Chapter Eight: First Time

The world shifted and new images appeared ahead of Yi Lian. He identified it as when he was fifteen years old, studying at Immortals Valley Top.

At the time he had moved there and stayed in a small cottage type house in a hidden part of Immortals Valley Top to get away from the city and start his studying. Yi Lian's Uncle was Sect Leader, and he was happy to leave him to his solitude.

Yi Lian had a tendency to go out for walks around Immortals Valley Top at nightfall when everyone had gone to bed. It was his time to go out and stretch his legs a bit, get some fresh air. Mostly he did little jobs for his study, even occasionally going down the mountain a bit to train his swordsmanship.

This night was like the rest. He unlocked the doors and stepped outside with a small fan in hand. It was a humid night but Yi Lian didn't mind, the moon was particularly bright, he could see the lake water over the forest, it was a picture of peace and ease.

He walked along the path and up until he arrived at the library. It was an old building with engraved white wooden beams and open, untouched windows. He was about to step inside to fetch some books for the week when he suddenly noticed there was light coming from the inside.

He assumed it was just another disciple so he could simply smile and ignore them so he could just get his books and leave.

With this plan he stepped inside but he couldn't have been more wrong.

There was a boy sat in black robes with a red sash and flame embroidery. He was twirling a brush though his fingers whilst looking off into the distance.

He was very unaware of his current surroundings, so unaware he didn't notice that Yi Lian had stepped in and froze.

Yi Lian turned on his heels to leave but the boy called out, "Hey wait! I'm bored, come talk to me."

When Yi Lian stayed glued to the doorway like a maiden who had stepped in on the wrong conversation, the boy sighed. "Why are you standing there? I can wait all night, I mean I have to wait here all night…"

Yi Lian turned with unconcealed confusion. "Why do you have to stay here all night?"

The boy's smile widened. "Your voice is so soft and sweet, how fun! I have to stay because I talked back to someone who was rude to me."

Yi Lian blushed slightly and nodden, then suddenly he realised he had accidentally entered a conversation. He opened his fan in front of his face to hide his embarrassment.

Yi Lian, "I forgot to introduce myself. I am Prince Yi of The Island."

The boy tilted his head and squinted. "But I spoke to a Prince Yi of The Island and it wasn't you."

Yi Lian put his fan down and sighed. He walked over to the desk and pulled over a seating mat to sit opposite.

Yi Lian, "That's my brother, Yi Jian. I am Yi Lian"

The boy bowed and introduced himself, "Well your Highness I am Nie Yang's second son, Nie Asreal.'

Yi Lian thought for a moment before commenting, "Asreal… That's a strange name."

Nie Asreal burst out laughing. He laughed so much he rolled over to Yi Lian's side.

He explained, "It is! Well not to me as it's my name but there really isn't another like it. My mother named my older brother whose name is Nie Zhen, but my Father named me and my other brother. My Mother hated the name but my Father said there were reasons but I think he's just got some inner demons in his heart."

Yi Lian smiled. He found this person interesting. "Others get me and my brother mixed up because our names are so similar but most people don't' know me so I haven't had the issue since I was young. Are you from the Deserted Capital?"

Nie Asreal nodded."Yes! You should come and visit. There are these mountains called The Evil Peaks and they're so fun to run around. I could take you to my watchtower! I found it two years ago and brought a lot of the stuff from my room there. It's overlooking the city on the other side of the second peak."

Yi Lian's nose scrunched up. "The Evil Peaks don't sound nice."

Nie Asreal laughed and replied, "It's just called that to scare the commoners. It's fine for anyone with a sword but we don't want people roaming around or trying to steal from our Sect."

Yi Lian let out an impressed sound. "That's very smart… How old are you, so I know how to address you?"

Nie Asreal chuckled, "I am sixteen your Highness."

He was older then Yi Lian by a few months but of course he didn't need to know that.

The two continued to talk for the rest of the night. Both finding the other so strange yet interesting.

At some point in the night they fell asleep and let the stars float over them and the candles burn out.

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The morning came but Yi Lian wasn't woken by Yi Xien or the early morning sun, he was woken by his brothers bellowing voice overhead.

Yi Jian, "What the hell are you doing to my brother?"

Yi Lian was jolted awake. He opened his eyes to see that he had fallen asleep on Nie Asreal's shoulder. His arms were crossed and his body was huddled towards him whilst Nie Asreal had his head rested atop his and an arm slung around his shoulder in a half embrace.

Nie Asreal grumbled and just pulled Yi Lian tighter, as if he were about to pull him into an embrace.

Yi Jian gasped and shouted, "Yi Xien! Get Yi Lian now!"

Lantern came stumbling in and lightly pulled Yi Lian up. Now Yi Lian saw a group of disciples all gathered around the Library. He rubbed his face to try to wake himself up but he was so tired.

Yi Jian grabbed the sleepy Yi Lian and pulled him towards him like a protective mother.

Yi Jian glared, "You will stay away from him or I'll punish you one hundred times worse than yesterday."

Yi Lian looked up to see Nie Asreal standing up as awake as ever with a smirk across his face.

He felt his cheeks heat up so he put his sleeve to his face.

Yi Lian, "What did he do da-ge?"

Yi Jian's face reddened from anger but he calmed himself.

Yi Jian, "He shouted obscenities at your da-ge Yi Lian. You should avoid this boy."

Yi Lian's expression changed to confused and Yi Jian became even more enraged. "But he said he was only talking back to someone who was rude to him."

Yi Jian always kept his cool in front of his brother. He never got angry or upset because he knew his younger brother's head worked differently than most. He was very innocent and curious about the world but wanted to stay on his own. He needed special care so Yi Jian just took a long breath to calm the mind.

Yi Jian, "He asked how Sects were made. I said they were formed many years ago. He said that didn't answer his question. So last night he was to copy out our Sect's rules to… focus his thoughts on better things."

Yi Lian nodded in understanding. Yi Jian smiled and called Lantern over to take him back to the cottage.

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Yi Lian never got the books he needed so he asked Lantern to go fetch them.

He spent the day cultivating and reading like most, passing the time until dinner. He didn't feel like going to the hall for dinner so Lantern brought him the food and sat with him.

Yi Lian asked him about his sword practice and Lantern told him about it. Yi Lian much preferred Lantern's company then most. They had been friends since youth, well Lantern had been his friend turned attendant. The important thing was that they were both happy.

In the end Lantern retired for bed and Yi Lian got ready to go out again however this time he felt some hesitation. He didn't want to upset his brother but he also wanted to go and collect some herbs he had read about that day.

In the end he unlocked the door and stepped out.

He was halfway along the path, on a cloudy and foggy night, when he heard a rustling noise coming from the bushes.