The caravan continued the journey northward, following the path of the Tiger River. It ran through the Sovereign lands from the southern province of Chen, where Lingqi's village was located, past the capital of Huadu, and further still towards the northern province of Jing, which housed the opulent Opal Palace.
The river was fed by the Heaven's Tear, a mountainous region located to the east of the province, and the water was so pure and clean that it was said to be able to wash away any impurities. The caravan continued north and followed the banks of the Tiger River until they reached the outskirts of the capital.
Lingqi and the other children could not believe their eyes.
Huadu was massive. The city walls stood high and mighty, and the roads were filled with merchants and travelers. The sound of chatter, the scent of smoke and ash, and the sight of tall buildings built from red stone clay—Lingqi had never seen the likes of them before. It was nothing like the small village that he had lived in.
"Impressive, is it not?" the village elder remarked.
"I had no idea that there were places this big," Lingqi said.
"The city is far larger than you can imagine," the elder explained.
The carts traveled through the busy streets, and Lingqi and the other children marveled at the sights. There were markets, shops, and people of all walks of life. They all dressed far better than anyone in his village had. Their tunics were varied in color, with shades of blue, yellow, purple, and orange, a far cry from the brown rags his people had worn.
Finally, the carts came to a stop in front of a large building. It was made of wood and stone, and it was surrounded by a garden. The villagers were greeted by a middle-aged woman dressed in fine yellow robes that hung loosely from her arms.
"Welcome, honored guests," she said, giving the group a courteous bow.
"We are glad to be here, and we thank you for your kindness," the elder replied, returning the gesture.
The woman looked toward the elder in astonishment. Her surprise was evident in her visage, and she bowed deeply once more.
"Forgive me, for I did not know that I was in the presence of a noble." She apologized in earnest. The children gawked at her words.
"You flatter me, madam, but I am a simple man. One who has had the honor of serving his village," the elder said humbly.
"No, I recognize you from the paintings in the halls of the capital. You are Elder Zhu Yifeng, are you not?"
The children were confused, as was Lingqi. Elder Zhu Yifeng? Was this elder really such an important and distinguished person?
"Yes, yes, that is me. I am flattered by your knowledge, but please, let us not discuss matters of the past. The future is what concerns me, and the fate of these children."
"Of course, of course, please forgive my impudence," the woman said.
She motioned for the children to follow her into the orphanage.
"You are free to stay with us for as long as you need, honored elder. We will provide you with food, clothing, and a place to sleep."
"You are too kind," the elder replied.
The children were brought into the orphanage and shown to their rooms. They were each given a set of new clothes and were served a meal of rice and vegetables. Lingqi had never tasted such a fine meal, and the other children seemed to share his sentiment.
"This is so good!" one of them exclaimed.
"Eat as much as you want, children," the woman said. "There is plenty more where that came from."
The children ate their fill, and when Lingqi was finished, he approached the village elder, who had been finishing up the last bits of his meal.
"Excuse me, sir," he said.
"Yes, my child?"
"Is it true? What the lady said about you being a noble?" Lingqi asked him.
The elder let out a hearty laugh.
"I would not call myself a noble. But I was born into a family that has been granted a title of nobility by the Sovereignty," the elder explained. "I am a scholar, and I have always sought to live a humble life. To be close to the earth and to nature. That is why I chose to live in a small village like yours."
"Oh," Lingqi muttered, not really understanding his reasoning.
"Do you have a place to stay?" Lingqi asked him.
The old man appeared thoughtful for a moment, finishing up the remainder of his rice before speaking once more.
"In a manner of speaking, there is an academy not far from here. It is an academy for the cultivation of the mind, body, and spirit. I have an old friend that teaches there, and I plan on paying him a visit."
Lingqi seemed awed by his answer. It sounded amazing and wonderous, and far better than the orphanage.
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"Can I come with you, then?" The boy asked. "I want to go there, too. I want to learn."
The elder looked down at the boy and smiled.
"Yes, you can. You have a strong spirit, and I can sense that you are a good boy," the elder said.
Lingqi felt his face redden and his chest swell with pride.
"Thank you, sir!" he exclaimed.
"You are welcome, Lingqi. Now, go and get some rest. It has been a long journey, and you need your strength for the days ahead," the elder said.
The boy nodded and ran off to join the others, who were still chatting and laughing.
The village elder smiled as he watched the children play, and he could not help but feel a pang of sadness for them. They were so young, and yet they had already suffered so much.
He only hoped that the future would be kinder to them and that they would grow up to be strong and wise and live fulfilling lives.
The elder closed his eyes and whispered a silent prayer.
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Lingqi awoke early the next morning, before the other children, and quickly dressed himself in his new robes. He left the orphanage and met the village elder outside.
"Good morning, my child," the elder said.
"Good morning, Elder Zhu," Lingqi replied.
The elder seemed bashful at the title. He certainly was not one for honorifics, but in the capital, it could not be helped. Besides, there would be a time when the boy would need to pass the proper courtesies to those that required it.
"Come, Lingqi. Let us make haste. The academy is not far from here, and I wish to arrive before midday."
Lingqi nodded and followed the elder, the two walking down the street and towards the main gate of the city. They walked in silence, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. The hustle and bustle, the merchants hawking their wares, and the people going about their day.
"It is so busy here," Lingqi remarked.
"Yes, the capital is quite large. It is easy to get lost if one is not careful," the elder said.
The two continued their journey, passing through the main gate and out onto the open road. A gentle breeze blew, and the smell of flowers and grass filled the air.
The sights of the capital, its beautiful and peerless bounty that astounded his mind, the road on the outskirts of the city gates, the flowers in bloom—it was all so wonderful. Yet the boy's thoughts dwelled on his parents—on his dear father and mother. He pictured them looking down on him from the heavens, but loneliness plagued his mind all the same.
As the two walked, the elder took notice of the boy's solemn expression.
"Is there something on your mind, Lingqi?"
"Nothing; it's just...I miss them," Lingqi confessed.
The elder felt a deep pain in his heart, knowing that the boy had suffered such a tragic loss.
"I understand, my child," the elder said. "But do not dwell on the past. Focus on the present and the future."
Lingqi's frown only grew deeper at the man's words.
"But they're gone; how can I..."
The elder placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Your parents will always be with you, Lingqi. Even if you cannot see them, they are there. Watching over you. Guiding you. Protecting you."
The elder's words comforted the boy somewhat. He thought of his parents' smiling faces and felt a sense of warmth and reassurance.
"I will remember that, Elder Zhu."
The elder smiled and patted the boy on the shoulder.
"Good. Now, let us continue. The academy is just up ahead."
The two continued their journey, and as the elder had said, the academy soon came into view. It was a magnificent structure, with high walls and towers. The main hall was made of stone, and the windows were decorated with intricate designs. It stood alone at the center of a springless forest, just a hair's breadth away from the main road that led to the capital. The towering trees and hanging leaves did well to obscure the grand structure from the sights of wayward travelers. If one did not seek the academy, then it could be missed entirely.
"This is it," Elder Zhu said.
"Wow!" Lingqi gasped in awe.
Elder Zhu chuckled and led the boy through the unpaved road and into the courtyard. The air was filled with the sounds of chatter. Up ahead, he spotted a handful of students playing in the courtyard, kicking a leather ball back and forth with one another.
"So, this is the academy."
"Partially," the scholar corrected him.
"Huh?" Lingqi was perplexed by the man's statement, and the elder continued his explanation.
"This academy is an extension of the main school, which is located in the heart of Jing," the elder explained.
"So, this is just a smaller version?"
"That is correct," Elder Zhu said. "But the teachings and lessons here are no less important. And the master here is just as wise and knowledgeable as his counterparts."
"I see," Lingqi replied, clearly impressed by the elder's explanation.
"Now, come, let us go and meet the headmaster."
The elder led the boy into the main hall and through a set of large, wooden doors. Inside was a spacious room, filled with desks and chairs. The walls were lined with shelves that housed scrolls and books, and the smell of ink and paper filled the air.
At the front of the room, an elderly man was seated behind a desk. He was dressed in loose brown robes with elongated sleeves that covered his hands, and his illustrious gray beard curled down to his chest, yet it was still neatly groomed.
"Master Zhang, I have returned," Elder Zhu said, greeting the headmaster with a jovial smile.
The man smiled back in delight and rose from his chair to greet his colleague.
"Elder Zhu, it is good to see you again. How have you been?"
"I have been well, old friend. How is your health?"
"Oh, I'm fine. I'm fine. Still spry as ever," the headmaster replied.
The two men chuckled, and Lingqi could not help but notice how close they seemed.
"Headmaster, I would like to introduce you to Lingqi. The Khalkans attacked, but I managed to rescue as many children as I could. He is a survivor."
The headmaster gave the boy a studious gaze.
"I see. You have a strong spirit, Lingqi. Jade's blessings have surely smiled upon you," the old man stated.
Lingqi gave a courteous gave. "Yes, Headmaster."
"Please, call me Master Zhang."
The boy smiled sheepishly and dipped his head once more. "Y-yes, Master Zhang."
"Now, if you would excuse me, Elder Zhu and I have much to discuss. But you are welcome to explore the academy grounds. If you wish to visit the library, go to the building to the left of the courtyard," the master instructed.
Lingqi bowed to the two men and took his leave, closing the wooden doors behind him.
Elder Zhu took a seat on the couch, and the Headmaster began to pour them both a cup of herbal tea.
"You look troubled, old friend," Master Zhang said. He could see the creases in his old friend's brow.
"Ah, it is nothing. Just an old man's worries." Elder Zhu tried his best to wave off his concerns.
"Nonsense, tell me. It has been far too long since our last discussion." He coaxed him and handed him his cup of tea.
Elder Zhu was silent, contemplating his thoughts as he graciously accepted the cup from his friend.
"I felt something from the boy. It was subtle, but I had felt the chill of winter," the scholar spoke, his gaze distant.
"Are you certain?" Master Zhang responded while stroking his beard, his tone dripped with skepticism.
"Indeed, my friend. His spirit is strong, but I can sense the confusion that shrouds his mind. The uncertainty."
Master Zhang's brows furrowed in concern. Any boy that had gone through such an ordeal would be understandably...unbalanced, one would say. But if Elder Zhu had sensed that the boy possessed a strong spirit then such volatility could prove to be his undoing if he was left to his own devices. His colleague was right to the bring the boy to him.
"Then we must do all that we can to guide him and ensure that his fate is not a cruel one. There is still time, and the future is not set in stone."
Elder Zhu bowed his head, and the two men finished their tea in silence.