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Her beloved was dying in her arms. Blood trickled down from the open wound, her hands trying to stop the bleeding in panic.
Kyoshi's heart was barely beating. Maybe this journey was a foolish idea, and Rangi's tears tells much of her regret.
They were just collectors, travelers, wanderers... finding curious baubles and artifacts from all over the world.
Kyoshi inherited the trade from her late adoptive father, Kelsang. She was paired with Rangi, a knowledgeable hunter and tracker, during a long expedition once. The pair was tasked to find a smuggled relic that can point out the whereabouts of long-lost lion turtles. Soon, Kyoshi found the hunter's quick wit and bravery to be charming, and Rangi admires the other's meticulousness and an eye for detail. They both had their shortcomings of course, with Rangi being rather uptight, square, filling Kyoshi's ears with her incessant nagging.. and Kyoshi forgetting to care for herself, dozing off buried under tomes and scrolls, her nonchalance towards her own gave Rangi a great headache. Yet they will always relent, forgive and be forgiven, and enjoy each other's company as they shared a meal by the campfire. Once, a close encounter with a dangerous poacher almost costed Rangi her life, and Kyoshi bared her heart out towards the hunter whilst tending on her wound. It was just... a busted lip, maybe a little bruise around the temple, but the taller girl was teary.
She cared; Rangi's presence have made itself known within her heart.
Dark bronze looking into the sage green of the other's eyes, and soon they shared a kiss, and love one another.
An old man dressed in a very well tailored suit came to them with a request. He called himself Jianzhu, "Kelsang was my old friend" he said as he sat himself in front of Kyoshi. Rangi disliked the air he gave them, but maybe that's how any bourgeois individual would act. He cut to the chase pretty quick, offered them a wealthy sum of money to start, then he handed out a very worned out and tattered envelope. It was written by Kelsang before his passing. It was not clear to whom he addressed the letter to, but Kyoshi assumed that the letter being in Jianzhu's possession meant that it had been addressed to the same man sitting in front of her. Kyoshi set aside her suspicion and opened the letter.
Both of the women in the room widened their eyes as they saw the content written inside it.
To -----
As we advanced with our civilization, thus have greed consumed us and muddled our vision.
We have forgotten to nurture our ancestral connections that make us who we are. Because within that lost connection lies the secret to life itself.
To understand what we've forgotten, then you may receive the prima materia, a pure matter that bestows you longevity, the philosopher's stone itself. Can you imagine what it could do for humanity?
This is my greatest journey yet, and I can't wait to share my future discovery with you.
A philosopher's stone. Magnum Opus of any alchemist, the substance preceding all of the elements that could produce elixir of life itself.
Impossible.
Kyoshi furrowed her brows, it's because of how Kelsang wrote the whole thing in almost puzzling manner. Kelsang wrote nothing of its location, and remembering his old age, maybe this was one wild attempt before closing the chapters of his life. It probably took a toll on him, because he passed away as soon as he arrived home from his last journey. Kyoshi wanted to refuse the request, but then Jianzhu gripped her wrist hard. "It was my fault, I asked him to search wide and far for any means to cure my son. Please, I need to save him. Not even the best healer could treat his illness." he didn't let go, "I will try and find anything in this world to save him."
"Kelsang would have wanted you to continue his legacy."
That struck a chord on Kyoshi's heartstrings. She knew more than anyone about loss, as she herself have been left, and lost whom she loved. Indeed, Kelsang himself would've wanted her to do anything for the benefit of others.
Kyoshi agreed, and a deal was struck. Rangi watched in silence.
Rangi insisted on joining her. She knew very well that Kyoshi could handle herself, this was not her first rodeo. But, Rangi also have gotten to know Kyoshi just as well to know how reckless she could be; not only missing meals, the taller girl didn't hesitate even once to jump inside a smuggler's hideout to save a young boy. Kyoshi didn't have a connection with the boy of course, and he was not in any immediate danger, the boy was about to be trained to swindle and smuggle goods. While Kyoshi was busy picking off the glass pieces stuck inside the gash on her throat- someone had caught her with a garrote laden with ground glass, she smiled forlornly.
"Maybe.. Maybe I saw myself in him. I don't know."
Rangi didn't pry, she would want to hear it from Kyoshi herself one day, and that is if she's ready.
But it didn't stop Rangi from smacking Kyoshi by the collarbone and kissed her with her teary eyes.
Well, Kyoshi wouldn't mind an extra helping from a partner- her beloved, in this mission. Now, to find the impossible, they must start by doing the impossible. They need to find the Alexandria, which is Wan Shi Tong's library. A library not entirely physical, described as being half submerged in the spirit world and half on the world of the living. There's no better candidate to ask than an occultist professor dabbling in spirits and mysticism, Kelsang's acquiantance, someone named Nyahitha. Subject of the occult was not very popular at the North Chung-Ling university. The town where it was located mostly supports farmer and other types of environmental science, but Rangi surmised that the occultism might have gotten to do with how a century or so ago the farms were cursed by an evil spirit.
That's if, the evil spirit was at the form of Saowon clan ruining the environment.
Nyahitha didn't look very trusty, but the man was serious about his work and knowledge. "Legend says that the Wan Shi Tong library might surface into the physical world during the witching hour, when the veil between both worlds are at its thinnest. Venture under the full moon into a vast desert, and mayhaps Wan Shi Tong might welcome you into his library." he then scoured through all the worn out tomes, and occult knickknacks, and produces a very dated painting. The building depicted on the painting looks as lavish as a castle, something that an architect in Ba Sing Se would have crafted for someone of highest nobility. The text on the bottom right corner of the parchment spelled out Wan Shi Tong's Library.
"That looks like... Si Wong desert?" Rangi chimed in. Well, there's no other desert more vast and more well known than that one. "Then we know where to go next. Full moon is within a few days." Kyoshi thanked Nyahitha and was ready to leave before the man stopped him.
"Don't let whatever you seek fall into the wrong hands."
He then looked away, and Kyoshi's hands were let go.
The people in Si Wong desert knows well of the library. Their ancestors deemed the fox creatures, called 'Knowledge Seekers', to be sacred. Stories has been passed down from generations during a campfire, that these foxes arrives like the quiet of the night, their eyes glow like sapphire stone. All they seek, like their name, was just knowledge to be brought back to the library. Follow one, and by offering a knowledge yet not have place in Wan Shi Tong's shelves, may you enter his abode. Kyoshi and Rangi were not the only one, countless scholars and curious minds alike have tried to find the library but to no avail. But the people of Si Wong desert itself possess a vast wealth of knowledge and histories, they would appreciate anyone asking them of their lifestyle and the such, library seeker or not. They welcome any scholars to correct the histories written by others about them.
Kyoshi herself was not one, but she promised the elderly who loaned them ostrich-horses that she would retrieve their sacred artifacts. What belongs to them shouldn't be taken without their consent.
And thus the two women ventured out after the sun sets, away from the settlements and deep into the endless expanse of twinkling sand. The moon was almost as bright as the sun, but without the blinding light. Their ostrich-horses moved side by side with the same pace, and had it not been for the task lay ahead, this simple moment could be romantic for the two lovers.
"Well.. are you thinking that instead of two, we could have had one ostrich-horse instead?" Kyoshi chimed with a hint of jest on her eyes. She knows what Rangi was thinking by her pout.
Curse the moonlight cause of how it revealed how the tip of her ears turning deep red.
Kyoshi brought her ride closer to Rangi's and pecked her by the cheek, chuckling at how the shorter one open and closed her mouth like a fish. "Keep your eyes on the road!" she nagged and tried to regain her composure, Kyoshi laughed at how that well tied top-knot of Rangi's head looks messier as she gets more flustered.
As the laughter died down, they conversed with each other to spend the time. Just like how they would usually spend the night with each other, a pillow talk, except they were both wide awake and on the road. Rangi expressed her discomfort of their meeting with Jianzhu, that this venture was insanity. She did not dismiss the fact that Jianzhu wanted to save his son, but his riches should've not been given into a wild goose chase. "Then his son must've been more precious than any coins he possessed." Kyoshi smiled sadly, there's heaviness on her shoulder.
Before Rangi could speak, she noticed a footprint on the sand just before it was erased away by the wind.
It was a fox print.
She halted her ostrich-horse and hopped down from it, analyzing the tracks a little better. The prints were fresh, the indentation not fully removed by the sand just yet. As she looked further, there were more tracks leading towards the north star.
The witching hour was upon them, and they agreed to rush before all the tracks got erased by wind. Galloping hooves rushed through the sand, and in the distance under the north star, an ethereal building resembling the one in the painting came to be. Like a fatamorgana, the building looked like it's fading away but tangible enough to be touched. Kyoshi and Rangi hopped off from their ostrich-horses, leaving them by the entrance of the half-buried library. They rushed in before the entrance got swallowed by the sand, the witching hour almost over.
It was like they were enchanted into a fairy tale book, that this was a dream. But they were standing on their two feet, feeling the ground beneath them.
They have found the Wan Shi Tong's library of legend.
Marble columns graced their sight, the library was like a jade-colored temple, holding up shelves of books and knowledge as far as their vision go. A bridge connecting the sections of the library came to view, golden furs and blue eyes overlooking the two visitors. A being almost as tall as the columns presented himself in front of them, with appearance akin to that of a barn owl, feathers as black as the night.
"Welcome, kindred spirit. I have awaited your presence, Kyoshi."
"I am Wan Shi Tong, he who knows ten thousand things." his voice reverberates throughout the halls and shelves of books. "How did you know of me? I haven't introduced myself yet." Kyoshi replied in bewilderment, Rangi shared the same expression on her face. A great spirit stood before them, unbeliever turned into a believer. Wan Shi Tong laughed, "Of course I know of you, daughter of Kelsang... My old friend Kelsang." He gave a slight pause before stating her attachments, Kyoshi was more surprised by the fact that Wan Shi Tong knew of Kelsang, and was his friend. "And Rangi Sei'Naka, of Sei'Naka clan. Your ancestry is recorded to be full of scholars and practitioner of many arts, teachers and educator. You too, are welcome here." Wan Shi Tong gave a bow, acknowledging the two before him. Looking at the puzzled look on Kyoshi's face, "The ever so free spirited Kelsang, hungry to know of history, to know of the world's secrets. And so he found me, the being who knows such, and we became fast friends."
Kelsang was here, her beloved adoptive father. He stood at the same hall, looking over the same shelves of tomes, conversing with the same guardian of the library.
It gave her comfort that even in his passing, he left his presence on the path she traversed. Like a gentle breeze.
"Now, to peruse my collections, you must in turn give something to be immortalized here. A knowledge given will be rewarded with knowledge in turn." he extended his left wing forward towards them, waiting for their offer. Kyoshi pondered for a bit, then reached out inside of her brown satchel. She fished out a leather diary bound with orange strings, and carefully handed it towards Wan Shi Tong. "Kelsang would love you to have it. His diary, his records of adventures. This will honor his and my friendship with you." she tapped on the diary like saying goodbye, before letting it go gently. Wan Shi Tong nodded, "I shall honor his memory." and he took it under his wing, like tucking in a precious gemstone.
Rangi came forward next, unsheathing a ceremonial dagger from its carved wooden sheath, revealing the engravings of her clan's name etched on the forged steel. The hilt was ivory, a ruby gemstone adorning the middle of it, jet-black tassels like Rangi's hair tied by the end of the golden pommel. "A ritual dagger, to remind us of our honor. We cut our top-knot with this, atoning for our mistakes." she stared at her own reflection on the polished steel before she sheathed it again, handing over the blade with two hands on Wan Shi Tong's extended wing. "A dagger could always be forged anew, but a tarnished name would take even more time to clean." she said, smiling towards a worried Kyoshi. "You have a warrior's honor, and may it never be tarnished." again, Wan Shi Tong took the dagger under his wing with grace. And they were both acknowledged by him.
"Please, you may now peruse my collections dear guests." he stepped away from the bridge, letting them go further. "However, should you try to gain knowledge to gain an upper hand towards your adversaries, I shall not allow you to continue." the two women nodded in understanding. "May you find what you need Kyoshi... and now, I shall attend to the ruckus- back to your work Knowledge Seekers!" and as swift as he came, he disappeared just as swift. There were yelps of foxes and sounds of books clattering, but they paid more attention to the task at hand. Shelves taller than tea houses in Huijiang held rows and rows of books, the binding was done with various materials. They realized after looking through hundreds of them that, they probably should've asked Wan Shi Tong before perusing the collections. But as if their mind was read, a fox was waiting by another bridge connecting to a different section, wanting them to follow by chittering loudly towards Kyoshi.
Right as both women approached it, the fox was on all fours immediately, tail swishing as it moves towards a stair that lead downwards. Going down the stairs, there were rolls of parchments stuffed inside the wall indentations horizontally, laid out beautifully by the color of it's binding band. Kyoshi could tell that they're definitely ancient, but it was kept very well that the paper didn't seem brittle. The fox lead them into a hallway to the right of the stairs, deeper into what seems like where they store objects other than books and scrolls. Paintings, sculptures, tapestries, even weapons and toys; Rangi caught the sight of a golden hairpin, the dull end carved to resemble a dragon's head. It belonged to a matriarch of Sei'Naka clan, dated by centuries long before Rangi's time. While Rangi was admiring the items, Kyoshi stopped in her tracks. A display caught her attention, and she turned towards it. The fox chittered and barked at her to follow suit, but her gaze was fixated on the weapons hung on the wooden rack. It was hard for Rangi to determine her expression from the light, so she moved closer to the taller woman.
"Hey, Kyoshi.." she interlaced her fair fingers in between Kyoshi's tanned ones, "Do you want to tell me what's on your mind?" the other woman seemed to have returned to her senses, turning her head towards Rangi. "These sets of metal fans just.. reminded me of something." and indeed, it's almost similar to what Kyoshi have displayed in her room, except these fans are bronze in color and hers are golden.
Metal fans belonged to a smuggling troupe called 'The Flying Opera Company'.
A smuggling troupe. "They were smugglers, and they were also performers." Kyoshi suddenly speaks, "My birth mother and father... they were part of this company. They managed to escape the law until one day, they were raided by authorities." she took a deep breath. "I was left alone in that warehouse where they have left me. All I had left, was the trunk they hid with me containing those golden fans and headdress." Rangi hugged Kyoshi by the side, leaning on her shoulder. "I was about to be sent to an orphanage, but Kelsang, he took me in." the man was trying to retrieve a precious 2000 years old clay turtle they have stolen, and in the process found a crying Kyoshi. He took her in, and her baggage, and called her his own daughter.
Rangi let Kyoshi cry, and promised to be there for her no matter what.
The fox yelped and tugged on the laces of Rangi's boots, and called them back to where they supposed to be. Kyoshi wiped her last tear and walked hand-in-hand with Rangi, not looking back at the metal fan, feeling slightly lighter.
Both of them were led deeper into the viewing room. The Knowledge Seeker then stopped at in front of an elaborate tapestry, the material was a blend of silk, gold and silver. In the four corners of the tapestry itself, gemstones like ruby, garnet, sapphire and emerald. Fire, air, water and earth. Encompassing all the element, a depiction of a green and giant banyan tree was woven in the middle of it.
"Centuries ago, humans were more connected to spirits and the elements. The people were able to control the elements bestowed to them, fire, air, water, earth... we lived in harmony, spirits and mortals alike." Wan Shi Tong appeared so suddenly behind them, "But we waged war against each other, abusing the great elements for our own benefit. Fire burns everything in its path, vortex of air sucks everything in its path, water erodes its way to freedom, and earth buries everything working against them. And so, the spirit left the mortal world, leaving this tree." with the tip of his wing, he pointed towards the gemstones, then the tree.
"This great tree represents immortality, divine connection, and wisdom. A wish left by the spirits to the mortal world. Thus, if you seek life, you must understand that you are not above the elements. Qui totum vult totum perdit. He who wants everything loses everything." the librarian read what's written under the tapestry, part clue, part riddle. "Kyoshi, your humility and honesty allowed me to invite you here. This was not happenstance, had greed consumed you, I would never have opened the door of my library." Wan Shi Tong turned to Kyoshi, gave her a nod, and he swooped both of the women under his wings.
"Kelsang would be proud of you."
Darkness then enveloped them before they were greeted by the sight of the desert again. The sun kissed their skin, and the ostrich-horses waited just right behind them. They were given what they needed by Wan Shi Tong.
By what the great librarian hinted, their next destination determined.
At the southwestern of Ba Sing Se, there lives a small settlement by the forested wetlands. The freshwater river flowing through this wetlands ended up by the sea that's accessible from all nation. A hub of commerce was within the center of the river, merchants and curious travelers alike came from all over the world; the ferryman ushered Kyoshi and Rangi through the floating market where traders from different nations gathers. It would have been nice to stop and sightsee the market, but the banyan tree calls. The locals called it The Bodhi Tree, derived from the story that a religious figure achieved his enlightenment there. Like a great umbrella, the tree was visible at the center of the settlement itself. A Candi- a split gateway entrance was built on top of one of the tree's thickest root, a flight of stairs ornately and meticulously carved from the root settled itself in between the gate.
The ferryman docked his boat by the bridge situated beside the gate, and Rangi paid him for his services before climbing away from the boat. Kyoshi's long legs makes it harder to stand up from the ferry without wobbling, so Rangi offered her hand to help her climb up the bridge. She stumbled a little, but Rangi was there to catch her.
Ah, their face was a bit too close. Kyoshi's freckles looked like they were on fire despite her tanned skin.
Both women straighten themselves up, no public display of affection today. They were on the job.
"Shall we?" Kyoshi cleared her throat, "Lead the way, milady." well, they can still be whimsical, because Rangi bowed and pretentiously extended her hand towards the stairs like a gentle prince. Kyoshi 'curtsied' and snorted loudly. She loved these sorts of small moments with Rangi. And so, they walked side by side at the same pace, going up the flight of stairs that wrapped itself like a coiling snake- from the root and spiraling up the giant trunk. True to its reputation of spiritual value, there were a lot of small temple like structures built to the left and right of the stairs. Like grafting into a living tree, these temples were carved or attached from wood, possibly from another part of the banyan tree that's fallen off. Roots and vines have taken growth, locking them in place, the tree reclaiming its lost body part.
Kelsang was a rather spiritual man... could he have ventured here too? Kyoshi traced grooves of the wooden pillar swallowed by the vines, wondering.
"Hey, look, over there." Rangi tapped on Kyoshi's shoulder, and her forefinger pointed towards a big gaping hole at the end of the stairs. Was it there before? It was too big to ignore. Looking from where they stood, it looked like a portal to another world instead of a man-made structure. They went quickly through the rest of the climb, the sun setting behind them.
It was very strange, as inside the gap, the flooring was made of stone. They were carved meticulously, like a meditation ground of eld. Did they went inside the body of the tree? And one could wonder because the doming walls itself were not wooden; the stone had reliefs depicting figures dancing with the elements. Kyoshi and Rangi stood back to back, mesmerized by the intricacies despite their earlier confusion.
"This was not happenstance."
Kyoshi recalled what Wan Shi Tong said.
"We may have been invited by the spirit again." Kyoshi said to Rangi, racking her minds to a solution for this puzzle. If where they stood is a meditation platform, then a ritual must be performed. She looked carefully at the carved walls, that the figures were showing their actions in sequences for each element. Like the cycle of the elements, fire strikes in passionate movements, air with quicksteps and swiftness, water started gentle then delivered its intensity, earth stomps with its strength. "Rangi, dance with me." she nudged the small of Rangi's back, and what she said could warrant a question, but Rangi understood immediately. And so, with their back against each other, they followed the first wide stances and kicks of fire, spiraling movements of air, then guide the water with the extensions of their hands in a flowing movement, then ending up with their core closer to the ground like earth.
A moment passed, and there was silence other than the gasping breath of the two women. Kyoshi fumbled on her stances while Rangi performed it like she was meant for this.
Could it have been the cause?
Before Kyoshi could wonder further, the lines on the meditation ground glowed with such intensity, the light spiraling through the carved lines- moving from the outer lines towards the inner line.
A portal was opened.
As if on instinct, Kyoshi pulled Rangi inside her embrace for safety. They were then spirited away.
Quod est superius est sicut quod inferius, et quod inferius est sicut quod est superius.
That which is above is from that which is below, and that which is below is from that which is above.
Like how the sky reflected itself on water, they have entered the reflection of the world.
Indeed, the spirit world looks almost similar to how the physical world is, but they're mirrored and rather simplified. The spirit does not follow the manner of how the physical world functions. "Kyoshi... I... can't breathe..." Rangi wriggled herself inside Kyoshi's tight embrace, and the taller one let go immediately. "Oh, sorry... I thought, we were gonna.... nevermind." she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, looking away to hide her embarrassment. "Are we still.... in the banyan tree?" Rangi held Kyoshi by the wrist, nudging her to look around. They were surrounded by glowing vines, and ethereal creatures unfamiliar to them.
Wherever they are, it resembled the room where they last stood, except there's an entrance leading deeper into depths unknown.
"There's only one way to know, and that is forward." Kyoshi then lifted her hand slightly, and laced her fingers to Rangi's before leading the both of them into the entrance. The creatures never once bothered them, only looking, blinking, letting them go. When Rangi tried to look closer into one, it faded into thin air, like it was never there. Kyoshi paid no mind to them, but she did found some of them to be adorable.
The path they walked on got were made of stone, but spirit vines have grown through the cracks, budding with strange flowers and leaves. Both women stepped carefully so they won't trip, it helped that they were holding onto each other. Kyoshi noticed as to how the path widened, and as the stone pavement seems to dwindle, there were vines reaching out to the light instead. Kyoshi squints a little from the sudden flood of light, they have reached a chamber where light gave itself in from above. Rangi craned her neck up, the ceiling was pouring light that looked like glittering sky with aurora borealis. A pool of water surrounded a monolith, the vines that dipped inside the water reached itself upward, embracing the monolith.
"Is that...." before she finishes her thoughts, Kyoshi trudges inside the shallow pool towards the monolith. In the middle of the monolith, there's an indentation which a golden medallion nestled itself in. Just like the gemstones of the tapestries they saw within the library, the medallion was decorated with it. Yet, Kyoshi didn't care about the medallion. On top of the monolith that's about shoulder length of Kyoshi's height, lies a feather that resembles the glowing ember of fire. The tips glowed red as if burning away, but the feather never once turned into ashes.
Gently with her hands, she lifted the feather to inspect it closer.
"LET GO!"
Rangi's scream jolted Kyoshi's attention away from the feather. Someone from the shadows have held Rangi hostage, barrel of a revolver pressed itself against Rangi's temple.
"I thought I lost the track of both of you at Si Wong desert, yet my patience was paid off... I was tired of torturing foxes." a familiar voice spoke through the darkness, his left forearm locking on Rangi's neck. "Struggle, or I'll deliver your head to your mother just like the prey you hunted!" he knocked handle of the revolver on Rangi's left cheekbone, she complied as much as she could but not without seething.
"Show yourself!" Kyoshi stuffed the feather inside her jacket, her back now against the monolith. Rangi writhe inside the grip of the perpetrator, the shadow stepped closer into the light, bringing the raven-haired girl with it.
Jianzhu.
How did they not notice him stalking them from the shadows?
He cocked the hammer of the revolver, "Why, greetings Kyoshi. You have proven yourself much more useful than that old coot Kelsang. It was worth it to intercept his letter to Nyahitha." Jianzhu tightened his grip on Rangi's neck with his forearm, choking her. "Let her go Jianzhu, I will give you what you want." she stepped closer to both of them, showing her empty hands as she lifted them up in surrender. Kyoshi was biting the inside of her cheek to control her emotion, her eyes darting back and fro from the barrel of the gun and Rangi. Jianzhu seems to have loosened his grip as a bit of color returned to Rangi's cheeks. "The philosopher's stone, give it to me." he pointed with his chin, Kyoshi's eyes then moved towards the medallion.
"Why are you doing this?" Kyoshi never left her eyes on them, "There was no need for our lives, Her life, to be forsaken for this! Let her go, and I'll hand this to you!" she pried the medallion from the monolith, offering it towards Jianzhu. He scoffed and threw Rangi to the side, her head hit the ground with a strong force. Jianzhu rushed towards Kyoshi, snatching the medallion away from her hand. As he stood there admiring his loot, Kyoshi reached out to Rangi and helped her up. "After years... I could finally lay my hands on this sacred treasure. A powerful alkahest that could bring the world to its knees, and had Kelsang understood my vision, we could have governed the world together."
"No collections in the world could have such power, and money doesn't interest me. Kelsang was too charitable, giving away his findings while he could have used it as leverage. And.... he loves you too much, eventhough you're not his blood. Both of you, gullible. I never had a son to begin with!" he laughed, and after drinking the glimmer of the gold under the light, Jianzhu pocketed the medallion. Rangi was holding her head, shaking away the dizziness, blood trickled down from her temple. Kyoshi held her by the shoulder, and turning her heels to leave with Rangi. But Jianzhu was not finished. "He was an obstacle, your father. He ruined a lot of my smuggling business, and a man have to make a living, no? And so I poisoned him."
"You are my last obstacle, Kyoshi. Then nobody can object against the power I possessed."
Jianzhu aimed the gun towards Kyoshi, and Rangi had recovered enough from her pain that she reached out to grab a hunting knife from her hip pouch.
"KYOSHI! DUCK!" she shouted as she threw the knife towards Jianzhu's armed hand, but Kyoshi noticed how he changed his aim towards Rangi for a split second before his revolver got knocked away.
Instead of ducking, Kyoshi shielded her beloved.
The tip of Rangi's blade managed to graze Jianzhu's palm as it knocked away his revolver.
Jianzhu hissed and muttered curses under his breath, but he quickly righted himself. His work's finished, he got what he wanted.
Rangi watched in horror as the blood slowly spreads itself from Kyoshi's chest into her blouse, Jianzhu's bullet had struck deep inside her ribcage. The pain was so incredible that it was hard for her brain to register, but her body knows, and thus why her knees buckled down to the ground. Rangi caught her in her arms, Kyoshi's forehead landed on Rangi's own, her gasps and fading light from her eyes apparent. Yet, she was smiling... she was smiling through the red leaving her lips. "Oh, you're safe.. that's good." her eyelids fluttered, Kyoshi's struggling to keep it open. "S..stay awake Kyoshi, we'll get you out of here. Don't sleep on me." her senses were overwhelmed with the scene unfolding before her, and she was trying to held back her tears and sound alright for Kyoshi. Her smaller hand tried to soothe the pain away. To no avail.
"You can rot here, both of you!" the man cursed as he ran away from the chamber, gone with his prize.
Rangi was shell-shocked, her ears ignoring the fading footsteps. She could've gotten up and bashed Jianzhu's skull deep into the earth, killing him in revenge with all the fire she had left in her.
But she stayed there, nursing the last flicker of this flame, snuffed out too early before its time. Rangi laid Kyoshi's head on her shoulder, she tried to cry as quietly as possible, but her heaving chest and rather choked breathing betrayed her.
And thus, we are back to where the story begin.
Qui totum vult totum perdit.
He who wants everything loses everything.
There was silence. Rangi could only hear her own sniffing, she pressed her forehead on Kyoshi's chest, apologizing profusely.
Gentle footsteps approaches, followed by jingles of bells.
Judging by the sound, someone is getting close to them. Rangi went into alert, she's ready to protect whatever remains of Kyoshi as she tightened her grip on the limp body. Steeling her gaze, she looked up to see who, or what that moved towards them. Her dark-bronze eyes widened in surprise.
A figure that appears to present itself in either gender came to view. It had the features of a deer by the eyes, antlers and ears, but the rest human. A wooden staff was held in its right hand, a bell tied next to the tip of the curved end. This creature then crouched itself in front of them, there was an air of gentleness around them. "What are you?" Rangi snapped out of her trance, back on guard. The tip of their ear wiggled, then they turned their head towards Rangi. Their face then shows a great sorrow.
"I am neither life, or death. I am but a mediator, a spirit known as Shika."
Their voice echoed, but only within Rangi's ears.
"We once wished, that humans would understand the sanctity of life. That they would forgo their need to let themselves rule above others, forcing death to take away those not ready to meet them." so they spoke, in a manner befitting that of a spirit. And as if to calm Rangi's doubts, they then materialized the same medallion that Jianzhu took away. "Greed had no place in my abode. He shall find himself at home at the valley of the lost, where he could take no more, spending his life wandering in eternity." the same way it materializes, the same way the medallion rests itself back into the indentation of the monolith.
They then touched on Kyoshi's unbeating heart, taking away the feather she hid close to her bosom.
"The philosopher's stone was never an object to begin with, it was just a measure of your soul." the feather then burn away, flickering like firefly in the spirit's hands. "But, there are yet kindness left in some.. like the fallen left in your embrace."
Rangi didn't fully understand what they meant, their presence itself a riddle. Could this have been prevented in the first place? That Kyoshi could have lived if they have appeared earlier? Their doe eyes then gazed itself deep into Rangi's, understanding their plight. "Is it all for nothing...?" she muttered, looking at Kyoshi's seemingly asleep face, except without waking. There was a light squeeze on her shoulder, the spirit comforting her. "The life of a banyan tree is but a long one.. but a tree could only do much with its roots grounding it in place."
"With life's permission, I can grant this child the life of that a banyan tree. A vessel, an Avatar, looking over humanity in behalf of the spirits." the spirit then lay down their staff on the ground, lifting Kyoshi's body with their two hands like she weights nothing. Like a feather. "But, nothing ever comes without consequences. Life cannot exist without death, and death will always accompany life." Rangi was reaching out to hold Kyoshi's hand, unwilling to let go just yet.
"I can't imagine a world without her." she balled her hands into a fist, "What do I have to trade to give her life?" the spirit was measuring Rangi's soul. There's a spark in that dark-bronze eyes, they glimmered with determination.
The spirit smiled, "Half of your soul already resides within her, and in every universe I've seen, you never gave less. And so, you shall be her anchor, a reminder, that she was once human." they laid Kyoshi's body on the shallow pool, her torso resting on the mound where the monolith resides. "You will die, but you'll be reborn. And you'll find each other again, and again... and after nine lifetimes, you'll be together again." the spirit took their staff, holding it vertically with their two hands. They then let the end of the staff hit the ground, the bell jingles on the impact.
She will be your death, but you are her life.
Death is a friend, and life is a great teacher.
A light then swallows them.
Kyoshi was sitting on a log bench, overlooking the field where kids flew their kites. Kelsang sat beside her, hugging her by the shoulder. Even through his thick and braided beard, she could sense his gentle, fatherly smile. "It felt like it was just yesterday. You asked me if we could fly some kites during our travel." they were looking at the various colors and shapes adorning the sky, laughters carried by the wind blowing gently on them. "You were kind enough to have raised me." she might have gotten taller than Kelsang by now, but she laid her head on his broad shoulder still, feeling like a little kid again. His big and calloused hand caresses on Kyoshi's brown locks, "I wish I could have spent more time with you, Kyoshi." crow's feet graced the sides of his smiling eyes. He kissed her on the forehead, like how he always does as he tucked her in for the night. It is time to part again.
"I am proud of you, my daughter."
She opened her eyes after a sleep and a dream that felt like eternity. Adjusting her vision, she let light pour into her eyes slowly, blinking to remove the hazy sight. Her limbs felt like lead, especially her left side, and Kyoshi could hear faint breathing by her shoulder too. She turned her head slowly to the side. Rangi was sleeping soundly, her head rested itself on Kyoshi's left shoulder, hands sprawled over Kyoshi's bandaged torso.
Bandaged?
Rubbing her eyes with her free hand, she propped herself up slightly to not disturb Rangi with her sleep. They were inside her room, the curtain blocked a bit of the morning light. Kyoshi had a hard time trying to recall anything, like how she got back here or how she got the injury. "Kyoshi?" she slightly forgot that Rangi was a lightsleeper, so the said woman stirred awake immediately. Before Kyoshi could open her mouth to react for anything, Rangi have thrown herself on her to give the former a tight embrace. As if on reflex, she gave a hug back, albeit a little weaker. There were fitful sniffles from her bosom, so Kyoshi sooths Rangi's cries by drawing circles on the small of her back.
"I... am sorry?" she felt like the need to apologize, but that didn't seem to work because Rangi's fist hit her by the chest- not too hardly. It was then followed by a searing kiss filled with longing, melting Kyoshi into the bedrest.
A flood of memory suddenly washed over her.
They were on a mission, and Jianzhu have tricked them. She had died to protect Rangi. But what happened after, she couldn't recall.
Rangi let Kyoshi breathe after their shared one, and she rested her forehead on the latter's. She have missed Rangi's warmth immensely. What she have in front of her gave her happiness, but the questions hammering her brain came to the forefront, pushing the sweet reunion aside. By the furrow of her brows, Rangi understood. She sat herself in front of Kyoshi, holding the latter's hand.
Kyoshi then noticed how at the back of her hands, there were faint branch-like tattoos.
"Listen, Kyoshi..."
Buttoning up her white shirt, she couldn't help but to stare at the scar on her chest. She's still not used to it, but maybe there comes a time she could just ignore it.
Like a carved mark on tree trunks, it may fade over time, but memory does not.
When the truth was first revealed on her, there was joy, and there was sorrow. The spirit have bestowed upon her longevity of the banyan tree, overlooking the life of others, as she never once aged beyond thirty summers. Kyoshi is now the bridge between the spirits and humanity, and as such, the spirit wished for her to remind humanity that kindness exists; a helping hand will be returned in kind. Maybe one day, the spirits could live side by side with human again, if the people understood their own history, imperfections and misgivings- when they learn that there's beauty in harmony. And as for Rangi....
There was a knock on the dressing room's door, stopping her train of thoughts.
Kyoshi noticed the topknot first. Gray streaks of hair mixed with black, a golden hairpin locking it in place. Rangi smiled at her, a wrinkle forming at the corners of her mouth. "You sure look dashing." she remarked, entering the dressing room with her red dress. "Says you." Kyoshi chuckled, brushing Rangi's greying locks with her fingers as the woman approaches. She may have gotten older, but like a fine wine, Rangi never lost her beauty. Her dark-bronze eyes glanced slightly to the mirror, trailing where Kyoshi fixated her gaze on. There was a hint of melancholy on her expression, but she shrugged it off as she turned Kyoshi to face her. Rangi then helped Kyoshi to button up the rest of what remained, smoothing out the crease of the shirt tucked inside the black dress pants.
"Now, let's not be tardy. An educator must show a good example." Rangi smiled and gave a peck on Kyoshi's lips, then she left the dressing room. They have been together for 30 years, and it still pains Kyoshi to see her beloved taken by age and she herself looks the same as ever.
Death is a friend.
And Rangi tread on the road of life undaunting, knowing what comes after is nothing to fear for. For years after what happened, Rangi stopped hunting, and instead goes back to the root of what her clan was known for. Teaching. She worked her way from scratch, taking lessons and attending academies for history, archaeology, and anthropology. Kyoshi followed suit, for what else couldn't have been better than learning? Especially with the time she was bestowed upon. And so they were opening up academies, giving others education, and Kyoshi also helped to restore historical pieces to its rightful place.
The roar of cheers and claps have awaken Kyoshi back into the present, in which Rangi was on a podium of their newly opened university, with her acting as rector. It is an appropriate arrangement, because having someone immortal would have just cause trouble in the future. Rangi looked at Kyoshi from afar, smiling.
Kyoshi reciprocates, giving her beloved a standing ovation.
Hey Kyoshi?
Would you come and find me in my next lifetime?
She held Rangi's frail hands within her youthful tanned one, Rangi then caressed the branch-like tattoo with her fingertips.
I will. In this life, or after, or wherever you are.
We are each other's half, and I'll accompany you for your every lifetime, for nine lifetimes.
And she promised to remind them of their love for each other, sealing it with a kiss on Rangi's forehead before she closes her eyes to end this chapter.
Life is a great teacher.
The street was busy during the rush hour. Car horns blaring on every corner, the espresso machine by the counter of the cafe makes a hissing sound everytime an order was made.
Light from her tablet reflected on her sage-green eyes. She sipped on her warm tea as she swiped onto the next page of her digital newspaper. Technology sure is convenient... she doesn't have to travel the world as much when a call is sufficient.
"A group of historical artifact smuggler have been apprehended by authorities. An unknown tipper gave clues of where the smugglers set their operations."
"CEO Kelsang of Banyan Tree Museum have pledged to donate for the restoration of Si Wong desert cultural heritage site."
She checked on her analog watch, not yet the time for the meeting.
Yes, she appreciates technology, but she would never swap this antique watch for a new digital one. She have had it repaired multiple times, however, the original brown leather still sturdy. Was it the.... seventh? No... eight? She lost count after centuries, but not the face of the woman who gifted her this watch. The same soul she accompanied through her lifetimes, the one who she loves just the same. She thought that she would feel lonely for living this long, but life gave her a great lesson, in which each of those who passed on to death's embrace will never be forgotten. And she's one of those who would engrave each fleeting presence of your life, in pieces of history, in writings, art, or words of mouth.
"Miss Kyoshi...?" a familiar charred rasp caused Kyoshi to turn her attention to it quickly. Black hair tied into a neat topknot, piercing dark-bronze eyes and porcelain like complexion. Kyoshi's heart skips a beat with excitement.
How I have missed you.
"Yes, that would be me." she smiled gently, gesturing the empty seat beside her for the woman to sit on. "Rangi, I assume?"
The woman set down her laptop on the counter overlooking the street, her expression curious.
"Ah.. yes.. but, have we met somewhere before? You seem... familiar." she was staring rather intently, like she was counting on the amount of freckles Kyoshi got on her face. "I apologize, maybe the traffic stress have mixed up my memory." she blushed after noticing what she did, the tip of her ears almost as red as the color of her shirt.
Kyoshi chuckled. Ever the same Rangi.
Not in this lifetime, yet.
"Maybe in your previous life, miss Rangi."
The End.