Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)

Ling Qi kicked her feet idly, leaning back over the rail of the balcony. The sun shone brightly over Shenglu today. Snow blossom lake was like a vast, deep blue mirror, splitting the earth, visible clearly even through the churning mist of the waterfall, refracting the bright little into fleeting shimmers of rainbow color. It was a wonderful view, but to Ling Qi even that was peripheral.

It was amazing, sitting here, without a single flicker of the chronic pain she had suffered for months and months. For every breath to come naturally and without effort, for her meridians to flow smooth with her cycling qi, without any of the burn or ache. Truly her respect for her friend Xiulan had deepened, knowing the girl had been dealing with such pain for two years now.

"I had wondered if you would not come back with some new and exotic injury, when you stated your intentions," Cai Renxiang said. Her liege stood at the rail near her, arms folded behind her back. Her eyes were fixed on the slowly growing township below, the docks spreading on the shores, and the motion of people through streets and buildings.

"Hm, an arm melted off, the stump bleeding rainbow mist?" Ling Qi mused.

"If not your feet having permanently caught fire, or you having become a wisp of smoke with pretensions," Cai Renxiang said dryly.

"Oh either of those would be bad," Ling Qi agreed sagely. "People would be uncomfortable if I was floating all the time, not to mention the smell. It would also make hugging my little sister very hard."

"Let us avoid finding out," Cai Renxiang said with finality, turning her head to look up at Ling Qi perched up on the railing. Qiyi's ribbons were lazily twisting her slowly regrowing hair into tight braids. She had promised the dress the chance to play a little after all.

"Yes," Ling Qi agreed. "I was very certain I could remove us before things got dangerous if need be. My trials and journeys have given me a lot of practice."

"I am certain you were," Cai Renxiang replied.

She furrowed her brow at her friend, there was no need to sound so doubtful. She wasn't that bad about risk.

Cai Renxiang held her gaze without blinking, utterly expressionless.

Ling Qi huffed and looked away toying with one of her temporary braids. Well she'd forgive Renxiang, since she was still flustered by the incident with the General. Instead of furthering a silly argument she looked back over her shoulder as the sleeves of her gown ballooned out slowly growing into the sort of lace filled hand swallowing monstrosities that the most conservative of court ladies wore.
…She really hoped Qiyi got this out of her system quickly.

"So we're beginning the granary expansions then?" She asked lightly. Politely showing interest in her lieges projects and not changing the subject at all.

She could see, if she squinted a bit the site for the proper city granary roped off packed earth and foundations being raised. "Do we really need an expansion already?"

"It is best to establish proper procedure from the beginning and expand smoothly. The previous arrangements were too informal," Cai Renxiang replied. It will train the clerks and officials to better process complaints requests and orders without my direct intervention. This will improve our capacity for projects."

"And I suppose ironclad certainty that we are immune to famine for now does have a way of boosting people's mood," Ling Qi mused. What a strange idea to entertain. That situations like hers could have been erased by even a slight exertion of effort from the rulers of Tonghou. She'd seen the cost of importing grains to fill the granary for the first year, even extrapolating out to a much higher population…

Well, even her Ling clan could afford that, without much difficulty.

"I would like you to oversee the set up of the… what did you wish to call the winter shrine again?"

"The Theater of Frost," Ling Qi said lightly. "Hanyi's presentation is going to stick. I'm certain of it."

"As you like. Arranging safe locations for bonfire building is well enough, but I want your input and instruction to the workers on the shrine altar proper," Cai Renxiang replied.

"Done," Ling Qi said, thinking of what the arrangement should look like to best please or propitiate the winter spirits of the region.

"What are your other intentions?" Cai Renxiang asked. "We will need to begin our journey north in six weeks mind."

"Well, I'll be spending some time with my family as they arrive…. But I am considering whether we should make an expedition to seal off the impurity cavern in the Cathedral of winds too," Ling Qi mused. "Spending time in lessons and instruction with Meng Duyi could be productive too, or exploring the boon I received with Zhengui… I may have been a little light on planning for the coming month."

She definitely hadn't been unsure if she would need to recover again.

Cai Renxiang gave her an unimpressed look, and even Qiyi, who had by this point transformed into something inordinately ornate, gave a rustling sigh.

"Well inform me soon. You are on light duty yet, so there is no conflict. I do need to know if an expedition is being made."

"Understood Lady Cai."

+1 XP to Choice, +1 XP Community
"The governor's manor, truly?" Ling Qingge said, looking faintly discomfited as she their households things were carried inside by their staff.

"I did say so in my letter," Ling Qi said, drawing a giggle from Biyu as she rocked the girl in the crook of her arm. She had to give it to Qiyi, her little sister was fascinated by the ribbons.

"I thought you must have been being imprecise, referring to a household on the grounds," Ling Qingge sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Oh goodness, I am not qualified at all to train staff for a role like this…"

"You are mother," Ling Qi said bluntly. "Do you think I have not scene what you've put your stipend towards, the books and scrolls and observations of the modern court fashions and ettiquette? You've been much more dedicated to learning this than I."

She lifted Biyu up, grinning up at her little sister as she pun a graceful circle furred hem of her gown flaring out. Biyu shrieked in delight, kicking her feet. "And I somehow have managed to become a respected diplomat," she finished cheerfully.

Her mother let out a huff of breath, taking Biyu from her hands. It was a testament to the strength of even a first realms cultivation that her mother's arms didn't tremble under the growing girls weight. Biyu pouted as she was set on the ground.

"There is a great difference between preparations and reality," Ling Qingge said.

"Mama will be good. Sis says so! Mama no sad." Biyu announced authoritatively. "New house is pretty."

"Outnumbered," Ling Qingge sighed. "I suppose I shall simply have to manage."

"I trust you to more than manage. Besides we won't be getting too many visitors in person yet," Ling Qi said comfortingly, stepping past to show them inside.

"I suppose not, with you all away in the capital soon," Ling Qingge said as they entered, looking around the high entrance hall as they entered with a sharp studying eye… and not a little wonder. "Will things…"

"A small patrol will be up from the summit zone while we are away, in recognition of the heiress' duty to her Mother's court," Ling Qi said absently. "It won't be perfect but… unless it's a serious attack the manor will be safe."

If it was a serious attack the Sect town would not be perfectly safe either. It tied her stomach into knots, but she knew that having her family with her was a risk. "We even installed Xuan Shi's panic room formation," Ling Qi added brightly.

"I suppose there is some comfort in that," Ling Qingge said. They walked in silence for a time, passing through the entrance hall, past the offices of clerks and officials that filled out much of the front space for now.

"Oh Look! Mama look!" Biyu burst out brightly pointing ahead at the doors opening out to the gardens, to the rippling pond in its center shrouded by mist stirred up by the falling water drizzled in from a rooftop spout. The flower beds were mostly empty still, black and loamy. It had been decided not to grow them properly until winter was passed.

""The mist is pretty isn't it," Ling Qi said to her little sister. "When the snows melt, you'll have to help everyone pick out what kind of flowers to plant, okay?"

"Okay." Biyu agreed, nodding seriously, but her eyes were fixed on the falling waters. Ling Qi firmed up her grip on the little girls hand, just case she got in the mind for a dip.

"May I ask after your… fashion choice by the way, Ling Qi?" Her Mother asked, glancing at her with an uncertain look.

Ling Qi sighed. Her hair curled and looped through a silver circlet, a glittering pale blue veil hung over her face, a high collar rose behind her head, black silk stretched between stiffer 'ribs arranged like icicles, even her hands were covered by soft silk evening gloves disappearing beneath her silver chased sleeves, the jangled with metallic icicle charms.

"...Just fulfilling a promise to try new things," Ling Qi said.

"I see," her Mother replied, clearly not seeing at all.

"Sparkles pretty. Spikyes bad. Sister swish like a pretty fairy, not jingle jangle."

Little one right. Spikey bad. Jingle No good. More sparkles, better ribbons. More swish. Like boots?

The boots were fine, she didn't mind the raised heels when they weren't excessive. Beside it had made riding a patrol with Xia Lin more comfortable.

Boots good!

Well, nevermind that. I don't think I'll wear this exact style again," Ling Qi said. "Let me just show you to your rooms Mother, and please….

Don't forget to ask for anything you need.."

Protection II->Protection III- To protect is ever an act of balance, choice and control, risk and safety, survival and happiness. There is no perfect protection, only painful balance.

AN: Details of your new art will be revealed in the introductory arc of the new month where there is some room to show them off. Until then please vote for which of the remaining projects you would like in the first slot for cultivation in the coming turn.

[ ] Labyrinthian Geomancy

[ ] River King's Envy

And as a final announcement. I will be taking a one week break from the 9th to the 15th to recharge and destress.