Born of Water and Flames

1- Taiwan

I am Akemi Lin. And I am a servant of the air. I remember well the day I was cursed. My mother was sick, so sick that after praying to nearly all the gods, there was so sign, no sign at all. She was suspended between life and death and did not grow closer to either, We prayed to nearly all the gods. All the gods except Shijie. I was desperate. My mom, who taught me everything I know. Standing on the line between life and death. Still as a statue on that line. So to Shijie I prayed. My mother got better the more I prayed. So I prayed more and more. Then while in the woods I came across a meadow. Suddenly I was lifted into the air, the wind keeping me off the ground. The feeling of the wind blowing around me was wonderful, and I felt so free. I learned to control it, using the wind to hover at the tops of the orange trees. Using it to pick the ripest fruit. But yesterday, my brother saw. He did not have a chance to speak to Dad, but he will this morning. I have to leave, so that my parents can not send me to the temple of Heping. For days I would be forced to pray there, until I have 'repented.' After Heping's temple, I must pray at Zhanzheng's. If it is determined that I cannot be saved, then I will be hanged. The consequence of praying to Shijie is said to be 'merciful.' But Dad won't know why I did it. I did it for Mam. Because no one else had the guts to. So now, in the early morning light, I pack a bag full of dried fruit and jerky, clothes, and money. Suddenly there are footsteps outside the door. I race to hide my bag, but the door opens before it is fully out of sight. Aliyah, my 6 year old sister, stands in the doorway. My sweet little sister. She sees the bag. My heart breaks into two as the next words leave her mouth.

"Can't you stay? I don't want anyone else to leave."

I know what she means. The roads are dangerous, and not everyone survives. Aliyah was only four when Elmira set out to go to market. She never came back, and none of us know what happened to her. I hope that if she was attacked, she was rescued and now is safe with her rescuer. Aliyah still wakes up screaming for Elmira. I pray to the gods that Aliyah will not suffer from my leaving. She still has Annya and Su-Wei to teach her the ways of life, as well as Cheng-En, Yu-Chen, and Yu-Ting. Po-Yu will learn alongside her. The Lin siblings. From 9 to 7. Elmira and Akemi, no longer a part of the Lins. Maybe I will find her. But unlikely. Travel on to the coast board a ship for the China-Vietnam border. And overland to Fenzi, where freedom sings.