The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Before the sun stretched its light out, and before the moon left the skies, Xinyi got up and went to her domain.

"Alva," she said, sitting on her comfy bed.

"What's up?" Alva's voice sounded in the room. "You seem tired." Alva appeared, lying beside Xinyi.

"Tired but happy."

"Tired, happy and tired."

"What do you mean?"

"You're tired after a long journey. Happy because your hubby is now okay. Tired because of Tubli's report."

Xinyi looked at the perceptive little girl's big eyes, showing she was a Koi after all. "Is there anything about me that is hidden from you?"

"Nope. I see all what you see and feel all what you feel."

"What do you mean?"

"Is that question the only thing you can ask? Ask away what's in your mind."

Xinyi pondered for a while. "Okay, I understand you can see what I see, but how do you feel what I feel? Or how do you react to it?"

"You still have a lot of things to learn as a Chief Guardian, you know? You act recklessly without thinking."

Pensive, Xinyi stared at Alva. "Cut off the riddles. Answer me. It seems I was thinking something else and yet you spoke about something else." She said grumpily with folded arms on her chest, and a foot placed on the other. She couldn't sleep thinking about how her predecessors fought against their enemies and if she could use the spirit guardians even if they were far, like Tubli, but she believed the girl pointed something entirely different.

"Same as you can sense Nianshi's feeling and he to you, all the spirit guardians can feel your inner turmoil, joy, anger, loneliness, and others. Most of all when your body tingles and your heart beat drummed love him, love mad when you were in Sir Ming's embrace." The little girl grinned wide, dancing eyes directed at the lady beside her.

Xinyi recalled the kiss again, blushed and shouted, "What? That means you and the rest also…," pointing a finger at the girl, "when Ming… to me?" 

Smirking, Alva nodded. "Exactly. So you better close your connection to us when you spend your first night, girl." And burst into laughter without restraint, rolling on the bed.

Xinyi gaped. She didn't know what to say or ask. Her mind whirred - in shame, irritated with her ignorance, embarrassment, shyness, and the list went on - after knowing that they knew what happened, not that they really knew because they saw but since they felt her desires - to be in her husband's loving touch and willingness to be one with him if he wished to consummate their marriage right when they were in that ball of water.

She pulled a pillow, placed it on her pulled knees, and buried her face on it. "Damn. You are all mean. You didn't tell me about it."

Seeing her frustration, Lengshui popped in the room, standing at Xinyi's right. Shengkai and Guang materialized on the bed, squatting and facing the red-faced mistress.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. That's normal. No need to worry. We can close our connection to you when you do it." Lengshui said without shame, resting his butt on the side table with hands up front.

The more Xinyi buried her head in the pillow as if it was a burrow where she could hide.

Shenkai scowled at Lengshui. "You're no help at all. Do you need to say it bluntly?"

"It's a fact. Let it be. Why be shy about it? We are bound to her while she lives. This is part of the bargain between Chief and spirit guardians. We have to stay connected to protect, guide, and help her. Or… she can just close her connection to us while doing it and link us again after." Lengshui said with nonchalance.

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Guang kindly smiled at the uncomfortable Xinyi while the two youthful spirit guardians bickered, and Alva spun in laughter, tickled by her companions' shameless conversation. But as the talk went on, Guang couldn't help but scold them. 

"Stop it. Settle you two. Don't forget our reason we're here. Let's hear Xinyi's worries." Guang squeezed Xinyi's hands. "Tell us, dear. You haven't had a good sleep despite the exhaustive work yesterday."

Those words instantly soothed Xinyi and looked up, face still red, but the shame flooding her mind had faded. "Thank you, Guang." Xinyi felt motherly affection from this elderly in front of her and jumped to the old woman's arms, hugging her. 

This was what Xinyi sought when she came into her domain. She needed someone to pour out her bubbling anxieties churning in her stomach; someone willing to listen to her woes and give advice. Although she and Ming had become closer, she couldn't define their relationship yet, same as buddies where she could open up all her concerns. She couldn't tell Ming after what he went through for her. She knew Ming would dare jump in pits full of fire or snakes for her, but she didn't want him to take more risk for her again. 

On how she grew up was the fault. Yan Ma and the animals were her resounding box for years. To add Ming in the mix wasn't there yet, while the spirit guardians were part of her and were only there for her, mostly these four. So, she had no second thoughts to seek them out to act as her listening ears, same as the forest creatures before.

On the other hand, she somewhat confused her fears as worries - she didn't want to lose him again. 

She held Guang tightly, feeling the motherly warmth from her. 

After a time, she moved back. "I was actually thinking if you can come out anytime I need you or if I can summon all spirit guardians of Chiji when I'll face the enemies Tubli pointed out. I really don't know who those people are, though I can slowly differentiate a powerful being from an ordinary one. It's like I can feel a unique power emanating from a spirit beast to an ordinary one. I don't know with humans yet. Maybe, once I meet the ordinary people, I can compare them to the Chiangdas and see the difference."

"It's good that you can set them apart now. About summoning the guardians, you can, but only those nearer to you can come to your aid right away. Those far away have to travel first before they can reach you. Also, it depends on the place they are protecting. Like Kaosmandu, they can't leave it at all. They are meant to guard those landforms or specific people, things or places," Guang said.

"There is actually what we call a one-army command," Alva said, "but that is only a onetime call. You can summon all spirit guardians in one call using your crown, but you don't have your crown yet."

"So, make use of us since we are with you always," Lengshui said. "How's the hutyuns now? Are they still sleeping?"

Xinyi peered in her ring and saw that cold ball lay in the deepest corner inside. She moved her head left and right. "Nope. They are still sleeping."

"Xinyi, don't be downhearted. Trust yourself. You can do it. You also have Sir Ming, Sir Tyriece, and the fearsome Sir Lofey. They can help you too."

"And include Nianshi in the package," Shenkai said. 

"Can Meirga come with us?" Xinyi said.

"I think she can. Even Ah Lam, since the places they are protecting are connected. Ah Lam can hide the door to her domain while she is away. She'd done that several times. But they can't stay away for a longer time. They have to go back at some point after leaving." Alva said.

"Okay, at least I know. That is assuring. Thank you, everyone."

"Yay! How about a group hug." Shenkai said. 

They huddled together like good ol' buddies. And Xinyi went back to Ming's side in the cavern. The rest went back to where they were.

When Xinyi woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. She gathered the whole together inside the cave, including Tubli and his guards.

"According to the guide Mnanduo wrote here, he said even two Chiangdas can do the draining ritual to send essence to the power chain. There are only three Chiangdas here, but I think the spirit guardians can help, mostly me. So we can add more power to the chain. Am I right, Sir Tubli?"

"Yes, you and the other spirit guardians can but I'm sorry but my people and I can't join you." Tubli said.

"Oh yes, you're right. You are still recuperating. You shouldn't join us."

"It's not about that reason, but as part of the sacred river. The power chain is absorbing essence from us while the other landforms are still weak or worse, hibernating. That's why you need to heal the landforms first, mostly the one you'll be passing through - the forest. If they are healed, the absorption of essence will not solely come from us and from a few active landforms somewhere, but all landforms."

"So, there are a few active landforms? Where?" Xinyi said with excitement and thought of visiting them.

"The panda's cave is one of them, M'lady. The rest are far and hidden."

From what Tubli revealed, Xinyi realized what the message from the pendant said; about the biggest cave that can add more essence to the power chain.

"I think I can ask that panda more later." She clapped. "Let's do the ritual now so we can leave soon. Fengfu City is waiting."

---- o ----

They all gathered inside the cave, standing in a circle with palms facing the middle.

"Pour your essence, pour your heart, share a portion of what you have. Life is essence, essence is life, send my essence to keep this life. This world needs me, this world needs life. I'll give my life to keep this world alive."

They chanted as they walked around in a circle. While those rhythmic words were spoken, their life essence began to pour out from them and gathered in their midst. The combined essence formed into an energetic and colorful ball, sparkling as it grew bigger and bigger. When the light's thickness touched their sides, they knelt involuntarily, their palms touching the ground. This time, their essence extracted itself from every portion of their body. Totally draining their body of it.

Their movements which were out of their volition momentarily struck fear in them. But Xinyi heard a whisper in her, a familiar voice, someone she longed to talk to and know. It was the late Sorceress' voice, assuring her that everything's fine. She gazed within her and saw two lights near her heart. Focusing her mind to these two new matters in her, she realized that these had human forms. The one at the right wore a snake-like belt, and the voice came from this light. 

There, she understood that those were her predecessors' essences living in her. This was a great encouragement to her and hurriedly announced to everyone not to fret and peacefully let the ritual do its work. Thus, the tension from the people and spirit guardians melted right away.

After minutes of drainage, the absorption stopped. At this moment, they knew they were tired and vulnerable. Their power left them. Their strength waned. They thought of resting, but before they could even think of lying down, a strong power slammed at them from underground, refilling their emptiness to fullness. And the essence they thought they had before was already strong, yet this proved them wrong, for this infused essence was no doubt stronger and resilient. 

From here, they fully understood the true meaning of the ritual. It was not only all about the power chain and the Kore, but it was also about cultivating their powers to become stronger. They began to appreciate the beauty of the ceremony. It was a perfect ill.u.s.tration of give and take. They give their essence and the Kore would give them back not just what was taken but inpouring a better and more powerful essence in them. 

This was a miracle by itself. Not just a miracle, but a grand experience to them that would cling in the cores of their minds and hearts. They would never forget this experience for the rest of their lives. Who would after encountering the double-take of powers?

General Lofey even thought of doing this ritual with the entire army of Chiangdas in Goding. This was a newfound strategy for him to strengthen his people. 

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