What would I do if Jason were to die this moment?
In truth, the answer Gina currently needed had already gone far beyond this simple question. It wasn’t as though this was the only question that was on Gina’s mind. Gina had been asking herself questions about who she was and what sort of person she wished to become. There were times when she would spend entire hours just going through the memories of her life to try and figure out what truly made her who she was, and that was a personal journey that Gina knew she had to go through on her own. But for some reason, Gina could sense some intense importance in that initial question. Almost like answering this question would allow her to easily answer every other question that she had brought up to herself! Gina let out a long, deep breath as she felt the wind around her growing denser, and her magic began to move through her body in a calm, quick pattern that made her nerves burn with power. Gina had never felt this way before in all the days she had been meditating, so she knew that there was something different about this moment, and she was doing her best to make sure that she didn’t lose this feeling.
Gina began to think about what she felt in all the times when Jason had almost died. There was a great amount of emotion that rose from her heart as those images came to the front of her consciousness, and Gina could feel her heart rate rising as she lived through those experiences again. The time when Jason had almost been killed after fighting Evon, as well as when Jason had been bitten by Gillian, were the two times when Jason had come the closest to death, and in both times, Gina realised that she had been ready to do anything at all to try and save Jason. Gina would’ve even given her life to the Grim Reaper if it meant that she would get to bring Jason back to life. But did that mean that Gina was the sort of person who was willing to die the moment Jason dies?
Gina let out another long breath as she felt the energies inside her growing as the answer to the question started to take shape, and Gina heard a strange voice echo through her mind.
’Keep going, young one~ You aren’t there just yet~’
Gina frowned slightly as she heard that voice, but she decided to listen to it for now, and she dived back into her consciousness as she continued her line of thinking. Gina didn’t know if the answer to the question was right. Dying in order to try to save the person you loved seemed like a counterproductive action. It was a selfless act that showed that you cherished the life of the person you were willing to die for far more than you cared for your own. Gina knew that if the question Farlow had asked her was ’would you die if it meant Jason would live?’ then the answer she would have given would’ve undoubtedly been ’yes’.
There was no doubt in Gina’s mind that she saw Jason as someone more important than she was. The only reason why Gina didn’t put herself at risk multiple times for Jason was because Gina knew that Jason had already gone through hell to try to save her life once, and she didn’t want to put him through that trouble again. And Gina also knew that Jason was powerful enough to deal with most situations out there. If Jason were ever in a situation that Gina thought he would be in danger, then she would happily put herself between him and the danger just to try and preserve his life for a moment longer.
’But is that the way a Sage is meant to live?’
Gina’s brow furrowed into a frown as this thought passed through her mind, and she suddenly thought back to the conversation she had with Farlow once she began her training. Farlow had made it clear that for a Sage to truly become one with nature, they must have an understanding of themselves, and they must also be at peace with their own consciousness. You must not be too attached to things of the world, and you must not allow your life to be governed by the emotions you have placed on the people around you. That is what it means to reach true Sagehood, and Farlow had made it clear that until she reaches that point, she would not be able to become a Sage.
’And who does that old man think he is~? Keep going child~ Just keep going~’
That strange voice suddenly echoed through Gina’s mind again, and Gina felt her consciousness relaxing into a peaceful calmness as her thoughts went right back to Jason once again. Gina remembered all the things that she and Jason had been through together. Their time growing up and the days they spent together. Their time in school, at Jason’s work in the restaurant, as well as in her guild. The days they spent watching movies and the times he comforted her when she needed someone to be there for her. Gina didn’t know how to separate her life from this. If Gina were a car, then Jason was the fuel that kept her engine running. Was it truly possible for a person to separate themselves from their own heart like this? No, Gina didn’t think it was possible. There was no aspect of her life that she could think of that didn’t involve Jason in one way or another. Gina didn’t know what exactly Farlow’s definition of Sagehood was, but Gina’s definition of Sagehood was a life with Jason at the center of her heart. If Jason died, then Gina would have no reason to continue living.
Woosh~!
The winds around Gina suddenly increased in intensity! Even though Gina was completely absorbed by her meditation, the world outside was already starting to grow erratic from the intense mana that surrounded her! There was a small twister that had begun to form because of the mana, and almost everyone in Arandelle could see the twister rising into the sky and growing by the minute! From the royal palace, multiple guards had seen the twister forming in the sky, and they all went to inform Farlow about what was happening immediately!
Back inside the Garden, Gina could feel a peaceful aura surrounding her. It was almost like the entire world had vanished from around her in that moment, and she was simply listening to the beating of her own heart as she realised that she had finally found an answer to what she had been looking for. The concept of ’Gina’ did not exist without the existence of ’Jason’. And even though Gina didn’t know if Farlow would agree to an answer like that, Gina realised that she just did not care about what others thought about her answer.
’That was a perfect answer, young child~’
A cool voice suddenly echoed in the air all around Gina, and Gina gasped as she felt a finger press against her forehead! Gina’s body was suddenly dragged forward like she was being pulled by a rope, and Gina floated into the air gently as her clothes fluttered around. Gina finally opened her eyes, and she felt her eyes widen in shock when she looked down to see that her body was still sitting cross-legged on the ground behind her! Gina’s spirit had been separated from her main body, and the entire world had stopped in that moment as Gina saw multiple small balls that shone with a bright light coming to life around her.