[ Jing Yuan gives out a small sigh at this, fingers squeezing lightly the hand that had given a comforting one in turn, and he holds it firmly even after that.

Solomon's actions speak something close to keen understanding (or to seek it); far better than pity which would rankle him deeply. Far better to look at him differently, for the possibility of what he could become. ]

Mm, perhaps I would not call it simply fear. Rather, an expectation of it...as it is inevitable. Such is the fate of long-lived 'human' Xianzhou Natives.

[ Jing Yuan says so because he thinks it is. Idly, he remembers when Luocha spoke of there being a possible cure for Mara and he jumped right on it, only for everything that came after to cover up whatever that segue was, true or not. ]

There are ways to manage avoidance of it for a time, and I have certainly done better than most. Many my age or a century younger have succumbed. There are many factors that tend to accelerate its development, or so is theorized.

...As for my Master, she was well past the usual expected age for deterioration when she was struck with Mara.