Fang Xin's view

A year later

I arrived at Xinye's tomb with all my children, including the ones I had adopted on remembrance's Ching Ming. To my surprise, the tomb site was already cleaned and weeded with flowers, incense, food, and candles in front of her grave. I looked closer, and kneeling, praying was Horjol.

"Horjol?" I inquired, "Why are you here?"

She went red with embarrassment. "Oh, I thought I would pray to her for a boy child. She performed so many miracles in her life. I see you brought all your family."

"I did, but sadly Bryce did not come," I said as I knelt, my children following my actions beside or behind me. I lit the incense and bowed three times to honour her; I was then taken away in my spirit by a being in white.

I went to worship this being in white as I thought it was the Jesus Xinye had talked of, but the man stopped me, "Do not worship me; I am not your God, but I have come to show you the future."

I was then taken forward in time, and I was shown Xinye at her wedding to her first husband. I was no longer jealous but rather thankful for him for some reason. I was then taken to each of the births of her children, then to the day of the time rip. I saw her two children and her first husband collapse in tears but pull themselves together. Her daughter picked up the photos scattered around the place, which showed her family.

There were a great many photos, and she put them into the car so that they would not be ruined further.

I turned to the angel, "I thought she had three children in our time period; how is it then that there are two children here?"

"Fergus is not her son, but her daughter's friend," the being said.

I felt an anger rise within me at being tricked, but it went away almost instantly as it showed me her character once again. She took her daughter's friend and made him her son. I laughed at myself.

I was then taken a year into the future. A house was built, and two other places were, but although it was built, happiness was not found. Her first husband was turning to drink. I was then taken to three years in the future, and things were not so good for their family; her husband no longer cared for their remaining children, instead visiting his woes at the bottom of a beer.

"Why is he like this?" I asked, "He was so blessed for so long. How is it he has fallen to be like this?"

"He has forgotten the blessing; he is just feeling the pain of losing his two children and wife. He also feels responsible for the loss of Fergus," the being explained.

"Why are you showing me this?" I asked.

"To offer you a choice," the being responded.

"What choice," I asked.

"Would you come here in 10 years to this time and help him and his family?" the being asked.

"I will come," I agreed without much thought; I could not stand seeing her first husband like this, "But why ask and not just send me?"

"In order to come, you must become a swordsmith along with Fergus; Maelgwyn will be alright as he has completed school and can step into anything he chooses," the being stated.

"Alright, how do I start?" I asked him.

"Start with the local blacksmith, and your way will become clear if you help those that serve you," the being said, and for some reason, Aoi's face came into my memory then. I realised then that in the year she had faithfully served me, I had never found out anything about her. Perhaps I should ask; Aoi was not a Chinese name.

I was then sent back to my body.

"Xin! Xin!" a panicked Harjol shook me.

"What?" I snapped.

"You suddenly passed out," Harjol fluttered around me nervously, " Are you alright?"

"I am alright," I nodded, "Xinye's God or his representative talked with me."

"He talked with you too?" Harjol asked, "I swore I heard a voice as I prayed too."

"What did the voice say?" I asked.

"That I would have a son 11 years from the start of my marriage," Harjol explained. A wistful look in her eyes occurred, "In five years, I will be honoured by the birth of a son. I hope I can hold out till then."

"If you heard his voice, then it will be," I comforted her.

"So, what did you hear?" she asked.

"I was given a choice, and I accepted to return to the future with Fergus and Maelgwyn in 10 years," I saw Fergus's eyes light up, "but we have to learn how to be a swordsmith starting with the local blacksmith."

I could see Fergus nodding in hope, and Ying folded a little in grief, "Sorry, Ying, they do not belong here, and their God is giving them a way home."

"Did he say what I was to do?" Maelgwyn asked curiously.

"No," I shook my head, "He said you would be alright no matter what you chose."

"And Bryce?"

"I received no word for him," I replied, "Perhaps he is meant to be here as he did not come. He stayed with my family to honour my ancestors. I do not mind since I am not there." I looked at Fergus then mock angrily, "Fergus, do you not think you owe me an explanation? Or rather, both of you do." I included Maelgwyn in my look. "But not here. Later we will talk about this."

The pair nodded, wondering what I was on about by the expressions on their faces. We left then, and our family workers, including Boa and Wei, arrived to pray for Xinye.

When we arrived home, I ushered Fergus and Maelgwyn into my study and sat looking at them silently, waiting for them to speak.

Maelgwyn eventually spoke, "Xin, what are you wanting from us?"

"Think carefully and see if there is nothing you think you should tell me?" I responded.

Maelgwyn thought for about a minute before saying, "I have thought very carefully, and I have come to the conclusion I have nothing I feel I need to say to you."

Fergus stifled a laugh before asking, "Why, what is it that you think we should tell you?"

"That you are not Xinye's son; you are her daughter's friend. Her actual son is still in the modern era," I said, looking at them steadily.

"What?" Maelgwyn exclaimed.

"How do you know this?" Fergus asked.

"Xinye's God told me," Fergus started to look distressed as if I was going to do something to him, "It's alright, Fergus, I understand her reasons and yours for keeping silent. I won't be saying anything to anyone, but I thought we needed to clear this between us."

"I am sorry, Xin," Fergus looked so sad, "But Xinye was like my second mother; she allowed me to be me and honestly made me a man before. I was pretty girly in my outlook, but being the only boy in a bunch of girls does that to you."

"I always thought Fergus was dating my sister," Maelgwyn said, "So, I thought of him as a sort of brother. It did not end up that way, though."

"We were not like that, Maelgwyn," Fergus denied the relationship between him and Xinye's daughter.

"I know that now," Maelgwyn agreed, "Had you loved my sister, you would not have married Ying."

Fergus was silent at that; he looked a bit ashamed, as if he did hold some feelings for Xinye's daughter.

"What is your real brother's name? and your sister's name?" I asked, curious.

"Carmen and Venus," Maelgwyn said, "Carmen was named after a singer."

"I see," I did not really, but I did understand that some people were famous for their voices. I assumed it was so in the modern era too.

"Would you tell me a bit about your time?" I asked.

"Sure," Maelgwyn nodded, "There are lots of horseless carriages in our time and in differing shapes and sizes; some are called cars, SUVs, utes, trucks, and trains. Trains drive on rails and the other on roads. The roads could be made of different substances depending on the area. There are also flying carriages with wings."

"Flying? Like birds fly?" I asked, astounded.

"Yes and no," Maelgwyn said, "They do fly in the air, but it is not like birds as the wings do not move. There are many other things too, like fridges that keep your food cold and fresh for a little while. Ovens and microwave ovens, but they cook food differently than now."

I nodded; it was as I expected I would be facing many changes when I went forward in time. I just prayed I would not have the spirit of fear when I went forward. We chatted more about what to expect when I got tired and needed to rest.

"Alright," I said to the pair, "Enough chat, I have work to do. Please show yourselves out." and waved them out the door.

"Yes, Baba," they said and left; as soon as they did, Aoi entered to collect the dirty dishes, "Aoi."

"Yes, Master," she bowed to me and continued working, "We need to talk later."

"Yes, Master," she bowed again and removed the dirty dishes from my room, allowing me to relax to flop back onto my day bed. I put my arm over my face and muttered, "Xinye, I hope I am making the right decision here, considering I swore to kill your first husband if I ever met him."

🍀A/N If you enjoyed this chapter, please take the time to vote by pressing the star. If you see any errors, please let me know, as this is unedited.🍀