Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Once in Multiple Generations

Yaihan and Koya entered the camp together. The survivors of the battle all turned towards the pair and applauded when Yaihan dismounted Midnight. Xiwaoan soldiers surrounded the cultivator, showering him with praise and pats on his back and shoulder. They all vied for his attention, trying to ask him questions and offering him compliments. 

“Is it true that you’re able to crush an Oni skull with your bare hands?” one soldier inquired.

“You’ve got to show us how to use your magic!” another one said. 

Koya broke up the crowd, separating the soldiers from the cultivator. “We can talk about the battle later at tonight’s meeting. Give Yaihan some room to breathe!”

The kunoichi grabbed Yaihan by the wrist and pulled him away from the swarm of people. “I don’t mind talking with them,” the cultivator said as he followed Koya through the camp. Everyone inside turned their eyes towards them, whispering with each other about the recent rumors that came from the recent battle.

“I know. But Fei-Lu wanted to speak with us as soon as we made it back. She’s already in a bad mood. I don’t want to get her any madder.”

Koya led Yaihan to a tent next to the healing center on the outskirts of the stronghold. The foundation of the structure was solider than the rest of the housing of the encampment; a rigid wooden frame served as the base while multiple layers of leather served as the exterior. Two guards stood by the entrance and gave Koya a polite bow as she approached. 

“Is Fei-Lu in there?” Koya asked one man in front of the tent. He tilted his head to the side and nodded.

“Yes. She’s been looking for you.”

“She doesn’t seem too happy,” the other guard whispered. “Even though most of our troops returned safe and sound. What happened on the battlefield might I ask?”

“It’s a long story,” Koya said as she put one hand on the flap to the tent. “I’m sure you’ll hear about it later tonight at our meeting.”

As Koya put one foot into the tent, the two guards stood in front of Yaihan with their spears crossed. “No one goes in without the proper authority,” the first guard said to the cultivator. 

“He’s with me,” the kunoichi said.

“Sorry, Kanakoya. But only Fei-Lu is allowed to grant access to her tent.”

The kunoichi rolled her eyes. “Fine. Give me one second, Yaihan.” She vanished into the tent, leaving the guards to remain in front of the cultivator. After a minute of silence, Fei-Lu emerged from the tent, poking her head out of the flap and looking at Yaihan. 

“Let him through,” she replied calmly. “And I grant him unrestricted access.”

The two guards looked at each other and then at Yaihan with bewilderment. Both pulled their spears away and stepped to the side. “Not many people get unrestricted access to Fei-Lu’s war room,” the first soldier said. “You must be something special.”

“Thank you,” Yaihan replied before taking a bow. He then walked into the tent and stood directly in front of the flap that settle behind him. His eyes scanned the spacious room; a large table sat in the center. An intricate paper map lay on top of the wooden surface. An assortment of trinkets scattered across various locations of the map. Fei-Lu stood on the opposite side of the table, her hands keeping her propped up and she scrutinized a specific section.

Koya sat down on one side, leaning forward as she stared at the same spot as Fei-Lu. Lysa stood by herself in the corner, out of her Purifier’s Ensemble like the others. The druid wore an ornate robe adorned with feathers and a pair of tights that ended just below her waist while a pair of hide boots reached up beneath her knees. The outfit was expertly sewn together from a myriad of materials, giving Lysa an almost regal look that stood out from the rest of the people at the camp.

“Have a seat, Yaihan,” Fei-Lu said with confidence as she pointed to the lone crate propped against the tent’s wall. Yaihan obliged and plopped himself on top of the seat. The flickering of the of the two torches perched against the tent’s walls obscured everything intermittently. Despite the limited light, Fei-Lu remained focused on the same spot as she stroked her chin with her finger. 

“You seem... better,” Koya said. 

“I’ve had some time to think clearly,” Fei-Lu replied softly. She took her arms off the table to look at Yaihan. “First things first. I’ve... decided to forego your punishment. As well as Koya’s.”

“Thank you,” Yaihan replied. 

The kunoichi gave a wink to the cultivator. “Not like she could enforce it, right?”

Fei-Lu put a finger to her lips and shushed Koya. “Let me finish.” She walked around the front of the table and stood over Yaihan. She rested her hands on her hips and stared at him with narrowed eyes. “You have sparked a vigor in our army.”

“Is that so?” the cultivator asked with genuine curiosity. 

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“Yes. I have never seen our soldiers so confident about the war. Not once. When I first returned to camp, the survivors of the front lines surrounded me. They asked me countless questions about you.” She pointed one finger at his chest. “Where did that warrior come from? Can I learn magic like that?” The tactician paused and took in a deep breath. “Can we actually win this war?”

“What did you tell them?”

“I told them I’ll explain as much as I can at tonight’s assembly. And I intend to follow through with my promise.” Fei-Lu returned to her spot at the front of the map. “I always do. That’s why I wanted to bring you in here. I have many questions, but unfortunately we don’t have much time. I will make this interview brief.” She turned her head over her shoulder and looked at Yaihan again. “Can you get straight to the point? None of the vague, non-answers that cultivators are known for having.”

Yaihan nodded. “Of course.”

“See, Fei-Lu?” Koya said as she leaned back in her seat. She kicked up her feet and rested them on the edge of the table. “Didn’t kill you to be a bit more open-minded, did it?”

Fei-Lu took hold of Koya’s ankles and dropped them back onto the ground. “Just because you’re not in trouble now doesn’t mean you can act like you have no manners, Koya.”

“My bad.”

“Tell me Yaihan,” Fei-Lu said as she made eye contact with the cultivator. “Where do you come from? And I don’t mean the village where you once lived. I want to know where you were when this war started almost a year ago.”

“I’ve spent the past ten years on Mount Kaminada,” Yaihan replied. 

Fei-Lu tilted her head, bearing a look of bafflement. “Mount Kaminada?” she repeated. “I’ve never heard of such a place.”

“I think I have,” Koya said. “It’s closer to the Isles of Siminaka, right?”

“You’d be correct.”

“Not much there,” the kunoichi said. “Didn’t know people actually lived on it, either. It’s only known for being made of an illustrious black stone. Makes for a good landmark for sailors, but that’s about it.”

“And that’s why I was sent there to meditate,” Yaihan replied. He rested his hands on his knees as he maintained eye contact with Fei-Lu. “That black stone is solid onyx. My master believed it to have special properties that helps with focus.”

“Does it?” Koya asked.

“That I’m not sure of.” Yaihan shrugged his shoulders. “My old master believed in many things. He was quite talented as a teacher. However, he wasn’t always right. At the very least, he told his students that he wasn’t perfect so we could make decisions for ourselves. But I can say for certain that my time in isolation on that mountain is why I have the strength I do now. The crashing waves. The undisturbed nature. The loneliness. It has everything essential for a pure cultivation experience.”

“Then how come no one else has tried it?” Fei-Lu asked. “If achieving your level of strength was as simple as living on a mountain for a few years, then we’d be seeing a lot more people like you running around Xiwao.”

Yaihan sat back in his seat. “It’s my fault for making it come across as simple as learning a trade or craft. For the sake of brevity, I only gave you the essential information. I can go more in-depth if you desire, but if your plan is to train your army to become cultivators like myself, then you’ll be fighting this war for thousands of years.”

“But it only took you ten!” Fei-Lu said.

“Yes. But I’m an exception. A cultivator with my abilities happens only once a thousand years, if that. We’d spend more time waiting for a proper cultivator to be born than actual meditating.”

Disappointed, Fei-Lu crossed her arms and focused on her map. “Fine. Having someone else with even a fraction of your strength could help us greatly, but even just you alone can win battles. And that’s the main reason I wanted you here now.” She waved her hand, prompting Yaihan to get up and stand beside her in front of the map.

“I’ll do what you need me to,” Yaihan said as his eyes panned across the tattered map.

Fei-Lu nodded her head. “Good. Because I’ve devised a strategy to stop Valiax. It’s a risky one, but it works, we just might be able to save our stronghold.”

---

Art Spotlight: Kanakoya Horoda (Standard Form)

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