Chapter 3: Xuan Ying & Qing Ruo Lan
Chapter 3: Xuan Ying & Qing Ruo Lan
My father’s name was Xuan Ying, eldest son of the current family patriarch. Born with 2 innate elements and had 5 at the stage of Advanced Mage when he was assassinated, he was worshipped as a genius of the Xuan family. My mother, Qing Ruo Lan from the Qing family of the 4 Great Families, was also a natural talent along with her beauty, and similarly had 5 elements at the time of her death.
In order to raise me, my parents used up all their favors and wealth over the years. They tried desperately to awaken an element in me, but to no avail. They used their statuses to put me in the Shenzhen Magic High School, hoping that I would awaken my element after gaining some advanced magical knowledge.
But alas, no matter how hard I tried, not a single trace of any element could found within me. I was so ashamed of myself for not living up to their expectations that I had wanted to end my own life at some point. Why was God, if one truly existed, so cruel to me? That’s what I thought at the time. I had wanted to be a unique talent, treated the same way my parents were when they were growing up. It’s like fate played a trick on me…
…God made me unique alright, he made me the only individual out of the entire magic universe with this useless body, incapable of any magic at all.
However, I decided to live on. My parents must’ve sensed something, because one night, when I was just debating whether or not to end my life right then and there, they called me downstairs for a talk that saved my entire existence.
*****
– 2020, October 31st. Exactly 1 year before my parents’ assassinations –
“Son, you are not useless. Don’t forget that,” my father said, in a firm tone.
“That’s right. You may just have a really late awakening,” my mother supplemented, not showing any sign of hesitation.
“Mom, Dad, it’s okay. You don’t have to comfort me,” I replied to them. “This son of yours is a disgrace. I am ashamed that I cannot live up to your expectations.”
My mother immediately refuted me. “Don’t say that. Mom believes that you are the one fated to rule this world.”
“Don’t worry, my son,” my Dad said while putting his hand on my shoulder in a reassuring gesture. “Your mother and I will do our utmost best to help you awaken your elements.”
I couldn’t help it. My parents – they still haven’t given up on me, even when I had already given up on myself, planning to end my own life. I couldn’t keep up the tough boy act anymore and broke down in tears. “Mom, Dad…Thank you. Really,” I stuttered out while weakly sobbing.
*****
– 2022, November 7th. Present Time –
Thus, I lived on. Not for the sake of myself, but for the sake of my parents. What kind of unfilial son would I be if I were to waste all of their efforts? Therefore, I worked even harder than before. I payed attention in class no matter how distracting the insults were. I trained my physical body to the limits and also practiced martial techniques to protect myself.
Of course, no matter how hard I worked, I am still nothing but an ant in comparison to those with magic. I knew this harsh truth. In a world based on magic, martial arts aren’t going to do you much good. But I did not give up. I thought that as long as my parents were still there supporting me from behind, I could awaken my magic one day, live up to their expectations one day. However, this hope, was soon broken.
*****
– 2021, October 31st. The day of my parents’ assassinations. –
I would never forget this day.
I remember it was raining on that fateful night. I was about to head to bed when I heard a loud explosion downstairs, strikingly similar to that of a door getting blasted open. I went down my circular staircase immediately and peeked my head around the pole in the middle. Indeed, it was fire magic. the place where the door should’ve been was filled with the remnants of the explosion, embers everywhere. My parents stood calmly, ready to fight if need be.
“Who are you?” My father asked with a murderous gleam in his eyes.
“That is not important,” the assassin replied curtly.
“Well, I guess you are right. But the fact that you just attacked my family is more reason than enough to kill you.”
“Hehehe…just you?” The assassin asked deviously. “You really think I would fight the genius of the Xuan family alone?”
Just as my father understood the meaning behind his words, 7 more shadowy figures appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.
Trained assassins.
“You….all of you are Advanced Mages,” my father said nervously, a grim look on his face. Then, turning to my mother, he said faintly, “Ruo Lan, take Kai Kai away. I’ll hold them back.”
“What? I can’t do that. How can I leave you here against 8 Advanced Mages?” my mother replied, unwilling to go.
“Just go. We don’t have time to stand around here arguing. Take Kai Kai and escape.”
“I-“
“Father is right. Mother, we have to leave now,” I interrupted her firmly. Then, trailing off, I muttered to myself quietly. “If only I were more useful…”
Although I did not want to leave behind my father either, I knew that it was the right decision to make. Even if all three of us stayed behind…we still would’ve been annihilated. No matter how powerful or talented my parents were, they cannot win against eight people the same rank as them.
“…Alright,” my mother finally agreed reluctantly.
“Trying to run?!” One of the 8 assassins attempted to leap over my father and target us directly.
“Your opponent is right here. If you want to get to them, you’ll have to do so over my dead body!” my father yelled as he jumped to intercept the assassin.
The assassin that originally was planning to go after mother and I fell back to the ground and targeted my father together with the other 7.
“Damn it…fine! We’ll grant your death wish!”
“Kill!” The assassins screamed in unison.
BOOM! ZAP! CRASH!
The explosions and crashes faded away into the midnight rain, as mother and I escaped into the darkness of the night.
*****
“Okay…I think we will be safe here,” my mother said while looking left and right.
We were in a dark alleyway between two large buildings, protected from the rain by the roofs.
“Mother…I’m sorry. If I were stronger, this wouldn’t have happened,” I spoke my true feelings to her.
“My son, don’t worry about it. Your father is very strong, and you know that. I’m sure he can survive.”
“But still…I’m sure those assassins were sent by someone who wanted to topple you guys, especially after learning of me, your useless son. I will be used as a catalyst to justify your assassination.”
“It is not your fault. If anything, the blame lies with your father and I for letting you suffer from a situation like this.”
“No! Mom, this entire plot was caused because of me! The reason they can move against you is because of my disabili-“
“Shush!” My mother suddenly whispered sharply.
Clomp. Clomp. Clomp.
Footsteps…
“Where do you think those two imbeciles went? That woman and her son,” a familiar voice said. Yes, it is the voice of the assassin that had once tried to leap over father.
“Hmph. We already took care of the dangerous one, those two aren’t going to be much of a threat,” a second voice replied.
…Took care of the dangerous one…? N-No way…
…
…Father?!
I glanced up at my mother. She had a grim expression on her face, and probably thought of the same thing I did. After a while, the footsteps faded away.
Mother let out a huge exhale. “Kai Kai…you heard him just now. I’m afraid your father…he…”
“I understand,” I responded briskly. I cannot afford to break down here, no matter how hard it was to keep the tears inside.
Suddenly, a thunderbolt came flying at us. Before I even had time to react, my mother put up a water barrier.
“Mizu Shield!” She yelled.
The assassin that launched the lightning attack at us laughed. “Oho…some quick reactions you got there. I’m impressed.”
“Your attack was merely too slow,” mother replied insultingly.
“Huh?! What did you just say, you bitch?!” the assassin yelled heatedly, immediately changing his tone.
My mother scoffed. “It seems like your attacks aren’t the only thing that’s slow. Or did the rain get in your ear so you can’t hear anything?”
“You are really pissing me off now…” the assassin muttered angrily.
Mother then turned to me. “Kai Kai, you must go now. Seek refuge in the school. The assassins will not follow you there.”
She took off the stone pendant she always wore around her neck and pushed it into my hands. “From now on, you are to live in the dormitories. In the near future, do not step outside the school unless you need to. Do you understand?” she smiled bitterly. “Live on.”
“Mother, I…” I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence.
I want to stay behind and fight with you together.
That was what I had wanted to say, as her proud son. But I knew better. I don’t even have enough strength to take down mages my own age, much less a trained Advanced Mage level assassin. I grasped the rough stone given to me by mother in my hand tightly, and ran out of the alley and turned left. Just as I was about to head towards the school, I heard something.
“Tell me who sent you,” my mother said calmly.
“Huh? Why should I tell you? You are a dead woman anyway,” the assassin replied arrogantly.
“It is precisely because I am a dead woman that I wish to know. I am still a member of the Qing family, I think I at least deserve to know who wants to murder my husband and child.”
I pondered. I decided to stay behind. This…this was something I needed to know.
I know, mother. You are placing your hopes in me.
I know. I will take revenge for you.
“Hmph. Fine, we aren’t real assassins anyway, I suppose there’s no need for us to abide by their code. Very well. The one who sent us…”
After a dramatic pause, he continued. “…Is none other than your husband’s own brother, the second son of the Xuan family patriarch, Xuan Yang.”
“How does it feel, getting betrayed by your own family?” the assassin chuckled with a bold sneer.
“…I see,” With that brisk reply as her final words, I watched in despair as a sharp rock erupted from the wet concrete and impaled my mother’s heart. But just before she fell, she turned to my direction faintly, and gave a gentle smile. That smile…it reminded me of the words she had said moments earlier.
Live on.
I ran and ran. Even if I fell down, I forced myself up and kept running, all the way to the school. I scanned my face at the gate and entered my dormitory. I ran up the stairs and walked the seemingly endless distance towards my room, desperate and torn. Other students saw me in this wretched state, but I didn’t care.
Compared to what I just saw happen before my very eyes…these looks of disgust are nothing. I ignored the whispers that surrounded me, saying I stink or I look like a beggar. Finally, after what felt like an entire era, I reached the room at the end of the hall.
Blinded by both my tears and rainwater, I couldn’t even make out the number listed on the plate of the door. However, that didn’t matter.
Nothing did, at this point.
I knew by instinct that this was my room. Several attempts were needed before I finally managed to fit the key in the keyhole, and opened the door with the last of my remaining strength. As I pushed open the door, the momentum carried through and I collapsed immediately onto the floor.
Unspeakable emotions swelling up within my heart, the last thing I remember after that is the roughness of the mysterious stone pendant in my hands.