Of ink and Hope

Lu Huan POV:

It’s been so long. Nine years… the village had changed, but only just so. I barely remember how it was, but it certainly was not that big. Even back then, I could cross the whole village by running for a dozen breaths. Yet now It had expanded after the attack, new homes now standing in place of the ones in my memories, a new square in the middle of it. There hadn’t been a need for one back then, we would have just gathered by the brewer’s yard, playing by their fruit trees while the adults would watch us from afar, talking, laughing.

We’ve got a few people staring at us already, unknown faces in known places. I didn’t like how I felt, seeing children coming from one of the few homes left unchanged. That was where Nuan Ning lived. Hopefully nothing had happened to him back then.

“Hey there, sorry if my niece and nephews bothered you. Can I help you two ladies?” Someone called out to us, the voice familiar, yet only just.

Turning around, I saw a young man in a padded vest with a spear in hand, there was another, much older man by his side wearing the same garb.

Yet, something on the younger spearman alerts me: a scar on the arch of his right eyebrow and the punchable grin he had.

“Even after all these years, it still looks like that? I shouldn’t have listened to you about going all out, little Ning.” I look at him, his face tensing up at the old nickname, his hand going up his face as her eyes focus on my face. Then in a moment of revelation he steps back, looking me up and down as if he saw a ghost.

“B-big sis Huan?! Is that really you?” There was as much joy as there was surprise and trepidation. Then his face filled with sadness as he looked at me once more.

“Wh-What has happened to you big sis? you…” Little Ning’s started to tear up as the uncle to his side put an arm across his torso.

“Is that really you Xiao’Lu? I shouldn’t call you Xiao’Lu anymore, now should I? You're taller than me now. What happened? Where were you all these years?” For as much concern I could feel from the man, there was just as much worry and suspicion.

“Is that you, uncle Guiren? Time has been really kind to you it seems.”

“Yes, I am glad you remember me, lass. And it breaks my heart to see you in such a state. But you didn’t answer my question. Where were you? I am sure you now know what happened back then; If you truly want to call this place home once more, where were you, and were you followed?” His tone was now cold and professional, like any guards back at the cult was.

I looked at him, tired. ‘I know… this was why I was so reluctant to return…’ I look at Iulia, my benefactor. She is quiet as she looks at the two people before us, yet her state worries me a bit. She was tired, despite having slept for hours, plus her face is rather.

Putting my hand on her shoulder, I. I try my best to comfort her, yet it seems that I underestimated her as she nearly crashes under my hand.

“Oops, sorry Iulia. I don’t think it would be wise to speak of such things out here in the open, Uncle Guiren. I am sure I wasn't followed, I made sure of it. Now, if you could tell me if grandpa Gui is still around or not? Me and my friend are still tired from our travels.” Iulia was asleep on her feet, now in my arms as she struggled to stand up. ‘I still wonder how can such a small woman can carry so much’.

I take two of her bags off of her, and her struggle seems to pass for now.

“Yes, he is still kicking that old codger. I don’t think we will rid ourselves of him for a few more decades by the way he still hammers at that forge of his. Follow me, we will talk more over there. Nephew, if you could man up and fetch Lady alchemist.” Uncle Guiren stopped for a moment, the air still as both of us turn our attention to the source of the hostile intent we feel. Somehow, uncle had managed to earn the ire of my benefactor in just a few minutes.

“Well well well; I don’t know what i did to earn such a sharp glare from such a little lady.” he laughs as i hear Iulia grinding her teeth together, a faint vapor of red washing off of her.

“Painter Iulia, I don't think it is a good idea. Please, whatever it is, let it go for now.” I whisper. Uncle Guiren cluelessly walked ahead of us, still laughing loudly as he teased my benefactor, unaware of the risk he is taking as we follow after him.

“Sorry Huan… I, I don’t like when people talk like that. Telling others how to behave…”

“I am not sure I follow. Why is it an issue for you? A guard should be stoic and ready for anything, not cry like a chil-” I feel her hostile intent again, this time directed at me.

“Aren’t you happy your friend cried when he saw you? To know that he grieved for you? That, after however long you were gone, he remembers and felt joy upon seeing your return?” Her words pierced through me worse than the spear through my shoulders days ago. I… I Don’t know, again, again. Each time she talks, looks at me or does something, I feel weird. i Don’t know… Maybe? I should be happy that he remembers me, that I know. But do I really feel so? This… I don’t like this.

“I don’t know, painter Iulia. I guess I should be?”

“But you aren’t, are you?” She turns her head to me as we walk, her left arm around my shoulder as I help her move.

“I do not know, benefactor. I… I don’t know how to. This talk makes me uneasy, but I promised myself to be truthful towards you.” The words burn on their way out, nearly choking me as I force them out. She looks at me for an uncomfortable long while, the silence between us making it worse as I feel myself growing worse.

“That’s fine. It. It’s alright. Thanks Huan, for telling me. It must have been hard to do, and please. If addressing me as my benefactor, help you. I don’t mind being uncomfortable for a while.” She smiles weakly at me, her eyes warm as she looks into mine.

“Right, My thanks benefactor.” I look away, feeling my cheeks heating up as he arrives to a loud clanking of steel hitting steel. This place barely changed.

The old wood and stone house, so remote from the village. The large garden used to stockpile ore and lumber still looked like a mess. Even the old fence is in disrepair, well in this case it had always been looking like this, but somehow it endured for 9 whole years without crumbling.

“HEY YOU DEAF FOSSIL! THERE’S GUEST AT THE DOOR!” Duan Guiren yelled as he made his way through the house. Following him, I could see many of grandpa’s works. Many left unmoved since i saw them for the first time, many other news as well, Armors, weapons, even a few pieces of careful forged rings and other accessories.

I could feel my benefactor twitching uncomfortably as we passed by the display case.

“Are you alright, My lady?”

“I am a lady now? yours at that?” she jokes, her tone somehow lighter than before.

“Well, I do serve you at the moment. So, Yes?”

“I shouldn’t have allowed you to call me your benefactor, what will it be after: Mistress? My queen?”

“If my benefactor so wishes, then i wil-”

“NOOOO! I was joking, please.”

“I know.” I laugh at her outburst as I look up, Old Nuan is blocking the door to the smithy as he talks.

“AH! yeah, nearly forgot the last thing, about your guest; your grand-daughter is ba-”

“WHY THE FUCK DIDN’T YOU START BY THAT YOU BASTARD?!” The sound of something flying fast and crashing into a nearby wall punctuated the yelling.

“GET OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE I PUNT YOUR IDIOTIC ASS INTO THE MORROW.” Nuan Guiren, despite the good head on his shoulder he has, can’t help to play with fire, as he is physically removed from the door frame by two large hands.

“Xian Huan, is that You?” The voice of the old man was a mix of tears and apprehension, there was sadness I recognised on his face as he took my appearance in.

I felt my eyes itch as tears started to well up, my nose started running as the words were stuck in my throat.

Then I was pushed forward, Iulia my benefactor gave me a smile and a thumbs up as she leaned herself on the nearby wall.

“Y-yes.” I couldn’t say anything more as he took me in his arms, he was crying.

After a long moment filled with tears and snot.

“Where were you? What happened to you, my child? Look at you, covered in scars.” We sat on the floor before the entrance of his smithy.

“That’s what I want to know as well.”

“I WILL SEND YOU TO YOUR ANCESTOR IF YOU DON’T SHUT UP!” Grandfather Gui threatened the old guard with a nearby slipper.

“Fine fine, I just want to make sure the village will be safe. Tell me who followed you and if there’s anything we should worry about and i will be out of your hair.”

I looked at him, annoyed, but I couldn't fault him. He was doing his duty, and was rather adamant about it.

“I made sure I wasn't followed. I took out their tracker just before throwing myself in the river, way upstream in the mountains.”

“Whose tracker girl.” The zealous man adds, earning three glares in returns.

“The Blood demon cult’s. It was them who took me in, earned my freedom and left after.” The room turned cold as Nuan Guiren started circulating Ki through his body.

“Nobody leaves the cult free, lass.”

“Nobody that’s supposed to be alive, yes. They activated their blood parasite, something they give all low rank members and sent their dogs at me. For all accounts and purposes, I am dead, or at least I should be.” I look at the dozing form of Iulia.

“Hmm?”

“Iulia saved my life last night, I owe her a life debt for what she did.”

“Shush! Y-you don’t owe me anything…” she yawns mid sentences as she keeps being overly humble.

“Is that so? Then you have my eternal gratitude, Lady Iulia.” grandpa kowtows to her, making her eyes go wide as she jolts awake.

“Come on! Not you too, please don’t say that, bad things tend to happen when such words are spoken.” she starts to panic, crossing her arms back and forth in front of her.

“Yet still, you healed and brought my sole grand daughter and last of my kin back home. Such things can’t be left unrewarded.”

“And like I said to your bull headed of a granddaughter, I didn’t do it expecting anything in return. Please stop.”

“Are you saying that my Xiao’Huan’s life is worthless?” He looks up, a faint hint of a smirk on his lips.

“NO! No life is worthless, even less hers.”

“Then at the very least accept my hospitality.”

“Fine!”

“Fine~ HAHA. What are you still doing here Nuan Guiren? I told you to scram, didn’t I?”

He turns sideways, seeing the grumpy guard still standing there, fuming.

‘These are grave matters Lu Gui, She could be a spy sent to infiltrate the orthodox sect. After all, her mother was of the Fan clan.”

“And she didn’t know that even back then, so i will ask you to be silent and remove yourself from my home, before i do it myself.” Guiren turns red as he stomps his way out.

“We will speak of this again Gui, Huan. Make sure of it.” then the door slams.

“Now that the nuisance is gone, I think I will whip something warm and hearty and send the two of you to sleep. Look at her, such a young lady shouldn’t stay awake when she can barely stand up.” He turns back to us, his eyes on my benefactor.

“Grandpa, just so you know, my benefactor is older than me.”

“Really? Color me surprised then. I will keep that in mind. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, I am fine. Like I said, she healed me well enough last night.”

“And she?”

“Not that I know. But she is grieving, that much I am certain.” I look at her, she was now sleeping without a care in the world. Whatever tired her like this must have been intense.

The Alchemist lady came by as grandfather made dumplings. After observing our body with her medical technique, she confirmed that we were not in danger anymore, but that Iulia’s spirit was in turmoil. That explained much.

Pov Iulia

I wake up with a start again, my heart pumping hard. I am somewhere new again, some place I don’t even know the name.

Remembering the warmth and kindness Huan’s grandfather showed. I can feel my stomach twisting into a knot. My mind is going back to Minadora. I wanted to pray that she was safe and sound, that she triumphed and was trying to get to me. But

‘I Can’t pray… not to them, not after what they’ve done… what can i even do?’ I sat up on the bed.

I start to feel sick as I feel my mind churning with blame and guilt. I should have stayed, I should have fought by her side.

- Today may seem to be for tears and despair, to wallow in sadness at the cold and uncaring fate we have. But now is not the time for doubts and inaction, nor it is to mope for the days gone; but to fight, to show our will to live, to exist and be happy of what happened - Her words came back, I could feel her voice as if she was by my side.

And I started crying again.

It took a while for me to dry my tears. I feel empty inside, and cold. I don’t even have the strength to keep up, but I keep struggling until I finally get up, my knees shaking.

Feeling like I am about to suffocate, I head out of the cozy room I woke up in.

“Heya, where are you going like that?” I only stopped when I got out onto a sort of porch. Lu Gui, Huan's grandfather sat there smoking from a sort of pipe.

“Erm, I needed air… I didn’t feel really well.” I say, trying to brush him off as I crash onto the banister.

“I can see that, you’ll have to excuse me, I didn’t expect guests, so that room was pretty much left unused for nearly a decade.”

“No please, that’s fine. A warm bed and meal are more than enough hospitality.” I try to placate the man, but he is much like his granddaughter, or rather the other way around, I guess.

“ I see. Then, can I ask you a question?”

“Please do, it might help me get my head out of the gutter.”

“That silver amulet, where did you get it?” he pointed at my neck, the portal’s key teacher gave me hanging at my neck. Pulling it off, I didn’t expect it to move so much during my sleep: ‘ I’m glad it did strangle me though.’ a cold chill went through my spine at that thought.

“It was my mentor’s last gift before she…” The man had the decency to look guilty and apologetic.

“Ah… my condolences, but then. I have another question for you: was perhaps her name Minadora?” I froze, I couldn't think. Cold sweat started to pour down my back as I felt even more afraid and confused as I started hyperventilating.

“Hey, calm down lass. I won’t harm you nor do I have any bad intentions towards you. breathe. Slow and with intent.” He pulled back, his hand raised in surrender.

“I just wanted to know if that was her or not. But your reaction pretty much told me everything. It’s alright, Minadora is family to me, She’s my daughter in law and Huan’s other mother after all. I still owe her a good whooping for leaving like she did.” He says, between a laugh and a growl. He was angry, still.

“What happened?”

“I do not know. That was something only the two of them knew in detail. She had told me that she couldn’t stay here anymore, something about her body failing her but that she would return, before disappearing in a cloud of ashes.”

disappearing in a cloud of ashes? Was she astral projecting? Knowing her she tried to reverse- summon herself, but only succeeded partially…’

“I see… I think I get the why. She, she had that ongoing project every full moon, where she would use it to do something. She told me that she wanted to return it to its owner.” I explained, my heart was heavy from discovering a whole new side of my mentor i didn’t know.

“You look confused, is this the first time you are hearing this? Did she at least tell you about herself?”

“Yes, but. She was always cagey and really sad whenever the subject came up. She always took it out when she opened up about it. But she never told me… about you or…”

“At least she kept her words about trying to come back. I didn’t expect her to hold onto it for so long.” he looked at the amulet with a warm smile.

“This silver charm I made for Dan, Huan’s mother, when she was young. It was to help her return home whenever she got lost playing in the surrounding hills.”