Rosa: A Wangxian Reincarnation Story

A Cry From Above

Xavier was finally at his crossroads. The Prior had approached him with a deadline. Four months to start preparing for Holy Orders or decide to leave. . He also had 2 examples of Soulmates coming back together again after years apart, but his situation was different because his General had appeared only once and may still have more penance to pay for the sins committed as a mercenary. Wouldn't his present life be used better if he continued in the service of others? It was so unnatural for him to even consider a life spent any other way. The peace at the long length of time at the Abby was comforting, allowing mindful awareness but trusting in a God when he had been betrayed by other deities who had proven unstable at best, was difficult. He could not let go of the reins himself.

He wandered alone during the times at the clearing, trying to sort his thoughts and feelings when it was not his turn to train Yenay on the aerial movements. Most compelling to him at this given time, was that his family, gathering once more, was preparing to face a monster again, whose whole being was consumed by a highly adapted resentful energy and a bitterly sharpened hatred aimed at them all. He had honed that blade well over the ages and his principal targets were Lan XiChen and his sister Yenay's, souls. Xue Yang delighted in their agony above all others; he wanted to possess and obliterate every trace of them, as slowly as possible.

These facts left him with no decision to make. He chose his group above the gods, all of them, because the gods simply do not help those who do not help themselves first. And his soul family came first, above everything else. When it came to obtaining peace, the price had always been the cost of war. And this war was a very personal and private one for XiChen.

He joined the group as Lan Wangji and Yenay sprawled out on the soft grass, laughing and catching their breath. Qinyang gave her Guardian a soft kiss as she plopped down beside her and she began to towel the perspiration off of her love. XiChen beamed at them all, Wei Ying holding Lan Wangji's hand, Qinyang holding Yenay's, and Nie Hausang who smiled with his head on his knee, watching the others, undoubtedly wishing for his brother, Mingue.

"I have news."

They all sat up at once.

"Good news. I have decided to leave the Order. I do not wish to seek seclusion any longer."

Lan Zhan stared deeply into his brother's eyes. His own were filled with concern and sorrow.

"We can handle Xue Yang ourselves. You are always at our side. Always leading and protecting us. You have pursued this goal for a long time, Brother. This time should be for you, not us. You have sought it and it is within your grasp. This is too heavy a sacrifice. We cannot accept it."

Lan XiChen leaned in and embraced him then laid his hands on the younger man's shoulders. He fixed his soft brown eyes on his brother's. " Lan Zhan. Lan Wangji. Listen closely to me. How would I find peace and calm if something were to happen to any of you and I were safe behind cloistered walls? Is that the kind of choice any of you would make?"

Lan Zhan leapt to his feet, and strode furiously across the practice field. He aimed a large divot of clotted dirt and grass and kicked it a hundred yards down the length of the field. He stayed rooted looking at it as it fly past the group and Wei Ying rose to go to him. His need to soothe his husband was immediate but Lan XiChen held him back with the touch of two fingers laid gently on his forearm. They waited a moment together until Lan Zhan turned back around, eyes rimmed with angry tears, hands on his hips, on fire in the sunlight, sweat-stained, golden hair blowing in the breeze, tense. Wei wanted to wrap his arms around him but he took his cue from his brother-in-law and waited.

"Damn you. Damn it all, you are right. I could not. But Lan XiChen, don't you deserve something for yourself for once?" He turned away again and the group saw him furiously wipe his eyes. His brother walked silently up to him and reached around with a handkerchief. Lan Zhan took it and blew his nose. A rueful chuckle followed, then a sigh. And he turned back to Lan XiChen.