[Multi] l'Empyrean's writing training

[l'empyrean]

AUGUST 14TH 2000
Nara prefecture (Nara-Ken)
Nara city (Nara-shi)

---

I lost mom, I shouldn't have chased that beautiful butterfly... "Mommy ! Where are you? " I tried to go back but I don't remember the path I took... Uuuuhh nooo Mommy is going to be mad.... mhm? that street look super dark "Akeno~ Where are you sweetheart, you're worrying Mommy. Please stop hiding and come to me my little princess. " Mommy's voice is coming from the scary street... but if she's there then it must be safe.

"I am coming Mo-"

"He—hic—y kid do you have som—hic—spare change for this drunk one ?" I turn around after hearing the voice, he was older than me but not enough to drink I think. "Mom said to not talk to stranger. " I say a bit scared, Mommy told me scary stories about stranger I knew better than to talk to th-

"Ah sorry kid—hic—your mom is right I should get going—hic—your mom is the opposite way littl—hic—lady. " He must one of those baddies mom told me about !

"No you're wrong my mom just called from tha- " I point at a wall ? "That way ?" Where did it go ? and where did mom's voice come from ?

"litt—HIC—e lady you must be tired, just keep on going strrr—hic—aight and don't wander o—hic—kay. " He said while ruffling my hair.

"But I heard mommy's voice from... " He's weird... I am scared and I don't know where to go... I am tired, and scared and I want mommy and I want to cry !

Before I started crying I felt the man's hand on my head, I looked up and saw him murmuring something, I couldn't hear what he said. But, I felt better, I wasn't scared anymore. He removed his hand and got on one knee, I saw his face up close, it was very flushed and his breath reeked. " You're a brat—HIC—ve girl okay ? I want you to trust me and listen to what I said, your mom is over there worried sick, and you're tired it's time to go now okay? " I nodded

"Don't pay attention to the street without lights, hic even if you hear familiar voices. Keep walking straight ahead until you find your mom."

And I started walking, and walking the street was bright with the sun warmth.

The other streets on the other hand were dark, it didn't make sense ? If the sun was bright enough to shine on this path then the other should definitely not be this dark, it was weird.

Not weirder than the voice though

"Akeno... Daddy is here. Please come to me."

The voice came from one of the dark street, but I kept walking.

"My dear Akeno, please stop ignoring me!"

It was louder now. Closer.

"AKENO!"
"AKENO!"

"MOM"

"AKENO ?! WHERE WERE YOU ? I was so worried, I am so glad you're okay. "

"sorry mom I shouldn't have wandered off..."

Mom hugged me tight and started to chastised me but I wasn't listening I was happy and curious.

It was night, and there was a full moon.

---

I was worried like all mother would be after what she told me, after verification I found trace of a curse on Akeno that had been dispersed. Me and my daughter had to go, the people opposed to my union with Baraqiel had cursed our daughter ! How could they do that to a little child, and I know I couldn't count on Baraqiel either that man was never there. "Mommy where are we going ?"

"We're moving out sweetheart, going to to- no kyoto." I didn't know where but we had to go.

After they found out that I was with Baraqiel, my clan secluded me deep in their territory. The only reason they hadn't killed me was Baraqiel, whom they feared. Whoever with his absence being more and more frequent it was only a matter of time until they noticed that we were without protection.

After taking the minimum, I went to talk to akeno. "I need you to stay close to me okay ?"

If it came down to it then I would- "COME OUT YOU TRAITOROUS SKANK !"

"WE KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE !"

"GO AND BRING ME THAT BITCH AND THAT DIGUSTING HALF-BREED MONSTRUOSITY !"

No.... How could they have- they found us. "Mom ?" I hug Akeno tight, I don't want to die... but Akeno is the priority, I take a good look at her she really took after me...

"Sweetheart, you remember the shortcut we took tonight ?" I ask her. "I need you to take it by yourself I won't be far behind okay ?"

Akeno always was smart for a child, when she felt that we didn't tell her the whole truth she always got sad and this time was no exception.

"I don't want to go alone and I don't want leave Mommy. " she started to cry

"THERE YOU ARE !" Several armed men came out of the now destroyed shoji

A man with a katana stepped forward, and I shielded my crying child with my body. "PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP !"

"A gaijin-fucking, half-breed making like you doesn't deserve help, ALL YOU NEED IS DEATH. " He shouted

"BRING THEM OUTSIDE, AND PURIFY THAT DEFILED SHRINE WITH AMATERATSU'S GIFT !"

He started to drag me by my hair. The men who weren't occupied with burning our home were occupied with launching objects at us and beating my body. "I BEG OF YOU sob KILL ME IF YOU MUST, BUT LEAVE HER ALONE!"

"SHUT UP" a storm of physical violence was thrown in our way until finally we stood in front of...

"Keiji-san ?"

"Shouldn't have layed with the fallen, Shuri we could have been so good together." He said before grabbing me and spewing more hatred toward me. Akeno... please someone save her.

"Cultivating the Dao requires a clear conscience and a calm mind, however the mad dogs in front of me seem to refuse my destined path" An aloof voice echoed through the night

what ?

---

As a cultivator of the dao there are three worldly pleasures I seek, even though master says they rot the root of my spirit. The first is fine wine, the second is good company, the third is to exude the bearing of a peerless expert, the fourth is mortal silver, the fif-

Ugh.

Master is right I am still leagues away from the true Dao. However, no matter how far I am from mastering the other two grand virtues, one of the Dao's Three Treasures is already fully within my grasp.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU ?"

"H-Hey he's standing right in the fire shouldn't he be screaming right now ?"

"I BET THE BASTARD IS JUST DOING THAT LOOK COOL !" this dog is pretty smart maybe I should be merciful. "LEAVE AND DON'T LOOK BACK, THIS DOESN'T CONCERN YOU KID"

I jump down my landing softened by the surrounding Qi, such a shame that a shrine this beautiful had to suffer this fate.

"My fellow daoist I believe you are wrong, the little girl you held a minute ago was very helpful to me. As such it is my duty to make sure she can live her life to the fullest, not die to some wronged lover ?"

The leader checks down on his hostages only to notice they aren't there, pretty slow on the uptake this one. "HOW DID Y-YOU-- GET HIM ."

Ah finally.

the first wave rush towards me like synchronised ants, this wave has the smart dog I'll try to keep him alive.

without the sword this time, utilizing the footwork that my master taught me I slip past the first wave and rush toward the desecrator, without time to prepare and with subpar reflexes they have no choice but to fall to my relentless onslaught. One precise strike after the other, the ones responsible for the fire are finally down.

"-uh leader w-what happened" didn't even notice me slipping by ?

"WHY IS HE STANDING BEHIND YOU DID YOU NOT HEAR ME ?! ENOUGH KILL HIM. " His voice is very irritating. I have decided my next oppoent is him.

Ummm? this time the dogs are hesitant. "these ignorant ants keep on courting death. " This must have angered the one on the right, I could tell by the way his face became red and the frantic running.

I dodge several of his wide and very ankward swings, and start walking toward their leader

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING STOP SWINGING AT THE AIR"

"STOP DODGING AND FIGHT ME COWARD"

I finally reach the leader, I didn't notice the height difference but what really strike me is-"Now I understand why the peerless beauty refused you, are you related by chance to one of those mythical kappa I heard of ?"

His face is red with anger, but before he could shout another command the reality of the situation set in. All of his friends are down

"H-how- who are yo-u what do you wan-"

The words died in the kappa's throat as I raised my right hand, fingers splayed, utterly relaxed. He tried to swing his katana, but against a true cultivator, his mortal reflexes were nothing more than a snail trying to outrun a thunderclap.

"You cannot tell the difference between heaven and earth, " I murmured, my voice cutting through the crackle of the burning shrine. "And worse, you have disrupted my drinking. "

I stepped forward, channeling the spiritual Qi from my dantian straight into the center of my hand.

"Cloud-Parting Palm!"

no explosion, no dramatic roar. Only a soft, heavy thud as my open palm connected squarely with his chest. For a fraction of a second, time seemed to freeze. Then, the terrifying screech of displaced air erupted.

The shockwave blasted outward, instantly blowing out the surrounding flames in a twenty-foot radius. the toad rocketed through the air, his armor shattering into useless dust before he crashed violently into the stone torii gate at the shrine's entrance, slumping down completely unconscious.

Crap I liked the gate here's hoping his humongous body isn't going to destroy it.

---

"Mommy it was the man I met when I was lost."

"Really ?" he must have been the one to dispel the curse too then...

"He was super drunk and very weird but I think he helped us."

"Drunk ?" He didn't look old enough to drink. "But you're right dear,"

from being pinned to the ground, to being next to a train station with all of my injuries gone...

"Otaku-san must have helped us." I say with a grin

"Otaku ?" Akeno tilt her head

"The reason why he was weird is because he must be a lonely boy who found solace in manga in other words otaku. "

"ooooooh." Akeno smiles. "Mommy is the smartest. "

the train to tokyo arrived.

Thank you whoever you are.