So many come to me to ask their fate. The ones that break my heart the most are the young masters of paths that echo my own. They come to me with such hope to reach the peak and find another way forward. But my path has no light at the end. In my sight I see that none shall reach the peak of the Stars for ten thousand years or more. We are destined as fertilizer for other paths in this realm. -The Oracle of Hai’an

* * *

“Good Morning, Xinya,” Miss Jaili greeted as the young cultivator entered. “What can this humble apothecary do for such an esteemed Master of Saikan?” Her words were filled with mischief, and Xinya couldn’t help but giggle.

“Morning, Miss Jaili. Hanako sent me to pick up the new medicine for Uncle Lin’s parents,” Xinya explained. Jaili’s jovial demeanor was replaced by a sad smile.

“Their condition hasn’t improved?” she asked. Xinya shook her head.

After the last encounter between Xinya and Madam Tenri, the elderly couple had withdrawn almost entirely from the home. At first, Hanako and Xinya both thought it was an exercise in saving face until Lin and Yoru returned and Xinya could return to living at her own home. But, after a few days without seeing them, Hanako had gone to their room and found them both in bed.

The current working theory was that the stress of Xinya’s declaration had sent Madam Tenri into a fit which had weakened her elderly immune system. That let in a sickness that had then spread to her husband and now both elders were quite sick. Hanako had been working around the clock to care for them while Xinya ran the odd jobs that needed to be done while the Lady of the House was busy. That included fetching medicine from her sister, and keeping their extended family apprised of the latest developments.

However, if anyone were to ask Xinya’s opinion, she doubted it was a sickness at all. The timing was entirely too convenient. After all, it had struck right after she’d given Madam Tenri a light verbal lashing and overturned the delicate order that was present in the Tenri household. Sure, stress could have been the cause, but Madam Tenri hadn’t been particularly unhealthy before. If Xinya were to make a guess, she would suspect that more nefarious forces were at play.

Young as she was, she couldn’t claim to be an expert in spirits and yokai, but without her uncles, she was the best expert Saikan had on the subject. Of all the children in town, she was always the Flower Maiden’s favorite playmate, and the shade came back year after year to play with her during the spring and summer months. In that time, she learned that yokai were capable of all manner of things, and the little girl was quite certain that one would be capable of spreading a sickness like this.

If that were the case, then medicines wouldn’t help. The elders’ conditions had not improved, despite Hanako’s attention, which could leave only one conclusion. They’d been targeted. However, if that was truly the reason for their sickness, then there was nothing Xinya could do about it. Only Yoru, Lin, or the Flower Maiden herself would be able to identify what kind of spirit was plaguing the house. They could only hope that the merchant caravan that arrived a few days ago was right that the two resident cultivators were close behind.

“Here it is,” Jaili said, offering the little girl a small package filled with powders and pills. “They’re all labeled. Hanako will know how to prepare them.”

“Thank you, Miss Jaili!”

Xinya bowed respectfully before leaving and returning quickly to the Tenri estate. There, she took a moment to admire the beautiful flowers of Uncle Lin’s garden. They’d be gone soon. Even a wood artist at Iron couldn’t keep the flowers from wilting in the winter, but Xinya was sure that they’d be just as beautiful in spring, if not more so since he was stronger now. The real question on her mind was whether or not Lin would be able to rope Yoru into helping tend the garden. Somehow, she couldn’t see the vain man stooping to digging around in the dirt, but she hoped he would at least watch. It would be cute if he did.

“Auntie?” she called as she entered the home. Only silence greeted her, so she took to snooping.

Hanako wasn’t in the kitchen, nor the back courtyard. She wasn’t in her in-law’s bedroom, nor in Xinya’s room. In fact, Xinya had searched almost the entirety of the house before hearing a small bump in Hanako’s bedroom. Worried, Xinya rushed up the stairs and threw open the door.

“Auntie! Are you…”

Tears were hastily wiped away from Hanako’s cheeks, but Xinya had seen them clearly. Without hesitation, the little girl set down the medicines she’d been tasked with retrieving and rushed to the older woman’s side.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Hanako answered, forcing a smile to her face. “I’m just worried about Lin’s parents is all.”

Xinya wasn’t convinced. Hanako’s words held truth, but it was hollow. This was the kind of lie adults told to make a child worry less without being technically a lie. Xinya looked around, trying to find anything that might tell her what was bothering Hanako, but there was nothing. The woman had lit several candles around the room, but otherwise everything was normal.

“Are these the medicines?” asked Hanako as she reached for the small bag. Her smile faded slightly after examining them. “Jaili forgot to stamp the packet with the tax seal,” she mused. “How forgetful of her.”

“Is that a problem?”

She shook her head. “No. Not between family. It’ll be our secret, okay?” Xinya nodded, but didn’t say anything. A sense of unease was growing in her heart. Something was wrong, she just couldn’t tell what.

“Have you heard from Uncle Lin, yet?” she probed gingerly, studying Hanako’s reactions to every word.

“No, not yet,” Hanako said. “But Kansi Ren said the caravan fled at top speed, so they might be a few days behind. We should expect them any day now.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The woman took the girl’s hand and led her down the stairs to the kitchen. Xinya watched every move with expert scrutiny as her guardian busied herself by wrapping up a handful of dumplings using the leftover ingredients from a previous meal. They were placed before her, and she politely thanked Hanako for the meal before devouring them. The chicken inside was delicious, and she was glad it wasn’t fish.

“Listen, Xinya,” Hanako began. “Would you do me another favor today?”

Xinya answered through a mouthful of dumpling, which made the woman’s smile just a bit more genuine. “Always.”

“Good. I was wondering if you might visit my cousins Suyi and Mina,” she said. “I received word from them that the ancestral tree in their care was acting up. Perhaps you can commune with it as Tsuyuki did?”

There was the real lie. Xinya was sure of it. Something in her heart felt wrong as she mulled over the information. Suyi had been in town just a few days ago and made no mention of an issue with the tree. Furthermore, Hanako’s smile was still too forced, and she looked to be on the edge of tears again.

“Sure,” Xinya agreed, though she had no intention of actually going into the forest.

Hanako squeezed her hand. “That’s a good girl. Feel free to spend the night there. I’d hate for you to be out in the woods after dark, even if you are a cultivator now.”

Xinya nodded before rushing off to collect a small bag of essentials. She wouldn’t be spending the night in the forest, but she would likely still be outdoors. Something was off about this request, and she was determined to find out what that something was. With everything in hand, she waved to Miss Hanako and “set out.” She walked down the street, turned a corner, then rushed back along the alleys to the Tenri household’s back door. She wasn’t a strong cultivator, but the increased vigor of the lightning in her core made climbing the garden wall a simple task. From there, she hopped onto the railing that circled the upper floor and peered in the windows.

Hanako had already returned to her room and was in the process of lighting every candle in the house. They were placed on the bookshelves and tables surrounding the room, but Xinya couldn’t seem to find any rhyme or reason to the pattern. It was random.

What is she doing? Trying to start a fire? But if that were truly the case, there were easier ways to do it. Besides, why would Hanako try to burn down her own home? Especially while she was still inside?

For hours, Xinya watched. The candles burned while Hanako brushed out her hair, humming a soft song that the little girl recognized. She sang that song while Xinya was asleep, battling the overwhelming lightning qi within her.

Then there was a THUD from the lower floor. Even Xinya heard it from outside. Hanako sighed and pulled her hair into a loose ponytail that lay gently over one shoulder before she stood and turned. Three men burst through the bedroom door, and Xinya recognized the insignia of the Lunar Hunt on their arms.

An Iron and two bronze? What are they doing here? She thought.

“Well, it seems we were expected,” the Iron artist said. He was a young man with hair pulled so tight that it made Xinya’s head hurt just to look at it. His black and silver uniform was sharply pressed, and he held himself like a wooden board, not like any artist Xinya had ever seen among the Hunt. He was much more disciplined than their usual ilk.

“That fact should concern you greatly.” Hanako’s voice was void of all her usual affection. Xinya had never seen her be so cold. It was clear these were no friends of hers.

“It’s curious, I’ll admit,” he continued. “However, I can see you’re just a mortal, so I wouldn’t call it quite ‘concern.’ Restrain her.” The bronze artists snarled and rushed forward. In an instant, Hanako’s arms were held tight. She stood no chance of overwhelming their force.

From a satchel, the Iron pulled a long roll of white cloth which he began unrolling, completely unconcerned by the struggling woman before him. Xinya frowned. What were they planning? What was their aim?

“Any last words you’d like us to add to the note before we leave?” he asked.

“Go feed yourself to the crabs,” Hanako spat.

“Be glad I have strict orders to make it look self-inflicted, else I’d cut that rude tongue from your mouth before finishing the job,” the Iron snarled.

Xinya pressed her hand to her mouth to stop any noise from escaping. What was she supposed to do? They were going to kill Hanako, but what could she do to an Iron? These wicked men deserved a good smiting, but she was too weak to deliver it!

Should she interfere? Hanako clearly foresaw this event. She wasn’t surprised by any of it, so maybe she had a plan? But…Xinya didn’t feel right leaving her Auntie to her fate. If there was any chance at all that she could make the difference…save Hanako’s life…

She had to take it.

Lightning surged inside her, and she focused her will towards the window. In an instant, a bolt of purple lightning surged between her and the glass, exploding it and sending shards streaking across the room with deadly speed. She threw herself in after, hearing glass crack under her feet as she lunged for one of the Bronze artists holding Hanako prisoner.

Months of practice took over as the words of her master filled her thoughts. Her fist flew forward, slamming into the man’s solar plexus. Lightning surged from her body into him. He gasped as the wind was knocked clean from his lungs, and his grip on Hanako faltered.

“Hanako! Run!” Xinya cried as she threw herself into the other Bronze’s legs, using her weight and the benefit of surprise to knock the man off balance. It wasn’t much, but maybe they could flee?

An iron grip wrapped around Xinya’s arm, and she was lifted off the ground. She thrashed, but the artist holding her was the leader. She stood no chance against an Iron, but she fought with everything she had.

“It seems a savage little pup got in,” he said with a sigh. “Little Wolf, did you really think playing the hero would succeed?”

“I’ll show you a wolf!” she snarled, lashing out to claw at his face. He blocked with ease.

“Well, Little Wolf has some bite, it’s a shame that it’s all in vain. Didn’t your parents teach you not to challenge your betters?”

Before she could answer, the Iron dropped her to catch a sword blade before it reached his gut. It didn’t even cut his hand as he bent the folded steel blade in Hanako’s hand, but the woman wasn’t deterred.

“You’re here for me. Leave her alone!” she growled.

“What? Is she your pup? The Little Wolf is protected by its mother, how cute.”

“You know what else is cute?” A gleam of triumph flared in Hanako’s eyes as she brought up her other hand. An ornate candelabra with five blazing candles cast dancing shadows across the room. “That you thought you could win against a seer.” Then Hanako threw the flames at the bed. In an instant, the silk sheets went up in a blaze, filling the room with smoke. “Xinya! Get out of here! Find Yoru and Lin!” Hanako shouted as the Bronze artists grasped at her arms. Her feet flailed, knocking several more of her candles into the walls and curtains.

Instinct in the face of fire sent Xinya into a panic. She ran with all she could, practically flying down the stairs.

“Fight while you can, Little Wolf! But you’ll find we can’t have witnesses! Get her!” A silhouette appeared in the light peering from the door. These artists had friends.

Unsure of what to do, she turned and fled to her room. Maybe the window there was a better way out. Slamming the door behind her and dragging a chest to block it, she rushed to the window. She ducked down just before another dark figure spotted her.

They’re patrolling the outside, too?! She looked around, unsure of what to do. Would the flames reach this far? If the ones outside saw her, or heard her shatter the window, then it would be over. If she stayed here and the fire spread to this room, she’d be done for anyway.

She was well and truly trapped.