Deep in the Back Mountains

Chapter 20 Deep in the Back Mountains

A pale dawn had barely touched the Cold Palace walls when Li An sat cross-legged in a secluded corner of the courtyard, brush in hand, breathing in the crisp morning air. She watched her brush hover above a scroll as if the words she sought to write might breathe to life. She was on the verge of mastering something extraordinary—glyphs made of air itself.

Seedee, the tiny seed-like apparition that lingered in her mind, floated before her like a tiny, glowing ember only she could see. It drifted silently, emanating a quiet patience, waiting for her to proceed. Its teachings on air glyphs were complex, and challenging even for someone with Li An's exceptional skills. Calligraphy had always been a precise and graceful art to her, but air glyphs were something else entirely—words that contained real power, a way to draw upon the natural energy surrounding her.

"This is the next line, Seedee?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Yes, Li An," Seedee replied, its voice drifting gently into her mind like a breeze. "But remember, the air glyphs aren't like the strokes you've written before. These are drawn from the natural energy around you."

Li An nodded solemnly, holding her brush above the paper as she tried to picture her surroundings flowing into the characters she wanted to create. Without the ability to store energy inside her body, she had no reservoir of strength to draw from directly. Instead, Seedee had taught her how to tap into the energy of the world itself, drawing from the surrounding atmosphere to fuel her glyphs.

She dipped her brush and wrote in flowing strokes, each movement delicate and deliberate. Her small hand moved with the practiced ease of someone far beyond her years. The glyph she was forming was one of basic augmentation—intended to strengthen her limbs temporarily, granting her speed and resilience. With her final stroke, she sensed a shift in the air around her. A faint shimmer surrounded the glyph as it drank in the natural energy, glistening faintly under the morning light.

Li An placed her palm against the glyph and felt a surge of strength spread through her muscles. Her hands tingled with newfound power, her limbs suddenly alive with an energy far greater than her own.

She sprang to her feet, light as a feather, and sprinted around the courtyard in exhilaration, her speed nearly doubling. She leapt, landing with an ease and balance that was both graceful and firm. The air glyph faded after a few seconds, but Li An beamed with satisfaction.

Seedee drifted beside her. "Impressive. You're getting more proficient, Li An. Physical augmentation and protection are foundational, yes, but they open many doors. Keep training with these, and soon you will be able to use them reflexively."

Li An's dark eyes sparkled. "Seedee, how far can these air glyphs take me? Could they help protect Mother, Concubine Su?"

Seedee paused as if considering its words. "Yes, with enough skill and practice, you will be able to use these glyphs to defend others. But for now, focus on yourself. Only by mastering each step will you be able to shield others with confidence."

Li An nodded with determination. After weeks of practice in the courtyard, she felt ready to test her limits. The next morning, she awoke at dawn, excitement thrumming within her as she slipped past the Cold Palace walls and ventured toward the back mountains. She'd explored its edges countless times, but she'd always stayed within the invisible boundaries set by Seedee's cautionary words.

But today, she planned to cross those boundaries.

She moved swiftly, her feet barely grazing the ground, enhanced by an air glyph she'd written just before setting out. The forest deepened as she ventured further, the trees growing thicker, their shadows longer. Silence hung heavy around her, punctuated only by the occasional rustling of leaves as a small animal darted through the undergrowth. The scent of earth and pine surrounded her, calming yet unfamiliar.

An hour later, she reached a clearing and took a moment to catch her breath, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. But then, a soft growl echoed through the clearing. Li An froze, her senses sharpening. She turned slowly, her eyes scanning the area. The growl grew louder, echoing from multiple directions, each sound carrying a menacing undertone.

In the shadows, pairs of gleaming eyes emerged, two on top and two below, each set on the face of a wolf-like creature unlike anything she had ever seen. Their silvery, spiked fur gleamed eerily in the dawn light, casting reflections as they moved. A low, collective growl rumbled through the clearing, and Li An realized she was surrounded—ten of these creatures, slowly closing in on her from all sides.

Seedee's voice rang sharply in her mind. "Li An, be very careful. These are not ordinary creatures."

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm, her mind racing. She could feel the weight of their gaze on her, she could almost sense the predatory instincts running through them. She had to act fast.

Steadying her hand, she pulled out the writing brush she'd prepared earlier. Her mind was already imagining the protection glyph she had practiced for hours. Waving her hand swiftly, she wrote the glyph and pressed her fingers in the air, activating the glyph with a surge of focus. A shimmering barrier formed around her, just as one of the creatures lunged.

The wolf-like beast struck the barrier and recoiled, snarling as it skidded backward, stunned by the impact. The others hesitated, sensing the energy of the glyph, but their hesitation lasted only a moment. They spread out, circling her like a pack of phantoms.

Li An quickly dipped her writing brush gathering the natural energy around her, her hand a blur as she wrote a new glyph onto the air—a swift augmentation glyph to increase her agility. She couldn't fight them head-on, but perhaps she could evade them. With a quick movement, she darted forward, dashing toward the narrowest gap between two of the creatures.

She felt a rush of air as one snapped at her heels, missing by mere inches. She twisted, dodging to the side, her augmented speed just enough to keep her a step ahead. She could feel her muscles straining against the limits of her young body, and she knew her glyph wouldn't last much longer.

The creatures pursued her relentlessly, their growls reverberating in her ears. Li An's mind raced as she searched for a way to escape. She needed something stronger, something that could buy her more time.

"Seedee!" she gasped, "What glyph can hold them back?"

Seedee's voice came quickly. "Write the Glyph of Binding. Use the trees to trap them; it will force their movements to slow. But you must focus, Li An."

Li An took a deep breath, her fingers trembling as she dipped her brush in the air once more. She didn't have much time. The creatures were drawing closer, their gleaming eyes fixated on her every move. She slashed her brush across the air in the direction of the trees, drawing the Glyph of Binding with a swift, sure hand. As the last stroke fell, she pressed her palm on the transparent air glyph, channeling her focus into the glyph.

The air around her shimmered, and then the trees seemed to respond, their roots stretching upward, thickening like arms as they twisted around the nearest creatures. One by one, the wolves snapped and writhed, their limbs entangled in the tightened roots. For a moment, it seemed as though she had gained the upper hand.

But not all of them were caught. Two of the creatures had avoided the roots, their four eyes watching her with an intense hunger. They advanced cautiously, studying her with a dangerous intelligence.

Sweat trickled down her brow, and she could feel the Glyph of Binding weakening. The creatures trapped in the roots thrashed, snapping and tearing at the vines with relentless determination. She only had moments left before the binding would fail.

Gathering her remaining strength, she dashed toward the undergrowth, darting between the trees. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and her heart pounded as she pushed herself to the limits. But just as she thought she might escape, a claw swiped past her, tearing into her sleeve and grazing her arm.

The pain was sharp, but she ignored it, clenching her teeth as she kept running. Ahead, she saw a narrow gap between two boulders, just wide enough for her to slip through. She ducked into the gap, pressing herself against the rock, hoping the creatures wouldn't be able to follow.

For a moment, there was silence. The only sound was her own breathing, ragged and uneven. She could feel the energy from her glyphs fading, the protection dissipating, leaving her vulnerable once more.

But the creatures did not follow. She peered out cautiously, watching as the beasts circled the entrance, their silvery fur glinting ominously in the light. They growled and prowled, but they seemed unable to enter, as if something invisible held them at bay.

She slumped against the rock, exhausted yet relieved. The creatures eventually retreated, vanishing into the shadows of the forest as silently as they had appeared.

Li An took a shaky breath, her heart slowly calming. She had ventured deeper into the back mountains than she'd ever intended, but she had survived. She knew now that beyond the Cold Palace walls lay a dangerous, untamed world. A world filled with creatures and forces far stronger than anything she'd encountered within her sheltered life.

"Li An," Seedee whispered, its tone solemn. "You did well today. But remember, these glyphs require great caution. With each step, you're drawing closer to realms of power most never dare to enter."

Li An looked out at the forest, her eyes hardening with resolve. "I'll keep practicing, Seedee. I'll learn every glyph there is if it means protecting those I care about."