Long Lens POV:
A few weeks passed since Long Ye was drafted, and the shadow of the draft loomed ever larger over Li Village. The once vibrant community, filled with the laughter of children and the hardworking spirit of its farmers, felt desolate. Families had been torn apart as recruitment officers swept through the village, dragging men from their homes, often by force.
In the early days, the villagers held onto hope, believing that perhaps their loved ones would return soon. But as the weeks unfolded, that hope faded, replaced by a grim reality. The sound of boots marching through the streets became a haunting reminder of their situation.
The village, which had once boasted around 200 farmers, saw nearly all of them taken, leaving behind only the women and children to shoulder the weight of their absence.
Long Len worked tirelessly in the fields, her hands worn and calloused from the labor, but her spirit was resolute. Each day, as she tilled the earth and tended to the crops, she felt the absence of her husband keenly.
She would often catch herself looking up at the horizon, half-expecting Long Ye to return, but the emptiness echoed back, a stark reminder of the loss.
The physical toll of the work was nothing compared to the emotional burden she carried.
At night, as she lay in bed, the quietness of the house seemed deafening. She missed Long Ye’s reassuring presence, his laughter echoing through the rooms, and the way he would wrap her in a warm embrace after a long day. Each creak of the floorboards felt like a reminder of his absence, and the darkness loomed heavier each evening.
While some men were dragged from their homes, others left willingly, believing they were answering a call of duty, compelled by a sense of honor or fear of what might happen if they refused.
Long Len heard stories of neighbors who packed their belongings, kissed their wives and children goodbye, and left, hearts heavy but determined to protect their families from the encroaching darkness. It was a choice that tore at her, a bittersweet mixture of pride and heartbreak.
The village square, once a bustling hub of activity, now felt like a ghost town. The market stalls stood empty, and whispers of fear and uncertainty replaced the vibrant conversations that used to fill the air.
Women gathered in small clusters, sharing news and supporting one another, but the grief was palpable. They exchanged stories of the men taken, and as each name was spoken, it felt like another piece of their community was lost.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a crimson glow across the fields, Long Len sat with Wei under a large oak tree, their hearts heavy with sorrow. “Do you think they’ll come back, Mother?” Wei asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Long Len sighed, looking into the distance where the fields met the sky. “I want to believe they will, my dear. But we must be strong in their absence. We owe it to them to keep going.”
Wei nodded, though his eyes glistened with unwashed tears. “It feels so wrong… like the world is upside down.”
“I know,” she said softly, pulling him close. “But we have each other, and we must hold on to that. We have to keep working, keep hoping, even when it feels impossible.”
As she spoke, the weight of uncertainty pressed down on them, but as the stars began to twinkle overhead, Long Len felt a flicker of determination reignite within her. The shadows of doubt would not consume her; she would not allow fear to dictate their lives.
The following day, she rose before dawn, fueled by a renewed sense of purpose. She gathered her tools and set out to the fields, where the earth awaited her care. Each seed she planted felt like a promise to Long Ye and to the future—a commitment that their family would endure, no matter the obstacles.
As days turned into weeks, Long Len found herself growing stronger, not just physically but emotionally. She forged bonds with the other women in the village, sharing laughter and tears as they worked side by side, their camaraderie a lifeline a midst the storm.
They exchanged recipes, stories, and dreams for a time when peace would return. Each shared moment served as a reminder that they were not alone in their grief; they were a community, and together, they could withstand the tide.
But still, Long Len couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that crept into her thoughts. At night, she would sit by the window, staring at the stars and whispering prayers for her husband’s safety. The skies, once a comforting expanse, now felt heavy with unspoken fears and unanswered questions.
She sensed that the conflict was deeper and more complex than any of them understood, a shadow that threatened to engulf not just their village but the world around them.
In those quiet moments, Long Len vowed to stay strong for Wei and for all those left behind. She would be their pillar, and together, they would honor the memories of those who had been taken. The fight wasn’t over; as long as she had hope and love in her heart, they could endure whatever lay ahead.
Long Wei’s POV:
Long Wei stood by the edge of the field, his hands resting on the wooden fence as he watched the horizon. The day had been heavy with the weight of uncertainty, but he tried to focus on the tasks at hand, helping his mother wherever he could.
Just then, the familiar sound of boots marching on the dirt road broke through his thoughts, sending a chill down his spine.
He turned to see a group of soldiers approaching, their demeanor cold and authoritative. Panic surged within him as he realized they were heading toward his Uncle Li, the village elder, who had always been a source of wisdom and comfort for the community.
“Uncle Li!” Wei shouted, running toward the group, but the soldiers didn’t pause. The old man, stooped but resolute, stood with dignity, his silver hair catching the sunlight. Despite his age, there was a spark in his eyes that spoke of a lifetime of strength.
“Long Wei,” Uncle Li called back, his voice steady, “do not worry for me. It is my time to serve, as it is for many others.”
But as the soldiers moved closer, the reality of the situation sank in. They grabbed Uncle Li, pulling him away with force, their hands rough against his frail arms. The old man struggled slightly, not out of fear, but in defiance, trying to maintain his dignity in the face of overwhelming power.
“Let him go!” Wei shouted, desperation rising in his chest. He felt a surge of anger, but the soldiers simply ignored him, dragging Uncle Li away as the elder looked back at Wei, a mixture of sadness and strength in his gaze.
Long Wei Chases after Uncle Li leading him to the village square. As Long Wei stood in the swirling chaos of the village square, he felt an inexplicable shift in the atmosphere.
The wind intensified, whipping around him with a strength that felt almost intentional, as if it were guiding him. Suddenly, he realized it was not just the natural storm; it was a force he had sensed before—one he recognized from his time with Uncle Li.
“Uncle Li!” he shouted, his voice barely cutting through the roar of the wind. He remembered how his uncle had a wind affinity, often speaking about ariel. The old man had created these very winds .
.
With a deep breath, Wei closed his eyes, centering himself. He concentrated on the swirling wind, shouting at it.. Hopping it would carry his voice and message. “Don’t take uncle Li!” he shouted!”
As if in response, the wind picked up even more forcefully, swirling around the square and enveloping the village. It became a tempest that pushed the soldiers out of the village.
Uncle Li had created a dome of wind around Li village. The gusts howled, lifting leaves and dust into the air, creating a barrier that momentarily caught the soldiers off guard.
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As the storm raged around them, a new, darker presence emerged from the shadows—a figure Long Wei recognized all too well. The elder who had taken his father, shrouded in an air of ominous authority, stepped forward, his eyes glinting with malice.
“Enough of this nonsense,” the elder declared, his voice booming over the tumultuous winds. He raised his hands, and with a surge of power, the earth beneath them began to tremble. Long Wei felt a deep rumble resonate through the ground, and before he could react, the soil around Uncle Li shifted violently.
“Uncle Li!” Wei shouted, fear gripping his heart as the earth rose up, encasing his uncle in a sturdy grip of stone. The villagers gasped, stepping back in shock, as the ground molded into a hardened shell around the elder.
“No!” Wei cried, trying to reach Uncle Li, but the wind howled even louder, threatening to drown out his pleas. The elder’s powers seemed to warp the very essence around him, subduing the storm into submission. Even Long Wei Could She the flow of the motes of light that made up this elders Ariel. The essence was of a brown color similar to that of the soil but it has a hint of a yellow as well.
Uncle Li struggled against the encroaching stone, his expression fierce but pained. “Stand strong, Wei! Do not give in to fear!” he urged, his voice strained but unwavering. Yet the earth continued to harden around him, binding him tightly.
With a cruel smirk, the elder stepped closer, the air growing heavier with his essence filling the air. “This village has known peace for too long. It is time for war who are you to defy the imperial edict Village Head!”
In one swift motion, he gestured sharply, and the stone encasing Uncle Li became a prison, pulling him to the ground with a force that left Wei breathless. The sight of his beloved uncle, the village elder who had offered wisdom and guidance, now encased in cold stone, shattered something deep within him.
“NO!” Wei roared, desperation clawing at his throat. He rushed forward, but the soldiers, emboldened by their leader’s display of power, moved in to restrain him, blocking his path.
As they dragged Uncle Li away, the villagers stood frozen, shock and horror etched across their faces. The wind had calmed, now a soft whisper against the backdrop of this terrifying event.
“Return to your homes,” the elder commanded, his voice dripping with authority. “This village will learn its place.”
The soldiers obeyed, marching off with Uncle Li, leaving Wei trembling in their wake. His heart pounded as he watched helplessly, the enormity of their loss settling heavily upon him.
“Mother!” he called, feeling the urgency to share this devastating news. He stumbled back toward their home, anguish flooding his veins.
When he reached the kitchen, Long Len looked up, her face pale, eyes wide with concern. “What happened, Wei? Where’s Uncle Li?”
“They took him! They took Uncle Li!” he gasped, tears stinging his eyes. “He’s been trapped in stone… we couldn’t do anything! He—he fought bravely, but… the elder, he used the earth against him!”
Long Len’s breath caught in her throat, and she pressed a hand to her mouth, her world unraveling. “What will we do? How can we fight against this power?”
“I don’t know, Mother,” Wei admitted, his voice breaking. “But we have to find a way. For Uncle Li, for Father… we must unite the village. We can’t let fear take us!”
In that moment, beneath the heavy weight of despair, a flicker of resolve ignited within Wei. They had lost much, but they could still stand together, united against the darkness threatening to consume their home.
As they disappeared down the road, a crushing weight settled over Wei. He turned and ran back toward the house, his heart pounding with dread. He burst into the kitchen, where Long Len was busy preparing the evening meal.
“Mother!” he cried, his voice trembling. “They took Uncle Li! They took him for the draft!”
Long Len looked up, her hands freezing mid-motion. The color drained from her face as her eyes widened in disbelief. “What do you mean? No! Not Uncle Li…”
Wei felt the air thicken with the reality of his words. “I saw them take him! They pulled him away. He—he didn’t want to go, but they didn’t care!”
Long Len dropped the wooden spoon, her heart racing. “How could they? He’s—he’s in his hundreds! He’s too old for this!” Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her cheeks, and she sank onto a nearby stool, disbelief and grief flooding her.
“It’s not fair!” Wei shouted, his own voice breaking. “He didn’t deserve this! None of them do!”
Long Len buried her face in her hands, the reality of their situation crashing over her like a wave. “What will we do without him?” she sobbed, the pain of loss mingling with the fear of what lay ahead. “He was our guide, our protector… how can we go on?”
Wei rushed to her side, wrapping his arms around her. “We’ll figure it out, Mother. We have to be strong, just like Uncle Li would want us to be.”
But even as he spoke, Wei felt the despair clawing at his heart. Uncle Li’s absence would leave a void that felt insurmountable, a deepening sense of loss that echoed the pain they had already endured.
The world outside their home continued to spin, but inside, everything felt shattered, as if the very foundation of their lives was crumbling beneath them.
Long Len looked into her son’s eyes, searching for a glimmer of hope in the darkness that threatened to engulf them. “We must keep working, for him and for your father. We cannot let their sacrifices be in vain.”
With a shaky breath, she stood, wiping her tears as she gathered herself. “We will honor their memory through our strength, Wei. We will not give up.”
But as they stood together, the shadows loomed larger, a reminder of the uncertainty that lay ahead, threatening to pull them under once more.
Hua Mei’s PoV :
Hua Mei was in the workshop, her hands deftly stitching fabric into a vibrant garment, when the commotion began outside. The sounds of raised voices and the thundering footsteps of soldiers echoed through the village, slicing through the calm of the afternoon. She paused, a sense of unease creeping over her.
“Granny Feng, what’s happening out there?” she called, glancing toward the door, where the noise grew louder.
Granny Feng looked up from her loom, her brow furrowed with concern. “I don’t know, child, but it doesn’t sound good. Stay close to me.”
Moments later, the door burst open, and a her brother Hua Yan rushed in, breathless and panicked. “They took your Uncle Long! They took and Elder Li! The soldiers—” Her voice trembled as she tried to catch her breath. “They dragged them away. I heard It was… it was brutal!”
Mei’s heart sank, her hands falling to her sides as shock washed over her. Uncle Long had always been a kind presence in the village, offering wisdom and support, and Elder Li was the pillar of Li village. “No… not them,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Granny Feng quickly crossed the room, placing a reassuring hand on Mei’s shoulder. “Hush now, my dear. Let’s not jump to conclusions. We must remain calm and strong for each other.”
But Mei felt the world around her beginning to crumble. “Why would they do this? They’re citizens!” Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked rapidly to hold them back. “How can this be happening? What do we do now?”
“Listen to me,” Granny Feng said, her voice firm yet gentle. “Fear is a powerful force, but we cannot let it consume us. We must stand together as a village. We need to support one another in these dark times.”
Mei nodded, but her heart felt heavy with dread. “What if they come for my father next? Or my friends? What if…?” Her voice cracked, and she turned away, not wanting to reveal the depths of her fear.
Granny Feng stepped closer, wrapping her arms around Mei, pulling her into a comforting embrace. “I know it’s difficult, dear. But we have to believe in our strength, in our love for one another. That is what will see us through this storm.”
Mei leaned into her mentor’s warmth, taking solace in the steady rhythm of Granny Feng’s heartbeat. “But it’s so unfair,” she murmured. “How can they just take people? How can they—”
“Sometimes the world is unkind,” Granny Feng interrupted softly. “But we must hold onto our hope. Remember the stories we weave into our fabrics? Each stitch is a piece of love, a piece of our strength. We can’t let fear unravel us. We must keep creating, keep believing in a brighter future.”
As Mei inhaled deeply, she felt a flicker of resolve within her. “You’re right, Granny. I can’t let this take away my dreams. We need to help however we can.”
Granny Feng smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair from Mei’s face. “That’s the spirit. We’ll find a way to support Li village, to honor those who’ve been drafted. Together, we’ll keep their spirits alive.”
With renewed determination, Mei wiped her tears and straightened her back. “I’ll do whatever it takes to help.”
“Then let’s begin by spreading the word,” Granny Feng suggested. “We can gather the women and whats left of the men come up with a plan. The strength of Shu lies in our unity.”
As they moved together toward the door, Mei felt a sense of purpose surging within her. The storm outside raged on, but in that moment, she knew they would face whatever came next together—woven tightly like the threads of a beautiful tapestry, resilient and strong.
In the wake of the news from Li Village, the atmosphere in Shu Village shifted dramatically. The fear and uncertainty that had settled over the community was palpable, but beneath it lay a flicker of determination, particularly as Granny Feng took charge. At 142 years old, she had seen countless trials and tribulations, and now she stood as a beacon of hope for her people.
Gathering the villagers in the square, Granny Feng climbed atop a sturdy crate, her frail frame defying the years of wisdom etched into her features. The crowd hushed, eyes turning toward her with a mix of concern and respect.
“My dear friends,” she began, her voice steady and clear despite the tremors of age. “We have all felt the tremors of fear from our neighbors in Li Village. Most of their men have been taken, but we must remember: we are not powerless. We are the heart and soul of our families and our community.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, and Granny Feng continued, her spirit igniting a spark among them. “Though our own village has not suffered as severely, we cannot stand idly by while our sisters and children in Li Village face such peril. We must rally together, not just as individuals, but as a united front!”
A young woman stepped forward, her face lined with worry. “But what can we do, Village Head Feng? They are stronger, and they have weapons. How can we protect our families?”
Granny Feng’s eyes softened, filled with compassion. “Strength comes in many forms. We have skills they cannot take from us—our knowledge, our resilience, our ability to nurture and protect. We can prepare to aid the women and children of Li Village. We can gather resources, provide shelter, and share our strength with those who need it most.”
The villagers exchanged glances, hesitant at first, but the resolve in Granny Feng’s voice began to sway them. Another voice rose from the crowd. “We can organize a supply drive! Food, clothing, anything we can spare!”
“Yes!” Granny Feng exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious. “Let us gather what we can—crops from the fields, fabrics from our workshops. We will send our strongest men and women to Li Village to help those in need. We will show them that they are not alone.”
A murmur of agreement swept through the crowd, the energy shifting from fear to action. Hua Mei felt her heart swell with determination as she stepped forward. “I’ll help organize the supplies! We can gather the younger children to help carry them.”
Granny Feng smiled warmly at Mei. “A splendid idea! The youth have boundless energy and can play a vital role in this effort.”
As the crowd began to buzz with ideas and plans, Granny Feng raised her hands for attention once more. “This is not just about survival; this is about community. We will show them that love and unity can overcome fear. Together, we will weather this storm and emerge stronger.”
With her words, Granny Feng ignited a fire within the villagers. They began to break off into groups, discussing how to best gather supplies, how to coordinate with the women from Li Village, and how to support each other through the coming days.
Hua Mei felt a surge of hope as she moved among her neighbors, helping to organize and inspire. Each conversation, each plan, wove a thread of strength between them, binding them together as they prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
In that moment, under Granny Feng’s guidance, the villagers of Shu stood united, determined to support their friends and neighbors in Li Village, ready to show that even in the face of darkness, their spirit would shine brightly.