The Tale of the Lotus Heart

Chapter 2B

*Yong's POV*

I was minding my own business, getting a coffee on my break when I saw a man harassing a barista. Normally I wouldn't get involved but I only had so much time for my break to start with. In this generation, I was a doctor, but I had really only come down to play for a lifespan. I wasn't a normal human being although I was parading around as one for the time being. In truth, I was an immortal from the Heavenly Realm. I was over 30,000 years old, but after certain events that happened 4,000 years ago, I idled around mostly these days.

I intervened on the side of the barista when I saw the altercation getting physical. I had no other motives, I just wanted to deescalate the situation, get my coffee, and head back to the hospital. But I wasn't prepared to see who it was exactly I saved.

Zyanya.

No, it wasn't Zyanya. Zyanya was dead. I watched her die 4,000 years ago to save me. This girl was just someone who looked exactly like her. Still, the resemblance was so uncanny, I couldn't stop myself from helping her with her dislocated shoulder.

"Your birthmark..." I muttered as my fingers brushed across her shoulder blade. I knew that mark. It was the mark of the lotus heart. This girl Aivi, was surely the reincarnation of Zyanya. There was no other way to explain Aivi's resemblance to her and the tie to me. She pulled her shirt back up with a little difficulty.

"The lotus," she sighed. I was surprised she even recognized the flower. What else did she know? Did she have any memories of her previous life?

"When I was younger, I was teased a lot for it by other kids. An old lady who often helped out at the home would often tell me that it's a curse. She said I'll lose my life at age 24, but I never took her seriously," she explained as she buttoned her shirt with her back facing me. She stood and handed my suit jacket back to me as a faint blush covered her cheeks.

"Sorry, I've talked too much," she apologized. I could only shake my head with a small smile.

"It's okay. In fact, it's been a while since anyone has talked to me this long. Most people get intimidated and run off," I admitted truthfully.

"Alright, let's send you to the hospital for X-rays," I said as I draped my jacket over her shoulders. Aivi couldn't have known anything from Zyanya's life. If she did, she would recognize me. Her knowing about the lotus birthmark was pure coincidence. She didn't know what it truly meant. The lotus marked where the lotus heart was kept. If Aivi really had the lotus heart. It was plausible that she wouldn't live to see age 25. But from what I could sense, the lotus heart was dormant.  I walked with Aivi the short distance to my place of work, the hospital. After checking her in and getting her shoulder X-rayed I braced her shoulder and walked her out.

"So you really are a doctor," she chuckled to herself as we walked out of the automated sliding doors. I smiled lightly and nodded.

"I'm a doctor who's shift is about to start again. If you have any questions, feel free to call," I said as I handed her one of my personal business cards. She looked it over before smiling at me.

"I will. Thank you," she said before she turned to leave.

"Aivi," I called to stop her. She stopped just before stepping into the road and turned to look at me. I scratched the back of my head nervously. I wasn't purposefully trying to make her stay, I just didn't want her to leave yet.

"Would it be too presumptuous of me to want to see you again?" I asked. She hesitated before smiling at me.

"I'll call you," she promised before she left. I sighed before going back inside. In my office, my brother Tase was waiting on me. He came down with me from the Heavenly Realm to keep me company. He was idly spinning in my chair when he noticed me. He perked to attention.

"You look different; less depressed. What has you in such a good mood?" He asked. I sighed and sat in the chair across from him.

"Zyanya was reborn. I just ran into her," I admitted. Tase stood out of the chair quickly as his eyes widened.

"She was reborn? I thought she wouldn't reincarnate after the way she died. Her soul wasn't destroyed back then? How do you know it's her?" He asked in surprise. I understood his feelings though. It was a shock to me first too.

"It's her. Same look and temperament, but it gets worse. She has the lotus heart," I explained.

"If that's true-"

"It's dormant for now, but as soon as the lotus heart is activated, she'll be in danger," I cut him off. He sighed before he sat back down in disbelief.

"Zyanya really can't get away from a fate that makes her suffer," Tase shook his head thoughtfully.

"I'll protect her. I don't want her to die again," I spoke my thoughts.

"But she's a mortal for the time being. Mortals are fragile. She'll eventually die of something. It's one hundred years alive, if they're lucky," Tase felt the need to remind me. Of course, I already knew all of this.

"As long as I preserve her essence and the lotus heart, she'll live," I replied. Tase sighed before coming around my desk and patting me on the shoulder.

"Your star-crossed fate with Zyanya is really tragic. You know she's going to die and many will be after her lotus heart, yet you still hold on to her. Maybe it's time to let her go," Tase advised.

"The legend of the lotus heart has still yet to be proven. I don't believe that killing her for the lotus heart to rule the realms is the only way," I argued.

"Regardless of if it's true or not, everyone believes it. Why fight it when you already know how this ends?" He asked. I rubbed a hand over my face as the wheels in my brain started spinning. I needed to protect Aivi. If nothing else, to repay her for saving me back then.

"It hasn't ended yet," I reminded him.