Phoenix In The Mist

Chapter 1: True To Your Heart

In Wu Dao, the Elder families formed about one percent of our population. They were the ruling class of our empire, the Isles of Mist. These families were Gifted, able to wield various forms of magic. Traditionally, the males were Gifted with something 'war-like' while the women had powers that were considered more gentle in nature, something related to the upkeep of the house. There had been a few cases where the reverse had happened, but the children did not survive long.

The heads of the families usually fear changes.

Most prominent among the families were the Li. They were the rulers of our country, the family of Wu Dao's Emperor. No one knew exactly what the family Gift was, every whispered rumor named a different power.

The next most powerful would be the Ling. Their Gift manifested itself as something related to the body; their family was our country's only source of Gifted healers.

Other families weren't able to measure up to them, in terms of both size and power. Mama* was the last of her family, the Que, and her family name ceased to exist when she died giving birth to me.

Me? My name is Hua Mulan, and I hail from the Hua family.

~

I was five when I found out how different I was.

It was expected that since Mama had the Gift to talk to birds, and that Baba's** Gift was in relation to plants, I would inherit a similar Gift. Especially since the Hua family had an affinity for plant related Gifts.

One would think that genetics would be on my side, but apparently, that was too much to hope for.

Baba was out one day, tending our famous garden. He had left my nanny with me in the receiving room. Surrounding me were the wooden toys my father had carved for me, and a glowing fire in the hearth place kept me warm.

"Be a good girl, Mulan," Ah Yi *** Fa Li told me as she left, heading towards the kitchen to prepare the evening meal.

My head jerked up once she was no longer in sight, and, like any mischievous five year old, I immediately started looking for more interesting things in the room to play with.

There was my father's treasured Ming vase with chrysanthemums, and a low set table where we had our meals. The grandfather clock chimed; it was six in the evening. Aside from a cupboard of dried tea leaves and flowers, the sparsely furnished room featured only one more thing: a painting of my deceased mother.

My eyes scanned the room and took in the details, but what caught my gaze were the softly glowing embers. Entranced, I dropped the miniature wooden toy horse and pushed myself to my feet, toddling towards the fireplace.

I sank back down into a sitting position as I blinked at the flickering flames. So pretty, I thought, as I reached towards it. Stretching my hands into the fire, it danced as if welcoming me.

I scooped up a coal and held it to my face. Perhaps it was just my imagination, but this fire felt like an affectionate friend.

I nuzzled my cheek against it and felt something warm and almost solid caress my face. I giggled and leaned further into it.

"Mulan!" A cry of shock and fear interrupted the companionable crackle of the flames. Startled, I dropped the burning coal and it rolled back into the hearth.

"Oh Di Yu, let me see!" Ah Yi Fa Li exclaimed as she grasped my hands and held it out. Her eyes widened as she didn't see any burn marks, a dangerous awareness sparking in them.

"Fa Li, what's wrong?" Baba's voice called out from behind us.

"Sorry Baba, sorry Ah Yi Fa Li," I mumbled, as he strode slowly towards the fireplace.