Chapter Text
Guizhong’s hand trembled.
From excitement or nerves, she did not know. Cloud Retainer was adamant in one-upping her the next time they met, and Guizhong had no intention to lose—in front of Ping and Rex Lapis, no less.
The device before her seemed to resonate with her feelings. She could feel it shiver and come to life, and with the last gear secured—
“Guizhong!”
—something shattered. The door slammed open to reveal Ping.
“A-Ping,” Guizhong said, sweeping the fallen pieces away with her sleeve. She rose to her feet, stamping down on the disappointment welling in herself as she eyed the remains of her latest creation on the floor. These are times of war, she reminded herself. Such…frivolities, will not be missed. “Whatever is the matter?”
“I apologise for disturbing,” Ping said. “But we must make haste. Rex Lapis has returned from the North, and…”
She trailed off with a shake of her head. “I think it is best if you see this for yourself.”
Ping reached a hand out, which Guizhong took. With a burst of adeptal energy they vanished from Guizhong’s adobe, and into what seemed to be the healers’ quarters.
“Lady Guizhong,” Yingda greeted, stepping right before the door. “Lady Ping. I must caution you both. Rex Lapis may have liberated most of the dream goddess’ subjects, but this…”
“Yingda,” Guizhong said, reaching out to soothe the evidently frazzled yaksha. Yet fear lanced her heart. The dream goddess was not known to be kind. “In our years defending Guili Assembly, A-Ping and I have seen worse. And if the situation is as dire as it so seems, then I believe my assistance is needed.” As Yingda stepped aside with a small bow, Guizhong tried for a smile. “You are relieved of your duties,” she said. “Go, and be with your fellow yaksha.”
Yingda gave Guizhong a grateful nod, and disappeared with a flicked of flame. Ping pushed the door open and Guizhong entered.
Ping tried not to wince. When Rex Lapis had first brought the adeptus back to Guili Assembly, she had mistaken him for a corpse. His name is Xiao, Rex Lapis had said. He had left with a muttered word of apology not long afterwards. It shocked her then, to see the unshakeable god of war unable to be near the injured.
Now, after taking a good long look at Xiao, Ping understood.
He had curled up on the end of the floor furthest from the door, trembling from both cold and fear as Guizhong approached. Blood and cuts streaked his small frame, and she could still see bruises from the manacles Rex Lapis had removed from around his limbs.
And his wings.
Bird-adepti were proud creatures. Guizhong and Ping both knew that well from lengthy conversations with Cloud Retainer, who never had a feather out of place. But the adeptus on the ground had wings streaked with blood and dirt, until Ping could no longer discern its original shade.
“Little one,” Guizhong whispered, kneeling a distance away from Xiao. The adepti refused to reach her gaze, eyes of dull yellow fixed on the floor. “What is your name?”
Silence. And in silence Guizhong seemed content to sit. An hour passed, of Guizhong knelt beside the trembling adepti, and Ping not far away, watchful.
“May I clean your wounds?” Guizhong asked.
Xiao shrank away from Guizhong. Ping, all too attuned to the rise and fall of Guizhong’s emotions, could see the god’s heart sink. Guizhong was always too kind—too yielding to the weak, and the vulnerable.
“It’s alright,” Guizhong said. “We can wait. A-Ping, could you fetch me some water?”
Ping reached into her abode with ease, and from it retrieved a pitcher of water and some cups. Guizhong poured Xiao a cup, which she set on the floor.
The adepti startled at the motion. His arm swept out, so fast that even Ping, all too fearful of an attack on Guizhong, could not stop it—and knocked the cup over.
Xiao seemed to curl in even further on himself. Shattered ceramic scattered the floor, and as Ping withdrew, he could see the adepti’s trembles increase tenfold.
“I’m so sorry,” Guizhong said. She lay both her arms at her side to show she was no threat. “Please forgive me. But, are you alright?”
Silence. Whatever progress they had made seemed to disappear in an instant, and they were back to where they started—Xiao, terrified beyond words.
Guizhong curled her fingers. On the ground, the pieces of ceramic crumbled into dust. That simple trick seemed to draw Xiao’s attention. Another flick of her wrist, and the dust rose—twisting and coiling in the air like a dragon, before forming into something else entirely.
A bird.
Ping could almost see the wings on Xiao’s back ruffle.
“There you go,” Guizhong said, setting the ceramic finch on the ground. “A gift, as an apology.”
Silence, once again.
“Would you like something to eat? A-Ping here may not look like it,” Guizhong said, after a while. Xiao seemed startled that Guizhong would even ask. “but she is quite the cook. And of course, anything she cannot make, we can fetch from the kitchens.”
Yellow eyes pinned Ping down with startling accuracy, before looking back down again. Another shake of Xiao’s head. Something told Ping that it was more response out of Xiao than Rex Lapis could ever have gotten.
“Maybe later,” Guizhong said. More silence followed, until Guizhong spoke again. “I will leave you now, little one. May I visit tomorrow?”
An imperceptible nod.
“Thank you, dear. I will leave you now,” Guizhong said, with a small smile. “Oh, but before that. May I say one last thing?”
Another nod.
“We promise you, little one,” Guizhong said. “No hurt shall ever befall you again. I will protect you, as will A-Ping. And the rest of the Guili Assembly.”
Ping’s heart ached. Her Guizhong—a gentleness so cutting it could shatter even the oldest mountains. It was a time of war and suffering. Something they knew, and the adeptus no doubt did too. But as Xiao’s eyes widened, Ping couldn’t help but wonder if he truly believed it.
Outside, Ping cornered Guizhong.
“You are too trusting,” Ping said, earning herself a laugh from Guizhong. “This is no laughing matter. I should have remembered to tell you to stand further away. What if the adeptus had struck you?”
“Why would I worry?” Guizhong said. She cut a path through Rex Lapis’ domain, straight to the gardens, where the pair liked to sit. “I have you to protect me.”
Ping frowned. “I was not fast enough.”
“Hmm.” Guizhong leaned a head on Ping’s shoulder, as the two settled to watch the cranes chase the setting sun. “I suppose so. That adeptus is faster than anything I have ever seen.” She sighed. “Sometimes I feel so helpless, A-Ping. He is feeling so much hurt, and yet I…”
“Our world is not your burden alone to hold,” Ping said, taking Guizhong’s hand. “Next time I will…I will go with you. I will play him some music. It may help the karma that pulls at him.”
“Oh! What an idea!” Guizhong said, pulling on her arm in excitement. “A-Ping, I have just the invention…”
You are too kind, Ping thought, as she watched Guizhong speak. War is not meant for the likes of you. She thought of her love, in a sea of glaze lilies, bathed in the silver moonlight. How I wish, Guizhong…that things could be different.