Touch Of Eternity - The mortal trails Book 1

Lone wanderer

The evening had settled deep into the forest, the last hints of sunlight vanishing behind the distant mountains. Xiaoyan crouched low beside a narrow stream, the cold water lapping against her hands as she waited. The water moved slowly, just enough to carry the fish downstream but calm enough for her to see their shimmering scales beneath the surface.

Her eyes narrowed, focused on a small movement, a flash of silver beneath the water's surface. With a swift motion, she thrust her hand into the water, grasping the slippery fish and pulling it onto the bank. It flopped in the grass, tail thrashing, its scales glinting in the dim light. A perch, the kind her father had taught her to catch as a child.

A faint smile tugged at her lips, but it quickly faded. The memory of her father's gentle voice, guiding her through the movements, stung. She missed him, missed his quiet strength, the way he'd laugh softly whenever she caught something bigger than her hands could hold.

Xiaoyan shook the thought away. There was no time for mourning, not right now. She moved swiftly, wrapping the fish in thick green leaves she had collected earlier and making her way toward the cave she'd spotted earlier that day.

The cave was hidden behind a thick layer of underbrush, large rocks obscuring the entrance. Xiaoyan had been lucky to find it; this far into the mountains, the terrain was more rugged, and the chance of encountering soldiers grew slimmer. She pushed aside the bushes and ducked through the narrow entrance, the cool air inside brushing against her skin.

The small clearing within was just large enough for a fire, with a low ceiling of stone overhead. She sighed, her body heavy with exhaustion. She hadn't slept well in days, always keeping one ear open for the distant sounds of soldiers patrolling the forests. Her days were spent running, hiding, surviving. It had been this way for two years, ever since her father had died, ever since the emperor's decree had turned her world upside down.

But tonight, at least, she had a safe place to rest.

She knelt down and began gathering dry leaves and twigs from the cave floor, arranging them in a small circle of stones. With practiced ease, she struck flint against a piece of rock, the sparks catching on the dried tinder until a small flame flickered to life. The fire crackled softly, its light casting dancing shadows on the stone walls of the cave. Xiaoyan leaned back, the warmth of the flames easing the chill from her bones.

The fish sizzled over the fire as she cooked it, the smell of charred scales filling the small cave. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since the morning, but she waited patiently. She had learned long ago not to rush. Rushing got you caught, made you careless.

The cave felt safe, at least for now. She leaned against the cool stone wall, her legs stretched out before her, and allowed herself a rare moment of peace.

As the fire blazed, her gaze fell to the satchel by her side. There, tucked beneath layers of worn fabric, something glimmered faintly, the lotus shaped jade hairpin she had 'borrowed' from old Master Luo's shop, back in what felt like another lifetime.

She smiled softly, her fingers brushing over the smooth, cold surface of the pin. It had been one of her most daring pranks, sneaking into Master Luo's shop and swiping the mooncakes from right under his nose. Back then, she had reveled in her small acts of mischief, always laughing at the chase that followed. The villagers knew her as the troublemaker, but they couldn't help but love her, even as she outwitted them time and again.

A single tear slipped down her cheek. How far she had come from that carefree girl. Those days were long gone, replaced by a life of running, hiding, and surviving.

She blinked away the tear, staring into the flames. How quickly the world could change. One moment, she was skipping stones along the riverbank with her father, and the next, she was alone, an orphan, fleeing from soldiers who would see her dragged to the emperor's palace, a fate she could never accept.