The summons arrived without warning. Before Juying could even begin to process what was happening, she was exchanging tearful goodbyes with her best friend Wenshao, then sent to make her final preparations and packing for the Empyreal Cloud Palace by her master.
A few days earlier, her only cares in the world were playing with the koi spirits, hurling magic fireballs into the sky and getting into all sorts of mischief with the other disciples. Her responsibilities included - but weren't limited to - orchestrating gorgeous sunrises and sunsets as night descended and receded, weaving streaks of golden, orange, red and pink through the clouds, as well as ensuring that the sun was always travelling along its proper course.
Who could have predicted that in the blink of an eye, she would be walking through the magnificent gates of Heaven and making the long, treacherous climb up the pearly white steps to the Great Hall, where the Heavenly Emperor sat waiting for her. Soon, the duty of bringing daytime to the Six Realms would rest on her lean shoulders. Juying wasn't sure if she was ready, or even worthy, to carry such a great responsibility.
She clutched the growing stitch in her side, thoroughly regretting being greedy that morning and tricking Wenshao into giving her his share of dumplings. Juying craned her neck, hoping to see the summit of the steps. To her dismay, they seemed to stretch on endlessly before her, and she released a pitious outcry. Glancing back, she realized that the ground was no longer visible either. Juying found herself all alone, stranded on a jagged path of luminous stone, Heaven knows how much further from her destination.
It hadn't even been two hours before she started missing her master. Everyone always claimed that Master Doumu was the strictest with her, but that she also doted on Juying the most. The Light Immortal felt a lump in her throat upon recalling her master's parting words, delivered as Juying unceremoniously flung herself into the high immortal's arms- decorum be damned -while bawling her eyes out.
"Your teacher can open the door, but you must enter by yourself," Master Doumu said in between Juying's inconsolable sobbing and awkward pats on her disciple's back. They were simple instructions which roughly translated to: "Grow up, Juying. The time has come for you to be independent."
Wiping the back of her sleeves across her eyes, Juying stared up at the neverending steps with a stirring defiance. Well, nobody can accomplish anything without the necessary means.* Closing her eyes and centering her chi, Juying muttered a simple incantation. She felt her body shifting into its true form.
The fire qilin* released a satisfied chime that resembled the tinkling of bells, then proceeded to gallop up the stairway to the Great Hall. With each powerful thrust of her hooves, Juying wondered why she didn't come up with this idea sooner. It would have saved her that much more time and energy.
It wasn't long before she finally arrived at the summit. Juying shifted back into her human form, smoothing down her silk robes with a triumphant smile. Turning to face the imposing doors of gold and white, the Light Immortal drew in a breath to steady herfself.
"Finally, I get the opportunity to meet you. I wonder what you're like?" She pondered while waiting for her arrival to be announced to the Heavenly Emperor. It was said he was the kind of man who, despite being an esteemed figure at the forefront of everything, knew how to be silent, how to draw into the background, how to listen.
He watched the multitudinous practicalities of the Six Realms like an aloof young shepherd, to whom day and night bore little significance. He had been born sleepless, without a talent for rest nor the desire for it.
Enjoying a flask of peach blossom wine while admiring the coruscating stars in the night sky had always been one of Juying's favorite pastimes. She longed to meet the creator of those resplendent scenes and could hardly believe that the chance had come knocking. The Light Immortal wondered if the Night Immortal ever noticed the great efforts she put into painting the skies the perfect shade of cerulean blue, or dyeing the cotton clouds in an array of splendid colours at daybreak and nightfall, in an attempt to impress him.
YOU ARE READING
Embers of Love
Fantasy"When I found you, the sun found me." ~ It has been 2000 years since Runyu's ascension to the Heavenly Throne. Citizens of the Six Realms are beginning to question the Heavenly Emperor's ability to cope with both Heaven's affairs and his old duties...
