Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Zhu Dao watched the forest of masts which crowd just outside the harbor of his new capital. They belonged to the great armada of ships that converged closely to get into the safety of the harbor, so close that there was hardly a spot of water larger than a puddle to be found in between their wooden hulls while up above the sails blocked out the sky like a great canopy. They groaned and shuddered, occasionally crashing against one another as they fought to get into the anchorage. Yet as moments after they made contact, the wind and waves around the ships would shift around and move them apart as bubbles of wind and waves surrounded the ships protectively. Such unnatural changes of the elements could only be done courtesy of the few Magicborne who remained in his service.

The emperor watched this all from the windswept balcony outside of his chambers. He felt strong gales of wind roughly blowing against his chee, tossing strands of his dark hair that weren’t tied back into a topknot. He closed his eyes and gently ran his nails across the granite railing as a fresh gust of wind came at him. It did not just tickle his skin, but penetrated it, touching his muscles and bones, offering their strength to him. Sending out a soft exhale, he could feel the power within the air

Behind him, he felt the cool gaze of his only companions on the balcony. They came from the two golden dragons which circled the support pillars and stopped vigil on the sea, though he felt their eyes glaring down at him with their sapphire eyes. Such a sight was probably meant to have offered reassurance of the dragon's guidance, but such a gaze only left him feeling uneasy and a little frightened at their silent judgment. Yet he tried his best to ignore them and watched the Bounded Sea beneath the balcony instead.

He wondered how many ships now crowded the city beneath him. There would have to be hundreds at least. They were not only made up of his royal war junks, but also big-bellied merchant ships, and heavy transport ships that made even his powerful warships seem small. How many more were dispersed over the rest of the Lunar Isle, over the rest of the island chain which surrounded them. There had tens of thousands of refugees at least, all who came from different provinces and roles, soldiers, farmers, and nobles, all who chose to leave their homes to follow him into exile. While he was honored by the loyalty of these people to their true emperor, an ache form in his chest as he wondered how what would happen now that they are here. There were too many for such a small island to sustain. How would they survive when the late-year storms arrived?

You worry about the end of the year when you do not even know what the end of this month may hold.

He gripped the cold stone railing of the balcony and peered over the edge, not to the crowded harbors of the city, but beyond to the Bounded Sea. There in the open seas, there were no ships to blemish the waters and where its ocean stretched out for leagues from his view and far beyond still. If Dao squinted and looked out hard enough, he might have been able to make out the distant outline of the coast dozens of leagues away. Yet in that sprawl of sea, Dao knew that more ships were still arriving, some carrying even more refugees and others with less peaceable people.

Then he heard something intermix with the whispering gusts. A thud, though soft, still managed to make itself heard. He ignored it until it was at last at the doorway. “You hardly moved an inch since I left you, Dao. If you stare at the sea any harder I fear you may turn to stone like these beasts.”

The voice was soft with only a slight amount of chastisement in it, yet it cut through the wind as easily as a sword through bone. If she felt bad about interrupting his thoughts, then she showed no regret on her face. Dao left the sea of water and men where they were and turned to face his wife who had one hand running across one of the dragon statues. “I was just watching the ships. Is that the last of them?”

“I do not know. Admiral Kang says that the final tally for today has not yet arrived, though he is confident that most ships have arrived safely.” Mu Fua drifted to his side. Glancing over the edge, her lip curled up into a frown. “At this rate night will fall before they can get all of the ships ashore. The captains must begin to prepare smaller craft to bring the people down.”

Dao gave an unfocused nod, feeling his mind still elsewhere, and tugged the rest of his body to join it. “It seems even simply bringing these people here is a challenge.”

“As will many things that are worth doing.” She replied, taking note of the emperor's worry before placing an arm around his shoulder. “What worries you, my husband?”

“Many things, many worries.” He felt his face darken as he shrugged off her hand. With one arm he made a sweeping gesture across the fleet. “Look at all these people. How will we feed them all? How will we arm an army here? These islands are a poor base for our kingdom.”

“A poor base, but one we were given nonetheless. When one wishes to build a fortress, one does not expect a castle to appear from thin air. They must create a strong foundation and fortify it themselves, ” Fua clicked her tongue as she leaned over the edge, blowing against the sleeves of her robes. Even though they covered most of her arms, the tips of her tattoos poked out of them as the wind blew her sleeves back.

“And this will soon be an empty fortress if we are unable to find food to feed our people,” Dao complained and shook his head.

Again Fua seemed unimpressed. “Food will come, we have the means to ensure our survival.” Her expression softened as she tousled his hair. “All this worrying will only grey your hair.”

The words were meant in jest, yet Dao continued to worry. He pushed himself away from the ships and marched back into his chambers. The room was not technically his but instead belonged to the lord of the castle. This lord had been more than happy to give it up to him though when he heard that the emperor had arrived on his shores. As such, the quarters were sumptuously decorated, though none of it from his furniture. A great bearskin rug spread out on the floor at his feet while a sphinx from the Shah people flanked the doorway. Gemstones from the different island nations and tapestries from the Chakram Empire decorated its walls.

He sat down on their oak four-poster bed and rested his head against one of the beams. “And what else can I do while we wait for food to arrive?”

“Well if you wish to take your mind off it, there is perhaps some work that you may do.” Fua's gentle footsteps followed right behind him. Dao watched as she strode in their bed chambers. Although she wore the robes of an empress, a dark green gown with black sleeves, she was nothing like the pale-skinned beauty that most empresses were in portraits being tanned and tattooed instead. Her raven black hair was unadorned with any hair-clips or any other accessories and her striking amber eyes shone with untamed energy. Yet Dao loved her anyway.

Dao looked up at her and blinked once, then slowly frowned as he began racking his brains as he tried to think back of what she was saying. In his brooding, could he have forgotten some things which may have slipped through the cracks?

Fua shook her head, though showed no ill will otherwise. “Yes, Duke Yeng asked if you would launch a paper lantern in the town square as a way to honor those who had fallen. I believe it sends a good message to the people, to let them see that your grief is with them and that you have no abandoned them.”

“And when were you planning on telling me this? He complained.

“Apologies, in truth I only knew about it a little while ago.” She replied, placing a hand on her chest. “This is actually why I came here to see you. He said that he would have it begin at sundown.”

Dao glanced out the window and saw that the sun had already begun its descent onto the western sea. Sunset would be only a few hours from now. He was not normally opposed to giving public displays after this, after all, it was an emperor's duty to show himself to the people and make his presence known. Yet today he did feel as if he had the energy for it.

“What use will my grief be to them?” He asked and stretched his arms and legs as he felt the call of his bed. “It will not grant them the food they need to survive nor will it offer them an opportunity to return to their homes in the mainland.”

“No, but a gesture like that would go a long way in ensuring loyalty to them. It gives them hope.” She said. “I know you are tired, but you are their emperor.”

He could not fault her point there, though he still doubted them in his heart. Pulling on a dark robe with no decoration on it, he nodded. “Very well, but if we are to be there at the appointed time, we must begin heading out now.”

“My sister has already taken the liberty to scout out to visit the city plaza herself,” Fua said.

“You seem to have everything figured out, Fua.” Dao opened his mouth and his lips slowly began to rise as he rested his head against her own. He found that he could not contradict her on that point and nodded his head in agreement, the unease in his belly slowly starting to ease. “I’ll trust that you have everything under control.”

Her spotless white teeth flashed as she gave a fierce smile and slowly reached out to stroke his cheek. “My husband, I would have thought that you understood that fact long ago. Then again, you were a bit of a slow learner.”

“But I learn eventually.” He walked over to the door and held it open whilst extending his hand out. This time it was his turn to smile. “My lady.”

Though they had only lived in their new castle for a handful of days, both already knew the layout of the halls by memory. Dao took pride in the way he effortlessly made his way through the winding long halls of the palace. In one particular junction, it had a row of tall arched windows that commanded a view of the walls of the city beyond. He saw the warriors who accompanied him mixed in with the local city watch. Between them were disordered rows of houses and shops bustling with life as their inhabitants were preparing for the day.

They shuffled past them and kept their way along the halls. Servants and guardsmen greeted them as they passed, some snapping a salute or bowing before him when they caught a glimpse of their emperor. Dao accepted all of them with courtesy. Fua ordered a guardsman, one in the cobalt scales of Dao’s guards, to have their grooms prepare their horses in the stables. The man saluted and stalked off to the servant’s quarters.

They passed through the castle’s inner walls, the gallery, and lastly through a set of turnpike stairs that was built in one of the kept towers. Fua glanced down at the narrow steps and her head started to sway around. Her hand rubbed her temple as she winced. Dao paused and placed a hand over her’s. “Are you ok? Dizzy? Just keep your eyes on me.”

Fua opened her eyes and gave a weak nod, though her gait remained unsteady. “Hold onto my arm.”

With her hands wrapped around his arm to steady herself, the two made their way down the steps. Dao made sure to go slowly, marching a single step at a time. More than once he saw his wife squinting and walking ungainly, each time he paused to regain her bearings until they emerged at the doorway at the foot of the steps.

From there, they emerged in the tower closest to the stables. Dao shielded his eyes from the sun and felt the smell of leather and hay mix in with the fresh air. Out of the staircase, Fua gestured for some space and pulled her hands away. Dao took a step back and watched as she took a few deep breaths. When her eyes opened, they were much clearer and most of the dizziness seemed to disappear.

The stables were a two-story building, barely a third the size of those in the royal palace, though it was a solid structure made from good oak. The grooms were just about done by the time they reached the stables. Two young servants in chestnut-colored tunics were kneeling beside Dao’s mount as they finished working on its saddle. Their hands deftly worked on the straps and buckles until they were all in place. They did this under the watchful gaze of Fa Liao, his captain of the guard.

The man stood by one of the entrances with his arms crossed, standing at six and a half feet tall, he practically blocked the sun. The light only light that got through seemed to be the one that caught in his bald head. He noticed the royal pair entering and dropped to one knee and bowed before them, not caring that the ground was covered in mud and dirt. “My emperor, your horses are ready, though are you sure you do not wish to take the palanquin instead?”

“I am quite sure, captain. Now is not the time for extravagance.” Dao said and shook his head, bending down to adjust the last few buckles needed. The grooms knew at once to step back and let him work.

Liao’s face remained hard as stone. “It is not extravagant if it is a matter of security. You would not do well so exposed out in the open.”

“And will the people who see me be able to understand that? They must see that I am with them.” The people must see that their emperor shares in their struggles and that he is willing to make sacrifices just as much as they are.

The captain nodded his head stiffly, handing the point to Dao, begrudgingly. “Very well then, I will gather a squad of guardsmen to escort you.”

“That shall not be necessary, Liao. I will not walk amongst my people without an army between us.” As an emperor, he must show no fear, especially from his subjects.

“With all due respect, you’re grace, I will not allow you to walk around the city without a proper sword to protect you.” When he spoke, his voice rang out like two swords meeting together.

“Then feel free to come with us,” Fua silky voice silencing them both. By now she had already swung atop her horse and galloped in between them.“No man in the guard is as skilled as you, captain. I’m sure you would have sufficient protection.”

Dao glanced at the captain and saw that he was no more pleased about it than him, though it was an acceptable compromise. He gave him a slight note and the captain bowed his head. “Very well, allow me a few minutes to prepare my horse.”

The emperor nodded and steered his horse outside, Fua quickly following after. It took a total of five minutes for Liao to get everything ready. He rode out in a charcoal stallion and with a long wool cloak which hid his cobalt breastplate. Offering them a small nod, he gripped the reins of his horse.

The guardsmen at the walls noticed them right away and took only a moment to recognize Dao. The gates soon parted ways for them and the trio made their way into the streets of Cusia City. Their hooves thudded against the tiled streets and as they moved, he took stock of the city. He was not pleased with what he saw.

When he visited the city years before, the city was a work of art come to life with its brightly colored painted buildings, orderly streets, and great key-shaped harbor. It was to be expected from cities founded by merchants and traders for those who could not be tied down within the borders of the mainland. Such men are famed for their organization and attention to detail. Yet now, Cusia appeared messy, tumultuous, and crowded.

Normally pristine streets were littered with rubbish and far worse things. For every house he saw, at least five homeless vagabonds were wandering. Even augmented with his guard, members of the city watch seems sparsely spread patrolling the streets, those who he did see were flinty eyes and with their hands never far away from their weapons.

They avoided the crowded marketplace and bustling harbor in favor of the smaller, narrower Crafter's Road. The people here were made for those not so poor that they would have to live on the Beggar’s Home, but not so well-off to live close to the harbor. The streets steadily rose as they moved as the place was built on an incline. The houses were small two-story abodes that doubled as family’s businesses and pressed snuggly together. As they passed, Dao looked at each sign hanging from the doors. There were potters, candlemakers, pot shops, and weavers. A few of the larger ones doubled as taverns and inns.

He then turned and looked over the other side of the street where no houses were built. Instead, it was the edge of the cliffs which offered an excellent view of the harbor. For a mercantile city like this, a large harbor is necessary and so the Key was constructed. The harbor that flowed came in the shape of a key with a narrow opening at the mouth of the harbor and a long thin harbor for merchant ships which swelled out in a circle in the interior of the harbor for military ships.

And arrive they did as refugees had already trickled here in street far away from the harbor. A few refugees lined the streets here as well, some sleeping beneath what shelter they could find, a few erecting tents which would serve as their new homes, and others who stared ignorantly at them as they passed. He kept his eyes on the poor hermits who watched him go with distant eyes. Their skins sagged beneath their bones from lost weight and their clothes looked ready to fall apart at any moment. A few scrambled on all fours and prostrated themselves at his feet. Dao took them and offered them a reassuring smile.

They may have been farmers, or merchants, or soldiers in the empire before, but now they were beggars. After a moment’s debate, he pulled the reins of his horse and dismounted, approaching one of the urchins. As he did, he reached one hand into his tunic. His boots thumped softly on the cobblestones as he approached the nearest one. The man somehow managed to shrunk back, even more, when he saw him approach. The poor soul shriveled up in the corner.

“Peace, friend. I have not come to hurt you.” Dao said softly and held the leather purse between his thumb and index finger. He dropped it into the old man’s hands who immediately shook it around, his eyes going as wide as dinner plates when he heard the unmistakable clinking of coins coming from the pouch.

He turned to the emperor in surprise as if expecting him to take the money back at any moment, but Dao shook his head and gestured to the other refugees. “Just share it with them as well.”

“A-at once, my emperor.” The man said hurriedly before frantically shouting for his comrades to come as he began handing out the silver pieces to them. Dao turned back, trusting the man to distribute it evenly.

When he turned around, he found Liao watching. His face softened a bit, changing from granite to simple stone as he nodded in approval. He held the reins of Dao’s horse and offered it back to him.

Fua was also there and stood with her arms crossed but with a smile on her face. “There should be enough silver to keep them and their families feed for a few days at least.“

“You have a good heart, my husband,” Fua said, helping him back onto his horse.

“It was the least I could do for them. They are here because of me.”

“With all due respect, my emperor, you are wrong,” Liao said, glancing back and shaking his head. His hand drifted away from his sword. “They are here because they believe in you and that you’re the rightful ruler and they chose to follow you because of that, no different than I.”

“Kind words, my friend.” He gripped his shoulder and nodded. “Thank you.”

With those said, he kicked his heels into his horse and rode off, leaving Fua and Liao following after.

Soon they, at last, reached the Cusia Plaza. It was a big open air space in the shape of an octagon with seven sides leading to another road in the city. By the time they arrived, the sun had already touched the Bounded Sea and changed from its bright yellow to a cooler orange. More importantly, there were now throngs of people gathered in the plaza. They ranged from the well to do citizens of the city to humbler peasants in their simple clothing, to refugees in their ragged and travel-worn clothes. There had to be thousands of them at least, while not as many as the crowds he was used to in the Eternal City, it was still respectable. There were certainly enough that the street workers seemed to have trouble lighting all the lamps that lined the streets as they tried to make their way through them.

Liao took the lead once again, spurring his horse onward and clearing a path through a combination of shouts and pushing. A small gap formed for them which Dao quickly took advantage of, riding with Fua and holding their hands. In the middle of the plaza, there was a great marble water fountain. The circumference of its base was as long as five men while the fountain had sheets of stone carved which extended out in different angles and overlapped in one another to give the image of a blooming flower. Water shot out from the center and trickled along each of the petals.

More than ten feet around the fountain, a large number of city patrollers stood in cordon with their spreads crossed while the second circle of guards armed with clubs and swords stood behind them, ready to apprehend those who might get through.

Standing atop the fountain were two figures who were allowed to pass the press of people and throngs of guards. One was a man, pot-bellied and in his middling years dressed in rich fabrics of purple and white while a red sash was slung across his chest. He had the look of an administrator about him, with deep blue eyes and a furrowed brow. His hair was carefully tied back with not a single strand out of place. The other was a young woman, younger than even Dao, dressed in a dark green tunic and a lighter, forest green shirt underneath along with matching trousers. Her hair was tied back to show an innocent-looking face that seemed incapable of even breaking a plate. Along with them were a few other men and women who were part of their staff. Instead of the normal light green livery his royal household normally wore, they wore darker shades of green as a symbol of mourning.

“Greetings governor, apologies for my tardiness,” Dao called as his horse reared back as he came to a stop. He inclined his head towards his companion. “And greetings, sister.”

My Fua’s sister, Mu Tran grinned back at him while Governor Gongxi bowed eloquently low, something that must have been quite difficult given his girth. “On the contrary, no emperor is ever late. I must have just arrived far too early.”

Dao felt a chuckle escape his lips as he swung one leg over his head and slid off with a gentle thud. He then moved to help his wife. Liao, remaining mounted. “Well said, Governor. So what is it that you wished to have me do here?”

His anger flashed slightly when he spoke, making it clear he was not pleased with being summoned like this. Gongxi was shrewd enough to understand. He took a step back and folded his hands over each other. “My most humble apologies, my emperor. I thought that you would have liked to lead the mourning ritual for those who have fallen.”

“Mourning ritual?” He asked, though as the words left his lips, Gongxi snapped his fingers and the household servants part to make way for two to pass. They were an older pair in their sixties at least and we're a man and woman who Do assume was a married couple. Instead of the dark greens, his staff wore they were dressed in black tunics of mourning. They both held onto either side of a massive paper lantern as large as themselves. Despite the lantern's size, they had no problem carrying it and refused help from anyone else.

The two gingerly set it down at the base of the fountain at their feet, careful not to place it near the water. The husband and wife team then immediately bowed before him. Gongxi smiled. “These two are the greatest lantern makers in the city. Their works have been used in many events for the city.”

Dao nodded his head and looked at their work. The paper was made into the shape of a folded cylinder and came in a deep shade of crimson red that was without blemish or stains. There did not appear to be any mistake in the folding and a careful inspection yielded no creases or errors. Underneath the lantern lay a copper frame which gave its shape while a cross-section extended from the bottom. It was a sky lantern, a device meant to send the names of the fallen and all the grief that came with it up to the heavens.

“I am honored to light your lantern, though I assume you were properly paid for this work.”

A quick nod by Tran confirmed this. “You two must be so proud of it. Thank you.

The elderly couple looked up, their wrinkled faces lit up into a smile. The female reached into her tunic and pulled out a pair of brushes from the pocket of her tunic while the husband retrieved gold paint. They set them down before returning to their place with the other servants.

Dao reached out and held one of the brushes. “Shall we begin?”

“Perhaps we should say some words to the crowd first?” Fua suggested and gestured towards the people.

“You mean I should say something.” He corrected her.

“Well you are their emperor,” she replied saucily. “I am just your foreign wife to them.”

Dao kissed her forehead. “Very well.”

He turned and faced the crowd. The first thing he noticed was the color black. It came to him as far as the eye could see. It was the color many had come out here to show just that in their dark tunics and dresses. A gesture that was certainly one of mourning and grief, but he recoiled slightly, feeling as if it were directed towards him.

Thousands of pairs of eyes turned to meet his one set. Dao tried to focus on individuals instead of the mass. He found many familiar faces amongst the crowds, close friends he had known for years, soldiers and servants who had served him, strangers he had only seen once or twice. He saw a few soldiers who served in his guards, a trio of noble brothers looking rough and ready, and an elderly merchant who had petitioned him trade rights in the Eternal Palace before he left.

“My people.” He felt his voice wrought with uncertainty as called out to them. Quickly shutting his lips, he felt a flush on his face when the words escaped. No that would not do at all. He closed his eyes. Fua took a step forward and was prepared to offer support, but he waved her off. Instead, he took a deep breath until he felt the cool air fill his lungs, pushing into his veins and coursing into every inch of his body and with the air its power. He felt element lent him its strength

“MY PEOPLE!” His words now boomed out of his mouth in a sound that would have effortlessly deafened a war gong. He saw the sheer volume knock off the helmets of some soldiers while other peasants took a step back. “I come to you as your emperor to share these words with you. I am moved by you people and the loyalty you offer to me, much the same loyalty a child offers loyalty to their parents. I am deeply honored at the faith you give me, even amidst these hardships that we find ourselves in.”

Dao felt the ripples of uncertainty amongst the crowd as he confirmed what they feared. He could not fault them for it and pushed his anxiety aside. “And we have faced hardship, this is no point in denying that. We have lost our land when we fled our homes, our wealth when it was taken from us, and our loved ones during my uncle’s rebellion. We now stand at the fringe of our empire, living in the islands on the edge of the sea.”

It was a fresh wound and he knew it. He saw the griefs which etched themselves amongst the faces of his people. Those who followed him trembled with emotion, their faces like those of people trapped in a nightmare. Even some of his stone-face guards gave small hints of their grief through the way their faces wrinkled and the way the lines on their cheeks tightened.

He spread his hands out in an expansive gesture around the city and what was within it. “From these small islands, we now make our homes, the last of our empire. There must be scales over my eyes if I was to ignore this fact, so let me assure you all that my grief is with you.”

“But this,” he then pointed towards the lantern and took a step forward. “This is the symbol of my grief for I too have lost many dear friends and loved ones in this war. Let us offer our mournings and prayers to the heavens and let our ancestors know of their bravery and that their souls may rise to join them in the great Celestial Sea.”

The name of the heavenly sea being brought up caused an excited murmur to spread across the crowds. They learned in closer, watching him speak with bated breath. Dao happily obliged them as he paced the fountain, raising his hands to the heavens. He let out a bit of the wind which dwelled in his body. An updraft of air surrounded his immediate area causing his hair to fly loose and his robes to billow around. “Let them sing the names of those who fallen and smile down upon us who remain as we press forward! That we are still here and that we shall reclaim our homes!”

As those last words were said, Dao dropped his arms to his side and took a breath, scanning at the crowd for their reaction.

He did not wait long for the reaction.

One among the trio of noble brothers stepped forward. He raised his fist in the air and roared. “Tiger Emperor!”

The shout was taken up in earnest. Soldiers pounded their spears and nobles saluted at him while peasants pounded their chests. Others fell to their knees and immediately dropped to bow before him.“Tiger Emperor, Tiger Emperor.”

Yet while many took up the cheer, not all did so. A good number remained silent, perhaps nodding their heads politely or waving their fists in the air, but their gestures were stiff and were made with an obligation in mind instead of true beliefs. Others remained even less subtle and simply watched despondently, unmoved. From those dressed in rags to several of his highborn men.

Dao told himself they were the minority, that they only needed more convinced, that thousands more still choose to support him. Yet he could not stop focusing on those who did not. He singled them out from the crowds and stared at them for longer than an emperor should.

It was Fua’s touch that took him away. She was beaming, as her hands gently pulled his arms, unaware of what he was thinking. “You were magnificent my husband.”

He nodded stiffly and let himself be pulled back to the lantern. Tran was there was well, brush in her hands as she tapped it against her chin. Gongxi remained a few feet away, happy to simply watch them.

“Who shall we write this to?” Fua asked, taking a brush and gingerly dipping it in the paint, her fingers moving in swift, delicate gestures.

Who indeed. He mused as he considered the possibilities. There was certainly no shortage of fallen he wished to honor. Yet as he considered it, his own hands reached for a brush and already went to work. Dao did not bother to stop it and instead let his body begin the work. Fua and Tran were equally engrossed in their work, the pair muttering to each other in their native Mihn Bang language as they wrote the names of their fallen.

The nobles were the first to come to mind, the highborn men who followed, advised, and hunted with him. The men who led his armies. Then came the soldiers themselves, those who helped defend their cities and fought in the front lines against his traitorous uncle. Then came the peasants and common folk. Their names were harder to remember and he found himself putting far fewer of them, but they deserved to be honored nonetheless.

The minutes ticked by as he worked and once he pulled away he saw that the sky had now darkened into a deep indigo color. The light was quickly fading as the sun neared the end of its journey on the horizon. When he glanced at the lantern he saw that it was now covered in names. They initially organized rows of names grew increasingly haphazard towards the end until the names looked little more than graffiti scrawlings.

Fua and Tran joined him on either side, quietly mumbling all the names listed to see if any were missing, Dao joined them in their reading. When they were at last satisfied with what they had done Gongxi returned with a small candle in his hands. It had already been lit and he gingerly lifted the lantern to fit it in the circular holder at the bottom cross-section.

When it was properly fixed, the four of them took hold of the lantern and began to lift it to their shoulders. It was not particularly heavy, though Dao still felt its weight on him. It took a moment but from there the lantern did the rest of the work, the candle slowly blowing its hot air within the lantern and lifting it out of their hands. Soon it was rising higher and higher into the sky.

Dao took another breath, inhaling deeply as he pushed the air into the pit of his stomach. He let it build there for a few moments until his chest began to swell with it. He then placed a foot back and threw his hands up as if giving a vicious uppercut. The blow was directed against the lantern and the air was unleashed all at once as a gust of wind quickened the lanterns ascent. Soon it disappeared into the clouds of the night sky.