I'm woken from my sleep by a weight on my lap and the feeling of someone watching me. Opening my eyes, I find Jing Huo curled up on me, staring at my face. I give her a tired smile, but she looks at me blankly, my loose, blonde hair wrapped around her fingers. After I let out a little yawn, I move my arms under her, then abruptly stand up, putting her in a princess carry. Jing Huo lets a small sound of surprise and wraps her arms around my neck, causing me to laugh, then I lower her feet until she can stand.
Moving over to the entrance, I peek out. I don't know who did it, but someone has cleared away the nearby bodies, leaving the area safe for Jing Huo to enter. I look back at her and lift a finger, signalling for her to stay. I wait until after she nods, listening to me, then step outside, sliding the door close behind me. Thena and Gilgamesh aren't where we left them, so I don't know if they've gone or are just resting, but I see the figure of a sitting Wu Cai through the window of the building opposite.
I whistle to him, getting his attention and causing his head to snap towards me. Seeing me, he relaxes and stands. A second later, the door slides open and he makes his way over. As he walks, I gesture at the surroundings and raise an eyebrow in question. Wu Cai nods as he reaches me, leading me to ask, keeping my voice low, "How much sleep did you get?" I examine him, noting the tiredness in his eyes.
"...Enough." He tells me. I know him well enough by now to believe him, despite his fatigued appearance. "After I started to clear the dead, those two made their way off into the forest. I haven't seen them return, so I think they've departed." He then looks behind me and asks, "The girl?" I move closer to him, so Jing Huo doesn't hear me.
"Jing Huo." I inform him of her name, causing him to nod, "She trying not to show it, but she's terrified. She not asked after her parents yet, so I believe she understands what happened to them, but she's been clinging to me a lot." Wu Cai glances at the house with concern, before I continue, "...I can't take her with me. It's uncertain if the sorcerer's will accept me, let alone a child." Even if could, I wouldn't. The life of a Master of the Mystic Arts is not something a child should be involved in.
Wu Cai has a contemplative look on his face as he lifts his head in thought. Eventually, he faces me and speaks, his expression serious, "...You can leave her with me." I look at him in surprise, but he carries on, "I'm going to stay here for now, these people need to be laid to rest." He lays a hand on his sword, a sad look in his eyes, "Once I've given the final soul their funeral rites, I'll take her to the temple. While she will be given a home there, should you claim her as your own, your master can take her in, if she agrees."
So, similar to adoption? While I've never thought of having children of my own, and have zero desire to become pregnant, using my name to guarantee the future of a lone, scared girl, is something I can agree to. Though, before he decides to take her on, he must first be warned, "I mentioned yesterday that Jing Huo is a mutant, yes?" He nods. "Mutants are an evolution of humanity created by the same beings that made the Eternals." Wu Cai listens attentively, his eyes gleaming with interest.
"They are born with the potential to awaken one, or multiple powers, during their adolescence; from being able to move objects with their mind, to rewriting reality according to their will." Wu Cai needs to understand the danger he could be putting himself and the temple in, so he can make an informed decision, "Due to her age, Jing Huo's power hasn't yet activated, but I wouldn't be surprised if the attack on her village hasn't pushed that moment closer."
"When a mutants power manifests for the first time, it can prove fatal to the people around them, so appropriate measures will have to be put in place when she reaches the temple." I finish, telling the basics of what I know of mutants; he doesn't need their entire history. Wu Cai looks through me, his mind lost in thought, before he nods sharply. Decision made, I turn back to the house, catching Jing Huo peeking through a small gap.
Seeing that I've caught her, she moves to the door and slides it open, then walks to me. I kneel down, getting eye level with her, and place my hands on her arms.
"Jing Huo." I start, causing her to look at me in surprise, wondering how I know her name, "I'm afraid I'll have to leave you for now." I feel her body stiffen in my hold, as she stares at me with wide eyes. "Don't worry, you'll be under the care of uncle Wu Cai. He may look scary, but he's a kind man at heart." She looks at me sadly, then glances at Wu Cai, judging him. I see him give a smile, causing her to look at me and nod shakily.
"It won't be forever, I promise. When Wu Cai is finished what he needs to do here, he'll take you to our temple, where you'll be cared for by my family. You'll even get to meet my mother." Because what else could Master Hong be to me, if not that? Jing Huo relaxes under my hands, then wraps her arms around me. I hold her and rub circles on her back to comfort her, until she releases me and moves over to Wu Cai, looking up at him. She turns back to me as I stand, then opens her mouth, speaking for the first time.
A soft, quite voice sounds from her, "...Bye."
A small chuckle escapes me as I look between the two, before settling on Wu Cai and staring at him with thanks. Cupping my hands in front of me with strength, I give him a deep bow, filled with gratitude. Straightening, I see Wu Cai returning the bow, a smile on his face. Taking a final glance at the girl, I rub her black hair, then turn and start to walk away, trying my best to ignore the upset sounds coming from my new daughter.
As I make my way out of the village and into the forest, following the guidance of the Disc, a large shadow passes over me, causing me to look up. Moving away from me is a triangular, black, stone-like star-ship, covered in the golden, circular patterns of the Eternals. As I watch, it starts to slowly disappear, cloaking itself from view.
...They could've at least said goodbye.
…
After another six days of silent travel, completely on my own for the first time since I was saved by Shi Min, I reach the region that would eventually become Hong Kong. The area itself is fairly untouched by humanity, with only a small gathering of buildings further in indicating the presence of humans. Given the color of my skin, and the isolated nature of the people here, I decided the best course of action was to avoid them and follow the coast.
A few hours later, I stand upon the sand, the sun high in the sky. Activating the Disc, for perhaps the final time, I look out to where it points. Beyond the shore of the land, out in the ocean waves, sits a large island, a bit over a kilometer away from me. Going by my limited knowledge of where I am, I believe it to be the future Hong Kong Island. As I survey it, I figure my options to reach the island are to either swim, or steal a boat from the people here, depriving them of a source of food.
Making sure my bag is secure, I walk to the water and take off my scabbard, intending to use Stickfall for the first time in months. Requesting an answer from the world, I ask, "Point me in the direction the closest Sanctum." Letting go, Jian topples and thankfully points in the direction of the island. Although the Disc is supposed to lead to a Sanctum, it went a long time out the hands of the sorcerers before it came into my possession, meaning any point, it could've been messed with.
My ability with divination has never led me wrong, and came to me thanks to Dao Child, so it can be trusted more than some magical item, in this case at least. With the path forward secure, I move into ocean, feeling its low waves lap at my legs as I walk deeper. Laying myself out, I start to swim, my pace steady, breaking through the water with ease. The distance I have to travel is just over half of that between Alcatraz and San Francisco, and those who survived that trip did so without the benefit of a supernaturally enhanced physique.
It takes me a little under five minutes to cross the length and touch the sand on the other side, far surpassing any record from my world. Stepping out of the water, my clothes waterlogged, I cycle my Chi and use a trick taught to me by Wu Cai. Focusing, my Chi starts to generate heat, warming my body and quickening the drying of my clothes. Satisfied that I won't be catching a cold, if I even can, now, I draw Jian and move on into the forest.
As I'm about to pass the tree line, a robed, hooded person steps from out from behind a trunk, holding up a hand.
Stopping myself from raising Jian in caution, I lower and sheath it, showing I have no ill intent. They watch me silently, then raise their hand further to grip and lower their hood, revealing their face. The person before me is male, a little bit shorter than me, with shoulder length dark hair and features that I would call Italian. We stand and stare at each other, saying nothing, before I slowly reach into my bag and pull out the Disc, then hold it out to him. He stares at it, no expression on his face, then nods, and turns to walk away.
Seeing as he hasn't portaled me away yet, I wait for him to get some ground, then follow after him. For over fifteen minutes, he leads me deep into the forest, the sunlight partially blocked by the thick foliage above us. By this point, the cold of the shadowed forest has no effect on me, what with my clothes now dry, and my Chi keeping me warm.
The darkness he takes me through has me on edge, and though I'd like to think he has no ill intent, it's better to be safe then sorry.
As I walk, I quietly unhook Jian from my belt and hold it loosely, it's tip pointing down. I perform a silent divination for a safe place, then watch as Jian falls in the direction we're walking. I catch it before it hits the ground, as not to alert my guide, then hook it back. Assured, I watch the back of the man before me, his hands placed behind himself as he steps over exposed roots, his gait steady. I can tell by simple observation that he has trod this path numerous times, the way forward taken with nary a thought.
The dark is broken by a gap in the canopy, showing me a clearing in the forest, with large, ancient trees circling it. The man, whose name is still unknown, stops in the center and turns to me, then calls me to him with a gesture. Wary, but excited, I move to him and stand to his side, as he raises both his hands and waves them in a meaningful pattern. The forest around us ripples, like a drop falling into water, before shattering, revealing a large wooden room, similar in style to the Grand Temple.
As I look around in wonder at my first look at real magic, a figure in the back, or maybe front, of the room stands out in the corner of my vision. Turning to the person, an asian women in dark grey robes, her age seeming near that of my master, with her hair pulled back into a long braid, I still. Anticipation wells up inside me as the woman shifts her gaze from me to the man beside me, then speaks, her voice mature, "Thank you, Master Dandolo."
The man, Dandolo, bows to her and glances at me, then turns and walks out, leaving us alone.
The woman's attention now settled on me, I remain calm as she stares, a small smile gracing her lips. As I go to speak, to explain my presence, she holds up a hand, palm facing me, before moving over to a low table by the side of the room. Upon the table is a steaming, metal teakettle, with two handleless cups placed besides it. The woman picks up the kettle and pours, one for herself, and one for me, then walks over to me, the smile still on her face, and hands me one.
She takes a sip, so I mimic her, bringing the cup to my lips. The liquid that hits my tongue is similar to the tea of my temple, but different enough in taste to be notable. Still, it has nothing on the tea of my homeland. The woman, who I suspect to be the master of this Sanctum, abruptly sits, landing on a chair that was not there a second ago. She nods her head at me, indicating for me to do the same. Once seated, the woman final opens her mouth, "Tell me, how did a Disc of Guidance end up in the hands of a foreigner to these lands?" She asks, her voice carrying no accusation.
I go to speak again, but she cuts me off, "Your features suggest that you are of English descent, and yet the Disc brought you to this Sanctum as opposed to the London Sanctum. Curious, no?" She has a glint in her eye as she examines me, "The English have yet to establish contact with the Yuan Kingdom, but you've somehow managed to cross the entirety of Europe, and end up here, at the edge of China; in the Bao'an Sanctum." Her expression blanks, "So, are you some kind of fool, or have you become the subject of a quest, forced to toil?"
She stops.
"No..." She breathes out, the black of her pupils deepening, "You're something else." The cup in her hand disappears as she suddenly stands, one hand falling to her side as she stares down at me, a look of confusion on her face. Her hand rises up, a band of metal now adorning its fingers, before she holds it out to her side, then rotates her other hand beside it. A ring of swirling, sparkling orange energy manifests from her movements, through which appears a courtyard, a leafless tree planted off to the side.
The woman turns to me and grabs my cup, which she vanishes, before grabbing me by the arm and lifting. She pulls softly and guides me through the portal, our destination unknown to me. As I step through, reluctantly following the woman, the main thought at the front of my mind is…
Can you just let me speak, please?