I focus on keeping my breathing even as I move through the movements of The Roars Of The Ruinous Dragon. My sword cuts through the air, its movements strong and forceful.

  I understand enough of the two arts to practice on my own, not needing my teachers from the Requiems to go through the movements with me. Still there are things that elude me, minor movements that don’t feel right

  After some time with that technique, I switch into The Whispers Of The Silent Raven. I pay careful attention to the shifts in bance and stance the two different sword styles have. Each strike of my sword now moves through the air quietly, its movements unpredictable and swift. My feet constantly move so I am never easily reached by any opponent I might face.

  I slow my movements down, reaching the end of what I’m comfortable practicing on my own.

  I sheathe my sword and look up at the gloomy sky, rain not looking too far away.

  I’ve taken to practicing in the field where the Master and the man filled with death spirit had died. Maybe I want to face the experience that created so much fear in me.

  I look at the portal which has been resealed, ethereal blue chains covering the door sized entryway.

  Master Qiu Tai sits next to the portal, watching me as I practice. She is one of the few guardians of the portal who don’t mind my presence here. Those who don’t know me watch with a less friendly eye.

  I stare at the portal, losing myself to the thoughts of the spirit beyond it.

  “Have you made any progress in cultivating your spirit?” Qiu Tai asks.

  “I am on the brink of Spirit Recognition, Senior Sister.” I respond. I shake myself away from my thoughts and walk over to my waterskin. I close my eyes as I take a sip of fresh water, enjoying the moment. I open my eyes with a frown, frustration entering my voice. “But I can’t break through the barrier to that realm.”

  “I see.” Qiu Tai says, “That is only natural. Cultivating your spirit is not like normal cultivation and your growth is already monstrous.”

  “I feel… weak.” I walk over to the portal and sit in front of it.

  Qiu Tai stands up and walks over to me. She sits down in front of me and grabs my hand. She looks thoughtful and a little sad as she watches me. “It’s not an easy feeling to live with.” She says, “Don’t let it force you to move too fast. You are still young, and too much power at too young an age causes more harm than good. You will destroy yourself if you move too fast.”

  I look away from her warm gaze, not wanting to cry again.

  “Come on.” Qiu Tai says, standing up and pulling me up with her. “Someone has come to take over my guardianship and you need a break.” She smiles at me cheekily.

  “Where are we going?” I ask, watching as another master descends from the sky to sit next to the portal.

  “To the hotsprings of course.”

  I stiffen. I’m still not used to other people seeing me naked. In fact, I’ve avoided the hot springs out of embarrassment. I was always given privacy for when I changed or cleaned myself while in the Lin family and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone aside from my mother naked.

  With Qiu Tai dragging me behind her, we arrive at the portion of the sect reserved for women.

  The sounds of the other women having fun and chatting reaches my ears as we arrive at a small pavilion.

  Qiu Tai begins to undress and I do the same. My gaze wanders to her body, and I pause my own undressing when I see a series of scars running down her back.

  She notices my staring and gives me a soft smile.

  The pain they must have caused her is hard to imagine. Who would do such a thing to another person? I raise my hand to touch one of the scars.

  “It’s polite to ask before touching.” Qiu Tai says as she finishes her undressing.

  I pull my hand back, embarrassed at how close I was to touching her.

  “It’s ok.” Qiu Tai says, her hand resting on one of the scars on her side. “I’ve healed from the wounds they caused me.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize, little Jia. You have nothing to apologize for.”

  Heat rises to my face as I realize how naked we both are, and Qiu Tai smiles at my embarrassment.

  “Come on. We both need to rex.” She says. She motions me to follow her as she walks past a curtain.

  I follow Qiu Tai towards one of several small pools carved out of the stone. Other women notice us entering but ignore us in favor of chatting.

  Qiu Tai sighs as she steps into the bath, her entire body loosening.

  I follow her in, submerging into the water until just my nose is above the water.

  It doesn’t take long for the heat of the water to loosen my own muscles and force me to rex in ways I didn’t even know I was tense.

  Qiu Tai opens her eyes from her own enjoyment of the bath, her attention focusing on me. “I’ve noticed you haven’t been pying your music as much tely.”

  I don’t look at her as I answer. “I’m scared of what I will see when I py.”

  Qiu Tai closes her eyes as she tilts her head up. “That’s too bad. I always love listening to you py.”

  Something about her words shake me. My mom always talked about how much she loved listening to me py. It was one of my happiest memories growing up.

  I still love to py. Nothing could take that away from me. I love it when people enjoy my music.

  I sigh, closing my eyes to enjoy the bath. It’s time. I’ve been putting it off, but it’s time for me to py the fifth requiem.

  The sound of two familiar voices joining us makes me open my eyes. “Sister Lin! I didn’t think you liked the hot springs.” Xia Jing says as Lai Ming and her wade through the water to us.

  I try to sink even lower into the water. My eyes flicker to both of the girls before looking at the water.

  Xia Jing giggles as she notices my reaction and Lai Ming turns away to hide her own smile.

  “I had her come.” Qiu Tai says, startling both of the girls, neither of whom had recognized her presence. “She needed to rex.”

  “Master Qiu Tai” Both girls nod their heads in greeting.

  Qiu Tai waves at them, her eyes only half open from the pleasure of the hot springs. “No need to be so respectful. In here, I’m just another woman.”

  The girls look to me for guidance, but I shrug, still unable to look at them for longer than a second.

  Xia Jing slides right next to me while Lai Ming sits across from me.

  Everyone takes a moment to just settle in and enjoy the heat.

  I’m gd I have so many friends. Life was lonely before I joined the sect. Other girls my age at the imperial pace were always scheming something, or pawns for those who were. Shi Da made it clear to me I couldn’t trust them.

  “Weren’t you supposed to leave the sect with Elder Wu?” I remember Lai Ming mentioning something along those lines.

  Lai Ming sighs, “The Elder asked me to look over some things here while she was away.”

  Xia Jing grins like a predator, “In other words, The Elder is punishing her for hitting the core disciple of another Elder.”

  Lai Ming coughs, looking away. “I may have overstepped slightly.”

  “You should have seen the look on the pompous ass-” Xia Jing’s gaze flickers to Qiu Tai, who still rests against the edge of the pool. “the respectable older brother’s face when he got hit.”

  “Why’d you hit him?” I ask.

  Lai Ming’s gaze sharpens, filled with fury “He seemed to think just because he was a core disciple to an elder, he could get anything he wanted.”

  “Oh.” I say. “Good thing you hit him then.”

  Lai Ming snorts as she meets my eyes, then looks away. “I might have gone a little too far.” She says after a moment.

  “You hit him that hard?” Would Lai Ming actually hit someone enough to… yeah. She would, wouldn’t she.

  Xia Jing snickers, “It’s less about how hard she hit him, and more about where she hit him.”

  I look at her, confused about what she means.

  She motions towards her groin. I look down, then hurriedly look away flustered as I realize where I am looking.

  “Oh.” I say again.

  Xia Jing bursts out ughing at my expression, both Qiu Tai and Lai Ming joining in a moment ter.

  *****

  I arrive at my room refreshed from the hot springs. Qiu Tai was right to bring me there, no matter how embarrassing it was.

  With a deep breath, I renew my resolve and walk to the window, pulling my flute out of its pocket in my robes.

  I close my eyes, just pying an easy melody to calm my mind. The simple tune brings a sense of simple joy with it.

  I open my eyes, and The Twelve Requiems of Illusion floats in front of me, its pages flipping open until it reaches the test Requiem avaible to me.

  The Fifth Requiem: Peaceful Death

  The world shifts around me.

  The simple walls of my room become ornate and finely decorated.

  Twelve men and women surround a bed where an elderly man rests.

  The man’s chest rises and falls with the notes of my song.

  It rises and falls, rises and falls, until my music stops.

  The man dies.

  No more music appears on the page of the requiem.

  “So, you are my successor.” An elderly voice says to me.

  I turn in surprise to see an ephemeral version of the old man who y dying, watching me.

  I gnce back at the page of the Requiem, hoping more notes will appear on the page.

  They don’t.

  Panic rises in me as I look back at the old man who still watches me.

  I lower the flute from my lips. “Who are you?” I ask, trying to not show my panic.

  “I,” the man says, a proud smile forming. “Am master of the seven halls, first of the Lanxing Wordsmiths, disciple to the immortals, Master Musician to the Sects of Shanping, and the creator of The Twelve Requiems of Illusion. Who are you?”

  I gulp, and bow deeply to the man, “This lowly one is Inner Disciple Lin Jia of the Flowing River Sect.”

  “One of the minor sects of the Shanpo region I suppose?” The man folds his arms with a grace and confidence that speaks of his power.

  “I-I don’t know, Senior. I simply know I reside in the empire of Shi.” I reply, still not raising my head in a show of subservience.

  The man frowns, then shrugs his shoulders. “I have never heard of it, but it doesn't matter. Tell me, which of my disciples has deigned to teach you the arts and techniques of my craft?”

  I don’t say anything, worried anything I might say could get me killed by the powerful cultivator.

  “You aren’t a disciple of one of my disciples, are you?” The man says after a moment.

  “No, Senior.” I respond, unable to see his expression with my head lowered.

  “I see. Then you were chosen by the spirit of the book itself.” The man muses to himself.

  I peek up at him to see him weighing me with his gaze.

  “I wonder why it chose someone from such a minor realm?” The man continues, walking around me to study me from all angles.

  I do my best to stay steady as he moves out of my vision.

  “It doesn't matter. The spirit of the book has chosen you as my successor, it must see something I do not. “ The man finishes his loop around me. “Very well. I, Zhu Teng, name you Lin Jia, as my successor. May you reach the realms of immortality with grace and elegance.”