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Bailu grumbled as she tried to figure out the words to the chant. Dan Heng had stepped in and was showing her how to control the cloud hymn magic.
Dan Heng was a great mentor. He was patient with her and never yelled at her like some of her other guardians she could name. All of them had betrayed her. She hoped Dan Heng did not follow in the footsteps of her previous keepers.
Bailu tried reading it again. She scowled and shoved the scroll away. She couldn’t understand it! She may be the next high elder of the Vidyadhara but she was still a child! With a child’s mind and a child’s body!
Frustrated tears ran down her cheeks. Bailu sniffed and angrily wiped them away. She had to do this. She absolutely had to. Failure was not an option. She had their entire race counting on her!
Bailu pulled the scroll back to her and studied it again. She mouthed the words under her breath to herself. She stumbled over a couple of the phrases. When nothing happened, Bailu felt more tears roll down her face.
Bailu threw the scroll at the wall in anger. She needed a break. Bailu hopped down from the chair and headed for the door.
Aurum Alley was always good this time of night. She wanted some comfort food from Spices Supreme. Two smoked patties and a cup of milk tea could cure any sad feelings she might be having.
Bailu left out her secret entrance, conveniently forgetting to inform her latest minder that she was leaving. Let them search. Bailu needed some comfort food.
*****
Bailu was sipping her milk tea on the edge of a stone wall next to Tall Auntie’s stall. She swung her legs back and forth as she watched the foot traffic. A commotion caught her eye and she stared at the two Foxians with a longing look.
An adult Foxian ran up to a younger one playing next to a potted plant. Bailu couldn’t hear over the crowd but she watched as the adult dropped to their knees before the kid and scooped them into a hug.
The adult Foxian’s hands ran over every inch of the kid frantically. Most likely searching for injuries. When they found none they started scolding the kid. They picked up the kid and held them as they carried them through the crowd.
Bailu stared after their disappearing backs. Why couldn’t she have that? A worried parent who would coddle her and make sure she was unharmed? The most she got was her keepers yelling and lecturing her and then forcibly dragging her back to the commission.
No one hugged her. No one picked her up and carried her. No one cared that much about her that they would go out of their minds with worry when she snuck out.
“Bailu! Bailu!”
Someone was shouting her name. Drat. They found her.
Bailu huffed. She debated on making a break for it. She never got the chance to finish her mental argument.
Bailu yelped as she was snatched up and held to someone’s chest. Bailu got ready to fight but froze when she finally realized who exactly dared to touch her like this.
Dan Heng turned her to face him. He quickly scanned her from horn to tail. His shoulders slumped the tiniest bit. “I found you. Do you know how worried everyone was? You have almost the entire Alchemy Commission looking for you. Luckily I know Stelle who told me where you might be.”
Bailu’s mind was racing as the older Vidyadhara pulled her to his chest and situated her securely in his arms. He was careful with her tail and knew the proper way to carry a young of their species.
“I don’t want you running off again. Stelle told me about how you like to skip out on your caretakers.” Dan Heng started walking through the crowd as if this was all normal and something he did every day.
Bailu clenched her hands in Dan Heng’s robes as he made his way through Aurum Alley. Maybe… she did have what that kid had. Finally, she had someone to look after her the right way. Someone who cared what actually happened to her. Now if only she could remember what the proper word to call this relationship was…
*****
Bailu was carried through the Exaulting Sanctum and over to a bench in a garden. Dan Heng sat down and sat her next to him on the bench.
“Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?” Dan Heng’s tail swept out behind him. It coiled up against the wall and the end rested just below Bailu’s feet.
Bailu stared down at it. Most adult Vidyadhara only allowed their tail to be out for special emotional exchanges. They were too long and cumbersome to have out during normal everyday occurrences. Bailu only kept her tail out because she was a kid and still growing.
“Bailu?” Dan Heng’s gentle patient voice brought her attention back to him. “Can I guess?”
Bailu shrugged. She was curious to see what he would come up with. Bailu froze when he pulled out the crumpled scroll she threw at the wall.
“I found this. Would you like to tell me what was so upsetting that it caused you to flee to Aurum Alley?” Dan Heng smoothed the edges of the scroll.
Bailu scowled. “I can’t get the words right. I tried them and nothing happened! It’s useless.”
“Bailu, nothing is useless. Some things might not have a clear purpose to most but someone will find use for them. Do you want to try it again? Maybe I can help.” Dan Heng held out the scroll to her.
Bailu picked it up. She read through the phrases again, stumbling where she usually did. She frowned and shoved the scroll back at him. “See? Useless.”
Dan Heng hummed. “I see your problem. You need to find a rhythm. Some of these complicated spells require more than just will. It needs belief. Let’s find a rhythm to these words.”
Bailu stared up at Dan Heng when he rested his hand on her back. “Nothing is useless, Bailu. Now let’s try again.”
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Bailu wished Dan Heng would come around more. He was stuck in meeting after meeting where he got yelled at for something his past incarnation did. Bailu watched him as day after day he got more and more weary.
Bailu itched to go down to those old coots and yell at them herself. She wanted to force Dan Heng onto bed rest and curl up right next to him so he wouldn’t get out of bed and make a break for it. She wanted to find him and give him some medicine so he wouldn’t look so dang exhausted every time they met up.
She crushed each and every one of those urges. Some of them were tied to her instincts and were not exactly good for the situation they were in currently.
But dang it all. The next time she saw him and he fell asleep during lessons, she was going to go for sure. Something had to give. Something was going to break and Bailu had the horrible feeling it was going to be Dan Heng.
Bailu refused to let that happen. Not on her watch. Her fath-. Dan Heng was not going to suffer any longer.
Bailu looked down at the medicine she was making. It just needed a little pinch of…
Bailu jumped as the door was flung open. The entire bottle of the important ingredient dropped into her mixture. She growled lowly. Ruined. Her medicine was ruined. She looked up, ready to scold the one who dared disturb her.
She faltered when she took in the pair that burst into her room. Her rage didn’t cool. It flared higher when she caught sight of her fath-... Dan Heng lying listlessly in Stelle’s grasp.
“Bailu! He just collapsed. I don’t know what’s wrong.” Stelle seemed frantic as she tugged Dan Heng closer to her.
“Get him on the bed!” Bailu ordered. Her anger was seething and it showed in her tail. It lashed side to side, almost knocking a shelf of medicine over. A steady threatening growl rose in her throat.
Bailu carefully and quickly examined him as best as she could. It was nothing major. Thankfully. He was just depleted of energy. Those darn council members seemed determined to kill him!
Bailu had the medicine to get him awake and going again but she hesitated. If she did that, then he would be right back to where he was. He would be going to council meetings and running ridiculous errands to earn his redemption.
Those old council members were not going to give him redemption. They just wanted him to suffer. They had him running back and forth all over the Luofu doing stupid quests they could do themselves. They had him where they wanted him. At their mercy.
Bailu might not know what exactly he did to earn their anger and hate but it wasn’t going to happen any longer on her watch. She would protect him the way he protected her. That was what families did for each other.
Bailu gathered her medicine jug and the various things she would need if it came down to a physical fight.
“Where are you going? Will Dan Heng be okay? Bailu?” Stelle called out to her.
Bailu marched to the door. “Keep an eye on him. He should be fine. If anything happens, if he so much as stirs, call me. I will be back.”
“Where are you going?” Stelle rushed to follow her but didn’t get more than a few paces beyond Den Heng’s bed.
“To scold a bunch of old dragons!” Bailu let the growl rise in her voice.
She shut the door behind her and stalked through the Luofu to where the Council of Preceptors gathered.
*****
Bailu smiled happily at what she did. She definitely made a few old men have an accident. Bailu was proud of herself. She stood up for her fath… Dan Hen… screw it. He was her father. He will just have to get used to it.
She stood up for her father and she couldn’t be any happier. Now, if only she could spend some time with him that wasn’t full of him trying so hard to not fall asleep that would be excellent.
Bailu softly pushed open the door to her medical room. Her father was still passed out on the small uncomfortable bed. Stelle was sitting by his side in Bailu’s chair.
“I’m back. I got it from here.” Bailu frowned as she studied the small bed. That won’t hold the both of them. She needed a change of plans.
“Will he be okay?” Stelle stood up and came to her side.
“He will be fine. He just needs some bed rest. Speaking of beds…” Bailu looked over at Stelle. “I need to move him. Will you help me?”
Stelle nodded and lifted Dan Heng to her side. She huffed for a moment. “Where are we going?”
“Just down the hall.” Bailu held open the door and led the way down the walkway to her room. That bed was much bigger than those small patient beds. Bailu motioned to the bed. “You can put him there.”
“Where are we?” Stelle looked at the pictures on the walls and plants in the windows.
“Long-term patient care.” Bailu lied quickly. “We do it like this to make it more homey.”
Bailu thanked Lan that she had cleaned her room this morning. Nothing personal was out to be visibly seen.
Luckily Stelle believed her. She helped Bailu to get Dan Heng situated. The blankets were pulled over him and Bailu got a glass of water to put on her nightstand.
“Thank you for your help. I will take it from here.” Bailu dismissed the trailblazer.
“When can we see him? Also, when do you think he will wake up? What happened to him? I didn’t see you give him any medicine.” Stelle wouldn’t leave.
Bailu stifled an upset churr. No need to alarm her father before she could get her rest in as well.
“You can stop by tomorrow afternoon. He should be awake by then. Exhaustion. That’s what happened. He needs several hours of uninterrupted sleep.” Bailu scowled at Stelle. “You are disturbing his rest.”
“Why was he exhausted? He said he was just wandering around the ship.” Stelle stubbornly persisted.
Bailu choked back an irritated snarl. Some sounds slipped out. Bailu cleared her throat. “That’s what you think. Those old council members had him running all over the ship, fighting monsters, doing their shopping, taking things places from one end of the place to the other with no time for rest. They were basically treating him like some common servant!” Bailu snapped her teeth in anger. “They kept him out on a limb saying that if he did all this they would forgive him. But they never intended to forgive him. They had him right where they wanted him. Under their control.”
Stelle’s eyes widened. “That can’t be legal.”
Bailu sniffed. “I gave them a piece of my mind. Hopefully, that will knock some sense into them.” Bailu glanced at the bed where her father shifted in his sleep. “Out. My patient needs rest. We can talk more tomorrow afternoon when you will be allowed back. Shoo!”
Stelle nodded and turned to leave. “I will see you tomorrow, Bailu. Thanks for looking after him.”
Bailu waited for her footsteps to disappear before climbing up into the bed. She slowly inched her way closer to Dan Heng. She lay down a foot away from his side. This would have to do. She refused to get closer.
Some part of her was scared he would reject her. Bailu tried to kick that thought from her head. He wouldn’t do that… would he?
Bailu nearly bit her lip when Dan Heng shifted again. His tail appeared and lay across the bed. His arms reached out and pulled her to him.
Bailu sniffled and let loose a few distressed Vidyadhara noises. She had such a rough day. Bailu gave in to her kid-like instincts and let a few tears fall. Dan Heng did not stir but a soothing rumble came from his chest. His tail came up and covered her body.
Bailu snuggled close and yawned. She knew she would have to answer a few things in the morning, but it was worth it. It was worth it to see him finally resting and giving in to his instincts. She knew how much it hurt holding back those draconic urges when around other people who just wouldn’t understand.
Bailu sleepily murmured a goodnight to her acting dad. Hoping that things will be better tomorrow.
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Bailu woke early. There was a knock on her door and someone telling her of some kind of emergency that they needed her expertise on.
Bailu groaned but carefully got out of Dan Heng’s grip. She was quiet as she gathered her things and left for the downstairs and the public rooms.
Bailu could never forget the sleeping adult in her room. Her mind was half on her work and half on her father. She kept an ear out for when he would start to wake up.
Luckily it was on her lunch break when she heard a soft… “Where am I?”
Bailu ran for the private rooms. She made it just in time to intercept Stelle and her guest from running into security. She greeted Stelle and huffed as she led the way to her room.
“He should be awake now.” Bailu pushed open her door and poked her head in. She smiled brightly and let loose a greeting chirp. “Good afternoon, Daaa…n Heng. You slept for most of the day.” Bailu led Stelle and her guest into her room.
“Oh. It’s so good to see you awake. When you collapsed, I thought something was majorly wrong and…” Stelle rushed to the bed to fuss over him.
Bailu stepped back. Right into the knees of General Jing Yuan. Bailu looked up a little startled. “Why are you here?” She demanded.
“Bailu. Be nice.” Her dad scolded her.
Once upon a time, Bailu would have argued with whoever scolded her. Dan Heng scolded her and she accepted it. She didn’t talk back because he was not angry or mean about it. It was a gentle scolding. She dreaded when he would get really angry with her.
It probably would be very soon. Once he found out about her little trip to the Council of Preceptors.
Bailu suddenly had a bad feeling as to why the General of the Luofu was visiting. She swallowed harshly and started backing away. “You know what… I forgot my lunch outside. I’m just going to…”
Bailu turned to leave but shrieked as she was picked up. Bailu was carried across the room and set on the bed. Dan Heng settled next to her.
“Where am I? What happened? And why is Bailu trying to run away after seeing Jing Yuan?” Dan Heng dropped his gaze on her. “What trouble did you get into while I was out?”
Dan Heng stared her down. When Stelle started to speak, he held up his hand to stop her. Glowing blue eyes held hers in a patient but stubborn stare.
Bailu scowled. She wouldn’t break. She was stronger than this. She would not… damn it.
“I may have made a trip to see the council to give them a talking to.” Bailu blurted out.
Dan Heng made a startled noise but Bailu pushed on. She ignored the General’s snort of disbelief.
“They were working you to death and as your personal doctor, I couldn’t let that stand. Nobody is going to harm my…” Bailu paused and quickly switched the word she was going to use. “Patient and get away with it.”
Her dad made a painful wince. “So you went down and talked to them?”
“More like shouted and threatened them.” The General cut into the conversation. “I heard there were lots of kicking and electricity involved.”
Bailu scowled at him. She sent a glare to the General before turning back to Dan Heng. “That may have happened too.”
“Bailu. You shouldn’t have done that. The council has the right to strip you of your title and force you into something you probably won’t like. It’s not a good…” Dan Heng made a pained face.
Bailu had enough. “It’s abuse! And I’m not standing for it!” Bailu stood up on the bed and planted her fists on her hips. “They keep you on a leash, doing their bidding and saying ‘Oh, do this one last thing and we will forgive you’. They never will! They have you right where they want you! As their servant!” When Dan Heng flinched Bailu stopped. She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, fa-” She stopped and took another breath. “I’m sorry.”
Bailu climbed off the bed and away from the group. “I won’t sit by and watch you be jerked around like that. It’s not right or fair.”
Dan Heng made to sit up. “Bailu.”
Bailu didn’t stay to hear anymore. She had patients to see. Bailu bolted for the door and ran away.
*****
Bailu watched from a distance as first General Jing Yuan left and then Stelle made her way out of the building. Bailu waited for her dad to leave. She sat across the square at a table under a tree.
She had no clue how he did it but one minute she was alone the next he dropped into a chair next to her. Bailu waited for what he was going to say. What punishment would he give her for standing up for him?
“Bailu,” Dan Heng sighed. “What you did was foolish and reckless. You could have gotten into a lot of trouble.”
Bailu flinched away. She made herself smaller. She jumped when an arm fell across her shoulders and pulled her into a warm side. Dan Heng made a soothing churr.
“I’m also very grateful for what you did. I’m not entirely happy, and I think you should stay away from them for a while. But thank you for standing up for me.” Dan Heng squeezed her once before letting go.
Bailu stared at the ground beneath her. “I’m not sorry. I lied back there. I’m sorry I yelled at you like that but I’m not sorry I did what I did.”
Dan Heng sighed and gave a small nod. “I know that.”
Quiet fell as the two Vidyadharas sat under an orange-leafed tree and watched the people go by.
“I would do it again if I had to,” Bailu admitted softly. “And if they strip me of my title then I guess I will go with you. You will need a doctor on the Astral Express. We can see the universe together.”
Dan Heng said nothing. He just pulled her to him and hugged her tight.
That was alright with Bailu. Sometimes it was nice to have time without needing to fill the silence. Bailu stared up at Dan Heng and wished with all her heart that he could have been her father.
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4.
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Bailu knew she was in trouble. She had been called to the Seat of Divine Foresight. It was an urgent summons.
Bailu had set down her lesson work and gathered her things. She made her way to the Exaulting Sanctum.
Bailu was ushered into General Jing Yuan’s office. She slowly came to a stop when she saw who else was there. The General, her dad, and the members of the Council of Preceptors.
“Bailu. It’s good you have come so quickly.” The General waved her forward. “We are in need of your testimony.”
Bailu came to a stop by Dan Heng’s side. She peered up at the council members. “What’s going on?”
“Bailu. Would you please state the facts that led to your conclusion of what you have accused the elders of doing?” The General motioned for her to step up. The General lifted her up and set her on the edge of the table. “There. Now everyone can see you.”
Bailu didn’t think that was a good thing. Bailu took a calming breath and started listing the things she noticed about Dan Heng’s bid for redemption. How the elders had him running stupid little errands that they had other people for. How they had him fighting various monsters. How they made him so exhausted, he collapsed in public.
When the elders puffed up and started denying her claims, Bailu let out an angry growl.
“It’s true and you know it!” She snapped. She jumped down from the table and came to stand in front of Dan Heng. “For any other Vidyadhara, for any other person, you would follow the rules and wipe clean their criminal record. I know what he did was not exactly like a normal crime but have any of you asked him why he did what he did? Do any of you even care? Or are your heads stuck too far up your tails to even wonder why your High Elder seemingly betrayed you?”
“Bailu.” Dan Heng nudged the back of her head and frowned down at her. “That wasn’t polite.”
Bailu looked up at him. “But it’s true!”
“It still wasn’t nice.” Dan Heng motioned to the elders. “Despite what they have done, they are still your elders.”
Bailu scowled when he leveled her with a look that meant ‘Apologize. Now.’
Bailu huffed and looked away. Her tail lay flat on the floor in her displeasure. “I’m sorry for saying your heads were stuck up your tails. It was rude of me. I’m sorry.”
“And?” Her dad left the question open-ended.
Bailu stared at him. “Do I have to?” She didn’t whine. She didn’t.
“Yes.” He was stubborn.
“Fine.” Bailu faced the stunned elders. “I’m also sorry for kicking you. And shocking you. And yelling at you. Can I be done now?”
Her dad and the General laughed. Bailu was picked up. She clung tightly to Dan Heng’s robes. Her head dropped onto his shoulder and her tail curled around his arm. She yawned deeply.
Her day started early with somebody coming in with a stab wound. Bailu had worked on him for over an hour. Then had a constant stream of patients after. She was so sleepy. And the soothing rumble that her dad was making was helping her exhaustion along.
“-you are forgetting is that she is a child. She needs someone to look out for her and not betray her. Do you know every single one of her minders in the past has been Sanctus Medicus? Each and every single one betrayed her. Here you are, forcing a child to have to watch her back and be in this situation.”
Bailu let out a distressed whine and hid her face in her dad’s hair. A dark curtain made her blink longer and longer. Surrounded by his scent and being safe with him, Bailu fell asleep.
*****
She was holding a handful of robes and hair in both of her small fists. Her tail was wrapped around his forearm in a bracing position most young did to stay with their parents. Soft whines and snuffles came from her throat.
Dan Heng looked down at her with wide eyes. She really trusted him that much? He would repay the favor she did for him.
Dan Heng looked up and met the gazes of the elders who had both betrayed him and had been betrayed by him. “You do not trust me. I understand that now. But look at her. She does. I don’t know what I can do to make you know that I will never harm her or break her trust. She is a child. And I will not stand by and watch her be mistreated.”
Dan Heng looked up and met the gaze of Jing Yuan. His once friend. Was he amused? What was so funny?
“I think the solution is very simple.” The General spoke up. “Bailu is indeed still a child. What better way to help her grow up into a good high elder, than to have her predecessor look after her?”
“But he… what if he corrupts her?” An angry elder scowled and glared at Dan Heng.
He instinctively shifted to block Bailu from his hateful gaze.
“I agree with the young miss.” The oldest elder stepped forward. His saddened gaze went from Bailu to Dan Heng. “We should get together and find out the real reason why Den Feng betrayed us.”
“But…” The angry elder protested.
“Enough. Take the little one home. We will meet up tomorrow night to discuss this like the rational adults we are.” The oldest elder shot a stern look at the angry one. “Leave your… charge at home.”
Dan Heng frowned. Why did everyone do that? Go to say something and then change what they were going to say?
“Okay.” Dan Heng agreed. His heart ached at the thought of relieving memories that were best buried in the past.
Bailu made a churr and her tail squeezed tighter around his arm. Her small hands pulled his hair tighter in her grasp.
Dan Heng winced in slight pain. He shifted, trying to get his hair free. He nearly missed the elders filing out of the office.
Dan Heng huffed when the stubborn girl refused to let go. “A little help, Jing Yuan?”
“I think I’m good.” The General had a soft laugh to his tone. “I’m already raising one hellion. I’m good.”
Dan Heng scowled. “What do you mean by that? I’m not… raising her. I’m her…”
“Let me give you some advice a good friend once told me. ‘Call it what you will. Either being a disciple, student, or whatever you tell yourself they are to you. It doesn't matter. What matters is how they see you.’.” The General moved over to his desk. “I have some work to do.”
Dan Heng left at the clear dismissal from the General. “How do they see you?”
Dan Heng carried Bailu back to the Alchemy Commission. She needed her rest.
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Bailu groaned and flung her hands out. She lay on her back on her bed with her arms splayed wide.
She was so bored! Her dad had canceled their lessons for the day without telling her why or where he was going. She didn’t feel like reading through those dusty scrolls and she had no patients in need of her attention at the moment.
Bailu sat up as a thought hit her. Aurum Alley was open. It was around dinner time. She could head over, pick up some food for her and her dad, and be back here before he came to get her. They could have dinner outside at their table!
Mind made up, Bailu scrambled to get ready. She gathered her medicine jug and some other supplies in case she ran across some monsters.
Bailu snuck out of the Alchemy Commission’s building and headed for Aurum Alley.
*****
Bailu heard someone shouting and a flash of blue and cold. It seemed like someone was in trouble.
“Swords, descend!” A young voice shouted.
That was a kid. Bailu made her way over to the kid fighting a group of abominations. She studied the fighting for a moment. The other kid seemed to have it in hand. But…
Bailu crept up behind the last dog-like creature. She kicked it and shocked it at the same time. It let out a howl before dying.
Bailu shot her gaze over at the other kid. He seemed mostly okay. There was a dripping cut on his arm. Bailu stepped forward. She reached for her medicine pouch. “Let me help you with that.”
The other kid eyed her warily but let Bailu patch up his arm. “You are Bailu, right? From the Alchemy Commission?”
“That’s me. Hold still.” Bailu finished wrapping the cut with some bandages. “There. All better.”
“I’m Yanqing. General Jing Yuan’s… student.” Yanqing bowed to her. “Thank you for your assistance.”
“You’re welcome. I was heading to Aurum Alley for some dinner for me and my…” Bailu trailed off. How did she end that?
“Your… what?” Yanqing examined one of his swords. He looked up and met her gaze.
Bailu didn’t know what he saw on her face. Whatever it was made him soften and give her a small sad smile.
“Would you like some company?” Yanqing sheathed his sword. “I cleared out the monsters from here to the Exaulting Sanctum but you can never be too cautious.”
Bailu smiled. “That would be nice. Yes.”
They started walking in silence back to the Exaulting Sanctum. The way was peaceful. Bailu could sense Yanqing wanting to say something but he kept holding it back. Bailu slowed when she knew he was ready to say whatever he wanted to say.
“It’s hard, isn’t it?” Yanqing slowed to a stop. “They call you their student, or retainer, or disciple. Everything but what you actually want to hear. It hurts. Because you look up to them and they are all you have ever known as that role in your life. When you accomplish something great, you want to run to them and tell them all about it. You want to call them that very important name but it never is the right time. He’s always busy with work or has guests, or there are others around who you don’t want to embarrass him or you in front of.”
Bailu turned to watch the sunset. She thought back over the past month or so since she started thinking of him as her dad. “You know what I think? Life is too short for some to not seize those chances when they come up. Who knows? Either of you might die today or tomorrow. Would you be willing to go knowing that he never knew how much you looked up to him?”
“But aren’t you a Vidyadhara? You guys don’t technically die. You reincarnate.” Yanqing wrinkled his nose and forehead in confusion.
“It is still a death. We usually don’t remember who we were before. We start all over again. From a baby to an adult we have to grow.” Bailu turned to face Yanqing and placed her hands on her hips. “Let’s make a pact.”
“A pact? We just met.” Yanqing frowned at her.
Bailu rolled her eyes. “Fine. A promise. The next time we see them and there is nothing work-related around them, we will call them dad. Deal?”
Yanqing thought for a moment. “You want to go to Aurum Alley, right?”
“Yes.” Bailu was confused.
“Good. Let’s go.” Yanqing grabbed her hand and started running.
Bailu struggled to keep up. “Slow down. My legs aren’t as long as yours yet.”
Yanqing slowed with a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I just got excited. We have to hurry though. We have to be there right as the lights come on for my plan to work.”
Bailu huffed. “Carry me then or we will never make it.” Bailu was awkwardly picked up. She scowled. “Never mind. I will run.”
Bailu was set down. She took off after Yanqing. “I will be instructing you on how to properly hold younger kids you know! Don’t think you can get away from it!”
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Dan Heng groaned in relief. He stretched out his arms and back. That was tiring. His meeting with the elders was finally over. While they still didn’t fully trust him, something seemed to have settled between them. They seem to approve of his mentorship of Bailu at least.
That was something that was interesting. Everyone seemed to tiptoe around that subject. They would replace words with something else than what they actually meant. His Astral Express crew members were amused and were teasing him. Jing Yuan kept giving him exasperated fond looks like he too was in on it all.
Dan Heng shook his head. It was no matter now. He was going back to Bailu and sharing with her the good news. He was going to be allowed to be her mentor.
Dan Heng was halfway back to the Alchemy Commission when he noticed the cloud knights searching for someone or something.
Dan Heng slowly approached them. “Is there something wrong?”
“Sir!” One of them looked frazzled. “Lieutenant Yanqing has vanished on his patrol on the outskirts. He was out dealing with monsters. We believe he is injured because we only found a bloodied bandage. Everyone is out looking for him.”
Dan Heng was worried. Jing Yuan was a good friend of his and to hear his son was missing and injured was…
“We also believe that Miss Bailu is with him. She snuck out from the Alchemy Commission and we found this…” The cloud knight held up a picture of Bailu’s medicine jug.
Dan Heng’s gaze narrowed, then sharpened. Bailu. His… his… Bailu was missing. With Yanqing?
Dan Heng let out a cough to clear the growl in his throat. “Where?” He snapped.
“Sir? I don’t think…” The cloud knight stammered.
“It’s okay. I got it from here. Thank you, men.” Jing Yuan laid a calming hand on Dan Heng’s shoulder. “Easy. We will find them.”
Dan Heng grumbled. “Yeah. And then I will ground her until the Ambrosial Arbor Tree revives again. I don’t like it when she sneaks out. But I can’t exactly insist she stays because then I will be no better than her previous caretakers.”
Jing Yuan made a noise of agreement. “I too dislike when Yanqing sneaks out but the solution to that is to simply take the time to take them places. Take them to get some dinner. Take them to a park, take them to a sparring arena to teach them how to fight. It’s a learning experience. Luckily you have me to help you.”
Dan Heng was confused. “Why would I need to…”
Jing Yuan smiled and smacked his shoulder. “I know where they are. Yanqing is too skilled to be taken down by some simple wolf abominations. I personally made sure there was nothing more dangerous than that on the patrol I sent him on. Now, Yanqing is not one for crying wolf but if yours is with him then…”
Dan Heng groaned. “Bailu is much more likely to make mischief like this.” Dan Heng ran ahead of Jing Yuan. “I know where they are. Follow me.”
Dan Heng shoved through the crowds leaving Aurum Alley. He headed right for Spices Supreme to collect his…
“Are you sure this is where they are? This doesn’t seem like the place Yanqing would…” Jing Yuan breathed a quiet thanks to Lan when he saw what Dan Heng saw.
“Yanqing? No. But Bailu? Yes.” Dan Heng pushed across the street. “Bailu!”
“Yanqing!” Jing Yuan called after him.
Bailu seemed to brighten. She pinched Yanqing. He elbowed her back.
When they looked about to scuffle, Dan Heng reached down and picked up his troublemaker. “Bailu, you scared me.”
“What were you thinking, Yanqing? All the knights are looking for you and…” Jing Yuan began to scold Yanqing.
With one last look between the two children, Yanqing spoke up.
“I know. I just… Sorry, Dad.” Yanqing took a deep breath.
“We’re sorry!” Bailu burst out. “Sorry, Dad.”
Dan Heng froze. His chest ached “Excuse me?”
Bailu hid her face in his shoulder. “I said I’m sorry.”
“No. What did you call me?” Dan Heng tried to get Bailu to look at him. “Bailu? Please look at me?”
Bailu flung herself away from him as far as she could go while still in his arms. “I called you dad.”
“But I’m not… Vidyadhara don’t…” Dan Heng floundered for words. What was this feeling in his chest?
“Well, they should!” Bailu snapped angrily. She scrubbed her small hands across her face. “We are kids like every other species! So what if we don’t reproduce? Kids still need parents and…”
Dan Heng hugged her to his chest and took in a shaky breath. He was rumbling a soothing noise low in his chest.
It all made sense now. He knew why everyone had been acting so weird. They all knew Bailu saw him as her father. Stelle with her teasing remarks, the elder’s relenting on him becoming her mentor, even Jing Yuan’s amusing looks and offers to help. He was in the exact same situation as him. Or had been. He was much further along than Dan Heng but…
Dan Heng shot a look over at his friend and saw that he was kneeling on the ground in front of Yanqing, holding the boy tightly. Yanqing had his arms around Jing Yuan’s shoulders, gripping his shirt in his fists.
Dan Heng looked down at the sniffling girl in his arms. “Bailu? I would be honored.”
Bailu smiled widely. “Thank you, Dad.”
It would take some getting used to but Dan Heng thought he could grow to like the title. Dan Heng pulled back to stare down at the little mischief-maker.
“Now, don’t think this excuses you from being in trouble. Crying wolf and making the cloud knights panic is not a good thing to do. What if there was a real emergency?” Dan Heng scolded his new kid sternly.
“Daaaad.” Bailu whined. “We just wanted you both away from your work. It was the only way at the time.”
“Oh? You both? In that case, Yanqing, I think it would do you some good to study a new topic.” Jing Yuan shared an exasperated look with Dan Heng.
“Dad? What? No!” Yanqing protested.
“Oh yes. Come Yanqing. I expect a report on my desk in two days on the topic of why crying wolf is a bad thing to do. I expect a few references and…” Jing Yuan dropped a hand on Yanqing’s shoulder and steered him down the street.
“Bye Yanqing! See you in a few days!” Bailu waved goodbye.
“You are not off the hook either.” Dan Heng started walking through the crowds.
“What?” Bailu stared wide-eyed up at him. “But…”
“I wonder how your lessons are going. Can you summon rain yet?” Dan Heng sidestepped a rambunctious Foxian child and their parent watching them.
“No. But…” Bailu growled and shoved her head into his shoulder. “Why did I ever want this?”
Dan Heng paused in his walk. “Bailu? Do you want this? I am happy to be your mentor.”
“No!” Bailu flung her arms around his neck and gripped his robes tight. “I want this! I just… don’t like being in trouble.”
“No one likes being in trouble, Bailu.” Dan Heng scooted to the side of the road. He sat down on a bench and set Bailu in his lap. “I know we won’t have the traditional parent/child relationship but I will try my best.”
“You are doing great.” Bailu stared up at him. “I don’t want anyone other than you.”
Dan Heng didn’t bother choking back the pleased rumble in his chest. “Come on, mischief maker. Time to go back.”
“Do you think we can get our own home? And can we get a pet? I still have to work at the Alchemy Commission so we can’t go far from there. Ooh! Can we have some food from Spices Supreme for dinner? You have to try their smoked patties. They are the best.” Bailu kept talking as he carried her back to their place on the Luofu. “Dad! Dad! Look!”
Dan Heng turned to where his mischief maker was pointing. The moon was just beginning to rise high in the sky. Starskiffs dotted the darkened skyline going back and forth carrying their goods.
Bailu sighed heavily and laid her head on Dan Heng’s shoulder. “Are you going to keep going with the Express?”
“No. I have someone much more important here to look after. Maybe one day we will meet again.” Dan Heng turned and kept walking.
“Can I see Yanqing again sometime soon?” Bailu stared up at him with a look Dan Heng had never seen directed at him before.
Dan Heng nodded and smiled at her. “Yes. When his report is done we will meet up with them. Now, I think it’s time for sleep.”
“Goodnight, Dad.” Bailu yawned and closed her eyes.
“Goodnight, little mischief maker.” Dan Heng murmured. It was a long walk back to their new home.