The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Darkness fell, but the full moon's light illuminated the contented people's faces surrounding the dying bonfire. Tubli, Ming, and Xinyi stood near the cave's entrance for a private talk.

"M'lady, I need to tell you something important and you have to act on it the soonest or the power chain's loss will get worse."

"Speak, Sir." Xinyi said.

"As I've said earlier, the power chain is degenerating because it lacks the source of power to keep it alive, but there's another reason behind it." He paused for a breath. "I sensed the power veins are lessening. If we lose more power veins, the spirit beings, including me and this sacred river, will face our worst nightmare, completely losing our powers. And if that happens, the power chain is beyond salvation. And the end of the world comes."

Xinyi sighed. His words confirmed what the late Sorceress mentioned to her.

"I know that's why I will do what I can in my power to stop the mining of the power stones." Xinyi said.

"Stop it from its source." Tubli said with conviction, and before Xinyi and Ming could react, he continued. "Though I was weak for decades, I know what occurred in this world. Not only me. In fact, all spirit landforms have sensed it. 

"For your information, all spirit landforms are not mere beings. We are the major contributor of essence to keep the power chain up and moving. Because of our massive essence, we can bring calamity or wipe out an entire race if we wish. But we know our place. We chose not to interfere with human affairs. 

"About what I mean about the source of the loss of the power veins, I'm talking about the people of different origin who are the mastermind behind the loss of spirit veins."

"I don't understand. What do you mean people of different origin?" Xinyi said, unknowingly clenching her fists. Ming felt her rigidity and held her hand. His touch made her realized she was angry and loosened her grip as she breathed out a good amount of air.

"I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I sensed the same power from your kind, M'lady."

"What power? What kind?" Ming said in confusion because he hadn't heard about Xinyi's true origin, that she was not from this world.

"I think the lady here has to explain this matter to you then." Tubli said. "But before I'll leave you both, I promise to assist you with all the power I have just to stop these intruders from killing this world, Sorceress."

Tubli then opened a palm and a red shell, and a necklace with black, blue, and red pearls attached materialized in it.

"Here, take this." He gave the shell first. "Wherever you'll go, you can communicate to me through this. I will also contact the other landforms' spirit beings so we can guide you where to locate the spirit veins."

Xinyi took the shell. "Thank you. That would be great. We need all the help we can get."

"Wear this necklace always." He placed the trinket in her palm. "These pearls have tenfold the power of the Vesver, Wag, and Kreg stones. May these assist you to heal all spirit beings and help you fight your enemies along the way."

Xinyi gasped. "I... I don't know what to say. These are so precious. I think you need this more than I do. I bet the power chain is still absorbing your essence."

Tubli assuringly smiled. "As long as you can save the other spirit landforms and revive the Chiangda's ritual, I'll be safe. So, take it and do your part while I'll do mine." 

His words left Xinyi dumbfounded, feeling a heavy burden fell on her shoulders. And Tubli felt it too. 

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"Don't be anxious, M'lady. Sadly, you were born for such a time as this. But the road had been laid before you. So, be strong and courageous and take the path with confidence. Remember, we are with you. We supported the Sorceress before you and we'll do the same way or go beyond for you, because we know the risks you are taking."

Then he knelt before her and kissed her feet, sending Xinyi to stiffen. "Thank you, M'lady, and don't give up." After stating all of his purpose, Tubli bid them farewell and swam back to the river.

He left Xinyi in dazed. 'Base on his actions, I think I'm off for a wild ride of my life. I need to get stronger all the more.'

"Now that he is away?" Ming said, smiling at her, pulling her back from her thoughts.

"What do you mean?" Their hot kisses went back to her mind again and blushed.

But the darkness shrouded her pinkish cheeks, and Ming didn't see it. "I think you owe me an explanation about your said origin," he said. 

Xinyi felt ashamed for thinking about the kiss again and patted her face. With a hand touching her chest, she openly told him about her origin and the other things he needed to know as her husband.

After hearing, he wrapped her in his embrace. "Wife, you have so many secrets and my life is so mediocre compared to yours." 

"Mediocre? I don't understand about that. Is being a topnotcher in the exam and becoming a governor mediocre? But does it matter? We are now bound to each other, so whatever mediocrity you're thinking will end soon and you'll help me face this wild ride of what you can call my destiny, right?"

"No doubt about it." He placed his forehead on her forehead. "I promise, my love, that we will always be together. And I'm willing to risk my life for you."

"But please, don't do unnecessary things and take your life for granted. I still need you. Lifen Ma and the rest of the family still need you." The agonizing image of his death replayed in her mind, and tears fell unhindered. 

Ming wiped those sad tears with his kisses before it reached her lips. "I promise I won't." He said between kisses but in his mind, "I'm willing to take the same risk again and again because I love you, even if it may cause my life, then letting anything to happen to you. Your life is more important than mine."

---- o ----

In Xionmao's cave, Xian Lang laid the shimmering cloth on the stone table.

"I actually brought this here to give it back to Xinyi, to tell her about her origin, but didn't expect it to become like this. This cloth only shone days ago. I don't know what to do with it. I think it's best to leave it here with you."

Xionmao wrote. "Thank you for bringing it here."

"Why is it shining, Master?" Lifen asked.

Xionmao lifted the cloth and turned it around, and instantly trembled to see something on it.

"What's wrong?" Xian Lang asked after he saw Xionmao's reaction.

Xionmao folded it back in a hurry and placed it back on the bundle. And bent down to write. "Let's wait for the Sorceress to come back. You may go now."

These left the two dumbfounded.

---- o ----

Outside the Fengfu City gates.

A group of men from the Vernaboles' camp, led by the man with a hat and fur coat, gathered under the shadow of the trees. They held some power stones on their necks and wrists, weapons hidden under their long robes.

The man with the hat stood in their midst.

"Be ready, people. I'm tired of Prince Zelmer's ways. Let us take this city tonight so that tomorrow, we can mine the stones and leave this forsaken place before snow comes."

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