The carved dome of crystal glass above was subtly and masterfully carved to refract the color of the light captured in it like frozen stars, projecting dreamlike patterns to stimulate the mind and imagination of cultivators in the midst of their contemplation. Below the dome was the arboretum, a study in the mastery of the Bao's craft, each tree sculpted from metals and stone, and each life carved from precious gemstone. Yet the leaves and branches swayed in the breeze as lightly as any natural growth, their tinkling chime a song that spread throughout the carefully arranged space. Pleasant paths of polished marble wove through artificial hillocks and troughs, and here and there among the green silk grass were flat stones and quaint little benches, perfect for resting upon in the midst of meditation.
For Bao Qian, though, it was still just his favorite place to relax. Few of the grown ups cultivated here, for reasons he didn't understand. Then again he had only been awakened a year ago, on his eleventh birthday, and he hadn't cultivated much yet. Still, as he laid back on the stone bench and listened to the song played by the breeze on the leaves, the memory of awakening brought a smile to his face. It was the only time he could ever remember Mother and Father being home the whole day.
He brought the fruits of today's lessons up in front of his face, studying the disc of soft grey stone and brushing his thumb over the clumsy chisel marks that etched out the lopsided face of a lion dog. They were such cool beasts, but Father said they weren't suitable companions for a Bao. His smile faded a little as he studied his work, and glanced out at the earth wrought trees.
...Even if it wasn't very good, he wished he had someone to show it too.
The sound of voices disrupted the music of the arboretum, and Bao Qian blinked, craning his neck to look behind him as shadows jumped about with the passing of figures through the north entrance. He saw someone dart off to the left, and then some thirty seconds later a harried looking servant came dashing through the doorway. She was an older woman, wearing the red and brown robes the serving families wore while on duty.
He thought he might recognize her, maybe she had been one of his caretakers awhile back? He couldn't be sure, they changed every other week. He'd heard Father mention something about untoward attachments to explain it, but he didn't really get it. It made it a pain to remember anything about the servants though. Curiously he watched the woman glance around and begin hurrying up the path.
She noticed him a few moments later as she approached the bench he was lying back on, and stopped to quickly duck her head in a bow. "I am sorry for disturbing your rest, Young Master Qian, but did you see Young Miss Qingling run this way?"
Bao Qian looked up at the old woman's expression, seeing the irritation in the lines of her expression. "What happened," he asked.
"The Young Miss had another one of her fits after her herbalism lesson and ran off. Instructor Shu ordered me to retrieve her, please Young Master," the servant said, bowing still lower.
Bao Qian sat up, thinking for a few moments. "She ran off toward the east exit."
He watched the woman bow and again, hurrying off as fast as dignity allowed. He watched her go, feeling just a little bad for her. Then, he looked off to his left, where he had seen the figure dart under the shadows of the trees. He rested his chin in one hand, idly flipping his carving between his fingers. One of her fits, huh.
He remembered the first time he'd seen her when they were both really little, like only eight or nine. The big presentation festival where all the Bao who were out journeying came back to try and impress the head and the elders with their projects had been in full swing. There'd been a big scandal when the clan head's youngest daughter had broken down in the middle of part of a crowded show hall screaming and crying. He still remembered how furious her mother had looked as she followed the servants carrying the girl out. It had made his head throb, even with his parents standing over him.
Bao Qian hopped down from the bench, feeling the soft springiness of the silk grass under his bare feet, and started to walk out under the crystal trees. He'd seen her since of course, it was hard not too, when only some of the lessons split the girls and the boys here in the lower halls. She didn't really get on with anyone. The other boys like himself mostly just avoided her, but the girls…
Well, there was a reason he was wary of them. Girls were so mean.
He'd rather get in a fistfight with Qiang, than get in an argument with Qiao. He might win the one.
You'd think, as the clan heads daughter, everyone would be nicer, but Bao Qian supposed if his Father was so busy, the clan head must never stop working, and he had so many older children besides. Maybe he just forgot about her?
That was kinda sad, and that was why he felt bad for her.
It was a little spooky under the canopy of the arboretum, the starlight reflected strangely through the branches, spinning misty webs of light and dancing images, but mostly, it was cool and dark. He found Qingling by the sound of her breathing. She was curled up among the roots of a carved marble tree. She'd grown into a thin and awkward girl, and her dark hair hung down over her face and the hands clutching at her temples.
"Go away," she hissed well before he reached her.
He stopped considering what he saw, her green dress was muddy and ill kempt, so she must have taken a tumble in the garden, his eyes traveled up to her whitened knuckles and the small smear of blood on them. More he took a look at the way her shoulders were shaking, and the ragged edge to her breathing that wasn't exhaustion.
Father always said that understanding the people you were selling too was just as important as the quality of your product. He'd taught him some stuff about people that they didn't cover in the group lessons. Bao Qian turned and seated himself at the base of the onyx trunk he had stopped by, looking away from her.
Silence stretched on, broken only by the sound of her breathing. Bao Qian wondered if he was going to be scolded for lying when word got back around to his parents. He flipped his carving between his hands.
"What do you want," Qingling said eventually, only a hint of a sniffle in her voice."
"Just want to know what happened," he said casually. He knew she would just get mad if he said that he felt sorry for her. The first couple times he had approached her had gone pretty poorly because he was too honest.
"I was trying to help," she hissed.
He didn't say anything, just hummed an acknowledgement.
"Qiao was cutting her plant wrong. The medicinal properties would only be half as effective the way she was doing it. I pointed it out and the instructor agreed with me!" her words came quick and furious. "But she just got mad at me."
Bao Qian considered that she could probably have pointed out the mistake more quietly and avoided the instructors attention, but didn't say anything. Maybe for someone else that could have worked.
"Then after, they were all around me and my head hurt and they just wouldn't shut up. I should have hit her harder," Qingling said darkly.
Bao Qian closed his eyes, picturing a gaggle of Qiao and her friends, gathering around another girl who had offended them in the way they liked to do, heckling and insulting. He then pictured an agitated Qingling in the middle. Yeah, that sounded about right. "You know you're going to be in trouble now though."
"Like it matters," the girl replied, her voice muffled. She'd probably pressed her knees up against her face. "I'm always in trouble. If you're here, you're going to be in trouble too, fool."
"Hm, Father always says boys should get in trouble from time to time. It'll be fine. Probably," Bao Qian said with false cheer.
"...Boys are lucky then," Qingling said darkly.
"Maybe," Bao Qian agreed. "Well, since we're both in trouble anyway, will you look at something for me?"
"Why," Qingling asked suspiciously.
Because you're less suspicious if you feel like there's a transaction, he thought. Out loud, he just chuckled. "It's just, the instructors are too nice, I know you'll tell me where I made mistakes."
With those words, he flipped the disc he had been playing with over his shoulder. He heard a shuffle and the sound of stone hitting a palm. "...It's supposed to be a lion dog?"
"Well at least it's recognizable," he chuckled, scratching the back of his head.
"The lines on the mane are jagged, and his right eye is bigger than his left one. Some of the teeth are crooked too," Qingling said, only sniffling once.
Bao Qian nodded along, leaning back against the tree. It stung his pride a little, but he knew she wasn't really being mean. Qingling just… didn't get lying is all. He listened to her go on and let his eyes drift shut, picturing how he would fix his next try.
Nothing to do but wait till they were found now.
AN: This ended up coming up at a convenient time.In any case, also locking the vote, can I get the final tally?
