The sun bathed the vast, open green plains in golden light.
Its brilliant radiance was impossible to ignore when stuck up high in the clear blue sky. The warmth it emitted had seeped deep into the lands until the very air hummed with it. Blades of grass danced back and forth in the warm current as though trying to rid themselves of the heat. The very heat that gave them all life.
Many creatures, big and small, roamed and stalked these hot grasslands. The larger and more confident of them walked upright, boldly sticking out their heads, while the smaller and lesser of them scurried between their legs. The scene was a mixture of alluring nature, quiet violence, and harsh survival, yet a strange harmony could be found among those living beings present.
A harmony that was promptly shattered by a single presence.
Baihu gazed up into the sky.
It was starting to get too hot again.
Lightly gripping the small hand within her grasp, a little tighter, Baihu spread her domain once more. Cold winds gradually began to blow in as the path they treaded upon steadily started being laced with faint traces of snow. Since leaving the safety of the mountains, Baihu thought it important to undertake such a task.
“Tired….” (L)
A soft voice called out.
Baihu stared at the owner of the precious voice.
She had been quiet, very quiet, since they left the mountains. Today even more so than yesterday. Despite how tiring the journey must’ve been for her, not a single complaint, protest, or grievance was aired. Behaviour unusually for the young cub, who would grumble at the smallest request. Not even the scenery, which must’ve been new to her, was enough to voice out a comment.
Letting go of the small hand, Baihu lifted up Lei-Lei and swaddled her to her chest.
The actions of her cub were nothing new to witness. In fact, Baihu had regularly experienced such behaviours when she first started travelling with Aurelia. The general reduction in the interest in things, talking, and physical contact were all symptoms of sadness.
A memory of what occurred with the fairies briefly flashed.
Baihu lightly shook her head.
Now wasn’t the time to dwell on such things.
Taking a step forward, a thought flashed in my mind.
If her cub was sad, she would just have to cheer her up later after all of this is done.
Baihu gazed around.
Teaching about all this while slowly journeying back and pampering her wouldn’t be a bad idea.
“This much is good.” (A)
Icy winds set down Baihu in a lush green forest teeming with life.
They had made decent progress so far in their journey.
In two days, they had left the treacherous eastern mountains and crossed the great plain. All that was left to do was cut through the Zhu Forest and arrive at their destination, their first destination at least.
“Ha, was it always this easy?” (A)
Aurelia collapsed on the ground and stared up into the stars.
Her declaration was tinged with nostalgia.
It was understandable. Their first journey through these lands had been anything but easy. Back in those days, the Forsaken were a common sight and posed a significant threat when travelling. Battles against them occurred on a daily basis, leaving little room to rest. It also didn’t help that they had been an inexperienced bunch. The journey through the great plain had taken them two weeks alone to complete. A pace many considered impossible at the time.
Baihu walked over to Aurelia.
She slowly lowered herself and sat beside her friend.
A comfortable silence settled between them.
“This world has become so beautiful….” (A)
A small smile crept on Aurelia’s face as she stared up into the stars.
The next words that came out of her mouth were almost a whisper.
“I wish you came along to see it with me.” (A)
Baihu gazed at the stars.
There was a time when she too had desired to see the world. Find her people and experience familial closeness. On that desire, she founded a promise. A long-broken promise.
“But… I’m glad you didn’t.” (A)
Aurelia turned to Baihu, wearing an infectious smile.
She stretched out her hand and gently patted the bugle on Baihu.
“There wasn’t much to see anyway.” (A)
She was still the same as ever.
That smile, that warmth that radiated out from her, was still as strong as ever. Never faltering nor wavering, just like when they first met. In the face of their greatest threats and deepest depressions, and against all odds, she held up her head high.
Burning incessantly like an out-of-control flame.
To be called not just her friend, but best friend, felt like an undeserved honour.
Baihu was well aware of her lacking nature.
It was in part why she desired to treasure such a person.
“How are things at the Church?” (B)
“Eh, what’s this? I remember someone telling not too long ago they didn’t care!” (A)
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
A mischievous smile grew on Aurelia.
“I don’t.” (B)
Baihu smiled in turn.
Aurelia clutched her heart as she collapsed completely to the ground.
“You’re not supposed to say such, you know?!” (A)
As the night grew darker, two figures sat closer together.
Surrounded by soft piles of snow, they appeared out of place with the bordering greenery.
Comfortable silence started to descend once more until one suddenly spoke.
“Bai-Bai?” (A)
Baihu's and Aurelia's eyes met.
“Please… speak to Lei-Lei before we arrive. I—I don’t know how long we’ll take….” (A)
There were many reasons Baihu wanted to leave her cub in the care of the fairies. Ignoring the most obvious—the dangers present—time was the second greatest reason. Simply put, Baihu couldn’t estimate how long it would take to settle the matter with the Forsaken.
Travelling nonstop while potentially battling the Forsaken would be too tiring for her cub.
The journey to the westward would likely bloom into something more. It always had. Putting such strain on her cub was unacceptable. She was barely managing as it was now. Any more would be unreasonable to expect.
Baihu nodded at her friend’s words.
She had been having similar thoughts. The slow trip back would serve as a proper treat for her cub, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t do a little something.
“We’ll take a break tomorrow.” (B)
A short respite before they dropped her cub.
Aurelia smiled.
Although this would cause the urgent journey to take longer, she was still as supportive.
She was a good person.
The bundle wrapped around Baihu stirred ever so slightly.
Hopefully, with tomorrow, they wouldn’t have a repeat of what happened at the mountains.
“We aren’t travelling today?” (L)
“Yep!” (A)
A face shone on her cub that she quickly sought to hide.
It was relief.
“Uhm, why not?” (L)
Baihu walked over to where the two were conversing.
“~Is that something you should be asking me?~” (A)
Baihu scooped her cub off the ground.
The ears of her cub immediately started twitching randomly as she pulled away.
Baihu didn’t let her go.
Brushing away the hairs that covered part of her face, she instead tried to meet the running gaze of her cub.
‘Strange’
Baihu couldn’t understand why she was suddenly pulling away. Even when they left the mountain and her cub was sad, she hadn’t pulled away when Baihu tried to lift her. It was behaviour she only ever did when she had done something wrong. She hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Come on, Mommy! Tell her what’s what!” (A)
Baihu gazed at her friend.
“Right, right. Sorry…” (A)
As much as she appreciated the support, it wasn’t needed now.
“Master… What are we doing?” (L)
Without answering, Baihu started walking. Leaving the comfort of the snowy area, she journeyed on into the green forest. Her senses were sharp, and with her focus high, she quickly found what she was looking for.
The sound of running water, the smell of damp earth, and the taste of fresh sweetness in the air.
A river was nearby.
Baihu took a short leap in the air.
“AGGGGH!!” (L)
Icy winds softened the landing.
Carefully prying off the hands of her cub, she gazed at the torrential flow of the river.
It was time for a lesson.
Sitting on the surface of a frozen river, Baihu stared at the fidgeting cub sitting across from her.
Baihu closed her eyes.
The wonder many termed as mana populated everywhere and anywhere. It served as proof of the existence and certainty of an object in reality. If something existed, it produced mana. However, just because something was capable of producing mana, didn’t mean it was competent enough to utilise it. In the case of most mortal creatures, they weren’t born with the intrinsic ability to use mana. Without the interference of the Great Serpent and the creation of Manmanic, they would’ve remained forever incapable.
Beings like Baihu, the fairies, and the Great Serpent were the exception, not the rule, when it came to comprehending mana. They all possessed the intrinsic ability to utilise mana. In Baihu’s case, she studied under the fairies but still had the inherent ability to manipulate her own mana without them. Generating spells without the use of Manmanic.
Lei-Lei appeared to be the same.
Casting spells without the use of Manmanic.
It was special.
But.
Baihu didn’t like that.
She lacked any control of her mana. It was hard to accurately guess what would occur whenever her cub decided to use her mana. A very dangerous fact considering the potency of her mana. Not all mana was produced the same. In order to bypass this danger, Baihu resorted to teaching her Manmanic. Due to its structured nature, Manmanic was rigid with its effects. The words of power were fixed on what they could produce.
“NIX” (B)
A powder of snow materialised in Baihu’s hand.
It was small.
She frowned.
Manmanic was truly an inefficient way to use mana to generate spells, but a demonstration was necessary.
Baihu opened her eyes and looked forward.
“I wanted to learn the floating thing….” (L)
A grumble, her cub likely thought Baihu unable to hear, was whispered out after that display.
Baihu chose to ignore it.
The excitement radiating from her cub was palpable.
Her ears and tail were standing at attention.
She couldn’t even face Baihu.
“Try.” (B)
Her cub’s body promptly froze.
“M-Me…?” (L)
Despite her eagerness to learn, the hesitation within her movements was heavy.
Baihu knew the likely cause.
“Yes.” (B)
Baihu had seen her cub practicing Manmanic when she thought no one was watching. Trying to generate spells with no success.
“A-Alright…” (L)
Her cub took a deep breath and outstretched her hand.
“Nix!” (L)
Nothing happened.
Lei-Lei stared at her hands for briefly.
Abruptly she declared,
“W-Whatever! Who wants to use magic anyway?!” (L)
She quickly got up from the ground.
Her fists balled.
“It’s probably broken or something.” (L)
Her cub started walking away.
Baihu watched.
Until.
“Lei-Lei.” (B)
Her voice gentle, she called.
“Don’t give up.” (B)
Without a word, her cub stopped.
She stood in place for a moment.
Her foot tapped the frozen ground.
Her hands gripped her clothes tightly.
Finally, but slowly, she turned. Gradually, she walked to Baihu with her head held down.
Stood in front of her, Baihu took her cub’s hands that were stuck to her side and cupped them.
“Imagine what I did. Focus on this feeling.” (B)
Baihu pumped her mana inside Lei-Lei.
The reason she kept failing was because she had forgotten this feeling. And, instead of taking the time to try and recall it, she kept on letting her frustrations interfere. This was something she could easily do without Baihu.
She needed a little push.
“Nix.” (L)
A fresh powder of snow materialised in her hands.
“I… I did it! Yes, I’m a wizard!” (L)
‘Wizard?’
Deciding to not interject, Baihu stood up.
“Master, you can teach me the floating thing now!” (L)
Her little cub started jumping around.
Baihu ignored that and turned around.
“Master?” (L)
Baihu lightly tapped the frozen surface.
The icy surface in front swiftly and quietly sank into the river flow.
She only froze the surface; underneath, a powerful river still flowed.
“Why?!” (L)
Looking down at the open stream, numerous fish could be spotted trying to swim against the violent current.
It was that time.
Baihu summoned a pile of snow in her hand, balled it, and then threw it at one of the many fish swimming.
Direct hit.
This was a game she played long ago.
Turning to her dazed cub, she beckoned her to do the same.
“I-Isn’t that kind of wrong though!?” (L)
“No.” (B)
How could this be wrong?
Her cub hesitated for a moment before finally making up her mind.
She balled the snow already in her hand and then threw it at the fish.
Her throw needed improvement.
“Wait… I wasn’t trying for real yet.” (L)
Her cub closed her eyes for a moment in intense concentration.
“Nix!” (L)
A pile of snow appeared in her hands.
“It worked!” (L)
While Lei-Lei took aim, Baihu found her gaze drifting to their surroundings.
A presence was watching them.
“I-I hit one! Master, did you see!!” (L)
An excited little cub pulled at her cloak, stealing her attention.
“Yes…” (B)
Lei-Lei’s eyes squinted.
“Really? But you weren’t even looking….” (L)
Baihu petted her head.
“Good work.” (B)
Lei-Lei shoved the hand off.
“I’ll do it again, watch me!” (L)
In the afternoon of the Zhu Forest, a figure could be seen resting on the top of an icy river.
An unnatural, quiet, cold atmosphere occupied the space she rested in.
A nun approached the figure.
Baihu raised an eyebrow.
The question was obvious.
Where have you been?
“Went on a nice stroll.” (A)
Aurelia laid down beside Baihu.
“She’s completely out, huh?” (A)
Her hand petted the small girl wrapped in Baihu’s embrace.
After playing and eating, Lei-Lei had fallen asleep at a pace even abnormal for her.
“Thank you.” (B)
“She loved it that much?” (A)
Her friend let out a light chuckle.
She was the one who suggested getting closer to her cub by playing games.
One that would hopefully make tomorrow easier.
Her cub needs this.
“JinBing will be a great, safe place for her.” (A)
Baihu nodded as Aurelia rested her head onto her shoulder while still petting Lei-Lei.
The city was run by a relatively strong ally of theirs.
It served as a haven for many.
Baihu hugged the young cub tightly snuggled in her embrace.
Hopefully this doesn’t take too long.