Evan was in a mysterious white space. An old stranger just handed Evan his legacy in full. The information crashed into Evan’s mind like the waves of the sea. Eventually, the waves condensed into three simple words. They read, ‘Ninefold Arcane Arts.’

The Ninefold Arcane Arts had everything from geomancy and martial arts to medicine, formations, and mystic arts. He tried to use it a little, and energy was starting to fill his battered body.

“It’s actually working!” He was delighted. A sliver of energy popped up in his elixir field, and it was like a dragon flying in the skies. Even his senses were sharpened.

It was that pendant.

The pendant Hazel gave away, like it meant nothing, gave him the biggest opportunity he’d ever seen in his life.

He thought, ‘Fate wants me to survive!’

…

A long, long time later, he opened his eyes, and the first thing to meet them was an unbelievably gorgeous woman staring right at him.

Evan sat up faster than he’d ever moved in his life. “Where am I?”

“Hey, stranger. It’s the hospital. I was speeding and crashed into you. I’m really sorry for that,” Sylvie apologized, her eyes still on Evan.

Then memories flowed back into Evan’s head. After his last sliver of faith in the heiresses died, he made his hundredth donation. Then, a car crashed into him.

“But you sure are lucky,” said Sylvie. Her eyes were shimmering. “The car was moving at 180 mph, and you got away with nothing but scrapes. If I didn’t know better, I’d think my mind was playing tricks on me.”

It was then that Evan realized his forehead was scraped. He rubbed it. Quietly, he thought, ‘Yeah, I sure am lucky. I got a legacy, though it’s a blessing in disguise.’

Agony stabbed him like a knife, and Evan gasped. The excessive blood extraction’s effects still hadn’t worn off. He was still weakened.

Concerned, Sylvie asked, “What’s wrong? Should I call a doctor?”

“I’m fine,” said Evan through his pain. Though he had gotten the old man’s legacy, he was still sapped. He had to be careful until he’d gotten a full recovery.

“Where are your parents? Your partner? You’re severely anemic, and they let you walk around alone? That was dangerous!” If he hadn’t been absurdly lucky, he’d be dead by now.

Evan fell into deep silence. His partner? She was probably with another man. So, he answered, “I do not have a family. Nor do I have any partner.”

Stunned, Sylvie had no idea what to say to that.

“Ms. Stanton,” one of the bodyguards whispered into her ear.

That changed the look on her face, and sorrow draped itself around her. Still, she tried to hide it and wiped the tears off her face. She said, “I must go now, sir. Urgent business. Just focus on recovery. I’ll cover the bills. Oh, right. My name’s Sylvie Stanton.”

Evan committed that name to memory, but right before she left, he noticed something, and his face fell. “A moment, Ms. Stanton.”

Sylvie turned, wondering what he wanted to do.

A moment of hesitation later, he said sheepishly, “I’m really sorry about this, but can I see your hand?”

That was shocking. Everyone froze up. Sylvie stepped back. “Why?”

The bodyguards were looking at Evan now, guarded and alarmed. “He’s lusting for you, Ms. Stanton!”

“I…” Evan wanted to explain himself, but he held his tongue.

Sylvie stared back into his eyes. She blurted, “You noticed, didn’t you?” She saw his gaze. There was no lust. Instead, there was only surprise and solemnity.

Sylvie was sharper than Evan thought. He mulled over it for a moment and nodded.

She extended her hand graciously. “Here.”

The bodyguards could not believe Sylvie was doing it. “But Ms. Stanton!”

Sylvie added with a hint of gravity, “But if you hold it, you’ll have to tell me what you figured out, or I’ll be really mad.”

Evan looked at her hand. He clenched his teeth and nodded. “If I get anything wrong, you can do anything you want to me.” Then, he held her hand, but the moment their skin touched,

He gasped.

It was like holding a block of ice, but the chill shot straight into the heart and pierced the soul instead of his hand. It was getting thrown into a freezing lake, and the frigidity swept through his body.