Reborn From Oblivion by Christia Muray

The old master shook his head and let out a long sigh.

"Your Highness, if you hand over your luck to him, you'll be inviting trouble for yourself in the days to come."

"It's fine," Nathan said, unbothered.

Nathalie, overhearing Nathan and the master, was beside herself with anxiety.

She paced back and forth, fists clenched, and called out, "I don't want your sacrifice, Nathan! If you do this, you'll go from living on cloud nine to rolling in the dirt. You have no idea how hard it is for people who started with nothing! You've always been the golden boy, spoiled and sheltered. There's no way you could live my life. If you end up miserable, how could I ever be happy?"

But she might as well have been talking to a wall.

In the end, Nathalie slumped onto the couch, out of breath and exhausted, her mind racing with just one thought: no matter what, she had to stop Nathan from sacrificing for her.

Suddenly, inspiration struck. She remembered the sunflower plushie. With a burst of determination, she dashed to the desk, grabbed the sunflower, and hugged it tight as she ran around the room.

The scene was so odd that the master's eyes practically bugged out. He bristled, his voice booming, "What kind of nonsense is this? How dare you act so wildly in front of me?"

He fished out a talisman to ward off evil, ready to break the seal-

But Nathan moved fast and stopped him, blocking his hand.

"Please, don't trouble her," Nathan said.

Nathan, baffled. "That's a spirit-it could turn on

said

for the old man as he watched the sunflower plush float through the air.

there, continued, "When should we do the

master's face

oncen

fate

better. go through

change forever."

if he'd already accepted his fate. “Alright. Let's work out the details

"Very well."

the master out, then went back to his

the sunflower plush, shaking it in his

like you have something to say. Why not

talk, I'm going to take a shower. Make

tossed his jacket aside,

and

on his white

glimpse of his collarbone