Bonded Summoner

BS7 - Chapter 23: Reflection on the Lake

Nessa’s large ship flew across the sky, with Jake’s family and friends on deck. The water spiral housed numerous rivers and lakes, but there was an immense one that took up a large portion of it.

The size was awe-inspiring, looking like a giant ocean. And thanks to the world’s strange curve upwards and to the side, as one floated just above the surface, it almost looked like a dark blue mountain of water on the horizon rather than a lake or ocean.

They approached a small town on a large island within the giant lake, and landed nearby at a shrine.

Jake was wearing some red and gold cultivator robes, to match his bride. Nessa was wearing white and blue beautiful robes, with a skirt section at the bottom. It was an interesting mixture of a white wedding dress and what he knew to be Chinese style robes, almost looking like a dress for a fairy with how thin and transparent sections of the skirt were. It was mixed with several skirtings, showing her legs from the side but not the front.

His wives wore similar red and gold cultivator robes that matched the family. Even Jake’s many children were here, including the treants. They were all toddlers now and could talk, besides. Avalara’s avatar tugged their arms along as they marched around with their root feet. Even Yona came along, leaving a two treants sleeping in the Refuge with Avalara’s other avatar.

Various Hearthtribe and Love and Justice members also arrived just for this special event, to witness their vows and celebrate. A few patriarchs from different sects came along, both from the Mystic Expanse and Aetheris.

However, this ceremony had two stages of it. After many hugs, kisses, and well wishes, Jake and Nessa got out of the ship at the edge of the lake, and their ship continued flying to a separate, nearby island without them.

The two walked up to what looked like a gate, and a large floating bridge. Made of ropes and tied together bamboo, the bridge was meant to shift with movement or the motion of the water.

The lake was unusually calm or still in this area, to the point where Jake could tell there was something mysterious at play.

Nessa looked at the gate with more than a little apprehension. “This is the bridge of certainty, and the waters of reflection. The waters will show our pasts to each other, and they will be still or turbulent, a match to your heart. Doubts about ourselves or our union will be met with waves and whirlpools, causing our crossing to become dangerous and uncertain.”

“Hm. But our hearts are both certain, are they not?”

Nessa laughed a little awkwardly. “Ahaha…um…I’m not sure I have as much confidence in myself as you do?”

Jake knew the topic she was having trouble with, but he still asked, “You’re not worried about my feelings for you, are you? You seemed so happy together with me, just yesterday and minutes ago.”

“Oh, it’s not that. I would have been satisfied if it took years for you to love me. I’m so happy that…it feels like it can’t be real.”

Jake arched his brow at her. “But you can see and feel when something is real. The truth.”

Nessa chuckled darkly. “Yes, but…it’s when I believed so much in my trait and got overconfident that… so many died. I…haven’t wanted to talk about this, but I realize now that I must. So that…when you see it… I just hope you can still see me the same way.”

He had heard pieces of this story, and knew this was traumatic for her. Giving her a confident smile, he said, “I’m sure I will. This was when that Avaron person killed you? What happened?”

“He… I’m not even sure what he did, as I didn’t even see it, so certain of my victory, I wasn’t watching for what he did, I only saw his twisted face as I died. But he killed me in the Greater Rift, and before I could even respawn…we lost the whole world. Even though Father paid so many people’s ransoms, he couldn’t turn up any evidence we could use against him.”

Jake was shocked that a god couldn’t get to the bottom of what happened, but he supposed there were certain rules for the great game that may prevent them from learning certain details. “Were there no hints at all?”

“I can’t be sure…but… I think aside from using a banned item to kill me in the Greater Rift, he might have helped betrayers. We were ahead in the war, and my guild was going to have the rights for the prime instance thanks to our efforts. But with my elite team’s death during the Greater Rift and failure to defeat the boss, and with us losing a HQ shortly after, and perhaps a unique world element, the swing was just too much. Father couldn’t say much, but it seems combined with Tartarus’ investment, it pushed my respawn even further out until we lost. I… failed those people. An entire world lost…to my hubris.”

Jake knew that, in order for her even to be able to say it as she must speak the truth, she believed it to be true in some way. “How did you fail them?”

“I…was too full of myself. I only took on allies I believed pure of virtue, those that swore oaths to fight for truth and justice in my parties. It…was why my guild was so small and so weak. If we had more warriors, I just might have been able to enter without Avaron…sneaking his elements in.”

Jake wanted another clarification. “Unique world element? You mean things like the Naga King, or like Avalara?”

Nessa had been told about what happened on Highlands. “Yes, much like your Naga King. Unique elements in the world which can get special considerations in the conquest game, or not. If Tartarus gets control of one or perhaps if Avaron did, then combined with the Greater Rift and a HQ loss…it fits.”

“Was there anything like that? I’m sure you did what you could to gather information.”

“I did. And not that I was aware of. A lot of those things only the natives have stories of, and many can’t quantify just how powerful their special creatures or phenomena might be very well. There were a few stories of unique creatures, and magical storms.”

A force of nature such as a dangerous storm that caused significant challenges was not something Jake had run into, but was actually something quite common on the Mystic Expanse and many other worlds, he knew. If someone like Avaron took control of that somehow, or the Alliance simply got unlucky where such a thing landed…

They would have to be extremely careful on all the worlds they faced these traitors.

Jake thought on it for a long moment. “It’s a shame that happened, but I still don’t think it was your fault. And even if you could have done better, so what? He was the traitor, a betrayer of the highest order. It is he that should be to blame, not you.”

“I know, but… I could have done more. I could have been better. And in the end, I almost made the same mistake twice. If not for Nana… I would have lost to Avaron again.”

“Expecting yourself to always win and be perfect is unreasonable, even the Divine themselves have failures. Avaron and evil won that day, and that is a tragedy. But not all was lost because your loss wasn’t meaningless–you learned. You beat him and won Shadow Haven, and helped prevent even more worlds from falling into his clutches. You worked hard and have become better. And soon, together, we will defeat him once more, and any evil that gets in our way.”

He tried to send her his reassurance to her over their bond, but also his confidence and his love as he added, “It was not your responsibility alone to save that world. No matter how big your mistake, you have made amends, and you deserve forgiveness for them. ”

“You…really believe that?”

“I do.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she hugged him fiercely. She cried for a minute as he held her, and he waited for her to recover her bearings. “Thank you. I…needed to hear that. I’ve been…carrying that for a while. I shared it with Nana, and…while she said I shouldn’t beat myself up over it, she doesn’t much care for people other than me or her kin.”

“I’ll tell it to you as many times as you need to hear it, and so will your sister wives. After today, you’ll never be alone again. We will revel in our victories, and share any defeats together.”

He held her for a while longer, and her smile returned. He wiped her tears from her cheeks, and then offered his hand.

“Shall we?”

Nessa took a deep breath. “I’m ready now. Knowing that you accept my greatest failure… I have nothing left to fear any longer.”

As they walked through the gate, Jake felt a small connection from the mystic entity. It was like a connection to his mind, and thanks to his Void Cells from his bloodline, he could completely disregard it.

Knowing it was important for their trials, he let it. They started their walk across the bridge, and the water started to stir around them. Ripples on the lake began, and images appeared on its reflection.

The first thing that appeared about Nessa was a moment where she was having a conversation at a Noble and Divine gathering. She looked down on a man contemptuously, and through the connection to the gate, Jake knew the surrounding details and feelings as he saw it.

Whispers arrived as she spoke, and her thoughts from that moment even echoed into Jake’s mind. She was both rude and arrogant, looking down on some warriors who freed a world. She used her trait to know about their vice, and laid into them for lacking virtue. Like many warriors, they loved to drink and spend time at the bars. While it might have been true that they were perhaps lazy, they were still heroes.

It was interesting to see Nessa as a blond, Nordic woman. She was beautiful, but definitely had a case of resting bitch face.

Nessa looked over at him. “What. You are amused by my look? What is it?”

“I was just thinking I like the way you look now much better.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, but she had an amused smile. It seemed she realized some things might be better left unsaid.

In Jake’s image, he was sitting in his apartment, staring angrily at a dating app. He had…some choice words for a girl that stood him up on a date, stating that she did it because he just wasn’t communicative enough for her, thanks to his third shift schedule. She could have told him that before he went there and waited for her, after all.

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And it wasn’t just his anger. His depression soon followed as the scene shifted. It had taken him some time to build his confidence and discipline, and it showed some of his weaker, more pathetic moments.

Nessa had looked at that with just an amused smirk, but seemed shocked more than anything when she saw his lonely face and the depressing thoughts that followed.

More small images and scenes began to show as they continued across the rope bridge, the water bubbling and shifting as they walked. The images continued to show their doubts, their failures, and their flaws.

But the water remained lightly turbulent, only small waves bubbling up to come nowhere near the bridge. Nessa saw much more of his past, and it was Jake’s past he didn’t really want anyone to see.

And the reverse was true. Seeing Nessa’s past was a surprise, where she snubbed others over small infractions. With her Divine Trait, she looked down even those that had achieved so much, helped so many. Nobody was perfect, but it was like only those that were could meet her expectations or earn her respect.

There were even small snippets during training, small mistakes and blunders. He got to witness a moment where she had only just become a cultivator, and was smashing a bunch of bugs in cave with a mace. Some bug ichor splashed into her mouth, and she screamed and cried for minutes, swearing at Avaron, her dad, and more.

The despair she felt when she returned to her inn room was palpable, and Jake wished he could give the past her a hug.

Nessa looked at him worriedly as more of these scenes appeared, and Jake squeezed her hand. “Those are all in the past, aren’t they? You are not the person you were, but the person you were made you the person you are now. It’s thanks to these things that you are now here with me, so I am thankful for them.”

Hearing and feeling his reassurance, she smiled and the water became more still. They continued their walk, more entries being shown.

They were nearing the end, and the events leading up to Nessa losing the world were shown. She met with some warriors that wanted to join her, but just because of a few minor flaws, she snubbed them and turned them down. Later, they became Avaron’s allies instead.

While Jake didn’t think this would have made him harbor doubts in Nessa even without their talks, her heart was already beating heavily like a drum. She now had confidence in Jake’s acceptance though, so they continued their march across the bridge hand in hand, the water hardly shifting. Her trust in him and certainty had increased, and the still waters reflected that.

For Jake, there was nothing nearly as significant. There was a moment where a teacher trashed him for being an annoying orphan, and a few more lonely moments. Starved for affection like he was, these moments were numerous.

But these moments only made them proud of how far they each had come. Most of those flaws had been overcome, their doubts in themselves filled with confidence instead. Their flaws became their strengths, or became what drove them to become what they were now. Their failures were a part of themselves, their pasts, a very part of them they couldn’t deny.

They forgave and understood each other’s pasts. But most importantly, they forgave themselves.

Arriving on the other side of the bridge, it was like a weight was lifted from Jake and Nessa’s hearts.

It was in this moment that their bond increased to the fourth level. Jake had thought that it was only his love or feelings that might be lacking, but on some level her doubts in herself had also held her love back. One could not truly love another, without first loving themselves.

Berri’s thoughts were first to speak up, [She did it! Finally. More snake girls in the chat. Welcome!]

Blood said, [Welcome, new sister. Just in time to join our family.]

The other girls all chimed in, welcoming Nessa with yet another mental hug. Jake’s head got just a little noisier, but Nessa was a lot more reserved than the rest, anyhow. Though, once she felt like she fit in, who knows just how she might change. Either way, he looked forward to it.

Their family and friends were all waiting for them, and the island scenery was beautiful. It was a picturesque scene, not all that dissimilar from the tea gardens Jake and Nessa went to. Meticulous stacked stones outlined the venue, with green plants and white flowers lining the different areas.

Wide rows of seating held the many Hearthtribe, family and friends. Almost everyone was standing and waiting for Jake and Nessa to arrive. Flower arches were placed at each row, holding an assortment of magical flowers.

Refreshments were set up in different areas throughout the tea garden, sections separated with stones and stairs. Jake imagined this was going to be their reception as well.

A large arch at the end of the path led to another bridge. On the other end of the bridge was a water temple, a shrine which gathered significant Aether energy.

They continued their walk through the several flower covered arches, Jake’s treant children walking in front of them as they spread flowers across the path. His little tree girls and boy were different, like little human toddlers covered with bark and big eyes.

There was no need for an officiator of the wedding, for they were meant to exchange their vows under the archway in front of the lake, witnessed by the heavens and by their families. A few stone statues were placed to the left of the large arch, allowing their family’s Divine to bear witness to their union. Hestia, Guan Yu, Cernunnos and Brigid, Bastet and Echidna’s eyes were lit up.

They reached the archway, and stood facing each other with both of their hands held together. Tyr and Nessa’s mother were watching near the rest of Jake’s family in the front row.

The two both spoke in unison. “Under the heavens and the watch of the Divine, we swear our vows.”

Jake looked at Nessa in the eyes and said, “Nessa Tyrsdottir, we have not known each other long, and our love is new. But I believe that the love we have is real, and will grow to stand the test of time. I admire that you are a virtuous warrior with unmatched integrity, but that you are also a loving, strong, devoted woman that few can be your equal. I will be proud to be your husband and dao partner, and I vow to love you, and to stand for what is right by your side. To aid you in achieving your dreams, both in peace and in tribulation.”

He could feel her heart swell, and her smile was beaming. “Jake Hart, I love…everything about you. But what I admire and respect most is your boundless love–not for me or your many wives or children, but for your friends and the people of your kingdom, and even the people you don’t know. Through your love and your strength, you do not just fight evil, you eliminate despair and raise all people up. I vow to love and give you my everything as your dao partner, whether in peace or in tribulation. For I trust that in your arms we shall truly achieve the success of heroes and legends, vanquishing evil and protecting the weak.”

The two spoke in unison once more. “We seal our oath with a kiss, with the heavens and the Divine as our witness.”

Nessa’s gaze on him was passionate, and her blue eyes were shimmering like the ocean water. Of course, he was quite familiar with these kinds of looks–his wives often had ones much like it as they looked at him. Feeling and seeing how strong her feelings for him were, he couldn’t help but love her in return.

Like a magnet, he was drawn to her lips and took hold of her waist. She wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, and leaned upward to meet him. The flames of desire within Jake brightened, and he kissed her deeply.

The many Divine’s statues lit up, but it was Tyr that stood from his place among the audience and spoke up. “As witnessed by the Divine and the Framework, these two Nobles of the Alliance are now considered one. May their reign be just and eternal. Congratulations, daughter.”

Small applause erupted and a Framework prompt indicated that the ceremony was complete, but Jake and Nessa were consumed by passion as they kissed. They kept their tongues inside, but their kiss was still filled with enthusiasm, the two enjoying each other’s intense emotions over their bond, as well as the soft touch of their lips.

When they broke apart, they both bowed to the crowd holding hands, and then they were mobbed by wives, and soon after, children as the applause continued. Seeing their friends and family happy filled them with joy, and Jake was especially glad to see how happy that made Nessa. She was crying happy tears, having such a large number of friends now that she never thought possible.

And so many children calling her mommy or mother. The mood was light as she greeted each of them, and they hugged her with joy.

Jake received a hug from his new mother-in-law, and even one from Tyr. As Nessa received their affection, she was overwhelmed with happiness once more.

The true reception began, food being brought out and music starting. Jake was impressed with the number of gifts they had received, the Patriarchs and Elders of the clans and sects going all out to earn their favor.

Eventually, the two lovers said goodbye to their family and friends. Nessa’s goodbye to her father and mother was tearful, but she was so happy to have seen them for the first time in many years. That she could eventually see her mother whenever she wanted in the future was something that had her excited.

Nessa had been under the assumption that she would spend far more time dormant than awake, decades in between each slumber, and that she wouldn’t much be able to leave her Sector. That she had spent time and mastered creating and maintaining projections, even while in her lake, meant she would be able to see her mother more often.

The two went through the arches and continued to the temple, crossing a much simpler, less magical bridge.

The two entered inside the shrine through large doors, and the space inside was warped. Rather than stepping inside of a temple, he felt like he was still in the tea garden. There was a moonlit grotto up some stairs to his right, with a lake in the distance. A mistlike haze drifted through the scenery, giving the whole area an ethereal, secluded feel.

The moon was reflected in the lake, and the Aether energies inside were palpable. The density wasn’t quite at the level of the challenge room Jake experienced, but it was still significant. Then, the quantity was higher, the room much larger.

Jake asked, “What is this place?”

“It’s a special temple meant for cultivating lake and moonlight Qi. The Aether merges them into a unique mixture over time.”

He looked up, seeing a special skylight that allowed the moonlight into the temple. It was full of mirrors and reflected the light inside. The moon wasn’t out yet, but it seemed it kept most of the sunlight out somehow, besides.

Jake knew that moonlight contained quite a bit of yin energies, so to have that focused into the lake should mean that it was leaning that way heavily. “You’ve been here?”

“Yes, I’ve been granted time in several special lakes, and this was one of them. However, it wasn’t nearly so dense at that time.” She motioned over to the small grotto area. “We’ll start by cleansing ourselves there.”

Jake saw various magical lilies floating within, with a thick pulp of discarded fruit portions, seeds, and special leaves shredded within. It didn’t look dirty, exactly, but it was almost like the pool was an instant away from someone hitting the blend button on a blender to make a healthy smoothie.

“What does this do?”

“The rinds of these mystical fruits and leaves from a unique plant, combined with the lilies and the pond, help absorb any impurities in your flesh, and even your soul. Then, it also has an effect that should strengthen the body and soul.”

“Almost like a potential increasing treasure.”

“It is, but it is an environment instead. A unique resource.”

The two disrobed, and he smiled at her confidently as she blushed. Her tail wagged a little as she got excited, but she quickly entered the pool.

As he stepped into the water, he could feel the energies within scrubbing his skin, and drawing something out. It felt odd, but the fluid seeped into his pores rapidly. As he submerged into the cool water, it actually suffused his entire body, and even got absorbed into his hearth.

And he could see the same happening with Nessa, her tail coiling around her in the water. After a few moments, the leaves in the water actually started to brown, and wither away.

They waited for a while longer, floating on the water and holding hands. They kept mostly apart, however, because the toxins within their body and soul were…apparently gross.

Nessa laughed at his thought. “A lot of this is probably from you trying out all those weird environments these past weeks. Based on your bloodline tempering, I really doubt you keep that many toxins within you normally. Your Divine Hearth likely gradually burns them away as well. It just might not have kept up this time.”

It was true this past week, Jake had only done the one dual cultivation session with Fhesiah. He shouldn’t be surprised that she was more than willing to share the details with Nessa.

“You know about our tempering and how it’s done already?”

Nessa blushed. “Faye told me about the technique our family uses, and provided me with a copy. I…have made sure I was ready, and have been looking forward to it. It’s…how I planned out today.” During her talk, her tail coiled around herself again, hiding her face and upper body shyly.

“I see. I wasn’t too worried, but I did wonder how this special environment was going to work out for me.”

“We’ll…work together in the lake, and then there’s a second purification pool for when we’re done.”

They spent some time waiting for their flesh and their souls to be completely cleansed, and Jake felt great. He hadn’t realized how much the contents of his body and soul had been affected. But more than that, it seemed this pool had some nurturing qualities as well.

Rather than being burned away when the fluid reached his hearth, like a healing water, it entered and sent soothing energy inside.

Eventually, they walked out of the purification waters, hand in hand. They then dipped in another small pool, which removed the last of the junk from their skin. Then, they walked over to the lake.

The energies within were dense and full of Aether. The atmosphere was very private, a special getaway. It was almost like a hot spring, with an ethereal mist floating over it. Only the sound of a babbling brook filled their ears, the lake quiet. Within, the two would become one.