As Tide Sis and the Sentinel spoke, Jinhsi slowly woke up.
She was still a little dazed.
Inheriting temporal power sounded simple, and the second resonance seemed like nothing more than a few lines in Jiting's research records.
But actually undergoing it was no less than a brush with death.
Without immense perseverance, success was impossible.
After all, not everyone had Ling An's absurd strength and physical constitution.
The first thing she did upon waking was not check on herself, but look toward the Sentinel.
"Are you... all right?"
"I am unharmed. The turmoil in the time stream can now be resolved, and Jinzhou's future must rest on your shoulders," the Sentinel said quietly.
At those words, Jinhsi pressed her lips together, determination filling her face.
She had been through so much since becoming Jinzhou's Magistrate.
The Sentinel was like a parent to her and had also saved her life.
This was not how she wanted to see the Sentinel.
At just sixteen, she worked tirelessly, toiling day and night whenever duties piled up.
She had learned much from Changli about playing the game of chess-that is, planning and making decisions-and now she truly could not blame anyone else.
Tide Sis might have influenced her, but she had personally invited Ling An into Jinzhou.
Without Ling An, the battle against the Threnodian's revival might not have been resolved so easily. Yet it was also Ling An who had fought this battle with the Sentinel.
Each link led to the next; such was the course of fate.
Fortunately, the outcome had still taken a turn for the better.
"No matter how many moves you calculate, they remain within the board. No one can predict a piece from outside it. Xi, do not worry."
Jinhsi nodded. Looking out over all of Mt.