Prince Edan paced around the beast’s chamber. He had a terrible feeling in his gut. For the past couple of days he had lounged about, explored the ruins, and thought about his friends. But lately, there was a chill in the air that was different from the usual northern temperatures. And the fissures on the stone tiger’s body had grown bigger and brighter which deeply troubled him.
He stopped in front of the turtle that had decided to become roommates with him.
“Everything is going to be ok, right?” Prince Edan asked with a hand on his hip.
The turtle remained indifferent. The prince groaned and continued his pacing when a glum looking version of himself entered the room silently.
“Ru?”
Ru Feng nodded and came over towards Prince Edan eyeing the changed fractures on the beast.
“What happened?” Prince Edan asked. “Where’s Nong?”
Without hesitation, Ru Feng transformed into his tiger form. Giving control of Prince Edan’s body back to its rightful owner. Then he walked over to lay beside his stone counterpart. Prince Edan stared after him with a worried expression as he waited for answers.
“We were ambushed. And she got hurt,” Ru Feng said. “She’s recovering now in a magic village but before that she told me the truth. She doesn’t know how to break the curse. I’m destined to become a monster. And she will be the one to slay me,”
Prince Edan frowned. “It’s not her fault,”
“It’s mine,”
“No, it’s not yours either,” Prince Edan walked over to sit on a stone beside Ru Feng.
Sighing he said, “My father…he forbad anyone to teach her after her parents died. Right after naming her as the new bird witch at a mere eight years old he isolated her so no one would find or take her. And he made sure that she couldn’t fight back. He molded her so that the only skill she had benefited him,”
He covered his face with his hands, “And I stood by and I couldn’t do anything. My own set of rules bound me like chains. But…Whenever we met…I tried my best to make it all go away. Even if it was just a brief lazy afternoon. Or a story by the pond. That was all I could do for her. For two years I worried for her like crazy…asking myself why I couldn’t do more. And then I met you,”
Ru Feng listened quietly.
“Yes, a monster. A mere spirit not even born yet to a fate that wasn’t even on your side. But you fought. Alone…bound in your own chains, you fought against what destiny had in store for you. You gave me courage, Ru. That’s how you won my trust. So even if things are bleak now…you can’t give up. We’ll find a way. The choice has always been ours,”
He paused searching for understanding in Ru Feng’s lifeless eyes. But only the dust stirred.
Finally, Ru Feng spoke, “The horse knows the way back to Nong,”
The prince sighed and stood to leave, “I’m not a witch...but I want you to know...you’ll always have my help…always,”
He went to pat the turtle’s head – switching the twig it was chewing on with a fresh green stem instead. Stuffing the twig in his pocket, Prince Edan left the chamber.
Soon it was quiet again. Ru Feng stretched his limbs sighing heavily. He could feel the thrumming of the stone beast beside him. Calling for him. He wondered what it would feel like when the time came. If he would lose his mind. He thought about Prince Edan’s speech. No wonder Nong had fallen for him. He was truly noble. He closed his eyes to sleep.
“The prince is correct, my brother,” a low voice suddenly vibrated in the air making Ru Feng jump. “You have been brave and you shouldn’t give up yet,”
“Who’s there?” Ru Feng asked as he twirled in circles trying to find the speaker.
“Up here,” the voice directed.
Ru Feng’s eyes widened in shock as it landed on the small turtle chewing on a stem, perched on the beast’s nose.
---
Nong awoke to the sound of birds chirping. The pain in her shoulder was only a tender spot now. She sat up and slowly looked around not recognizing the space. But she was trying to find someone else. Her last memory was seeing his face in despair when she told him the truth in the forest. Her heart hurt. How could he ever forgive her?
“Nong?” a familiar voice sounded from the door.
She turned to see her governess coming towards her.
“Governess?” Nong cried in relief as the woman embraced her.
The both of them shed their tears unable to speak.
“You were always a cry baby, little sister,” another older woman said as she entered the room with a cane. She sat on a wooden bench next to them and began to pour some tea.
Nong recognized the same steely expression she often found on her governess’s face.
Goveness Gao dabbed the tears off her face. “This is my older sister, Mao,” she said to Nong, “And this is the Bird Village…where your mother and us all lived,”
“What?” Nong gasped.
Grandmother Mao handed the governess a cup of tea which she then placed into Nong’s hand.
“You’re all…bird witches?”
Governess Gao shook her head, “We are mere descendants. The number of actual witches have been steadily decreasing over the years. Your mother was among the few. And now only you are left. This is because of a certain prophecy that you very well know,” She paused to take her own cup of tea from her sister. “The beast may be slain by one who wields the powers of a god. And finally one remains,”
Nong stilled – finally taking in the environment around her. Ru Feng took her here despite his own injuries. To her mother’s home.
“Now,” Governess Gao placed her cup down on the table without drinking it. “Tell me everything,”
---
The teapot was nearly drained by the time Nong finished recounting what had happened. Only her governess’s cup remained full though it was now cold.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you sooner,” Nong ended.
“I still would’ve asked you to visit the temple…” Governess Gao said regretfully.
Grandmother Mao shifted in her seat, “Show me the spell,” She asked.
Nong’s dress was folded at the foot of the bed. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the piece of parchment. The tiger drawn into the rectangular rune tugged at her heart. She handed the spell over to Grandmother Mao.
“Ah…” Grandmother Mao mused.
Governess Gao leaned over to look. “Do you know it?” She asked.
“It is an ancient relic,” Grandmother Mao said. She set her cane aside. Then tore the paper right in half.
“What are you doing?” Nong jumped.
“One half of the relic lies back in the south. I assume with the Lotus King,” She handed a piece of the paper to her sister. “The second half was bestowed to the northern King Houavin. He wears it around his neck,” She offered Nong the other piece of the paper.
“Whoever this mystery woman is - she must be attempting to secure these two halves,” Governess Gao said.
Grandmother Mao nodded in agreement. “To cast this spell she would need to join both of these pieces with a blood rite. It is a lock that will trap a soul, similar to what’s been cast over the Lotus ruins. With the exception that it is portable and whoever’s soul is in the lock will only respond to the wearer of the lock,” she explained, “I very much doubt she’ll be able to do it. She had the beast right under her nose but she didn’t even recognize him. This woman is nothing more than a charlatan,”
“We can’t disregard the fact that she is dangerous,” Governess Gao remarked. “Who knows what she really can and cannot do,”
Nong brushed the half tiger on her piece of paper. “Is there truly no way to save him?” She asked. Her thoughts went back to the vision she had had in the library. To the roar that had pierced her heart.
Governess Gao’s brows creased in concern but her sister spoke without remorse, “You can cast that spell and attempt to control him yourself or you can end his suffering as it was written in the prophecy,”
“I can’t do either of those,” Nong whispered slumping her shoulders.
Someone knocked quietly on the door. Everyone turned to see a disheveled Prince Edan. He stopped to catch his breath as if he had been in a great hurry.
“Your highness?” Governess Gao stood abruptly to greet him. “Are you alright? How did you get here?”
He approached them with a despaired look on his face.
“I’ve received word that my father was killed,” He said in a trembling voice.
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