Chapter Text
"Long ago, people believed in a spirit of fire who protected them from monsters and the eternal cold. But humanity invented structures that replaced the spirit's power. He was forgotten for many years, and his good deeds vanished into the whirlpool of time."
"Grandma, didn't the spirit get offended by people for how they treated him?" asked the boy, warming himself by the steam engine. Sparks of interest flickered in his eyes.
The woman in her sixties sighed. She was unbraiding her long, gray braids, placing the hair ornaments on a wooden shelf. The metal earrings jingled cheerfully and shimmered in the lamplight. An embroidered woman's fur coat, a traditional garment of the northern peoples, hung on an old armchair. A gentle smile flickered on the old woman's lips. She was in no hurry to answer, studying her grandson.
"I'm afraid, dear, that no one knows the answer to that question, alas."
The boy made a disappointed sound and puffed out his cheeks. This amused his grandmother. She ruffled his soft, dark hair.
"Well, it's time for bed, my little wolf cub," her voice was quiet and soothing.
The old woman extinguished the lamps and disappeared into the darkness. The sound of her footsteps could still be heard in the next room. Snow mixed with rain drummed against the windows and roof, making it hard for the boy to fall asleep. A foreboding of something evil tormented his heart.
Twenty-two years had passed since that day. Much had changed in that time. Humanity was no longer a network of small villages in the mountains, but entire large cities. Technology had advanced rapidly, leaving everything old behind. Nowadays, few children knew about the fire spirit, as adults didn't consider it important.
Every time he returned from the thermal station, You Huo saw boys and girls running out of school, frolicking in the freshly fallen snow. He remembered his childhood—a carefree time when his grandmother told him stories every evening about various deities and the world around them, letting him decide for himself what was right and what was wrong. She had died many years ago, but still lived on in his warm memories.
"Hey! What are you thinking about so hard?" a cheerful female voice sounded behind him.
"Thinking about how to get out of here as soon as possible."
The girl clicked her tongue but didn't lose her zeal to tease her friend.
"You still believe in that fairy tale about the spirit?"
You Huo turned around. Chu Yue looked at him with her sly green eyes. She looked like a fox; just a little more and she'd grow a tail.
"Well, you're in luck! Recently, there was an accident at the thermal station in the neighboring town. Maybe, while walking through the forest, you'll finally understand that it's all just a fantasy,"—the last words sounded particularly mocking.
From that heap of words, the young man picked out the most important ones: forest, accident, thermal station. With an absent expression, he trudged towards a secluded little house. Two large spruce trees grew around it; their branches shimmered with a rainbow-colored frost.
The lamp in the hallway shone too brightly for his eyes, accustomed to the dark. Inside the building, it smelled of resin. A strange feeling came over You Huo at that moment. He felt a desire to open the old door. To see some creature behind it—it didn't matter if it was a dog, a cat, or a person; he wanted to feel someone else's warmth. Dismissing these thoughts, the young man was about to prepare dinner when he suddenly noticed a small note on the table.
"Dear Nephew! I know you work hard, but I invite you to visit us this weekend. Honoring the fire spirit is one of our family's most important traditions, and this time I want you to come visit us."
With love, Old Yu
You Huo put the message aside. The clock struck about five in the evening. Steam hissed in the pipes, creating an unpleasant, mechanical sound. The thermal station breakdown was very ill-timed, as the young man hadn't seen his relatives for a year. This time, he had to attend the family celebration.
On the shelf lay old metal earrings. Right now, they seemed shinier than ever. The old silver shimmered, giving off green and blue reflections. The small amber stones shone with yellow rays. The ornaments were captivating, urging him to try them on.
"I hope Grandma won't be angry if I wear them to the celebration."
The metal kettle whistled in the kitchen, pulling the young man from his mischievous thoughts. The lace tablecloths, woven by the former mistress of the house, had retained their whiteness. The wooden floor creaked in places. A small black-and-white photograph hung on the wall, showing an old woman smiling, with knitting needles in her hands.
Snow fell outside the window, and cold air seeped into the room. Probably because of the bad weather, the radio crackled and refused to work.
The next morning was frosty. You Huo sneezed as he put on his fur coat. A heavy blizzard was forecast for today, and the young man hoped to return home from the city as soon as possible. Taking a small backpack, he set off.
The snowdrifts crunched under his feet, and the smell of freshness hit his nose. A snowy owl flew somewhere nearby, hooting. Every resident of this forest had its own unique place. People, no matter how hard they tried, couldn't coexist as harmoniously as nature did.
The wind played a sad melody on the branches of an ancient spruce. A gray wolf appeared in the distance. The predator was sick and hungry; it was chasing the last hare that hadn't hidden. Yu Ho turned his head. Behind him, the snow shimmered with all the colours of the rainbow, creating a marvelous picture.
The ravines, hidden from view, were particularly dangerous. Once, the young man had almost fallen into one but grabbed onto a root just in time. Cursing internally and brushing himself off, he continued on his way.
Clouds gathered over the thick forest. The wind grew stronger, creating a blizzard. The squirrels, sensing trouble, hid, guarding their supplies. You Huo didn't know where to take shelter and decided to keep going, cursing that damned thermal station.
His hands froze despite the woolen gloves. The young man wanted to warm them with his hot breath, but they only turned red and hurt even more. The frost on his eyelashes melted, dripping onto his cheeks. His vision blurred; everything seemed too bright. The young man fell, tripping over a branch and hitting his head. The next few seconds—a dull pain, and then nothing.
It was unknown how long he lay there, covered by the winter frost.
"A human?" — the voice sounded alarmed and completely unfamiliar. Something in it suggested an otherworldly origin.
Warmth emanated from the stranger, as if this someone was the source of it himself. Weightless touches to his skin warmed You Huo. His body trembled from the cold, and his imagination painted delirious pictures. His limbs still ached. Unconsciously, the young man strove to hold onto the only source of heat, grabbing the unknown man with his last strength. The man didn't recoil; on the contrary, he looked at You Huo with concern.
A fever tormented him for several days. All this time, he had a long and detailed dream: a vast snowy field, its end unseen; a sky the color of gray graphite without a hint of sunlight. Nothing around—not a single soul, only a black raven circling overhead.
The thought of the thermal station made him wake up. His crimson eyelids seemed glued shut. Somehow managing to open them, You Huo noticed that he wasn't in the forest, but in a room resembling an ancient temple. The walls were covered with various patterns and inscriptions in a mysterious language. Large fire lamps hung on the sides of the room, serving as the only source of light.
The young man thought that a monk had saved him—an elder living far from cities and technology. He tried to get up from the soft bed but couldn't. The fever still tormented his body. All he could do was submit and lie back down.
Quiet footsteps were heard in another room. Someone was pacing back and forth, extremely agitated. Finally, the stranger appeared before You Huo.
The young man's face brightened when he saw that his guest had opened his eyes. A slight smile froze on his lips. It seemed to the young man that when the master of the house appeared before him, everything around became brighter; even the fire in the lamps flared up with renewed vigor. Something about this man was attractive and made him trustworthy.
"It's been so long since I've seen people, that's why I'm so excited. Forgive me if I frightened you," he said; the ornaments on his ears jingled pleasantly.
This sound made You Huo glance towards their source. A pair of silver earrings with the same amber stones and patterns, identical to the ones he had at home, appeared before his surprised eyes. They were completely identical. But that simply couldn't be! The jewelry was a family heirloom, custom-made by a local jeweler in a single copy.
"You're examining me in such detail, what has caught your eye so much?" — the voice became sly, with notes of mischief.
"Sorry, it's just your earrings… They reminded me of something precious," You Huo's voice sounded hoarse from illness and long sleep.
The man chuckled and looked away. If one followed his gaze, one could notice a flicker of indecision in his dark eyes.
"I didn't want to say this so soon, but I have existed in this world for almost a thousand years. The people who saw me, who asked for my patronage and help, have long been dead. I haven't seen your family for three hundred years, since the first thermal station appeared. Humanity no longer needed me, and I decided to settle here. The earrings are the source of my power; once, people liked them so much that they asked craftsmen to make similar ones."
A shocking thought arose in the young man's head.
"The fire spirit?"
"That's right, but now I live as an ordinary hermit. My name is Qin Jiu."
You Huo was speechless. No! He was still asleep! This is a dream! Yes-yes, it's all the fever. It just can't be true. A chill ran down his spine. Chu Yue's words flashed through his head: "Now you'll understand that the fire spirit doesn't exist." Ha! Now that statement was only good for a laugh…
"I would be deeply grateful to hear your name."
"You Huo."
They started talking. The fire spirit seemed more like a contemporary of You Huo than a thousand-year-old deity; he laughed merrily at funny stories or added sharp remarks. However, his behavior matched his element—just as lively and unpredictable.
The young man felt his years of loneliness fading away. He felt happier and more fulfilled, as if he had found a long-lost friend. Gradually, You Huo began to forget about the city, the thermal station, the storm, and the ominous dream. Something in the fire spirit's temple made him let go of all his anxieties.
A few days passed. The pain in his limbs subsided, and now You Hou could get out of bed. Making a sharp movement with his leg, he almost fell if Qin Jiu hadn't caught him.
"I need to go."
"You're still too weak, and the forest is dangerous; the blizzard has only just calmed down. Do you want to die under the snow?" — his remarks sounded sharp but fair.
The young man could only agree and accept the care provided by the temple's master.
When night fell, it became cold. The stone walls didn't warm at all but created an icy cocoon. The burning lamps flickered under gusts of strong wind. The only source of warmth was the fire spirit. You Huo unconsciously reached for him, hugging him in his sleep. The spirit either didn't pay attention or didn't want to stop the guest's little mischief, even if it was unconscious.
But that night, the young man slept especially restlessly. He tossed and turned for a long time. The dream with the snowy field, the raven, and the gray sky didn't want to let him go. Qin Jiu noticed this restlessness. His dark eyes slid over You Huo's face, trying to understand what was happening. The fire spirit hadn't seen people for too long and couldn't decipher all the subtleties of their psychology.
The heavy breath tickled his neck. The man ran his hand through the dark hair. The black locks were soft, like the feathers of a snowy owl. He liked this sensation. It seemed You Hou had calmed down a bit; his facial features relaxed. A barely noticeable mole under his right eye attracted Qin Jiu's attention. The sight of the sleeping man seemed cute to him.
The night passed quietly. The wind ceased; only the snow fell and the birds cried. The moon shone high in the sky, and the wolves howled with longing.
"Are you leaving?" — Qin Jiu's voice sounded usual, but if one listened closely, one could hear notes of sadness.
"Yes, people in the neighboring city have been without heat for several days; if this continues, they will die. Thank you for everything."
The fire spirit approached him. You Huo felt unfamiliar fingers touch his ear; the cold metal made the young man wince. His earlobe felt heavier. It was an earring.
"Come back to me. My power will keep you from freezing in this forest. Don't forget me, hear me?"
The young man nodded. His heart grew heavy. Truthfully, he didn't want to return to his former life. Work, loneliness, nightmares, endless memories—all of that had filled him until he met the mischievous Qin Jiu. He had changed something in him, made him rejoice in simple things and notice happiness in life.
The temple doors swung open. Frosty air hit You Hou's face.
"I will return."
He uttered these two words and disappeared into the forest paths.
A month had already passed, and nothing had been heard from You Huo. The fire spirit thought he had safely reached the city and was now safe. But something troubled him. He had weakened. The second source of power he had given You Hou had suddenly emptied. His flame could no longer hold back the winter cold, and he began to freeze. Anxiety and a sense of guilt pushed him on his way.
He intended to find You Huo, to find out what had happened to him and the earring. The journey was not short. Wild beasts weren't particularly dangerous, but storms could cause significant harm.
One ill-fated night, Qin Jiu was unlucky enough to run into bandits. Four men stared at him viciously, unwilling to let him go. In their hands were blades that gleamed dangerously in the moonlight.
The leader of this gang stepped forward, demonstrating his ill intentions. He grinned predatorily, seeing the earring hanging from the fire spirit's ear.
"Who do we have here? This month, we've been very lucky with idiots in this forest. One of them resisted for a long time, didn't want to give up his jewelry. And he was so young… He could still be alive if it weren't for his nasty temper."
Qin Jiu immediately understood who he was talking about. A feeling of incredible sadness and anger tormented him from within. He himself didn't understand how, in a second, he had incinerated the four men, expending all his strength. The fire spirit stood on the scorched earth, not knowing what to do next. The cold gradually captured him, forcing him to submit.
They say that if you go deep into the forest, you can see a figure covered in snow, in deep sorrow. If you come closer, you can hear the figure crying. Its cry, like the blizzard, swirls above the heads of travelers, reminding them to return home sooner.