The Dawn of the New World



Princess Ceni seemed to be in a complete daze staring at the moon because she didn't even register his presence let alone try to cover up.

Hao Xuan took off his robe and walked closer with measured steps, trying his best not to startle her as he wrapped it around her thin shoulders. Even standing just a few inches away she was numb to what was going on...

It was not until he spoke up that she finally reacted.

"You should be sleeping," he said in a hushed voice.

She peered in his direction and her hand automatically rose to cup his face.

"Are you...real?"

"I am," he responded with a heavy heart. How many times must she have seen him that she was doubting what was right in front of her?

And then out of nowhere, like a broken dam, tears started streaming down her face in an endless cascade of misery and relief. She collapsed into his chest, wrapping her arms around him as tightly as her feeble figure would allow.

Hao Xuan hugged her back, concerned and disturbed at how little energy he could feel from her. Almost all of her original vitality had been stolen by Dai Zhi and the effects were obvious.

She was shaking like a leaf in a storm and Hao Xuan was worried that he might break some bones if he wasn't careful in controlling his strength.

"I thought...I thought you were gone- I w-was waiting f-for you..." she stuttered and sobbed, tripping over every other word as if she had just learned how to speak.

Soon she couldn't even stand on her own and her legs gave out seconds before she lost consciousness again. Hao Xuan carried her in his arms and brought her back into the house, asking Baracus to run a few scans on her.

*Beep*

"There does not appear to be any long-term internal damage. Most of the injuries are healed but..."

He placed her on the bed and walked back out before inquiring further, "What then?"

"The subject's mental state. For such survivors of extreme sexual abuse there are known to be long-lasting side effects that can prove to be extremely harmful. Considering all the trauma the subject has been through, the system suggests-"

*BANG*

A muffled boom resonated through the hill as Hao Xuan punched the ground.

"You better be very fucking careful in what you say next," he spat through gritted teeth.

"..."

"The system does indeed believe that it would be in the host's best interest to terminate the subject rather than make it suffer needlessly-"

"BARACUS!"

"-But considering the host's history with such events there is an alternative. Erase the subject's memories."

Hao Xuan fell silent. He knew exactly what Baracus was going to say even though he warned him he still said it. But the second option...he couldn't help but consider it.

"Can you erase just the memories of...that, the dungeon?"

"Negative. Such severe trauma is usually ingrained within the core memories from which all issues stem."

"So either wipe all her memories or none?"

"Correct."

"What...would she be like afterwards? How badly will it affect her?"

"The subject will retain some general knowledge and understanding of the world, as well as retain most linguistic skills. But aside from that everything will be gone and will have to be relearned from the beginning."

"I...can't make that decision for her. She has to choose it, knowing everything. I won't force her into something this big. When she is more stable I will bring it up. Are there any other side effects?"

Strangely enough, Baracus didn't answer immediately which proved Hao Xuan right.

"What are they?"

"There is a chance that the memory wipe will backfire or not work as intended."

"How big of a chance?"

"Approximately 37%."

"And how exactly could it backfire or 'not work as intended'?"

"The wipe could go be deep and inflict permanent brain damage, leaving the subject effectively braindead. Or it could wipe out all other memories but retain only the traumatic ones."

Hao Xuan shook his head in a mixture of emotions. Those weren't minor side effects and he had hidden them from him.

"Were you ever going to tell me about this beforehand?"

"If the host inquired, yes."

"Okay, I understand. Unless something serious happens do not disturb me again for the next few hours."

Hao Xuan was outraged beyond reason but he did not let it show. He sat down right then and there to meditate.

'Patience...breathing...focus...'

'Patience...breathing...focus...'

'Patience...breathing...focus...'

'Patience-'

*Crack*

His right hand was so tightly clasped that it broke under its own pressure. He brought it up to his face, feeling the waves of pain shooting throughout his body as he watched it hang in the air.

He quickly set it back into place before waving his left hand to summon the red booklet that Gavril had given him.