Book 3 Chapter 1

Butterflies fluttered madly in Willow’s stomach as she began to pack her meagre belongings for the journey ahead of her. However even if she didn’t have much, she still needed to leave things behind. Various trinkets and little collectibles that inevitably seem to gather around her whenever she stayed at a location for any length of time, and of course her slowly growing collection of stories, including her first fumbling attempts at crafting some of her own.

She glanced through her first works with a mixture of shame and fond remembering. The tales of Guy Meister, the Half Spirit Hero, would not be shared with the world, and there was a time where she had considered burning it, though she was ultimately thankful that she hadn’t. Her friends had enjoyed it as she’d written and shared it with them, but when she showed her attempts to Li Wanyu and Grandma Thea, she felt that they weren’t feeling the things she had wanted to express with her story.

And when Miss Mu outright laughed while reading it, she knew she had failed. Her mentor had apologized after the fact when she noticed her apprentice was upset, of course, but it still highlighted the fact that just because she enjoyed reading stories, didn’t mean she was going to be good at crafting her own right away.

But she was long used to failure and picking herself back up after the fact. It was an important step for her to learn and grow, even if it still stung her pride at every stumble.

Don’t burn Guy’s story! Eos crackled by her heart, likely noticing Willow’s continued attention on the failed tale.

She smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

Willow placed it back on the shelf where it had lain. “But I won’t be taking it with me either. Space is at a premium even with Rotter to carry it, you know.”

Her fiery friend pouted in her space by Willow’s heart, but with a flicker she was back to her more merry self.

Want me to help you pack? She asked, but Willow just chuckled and shook her head, her chestnut curls moving with the motion.

“I appreciate it, but you know how flammable most of my stuff is.” She answered while packing away the stories she was planning on taking with her, of course including the scroll her aunt had made for her.

The spirit of flame pouted for another flicker before seemingly deciding that it would be better to just cheer her on instead.

Which surprisingly helped to settle Willow’s growing nerves about her coming trip to the Wanderer’s sect.

It had been what she’d been working towards for almost half of her life, and while she had known that it was on the horizon, it still came as a shock to her that the Wanderer’s gathering would be within the year.

Which meant it was time for her to meet the head of the organisation that she was ostensibly a part of and face his judgement for binding two fragments of Balance.

She just had to hope that she’d done enough to prepare.

Willow felt her mentor’s approach before she heard her footsteps echoing in the cavernous home. She felt much with her senses, including the numerous earth sprites that lived in her grandmother’s dwelling, but kept out of sight in compliance with her spirit’s command.

Miss Mu rapped her knuckles on the wall by her doorway before stepping into Willow’s room.

“Got everythin’ you need? I’d like to leave while we still have good light.”

Willow nodded after checking everything over one last time. “I should be good to go.”

After donning her faded green cloak and strapping her shield to her back she hefted her heavy pack with ease as she made her way through the place that had been her home for a few years now.

It was a bitter thing to leave.

She’d learned a lot while she was here, and while not all of the lessons had been kind, she still felt like they were things she’d carry with her for the rest of her potentially long life.

She knew that she’d be able to return, just as she knew that she’d go back to see the rest of her family someday, but for now time was tight, and she didn’t know how long it’d be until her travels brought her back.

As Willow exited the cave, she saw her grandmother and Li Wanyu helping to load supplies onto Miss Mu’s great snake beast. It was just the two of them going on this journey, but they were planning to set a rather brisk pace since they were setting out a little late to reach the gathering on time. Meaning they wanted to avoid stopping as much as possible.

Willow didn’t have much of an appetite anymore, but it was apparently important for her to continue to eat, as she still had some growing left to do, even though she felt like she’d grown enough already.

Miss Mu had had quite the shock when she’d returned from one of her trips and had to look slightly up to meet Willow’s eyes.

Her grandmother heard the two of them approach and finished hoisting up the last of the supplies to Li Wanyu, who gave Willow a nod of greeting as he worked to bind everything securely together.

Grandma Thea then turned and took in her granddaughter dressed in her travel clothes, her core growing melancholy, though she tried to not let any of it show on her face.

“You have everything you need?” She asked as she began to fuss with Willow’s travel bag, checking it over to make sure she’d packed all of her essentials, pausing upon seeing one of the keepsakes she’d made for her tucked securely inside of a goatskin pouch.

A tiny stone statue of Willow’s mother, carved from memory, and reinforced with qi to prevent any limbs from breaking off. It had been a gift to Willow for surviving her fourteenth winter, and seeing that her granddaughter was bringing it with her filled her core with warmth.

“I have everything, Grandma.” She gently took the small statue back before tucking it safely back in place.

“Indeed you do, but you know how I worry.” Her grandmother pulled her into a hug, which Willow accepted gladly.

“This isn’t goodbye forever, you know. I’ll be back some day.”

Another pang of pain in her grandmother’s core, before she nodded with misty eyes. “I suppose I’ll choose to believe you. You’ve worked hard, and if that old fool harms a hair on your head I’ll do what I can to make sure he regrets it.”

She cracked a wry smile, likely to take some of the bite from her words, though Willow knew she meant every syllable.

Li Wanyu chose this moment to approach. “Junior sister, I wish you well on your coming trial.”

Willow flashed him a smile. “I appreciate that, Wanyu. Is Bingxin not gonna say goodbye?”

She looked around for effect, but already knew that the spirit of cold and loneliness was moping in her internal space. She didn’t like the idea of losing a friend, no matter how many times it was explained to the spirit that they would almost inevitably cross paths again someday.

Li Wanyu smiled apologetically, and Willow took another moment to appreciate how pretty he was. Something that she was ever so slightly jealous of, though she didn’t like to admit it.

“Sadly I could not convince her to see you off, but know that she will miss you terribly.”

Willow nodded understandingly. “Let her know I’ll miss her too. You have a great partner with you, make sure she knows that.”

Li Wanyu bowed slightly. “I want to say that I do, but perhaps it would be good to remind her more often.”

Willow returned the bow, and threw in a hug for good measure. “Take care of yourself, and thanks again for everything.”

Her goodbyes done, Willow hopped on the back of Rotter with minimal effort, placing her pack among the supplies.

“Showoff.” Her mentor grumbled as she climbed atop her bond with much less grace, but still with practiced ease.

As soon as the two women settled on the back of the serpent, they were off, with Willow looking back at her home for the last time in what could be years.

She gave a final wave goodbye through teary eyes.