"It's not your fault. I believe that you must have a good reason to have not been there," Aurora told him. The girl took a deep breath and the black chi receded into her, the meridians carrying them along. "My father made his choice. He tried to do it for me, for my mother, for all of us. Now it's my turn. I know I'm still a long way from even getting to his level, but no big uprising has started at the end, has it?”
"You are right. I will follow you to the end. I promised it to your father, and I promise it to you. I know Kagu thinks the same too," he said, and the purple ring sparkled.
"Thank you. I hope you don't end up regretting it. You still have to tell me how you met Bardolph.
"It's not a very interesting story. On one of our trips, we stopped by your village. At the time it was governed by a very violent foreman. His subordinates had fun whipping the peasants who worked in the rice and wheat fields. We freed the city and ended up resting there for a few days. Bardolph welcomed us into his house. He never asked us for anything in return. He ended up confessing that one of the great sorrows of his life was that his wife could not have children. When Yin asked me where to leave you, it was the first place I remembered," Liu-Ken told Aurora, distorting the truth. It was not a lie that they had liberated the city, but everything else was a fabrication to hide who they were.
"Why didn't you stay with me?"
"I couldn't. You..." Liu-Ken started and paused once more. His voice was deeper, and his breathing was uneven, "You reminded me of what I had lost. I couldn't look at you and not see your father."
"I understand. I don't blame you. You did the best you could with what you had," Aurora said. She was confused and didn't know what to feel; anger, pride, sadness. A turmoil of emotions occupied her mind, "I think I should go to sleep. Tomorrow we'll have a long day, won't we? Thank you for this moment," she said.
"Yes, you’re right. Goodnight, Aurora," Liu-Ken said.
The girl thanked him again and wished him the same. Only when her silhouette was gone did Kagu speak.
"You had another chance to tell her the truth about the blood moon and you didn't do it."
"I know, I know. I should have told her, but I couldn’t. Not yet. She’s still not ready. It's too much responsibility."
"There's not much time left, Liu. The girl will eventually find out."
"You're right. I have to tell her," Liu-Ken said and yawned, his body sliding down the chair, looking at the moon once again. "He is coming," he added.
One hundred soldiers from the Kaji School marched towards the village where the massacre had taken place. The orders were simple; from there, ten groups, each with ten soldiers at the orders of an elite member, usually a Level Two cultivator, would move on to the surrounding cities. They were allowed to kill anyone who did not offer help or tried to oppose them.
On the other side, the bodies covered with a black cloak traversed across the mountains. Shadows wandering in the dark, almost melancholic night, sheltered by the wide paths and the rocks along the way, they distanced themselves from the temple from which they had departed. Under the moonlight, the black lines tattooed on their necks shone; a skull whose eyes had a black speckle and on top had two parallel red lines splitting the drawing into three parts, one small, the middle, and two large that were of the same size on each side.
Chapter 21
A new day began. The floor was split into a dozen light flashes originating from the window, breaking into different pathways as they reached the translucent paper. Aurora woke up with lights pouring over her eyelids. The girl got up and stretched her arms before looking at the clock. 6:40 in the morning. Liu-Ken's steps already haunted the house's main corridor. The girl walked to the window, accepting it was the last time she would do so, and inhaled the morning fresh air. It was a beautiful day. The sun graced them with its presence and the birds chirped a farewell harmony, a melancholic, even daunting sound.
"Good to see you're awake," Liu-Ken said, already inside the room.
“You could have warned me you were here,” Aurora said, placing her hand on her chest to feel her heartbeat. She sat on the bed and yawned, "Are you ready to leave all this behind?"
"I've already left everything behind once. The second time doesn’t cost as much," he replied. Aurora noticed his struggling little smile, bending his trembling lip corner, "Get dressed. Let's eat something and begin our journey. We might take two or three days. We have to seize the day while the sun is still up. Wandering through the forest at night can be dangerous," he said.
"What do you mean by dangerous? Robbers?"
"Yes, and not only that. Wild animals and even the possibility of demons or beasts lurking around. We will have to be careful about everything. But do not worry about it now, just hurry up. I have a few more surprises for you."
"I'm curious," Aurora said, shyly smiling. "Is this what I'm supposed to wear?" she added, pointing to some black, tattered clothes on the opposite corner of the bed.
"Yes, I'm also going to wear these simple clothes. We can’t be noticed. And the long sleeves are to hide the markings on your body," Liu-Ken said, sliding his fingers through the stained red fabric of his clothing. It was like a cheap, very cheap version of the robe he used to wear, "We might be able to sneak past as merchants coming from another city. I also packed a few potions, items, and even objects made of wood and clay into one of the backpacks," he said.
"Backpacks?"
"Sure. You didn't really think we were leaving empty-handed, did you? We can't risk getting caught or even having anyone suspect us. Come on, hurry up. Meet me in the garden,".
Aurora got dressed. The clothes were of a sensitive fabric, and she had her doubts they would withstand a fierce battle. She strode around, watching the room where she had spent the last nine nights. She would miss it, but a new challenge awaited her.
Liu-Ken was seated on one of the chairs. Three traveling brown backpacks, the seams about to burst, leaned against the steps. Aurora sat down, her belly snoring, overshadowing the crickets still awake, and immediately removed three cookies from the plate.
"I'll carry two backpacks and you'll take one," Liu-Ken said, pausing to take a sip from his tea, "If anyone approaches us, let me do the talking. If they attack us, do not fight until I permit you. Are we clear?"
"But we'll be taking the swords, right?" Aurora asked, looking around, not seeing a single weapon nearby.
"Yes, don't worry. I'll pick them up in a minute. Now, finish your breakfast. Then go to the bathroom. Take a quick shower and make sure you get your face washed. You must be wide awake. There are patches under your eyes,"
"We're waking up too early," Aurora said, gorging the remaining cookies until the plate reflected her face.
Liu-Ken went to his room, to the same box from which he had taken the purple ring, while Aurora went to the bathroom. He pulled out some items he needed from it and locked it with a golden padlock adorned with rubies. He put the beast's blue core into his mouth and crushed it with his teeth, swallowing the dark blue goo and waiting, briefly, until the sheer power was diluted by his meridians.
“My strength is back and with this padlock, only a Level One could open this chest now. That should be enough,” he thought, leaving the room.
The freshwater flowed down Aurora's body, slamming her face, relieving her muscles and all the tension. The girl stretched her arms again and her bones popped.
"I can do this," she said and looked down. She waved her hand once and a black chi bubble coated it, the water drops being absorbed, feeding it, "I won't let anyone else down. I won't be the coward that watches but never acts," she added and closed her fist, the black chi fading up.
She already had some control over her power, but she knew she still had a long way to go. She needed to learn how to control larger amounts of chi, how to absorb the mana in the environment without losing consciousness, how to raise more bodies, a hundred and one things that she did not have much time to improve. However, for now, she was happy
with what she had achieved in such a short amount of time. Before leaving the bathroom, she looked at herself in the mirror. She was still the same despite a few changes on her now more healthy, improved body.
Liu-Ken was waiting for her down the hall, near the entrance. He had a blueish sword next to him and a normal sword up against the wall. Unlike the ones they had used in training, this one was not rusty. It had two sharp edges and the metal was still glistening. Aurora grasped its handle and wielded it carefully so as not to drop any of the flowerpots embellished with blue and white stripes that decorated the countertops on opposite sides of the entrance.
"A little heavier than the others, but it seems excellent," Aurora said. "What have you got there? That sword looks... different," she said, swapping her gaze between the sword and Liu-Ken, waiting for an answer.
"You can feel it, can't you?" Liu-Ken said, grabbing the sword by the arched blue handle, suitable for both left and right-handers, "it's a mythical sword, better known as a flying sword. Her name is Mizumi. It is said that the metal was molded from the steel that protects the belly of Mizuchi, a serpent dragon that isolated itself from the world many decades ago. It allows long-distance attacks and has a mind of its own. Besides, I also have two very sharp daggers attached to my pants. The wide shirt also serves to hide them," he said, lifting and showing two daggers whose handles were gray with blue ornaments that drew the tail of a scaled dragon.
"Can I use that sword?"
"Swords of this kind are only tamed by those who are already experienced," Liu-Ken said. "You have to get better first."
"I always do. Which one is my backpack?"
Liu-Ken pointed to the big one. It was the same size as the other two together. Aurora arched her eyebrow, but moved on, placing it on her back. She nearly fell back as soon as she did it.
"Heavy, isn't it? It will be good to increase your body's endurance," Liu-Ken added.
"If I survive until then," Aurora replied, taking a few steps forward, trying to get used to it.
"It's a matter of habit," Liu-Ken said and grabbed the other two backpacks. He placed them both on his back, carrying each only with the strength of his shoulders, "Let's go then."
It was the first time Aurora went out that door. In fact, it was the first time she had left Liu-Ken's house since she had woken up in the guest room bed. The mentor then glued a few paper strips, with mystical diagrams and calligraphy drawn on each one, along the stone walls, and even on the door.
"What's that for? Aurora asked.
"Magical seals. There are hundreds of them each with its purpose. Some disappear as soon as they are used, others can be used several times and some even last years. These here serve to conceal the house from other people's eyes. Only Level One or some Level Two can see through such magic," he explained. Aurora nodded.
A beaten dirt road stretched out before them, separating the forest green from the house's light brown. Waves of dust rose with each rough breeze that swept across the ground. Some of the sun's rays slipped through the foliage and lit up the forest entrance, the background sheltering a whole impenetrable darkness. Shadows danced on the ground. Aurora swallowed dry and followed Liu-Ken to a sign a few meters from the first row of trees. A phrase had been jammed into the wood.
"Enter only those who embrace both life and death," the sign said.
Aurora looked at Liu-Ken. The mentor asked her to ignore it, adding that it was just a cryptic message to frighten the most cowardly and weak in spirit. They stepped into the forest, flanked by century-old trees, a few of the trunks already grayed, the ground covered with vines, orange-shaped leaves, and small bushes along the way, mostly with different colored berries. The further they went, the less light reached them. It was as if someone had placed a thick towel above them, the sun being hindered from helping them and unveiling the path they had ahead. It was always night there - the hours had no impact. They ate when they were hungry and slept when their eyes couldn't withstand the urge to sleep.
"Let's stop here. We better take a break," Liu-Ken said, when they finally arrived at a secluded flowerbed, surrounded by several trees, a halo of light hovering over the center.
Like an angelic sight, the light reflected in many directions, shedding light on the top of certain trunks, the bushes, and even the now pale green soil. They dropped their backpacks on the ground and Liu-Ken seized the moment to remove from the backpack that Aurora was carrying a can with several biscuits and a water bottle. A few of the leaves were still damp due to the tiny rain that had fallen in the early morning. The smell of wet grass rose through their nostrils.
"Am I wrong or is that fox watching us?" Aurora asked, pointing at her.
"Don't point," Liu-Ken told her and immediately lowered the girl's hand. "Foxes are magical beings. You never know if one is bad or good until she moves. You don't want to piss her off," he said.
"Looks like a baby fox, what harm can it do us?" Aurora said.
To his surprise, the fox's tail burst into flames, her eyes glowing bright red, as well as her hair stood, soaring in the wind. The tail rose, fluttering in the air, from afar resembling a flare capable of whipping anyone who approached.
"Great, I warned you. Grab some cookies and put them next to her. But don't get too close. That should calm her down," Liu-Ken ordered.
"Can she understand us?"
"Some people say that some do, some don't. Apparently, she did, and she's not very happy with what you said," he said.
Aurora stood up; three cookies in her hand, walking as close as she could to the fox before she recoiled. Aurora stood still and placed them on the ground. She whispered an apology and smiled. The fox watched her. Up close, the girl noticed that red powders were floating over the being's skin. She sparkled, shielding herself from the sun beneath the wall of trees.
"Let's train," Liu-Ken said, breaking the girl's attention span.
"Already? I thought we were going to rest now. My body hurts," she whined.
"Your enemies will not wait for you to rest. I want to see how you do with your new weapon," Liu-Ken said and pulled out his. He had kept it in a hem under the cloth, unseen to untrained eyes.
"You're right. Let's do it," Aurora said and pulled her sword.
They were standing in the center of the flowerbed, inside the wheel of light, the swords calling on light flashes against each other's eyes. The fox held its ground. Aurora bit her lower lip and moved forward. She had all her fingers rigidly around the handle, fearing that it would slide from her hand.
Liu-Ken didn't even move. He merely raised his arm and the sword leaned to the left, completely blocking Aurora's attack. The girl's eyes widened with such display of power, but she did not step aside. She pressured her right leg and rotated her whole body, now trying to attack from the other side.
It didn't do any good. Liu-Ken glided through the grass, standing aside, and, once again, blocking her attack. Aurora closed her left hand, angry that she couldn't find a way to break the mentor's defense, and threw herself at him without thinking twice. The swords collided, the metallic noise echoing throughout the forest. The white-beaked birds with black wings moved away from the place, further into the forest. They were no longer even within the circle. They now fought across the whole place, one attacking and the other defending, exchanging positions. Sweat ran down Aurora's forehead and chest while Liu-Ken didn’t even blink.
"Faster. I can predict all your movements," Liu-Ken said. "If I can do it, others will too. Don't hold back. With the sheer amount of mana here, I can heal easily," Liu-Ken said.
"Are you saying nothing is off the table?" Aurora asked him, already meters away, her breathing coming in at uneven intervals, one leg bent and the other stretched, the hand bearing the weapon up in the air.
"Surprise me," the mentor replied. A few strands of hair had fallen on his forehead. He had both arms down and the sharp triangular point of the sword rested on the ground.
"Let's do it, then," Aurora said, he
r chest up, filled with confidence, having a plan in mind. If she could not defeat him normally, it was time to use her black chi. She had never tried before, but the goal was simple. Using the same ripple wheels that tended to spin around her arms to attack Liu-Ken as she moved forward behind a black curtain.
Aurora let the blackness run down through meridians like an avalanche. Within a little less than 10 seconds, her arms housed a thick, solid, black miasma. The chi was unstable, clinging to her arms, while Aurora's teeth gnashed as she tried to remain calm, not letting her mentor see that she had no idea what she was doing. She wanted to show him that she was capable, that Liu-Ken had made the right decision when he decided to accompany her on that journey.
"Stay flexible, come on," Aurora whispered to herself, trying to move her arms, which were now as heavy as two huge logs. "Okay, I need to calm down. This is feeding on my fear. Take a deep breath," she kept repeating to herself.
She breathed in a huge amount of air and released everything through a tiny slit between her lips. The white breath fogged up right in front of her face. The black chi expanded into her belly and back, acting as both an armor and a prison from which she could not get rid.
And even though she was calm, trying to remove impurities within herself and replace them with clear mana, she had produced an excessive amount of energy that was now disobeying her. Her body temperature dropped. Her vision was hazy and her hands pale. Everything looked like an illusion to her, the trees being drawings she had made with chalk when she was a child and the mentor's body a colored shadow. The surrounding mana could not resist her appealing call and attached itself to her body.
The chi in her body was now far too much for her to handle. Her dantian was about to burst with so much energy and her muscles were atrophied as she tried to find a way to deal with the soaring energy.
One moment Aurora was fine, the next she had lost control and, finally, feeling two fingers touching her forehead, she faded. The last thing she was aware of was her body hitting the ground and the solid chi cracking as if it were glass.
Awakening: (The Necromancer's Legacy Book 1) Page 9
