Once more Li felt his regard for his goddess’s descendant increase by a small increment.
To be sure, the young man was still far from the dignified young master that the old servant would have preferred. However, the winged demigod was showing himself to be better than his initial impression would have suggested.
His treatment of the gift that had been given to him was certainly worthy of admiration. The young man had not been seized by greed at the possibilities of such a treasure, or by pride at being the owner of such a rare prize. Instead, he had been . . . considering of the sphere of divine metal, thoughtful in a way Li approved of. Perhaps there was some dignity to the demigod after all.
“Would you happen to have a spare bag you could part with? I’m afraid that my clothes did not fare well in my last battle, and I have nowhere to carry this gift on my way back to my current dwellings.”
It wasn’t too much of a surprise request. After all, the young demigod’s clothes seemed to be only just holding together, and he clearly had no means to carry the treasure he had been given, save for in his hands. Li could understand the desire to hide the valuable gift away, after all, only a fool paraded around such a priceless artefact for all to see.
Internally the old servant considered the request. His lady had only instructed him to pass her gift along to her descendant, so Li was under no obligation to grant him anything further. However, underwhelming though he might be this was still the acknowledged Legacy of his goddess, and he had not shown himself to be . . . unworthy.
“I believe I can aid you in your difficulty.”
As he spoke the servant of Nüwa reached into his other sleeve and took hold of a bag similar to the one that he’d extracted his goddess’s gift from.
This bag was less ornate than the one that he had carried the globe of Heavenly metal. It was made of a dark and leathery cloth, and devoid of any embroidery save for some minor edging picked out in silver threads. The drawstring had a small tassel at the end, but aside from that the pouch was fairly plain.
This was one of his earlier efforts to create the magical pouch he now used. Compared to his preferred creation, a masterpiece that could hold almost a room’s worth of contents, this bag could only hold as much as two large luggage chests. It hadn’t been a failure though, which was why he had kept it, but it had hardly been the success Li had been working towards.
It was one of several such artefacts that had been made during his education in the use of Profound Energy by this goddess. Though of no use to him, the servant had kept them, knowing that they would be of value to others. He’d thought to use them as minor rewards, gifts for those that served him and his lady well.
The one he intended to hand over to the young master was not the largest of those that he carried, but it was the most secure. The magic that created a self-contained space within a small vessel was resilient to attempts to breach it, but not invulnerable. The bag he now selected had been an effort to improve upon that and create a pouch that could not be stolen from.
It had been a qualified success in that regard. The amount of power needed to break into the pouch would cause the self-contained space within to collapse, erasing itself before anything could be retrieved. It was not ideal, but it would ensure that any thief trying to steal from it would receive nothing.
Unfortunately, the additions that provided that extra security had also reduced the size of the internal space, meaning it was insufficient for Li’s needs. Still, he had learnt from it, and all of his subsequent efforts had benefitted from the experiment, so it had not been any real loss for him.
Pulling it out of his sleeve he held it out to the winged demigod.
“This should serve suitably.” He stated, careful to keep any sort of smile from forming on his face.
“My thanks.” Came the polite reply.
Li watched with a certain level of internal amusement as the young man placed the orb into the bag. Had the pouch been a normal one it would have only just been large enough to contain the sphere of Heavenly Metal comfortably, so it came as a surprise to the demigod when the pouch was no fuller or heavier after he placed the treasure within. The goddess’s servant forced his face to remain impassive as the young master looked at the bag in confusion, then extracted the sphere, before returning it.
“I . . . What is this?”
The descendant of his lady kept his voice controlled, though it was quite clear that it took some effort.
“Merely a trinket that may be of some use to you, young master,” Li replied. “I trust that it shall make transporting your inheritance far easier than simply holding it.”
The old servant watched as the demigod took something else from his pocket and placed it in the pouch. Li couldn’t see what it was, but for a moment he was certain he faintly sensed power in the air, dark and subtle power, but deep at the same time. It was enough to cause one of his eyebrows to rise almost imperceptibly as questions bubbled up in his mind.
What had that been? And why had he not sensed it before? Was it some sort of spoil of battle? The young master had claimed the state of his apparel was due to recent combat, and the fact he was carrying around something with that kind of force to it . . . Well, if it was a spoil then it would indicate that the battle could not have been an easy one.
Once again, Li felt his regard for the demigod rise by another minor increment.
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It was taking a great deal of willpower not to grin like a maniac as I stared down at the gift I’d been given.
A Bag of Holding! I’d been given a freaking Bag of Holding, one of the most iconic magical items in all of fiction! If Doug had been there to see it then he might well have drowned in his own drool. Well, that or have a heart attack from sheer jealousy.
Even beyond the simple coolness of owning such a famous magical item were the practical applications though. Already, I could imagine many ways it could be used to cover some of my weaknesses. I’d need to do some experimentations with it, of course, to get a handle on its rules and limitations, but I was looking forward to it. I did my best to bring my racing thoughts back under control as I looked up at Li.
“This . . . this is quite the magnificent gift,” I said, doing my best to remain as formal as I could. “Are there any limitations or rules that I should follow in its use?”
That was the most important thing to know. I didn’t want to end up destroying it by trying to store water in it if any sort of liquid would undo the magic on it or some other quirk like that.
“You need not concern yourself over much, young master,” The older man assured me, his voice as formal as if he were addressing me in a royal court. “That pouch is a most sturdy one, the works upon it ensuring it will be durable, and even recover in time if damaged. The only thing you must not do is attempt to access the contents without opening it. the arrays upon it shall resist such efforts, and if overpowered will simply collapse and destroy the bag and all its contents.”
Okay, I could work with that. With a respectful nod, I tied the pouch to my belt, pleased that it weighed no more than it would have if it were empty. Carrying the lump of metal in my pocket had begun to be slightly irritating since I was constantly checking to see if its weight had caused my trousers to rip. The damned things were already in a bad state, and I was just lucky that the belt I’d been wearing had managed to come through relatively unscathed. The pouch would be far easier to carry than both the metal lump I had found and the sphere I had been gifted. I made sure it was secure, then turned to face Li once more.
“Allow me to offer my thanks once more, not simply for this gift or for bringing me my . . . divine ancestor’s gift, but also for letting me know who she is. Since learning I was a demigod, I’ve only known of one branch of my ancestry. Learning the truth of another is most welcome.”
That was the truth, not knowing where I came from, and what lineages were within me, had been gnawing at the back of my mind ever since I came to the farmhouse. Now, after seeing what had happened to Etienne it had begun to weigh on me more. The thought that my own ancestry might have some lurking timebomb growing in me like some malignant sore. Now that I knew another of them . . .
Well, I knew next to nothing about Nüwa, but I was sure that either Joan or Hadriel would be able to tell me something. From there I could do my research, once I got access to a computer. My mental to-do list was just growing longer and longer. How long would it be before I started to miss something? I’d have to write it all down as soon as I got back, make sure nothing slipped my mind.
I suppressed a frown as I realized that I’d let my thoughts wander. Li had begun to speak, and I’d been so lost in my worried I’d missed the start of what he said.
“. . . is the most that my lady can extend to you. As time passes, matters in the New Empire shall settle from their turbulence, and she may be able to contact you, perhaps even invite you to meet with her. If you gain notoriety then she may also be able to move more openly, as your acknowledgement would only strengthen her position, rather than undermine it.”
Alright, I was able to get a fair bit out of that, and not all of it sounded good. The way it was phrased made it sound like Nüwa’s position in the New Jade Empire was not as stable as it could be. I knew something of what was going on over in China, but many of the details were being kept secret. It was well known that the mortal government was largely gone, replaced by the Celestial Bureaucracy, but the actual power structures behind them were mostly unknown. What Li said . . . it made me think that while some positions were secure, such as the Jade Emperor, others were still in flux.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
I didn’t know too much about court politics, but even I could see that such a situation could lead to the metaphorical knives coming out. Some depictions of the old Chinese court had always shown a great amount of scheming and backstabbing. I could see what Li might be getting at, and why Nüwa would want to keep me out of it. Actually, the fact that she was keeping me away from her current situation might be due to a wish to keep me safe, rather than to protect her own position. Or she might simply view me as currently useless, and not want to acknowledge me until I had the power to be an asset rather than a hindrance.
Damn it! Some small and angry part of me was raging at this ignorance. Amanda and Anthony were my parents, and I loved them, but there was always some small part of me that had wondered about my blood family. When I’d learnt I was descended from Bath Kol I had been so excited, and the fact I ended up with wings had been all the proof I needed to believe I was descended from an angel. However, it was hard get my head around the idea of a powerful archangel being related to me. I settled for thinking of her as sort of an ancestor, one that had died and passed on.
Nüwa though, with her things were different. She was alive right now, she existed somewhere in the world I could reach with an aeroplane, maybe even without one. She was the first blood relation I’d ever had a chance to meet, and the fact I didn’t know just how she truly thought about me was . . . frustrating. Very frustrating.
Part of me just wanted to grab the servant before me by his robe and shake him until all the answers I wanted came out! I was getting sick of always being careful, of always being patient. I’d been patient with Joan. I’d been patient with becoming a demigod. I’d been patient with Hadriel. I’d been patient with my own power being stunted. Patience had been my rock, the armour I used to protect myself in the face of all the upheaval in my life, but it was also starting to grate on me.
I let none of this show though, or at least I tried my hardest not to. I had committed to a role when this meeting between us began, breaking the face I had been showing wasn’t going to help my case any. I had to keep it formal, keep things controlled. Now, what would sound suitably courtly?
“What sort of . . . deeds would most suitably honour my divine ancestor.”
“Any deed that obstructs the goals of the Deeper Hells would be looked upon with favour by the entire Empire,” Li replied, a flash of something dark appearing in his eyes at the mention of the Deeper Hells. “But any action that preserves the order of the world and saves the lives of the innocent will bring acclaim to both you and the exalted goddess. Though I do not seek to suggest you seek glory for its own sake, it is only natural that the more public your victories the greater the renown you shall gain.”
That made some sense. There were several famous demigods in the world, and those that were linked to them had gained notoriety through them.
“I shall endeavour to bring honour to both my name and hers.”
I stole that line straight from something I’d seen two years ago, but it seemed to have been the right words because Li offered me a nod in response.
“may you be able to honour her suitably.”
He paused for a moment, then brought his hands up again in that martial arts salute once again.
“I would prefer to remain here longer,” He stated, bowing respectfully as he did so. “Had I the time it would be my privilege to educate you on the nature and past deeds of your exalted divine ancestor. However, my responsibilities are many, and my lady has many tasks I must perform. I have passed her treasure to you; may it bring you prosperity and power.”
He paused for a moment, his eyes passing over me in clear assessment.
“You have potential, young master. But should you ever have the opportunity to present yourself to exalted Nüwa then I suggest you place the greatest effort into making yourself presentable.”
Before I had the chance to come up with any sort of reply to that, the old man levitated into the sky. It took me by surprise because I didn’t sense any magic coming from him, not like I did when either myself or my guardians used our flight. Instead, there was something else, something completely different to any energy I’d encountered before. Mana and magic were bright powers, energies that constantly changed as they responded to my will, taking on the qualities I needed. By contrast, chi was more solid, more constant, but at the same time it was more energetic, a coiled spring waiting for release. This new energy compared to magic and chi in much the same way living wood would compare to burning fire or solid steel. There was power there, but it didn’t feel stronger or deeper than those I had access to. Instead, it felt . . . broader, more wide-reaching.
All of this flashed through my mind, but in that instant of distraction Li vanished from my sight. I just had time to look up, drawn by another surge of that strange power, and see his form fading into the distance. I didn’t even want to guess how fast he was going, but it was faster than anything I could manage. In only a handful of seconds, he was too far away for me to make out, but the speed of his passage didn’t seem to disturb the clouds around him, or the plants beneath him.
It seemed I had something else to add to my ever-growing to-do list.
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Li felt a tiny worm of guilt gnawing at his conscience as he flew away.
Yes, he had duties to attend. Yes, he had to return to the Empire and continue to work on advancing his lady’s interests. Yes, he had to continue his own training and advancement to be better able to serve the goddess he was a devoted servant to. All of that was true, but even so, he hadn’t needed to depart from the young master quite as abruptly as he had.
He could have stayed, and spoken with the young demigods some more. He could have informed him more of the delicate interplay of powers that were preventing his divine ancestor from being able to give him the support that she wished. However, he had chosen not to, instead, he had left him ignorant of the complex situation he was now peripherally attached to.
His choice was not made due to dislike or contempt though. Indeed, his impression of the descendant of his goddess had improved throughout their interaction. To be sure, Li still felt the young master was not yet truly worthy of exalted Nüwa’s full attention, but the old servant no longer viewed him as the dirtied and . . . underwhelming young man he had first appeared to be.
The winged demigod had some admirable self-control, and he was not blinded by the gifts he had been given. Even during his excitement over the sphere and the pouch, Li had been able to see his mind working away behind his eyes. There was some willpower there, as well as intelligence. To be sure, there was none of the incandescent brilliance that he’d seen in some of the genius students of his lady, but there was something that looked to have potential.
The young master had also conducted himself with a certain level of dignity, despite the ruined state of his clothes and the grime and blood that clung to him. He was no courtier, showing none of the training that the ranking members of the New Jade Empire were adopting and excelling in, but he had managed even so was noteworthy.
The reason that Li had elected to cut their conversation off had nothing to do with malice or contempt, rather it was prompted by his absolute loyalty to the goddess he served.
Li was one of the first students that his honoured goddess had chosen to educate in the cultivation and use of Profound Energy, and his growth in power had granted him many gifts. Among them was the ability to sense the depths of a being’s power. It was an inexact ability, one that only gave him impressions rather than an accurate picture, and it was slow to work. Fortunately, the exchange between him and the young master had lasted long enough for him to gain a sense of the power of the descendant of his goddess.
The impression he gained had been a strange one, there had been power to be sure, but it had been like only a thin active crust over something inert, inactive. In the past, Li had encountered the children and Legacies of gods before, and always their power had been akin to crackling stars of power, eager and ready to release their strength. This different core of power seemed to be incomplete when compared to them. Or, he thought as he looked back on it, perhaps a better word to describe it would be ‘unfinished’, or even ‘juvenile’. Yes, that last one sounded the most correct. The power of this young master was still taking form, still settling.
As soon as he’d realized this Li had understood that the demigod before him was not yet in the full maturity of his power. What the servant was seeing was not all there was to see. The realization had not changed his plans though, it had only cemented them further in his mind.
This descendant of his goddess was not yet all he could be, and that was a sufficient reason to leave him alone for now.
The truth was that Li now held the young master in high esteem. He was the blood of the great goddess Nüwa, after all. However, that esteem did not mean that he was ignorant of the risk he posed to the exalted goddess, simply by existing.
Nüwa had been among the first of the Celestial Court deities to choose to return to the mortal realm. Her return had been quiet, with her choosing to create a small palace for herself in an out-of-the-way spot far from prying eyes, then amassing servants and followers from the ranks of those that she found interesting. Since Li himself had been among these first recruits it had been a situation that had worked for him, however the initial peace of her training had not lasted long.
The exalted goddess had underestimated how fast matters in the mortal realm would escalate. She hadn’t anticipated how the leaders of the mortals of her country would violently react to the return of the gods they once worshipped. She hadn’t anticipated how swiftly the Celestial Court would defeat the mortal armies and assume control over the country once more. She was a deity, a being with millennia of experience and learning to draw upon, but even so, she had been caught out of position by the unexpected turn of events.
Nüwa was a goddess without direct, personal, enemies, but that did not mean she was without opposition or those that wished her harm. Gods had power, and power always inspired envy and greed. Then there were her fellow deities, those that would not hesitate to cause her harm if it allowed them to elevate themselves.
His honoured patron was taking a risk in aiding her descendant, by reaching out to him she was exposing a potential weak point. Li’s response to this was to leave the young demigod with as little contact as possible, and only a vague understanding of the situation.
Let him grow in power, or fall into helplessness. Hopefully, he would keep from proclaiming his heritage in any sort of public forum until he had gained enough power and notoriety to be the asset the goddess needed.
Li did not like how little control he had over the situation; how little influence he could exert other than this one meeting. He hoped it would be enough. He hoped that his goddess would not be harmed in any way. He supposed that he also hoped that the young master would thrive enough to be reunited with his divine ancestor.
Suddenly a thought occurred to him. He had never learnt what the name of his divine patron’s Legacy was. An unusual oversight for him. Briefly, he considered returning to learn it but then dismissed the notion.
It probably would not be all that important. If he thrived, then they would learn his name in time. If he fell to obscurity or death . . . would his name be worthy of recollection?
He continued to fly on.
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I took off slowly after seeing my ancestor’s messenger fade into the distance. I was still a bit stunned at the sheer speed that I’d seen him demonstrate. I was aware that either of my guardians could have achieved similar speeds if they used the full angelic power at their disposal. Li had been completely human and mortal, at least as far as I had been able to tell, but he’d been able to go so fast . . .
Would I ever be able to reach those kinds of speeds? Just one more question for my ever-growing mental list.
It only took me a few minutes to reach the area of the farmstead. It could have taken more time but after the meeting, I was feeling somewhat exposed. Sure, the old man had been courteous enough, but the fact that he’d been able to find me so easily had been disturbing.
What if someone else was looking for me, someone with hostile intentions? I could still put up a fight, but tired as I was, I wouldn’t be at my best if I was forced to defend myself. With that in mind I channelled as much of my magic as I could comfortably handle into my flight, kicking my speed up considerably. It shortened the time to return considerably. Of course, I had no idea of just what I was unknowingly speeding towards.
If I’d known, then I would’ve taken my time.