Hey guys! This is part 5 of my omake chain. Part 1 is
here, part 2 is
here, part 3 is
here and part 4 is
here. I decided that I would post the chapters in cycles of five to go with the sun theme. I'm considering separating each chapter with an interlude of some sort. Anyways, hope everyone likes it. ^_^
Sentinel: Dusk
The canvas was almost 8 meters tall and 8 meters wide. The scene depicted two shores separated by a widening sea. Above it all was the midday sun, so glorious and bright that it was painful to behold. The sun's reflection in the water was just as blinding and mesmerizing. The Western shore was full of shimmering, white sand and dotted with palm trees that swayed in the breeze. Birds of different sizes and shapes flew up and down the shore, hunting for food. To her amazement, Lai Meixiu saw one swoop down to the water's surface, plucking a fish from the shallows and soar back up to the palm trees. It's movement was so graceful...
wait a minute, this is a painting! Did I just forget that this is painting?
Lai Meixiu could not believe she had just been marveling at the bird's graceful flight but not the fact that parts of the artwork were moving. As she took in the sight before her, Lai Meixiu realized that the painting was full of motion. The ocean glimmered and flowed. The Eastern shore was bursting with verdant life. The jungle here was depicted with incredible detail. Plant life in hues of olive, sage and emerald were home to countless animals and insects. Lai Meixiu could hear the chattering and cawing of various creatures emanate from the jungle, echoing across the water…
"Lai Meixiu."
Her mind snapped back to reality.
Lady Chen Mei was kneeling down to be at eye level with her, hands on her shoulders. From the look of slight impatience on Lady Chen's face, Lai Meixiu guessed that she had been trying to get her attention for a while. Lady Chen also was glowing a lot brighter than usual.
Behind Lady Chen stood two adults dressed in the same finery. They did not seem to be paying Lai Meixiu any attention. Both of their eyes were closed and she got the impression that they were deep in concentration. More noticeable was the colored aura that surrounded each of them. The woman was ensconced in a pale yellow light that seemed to pulse and shift at random. The man was emanating a burnt-orange glow with shadows that seemed to circle him.
The girl's eyes wandered around the room, surprised to find that it was a plain, windowless space. Didn't nobles like their fancy furniture and decorations? Then again, anything else would be overpowered by that painting.
Just as she thought of it, Lai Meixiu was tempted to look at the artwork again but Lady Chen's hand immediately moved to the side of her face, turning her head to face forward. "Lai Meixiu. We have something to tell you," Lady Chen said, turning her head slightly to nod at the people behind her. "These are my parents, Viscount Chen Fai and Viscountess Chen Zhilan." They briefly opened their eyes and gave small nods of acknowledgement, their expressions unreadable. They went back to their intense concentration. "They are helping me shield us from the effects of the Masterpiece."
Lai Meixiu's eyes widened. "From the painting? But why--"
"I know you want to look at the painting but you will have time to do that later. Right now, you need to listen to me."
Lai Meixiu felt the slight but firm pressure of Lady Chen's hand on the side of her face. The noblewoman's fingers were cupped around the side of Lai Meixiu's eyes, keeping the artwork out of her peripheral vision. Lady Chen's intense, bright hazel eyes locked with her own.
Slowly, Lai Meixiu nodded. She allowed Lady Chen to turn her around so that her back was facing the painting. With some effort, she repressed the urge to turn back around.
Lady Chen smiled encouragingly. "Good. Now, we need to know how much you understand of what's happening. Has anyone ever told you about immortals? The powers they have?"
Lai Meixiu nodded hesitantly.
"Very good. You see, that was what Qiu Min meant when he was talking about people who are special. I expect he was not that straightforward because he did not wish to overwhelm or alarm you.
We are immortals--though we prefer the term 'cultivators.'" Lady Chen said, gesturing to herself and her parents, who were now following the conversation. "My family and I."
Lai Meixiu's mouth opened slightly in surprise but she did not say anything in response.
"My family also has a tradition of visual art education. It started with one of our ancestors, the artist who created the work behind you."
As it was mentioned, Lai Meixiu once again felt compelled to turn and behold the piece but she was able to quell that urge.
"Our ancestor, Chen Niu, was very, very old and powerful when she made this painting. It was a very long time ago. Most impressive of all, we believe she had no help or guidance in learning visual arts or to combine cultivation with her visual arts."
"Is that-is that what you do? How you guys make all these paintings? You use immortal power?"
"The term is
cultivation."
"R-right, yes. Sorry, Lady Chen."
Lady Chen favored her with another smile. "As I was saying," she said in a patient tone, "Our tradition of visual art comes from that ancestor. We are one of the few noble families today that specialize in creating these paintings--it's officially called
qi painting now. Although qi painting creates illusions, to Chen artists they are much more than that. One of the reasons the Chen are considered experts in qi painting is that we had that piece--which we simply call the Masterpiece--to learn from. No one has created anything like
that since our ancestor's time, though a few family members have very close. The masterpiece shows how much one can achieve in qi painting. As far as we know, no one else has produced something like this. I wanted you to see it so you could see just what is possible. It took Chen Niu centuries to finish the Masterpiece but it was said that she was satisfied with the final product.
"Now," Lady Chen said with a grin. "I want to show you how powerful the illusion of the Masterpiece is, without the protection of high ranking cultivators to keep it at bay. Are you ready?"
Lai Meixiu stared at the beautiful noblewoman who was holding out her hand. After a moment, she took it. Lady Chen nodded to her parents who nodded in return. Hand in hand, the two of them turned around to face the Masterpiece.
The young girl gasped as the vibrant qi suddenly became overwhelming. Wind blew against her face, tousling her hair. The air was heavy with humidity and the scent of ocean water. The sea was sending small spouts of water in their direction, sprinkling the pair with droplets of seawater. Lai Meixiu didn't know what to look at first. The beauty of the scene pulled her eyes in every direction. By chance, she looked at the verdant jungle. It was full of viridescent plants, teeming with wildlife. The depths of the jungle were thick with trees that blocked out most of the sun. The thick branches and layers of leaves formed a dark green canopy. It seemed that there were microcosms of life in every nook and cranny of this jungle. Birds flitting through the trees, claiming a branch for their nest. Different creatures swung through the branches with ease and some crawled, slithered or galloped on the forest floor. Fluorescent moss and bright flowers of every color sprouted from various trees. Insects lived inside some bark and scurried across large, exotic leaves. A particularly bright, magenta-colored flower was nestled in among some oval-shaped, dark green leaves. The edges of the leaves had sharp spikes, almost like a serrated knife but if she could just weave her hand through…
As her finger touched the soft magenta petal, Lai Meixiu gasped. She withdrew her hand and stepped back, her foot sinking a few inches into the muddy ground. She almost tripped over a large root that was behind her. However, Lai Meixiu managed to regain her balance. She looked around her, scarcely believing her eyes.
"So. What do you think?" Lady Chen was suddenly there, arms folded and leaning against a tree trunk. She stared at the noblewoman who simply gave her a wicked, knowing grin. She seemed to enjoy showcasing this phenomenon.
"W-what. Wha…
How?"
Lady Chen chuckled. "I mentioned illusions earlier, remember? It may be hard to believe but the truth is, none of this is real." She motioned to the lively jungle around them. "This is one big illusion. Our physical bodies are still in that same room, facing the painting. However, our spiritual senses perceive what the artist wished us to perceive. In this case, Chen Niu wished to show viewers the entire area, which goes on for miles. Come, I'll show you." She took Lai Meixiu's hand and led her through the jungle, weaving between towering trees and thorny thickets. They reached the edge, where the jungle met the shore. Only a small strip of sand separated the greenery from the ocean waves. Lady Chen pulled Lai Meixiu out of the underbrush and onto the beach. Lai Meixiu marveled at the feeling of wet sand beneath her feet. She gazed out at the waves for a minute and then strode towards them.
She stepped into the shallow waves, letting the sea foam gather around her ankles. The water moved past her, spraying her with ocean mist. The young girl simply stood there as the waterline grew higher, until she was wading thigh-deep in the waves. The saltwater from sporadic splashes stung her eyes and each wave threatened to knock her over. However, Lai Meixiu did not care. Her eyes gazed at the horizine.
"I've never been to the ocean before." Lai Meixiu said, in quiet awe.
Lady Chen was behind her. She nodded and gave a small chuckle. "Technically you still haven't seen it, you know."
They stood on the shore in silence for a few minutes, letting the water rush back and forth between their legs. The sun was just beginning to set.
"This incredible work of art is our family's greatest treasure and greatest secret. Our competitors would love to have it if they knew it existed. Qi painters learn a great deal just from spending time inside the Masterpiece. I certainly would not be the artist and formation specialist I am today without it." Lady Chen chuckled wryly. She glanced at the little girl beside her, only to find the child looking at her in confusion.
"If that's true then why are you showing it to me?" Lai Meixiu frowned.
"Isn't it obvious?" Lady Chen gave her an impish grin. "You would become one of us. You would come live with us as an adopted member of the family. We would train you in the ways of court, nobility and everything else of relevance--and in a few years, we will start training you in cultivation. After a while, you'll be able to channel your qi into your artwork. We'll teach you how to do so, how to use formations to create qi paintings.
"In return," she said, tone growing serious, "you would agree to remain with and serve the interests of the Chen clan. I have no doubt you could become a great qi painter. However, you must remain loyal to our family and keep the secrets of our techniques,
and other secrets to yourself. This would be a lifelong vow. Should you swear to it, you will become a Chen in all but name."
Lai Meixiu stared at Lady Chen. The miles of wondrous nature around her was just as alive as the sun began setting in earnest. However, the child's mind turned over Lady Chen's words. She could tell from the woman's grave tone that this was very serious. Should she agree to Lady Chen's offer, there would be no going back and no other paths she could choose.
"
Yes."
