Chapter Text
The moon shone down on the earth, creating an ethereal ambience paired with the sound of crickets singing. The street was lit up by torches. Not a single human in sight, the only exception being two cloaked figures walking down the empty road, one taller than the other. They approached a run down house on the outskirts of town. It was dark, as no candle was lit in the house. They knocked on the door despite that fact.
The door was open slightly, and from behind a voice asked, “Password?”
The taller of the two stepped closer to the door and whispered something. The door unlocked, letting the two in. They unlatched a secret wooden door on the floor. It opened to reveal stairs spiralling down under the house. One by one, they walked down the stairs until they reached the bottom. People were talking and drinking around them as they made their way to the back.
The underground hideout was lit up by the glow of many candles, each on a different table. They finally reached the back and in front of them was a door guarded by two people.
“Hello, boys. We’re here to meet with Master Wang Donghai.” the taller figure announced. The two guards stepped aside to let them pass. They pushed open the door and the cloaked figures went inside.
“Ah, Mingxia. Welcome, welcome.” a man from behind a large desk walked towards the two. “Nice to see you too, baba.” Mingxia commented, pulling down the hood that was covering her face. The smaller figure followed suit, revealing his beautiful long light blue hair, which was half tied up into a ponytail. “And you must be Chongyun. I heard a lot about you from your father before he passed.” the man announced with a solemn expression.
“Thank you for inviting me here, Master Wang.” Chongyun said, bowing before the older man. They were beckoned to follow him towards another corridor that leads to their blacksmithing workshop. Several people were in the room, forging weapons and armory.
“Jinhai!” the man called out towards one of the workers. The person who turned around was huge, looking like a giant compared to others.
“Ah, Master Wang! What brings you to our workplace?” the giant known as Jinhai asks, looking down at the three. Upon closer inspection, Chongyun noticed the man’s scars and disfigurement. Jinhai and Master Wang started to converse while Chongyun and Mingxia stood by and talked.
“So, what's your magic?" Mingxia asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Nothing special, just ice manifestation." Chongyun answered with a monotone voice and poker face.
"Really? Just like your dad? Can you make ice come to life like him?" Mingxia asked enthusiastically, shifting closer to Chongyun.
"Uh, please move back a bit-" Chongyun spoke, pushing her a few steps back, "-and yes, I can animate ice." He continued, and he saw her smile grow wider, if that was even possible. She stared at him, expectantly, wanting to see him animate ice. "Uh… do you want me to animate you something?" he asked awkwardly, not used to the attention that was given to him.
She nodded, waiting for him to work his magic. He attached his pointer finger and middle finger together before making a circular motion in the air. Soon after, a dragon made of ice came to life and began to fly around her. She was absolutely mesmerized. Though the dragon didn't last long before it disappeared into ice shards.
"Sorry about that. I can't maintain the form of the ice." he apologized, looking guiltily at her. Mingxia just laughed and shook her head.
Their interaction was cut short by Master Wang calling Chongyun over. “Remove your cloak and roll up your sleeves,” he ordered. “Why? What are you going to do with that rod?” Chongyun asked, looking at it apprehensively. “This is a tribute to the first ever member of Huli Jing.” Master Wang explained, telling the story.
oOo
The year was 620 AD, a time when magic was still free to be practiced by both the rich and the poor. It was peaceful but jealousy began to grow in this peaceful dynasty, tainting the roots with darkness. It all started when a prince with a rotten heart took the throne.
“But your majesty! We can’t do thi-” the advisor was cut off by the new emperor.
“Did you just say no to me? Hmm, it’s hard to get good help these days. Take him away and get a new advisor.”
The emperor was demanding and those under him were too cowardly to object to him for they will suffer the fate of death. The guards brought in a new advisor that’s more...compliant.
“Now where were we?” he commented, looking around the room at the others. That meeting resulted in a new decree, ‘ Everyone that practices magic must have an official license with a special seal that’s burned into the paper. Those without are prohibited to practice magic…”
People still tried to practice in secret and among those people was Longxia. They are born into a not so fortunate family and their parents couldn’t afford to school them. One day, they get a rush of adrenaline and sneak into a school to steal the seal and license. Longxia had not just succeeded into the school but they also found their target.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” a voice commented in a sing-songy tone, Longxia turned around to see a man, more specifically the scholar who runs the school. Longxia held on tightly onto the seal but the scholar knocked it towards the fireplace with a gush of wind. “You really want that seal don’t you?” he asked, walking towards the insignia. Longxia was suddenly thrown to the other side of the room by the winds.
Their body was pushed down by the winds to make them stay down. “If you want it so much. I’ll give it to you.” he stated before ripping Longxia’s sleeves and pulling their arm closer to him, pressing the scolding hot seal on their arm. Longxia screamed in agony as it burned their skin while the scholar stood above them, eyes blank with a smile that is anything but friendly. They wanted to move, to run away, and most importantly to stop this pain.
People outside the room could hear their screams but they were told to not meddle and if they did, they could say goodbye to their license. Once the scholar thought it was enough to leave a permanent mark, he let them go. The scholar asked the guards near his office to throw them out. From that day on, Lingxia had a permanent fox shaped scar on their arm.
oOo
Chongyun followed his instruction though still scared of the pain it would inflict and approached the pair. Jinhai grabbed Chongyun’s left arm out before pressing a scolding hot metal rod on his upper arm. Chongyun groaned at the searing pain, the tool burning his skin. It was painful unlike anything he ever felt. Once the rod was pulled away, everyone could see the area swollen and blistered.
Then he was given a blue cold substance. “That is cryo slime condensate. It helps ease the burn faster. Wait a few hours before you roll down your sleeve.” Jinhai informed him, putting the instrument back in its place. Chongyun then followed Master Wang as he explained the rules of his new job. "So, here in Huli Jing…"
We are the children of those that were tossed aside. Equality isn't in our rights. Many innocent lives taken because of a stupid rule. We implanted ourselves in society to slowly destroy those stuck up and corrupt people. If we want equality, we will fight for it even if it means bloodshed.
"Your first job is to infiltrate the castle and get information from the youngest prince. Once you have enough information on what’s happening within the castle walls, you are to assassinate the royal family. Don't let a single witness escape. I know you won't disappoint me. I have seen your progress since you were little." Master Wang stated, eyes darkened with a twisted smile painted on his face.