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Cangse Sanren was finishing tracing the end of the containment seal on the floor with the chalk, holding a notebook in her free hand. Once she had finished tracing the last symbol, she got up with difficulty, her eyes checking that everything was regular and that there were no smudges or loose spots. When she was sure that everything was in its place, she walked confidently to the desk, above which several ampoules containing brightly colored liquids boiled and spat, while emitting vapors with different smells.
Books upon books were stacked on another table, ancient and precious volumes, some of which were so damaged that they were almost illegible. And around them sheets on which, with a precise and meticulous manner, an angular and pointed writing had pinned runes and magic formulas.
Everything was ready. She just had to start with the ritual. But to do that, she needed two more wizards to balance her powers: she already had the right candidates, they would be here shortly.
At that moment, she heard a voice behind her, "Honey are you sure what you're doing?"
She turned and saw her husband come to her, being careful not to trip over.
"I'm 100% sure."
Changze looked at her skeptically, "You never finished your thesis. Your magiology professor rejected you saying it was inconsistent."
"There is always someone standing in the way of progress."
"Sanren, I also read your thesis. There is no way you can bring the magic of the kami back into the world."
"Only because no one has ever tried."
"For a very good reason: it is dangerous. A mortal wizard cannot use divine power."
"You say these are divine powers, for me, it is natural magic. There are no gods, only sorcerers more powerful than others."
The witch put her hands on his shoulders, "Today I'll prove it, and start a new era of magic."
He stared at her, trying not to show his upset. His wife's intentions were good, he knew it: the "new era of magic" was nothing more than a world in which magical power was distributed equally to all, a reality in which there were no longer differences between those who had the power and who did not have it. This was her goal ever since she had known her, and he admired her.
At the same time, however, it was something extremely dangerous, bordering on science and magic.
And given the delicate condition the woman was now in, his fear for her had increased.
He said, “Couldn't you wait to do that? You're not risking only your life, and "
"Why should I wait? - she interrupted.- I have been preparing for this moment for years. I have studied, and also taken all necessary precautions. I will not do it alone."
"With whom…"
"Sorry for the delay."
"You?"
Changze's eyes widened at that voice: Jiang Fengmian was on the stairs and behind him Wen Meili.
Now he understood why his wife was so quiet: Wen Meili was a very talented healer, known throughout the country for her skill and sharp tongue. She hated her clan leader ardently, which had cost her the confinement to the second branch of the family.
Having her here for that ritual meant that Cangse had thought about the risks to her and the baby's health, and she wasn't completely irresponsible.
Equally clear was the reason for Jiang Fengmian's presence, even though Sanren's plan would have deprived his clan of all the prestige it had.
Jiang Fengmian approached him with some embarrassment, mindful of the circumstances of their last meeting, "My old friend, I see you haven't changed over the years."
"Neither do you," was the reply, and they both stood silent, not knowing what to say to each other. No, there were too many things to say, and no idea where to start.
He should be angry that Sanren had contacted him, but he couldn't. He was almost happy to see him again, despite everything.
“Damn, you look like two icicles. Does your manhood prevent you from showing feelings? " Cangse Sanren teased them.
"Leave them alone, men are stupid," Meili made a common front with her. He looked at her belly, “The ritual shouldn't be risky for the fetus, but I'd like to visit you later. There is very little time left for the birth. "
“I know, that's also why you're here. Despite what some people think, I am responsible."
She didn't stick her tongue out at him, but it was clear how much she wanted to do it.
The woman clapped her hands, “Now that we're all here, we can get started. Let's move from theory to practice. "
"Ok."
Before the ritual began, Changze took his friend by the arm, "Make sure everything is fine. "
“Your wife and son's life is safe, Changze. Everything will be fine. You have my word."
And Changze made the mistake of believing him.
Seventeen years later
Wei Ying had his shoes in one hand and the bow and quiver in the other, and he walked on tiptoe. The sun had just risen, and his father was still sleeping. It was the best time to go out without dad stopping him.
The floor creaked and he stifled several curses. He looked over his shoulder, afraid to see his parent looking at him with the arms crossed.
He did not see him and breathed a sigh of relief. He was almost near the door when he heard the dad's voice, "Where are you going at this hour?"
Fuck.
Wei Ying turned and put on his best poker face, "Um ... I'm going training out here. "
" At dawn? "
" It's never too early to start. "
" I'd believe you if I didn't know you don't get out of bed before twelve unless someone is forcing you. "
"Well, but training is necessary since I can't do anything else."
Father's cheeks reddened slightly with anger, but after a couple of seconds he resumed his usual unabashed air and cleared his throat, "You know you're not allowed to go to the other side of the mountain alone."
"I'm seventeen, dad. I can take care of myself," he said, very petulantly.
"Two months ago you were burning the house to try to cook."
" I've matured. "
" You almost hit me with an arrow yesterday. "
Wei Ying shrugged," It was an accident. "
“ What if you had an accident while you're hunting? "
" How many chances are there? "
" Too much. "
" Oh, come on. Trust me. "
" How can I trust if you do things behind my back? "
" And what else do you think I could do? "
" You should have asked me for permission. "
Wei Ying snorted," Sure, and you would've told me to say no. "
" No, I would have told you we could go together so I would have shown you why it's dangerous. "
Wei Ying stared at him in amazement. Finally, he said hesitantly, "Can we do this? Can we go?"
The man stared at him sternly, unwilling to yield. But he was a softie, and Wei Ying knew all the ways to make him give in. Too bad he couldn't convince him of the things that mattered. Like learning magic.
“Please… ..”
Finally, the man said, "Okay. But if you try to give something back to me, the consequences will be severe. Am I making myself clear? "
" Yes, dad. "
An hour later, they were hunting. Wei Ying expected an exciting experience, perhaps the possibility of killing an animal larger than a fox or a rabbit. Maybe a bear. He had never seen a real bear, but he had read that the meat was good.
But there was nothing. Zero. As if the animals had known of their arrival and had all runaway. Damn!
Wei Ying was getting bored.
“Didn't you want me to come here because you thought it was dangerous? But it's a deadly bore here! I thought there was who knows what a ferocious animal. But not even that! "
Wei Changze ignored him, accustomed to the sudden changes of mood of his son. His concern was another.
The branches of the trees allowed him to walk without taking sunstroke. But the trees were gradually becoming thinner, thinner, and they looked sick. The ground was dark, and Changze froze.
Wei Ying bumped into his back, “Dad!”
“I'm sorry… it's just… it's all so different. I haven't been here in a long time. ”
“ How long? ”
The man didn't answer, but in return, he walked away a few steps and then knelt in front of something reddish on the ground. More and more confused Wei Ying started to approach but the man stopped him standing up, “Stay where you are, I have to go and check something. Don't move. "
And having said that he walked away, disappearing behind the shrubs. Wei Ying didn't listen to him and quickly approached what his father was observing before.
It was blood. Maybe from a wounded animal? If so, it will make it easier to kill it. But where was it?
As he thought this, the leaves in front of him moved. He lifted his head, "You're already back ... holy shit!"
It wasn't her father: it was a grey-skinned man with red eyes, a sunken face and hanging skin, a body in evident decay.
Wei Ying had never seen anything like it, but a part of him was sure that thing there was not human. He got up quickly and backed away, "Don't come near, I can use magic!"
And to prove it, he held out his hands in front, ready to use against the being the trick that had learned a few weeks ago.
The problem was that nothing happened, the hands did not light up, despite the boy's attempts.
"Oh, shit! Not now!"
How does magic work? He had no idea! Everything always happened to him by chance! He was about to panic, but if he couldn't use magic, then he would adopt the old ways.
He took an arrow and shot it, hitting the being in the forehead. A perfect shot, but the creature didn't seem to be affected and kept moving towards him.
Wei Ying was about to shoot another arrow when he felt his wrist grab. He turned his head and saw another monster clinging to him.
Wei Ying tried to kick it to let go, but it was like hitting a rock. It didn't move an inch.
Without being able to think straight, he hit his head with the bow, in a vain attempt to defend himself. Nothing happened.
"But what the hell are you two?"
There was no response. He was almost resigned to the inevitable when a piece of paper flew over the face of the monster that was blocking him and lit up, burning it.
Wei Ying managed to get away just in time, while the other was pierced by a fricking sword flying out of nowhere!
The creature lowered its head and a moment later it became ashes. It was the most amazing thing Wei Ying had ever seen.
The sword then flew towards a boy a little older than Wei Ying: he was tall, long black hair, a strange band around his forehead and was dressed in white. big red spot. So that's whose blood was on the ground.
"Are you okay?"
Wei Ying blinked, “Are you asking me? You're the wounded one! ”
“ I'll survive. ”
“ You have to get someone to check you out. But what happened? ”
“ That monster bit me. Nothing to worry about. ”
Nothing to worry about? Where did that guy come from to say such a thing so calmly?
The other continued, “Which sect of him did you send here? You… ”
He couldn't finish the sentence, he bent to the ground, his sword as his only support. Wei Ying tried to get close to him, but just then he heard his father's voice scream his name.
"Wei Ying!"
"I'm here, dad!"
Changze ran towards him, visibly relieved, and hugged him.
"I'm sorry ... I shouldn't have left you alone."
"Hey, I'm fine, I ... wait, how do you know what happened?"
"I was attacked by a fierce corpse. ”
Ah, so that's what it was all about. He had read about it somewhere in his mother's notes. Those that his father had hidden believing that his son would never find but that the brilliant mind of Wei Ying had found in no time.
The problem was that his mom had almost indecipherable handwriting and he didn't understand most of what she had written.
"And how did you get rid of it?" Wei Ying asked him.
Changze made a vague hand gesture, “Now it doesn't matter. We have to go. We don't know how many others there are. ”
“ We can't leave him here, ”he protested, pointing at his savior. The father narrowed his eyes at the sight of the young man dressed in white, and his expression hardened.
“He can get away with it. Let's go. ”
“ No. ”
“ No? ”
“ He saved my life. We can't leave it here. Can't you see he's hurt? ”
“ He is a wizard. He'll be fine. "
Wei Ying fought with the urge to put her hands in her hair. Obviously, his father would have said so. He hated wizards! He wouldn't have cared if the boy died, but Wei Ying cared.
“He's losing a lot of blood. I doubt he can do much now. ”
“ Be reasonable, if he comes with us… ”
A powerful roar interrupted him. Changze's eyes widened, surprised and frightened at the same time.
"This is not good."
"What?"
Changze did not answer him, but surprisingly went to the other boy and whispered something in his ear. Then he made him stand up and lean against him, much to Wei Ying's surprise.
“Dad, you…”
“Let's not waste time. They could be here at any moment. “
Wei Ying obeyed for once. Whatever it was, it had to be serious stuff to scare his dad like that.
Wei Changze had tried to tempt fate but had come knocking on her door anyway. Literally.