The axe thunked for the tenth time as it hit the log, splintering and splitting in half. Zhao Li stood back, a few meters away, watching as one of the young villagers tossed the log behind him. Zhao Li may have been small, young, and an Axsumite, but here, in the Snow Rabbit Village, everyone worked.

  Her hands were small and lacked the strength to wield the axe. With each tug, she shifted the firewood closer to the woven baskets, her breath coming in quiet puffs of exertion. Behind her, villagers collected the split pieces, loading them into their baskets to carry back to the village.

  “That’s enough,” a young man called out after a few hours. Zhao Li turned around, gasping as she’d probably pulled her thirtieth cut log for the day. “Elder Ming said that’s enough.”

  She nodded without looking up, brushing stray strands of hair from her face before grasping another piece of wood and dragging it into place. The villagers gave her space to work. Not speaking to her nor getting in her way.

  Zhao Li despised that, but still, it was better than the treatment she received at the Purple Mist Valley. The villagers gathered the remaining logs in a hurry, eager to return before dusk settled or to get away from Zhao Li.

  It didn’t matter.

  She’d steeled her heart against their silence. She watched them leave, chattering amongst themselves as they faded back to the village, leaving her to the forest’s own symphony—rustling leaves, distant birdsong, and the occasional snap of a twig beneath some creature’s foot.

  Only when they were gone did Zhao Li exhale; she wiped sweat from her brow and looked up through the forest canopy. Sunlight filtered through in golden shafts, dappling the forest floor. This was her favorite time when log-pulling duty was over, and she could wander alone.

  Zhao Li moved deeper into the woods, away from the well-worn paths. Here, the undergrowth grew thicker, ferns unfurling at her feet. A family of sparrows took flight as she approached their tree, wings beating frantically before settling on a higher branch to watch her pass.

  “Why is it always like this?” she whispered to herself. She never hoped for an answer, but the silence really tugged at her, and that bothered her.

  After a few minutes of threading through the forest, she found her favorite spot. A moss-covered boulder beside a small stream. She sat cross-legged, letting her fingers trail in the cool water, listening to the sound of flowing water smooth over stones; it usually calmed her racing thoughts…but not today.

  The past few months have been hard on Zhao Li, getting accustomed to the town, its people, their ways, and the work she engaged in. The part that was harder was that Xiao Qing wasn’t here. Unlike the children in this or back within the Purple Mist Sect.

  ; that’s what Lady Susu said:

  Tears began to form in her eyes as she remembered the first day she began working. An elderly woman bumped into her while toiling away. The woman didn’t even acknowledge what she had done.

  Zhao Li bowed and apologised to her. She was an elder, so showing her respect was paramount. Zhao Li, didn’t dislike her, but the she did not say anything back to her, made her mad…angry, but most of all…it made her feel insignificant.

  Tears began to flow down her cheeks, and Zhao Li just sat there, staring into the sky. Hoping things would change, this wasn’t new to her, but to feel it here, in the Snow Rabbit Village, was another thing.

  “Endure…” she said aloud, but her body just couldn’t do it anymore. Her mind was tired. Zhao Li wanted to give up. She thought,

  She let the thought linger in her mind. She couldn’t see any other reason why Susu hadn’t started her training, but to sit and watch her be treated like that…it made her feel worthless.

  “You’re beautiful as you are,” her father told her when she was covered in flour. Those words made her feel like a child, but most of all…they made her feel loved.

  The day she went to the watermill after being rejected by Tong and his friends. It was so fresh within her mind that she could still hear his words. “Demoness, you don’t belong here…”

  Those words tore her apart inside. She didn’t cry. She ignored them. As long as she could, but they haunted her for weeks…months even. Until she couldn’t forget them. They came back like a rabid wolf, gnawing at her mind and heart. She couldn’t fight them off; they felt so real, visceral to the point that the ball within her chest exploded into anger! “I JUST WANT A FRIEND!” she screamed, “I JUST WANT A FRIEND TO PLAY WITH!”

  Her scream echoed through the Jade Dragon Forest, startling birds into flight. She covered her mouth, shocked by her own outburst. She hadn’t meant to shout; she hadn’t realise how much pressure had built inside her.

  As the forest fell silent, as if holding its breath leaving. Relief washed over her slightly as she sat there alone, as she'd always been. The absence of the villagers’ sidelong glances and whispers wasn’t there. She loved that. She wasn’t the child with a mysterious past; she was just an outsider. An Axsumite who had shown up a few months ago.

  Sunlight caught on something at the stream’s edge—a river stone, flat and perfect for skipping. It caught Zhao Li’s attention; she pushed herself up and picked up the river stone. She tested its weight between her fingers, then flicked her wrist. The river stone skipped four times before sinking into the river.

  “I want to train,” Zhao Li said, face scrunching into determination. “I want to train.”

  The helplessness she felt was constant, but she had to be patient. She sighed, picking up another stone. This one felt rougher than the river stone. She looked at it, seeing the ivory and dirt from the ground smudged around it. Zhao Li squeezed until her knuckles turned white, feeling the sharp corners press against her skin. “You promised,” she whispered, imagining Lady Susu's elegant face. “You promised to train me!"

  She hurled the jagged stone into the water with all her might. It didn’t skip—just plunged straight down, sending an angry splash upward. Zhao Li watched the ripples spread across the surface, disturbing her reflection. She picked up a third stone which happened to be rougher than the last stone. “I could be strong,” she said to the empty forest. “I could be important.”

  She reminisced about the time Lady Susu showed girls that returned to the Purple Mist Sect for training. She moved like water itself, flowing between stances, her hands trailing light that sparkled like jewels. Everyone had watched in awe. No one could ignore her, she thought back, no one did.

  “I want to be like her,” Zhao Li whispered, “I want to be seen.”

  Zhao Li stood up, her fists clenched at her sides. She moved to the center of the clearing and tried to remember Lady Susu’s stance. Feet apart, knees bent, back straight. She extended her arms, imagining light flowing from her fingertips.

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  She stepped forward, punching the air, mimicking Susu as best she could. The punch was hollow, clumsy, and uncoordinated. She tried to spin to her left and nearly fell, catching herself against the mossy boulder.

  “No… that's not what she did,” she said calmly. She closed her eyes and envisioned the motion once more. Zhao Li watched as Susu stepped forward, punching the air, then pivoted back, then spun on her back foot before unleashing a series of punches in quick succession.

  “Alright,” she said aloud, “let’s try this again.”

  She planted her feet in the best even stance she could muster, then stepped forward to punch the air. She leaned back and tried to turn on her heels. She skidded on the ground and landed on her back.

  She heaved out in frustration and pushed herself back up and did it again. She did it till her body couldn’t handle it anymore. She sagged to the ground, resting her head on the ground and stared at the sky.

  A few minutes passed, and Zhao Li eventually pushed herself back up. Her heart thumped to a chaotic rhythm that made her chest feel tight, like something was trying to claw its way out. She didn’t understand why it felt that way, but she did what relieved her of her stress.

  She screamed to the top of her lungs, feeling all her anxiety, stress, and pain flood through her lips as she did so. A growling howl followed that sent shivers down Zhao Li’s spine. The hair on her back rose, and goosebumps began to ripple, forcing her to run in the opposite direction.

  Zhao Li darted through the forest like her life depended on it. It didn’t take long for her heart to thump louder within her chest, but when it came to a point, her eyes began to tear up again. She angrily wiped them away. She looked at her hands and saw dirt under her fingernails and calluses forming from pulling logs. she asked herself, feeling hollow.

  The wolves howled again, this time distantly. Zhao Li leaped over a small log, then turned right. She went down a small hill, then climbed over a boulder with vines crawling all over it. Her heart skipped a beat when she landed on the ground, as she heard something snap to her right. Her head turned unconsciously, and it was a rabbit nibbling on a piece of leaf.

  Zhao Li’s heart calmed for a second, then a howling growl danced in the air that sent terror through her body once more. She closed her eyes, trying to think like a grown-up would.

  She couldn't, so she stopped and concentrated on her running back to the village.

  Zhao Li neared the village, relief washing over her as her steps slowed. She climbed over the fence, and the warm glow of lanterns that lit the wooden houses a few meters from where she stood danced in the background, like fireflies. The light flickered against the darkening sky. A few villagers lingered outside, finishing their evening chores, but none acknowledged her when she passed them.

  She had grown used to it.

  Zhao Li finally reached the hut she shared with Susu; she paused at the door, listening. Inside, she could hear the faint rustling of fabric and the occasional scrape of wood against stone. “Welcome back,” Lady Susu said.

  She pushed the door open and was met with Susu sitting in the middle of the room, cross-legged on the floor. The table partially blocked her, and she was sitting next to the fire, her eyes closed, but when Zhao Li made another step, she opened them. “Are you okay?” she asked her.

  Zhao Li nodded and walked to her room. “Would you like something to eat?”

  “I’m not hungry,” Zhao Li answered.

  Lady Susu rose from her seated position. “Come here,” she said, waving Zhao Li over.

  She hesitated for a second, then turned back. She approached Susu with her eyes lowered, still catching her breath from her dash through the forest. “Have you been keeping up with your breathing exercises?” Lady Susu asked, studying the child’s dirt-smudged face and disheveled appearance.

  Zhao Li’s heart skipped; she hadn’t practiced for two weeks. Susu had shown her when they first arrived at Snow Rabbit Village. She’d practiced diligently at first, but as the days stretched into weeks and then months with no further instruction.

  “I have,” she lied.

  “Every morning and evening as I instructed?” Susu asked, her eyes narrowing.

  “Yes,”

  A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the soft crackling of the fire. Zhao Li shifted her weight from one foot to the other, feeling the weight of Susu’s stare.

  “Your breathing is ragged and uncontrolled,” Susu finally said. “If you had been practicing as instructed, your breath would not betray you so easily after a mere run through the forest.”

  Heat rose to Zhao Li’s cheeks. She wanted to argue back, but she balled her fists knowing what it was like back at the Jiang residence. The urge to tell her about the fleeing wolves was at the tip of her tongue, but she was still getting to know Lady Susu; she didn’t want to aggravate her and be punished with lashes. So she held it in and bowed her head. “I... I forgot sometimes,” Zhao Li admitted.

  “Mmm…the truth emerges,” Lady Susu said, turning back to the small fire. “Have a seat.”

  Zhao Li sank to the floor, crossing her legs as Lady Susu had done. Her muscles ached from her attempts to mimic the martial forms earlier.

  “Why haven’t we started?” Zhao Li blurted out before she could stop herself.

  “Mm…started? What do you mean?” Susu asked.

  Zhao Li didn’t respond; she sat there looking at the ground, hands curled into fists. Susu’s lips curled into a smile; it was as if she knew what was on Zhao Li’s mind. She turned around and walked up to the water basin and scooped it up. She approached Zhao Li, resting the water basin next to her, then snatched a rag off the table.

  She knelt down next to Zhao Li and dipped the rag into the basin and began wiping her face. After Zhao Li’s face was clean. She tipped her chin upward and looked her in the eye. “What’s on your mind, Li’er? Hmm?”

  Zhao Li didn’t move or say anything, but the tears began to flow from her eyes like a waterfall. “You said you’d train me…why haven’t we started? You promised. It’s been months since we came here, and all I do is pull logs everyday...” She said trailing off into silence, as if she realise what she’d done.

  “Good,” Susu said, smiling as she massaged her chin. “When you speak, always look the person in the eye.”

  A thrumming silence resonated between the two, and Susu laughed. The laugh seemed to be satisfactory, but it only left Zhao Li confused. Susu grabbed Zhao Li’s hand, then turned them up to face her.

  She began squeezing her palms, examining the developing calluses, then motioned to her wrist, arms, and eventually her legs. “Better than when you arrived,” Susu said softly, “but still too weak…”

  A confused expression flashed across Zhao Li’s face. I’m weak?

  “Li’er… your body is too weak,” Susu said calmly. “Your muscles lack the necessary foundation. Your lungs cannot sustain the proper breathing techniques. Your mind still reacts with fear rather than discipline.”

  “But I can get stronger!” Zhao Li protested. “I’ve been trying the forms by myself. I—“

  “You are getting strong Li’er, but the foundation I want to see isn’t here yet. I won’t begin your training unless I'm satisfied. It could hurt your development. Without that, your training can go wrong…” Lady Susu said calmly.

  Tears of frustration welled in Zhao Li's eyes. “Please… teach me.”

  “I am teaching you Li’er… Every log you pull strengthens your back and arms. Every day you endure the villagers’ coldness builds your mental fortitude. Every breath you practice prepares your body for what is to come.”

  She placed a cool hand on Zhao Li’s head. “I am waiting until I am satisfied with your development. Until your foundation is solid enough to bear the weight of your training.”

  “When will that be?” Zhao Li asked, unable to keep the desperation from her voice.

  “That depends on you,” Lady Susu replied. “Be diligent in your tasks and mindset. Had you been diligent with your breathing exercises, we would’ve been closer to starting, but alas, here we are.”

  “How close…”

  “Stop worrying about the timeframe and worry about missing your tasks and breathing practices.”

  Zhao Li’s shoulders slumped, but the determination was still there in her eyes. Susu smiled as she looked at her, which made Zhao Li feel relieved.

  “Understanding is not required for obedience… A child does not understand why she must not touch fire, yet she must obey to avoid being burned.”

  She rose to her feet again and looked down at Zhao Li. “We will begin again. Tomorrow morning, before your log-pulling duties, I will instruct you once more in the proper breathing techniques. This time, you will practice them faithfully.”

  Hope flickered in Zhao Li’s chest. “…And then will we begin real training?”

  “We will begin when you are ready… Not before. Now, wash your hands and get something to eat. Your body requires nourishment. Understood?”

  An array of emotions ran through Zhao Li’s mind and body. The disappointment she felt that her training wouldn’t start made her feel anxious and frustrated. She looked down at her hands and scratched the calluses that were forming. She then looked at Susu, who was stirring the pot.

  A loud growl resonated in the room, betraying Zhao Li’s words of not being hungry. The scent of congee flowed into her nose, making her mouth water, and she looked at Susu, who continued to stir the pot. “Thank you for the meal.”