#i felt like formatting wasn't necessary for the dialogue since this was an explanation more than anything but i wanted to try another style

[gemkun]

anonymous said : dan heng, since the vidyadhara are self reproducing, does that mean marriage and dating don’t exist for your culture?

      ⸻       ❝   the   vidyadhara   are   not   self   —   reproducing.   they   undergo   the   cycle   of   self   —   reincarnation.   it   begins   with   embryonic   development   in   the   ancient   sea   and   once   the   egg   is   nurtured   ,   it   proceeds   to   hatch.   the   young   vidyadhara   are   then   guided   into   adulthood   under   the   elders   ,   where   they   acquire   knowledge   gradually   ,   and   discover   their   specialisation   to   depart   to   their   respective   places.   in   their   maturity   they   become   elders   themselves   and   teach   the   young   ,   who   then   realise   their   trade   as   their   elders   once   did.   after   seven   centuries   ,   they   return   to   the   same   sea   ,   lose   their   memories   ,   molt   and   revert   to   embryos   once   more   to   await   their   hatching   rebirth.   the   cycle   then   restarts.   ❞

  ❝   this   hatching   rebirth   does   not   affect   romantic   inclination   —   marriage   and   dating   are   not   exclusive   for   procreation.   vidyadhara   are   capable   of   experiencing   emotions   such   as   love.   any   creature   with   a   consciousness   is.   on   the   luofu   ,   i   have   come   across   a   great   deal   of   individuals   who   express   their   affliction.   but   it   is   true   that   aversion   for   romance   exists   ,   which   largely   stems   from   the   removal   of   memories   in   later   years.   however   ,   love   has   proven   to   be   quite   powerful   and   challenges   even   fate   itself.   ❞