed, bloodlines that were fabricated, and accomplishments that were stolen from others. It's a real hot mess out there."
Jin Wang seemed to have returned to his original merry self but that was not the case for the grand priestess. She was at a complete loss for words. If she were to believe Jin Wang's words then that would mean something much larger was in place here. His presence alone signified that.
A myriad of thoughts raced through her mind before she hesitantly asked the most important question.
"Are you here by accident? Or is there more to it?"
Stunned, Jin Wang burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, come on, you should know there is no such thing as accidents. Especially with the Emperor."
"The emperor?" she frowned, "What does he have to do with anything? Didn't he die a long time ago? How could anyone survive after so many-"
"I don't know, and I don't ask either. But he found me after every few rebirths, asking me to complete various tasks. The last time I met him was in my last life actually. Somehow, against all odds, he was still there. I was as shocked as you are now, especially since he didn't look that much different from my memories. You would think he walked out of my subconscious."
"His secrets have secrets and there was no use trying to ask because he would only smile like an asshole in return."
"So…you are here to do something for him?"
Jin Wang's smile widened, "Bingo."
"….??"
"Oh, that means yes. He came to me and asked for another 'favor'. This time he told me exactly which world I would be born in and most of what would happen after that too. And of course, what I should do about it."
The grand priestess was too busy thinking about other things that she missed when Jin Wang discretely pulled his feet out of the water.
"Then….do you know the fate of my people? Of our world?"
That was the most important question to her. Ever since she came to power everything she did was to protect this world, even though most of it didn't work out.
Jin Wang let out a long heavy sigh.
"That is not an easy question to answer. I know some significant events but nothing in too much detail. Although I doubt this tiny world will see much action to begin with, one can never be certain when it comes to things like these."
"If you're lucky, you will have to leave this world and your people will be relocated somewhere else. If you're unlucky, you will be left to fend for yourselves but as long as you align with one of the major powers, that shouldn't happen."
His answer was enough to silence the grand priestess for a good few minutes until she suddenly rose to her feet, "I must see to a few things. Do you mind if we continue this later? I must commune with the old records."
"No of course not, take all the time you need. But would it be okay if I stayed here for a little while longer? I want to try and remember a few more details in case they could help you."
Her face lit up upon hearing that Jin Wang would be willing to go out of his way to do something like that so she naturally agreed.
"Take all the time you need. When you are done follow the ridgeline and you will come across a dirt path. That will take you directly to my city."
"Thank you."
The grand priestess bid him farewell before taking her leave. The sound of her footsteps soon faded but Jin Wang still didn't move.
He listened to the sound of the flowing water and watched the various strange creatures jump up and down while humming a tune.
A couple of minutes later, without looking his hand started doodling various glyphs in the sand. Upon finishing the last one he tapped the ground thrice with his middle finger. A shockwave was generated by the last tap and the glyphs were blown away by an invisible gust of wind.
He slowly looked around, inspecting the surroundings but there was nothing different. Only the creatures swimming in the milky water had all sunk to the bottom.
He did this to make sure no one was watching or listening in without his knowledge, not even the grand priestess herself.
Jin Wang lowered his feet back into the water prompting another memory to play out.
