DX3214

From Ashes We Rise : A New Dawn. A Warhammer 40,000 Alternate Timeline RP

Guang Ming Zhu, Swords of Conquest VII Legion

G U A N G M I N G Z H U

G U A N G M I N G Z H U

^{"The future lies within my sight and i shall lead then to prosperity..."}

A P P E A R A N C E _________________________________________________________ Portrait Guang Ming Zhu is weaker compared to her primarch siblings, generally looking less strong and equally short, her face is marked with asharp chin and smooth facial features but the part that most calls attention is her third eye that glows like the stars inside a nebula, granting her the vision of the future through ritual or simply being open. Black hair tied into a pony tail, her eyes look sharp barely looking like emotions pass their brown color. Her skin is porcelain and marked by severe scars of combat with the [censored] a combat she barely survived. She emanates a energy of confidence and authority to those around her, inspiration to follow and obey. Her poses and acts make it seem she always pondering or thinking, meditating on the future her eye grants. She also has a implant that helps her focus and control more of her psyker powers. Hidden to common eye unless one is peering close to notice some hair is actually metalic strings. D E T A I L S _________________________________________________________ Legion Name: Swords of Conquest Homeworld: Tiānguó Tiānguó is a former knight world, a world converted into a industrialized planet thanks in part to the actions of their sorcerer lords. The planet is a pangea continent with only a few scattered islands, and a great desert widely believed to be of artificial making. Being the second planetary object near to its parental star, and the fourth planet life in the star system. Initially after a successful uprising led by the sorcerers, the worlds mantle of leadership fell upon Li Ming-Yue and psyker sorcerer class. Initially being slaves and bottom of society they quickly rose up during the age of strife and assumed command, Li Ming-Yue acquired the title of Witch Queen of Tianguo and her descendants managed to reign the world for some time and kickstart its industrialization before the planet once again fell into infighting warlords before unifying into two major kingdoms, then uniting under Ming, during the coup period. Finally ending the wars plaguing her world and uniting it under her rule. A advanced planet who went from being a feudal knight world or Qishi as its natively called into a more industrialised planet with orbital manufacturing. Psyker Grade: Beta —

C O N C E P T ________________________________________________________________________________________ Primarch Concept: The seventh daughter, was made to be the regent, a steward, general and administrator with the foresight to build and lead a realm into prosperity and safety that shall lead to the ascension of something grander then herself. Adaptable to any danger, wise to organize the complexities of the legions and pacification, the foresight and psychic powers to enforce the will of the Imperium, and the aura of command to match. A sword for the emperor and mankind to enforce their will across the stars; But a sword that still can think and feel. Legion Concept: The VII legion is the blood of its primarch, soldiers and sisters capable of adapting to any hostile force that they may face. A trait that they, cultivate and grow in war, with psychic powers being imbued almost half the legion inherited by their primarch, treating warfare as a science meant to be understood, planned, experimented, executed and brought results of success. Professionalism, discipline and autonomy of command is how the legion operates. Unification War events Boetia Skills: Eye of Divination - Míng Zhū has a third eye on her forehead that grants her the ability to foresee the future, while open she is able to see steps or actions one may take in the moment ahead granting her an edge in combat or interaction. But while meditating and concentrating she is able to foresee further in the future, sometimes the mists of tomorrow are clearer allowing her to foresee the events to come with ease and other times the mists are dense and she is only able to see metaphors and symbolism instead. Administrative and Military skills - Míng Zhū has in her mind a natural attraction and ability to learn how to manage economics, staff, bureaucracy and as well the natural order of strategies and tactics in warfare having an edge in the art of waging war.  Lack of strength - Unlike her siblings Guang Ming Zhu does not have a lot of strength compared to a primarch or resilience for that matter instead she seems more weak and shorter than her siblings. This results in her being less than a fighter and more of a tactical individual. At least for a space marine and a primarch.   —

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Closed - After The Storm - A Low-Fantasy / No Magic Roleplay

Politics and boredom

The sound of a horn was heard echoing through the caves, deep underground, the echo of voices and the bustling of a city hidden beneath soil, rock and stone. Laid Niksa the holy capital of the Aris alk Shasot. The city was dug from stone, carved and sculpted in many layers over its cave system and great pillars turned into the equivalent of Skyscrapers for the Dugar and some Oaajai that call the capital home, the city was a form of spiral heading ever downwards following a chasm where bridges connecting the many parts of the chasm from isolated pillars to large districts at the central pillar carved into it was the council at its top where the representatives of the many members came to oversee the leader under the Komunal and in one of the apartments was Taine, a man who rose with the sound of the horn who awoke the city marking for a meeting beside him was the two women he slept with last night. As he rose up and walked towards a window he could see the Komunal in the distance he was a representative of his home of Na’el to the west;

After getting readied he headed to the chambers of the Komunal the bridge connecting both was a large one carved and well made as the citadel had many civilians and even soldier patrols around it to keep security. Entering the Komunal many other leaders were called, Taine soon heard his name be called turning his head he could see a familiar face from the city of Iea’le he was a man taller than him strong too with white hair and a scar he wore silk spider clothes dyed purple Taine smiled at him saying. “Hello brother.” “Goddess you look well, why are you here?” He asked with his brother pondering for a moment, soon saying. “Oh you know, just representing our older sibling.” His voice was less enthusiastic with his brother chuckling soon replying. “Well from the inheritance of our father you took the minority role. But don’t worry I am sure things will be fine with your sister.” Taine felt still a bit bitter but he let out a shrug saying. “Well shall we go inside?”“Ah no… i have other business in the capital; Nevertheless good luck with your work” His brother said with Taine giving a nod waving him off.

The komunal had many meetings over different reasons and this one was no different for him. It was another dull day discussion about military reform, political reform or simply a debate over resource rights. The most interesting so far was a request to approve surface explorations which was passed. The second thing was colonisation further movements west by the crowns… and etc… and etc… for him it was another dull day.

Forges of steel and gold

Dulojav had more surface fortresses allowing contact towards the nations of the surface but also to police trade amongst passages through the mountains. One of these fortresses was not a toll fort but rather a volcanic fort. The volcano of Blazing peaks was the site of one of the biggest cities of the region of Dulojav, its land being rich in metals of many kinds.

Within the fortress a series of Dugar and Oajai readied for a mission head towards the capital of Ordun to talk with their leaders for trade treaties and passage treaties. Not only that but the steel forges of the Blazing Peaks may have a great chance of selling more weapons towards them the forges had increased in production as of recently. Ika a Oajai was the one leading the expedition as the group left the gates of the fortress and began walking through the hills and south towards the plains.

The Northern expedition

In the northlands an expedition meanwhile set forth through the underground cave systems they went on to see the lands of the north. The expedition was composed of fifth individuals and only one Oajai the northern caves were not much explored. The tunnels were more disconnected but the newest one happened to prove a problem as it connected to the lands of Stenrester.

The colonisation of Rieve Akute

With approval from the Komunal the people of Na’el began to pack their things. It was a new colony expedition towards the ring of mountains called Rieve Akute it was the furthest west the colonisation west had gone albeit it was now heading south. With families and adventurers heading south to the ring of mountains in search of wealth, adventure or a new life.

Closed - After The Storm - A Low-Fantasy / No Magic Roleplay

Aris alk Shasot

Aris alk Shasot

Government Form:
_{The Aris Alk Shasot or Lordships of Shasot is an elective monarchy where the many Ari of the realm's many underground cities convene and elect a grand lord to rule over the vast domains of the Shasot. Due to the Lordships being quite desperately separated by caves and under continents. The life of many of them even being widely different resulting in different cultures ruling over different small kingdoms and city states. Stretched over several nations}

Demographics:
<sub>92% Dugar: Children of darkness it is said that during the cataclysm many fled to the underground to hide from it. But instead many became buried and they found out even in the underground the storm wrecked itself as canyons would be carved and in that madness it changed then. The Dugar were born elves turned into different beings in the underground by the storm and by their environment. Their skin became obsidian colored, but also rougher and coarsers, taller than most at three meters,their heads can turn 180 degrees and they see quite well in darkness with night being day for them in their vision.

8% Oajai: Like the children of darkness Oajai were also jailed to the underground and the cataclysm changed then too. But unlike the Dugar the Oajai are of unknown origin found primarily in the southern mountains they are a race of giant sapient spiders the size of a horse all the while they maintain minds of man. Once on occasion it is known that an Oajai may be born a Dugar, Oajai hybrid making many believe both are related. Something that both peoples come to believe.</sub>

Population:


<sub>4.9 million
divided between

Chwuq 2.4 million

Na’el 1.5 million

Dulojav 800 thousand</sub>


---

Description of Claimed Territory: _{Up to you. Try to match the map or not?}

History: <sub>When the storm hit many fled underground some sought safety of underground shelters built by those with means as subjects or as those men and women with means. While others fled to caves instead the storm was said to tear a hole through the underground and create canyons close then and open great underground caves those caught by it were said to die by in droves but thanks to being unable to flee anywhere they were mutated by its power without much hope many were said to pray to any being that could help then those who fled were eaten by it and spit out in a different underground. Many were said to pray to any being for help and across the caves only one was said to answer it and called the storm to cease.

In the aftermath the survivors found themselves in a different environment caused by the storm. The underground was expanded and some areas became large abysses or giant sprawling cave networks. While some were barren, others had life of their own in the form of giant mushrooms, strange animals and bioluminescent plants. For a long time it is said that survivors build their homes in the great underground unknown to the ongoings of the surface with some believing it all to be dead and blasted. All the while they worshiped the deity that answered their prayers Nal’var. Mother of darkness and widely believed to be the goddess that saved them from certain death and thanks to missionaries and grand crusades by ambitious men her word was spread through the underground.

At first the first towns were carved into the cave walls and in places where mushroom trees existed the new homes were made of its wood.

Over time these towns would evolve into petty kingdoms and city states the exploration and mining expanded some into great cities and soon enough the tunnels and passages led to other caves as new cities and towns were built by those seeking new lives in other regions spreading over the underground into the lands beyond. In some of this kingdoms war became a practice amongst this tunnels for resources and supremacy of kings, lords, the bourgeoisie
or the priests that ruled these cities. During these expeditions the Oajai were found just like the Dugar they were separated by caves and changed by the storm and with it made their settlements underground during these expeditions the southern cities of Dulojav were founded the newest and furthest of the expansions.

The surface for a long time became a mystery until tunnels and mining operations led back to the surface under mountains, hills and plains the Dugar and Oajai found the surface recovering just as the underground and over time fortresses were built in the surface at the entrance tunnels that led to the great bellow and with it the beginnings of trade between surface and the underground spawned together with conflicts in some cases.

But soon times changed when the great council began in the year 305 A.S the priests of Nal’var of the city of Dulshadar and the cities of Orao, Niksa and Uaee gathered to foment the creation of a new body to lead the the peoples of Dugar to prosperity. The lordships of Shasot was soon born named after the great continent underground the crusades, conquests and memberships of the lordships succeeded in uniting the clans near Chwuq the northern mountains and while others remained independent the Aris alk Shasot became the
the dominant power in its lands under the wise leadership of Tali’na first queen and while succeeded by five others ever since the Aris continue to prosper under its current election of Ari into positions of rulership peace reigns but still tension boils under the coalition that was born many years ago.</sub>

Culture and Society: <sub>The region that encompasses the Shasot is incredibly varied culturally south and north having many distinctions and even the concentrations of Chwuq and Na’el are equally diverse. In the lands of Chwuq in the far cold north where surface fortresses and underground cities lay many of the clans were divided and with it warfare was quite common resulting in the forging of bigger kingdoms when the Aris Alk Shasot was formed the region became a heartland of sorts for many as peace prevailed while many still migrated outwards. Generally more spiritual than other lands that make the Shasot the region also is famous for being militaristic to a larger degree. While religious festivals and arenas are common to find in the region of Chwuq, the cuisine is said to be salty with the usage of salt in their culinary not only that but also heavy usage of meat.

The lands of Na’el is said to be a land of emigrants, the underground lands of Na’el are massive allowing for large agricultural regions thanks to that it has resulted in the rise of a feudal aristocracy of sorts. The region was consolidated by noble queens and lords, the agriculture and more untamed wild resulted in a caste system of sorts unlike the Chwuq the people of Na’el while spiritual put more importance in communalism and in a tribe celebrations generally go in hand with the birth of family members or the passing. Together with the rise of a new generation all under the protection of their lords. closer to the lands of Chwuq many customs there also make way to Na’el thanks in part to the trade routes that exist underground. Culinarily speaking the land of Na’el is famous for the making of decadent and delicious foods in part of the use of trade and the usage of vegetables, mushrooms and glowberries of the underground. The voyages to the surface also are found with suspicion thanks in part to conflicts with surface powers. Like Dulojav the land also slowly became a home for Oajai and the land has a growing spider silk usage in their fashion.

To the great south lies Dulojav more isolated from its siblings yet still brought to the fold the land became a refuge of the more unorthodox of their kin. More explorers of the surface and the unknown and in some ways heretical in the worship of spirits. In the voyage to the southern caves they found the Oajai the lands were their home and thanks to the arrival of the Dugar the lands began to change. Mining, exploration, expansion and coexistence resulted in the creation of the culture that inhabits the lands. Merchants and traders but also freedom seekers the cities rarely ruled by one single ruler. Same for a lack of religiosity especially as the surface fortresses and settlements increased the region became linked to surface trade. Consequently the people of Dulojav instead of speaking a dialect of the language of Dugar they began to diverge into a different language. In festivities it is said that carnalism and expression are common in celebration of the day of migrations, arrival and the day the storm passed. Materialism runs in the lands instead of religiosity to the tension of the Shasots council. Despite these differences the people of Dulojav still see the north with siblinghood. Being a land of textile, spider silk and colours and spices that flow to entice many. Culinary the lands of Dulojav thanks to access to many ingredients, and the lands own food production it resulted in a very spicy mix that is said to cause many mouths to catch fire.

The main religion that dominates the society is the worship of the goddess Nal’var the Mother of darkness and believed to be the being that protected them during the ravaging of the storm. The cult is dominated by matriarchs who oversee and rule over regions helping priests and delegating the paths of the faith in their region. Occasionally they gather to discuss matters of importance in the holy city of Niksa to debate theological matters of importance. AS for the many followers the religion is one of spiritual embrace and worship with sacrifices of wine and grain in altars and chants of prayer to her for protection and guidance. Dedicating their lives to the being that was responsible for saving them. She was the mother of darkness, the one who ruled over the underground as the only and sole queen.</sub>

---

Governance and Politics: _{The government that rules the underground is one of an elective monarchy albeit more of an elective confederacy. Thanks in part to the disconnected and often quite diverse spread of the Shasot the government had to accompany this, initially being more centralised as its power spread and its centralisation diminished to accommodate the many peoples it began to rule. Initially any Ari could vote but due to the sheer amount of Aris in the Shasot the role was passed to elector Aris that should vote in regions best interest. Taxes are generally funneled to the great ruler of the Shasot the great lord. Not only is he or her bestowed the taxes of the realm but also the right to call arms of its members in defense of the realm. Over the years one dynasty was the sole holder of the title but after its dying off another dynasty came to hold the title and now it also died with a third dynasty possibly beginning to rise.}

Technology and Magic:
_{The Shasot are quite advanced as a society but unique in specialisation having to adapt to the underground and from its environment they learned to carve great cities out of stone, advanced metallurgy from its many metals and locating rare metals across its chasms. Their ability to work and farm in these lands is also quite remarkable knowing where to plant due to the underground conditions. They also are considered good alchemists and metal workers thanks to the conditions and strangeness of their environment. They learned how to use the land's resources to the best of their ability from rocks and what they do to oils and powders.}

Military Overview: _{(This is the space to talk about any offensive/defensive capabilities you have. Keep it in touch with the post-apocalyptical world they came from. After all, everything was pretty much erased.)}

---

Closed - After The Storm - A Low-Fantasy / No Magic Roleplay

Aris alk Shasot WIP

Aris alk Shasot

Government Form:
_{The Aris Alk Shasot or Lordships of Shasot is an elective monarchy where the many Ari of the realm's many underground cities convene and elect a grand lord to rule over the vast domains of the Shasot. Due to the Lordships being quite desperately separated by caves and under continents. The life of many of them even being widely different resulting in different cultures ruling over different small kingdoms and city states. Stretched over several nations}

Demographics:
<sub>92% Dugar: Children of darkness it is said that during the cataclysm many fled to the underground to hide from it. But instead many became buried and they found out even in the underground the storm wrecked itself as canyons would be carved and in that madness it changed then. The Dugar were born elves turned into different beings in the underground by the storm and by their environment. Their skin became obsidian colored, but also rougher and coarsers, taller than most at three meters,their heads can turn 180 degrees and they see quite well in darkness with night being day for them in their vision.

8% Oajai: Like the children of darkness Oajai were also jailed to the underground and the cataclysm changed then too. But unlike the Dugar the Oajai are of unknown origin found primarily in the southern mountains they are a race of giant sapient spiders the size of a horse all the while they maintain minds of man. Once on occasion it is known that an Oajai may be born a Dugar, Oajai hybrid making many believe both are related. Something that both peoples come to believe.</sub>

Population:
<sub>4.9 million
divided between

Chwuq 2.4 million

Na’el 1.5 million

Dulojav 800 thousand</sub>

---

Description of Claimed Territory: _{Up to you. Try to match the map or not?}

History: <sub>When the storm hit many fled underground some sought safety of underground shelters built by those with means as subjects or as those men and women with means. While others fled to caves instead the storm was said to tear a hole through the underground and create canyons close then and open great underground caves those caught by it were said to die by in droves but thanks to being unable to flee anywhere they were mutated by its power without much hope many were said to pray to any being that could help then those who fled were eaten by it and spit out in a different underground. Many were said to pray to any being for help and across the caves only one was said to answer it and called the storm to cease.

In the aftermath the survivors found themselves in a different environment caused by the storm. The underground was expanded and some areas became large abysses or giant sprawling cave networks. While some were barren, others had life of their own in the form of giant mushrooms, strange animals and bioluminescent plants. For a long time it is said that survivors build their homes in the great underground unknown to the ongoings of the surface with some believing it all to be dead and blasted. All the while they worshiped the deity that answered their prayers Nal’var. Mother of darkness and widely believed to be the goddess that saved them from certain death and thanks to missionaries and grand crusades by ambitious men her word was spread through the underground.

At first the first towns were carved into the cave walls and in places where mushroom trees existed the new homes were made of its wood.

Over time these towns would evolve into petty kingdoms and city states the exploration and mining expanded some into great cities and soon enough the tunnels and passages led to other caves as new cities and towns were built by those seeking new lives in other regions spreading over the underground into the lands beyond. In some of this kingdoms war became a practice amongst this tunnels for resources and supremacy of kings, lords, the bourgeoisie
or the priests that ruled these cities. During these expeditions the Oajai were found just like the Dugar they were separated by caves and changed by the storm and with it made their settlements underground during these expeditions the southern cities of Dulojav were founded the newest and furthest of the expansions.

The surface for a long time became a mystery until tunnels and mining operations led back to the surface under mountains, hills and plains the Dugar and Oajai found the surface recovering just as the underground and over time fortresses were built in the surface at the entrance tunnels that led to the great bellow and with it the beginnings of trade between surface and the underground spawned together with conflicts in some cases.

But soon times changed when the great council began in the year 305 A.S the priests of Nal’var of the city of Dulshadar and the cities of Orao, Niksa and Uaee gathered to foment the creation of a new body to lead the the peoples of Dugar to prosperity. The lordships of Shasot was soon born named after the great continent underground the crusades, conquests and memberships of the lordships succeeded in uniting the clans near Chwuq the northern mountains and while others remained independent the Aris alk Shasot became the
the dominant power in its lands under the wise leadership of Tali’na first queen and while succeeded by five others ever since the Aris continue to prosper under its current election of Ari into positions of rulership peace reigns but still tension boils under the coalition that was born many years ago.</sub>

Culture and Society: <sub>The region that encompasses the Shasot is incredibly varied culturally south and north having many distinctions and even the concentrations of Chwuq and Na’el are equally diverse. In the lands of Chwuq in the far cold north where surface fortresses and underground cities lay many of the clans were divided and with it warfare was quite common resulting in the forging of bigger kingdoms when the Aris Alk Shasot was formed the region became a heartland of sorts for many as peace prevailed while many still migrated outwards. Generally more spiritual than other lands that make the Shasot the region also is famous for being militaristic to a larger degree. While religious festivals and arenas are common to find in the region of Chwuq, the cuisine is said to be salty with the usage of salt in their culinary not only that but also heavy usage of meat.

The lands of Na’el is said to be a land of emigrants, the underground lands of Na’el are massive allowing for large agricultural regions thanks to that it has resulted in the rise of a feudal aristocracy of sorts. The region was consolidated by noble queens and lords, the agriculture and more untamed wild resulted in a caste system of sorts unlike the Chwuq the people of Na’el while spiritual put more importance in communalism and in a tribe celebrations generally go in hand with the birth of family members or the passing. Together with the rise of a new generation all under the protection of their lords. closer to the lands of Chwuq many customs there also make way to Na’el thanks in part to the trade routes that exist underground. Culinarily speaking the land of Na’el is famous for the making of decadent and delicious foods in part of the use of trade and the usage of vegetables, mushrooms and glowberries of the underground. The voyages to the surface also are found with suspicion thanks in part to conflicts with surface powers. Like Dulojav the land also slowly became a home for Oajai and the land has a growing spider silk usage in their fashion.

To the great south lies Dulojav more isolated from its siblings yet still brought to the fold the land became a refuge of the more unorthodox of their kin. More explorers of the surface and the unknown and in some ways heretical in the worship of spirits. In the voyage to the southern caves they found the Oajai the lands were their home and thanks to the arrival of the Dugar the lands began to change. Mining, exploration, expansion and coexistence resulted in the creation of the culture that inhabits the lands. Merchants and traders but also freedom seekers the cities rarely ruled by one single ruler. Same for a lack of religiosity especially as the surface fortresses and settlements increased the region became linked to surface trade. Consequently the people of Dulojav instead of speaking a dialect of the language of Dugar they began to diverge into a different language. In festivities it is said that carnalism and expression are common in celebration of the day of migrations, arrival and the day the storm passed. Materialism runs in the lands instead of religiosity to the tension of the Shasots council. Despite these differences the people of Dulojav still see the north with siblinghood. Being a land of textile, spider silk and colours and spices that flow to entice many. Culinary the lands of Dulojav thanks to access to many ingredients, and the lands own food production it resulted in a very spicy mix that is said to cause many mouths to catch fire.

The main religion that dominates the society is the worship of the goddess Nal’var the Mother of darkness and believed to be the being that protected them during the ravaging of the storm. The cult is dominated by matriarchs who oversee and rule over regions helping priests and delegating the paths of the faith in their region. Occasionally they gather to discuss matters of importance in the holy city of Niksa to debate theological matters of importance. AS for the many followers the religion is one of spiritual embrace and worship with sacrifices of wine and grain in altars and chants of prayer to her for protection and guidance. Dedicating their lives to the being that was responsible for saving them. She was the mother of darkness, the one who ruled over the underground as the only and sole queen.</sub>

---

Governance and Politics: _{The government that rules the underground is one of an elective monarchy albeit more of an elective confederacy. Thanks in part to the disconnected and often quite diverse spread of the Shasot the government had to accompany this, initially being more centralised as its power spread and its centralisation diminished to accommodate the many peoples it began to rule. Initially any Ari could vote but due to the sheer amount of Aris in the Shasot the role was passed to elector Aris that should vote in regions best interest. Taxes are generally funneled to the great ruler of the Shasot the great lord. Not only is he or her bestowed the taxes of the realm but also the right to call arms of its members in defense of the realm. Over the years one dynasty was the sole holder of the title but after its dying off another dynasty came to hold the title and now it also died with a third dynasty possibly beginning to rise.}

Technology and Magic:
_{The Shasot are quite advanced as a society but unique in specialisation having to adapt to the underground and from its environment they learned to carve great cities out of stone, advanced metallurgy from its many metals and locating rare metals across its chasms. Their ability to work and farm in these lands is also quite remarkable knowing where to plant due to the underground conditions. They also are considered good alchemists and metal workers thanks to the conditions and strangeness of their environment. They learned how to use the land's resources to the best of their ability from rocks and what they do to oils and powders.}

Military Overview: _{(This is the space to talk about any offensive/defensive capabilities you have. Keep it in touch with the post-apocalyptical world they came from. After all, everything was pretty much erased.)}

---

Additional Info: _{(Anything else you want to include that there isn't a spot for up there.)}

From Ashes We Rise: Chronicles

In a war eternal over level sands and wet woods

Guang Ming Zhu

The air was hot and dry, and the sand blew over the assembled army. Ming stood with other magistrate sorcerers of the operation to engage the Zhou dynasty over the great desert of Rang. The command tent had sixteen sorcerers. Ming stood in the back as a Magistrate of war. What seemed like an old man wearing green robes soon said. “As we know, the enemy forces contain the supply town of Shamonan, south of the great desert. Our forces have always had difficulty traversing the sands; the heat itself is extreme. Not only that, but the storm seasons have passed, allowing us to attack their town and sack it.”

Another sorcerer wearing gold robes replied. “Would it not be better to capture it?”

“It is a base that a Qishi can operate under. We are certain there are none, but another reason is supply reasons…”

Ming examined the plan to cross the sands into the base; it was located south of the great desert of Rang, but was quite central in some way. It explains why they could raid past north into the lands of her nation; taking it over could prove a great tactical blessing, the obvious issue was supplying it.

Yet, reading the supply route maps of the tactical map, she could tell that it was possible to supply the city if captured. It was a strange statement given about the supply issues. The only obvious issue was the Qishi in the city; the fortress itself was far from operations on one hand.

Yet she began to think for a moment until she heard her name. “Guang Ming Zhu, as a brand new Magistrate in this, you will be accompanied by Qián Jingting on the right flank to secure the advance.”

Ming could see that the woman in question, Jingting, looked shocked and annoyed, opening her mouth about to state a protest before shaking her head as the briefing continued. The order for Ming and Jingting was to maintain defensive positions in the right flank of the advance. As the room was cleaned of officers, Ming followed Jingting once outside. The sun was quite hot, and the air was drier than she was used to; it made sense. This desert was massive, and the heat it generated was so intense you needed a specialised suit for here.

As she followed Jingting, she turned around, facing Ming, saying. “You little!” She soon took a deep breath, seemingly thinking she was smaller than Ming. Her hair was dark brown, and her eyes were blood red with a physic that indicated she did not exercise much.

But she could feel she had more anger packed in her tiny form than she expected. “Right, so what are you? A newbie with a bronze-silvered identification?” She sounded sarcastic yet was shocked when Ming lifted her identification. It was a small silver rectangle with gold lines. The words written on it were of her name, family and the sigil of her family was imprinted on it.

Picking it, she was shocked, saying. “Silver with gold…” She said without words, thinking, then asking. “You fought in a battle before?”

“No…” Ming said, sounding concerned, it was understandable, the identification of silver and gold pertained to someone with wide experience, while Ming was very good at the military board and planning, even impressing many officers, but she was not tested. She wondered why she received this honour.

Jingting shook her head, giving her identification back, saying. “They give it to everyone these days?”

She then left, simply heading out. Ming was about to say something until a Magistrate sorcerer near her said. “Don’t bother…” Ming turned to him.

The man seemed to be in his thirties with gold hair and bronze eyes. His physique seemed to be well built, he continued saying. “She is a bit stubborn. I recommend focusing on your group.”

“Two commanders need to interact for better cohesion.” Ming said with the man chuckling, saying. “Yes, the issue is she is not the best at that. A bit of a loner in command, not surprising, seeing how she is from an important family and survived more battles than she likes to count and was never promoted.”

“I'd better see my man then.” She said to him with a light bow, and he gave a nod. “A great choice and my early condolences.” He replied, soon leaving, raising an eyebrow at the statement. She looked at her identification tag once again, a high rank for someone new. Either high expectations of her due to her scores, or something is off, there is a chance they are gambling with her.

She stored the tag back in her hip as she headed off to the central camp of officers. Exiting it felt like leaving a castle while it was tents. There was a tent wall around the inner area where sorcerers took base making it seem like a castle; the area around the central camp had tents of regiments ready for the operation; she wandered and saw many men and women readying for the coming battle some saluting her as she walked past arriving at the tents of the regiments she commanded she looked at the soldiers some of were mostly getting ready others relaxing seeing her they straightened up some in fear, some in respect others seemed in awe. She felt unease at some eyes, but managed to hide it well as she reached the central tent of the regiments.

Several soldiers rose up in readiness or curiosity of her, a human magistrate, an officer lower than her saluted approaching her, she smiled, saying. “Magistrate, I hope the regiments are ready?” From what she could see, he was of average height for a regular human, seemed not very strong, his black hair seemed to accentuate his green eyes, and his face seemed to show some battle experience, especially with a scar across it. He replied to her, saying. “Magistrate Yichen, my lady, yes, we are, albeit the other regiment commander is…”

“Here! Xiao Hui reporting!” A woman arrived in a hurry, saluting her, hitting her chest when close and giving a noble bow; she seemed younger than the man; she had red hair and blue eyes and was of shorter stature as well; her face was well polished, and her right hand had a gold chain of engagement.

She seemed inexperienced when looking at her, albeit something was off with her, as far as Ming could see. “I will keep note of your lateness, magistrate.” Ming said.

“Forgive me, my lady.” She said with another bow.

Ming gave a nod of confirmation, soon saying. “How is the status of the regiments?”

“Ready for battle.” Yichen said

Xiao Hui stated. “Mostly recruits, but we can deal with anything.”

Ming began to think of some strategies, while soldiers looked at her, she then said. “Ready yourselves, men, we are to protect the right flank of the advance. Expect combat and anything possible, sorcerers, depending on their specialisation, can do things you cannot imagine.”

“What power can you do, my lady? I mean, besides your formidable stature.” Xiao Hui asked, with Ming saying. “I can see the future and a few other tricks besides my strength…”

Some of the soldiers seemed at ease, unsurprising for Ming from the powers; the ability to foresee the future was the most beneficial in war and less prone to friendly fire from what she saw in some spells.

“Right, man, move out.” Yichen replied as the soldiers saluted and began to ready themselves. The camps began to empty themselves, soldiers marching in formation towards their goals in the sands of the desert.

The desert was extremely hot, plastic could melt in its heart, and the march was a large, extended line from side to side with soldiers in the millions heading south. Ming was in the front of the soldiers leading the march of her regiments looking around the sands blowened for a moment she could hear someone scream looking back a soldier patted the sand off their face probably burned himself, she shook her head, she still felt something was off looking at a distance she could see Jingting she seemed behind her lines but still accompanying as she looked she heard Yichen say.

“First time in the sands?” She looked at him, and he seemed to have approached as she looked around.

His curiosity seemed genuine. “Not really, it's too close to a war zone, even the dry lands that surround it are dangerous due to a raiding army.” She responded to him.

As she looked around, she opened her third eye. The sands vibrated with possibilities, her head aching as she witnessed the sands blowing in many possible directions, while hearing him say. “Raised close to these lands, sometimes you have to shelter from the sandstorms. But in this season it's fine.”

Ming’s eye showed a storm for a moment. She was surprised to see the sudden storm in a possible future as she looked around more. Fixing her gaze over a dune in the distance, she saw soldiers emerging from behind the dune. “Something wrong?”

“Enemy forces beyond the dune.” Ming said, pointing her finger at the dune as she unsheathed her sword and began to concentrate. She heard Yichen press something in worry, also readying, looking back, the regiment began to stop and ready arms. Almost immediately, a group of soldiers emerged over the dune and were opened fire against by her soldiers as the entire front line began to exchange fire, with the front beginning to explode into a battle.

Ming concentrated in her hand, she thought of a spear with great power accumulating in it, with a single purpose to expand against the pressure of the atmosphere. Unleashing the power, she launched a lance, hitting the dune and causing it to explode. She could see soldiers being thrown into the air with screams as they fell onto the ground. The gunfire behind her seemed to lower itself as sand and debris covered the view. As she stared on, she soon saw a flashlight pushing Yichen away; she soon concentrated on grabbing the lightning and aiming it at another dune, with the impact exploding it.

As she looked onwards at the other sorcerer, he seemed to float in the air, a small trick she thought both seemed locked into a stare until broken not by him or her. But the sound of a whistle, looking up, she could see a fireball colliding against the enemy forces, the other sorcerer disappearing in the fire and smoke.

As she stepped back, she looked to the side, seeing Jingting causing firestorms and launching firebombs everywhere, her clothes glowing bright red, as if it was enchanted or simply she had changed clothes before leaving. “Show off.” She mumbled, seeing her until noticing she barked orders she could not hear, but they were to retreat.

The gunfire soon resumed as soldiers of the enemy emerged from the smoke. Ming backed off a bit, retreating to her lines as her regiment had lowered themselves or lay down to open fire.

Xiao Hui was near her with her regiment; Ming could see Yichen to the right, also giving orders, while Xiao ducked and shouted at her. “This does not look like a regular skirmish!” Ming, still standing, said. “Yes, I can tell something is off.”

“Are you not afraid to be shot?” A regular soldier shouted, looking at Ming while Ming looked at him. Several bullets seemed to hit an invisible shield in front of Ming. She was able to project a barrier in situations like this that were not visible unless stress tested. The soldier soon went quiet after seeing it, staring back at the front. She soon noticed sparks. It seemed that the other sorcerer seemed to be readying to shoot at Jingting in the distance. Ming smiled as she felt the area around her; her senses showed hundreds of soldiers as time slowed for her, and she could feel the sorcerer just behind the chaos.

As she saw the lightning being launched, breaking through the smoke, she acted immediately, raising her hands so she could feel and control the world around her. The sorcerer was launched into the air as seconds began to count, and when she could see him in the air.

She refocused her mind to create spears with her Qi, and with a gesture, they flew towards the sorcerer as he was dismembered in the air by their impacts.

As body parts fell down, she then said to the soldiers. “Initiate advance, I think they don’t have any more surprises for us.”

Xiao Hui gave a nod, ordering the soldiers to begin advancing. Ming looked to the side; the lightning seemed aimed at Jingting. As she looked, it seemed she was fine from the lightning strike; the line was holding even while fire flew around her. As she was about to give orders to Yichen, she froze, and she felt a quake, and the wind seemed to shift direction, looking forward.

The quake continued as she began to sweat in realisation, and she then ordered. “Hold the attack!”

Yichen turned to her, saying. “What?”

“I said Hold the attack, something is off” She replied when a large quake shook the soldiers, making them stumble. As they refocused the gunfire ended as they looked up in the distance and a quiet silence runned over the soldiers as they saw a Qishi appearing in the distance the metallic giant moved slowly through the sands each step quaking the ground as it raised its arm a single shot caused a huge explosion as the center of the line was pulverised, Ming soon snapped out of the trans she was in and shouted. “WITHDRAW! ALL FORCES WITHDRAW!” Shouting to her men, they soon snapped too and began to retreat, turning to Yichen, she then ordered. “Contact Qián Jingting and ask her to move with us through to the west and say that the western rocky hills may help in our retreat.”

He gave a nod, rushing towards Jingting Ming, and soon turned to Xiao, shouting. “Hui!” She soon relaxed her face, seeing Xiao Hui staring into the titan, almost hypnotised by it. Her eyes fixed on it, not because of fear, but something else, from what Ming could tell, but that was another priority at the moment.

She shook her off, saying “Xiao!” She turned to Ming, saying. “Sorry, something took over me” “Organise the men, understand?” Ming said in a serious tone, her eyes seemed to glow with Xiao giving a nod in fear, Ming then replied with the words. “Good”

With the forces retreating, Ming still felt unease while a Qishi was behind her, and the retreating army, she felt something in the air, the wind was off, and she soon screeched to a halt as she sensed something off in the air. A sorcerer seemed nearby, yet she could not see it, turning her head left. She could see something, so she squinted until she widened her eyes, and she could see a storm very well. Seemed to have been made by several sorcerers, the storm was gonna roll into the army soon.

“What are you doing?” She heard Jingting's voice shout, turning to her, Jingting then said. “Why did you freeze? There is a titan nearby!”

“Storm!” Ming shouted, pointing at a distance, with Jingting groaning as she replied. “Oh, old kings be fucking damned…”

The sands seemed to begin to roll in their direction; the storm, by what the group could see, looked like skulls, part of it glowing as well, with some of the soldiers beginning to waver. Ming fixed her eyes on the group, and after thinking for a moment, she then shouted. “Forward!” Jingting turned to her, including many of the soldiers and even her officers, as Ming continued. “The storm is approaching, we can't escape it, put helmets on and close, then we need to get far from the Qishi to survive, and for that we need to run through the storm.” Many seemed hesitant, looking at each other until hearing Jingting shout. “You heard her! Ready yourself and get ready to run.” With both leaders in agreement with a plan, many soon began to put on armour. Jingting turned to Ming, mumbling so only she could hear. “Hope you are right.” She put on her helmet and closed it so as to not let sand through, same for Ming, as she felt excited.

The movement continued, and the Qishi seemed distracted with what remained of the centre force as the storm engulfed the flank and began to move. For Ming and Jingting, their regiments were engulfed in sand, and the visibility dropped to zero; lightning was the only thing visible during the strong winds, and the sand blocked visibility. Ming could more easily traverse the terrain; the sand heated her body, but the armour made sure she did not suffer burns. Looking back, her group had difficulty travelling compared to her. Unsurprisingly, given her stature and strength, visibility was zero, and it seemed that all of them followed her guidance as she marched. She had an idea. A smile crossed her face as she began to follow a different plan than the one originally proposed to the others. Instead of retreating, she would lead them somewhere else she wanted. Many would not like it, but that would require first knowing if the navigators of Jingting were still around when the storm passed.

But first she needed to guide those around towards safety and slightly towards her goal, the travel continued for a difficult to measure amount of time Ming occasionally held back to see the regiments still around they seemed to cladder more and more together due to the wind to keep up with the march even Jingting got to her own group instead of attempting to lead as the regiment tried to keep on moving through lightning and the sandstorm Ming felt the wind beginning to drag her looking back the movement of the group seemed to have finally grinded to a halt as she stared she saw a group nearby beginning to lose footing with her improved vision she could see someone was at a risk of being whisked by the wind with a dash she approached quickly of the woman and grabbed managing to pull her back to the ground and the others beginning to fix some anchors into the ground Ming shouted to them. “Anchor yourselves, keep yourself safe until the storm passes.”

They gave nods to her, some even saying ‘yes ma'am’ with things secured, and Ming thought for a moment to refocus until she heard a scream. Turning her head to the side, she could see Yichen holding on to someone as the sand and wind seemed to drag him, staring, she thought for a moment. ‘A ease replacement of an officer, the thought crossed her mind, there were hundreds of thousands of baseline humans that would kill for the opportunity. It was fine… It was fine…’

Yichen held Yan's hand for his life. It counted on him to fight through several battles in the eastern fjords. The trenches were not fun, and then he fought in the skirmishes of the Great Desert near his home. The desert was unforgiving at its heart, at its edges, you could live like he did, but its storms were always deadly in some form. The winds were always dangerous, but this one was conjured by the power of sorcerers; the winds were worse than he had experienced. As his hand began to slip, he soon began to think of ways to survive, holding onto a rock or attempting to latch onto something with a rope. Anything that would cross his mind, he would not let this be the end. He fought for seven years. Since he turned sixteen, he joined the army. He was not ready to go yet, and he would fight for it.

As his hand slipped, he felt time slow down; the world felt slow as he began to be taken by the wind, the lightning illuminating the world as he breathed slowly. Until he had his hand grabbed, looking down, he could see Ming Zhu dragging him down, anchored again, time moved again as he extended his other hand and held onto her, saying. “Magistrate, what are you…”

“Just Hold On!” She shouted, holding onto him as she managed to pull him back into the ground. Looking down at the ground, it was rocky compared to the sand as both stood together. He attached an anchor to the ground, a rod of metal that, when slammed, allowed him some stability against the wind. Meanwhile, she seemed to handle the storm well, surprisingly enough.

She felt the sand accumulating on her; it was rather heavy. The wind was extreme, but her size and strength made it less of an issue for her compared to the others of her forces; instead, the hard part was waiting it out. Looking down, Yichen seemed fine as he anchored to the ground as sand began to pile on ‘Why did she do this?’ she thought to herself as time was the thing she had the most with this storm.

Duty, probably, was the reason she thought or simply his experience, many sorcerers would merely let him go, mortals were replaceable, especially for sorcerers that managed to achieve hundreds of years of life. For her, on the other hand, she thought it was too cruel to ignore those below her, despite her teachers and other commanders treating this as normal as it could be. Plus, for what she planned, any living soul could be used in her plans, as the sands continued she focused on wards only maintaining meditation as Yichen stood beneath her, her size alone managing to avoid most sand hitting him as she stood kneeled as time went on she waited and sand began to cover the two until both were covered by the red sands. With the storm finally passing, the winds still blew as both emerged from the sand that had accumulated on top of both. As it dissipated, she looked around as people began to emerge from the sand, as well as from as far as she could see. She removed her helmet, and some sand fell on her while it was hot. She could easily resist its burning temperature, surveying the survivors who seemed exhausted, which was understandable. She looked to the surroundings; the storm was going away in the distance, and the Qishi appeared to be gone.

She soon heard Jingting shouting. “What a fucking disaster!” Turning her head, she could see Jingting approaching while cleaning her face after she removed her helmet.

She then said. “Great, a Qishi appeared and an arcane sand storm. What else can we expect?”

“Probably a random army if our luck is anything to go by.” Ming replied, Jingting seemed to roll her eyes at the comment, then asked. “Right, do you have a navigator to lead us back to HQ? ours died.”

Ming began to think, looking to the distance. She then looked at the sun; time was on her side, and she had a plan if things were like she thought.

She smiled at the thought of attacking Shamonan, she then said. “I know a way, just follow me.” She shrugged, making a gesture for her regiment to follow, same for Ming, albeit her gesture confused Yichen; she knew why he knew this place after all. Still, she pressed on as the day began to move. The army moved behind her. She thought of the possibilities; there were many, they did move after all, for a long time through the storm away from the Qishi and south, albeit she wondered how the others would react towards it. Many would simply follow her, at least her regiment would as for Jingting; that was a different question she would need to be convinced of. The good news was that she didn’t seem good at navigation, seeing how she hadn't noticed the sun setting in the other direction.

As the night began to quickly creep in and the stars began to appear in the darkened sky, Ming noticed Jingting approaching, and she seemed annoyed. “Great long journey; I say we make camp and…” As she talked, Ming walked along, stopping and grabbing her, pushing her down and gesturing for everyone behind to take cover as they followed. Jingting soon began to shout. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU…” When the sound of a machine roaring was heard, she went quiet, looking over the sand dune. The two, including some soldiers, could see that the town of Shamonan at its centre was the Qishi of the previous battle; it seemed to be stationed.

The town had several long pipelines running through it, refuelling lines, and one of them led outside, going further south, the source of fuel for the settlement's war machines, for food and water. There were probably other pipes not visible, but for the war machines, it worked well. The population of the settlement looked small due to its size, from what Ming and Jingting she soon whispered. “What are we doing… In the belly of the beast!” She emphasised the situation

Ming replied to her. “I had a plan to conquer Shamonan.”

“Conquer it? Conquer it!?”Jingting said, shocked. “Have your mutations erased your sense of self-preservation? We don’t have a big enough army.” She said in shock

“Judging them from here, I think we can, with our numbers, we can take the town, even the Qishi can be dealt with.” Ming said, analysing it

“Are you crazy? This is not just a settlement, it's a military base. There are only soldiers down there, and our small force cannot take it.” Jingting said back

Ming shook her head, replying. “We can, like I said… I have a plan.” After whispering the plan to her, she still looked skeptical.

“I don’t know, it sounds dangerous.” Jingting “If we win, they would have to promote us, and you did say you were tired of staying in this rank.” She looked to the sides, thinking before giving a nod, but then said. “If things go wrong, first to ditch.” Jingting began to walk away, with Ming saying. “They won’t…” As both announced the plans, the morale was a bit in doubt from what Ming could tell.

With her magistrates, she stood on top of the dune overlooking the town and explained the plan to them. After a while explaining, she stated; “This is not gonna be an easy task, we probably will lose a lot of soldiers. This is why I need you two ready for the early infiltration, understood?”

She turned to Xiao. The girl looked hypnotised by the Qishi in the town. Her stance was quite well postured, Ming noticed, even as she snapped out of her trance, she then said. “Ah, yes… I understand, my lady.”

She seemed distant when looking at her. The posture she posed was quite good; her appearance also sold something else besides being a soldier. She seemed to hide something Ming gave a nod, saying. “It is fine…”

Xiao then said. “While I rather recommend retreating, an infiltration can work. The obvious problem is gonna be fighting through hell. But if the plan works, it can neutralise the biggest threat the issue is gonna be securing.”

“I am sure we can do it.” Ming replied, Xiao seemed hard to convince, but gave a nod, saying. “Right, I will be seeing the man then.”

As she headed off, Yichen kept on looking on and both stood in silence looking onwards. After a long silence, she broke it, saying. “Awfully silent for you. You knew we were coming here, I noticed when I said where we were heading. But instead, you went silent throughout the whole journey. Why?”

He did not seem shocked, just looking for words. He took a deep breath and said. “Yes, it's true… I don’t know why I didn't mention, generally, sorcerers don’t like diverging plans from theirs or second opinions at times. So I kept my mouth shut… It's not like sorcerer magistrates last long in this group.”

Ming raised an eyebrow at the statement, asking. “What do you mean by that?”

“Well, most sorcerer magistrates we had were young and well decorated when leaving the military academies.” He pointed towards her identification while continuing to talk as she looked at it.

“Many arrive here recently from camp with that identification and end up in coffins quite quickly. Either due to ambition, recklessness or just bad luck, I was sure we were gonna end up dead back there with the Qishi and the storm.”

Ming crossed her arms, saying. “I am different.”

“Our previous magistrate said the same thing before he was caught by a fire tornado, and he was quite a powerful sorcerer, so...” Yichen commented back with Ming looking at him, his eyes averting her. “I am stronger and more powerful than most. Still, don’t be afraid to voice opinions in private. I don't want my magistrates to be sycophants.”

He gave a nod soon after thinking for some time, then he said. “So with the plan you suggested, don't you think it's a bit… Ambitious?”

“Ambition is the material that creates golden ages, isn’t it?” She replied with a smirk. He seemed still in doubt, but gave a nod, soon saying. “Right… Remember to repeat the plan? Better to make sure nothing goes wrong.”

Ming gave a nod; she had worries about Xiao understanding the plan, but Yichen seemed more understanding. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment before turning back to the town as she refocused.

One hour before sunset, the guards of the town were a bit tired, the rotation seemed about to begin the guard post at the edge of town, the two looked on to the desert bored with a small flash one of them was hit on the head by a red laser shocked the other guard raised quickly searching for an alarm until he was shot too. With both men lying on the ground, a small group emerged from the darkness, led by Ming. ‘Our main strength is surprise. None of the defenders expect us to attempt to take over this town.’ The group began to go into the town, where Ming had her sword in hand.

The infiltration was quick, calculated. It was better not to initiate a firefight, Ming thought; otherwise, the cover would be blown and the plan would go to hell. She sliced an unnoticed guard, looking to the side, and another guard was killed as the group moved. She took a deep breath and focused again on the march.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the town, a soldier was electrocuted to death by Jingting. Upon teaching him, she gave a nod with a gesture, her regiment began to move as she whispered to herself. “Why am I doing this?” She shook her head, heading towards her objective, one of the silos. The area was luckily clear for her as her men went to begin opening the valves and redirecting fuel to the centre of the town. There were others, but she was soon startled by the sound of gunfire nearby. She cursed under her breath, her heart accelerating with panic.

‘Three groups left, centre and right will divert the fuel towards the centre of the town, where the Qishi is. If a firefight begins, the element of surprise will remain for a short while as people begin to wise up and the shock starts. But when it begins, be ready for everything to accelerate.’

Yichen stared at the dead soldiers, saying. “You were not supposed to shoot him!” “He reached the gun!” The soldier he commanded said in a nervous tone. “Well, get ready to feel more pressure”

Yichen soon began to order the soldiers to keep following. The centre was more dangerous compared to the flanks of the infiltration. With it, firefights started to happen more occasionally in the area, with buildings lighting up and eventually the worst sound to hear at the moment. An alarm whistle was being blown, and with it, the stealth was to be thrown out, something that Yichen did when he shouted. “Right, we still have our objective, be fast men!”

‘This mission, being an infiltration, is not all; it is the beginning. I hardly believe we will be able to contain this battle into a stealth mission, but when it happens, we have a timer. Sorcerers will wake up, and the Qishi pilot will too.’

Ming and Xiao stood watch as the soldiers turned the valves and someone redirected the liquid fuel, Xiao said with worry. “Great, who opened fire?”

“I don’t care. It was inevitable; we at least managed to divert the outer fuel depots; we still need the inner ones.” Ming kept focused on the mission

Xiao sounded worried. “Right, so we are now in a rush until the Qishi pilot wakes up.”

“Indeed, if I am correct, the Qishi may still need refuelling from this place.” Ming replied with certainty

Until Xiao interrupted her, saying. “Not really… This fuel is to power normal vehicles. A Qishi is powered by a Plasma reactor.”

Ming looked at Xiao. Time was slower for her than for her she raised an eyebrow, saying. “It is?”

“Yes, it seems this fuel is made for vehicular utilities, like a land dreadnought or multiple combat vehicles. Quite a lot of them…” Xiao said, inspecting the fuel tanks nearby, there were at least a dozen. Even Ming raised a brow at the amount. While her mind had many questions, things still had to move. Hearing the soldiers reply that they were done, she gave a gesture for them to follow; there were still other depots to divert. Meanwhile, the sound of gunfire only grew louder.

On the right flank, Jingting and her forces more easily manoeuvred due to the district being more industrial, as for the centre, where Yìchén stood, things were more complicated. Yìchén opened fire into groups of soldiers with the support of other men as he heard the valve was turned, and the man began to regroup with him. Observing it, he gave a nod and threw an impact explosive against the alley, killing a few soldiers through comms. Other groups reported steady progress. A soldier turned to Yichen and said to him with a smile. “I think we might actually do it, sir”

Yìchén shook his head, saying. “Don’t put too much yet, we are still halfway done.” The group soon began to move with the sun rise in the distance, illuminating the desert with an orange glow.

That was until an explosion rocketed down an alleyway as Yìchén halted his movement, with others seeing some of his companions burn; he soon saw a sorcerer merge flames burning around his fists, taking a look, Yìchén shouted. “GET TO COVER!” With the group spreading out, he hid behind a wall in an alleyway as fire went through the street. As he looked to the side, he felt shocked seeing a child in the alley. As he stared at the boy, he soon went on a run as he whispered. “Not just soldiers…”

With another fireball, he soon began to refocus the soldiers he commanded, went to other alleys for protection, and screams could be heard from a man burned as he thought. “Well, great…”

Ming and Xiao ran through the streets with sporadic firefights happening as Ming crushed a man. She soon noticed civilians inside houses, as she said. “They said this was a military settlement…”

Xiao stopped near her, looking, and she then said. “Well… secure settlement may as well bring the wife and kids of the men.”

“This can go very bad…” Ming replied with Xiao shrugging. “Well, too late to do much.”

“True…” The sound of fuel flowing through the pipes was heard as they took fuel to the depot at the centre of town, Ming said with a bit of relief. “Well… things are going to plan.”

The sound of comms interrupted the discussion as both turned to a comms officer, saying. “A sorcerer attacked Yìchén’s company. Jingting is engaged against one too.”

“Not surprised, I was counting the minutes until we met one.” As she commented, the sands beneath them seemed to be pulled in the direction of the city as the soldiers turned. Ming and Xiao could see a man wearing green armour staring at Ming. He seemed to await a duel.

As she stared, she whispered. “Go around… I will catch up.” Xiao gave a nod as the men began to follow her.

When the others left, she faced the man and took a battle stance as she waited for the first action, and it was taken. As the sorcerer put a hand on a wall and with little effort managed to remove it and throw the wall towards her like sliding a letter through a table. Her reflexes were quick enough to dodge out of the way of the wall flying in a vertical direction, crashing and collapsing behind her. Turning to him, he seemed to smile as sand formed around him, lifting him up, he grabbed part of another building and readied to throw it at her.

She quickly jumped forward as a section of the building flew at her. As she rose up, he seemed to land on the rocky floor, punching the ground. She could see spikes sprout from the ground towards her. The quickly advancing spikes made her look to the side, seeing a fragile wall, she bit her lip and crashed through it. The structure was not very resilient, and she could easily cross the stone wall. As she took her bearings, she noticed a family standing in a kitchen. The sound of stone changing pulled her back, though. As she saw the spikes following her.

“Run now!” she pointed to the civilians before quickly moving out of the way as a spike impaled the men and then the women. As she stared, she swiftly lifted the child and threw her to a corner of the room as the spikes instead followed her. Breaking one of the spikes with telekinesis, holding it in the air, time slowed as she calculated where the sorcerer would be. With quick reflexes, she threw it through the wall. The sorcerer seemed to be hit as she broke through the front door with her blade in hand. She saw the sorcerer seemed to have raised a stone to form an improvised wall in time to defend himself. As she readied her sword, she charged him, opening her third eye. From the actions he would take, she quickly rushed towards him and, with a quick dodge, left as from the ground a spike passed her right and with a swing of her blade, the sorcerer's head flew off.

As he fell to the ground, she cleaned her blade, saying. “Elemental school… quite skilled in the arts of earth.” She gave a light nod of respect before continuing on.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the settlement, Jingting panted heavily as lightning formed in her hand, and with a flash of anger, she unleashed a bolt of lightning against a group of soldiers as they all dropped dead. She returned to cover, taking deep breaths. She felt the Qi overbearing her, taking deep breaths, she maintained calm in light meditation as bullets riddled behind her cover, she jumped from cover again with a lightning bolt in hand, throwing it. A group of soldiers behind a barricade were electrocuted as her company moved forward.

She continuously sweated nervously, turning back to the fuel depot, the soldiers seemed to finish opening the pipes as the fuel flowed, she groaned, saying. “Hope this is the last one we need” Hearing shouts, she readied for another round of combat as reinforcements seemed to be arriving. She let the Qi flow again as lightning launched from her hands.

Yichen stood overlooking the street, taking cover behind a wall as a burst of flames from the sorcerer took a deep breath, as he knew this plan was gonna probably kill him or save his men and himself. Turning around the corner away from his cover, he opened fire against the sorcerer, the bullets failing to wound him by the looks they were blocked by either body armour or stopped mid air, he could not tell by the heat and the flames surrounding the sorcerer, but he could very well tell the sorcerer was staring at him. Raising his hand, Yichen began to bolt back to cover as a fireball was launched towards him. As the start of the street was engulfed in flames, he could hear the screams of people being burned. Looking behind him, he could see the sorcerer following behind him.

Getting up, he soon began to run towards the end of the alley, taking a turn into another street. The alley soon was engulfed in flames as he stumbled back. The sorcerer emerged from the fire, turning towards Yichen, the sorceress from what he could tell was readying another attack. Until she was shot in the back, the impact seemed mitigated by the armour she was wearing. She seemed shocked, turning around to stare at the shooter, and she soon seemed to take three other shots. Yichen could see the snipers behind her as she looked ready for another attack; he aimed his own weapon at her and opened fire. As the bullets hit her, she seemed to stumble forward with other shots from the sniper group, and she soon collapsed. Yichen took heavy breaths, coughing a bit due to the smoke of the fires. As he calmed down, the group of snipers soon approached, walking around the burning wreck, saying. “Well, the plan worked, boss.”

“Ye… I knew it would work since she seemed willing to beeline to anyone who called her attention. But not far from her post, probably a company nearby.” Yichen said, cleaning some sweat, gunfire was heard nearby as he cursed under his breath.

“Attempt to reorganise the company. Things may be getting ugly.” He said to the group. As they departed, Yichen soon saw Ming appear together with Xiao and elements of the company.

“Magistrate Ming!” He shouted as she turned to him. He felt relief as she began to approach.

Ming approached the area and seemed just as battle hardened as her quadrant she then said. “Status report.”

“A sorcerer and her company blocked our advance with no luck in our quadrant to push. I hope yours was better, my lady.” He replied, and she gave a nod.

“Things are not easy on our flank, too. I came here with a small company hoping to find an easily accessible depo.” She said.

“Things have not been easy in the centre. We do know there is one nearby if you can reach it through the battlefield. I take it, we can finish the plan with it.” He said, with Ming looking forward towards the depo. It was far, the battlefield meanwhile was still hot in the area after analysing the situation, especially the battle.

She then said. “Hold the line, I will see if we can reach it” He gave a hard salute as Ming’s group went ahead.

Running through the streets, Ming and Xiao continued fighting through a few garrisons, arriving at the last depot. Ming pointed to the valves, saying. “Begin turning the valves!”

As the soldiers went on, others began to take positions as she looked. She stepped aside as she saw the reflection of a scope as the shot missed, she mumbled. “Snipers…”

The place they were taking shelter seemed to be a three-story building in the distance, she squinted, saying to Xiao. “Follow me.”

“Is it not better to hold?” Xiao asked

“High ground can prove useful, especially to see the city and it.” Ming replied, pointing towards the Qishi that seemed to be turning on. Xiao gave a nod, following Ming towards the building.

In the tower, a man with a rifle overlooked the field. His partner soon said after he fired again. “Missed… I still can’t find the giant.”

“Who is suicidal enough to attack this place?” The sniper replied with his partner, letting out a light chuckle, saying. “Well… They are this far and this close to the Qishi, so I think they aren’t that crazy.”

The sound of gunfire was heard down below, including the shots of lasers as they looked at each other, his partner replied. “Should I hit the alarm?”

“Could be stragglers of this attack, I don’t think it is nee-” The man replied until the door of the roof was busted open with Ming throwing her sword towards the sniper as he was impaled. His partner quickly pressed a button as he was punched by the strength of Ming, killing him.

With Xiao arriving behind with a missile launcher, saying. “I guess they planned to use this as a last ditch.” Ming grabbed and took a look at the missile launcher. It seemed that the rockets were in good condition, and they were also of high yield.

“Pretty good to still use at least.” She replied soon, giving it back to Xiao as she looked around the town, which seemed chaotic, yet she could see where action was, at least where combat was happening and where some movements were going.

This was going quite well, she thought, until she heard shouting. Heading to the door again, she heard soldiers coming up stairs running to her sword, she said, picking it up. “Company coming…” She turned to Xiao, who stared at the Qishi as Ming looked. She soon noticed the problem the Qishi was activating and soon began to move away from the fuel; she cursed under her breath.

Towards the door, she soon used telekinesis to close it and partially crash the roof to block it as the sound of stone crushed around and partially collapsed the ceiling. Stepping back, she then said. “Right, plan B, we need to start reorganising and be ready to retreat. Understood, Xiao?” She turned to her but then froze as she saw both Xiao and the Qishi staring at each other. The Qishi seemed to stare into Xiao.

Xiao stared at the Qishi, saying. “Hello… Diao Feng…” The Qishi seemed to close its fists as she smiled at them, quickly pointing at her, and she chuckled, saying. “Too late.” Pointing her missile launcher, she fired at a nearby pipe leading to the central depot. Hearing it explode, Xiao then heard Ming scream. “No!” Being grabbed, she was pulled into the other floor, falling through the hole Ming had caused. The explosions continued following the fuel line. The Qishi was confused until seeing the fuel depot near him. Until the final fuel line explosion hit it, luckily for the Qishi, it stepped far from it, but not far enough. The fire consumed the depot, and the explosion was massive, the shockwave destroying multiple buildings and the sound of the explosion echoing through the desert. The Qishi was launched and fell on its back, its head hitting the sand outside town, half of it inside of it. The smoke of the explosion rose over the settlement, and the sound of gunfire died down completely.

Xiao coughed at the smoke. Rubble seemed to obstruct her until she saw Ming lift the rubble and throw it to the side; the building seemed to partially collapse.

Ming took deep breaths, bleeding from her forehead, and she turned to Xiao, saying. “That was suicidal in all definitions of the word.”

“It had to be done…” Xiao said, rose up, feeling her body in pain.

Ming shook her head, saying. “Hopefully not many soldiers died.” Stepping outside, the sky was obfuscated by the smoke, and the streets were silent with the occasional cry of a child, making Ming look unnerved. She then bottled her emotions and continued on, saying. “Let us go, we need to regroup.”

Marching through the quiet streets back to their group, Ming looked to Xiao. She looked calm, despite everything. Ming needed to talk with her later, they arrived at Ming’s personal company, which she brought they stood in the depot of fuel and luckly the area did not seem to explode together with the fuel line looking around it was mostly empty but then she saw a few soldiers near a building raising her hand the soldiers also raised with the approach an officer said. “Magistrate… The explosion was sudden. Wasn't it ordered to withdraw when all depots were turned?”

“It was, unfortunately, the Qishi turned on early when we finished with this one, so we had to improvise.” Ming said, side-eyeing Xiao, who seemed to sit to recover energy.

“Any sign of combatants?” Ming asked.

“Not yet… probably confused or recovering after the explosion.” The man replied, taking a small look behind the men, she could see fewer soldiers than when she arrived here. At a quick glance, she noticed a dead man she commanded lying on the floor near a building, probably others in the area. The explosion definitely hit her well without taking cover; the other forces probably took a lot of casualties too. Her enemy, on the other hand, was hard to tell.

The sound of a horn was heard as they turned. Ming could see the Qishi rising up behind the smoke.

“SHIT!” A soldier cursed. An apt reaction, she thought as the Qishi stood up Her heart raced with any plans coming up, especially as a retreat at this rate may cause everyone to die except a few survivors. Instead, she looked on, feeling more relieved as the Qishi began to walk away, seemingly damaged or not interested; it was hard to tell through the burning smoke, yet everyone could tell its rider chose to retreat.

“We did it?” a soldier replied, with others also repeating the words and soon celebrating. Ming, meanwhile, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The air was filled with smoke, but it did not bother her. She felt relieved that the plan worked out in the end, even if it was more damaging than she had hoped it would be.

In the central plaza, Ming and Xiao arrived. The plaza was mostly empty, analysing the area, Ming soon said. “Seems like the combatants also went on the retreat with the Qishi.” Xiao seemed a bit surprised, emerging from one of the streets. Ming could see Yichen, who hailed with a raised hand to her, approaching, he then said. “So we won?”

“Yes… The town is ours.” Ming replied with Xiao saying. “Well, where is our other sorcerer magistrate?”

“There…” Ming replied, pointing to the approaching company led by Jingting. Once close, Ming approached Jingting, staring at each other for a moment. Ming then broke the silence, saying. “Qián.”

“Guāng.” Jingting replied with a small smile, then said with a pompous air of pride. “Well… Contacted back home to say we conquered the place?”

“Not yet wanting to know if everyone survived.” Ming replied to her, crossing her arms, with Jingting saying. “But we are all here. I dispatched some of my men to clean up the other side of the town we weren't in after the explosion, just to make sure there are no surprises.”

The sound of gunfire was soon heard by all as she continued. “Speaking off… I guess we may need some patrols.”

“Contact, command, tell them that we captured the town of Shamonan, reinforcements are required,” Ming replied to a comms officer who gave a nod and began to work.

“Not much of an inexperienced person as I thought, albeit truth be told, this plan was suicide in all definitions.” Jingting said in a whisper for Ming to hear, and she then replied in a similar whisper. “Sometimes you have to do something bold to change things.”

Jingting rolled her eyes. From what Ming could tell, she seemed unconvinced with few watching and hearing, she then said. “Ambitious commanders generally die first. I guess you are lucky or one in a hundred.”

“I am sure I am.” Ming replied with a smirk. Jingting seemed less convinced. “If you say. Anyway, I hope we don’t work together soon after this, definitely a match to end up with me dead.” Jingting said

Ming replied. “Prefer to keep the same position?”

“No!” She said more angrily and in a loud voice, some noticed as the soldiers began to take some rest, she then fixed her voice, whispering again. “I prefer doing this on my own.”

“If you prefer, albeit that is a decision made by our higher rankings. Still a pleasure working together.” Ming said Jingting gave a light smile with a shrug.

Yichen, meanwhile, talked with the comms soldier and soon returned, saluting. Then he said to the two. “The high command said they would be sending a major reinforcement wave after I had to confirm three times that yes, we conquered the town. They said they would arrive tomorrow morning. With… a guest, according to them.”

“A guest?” Both asked, with him replying. “No further explanation, but yes.”

“I guess we will reorganise and garrison until they arrive. Anyway, I'm gonna go away from the burning wreck. The smoke is killing.” Jingting said, coughing as she left.

Ming gestured for her company also to follow as they went to another area. Xiao and Yichen followed her, she then said. “Begin a head count. I wanna know how many we lost in this operation, and try to save as many civilians as you can during the patrols. Understood?”

The two gave nods to her. “Good.” She finished walking away from the central square. The smoke was beginning to get dense in the area from the burning depot that exploded.

Many hours later, taking refuge in a former barracks that was taken over during the initial incursion, the soldiers celebrated below as Ming meanwhile stood on a tower overseeing the town. She heard reports of the patrols finding many wounded, and with the night beginning to rise, gods only knew how many were lost.

Xiao walked up the stairs, saying. “Magistrate Ming, I believe that…”

“Which house do you come from?” Ming asked, with Xiao freezing, Ming then continued after a moment of silence. “You know what I am talking about. Your behaviour is a bit more aristocratic. Initially, I thought you had some experience, then you began to stare into the Qishi like you shared a connection with it and of course, the roof where you called for it.”

Ming turned to Xiao as she continued. “... and… it answered the call, stared at you for a good moment and then pointed its main weapon at you like it knew who you were. By process of elimination of the obvious, you are from a Qishi house.”

Xiao looked calm, letting out a light sigh, giving a nod to Ming, saying. “Correct, my lady, I joined the army for experience gain.”

“Feels like you don’t need too, especially as by inheritance you end up piloting something that turns armies into insects.” Ming said with an eyebrow raised, Xiao closed her eyes, replying. “Each Qishi family has its own succession rules. Unfortunately for me, my family is a bit more unorthodox.”

“I see…” Ming replied after a moment of silence, she then said. “Which dynasty do you come from?”

“The Zhāng dynasty, we are as ancient as the colonisation of this world and proud of it.” Xiao replied; her tone of voice seemed like she repeated those words quite often, sounding monotone.

“Ancient rival of the Féng dynasty, if my memory is correct.” Ming replied, scratching her chin.

“Indeed, it's a rivalry dating back to eras. Generally, we fight with our Qishi. I think this is the first time our families fought with a Qishi and one without.” Zhāng Xiǎo huì saying.

“Not happy with the omission of this important information, but I am thankful for your honesty now.” Xiao looked over the town, and she then said. “Anything else, my lady?”

“No, is there anything to report?.” Ming asked.

“No, Yichen is still counting the dead. He probably will report later.” Xiao replied

Ming gave a nod with Xiao leaving, Ming was left with the flow of time and her thoughts, she thought of numbers, tactics, and what would happen. Promotion was the most likely outcome to come from this operation, and with higher responsibilities, she thought of what commanding multiple magistrates would be like. Her ambitions would align, and her vision for the future was correct; this was most likely the first step. At the present time scale, if she was right, the march towards the capital of the Zhou dynasty would be within a year. Her mind was filled with plans and tactics, including political speeches. Her third eye would become useful in some rituals that she planned.

As she was in deep thought, she heard a knock, turning her head around, and she could see Yichen entering, she soon said. “Commander, good to see you… What is your family name? I don't remember you saying it.”

“Don’t have in these sands, you have your normal name, and that is it. In the republic, the assimilation made this tradition nearly disappear, but it is still in some families. Down south, they say they care, but I doubt it.” He replied, looking reminiscent of the past.

“I heard that some of the cultures assimilated survived. Wasn’t expecting to find one.” Ming said with curiosity, with him shrugging, saying. “Well… while unity is promoted, some diversity will always exist. Even then, it's just a minor thing from the desert to the northern seas and the brand lunar fronts that opened up recently.”

As Ming pondered, he then said. “Well, what have you been doing, my lady?”

“What do you mean?” She asked, with him searching for words until finally saying. “Well, the men are celebrating, some are resting, and you are on top of this observation post, so I was wondering what you were doing.”

Ming kept on looking at the town, which was damaged; some lights were on in some buildings from families still around, she then said. “Just planning for the future. Next steps and next moves.”

“You do that every night?” He asked, approaching Ming as she thought she, then said. “Yes, almost every night.”

“No hobbies or anything to distract?” He asked.

“I mostly read strategy, or books of war.” she replied with a chuckle. Yichen looked a bit interested, thinking for a while.

He then said. “I wouldn’t call that quality free time. I generally spend my time trying to learn music.” Ming frowned at the comment, looking at Yichen. Was he hired by her father? she thought for a moment.

As she stared, she then said. “I know you are trying to lighten the mood… What you wanted to say.” Yichen did not seem to change much of his face; he still seemed to be in a neutral mood.

He seemed to search for words for some time until he said. “Don’t know what you have but… You managed to convince the men to follow you to hell. Unfortunately, only one fourth of them got out of it alive.”

Ming froze at that statement as he continued. “One hell of a loss lives for the regiments, but we still managed to pull this off. I guess your leadership pulled it in the end.”

“Thank you.” She said in a direct tone, and Yichen gave a light bow, replying. “I will let you be my lady.” As he left and Ming was alone again, she let out a large sigh. It was more dead on her side than she had hoped to be. A miscalculation she would attempt to correct tomorrow, on the other hand, something important would come. She wondered if the visit was a general of the army or the Taiwe himself. Albeit he would need to come from afar.

The next day

The scout could see the approach of a land dreadnought, a vehicle built to transport supplies and soldiers through the desert. It was accompanied by multiple armoured vehicles and even air support. Ming could see the convoy had enough soldiers to hold the town if not do more offensives. The defences on one hand for the carrier were interestingly high from what she could see, until she widened her eyes, seeing the banner. Jingting broke the silence, asking Ming. “So who is our guest?”

“Someone from the Shang Dynasty.” Ming replied, with Jingting becoming more tense, and those who heard it becoming more strict.

Jingting whispered. “The sorcerer king? He never leaves the orbital ship.”

“Probably someone close to him.” Ming said as both attempted to look cool, Ming maintained it well while Jingting looked a bit more nervous.

With the land dreadnought stopping, the soldiers soon began to disembark and formed a defence cordon for someone leaving as it came to view who it was, Shang Qiang, some of the soldiers whispered when he approached. The crown prince of the Shand Dynasty, a modified clone of the sorcerer king. Ming and Jingting kept themselves quiet as he approached. He was pale with short hair and green eyes. His clothes were expensive. As he stopped in front of them, he took a good look at both. He was smaller than thought and from paintings a bit different from the sorcerer king, less muscular and a bit thinner, same for the colour of his eyes, light green instead of black.

“Guang Ming Zhu and Qián Jingjing.” He said with both still maintaining their composure, he then continued. “You two did something that only great individuals could achieve. You should be proud of yourselves. I hereby grant you the high honour of your achievement.”

Both bowed in respect; a promotion was now all but inevitable, Ming thought, but still, the heir was not something she expected to be coming here when she arrived here. As the honours were given, the Shang Qiang was escorted towards the town, and as the two saluted as other officers walked past, Jingjing looked more excited whispering. “New position here we come!”

She seemed to smile quite widely in excitement; others also smiled in the army, unsurprisingly, a great change in the usual state of the war.

“A clone?” She heard, looking back for a moment, Yichen looked at the crown prince, curious.

“Does the sorcerer king want to be overthrown? Why make a thinking machine?”

“He is organic…” Ming whispered back in a condescending tone, but he continued.

“Still… made in a lab wasn’t the ancient war about the machines that could think and men? Why make one that thinks even if it is made of flesh.”

“Some say the sorcerer king trusts only himself.” Ming answered him as he went quiet, she kept on watching the army arriving, things would begin to move and get turbulent. She wondered what her family was up to as well and what else was happening in the stars.

From Ashes We Rise : The Imperium Is Born

Blades in war

Boetia

Elis observed the hill where a claimant of this land made a stand. He managed to raise a host of soldiers to his doomed revolt, but from what she could tell, he was a fake claimant. They had picked high ground and had a wise idea of fortifying the hill instead of charging downwards towards them. The mountain had a strange monument. It seemed old, surrounded by metal, yet its internal bowls were of stone, nothing uncommon for terra. There are many ruins of different eras dotted around its surface. She did not knew but in ancient days it would be called the Parthenon.

A marine saluted her, saying. “Commander, artillery in position.”

“Begin.” She replied in a cold tone as the marine left, giving her a nod.

The sound of thunder was soon heard the echo of artillery the hill so began to be shelled the explosions causing screams in the distance raising his hand Elis gave a light gesture as the legion began to assemble for a march towards the hill the organisation is slow but well made in discipline as Elis stared at the top of the mountain the legion assembled reaching by Vox comms she asked. “Mapalo, are you in position?” The sound of gunfire was heard, with Elis turning her head lightly when hearing it.

The vox soon replied as her voice said. “No, we faced some small opposition, and we are still not in the designated position.” Elis closed her eyes and began to think, replying to her as she opened her eyes. “Even with enemy contact, you would be able to block their retreat with ease.”

“Don’t worry, I have this under control. The operation can continue as normal, there is just a bigger obstacle than expected…” The sound of gunfire drowned the vox until she shouted. “Continue the operation!” She closed his eyes for a moment, giving a light nod with a gesture of her hand. The legion soon began the approach towards the hill, a march of power and unison through the sands of the mountain. The bombardment stopped as they were at the foot of the hill, and soon began the rush forward with Elis in the middle of the soldiers.

The advance was quicker than the defenders expected, with the initial defences being overwhelmed without problems. Elis continued in vox; She could hear the comms of the higher officers reporting the situation. On the left flank, the situation described was fine; the soldiers had burned the traitors out of their holes, and some were surrendering as well. On the right flank, the commanders stated that explosions were happening as they advanced, probably set up traps, but it was a defence that failed to do damage; many were surrendering as well. She thought for a moment of the fact that the flanks were surrendering, yet…

Pulling a pistol, she shot a man in a pillar as the advance continued. She could tell that by the lack of surrendering forces in the central front, it meant the most loyal to the cause were here. That or their leader was close; if he tried to run away from the war he started, he would be caught by Mapalo if she arrived in her position as planned by then. Or better himself, since she mostly seemed adamant on taking the frontal charge during the debate of who commands. She took the position to go around the hill after some convincing, and things could get better between them. With a quick reflex, she shot another rebel as she marched on with the legion, arriving at the central command on top of the hill, the artillery destroyed what remained of the ruins. The forces of the rebellion seemed to be in total retreat now, with the legion in pursuit a bit earlier than she expected. But looking around, the commander and claimant seemed not to be around, having been gone in flight as some soldiers investigated.

Contacting Mapalo Elis quickly, said. “Mapalo, I have reason to believe the man we are searching has set flight with full retreat”

The sound returning was of a firefight by the sounds, and a big one, yet it made no sense that she would face little opposition, she then heard Mapalo say. “I know we are on it!”

Holding on to the question of what was going on and focusing on the mission was clear, she soon asked. “You found him?”

“No! I mean, we are doing what we can right now, trying to make sure she does not escape.” She replied quickly with the sound of an explosion, swiftly moving from her position and past the smoke blocking her view and looking down the hill she could see the firefight, she soon realised what was happening she fully encircled the hill meaning the retreating force was trying to pressure through her to escape she let out a very soft groan as she soon said through vox. “Mapalo, you encircled the whole back hill?”

“Yes, that was the plan, was it not?” She replied with her voice sounding confident amongst the firefight, with him saying a bit more annoyed.

“It was for you to let an exit exist for them.” “You wanted the traitors to escape?” She shouted, confused by what she said.

Elis shook her head, replying. “It wasn't that they would flee, but thanks to the damage, they would not get too far. Allowing us to catch up and capture them all.”

“That still allows some to escape.” She said, with her stating. “In theory, yes, in practice, the entire army would be destroyed. The idea was to give them a false sense of security and then destroy them. Now that you blocked what they thought was their only way out, they will now fight to the death to get through you to escape.”

“Don’t worry, things are under… HOLD ON THERE!” She shouted in vox until a large explosion could be seen in the distance, cutting the vox com.

“Mapalo, come in, are you there?” Elis asked in comms without an answer.

“Second Commander Mapalo, come in, can you listen?” Elis said as some of the marines looked at him, the helmets masked emotions, but they could feel concern in her removing her hand from the comms. She soon took a deep breath and shouted for the first time to all present and in comms. “All forces charge immediately. Defeat the remainder of the enemy forces!”
The legion soon began to charge more vigorously towards the retreating forces, blocked by the marines commanded by Mapalo. Elis charged ahead of his soldiers for the first time the gunfire flew past her as the legion crashed down the hill against the rebels her reflexes and hand gun made quick work of the first few she saw before she crushed through what she could count to be five people at least who died in her charge branding a knife she then sliced through several people like butter with the legion behind her in the charge she kept on fighting onwards.

She saw people being sliced sometimes in half due to her strength, her bolter pistol tearing chunks out of people who aimed at her as she fought forward. She saw a grenade being thrown at herself. With quick reflexes, she grabbed it mid-air and threw it back at the rebels, the explosion throwing back a few and killing others with body parts flying around. Stopping her advance, she came face to face with a bloodied marine, seeing her, the marine said. “Miss…” with a light head bow, Elis raised her hand, the battle still raged as she said.

“Where is Mapalo, and report the status of your force.” She saluted the command given by Elis stating. “The commander is on the central front, a few leagues east, sir.”

“Of course she is.” Elis thought heading there as the battle began to die down ever so slowly her movement was slow studying the battlefield as it died down the sound of gunfire and struggle diminishing as she arrived at the section the marines saluted her. She continued walking until she could see Mapalo. She looked bloodied; it was hard to tell if she had suffered any issues approaching her. She holstered her chain axe, turning to her saying. “Elis! Looks like we achieved a great victory!” “I wouldn’t call it great after you encircled the hill; it made things more difficult.” She replied with the sound of gunfire in the distance, the battle beginning to finally end, she then said. “What happened to you? Your comms were cut, and I saw an explosion.”

She let out a chuckle, beginning to recount. “I saw the man we were seeking. He was close to us, and one of my girls had a bomb. We had limited time since some were breaching the perimeter, so I made a quick decision.”

“That was dangerously close to an explosion; you could have died.” Eris stated to her while she gave a dismissive hand wave, saying. “It was fine…” Eris mentally rolled her eyes at her simply issuing orders to a nearby group of marines. “Round up any survivors as prisoners, you know what to do with them.” The marines gave a salute as the battle ended, with Eris letting herself have a small smile at the success, even if it was messy.

An hour later, Eris stood at the top of the hill overlooking it all, some craters still smoking as she read reports. Mapalo, meanwhile, had removed her helmet, standing beside Eris, her braided hair flowed in the air, her dark skin emphasised her amber eyes that sparkled like the sunset, and she then said. “You need to remove your helmet more often after a battle.”

“I do not see a reason why to.” She answered her idea with Mapalo rolling her eyes, saying. “The regular air helps to think for me, and also I feel like the man would feel more at will seeing one of their leaders.”

“I feel like it's unnecessary.” She replied with Mapalo looking unimpressed as she turned to say. “You lost three men on your manoeuvre.”

She looked less than happy, simply saying. “It was a calculated risk. I knew the dangers.” Eris gave a nod, saying. “At least you know not to pull a stunt like this again.”

“We grow wiser with every battle. I will redeem myself for this.” She said after a moment of silence, Eris soon said. “Time to go, we have new orders.”

“Duty never ends.” She replied with a smile to him as both went to work again.

The legion soon began to assemble into formation, ready for march. Eris stood at the head beside her was Mapalo, still with her helmet in her hand, looking around, Eris felt comfortable saying. “Women, we are ready to march when our orders are sent. We have to uphold it as it is what we were made for. Do you understand, man?”

“Yes, ma'am!” They shouted in unison, and she gave a nod. Hearing a very light cough, she turned her head to her co-leader, Mapalo, who smiled. She stepped forward, saying. “Men, we achieved victory today! We succeed in destroying the traitors to the emperor's will.”

The sound of a beat to the chest was heard, the metal echoing as she continued. “We will keep on fighting, let this be our first glory on our path to immortality! For mankind! For the emperor!” “FOR THE EMPEROR!” They shouted in unity, chanting in unison as she turned her head to Eris, and she soon said. “Nice job… Alright, Lads in formation!” Getting ready, they soon set off in March towards their new orders on terra. The unification was coming close to an end.

Through the Gateways: Inhumanity

hey, i might be interested :) i'm a bit of a sucker for sci-fi stuff (but i act like i'm not a nerd around my family nyehehehe)

@tealrootssss

Feel free to join we just had a slow down.

From Ashes We Rise: Chronicles

Grew in a world divided, and in ambition, sought more

Guang Ming Zhu

The great academies are centres of training and learning for sorcerers; only four of them remain of the ten that were built, with the academy of Jin Ping Mei being the oldest, largest of the academies, yet the most controversial one. Ming, though, while looking around, most students wore very vibrant colours in the symbol of their noble families, others simply by their tastes herself meanwhile, just wore white and purple, while purple was one of her family colours, the other was the one she liked. She kept on looking around before looking back at her scrolls she held, most containing information on rune sorcery practised by Zhìzhě sorcerous smiths. She received this one as a gift from her teacher, and she impressed many who taught her in the non-sorcerous topics. But on the subject of the arcane, many teachers were rather secretive of their knowledge, only giving away to those they trusted, and this was a little annoying for her curiosity, but it was fine. At least her teacher gave her more scrolls for her cultivation as she once again lifted her head, her eyes scanning other people. Yet she got a glimpse. Some people were staring at her, but noticing she was lifting her head, they turned away, and she let out a sigh.

“You seem distant.” She heard her brother say as he approached her table, She replied. “Hello brother, how was your study with the masters of the elements?” “It went well initially.” He replied, sitting beside her, as she asked. “What happened?” “Let’s say a few colleagues and a teacher are less than stellar.” He replied with her mumbling. “Hedonistic types?” “Hedonistic types.” He replied in confirmation as she let out a sigh, responding to him. “Things could be worse.” He took a look at her saying. “Really? Did your military theorist teacher try to flirt with you?” “No?” She was confused by the question, and he soon seemed a bit bitter about a thought he then continued. “Oh, so it's just me that happened.” “Do you wanna…” She started talking with a bit of worry until her brother cut her off by saying. “No, it's fine, I handled that with someone… What problem are you having, though?”

“Compared to you and our friends, people don’t stop staring at me…” She replied with him saying. “Is it because you are three meters tall and have muscles for days that makes anyone want your mutation or the third eye?” He smiled at the comment, almost like an obvious answer, a joke for him, but she shook her head, saying. “No, not that I mean there are other people weirder than me, like Li.” She lightly gestured towards him, both looking at him as a man who seemed to be born with scaly skin. He wandered far for him to hear, but she then continued. “It's that sometimes they look at me with more deference. Looking at me differently…” “Well, your looks are already strange for most. But it may also be Sorcerer Gleamor.” He answered with her head turning to him, as she was confused, noticing he then said. “A teacher of sorcerous arts once told me that some sorcerous arts could make themselves look dangerous or glorious. One sorcerer king of our republic once had something like that, but the studies of it are thin.” She gave a nod, simply saying. “Sounds like the art of illusions.” “A more subtle version of it is also felt, but it may be you are doing that subconsciously." He said to her, with her still looking sceptical. “I don’t know… but I might as well research a bit.” he gave a light shrug at her as she thought.

“Well, look who is coming.” Her brother, as he looked to the side, gave a light smile. She turned to see Shào Hua her white hair flowing like a waterfall, her smile was sweet wide and able to entrance anyone, her eyes were still red when she met as a child she carried an umbrella to protect herself from the sun and her clothes were large and baggy of the same colors as her family pure white while intrinsically sowed with a golden dragon in her clothes. Ming smiled at her, saying. “Hello Hua…” She soon noticed her company a boy her age with long red hair and brown eyes, his clothes were green and blue with some scale armor probably for decoration his stature was the same as Shao Hua lower then herself and lower then her brother his face was plain with little noticeable features with the exception of a cut in his left eyebrow he smiled at Ming and her brother as Ming finished her sentence. “... and Zhèng Wěi.” “You know me?” He was surprised, asking her, with Ming replying. “I remember every name I met in class so far, and you were one of them.” “Oh, an amazing gift, something your brother probably envies about your mutations.” Wei replied with her brother, letting out a light groan, rolling his eyes at the comment.

She soon replied. “It's not much.” “Humility is a gift, they say.” Hua said as she sat down with Wei sitting as well, she then asked. “I hope we were not interrupting something important?” “Not much, just family business.” Her brother responded with Wei saying. “Not to be rather intrusive in your affairs. But would it be on that news that I heard that the Guang family dug itself into more debt following the recent war tax increase?” Ming and her brother Xiao looked at each other before looking back at the two. Their mother told them not to talk much about the incident, but they could tell it was bad Ming replied. “I am afraid this is personal.” “I understand things have not been easy.” Wei said, with Hua saying. “The tax increase is a pain for everyone, but at least some amenities remain.”

“I think they defunded the theatres…” Xiao replied when she heard that she shouted in shock. “What?!” “They were defunded recently.” Xiao said with Hua asking. “But why?” “All resources to the war effort.” The three said at the same time to her, it was a common thing for Ming, a lot of things were defunded. “At least there is no food rationing.” Wei commented on the topic, and she let out a small sigh, saying to him. “For us, yes… for the people outside the academy walls… Not so much.” She remembered how some of the servants said rationing was getting worse.

“Changing topics.” Xiao said he soon turned to Hua, saying. “I heard your mother was having another kid.” “Was…” She highlighted the words to him, looking to the side. “Something wrong?” Ming asked with concern, with Hua mumbling something, soon saying with annoyance. “Well, dad can have all the worries, for all I care about our family name. I gained a brother and then a Zhìzhě sensed he had no sorcerous powers within him.” The three gave nods. Ming knew what generally happened when a child without the gift was born letting someone else speak, Wei jumped in first saying. “Let me guess, it was smuggled to an adoption centre in secret?” “No, Dad threw him in a furnace.” Hua answered with a collective awkward silence, Ming coughed, saying. “Your father is not much of a kind person.” “Tell me about it.” Hua said with a sigh, seeing Ming’s scrolls, she then said. “So, how were your studies?” “Mostly recommending meditation for me to control my skills, even though I still can see the future with ease compared to everyone else in the School of Suan Ming.” Ming Zhu replied, crossing her arms. “So did you predict someone's future yet?” Wei asked. “Ah, ye some.” She answered him, and Hua, hearing it, perked her head up, asking. “Can you predict ours?” “That’s…” She uttered for a moment, thinking, yet the thoughts dispelled quickly. She liked the idea that her teachers teach caution, yet she feels she can do it, saying. “You know what? sure… I will one day be the greatest sorceress of this world, so might as well do it to practice.”

In a room, Ming had to lower her head a bit due to the ceiling being lower than most other rooms of the academy, while a circle was drawn on the floor of the room by Hua. The room was used for teaching, but it was turned into a casting room. It was wide enough, at least as she looked to the wall where the teacher would be, it had short windows showing the outside. On the wall of the room was a painting of Dì Shùn, a wise king and the first unifier of Tiānguó. She felt reverence towards him as she looked until she heard Wei say. “Right, I think this is what your scroll says the drawing must be. Luckily for us, the room has an auspicious qi, so it should be fine.” “I don’t like this; the rules state we shouldn’t do this without someone to oversee or to keep things safe.” Xiao said, Hua smiled at him, and Ming could tell he looked enchanted at her as she said. “It can’t be that bad…” He rolled his eyes at it, saying. “I still protest it.” “It will be fine.” Ming said, waving a hand as she put three bowls filled with metallic dust and in one a catalyst. As she sat down to meditate, she took deep breaths, saying. “Right, who first?” Hua stepped up, saying. “If nobody minds, I would like to go first.” “No protest from me.” Wei said, leaning against a wall with curiosity, her brother said nothing, only looking on. She gave a nod, taking deep breaths after calming down, replying. “Sometimes it may be allegorical, sometimes it can be a direct vision of the future that’s a first warning and...” “Use the book of fate calculation to decipher what some of the images may be, gotcha.” Hua replied, raising the book Ming studied, and Ming gave a nod, saying. “Well, let us do this…”

Like she practiced, she soon said “Body…” As she closed her left eye. “Mind…” She closed her right eye, drowning herself in darkness as she let the Qi flow through her, and the sorcerous energy accumulating in her eye, she uttered the final words. “Soul…” Her third eye opened as the bowls were consumed by flames, and her third eye saw Hua for a moment, but her body became mist, rushing towards her vision. The darkness was all she could see. She seemed to look around while her body barely moved, her third eye mimicking her eye movements. As she looked around in a void, a shallow water creating splashes as she walked in this plane, around her was darkness covered in mist. As she looked around, the fog began to clear, and she saw what seemed like a well-made room with gilded metals. Observing it, she said. “I see a well-made room… very well made.” “What else?” She hears Hua say the words echoed through the emptiness like it was distant in a tunnel. The entire room quaked as she said, and Ming lost concentration for a moment. “Please be quiet.” She said in a calm tone, taking another deep breath, she then looked at the vision as she saw a woman cloaked in a red dress, covering her body as she looked at the stars. “I now see a woman in a rather well-made cloak… Staring at a star, I know this one from the books, it's the wanderer.” Ming replied, hoping they would hear. “The wanderer…” She hears a response in echoes, this time ready for words to come from outside.

“The wanderer marks a symbol of the future or present, representing contemplation, loneliness or longing. It may also mean seeking wisdom or meaning. If the wanderer is to watch upon a star, it means an auspicious sign.” The words echoed to her and she let out a chuckle, saying. “So you will be seeking the meaning of life soon?” “A bit early for an existential crisis.” Wei commented, his voice echoing through the void, Hua replying with a “Hey!” Ming held a laugh as she soon noticed the vision begin to dissipate into mist. She then said. “Wait, something else is happening…” The fog soon revealed a painting of two people, a man and a woman holding hands together in a serene dance, as she said. “It's a painting…” “What?” Xiao seemed to ask from a much distant echo; she then replied again. “I see a painting hanging in the void. It has two people, a man and a woman, holding hands in a dance.” “The lovers!” She heard Hua shout, with the room quaking; she became more annoyed. “More quiet please!” “Oh, sorry… The lovers… partnership in either love or friendship, a bond never broken. A vision that many wish to have means that your future love will meet you. It is believed that if one sees that the three give you the luck of knowing you will find the bond of your life.” Hua explained she sounded extremely excited as well, as Wei said. “So Hua finds out she is getting married several years earlier to someone one day. Can you see who?” “No… It's just a generic painting.” Ming replied with Wei saying. “Oh goddamn it…” Hua sounded with Ming chuckling.

She then said. “That’s not how this works… The future is unwritten. You can see the most likely outcome, but you're still able to avoid it.” “How are you sure?” Wei asked, with her replying. “My third eye, without doing this, can see a person vibrating its many decisions, actions and accidents. In practice, it means that you can change your future since your immediate present is filled with decisions by the second... thousands of decisions by the second...” Ming finished sounding exhausted. “I mean, it does not stop destiny… It may mean that someone's minor actions are free, but one's overall destination is fixed.” “That’s… Unlikely…” Ming replied in contemplation.

The vision once again melted away and was replaced with another room, one with wallpaper of blue and a bedroom that was richly decorated. As she looked around, she said. “Another vision… Silence, please.” As she wandered forward, she soon saw a woman reclining in a chair. As she approached, it was a much older Hua holding a child in her arms with a smile. She seemed to be in her thirties, wearing rich clothes. “Oh wow… It's you, Hua” There was a silence with Hua shouting. “What?” Ming soon replied. “I see you… Like you're rather old, some twenty years in the future, I think. You have a child in your arms and…” Taking a look closer, the child had red albino eyes as she stared at Hua. “... it seems to be yours.” She continued. “I have… a son?” “I can’t tell the gender…you are holding it dearly as you relax on a chair.” Ming replied that there seemed to be more silence from Hua. She seemed to be in shock, but Ming could hear Wei say. “Well, it is indeed to be able to see her retired in a mansion.” Ming soon catched the sound of a clicking coin. She then sighed, saying. “Who is tossing a coin up and down in the air?” “Nobody?” she heard her brother say, sounding confused.

As she looked around, she saw where the sound came from inside the same room. A man wore a dark cloak, his face was disfigured, the left side of his jaw was without flesh, and his eyes were golden. He seemed to play with a golden coin, throwing it up and down. As Ming looked at him, he seemed to look back at her, still playing with the coin as she said. “There’s a man… wearing a heavy cloak playing with a cloak here.” Wei seemed to be the one to reply; “Wait… does he have hair?” “No…” Ming said as she continued staring, feeling uncomfortable. Hua soon echoed through her saying. “The one who comes at midnight… The bearer of bad news and good news from him shall come, news one shall be rewarded with great plenty, or bad news of being sick, or to be weary of your next steps.” Wei also said. “He is also a representation of death, being the ancient great sorcerer Fangshi.” “Well, that explains the creepy look. I remember that story, he was so powerful he merged with the realm between where sorcery comes from and became a spirit in divination and also death…” Ming said, still feeling uneasy, she gave a light bow to him out of respect before taking a deep breath. “I think this is enough.” She said as the mists soon cleared, as darkness returned, as she opened her eyes, Hua and Wei were staring at her, saying. “Well, that was an experience.”

Hua lifted with a smile, saying. “Ye it was…” She was soon pushed aside as Wei sat down, saying. “My turn!” Ming smiled, seeing the bowls still blaming and feeling power flowing, she said. “Sure, why not?” She took another deep breath as she said. “Body…” her left eye closing “Mind…” her right. “Soul…” and soon she saw Wei for a moment before his body dissolved into a mist covering her back into the void, as she looked around, she heard Wei say. “Just seek a single vision, no need to stress.” Ming thought for a moment, saying. “Sure, what sort?” “Something big…” He replied with her mumbling. “That is a difficult thread to grasp. Let me see if I can.” She focused using her powers to clear the mist, seeking a thread, and she found one as the fog cleared into darkness for a moment, but she could hear the sound of battlecries. She felt confused hearing the words. “They are charging!” She heard a shout from a distance as the sound of gunfire was close she then discerned another voice shout. “Their sorcerers brought armored divisions. Quick, grab the rifles!” “What the…” Ming said, confused, until she heard a shout. “INCOMING!” The darkness soon faded as an explosion manifested frozen in place, she soon realised she was in a battlefield, soldiers wearing heavy armour and rifles and flags accompanied by a tank, as she looked around in awe, she then said. “This is a battlefield!” “A battlefield?” Wei asked, with Ming replying. “Yeah, a battlefield…” The enemy forces wearing the uniforms of the Zhou dynasty seemed to be a bayonet charge, quickly approaching with tanks in the distance. Looking for Wei as she walked, she soon saw him saying. “I see you…” Approaching, she could see him raising a battle flag, shouting in defiance while wielding a battle sword as spells and bullets fly past him. “You are… Making a historic pose, I can tell you that much.” Soldiers seemed inspired by it as they charged it as well. “Really? How well do I look?!” “Well, you are branding a battle flag, standing on top of a rock, seemingly screaming a charge. Meanwhile, soldiers, tanks and… a few sorcerers, I think, are following you into this. You also grew a ponytail.” She remarked, seeing him much older than he now seemed to be, loving being in this hell. “I like it! Glory in my hands, huh?” Wei said, echoing in her as she shook her head with a smile.

The mists soon consumed the vision as she said. “Another vision, be quiet for a moment.” As she looked around, the haze soon cleared again as she concentrated and she saw a fire and two women standing next to wearing what seemed like religious ceremonies, while Ming looked around the flame, seeing nothing, she then said. “I see two ladies standing next to a flame. They are the keepers.” This one she knew from the books she read, Hua soon said. “I found it. The keepers are known as a symbol of accomplishment, responsibility and burden while in the first vision it means one’s future will be marked for a responsibility in case of being a second vision its widely believed to be ‘a choice that will weight heavily on you on its burden and responsibility’ end quote” wei soon said. “So, during that battle, I will have to make a difficult choice?” Ming soon said. “Or a choice involving getting to that battle.” She soon took a deep breath as the mists cleared and her eyes once again opened, looking down on Wei, he seemed in deep thought, noticing then he said. “Oh, you Xiao wanna do it?” “I am fine, I prefer things to be a surprise.” Xiao said, raising his hand in denial, Ming shook her head and replied. “If you want things to be simpler, I can do Kau chim”

He took a sigh and said. “Fine if you all want me to join this.” The flames of the bowls finally died down. She sat still as she unpacked something from her bag: A Chim bucket, a long cylindrical bamboo cup inside of it was hundreds of sticks, she then said. “You know how this works?” “The sticks have answers and numbers about my question. I ask you a question, you then let Qi flow through you, and then you spin the bucket until one stick falls off and lets two stones fall out, simple as that.” “AND… due to the stones being uneven in sides, if both are flat or round, it means the spirits or the three laughed at your question, and if you want, you can re-ask.” Ming finished it was a simple process compared to her way, she then said, holding the Chim Bucket and closing her eyes to concentrate. “Right… Are you ready?”

“Yes… Oh spirits in my future, will I have to make a terrible choice I wish I had not made?” Xiao said with a light tone, he seemed not to be interested. Ming simply rolled her eyes, beginning to spin the Chim Bucket Wei soon said. “Tempting fate, ey? What if they say you will have to do something bad?” “I mean it's a rather broad question, but also somewhat specific… I mean it's not like he is going to have to kill someone he likes?” Hua said with the stick falling on the floor, Ming soon picked the two stones and passed some of her power flow as she released, then seeing they were both of different sides, they leaned in at the stick and saw the words. ‘A terrible choice you will have to make. Twenty-two was the number at the end.’ They all looked at each other with Wei saying. “Way to go, you have the worst of us all.” Xiao punched his shoulder with Wei chuckling.

“He is not wrong… His choice is one of burden and responsibility, yours is… Worse than his.” Hua said, with Xiao shaking his head, stating. “I don’t care, I can change my future as my sister said.” “Unless you walk towards it.” Hua said with worry, but still let him be. Wei soon said to change the topic. “Well, we better go now or else someone is gonna ask what we were doing here.” “Wait a moment, I have a question first.” Hua said with Ming asking. “What is it?” “Why don’t you read your future as well?” Wei asked Ming, and she soon let out a light saying. “I can’t see myself and predict the future. I tried mirrors and it did not work.” “Try silver.” Hua replied with Ming raising an eyebrow as she searched her pockets as she said. “Silver mirrors are said to reflect one's soul and self. According to several philosophers I read.” She soon leaned in, offering a small mirror, saying. “Consider it a gift.” Ming smiled, taking the small mirror in her large hands, saying. “I will treasure it.” Hua smiled as both she and Wei left the room.

Ming soon collected her things, and Xiao remained with her to help, saying as the two were left alone. “I still disapprove of doing this without a guide.” “Luck favours the bold.” Ming replied with a smile, he rolled his eyes. “Fine… But it is the rules for a reason.” He replied, grabbing her books, saying. “You always pop off in anything you try. Sometimes I wonder if you were born human.” Ming froze for a moment. She couldn’t tell if it was a joke or something, but it was how she felt at times. “Do you know where Dad went? He seemed in a hurry.” She tried to change the subject with her brother, saying. “To a dentist or something like that.” “That’s the first time I've heard of him needing to go somewhere for medical care of some kind.” Ming commented, with Xiao shrugging at the comment. “That's what he said to me when he left.” He said to her, she nodded at him as she finished collecting her things, lowering herself to still walk under the low ceiling, hearing her brother say. “So… the greatest sorceress of Tiānguó?” Ming shrugged, saying. “I dream high.” “Do you plan on adding all the planets too?” She thought for a moment before saying. “Maybe.” “A bit egotistical, don’t you think?” He commented on what she said. “I feel like I am destined to do great things at times since birth.” She replied as she finished packing, he seemed to give a shrug as both left, beginning to head out of the academy, she felt a bit distant, the answer felt a bit entitled, yet felt right at the same time.

As both left the academy grounds, she stopped feeling a strange sense of dread. Leaving her, Xiao turned around, seeing her, he then asked. “Is the sense of dread still around?” “Yes, it never stopped appearing every time I entered the academy grounds.” She replied with him saying. “It's a strange thing you never found the reason.” She shook her head, saying. “No, it's still a recurring problem.” She looked around for some sort of explanation upon seeing the statue of Dì Shùn. The statue showed him to have great strength while he held a sword, looking into the sky. At his feet were several candles of veneration. As she looked, she felt strange and soon said. “It's probably nothing…” Xiao seemed to raise an eyebrow, but seemed not to press the issue as both went home.

The manor both lived was one that their father managed to procure close to the capital, entering its gates, a group of servants bowed while Xiao went inside. Ming decided to remain in the garden outside. The noon was quickly setting into night as she sat on a bench surrounded by flowers while not the most exuberant garden that existed, especially on her family's conditions. But she found a bit of peace to think while here. She looked on at the night sky and towards the two moons, Hongyue and Wanyue. The red glow of Hongyue was dominant over Wanyue, whose pale hue was diminishing as she stared at the stars and extended her hand, feeling like she could grasp something from there. As she stared, she soon heard her mother say. “Something in your mind.” Snapping from her trance, she turned around, seeing her mother arriving with a smile, she seemed to age more than her father, as she said. “Nothing just… relaxing, I guess.” She shook her head as she approached and replied. “I can tell something is on your mind.” Sitting next to her, she was quite small compared to Ming, even standing, she was smaller while she sat. “What’s on your mind?” She asked with Ming thinking, and after a light sigh, she said. “I feel distant at home, in the academy, and elsewhere, I feel like I am born for greatness.” “Well… You are big.” Hien replied with a light chuckle, even Ming chuckling as well.

After a return to calmness, Ming then continued. “It’s not just that I feel like I am not from here at times. That I am distant, that I should be out there in the stars or out there doing more than here. Xiao Dan once said that if I keep acing the scores, I would be selected to be a magistrate of war earlier. It does sound nice. But even after, I feel out of place when I think of myself being there.” Hien remained silent as she explained, taking a quick look, she seemed in thought and worried about something, going back to looking at the stars, she soon heard her say. “I have something to show you.” “What is it?” Ming asked with Hien replying with a sad tone. “Something important.” She rose and began to head out with Ming following.

Under the house in a secret room hidden behind a wall, Ming entered behind her mother to see the capsule that brought her here. As she looked, she saw that the complex mechanism was cleaned and seemed to have been studied in some parts. As she looked around it she heard Hien say. “You came from there.” “What?” Ming asked, with Hien saying. “While you grew normally, you also became different when your teenage years began. You thought this was because of mutations, but that is incredibly rare. For our society, we would call you lucky to be born in reality; I never gave birth to you. You came from there, your father is not here to help me, but you landed near our old home long ago.” Ming looked on at the machine simply walking around, taking it in, and she felt more at ease. For some reason, things seemed to start falling in place, her mother soon said. “We initially thought it was an escape pod from a ship, but due to the technology of it, we quickly discarded that.” Ming stopped staring at the roman numeral for seven; she didn’t understand it, as she thought she soon asked. “Who do you think sent me here?” Hien gave a light shrug, saying. “Who knows? Destiny is a fickle mistress. Maybe whoever made you wanted you to pursue greatness and sent you, who made you, maybe lost you, and is out there searching for you.” Ming gave a nod at her answer, smiling lightly at her saying. “Thank you for telling me this.” Things seemed to make sense now for her, while the future was still a mystery for her, and she still dreamed she now knew why she stood out. Hien chuckled, saying. “Your father thought you would react poorly to this.”

Ming felt more at ease saying. “Well, I guess in a different situation, I would be in less of a good mood learning this.” As both left the room after it closed, Ming kept a look at the mechanism heading upstairs. Both were soon met with two servants bowing. They seemed to carry some books, with Hien saying. “What is that?” A servant soon said. “Books from the archives of the academy. Master Shen asked us to deliver some books.” “From the academy?” Ming asked with both bowing in confirmation, Hien rolled her eyes, giving a dismissal hand gesture as both left, she then said. “He must be studying something. Where has he been, by the way he told you where he went? He sent a message saying he would be late.” Ming thought for a moment before replying. “He said he would be late due to a dentist appointment. At least that is what Xiao told me.” A servant soon turned a corner in the hallway, saying. “Mistress Ming, Mistress Hien, we have company…” Both turned their heads to each other, simply heading out.

---

Early that day…

The lights of the elevator flicked as it moved quickly down in the capital city of Jiang’an Qu. The elevator showed a large structure outside a dome swiftly disappearing due to a metal panel. Guang Shen looked at the two guards beside him. They were heavily armed yet unusual in looks; they were his escorts by the guards above. He rubbed his jaw for a moment and then adjusted a stick on his recently grown hair. He seemed not used to having long hair, and after fixing it a bit, said. “Gentlemen, you do not seem like regular guards.” “We are guards, sir… mercenary guards.” One soldier replied, with Shen replying to him. “You seem a bit angry… not paid yet?” “You can say that, my lord, but please be quiet, we are not allowed to talk.” Another replied with him giving a nod as the elevator stopped at the bottom of the dome an industrial catwalk extended to an entrance where he and the other two walked towards the door the dome was surrounded by a large metallic wall it was built in a depression of sorts akin to a crater in the capital protected by the royal guard of the capital but also mercenaries or personal guards of the owner arriving at the entrance the heavy door began to lift up with the sound of grinding engines revealing a dark catwalk one of the guards soon said. “Here is where you go, sir. Good luck.” “Thank you.” Shen said as he put a stack of money in the man's front pocket, he looked shocked as Shen head in saying. “That’s double my salary… Sir, you…” The door soon closed behind Shen. He looked around, feeling his powers weaker than before; the metal of the dome weakened psyker's powers inside of it.

Walking forward Shen was faced with a gun to his dome and behind it an old man with implants covering most of his body cloaked in a blue robe he held a gun to his face in one hand a automatic pistol with the safety on something that Shen could notice meanwhile on another hand he held a staff. “Aim a bit higher. I would rather have a hole in my forehead than between my eyes.” Shen said in a nonchalant tone. After a moment, the man pointing the gun began to laugh, lowering the firearm, he soon hugged, lifting Shen with his eyes rolling at the encounter, as he was put down, the man then continued. “Heyo old friend, it's been decades now!” “It has been Tu, how have you been?” Shen said, with him replying. “Rather busy since the days you gave up on the cause of our group.” “You know well why I left.” Shen replied with Tu laughing at the comment, simply replying. “Yes, I know Zhulong. Come follow me.” Shen followed Tu through the catwalk as Tu said. “These days, things have been bad. Cutting my funding and the group growing apart made my research difficult. I am the greatest scientist this world has seen, and the sorcerer king has yet to fully acknowledge my wisdom!” He finished shouting, with Shen saying. “Frustrating, I can tell.” “Indeed… even after the well… ridiculously diminished festivities of blossom that the sorcerer king cut in his budget cuts. He refused to finance my research into production methods that would make the cuts unnecessary.” Tu said, with Shen saying. “You know why he does not do that.” “Still foolish if I may say, if the people feel squeezed, they will think we are no better than the Qishi. If you were there, it would have been easy because the word of one of the five great sorcerers would make this easier.”

They also seem reluctant to fund space expansion despite us having the capability to mass produce armadas of ships.” Tu said with anger with Shen thought for several minutes, stating. “Well, expeditions to Huǒ shā and trade missions to Gānhànxīng and Lěngxing still are around, but I think they want to maintain things here. Still foolish not to expand the settlement of the moons still.” Tu turned around and shouted while pointing his gun at Shen. “I AGREE!” There was a moment of silence with Tu realising the weapon and holstering it, saying. “Sorry.” “No… problem…” Shen replied with Tu pulling a letter and showing it to him as he said. “Hence why I wrote this! A protest letter, especially made with some of my research attached to it and criticising his actions. I've done research in genetics and the study of the arts of flesh bending to that man forever, including investing my attention into space…” Shen read the letter having an eyebrow being raised reading the letter.

Meanwhile, Tu continued in a dramatic flair, discussing his actions as the two headed into the inner sanctum of the dome at the end of the paper read. “I made great strides in progress, but you deny me a way out of this, so it leaves me no choice, Sorcerer King Cheng. Despite this extreme action that will harm this nation, I will not continue this charade.” As he finished reading, he looked up to see Tu still being dramatic as both arrived at a large computer, around which was a workshop setup with several lost tools on the floor or tables, together with multiple vats and diagrams, but also around where several pillars of metal servers for the computer at its center. “Despite my life's work! This is the last resort I have!” Shen began to rub his jaw again, looking a bit uncomfortable.

Tu stood still for a moment after, and he felt worried seeing his friend, he soon said. “Something wrong?” he pointed at him massaging his jaw with Zhulong, saying. “I am fine, I headed to the dentist.” “Wasn’t that a cover story for you to come here?” Tu asked, feeling confused with Zhulong shaking his head, stating. “No, it was a cover story, but to make sure nobody tracks me, I booked a dentist visit and had to go there and make the implant. Once that was done, a man I hired to hack the cameras and an apprentice of illusions to hide the fact that I went in a different direction and left at a different time.” Tu frowned upon hearing his plan, replying to him. “That seems convoluted.” “It's always good to have an alibi that won’t be questioned by someone searching a bit deeper than usual.” Zhulong said to him, still making Tu raise an eyebrow and scratch his mechanical chin, but he shrugged, stating. “A bit paranoid but sure.”

Realising why he came, he soon said. “Anyways… Besides that, I analysed what you sent me, that bloody cloth was… terrifying!” He felt scared, and he could notice Zhulong raising an eyebrow, replying. “How bad is it?” “Incredibly so, I do not know who the girl you found is…” Tu said quickly, an answer as precise as he felt Zhulong seemed to perk up his head before calming down again. He seemed to know more, but he was an old friend, it was fine, he continued, saying. “... But what I managed to study was terrifying. The DNA sample, the helices, everything was artificial based on… I… I do not even know how to describe it. I even put some of what I managed to learn into the research I am doing.” “You what?” Zhulong was surprised and shocked by what Tu could see, and he then said. “Oh, forgive me… I forgot you wanted this to be under wraps. But in the arts of flesh bending and modification, not only that, but whatever this girl is may be a path for me to be taken seriously.” Zhulong seemed to calm down, returning to a stoic coldness as he soon said. “My friend… I cannot let you show her to the world.” “What? Is this thing… Related to that whore that made you give up on being powerful?” Tu replied, rolling his eyes, crossing his arms, Zhulong removing the stick from his hair, letting it flow. One point of the stick was sharp, and he said. “I gave up because I learned the price of the things we do and what we pay. She was the best thing to happen to me…” With a step forward, he soon said. “I am sorry.” WIth a quick movement Tu choked he could feel his lungs having difficulty breathing his staff was let go falling to the floor with a large echo feeling his throat with a hand he could feel the blood rolling he soon picked the gun with his free arm and shakily aimed at his former friend with hard breaths he shouted. “BAS…TARD.” Pressing the weapon trigger, he saw it not fire, but once again he saw Zhulong quickly grab his hand using his sleeves as gloves and turn his hand to aim at his neck, staring at him, he felt tears form in his eyes as he heard Zhulong say. “Safety is on.” He heard the mechanism flip his finger, and Zhulong’s holding the trigger, the only word he could utter was. “Wait…” Before a loud bang was heard, and darkness consumed him.

Shen stared at Tu’s body on the floor. His face seemed emotionless; the blood had splattered into the desk and parts of the computer screen approaching it he began to use the computer checking some of the data he let out a sigh putting his hand on his mouth with a pull he removed a back tooth flipping it he could see the plug in it looking at the keyboard he inserted into the port and typing a few things as the screen showed a loading bar saying transferring data once completed he pulled the tooth and reattached it to his jaw he shivered mumbling something as he used computer again as a prompt showed stating. “delete all data?” “Oh yes, please.” Shen said, pressing a button as the data began to be deleted, the pillars around seemed to start smoking as the loading proceeded. By the end of it, the room smelled of burned smoke as he approached the corpse of Tu. He soon lifted his arm and put the letter under his hand. As he stared, for several minutes a tear ran down his right eye before being wiped away as he said. “I am sorry…” Checking the time, he let out a saddened sigh, saying. “I will see you again in two months, old friend.” He then turned around and began to walk towards the exit.

As the gate opened, the guards gave nods, one saying. “All done with visiting our master?” “Oh, absolutely, he seems… More erratic than the last time I saw him.” Shen replied with a guard commenting. “I would not be surprised if he does something stupid.” The other coughed when Shen turned his head with an eyebrow, and he soon shrank, saying. “Forgive me, sir.” “It's no problem… he, at least, is more stable than another person I know.” Shen replied as the two escorted him to the elevator.

---

That night.

Ming remained calm in looks, yet she felt quite surprised by the magistrate in front of her and what she told her. “... as long, of course, that is if Mistress Guang Ming Zhu accepts the jump of her days of academy to enter the grand army as a magistrate.” Hien seemed in deep thought, saying. “While it's impressive, I fear she may be very young for this.” “With all respect, Lady Guang Hien, your daughter is taller than most regular sorcerers and subjects. Not only that, but she is just as strong. I do not see the concern about her age.” The magistrate said with a calm tone, Hien seemed a bit annoyed by what Ming could tell, as she then said. “I am interested in the proposition.” The magistrate smiled at her as Ming said. “I feel like I can achieve what is expected of me in this area I studied, and I accept my lady.” The magistrate smiled, raising up and giving a bow, saying. “Good, we will send papers to be signed, including multiple information fliers from there, you will go to the military academy. Have a good night, Miss Guang.” The small group soon began to head out. Ming took a turn to her mother, who seemed less than happy.

Left alone, her mother said. “I do not approve.” “Why not? It's what I want.” Ming said with her mother sighing and replying. “I have two children that I would rather keep close to me. Our family has not been on a tight rope for many years. Despite your father's help, it has still remained difficult.” Ming shook her head, saying. “I am sure I can help our family by joining the war, not by staying here. My skills are of great use.” “You are a capable administrator, according to your father.” Her mother said, with Ming stating. “...and strategist, I will not be at risk, mother, you know I am strong enough for everything on this planet. Whoever sent me here made me strong, and it's what I want to do.” Hien sighed, replying. “At least think more about it, okay?” She left the room with Ming feeling annoyed. It is what she seeks and wants to bring greatness means this path for her.

In her father's room, Sheen kept looking at her while giving quick glances at a book as she talked. “... and she thinks I should stay. I do not understand why.” “She cares for you. The war took the lives of many sons and daughters. She does not want to lose you or your brother.” Shien replied with Ming rolling her eyes, saying. “That still feels like thinking I am a defenceless child. I have dreams after all for the betterment of our family, and I do not plan on simply standing still despite being good at management.” “I agree with her, but if this is the path you wish to take, I am not going to protest.” He replied with her chuckling at the answer, turning her head to him and asking. “Why?” “While I would rather you not take this path, I am not in command of your life.” He said, turning his head to her, Ming raised an eyebrow, saying. “Why? It’s not like wanting our family to have a better standing is bad.” “The reason why I took this path in life despite being of a much higher standing is that I came to realise something, child. The path of ambition has a cost, and that cost is rather high depending on what you want.” He replied to Ming, who felt uncomfortable at the answer, with her shaking her feelings and head, saying. “I am sure I can handle it.” “Then you have my support as always.” He replied to her, and she began taking a look at the piles of books and asking. “What is with the…” “Archive books? I am after an answer to something, albeit it's not easy to find. Seeing how that thing is a disorganised mess.” He replied with an annoyed tone

With a chuckle at his comment, she replied. “Yes, I know it is quite hard to research there. What are you researching?” “The language of old Huǒ shā… Albeit I should probably file a complaint that the academy has grown increasingly hedonistic recently.” He replied with Ming asking. “What happened?” “An incident with someone on floor six of the archives. But nothing to worry about. I should worry more about you.” He said, closing the book, staring at her as she asked. “What? I am fine, it's a decision I am fine with.” He let out a small smile, folding his hands as he said. “Not that I knew you would follow this life when you were eight, especially as you were quite curious about my collection of war books, the board games we played, including my teachings in administration. It was an easy guess… I worry that you may have a few hobbies besides that.”

“What do you mean?” She says, crossing her arms, annoyed with him replying in the same dry tone. “You focus on war and politics a bit much, girl, and while I am fine with it, you have not shown many hobbies besides that.” “I have hobbies.” She says with him asking. “Then tell me some…” “Weiqi is something I like.” She replied with Shen rolling his eyes at her answer before saying. “It's not much of a hobby, it's a game that you and I generally play to discuss politics and war, something I used to teach you as well when younger… hence why I say this.” “...and I like to read.” She replied with him asking. “What subject?” “Sorecery, history, meditations, some tactics…” She said he raised an eyebrow with her sighing and saying. “I just like it.”

“Try a different hobby, your brother does like to practice music, maybe try an Erhu, and I am sure he will follow you to war, so having something for moments of calm can help you two.” Shen replied, sounding unhappy, hearing it, she soon said. “You think he will?” “Yes, I am sure that he will probably want to prove himself, unlike you, who will hound glory.” He replied, walking to a cabinet as he picked something he soon said. “Think fast.” He soon threw a sword at her as she grabbed it in the air. Inspecting it, it was a long sword, yet in her hand, it was relatively short. Looking at it, there were runes written on it, her father soon said. “It was my sword back in my day. The runes grant it power, lightweightness, and strength forged by the rune smiths. I think you will need it more than me now.” As she inspected the blade, it seemed to have sorcerous powers within it, the Qi being strong, the runes themselves seemed to make the blade resilient, she smiled, saying. “Thanks.” Shen seemed to sit back, checking his book, saying. “You're welcome… Now I recommend that you see your brother. I am sure he will miss you for a time.” She gave a bow, inspecting the blade as she headed out until she heard the words. “Seven…” Turning around, she said. “What?” “Nothing…” He replied with a calm smile, and she raised an eyebrow but left without question. Being alone, he looked down. It could be noticed that the page that was opened had the letters VII, and the next set of words was written in the language of Huo Sha. ‘Translates into seven.’ Shen leaned back after reading, looking in deep thought.

A few hours later.

Ming closed the door to her room as she let out a sigh, feeling tired as she checked her backpack until she saw the wrapped silver mirror holding it, she looked at her reflection and began to think. She soon gave a light nod to herself. Organising her room and filling the bowls again, she drew the circle as she sat in the middle of the circle, she took heavy breaths. Taking a look at the small mirror by a shelf, it was quite small, but while propped up, she could see herself. Letting power flow through her, she soon whispered. “Body… Mind…” As her eyes closed, she felt nervous for a moment until she whispered. “Soul…” Opening her third eye, she saw her reflection turning to mist and covering her in darkness. Taking a look at herself, she looked translucent in some form as she looked on into the mist. She heard whispers, looking around, she squinted until the mist cleared, and she saw herself in a battlefield, sword in hand, leading soldiers and her friends into war. Ming looked on in awe as the vision turned again, and she saw herself on top of a palace, the flag of the Zhou dynasty torn, and in its place her sigil. She raised an eyebrow at the sight.

Until the vision twisted again, the mists beginning to clear again, she stood in a stone pathway surrounded by soldiers who immediately kneeled in one direction as she turned, she saw herself sitting on a throne of gold and silver, her eyes heavy, looking down on the army, but also herself. As she looked on, she felt a smile on her face as her future self rose from her throne, as soldiers rose as well and began a chant, the words being too muffled for her to make it out. Behind the throne and herself, several ships flew up towards the skies. As she stared the vision once again was drowned in mist and darkness covered it all until it cleared again as she looked around she saw her future self again in a dark room or expanse she thought looking around she was blinded by a gold sun like glow as she looked back again she saw not many discernible features on the golden man. As he approached her, she saw herself kneeling. She raised an eyebrow at the vision as the golden man extended her hand, her future self reciprocated, extending her hand to grab it as she heard the words of the men. “Come, my child…”

Ming eyes widened hearing it as she stared she soon saw the golden man stare at her and the mist consuming her vision again but this time she saw flashes of different colors into her vision as her head began to split in a headache with concentration she cut the divination as her eyes opened the burning bowls extinguished in a blue sparks in the air. She breathed deeply, and all her eyes were open as she looked around. Things were calm, yet the wind of the night was cold. Her third eye showed things vibrating. She was safe as she closed her third eye. She remained thinking for a moment and smiled at what the future brought to her, and she felt like embracing it.

From Ashes We Rise: Chronicles

A bright pearl from the heavens.

Guang Ming Zhu

In the heavens of Tiānguó, the comet called Dì Shùn’s glory passed in the sky illuminating the night sky with a blue glow of light. On the surface a mansion sat in the boreal forests of the northern regions of Tiānguó. A man wore a white Hanfu, his hair was dark and long like a cascading waterfall, and his eyes were a green hue as he stared into the sky smoking from a pipe. He had dismissed the servants to be alone watching the skies.

He soon heard a woman say “It's generally expected for a husband to wait by his wife's side after she gives birth, you know?” His wife approached him. She wore a purple Hanfu he gave her, her hair was black and her eyes were blue, unlike him, she was shorter but had a wide smile as she walked forward to him.

He rose up in worry. “You should not be out of bed dear.” “Oh please, the great Guang Hien must not appear weak.” She said sitting on the bench he sat on. She seemed to have sweat and looked exhausted, he shook his head sitting beside her. “You are stubborn as ever…” “...and you still try to remain distant from everything Guang Shen” she replied to him as he turned to her he let out a light chuckle he then said. “Ah, I am old… I am surprised you picked this old man for a husband;” She smiled at him and noted. “I am more surprised you accepted.” He shrugged at the comment. “You know why…”

He took a look at his child. He seemed calmer than he expected as he replied. “How is he?” She took a look saying. “Well he is calmer than I hoped, I guess it's good news for who he will be, born in the sun months at least so it's fine for him to be out here.” “Oh please, I am sure he is strong enough for him to be out here knowing who he pulled.” He replied leaning back again and gesturing to her as he returned to see the comet passing overhead.

Both looked up to see the skies themselves before she then said. “Do you think the ships above will not fire at each other during this?” “Doubtful. In fact I think they are about to start firing at each other now…” He replied with flashes of explosions in the skies being visible. She shook her head saying with a sigh. “Does it seem that truces rarely last these days?”

He seemed bothered taking a puff of smoke saying; “For the last thousand years of war it has been diminishing. The last two sorcerer-kings of this world will do anything to achieve what hasn’t been accomplished since Li Ming-Yue.” “Hard to believe I am a descendant of her at times…” She replied to him who then replied. “Many sorcerer nobles are and the reason why it's hard is because we are severely in debt dear.” Both chuckled at his comment. “No need to pour water on me, honey.” She replied with a chuckle as he smiled, soon they looked up to observe the night sky.

He squinted as a new star seemed to pop into existence just under the comet trail. As he rose up to get a better look he seemed frozen as he stared at it. Gazing at her husband, she asked. “Something wrong?” as silence persisted she insisted “Shen?”

He seemed shocked, turning to her. “Go inside.” “What?” She replied, confused by him as he grew panicked before he shouted. “I said get down!” He soon jumped and covered her as a flaming ball of fire flew overhead and collided nearby, exploding and turning into a smoke pillar. As the explosion finally subsided Guang Shen rose up shouting at the quickly arriving servants. “Grab water, grab shovels and extinguish the fire!” As he looked at Guang Hien she rose up from the floor. The sound of the babe was all he could hear for a moment as she then said. “I am fine… Xiǎo Dān is well as well. Is it an attack?” He seemed in deep thought at the question but soon said in a calmer tone. “I think it's fine…” He then said in a more authoritative tone. “Take our son inside, I will handle this!”

She looked skeptical but still took Guang Xiǎo Dān inside the house as Guang Shen went down to the garden woods where some trees still burned. Shen continued on as servants extinguished the fire and shovelled some of the burning wrecks to extinguish fire; He seemed to take long looks at them before heading on to the centre of the crater. It appeared to be a shuttle or capsule.

Approaching, a servant bowed and soon began speaking to him. “My lord, the fire was extinguished. It was rather strange that we found no place of origin and some of the flames were rather difficult to put down but…” While he kept on talking Shen looked at a flame that danced in the colours of purple and green. With a small hand gesture he reached out to it and with his psychic powers, the flames moved towards him as he closed his hand. He soon said. “Interesting…” “Excuse me, my lord?” The servant said and Shen simply said. “I may need the gardener here.”

The servant looked confused with an eyebrow raised saying. “The… gardener?” He gave a nod to the servant who quickly left as he approached the strange object. He noticed the item seemed technological in design, possibly on par in complexity as some of the mythical technology rumored to be used by the oldest of the Qíshì nobility who’s corrupt tyranny cost them their mandate to rule and also to the tools used in Huǒ shā during the era of titans. He also noticed the symbol VII on it raising an eyebrow at it. Some of the flames had died down as he began to approach and touch the metal. It was still hot to the touch but had already cooled down significantly.

He constantly probed it with his psychic senses and he could tell something was inside. Something afraid, but it seemed innocent as well. It was odd for him, but still, he continued passing his hand on a cracked sheet of metal that seemed to be the door to the inside of the shuttle and it seemed to be stuck, probably due to the crash he thought for a moment until he heard a servant. “My lord, are you sure it's wise to inspect this machine this close?” “Yes…” he replied, his voice was calm yet focused.

He then focused as he used his psychic powers to force the door open, and soon he detached it. As mist left the chamber he soon looked inside and found himself shocked. As he stared, he soon heard Hien shout. “Shen! What are you doing?” Looking at a small crowd of guards that accompanied her they seemed ready for a battle. She looked worried.

Thinking for a moment he then replied to her. “You should not be here, dear.” “I can defend myself very well. You don’t need to act like a Qíshì to me.” She replied before looking at the wreck. She then asked. “What is this, an escape pod?” sounding worried at the implication. “Of sorts…” he replied, still maintaining his calm as he leaned into the pod to grab the babe from inside, taking it out of her pod the people present could hear the screams of the young primarch.

---

In the morning, several servants went to work. A gardener stood in front of Guāng Shen together with a chief guard who both were receiving their orders. “Make sure that the ground is spotless. I doubt they would be able to track the pod due to the battle in orbit, but still make sure. AND… Make sure no word spreads out, understood?” Both men and women bowed before leaving.

He soon turned around heading back inside, making his way to the nursery so he could see the two cribs of the children and Hien awaiting him. He sighed, recomposing himself as he approached her as she said. “So we’re adopting her?” She sounded less than enthusiastic with Shen replying. “I understand any concerns you may have, but I feel like we shouldn’t leave a child that was sent away from its parents. Especially one that seems to have a mutation.”

Hien sighed thinking for a moment before saying. “I understand concerns, but you know the chances of her being a sorceress is close to zero, and while I do not care for the ramifications of birthing twins with one not being born with sorcery, I am more afraid that a Zhìzhě inspector may not find much relation between both.” Shen chuckled at the comment replying. “I doubt that.” he soon walked to the two cribs in the corner of the room while the two seemed finally calm from yesterday night. As he looked he could see his son sleeping well. He seemed fine albeit a bit thin, but the girl noticed the third closed eye. It was strange at first sight but nothing much to him, something that big would raise eyebrows, but it would not be strange to many.

Hien also stayed beside the crib, seeing the girl as her eyes opened. They were violet, but the bigger attention she grabbed was her third eye, which seemed to have a blue sclera and dark iris. The sclera looked like the celestial skies of a nebula as she looked at Hien. Hien looked before smiling a little she then said. “Right if you wanna go with this plan which may not last long… What name do we give her?” Shen looked in thought before smiling and saying. “Míng Zhū, after your ancestor.” She chuckled at the thought. “It's a lovely name.” she replied, Ming still looking at her as she grasped her small hand and smiled at her saying. “Lovely indeed…”

As she looked up Shen was once again leaving she then asked. “What are you doing?” Shen looked back, his eyes seeming distant yet his voice seemed determined. “Making sure no word gets out.” As he opened the door to leave the room Hien felt worried and sighed she knew he would probably purge half the staff to make sure the word never got out as she kept an eye on her son and now new daughter. She looked outside as the shuttle was being hauled somewhere else. Looking at Ming Zhu she felt a bit of anxiety, knowing the conversation about that would one day come up.

---

8 years since arrival

Guang Ming Zhu kept her hands fixed on the wood-training sword. Her brother looked at her, and she took deep breaths, trying to concentrate. Her third eye made things hard. Her mind ached at times when her eye opened. It began when she was four, and she remembered well the world vibrating with possibilities, making her mind nearly burn. On the other side of the room was her teacher, a Zhìzhě, a teacher and inspectors of sorcerer families. Its face was covered, but she knew it was looking at her. Its four eyes seemed to inspect her beyond the veil, measuring the control of her eye.

From her vision, the Zhìzhě seemed like a wave of madness with different attack patterns. In this training they were all happening at once in different ways, projections of possibilities. Some moved right and swung against her, and in another, the vibration showed her a ghost of the Zhìzhě charging her and smacking her and in another she saw it swing left and swing against her. As she kept on focusing, the fluctuating actions finally settled into a single line where Zhìzhě would move right and then swing against her on the left.

With vision ready Ming readied her sword quickly, and movement began immediately as she felt her wood sword block. The wood splintering due to the sheer strength of the impact she could see the face of Zhìzhě, the four blue eyes hidden beneath a veil. They appeared calm as she stared at them only holding her ground. Her eye soon foresaw herself being tossed up and just as quickly her legs were swiped under her with telekinesis as she fell on the floor.

Her brother felt the pain of the impact as Ming lay on the floor, her sword fell to the side, breaking in two. As she attempted to rise up it pressed the training sword against her face and then said the words feeling bitter. “The control of your vision grows, but while useful, you must not lose focus in a fight.” Staring Ming greeted her teeth as her psychic powers blasted Zhìzhě out of her, the roof cracking and parts of it falling on her.

Zhìzhě meanwhile seemed to dodge, gracefully using her powers to land on her feet. It then said. “While weapons are limited, our sorcery grants us a lot. But one must use it with a calm mind or else your emotions will cloud your judgment” Ming felt a bit ashamed she closed her third eye making her mind more at ease.

The Zhìzhě put its training sword to rest together with the broken one and soon said. “Due to the incident, I will ask you to take a break Guang Ming Zhu.” “But!” Ming was about to protest until Zhìzhě shouted. “No buts! Your emotions must be better controlled if you wish to continue training. I recommend meditation in your room, understand?” Ming sat down and kowtowed, understanding the request rising up. She left feeling bitter.

Her brother at least gave a light smile that made it feel less wrong. Exiting the training room, she began to walk through the hallways.The windows showed the gigantic towers of steel that made up the city of Zhoxing. The towers had neon signs mostly filled with propaganda from the sorcerer king Shang Yu Wei as the hallway led to a small balcony.

She leaned over the balcony to take a better look at the images of soldiers raising the standard of the Shang dynasty over a hill, bold letters stating to join the war effort. Her eyes seemed excited as she looked down; She could see the servants down below who worked in the sorcerer's quarters of the city. She could see them walking around ‘looking like ants’ she thought as she observed them, stepping back from the balcony as she continued on her way to her room.
The house she lived in was more of a multi-store building. A place she found little as a home and more like a busy street that she got used to the noise of, but she missed some of the comfort she used to have back home, plus the servants back home knew where they belonged. Turning a corner, her face was hit by something metallic; her vision immediately closed as she fell on the floor. The pain of the impact had largely subsided, but she still felt pain in her cheek.Touching it, she quickly noticed the blood on her hand.

Looking at the person who caused it was a maid. She seemed distressed, talking to her yet she ignored it as she grasped her with her psychic powers before throwing the woman through the wall, her body colliding against steel and concrete with the sound of something breaking as she panted. She smiled but only for a moment as screams of pain could be heard.

Ming could see servants emerge to help the woman, and she soon heard. “GUANG MING ZHU!” Turning her face, she saw her mother before lowering her head, knowing this was not gonna be good. An hour or so later, she stood in her mom's office, and her teacher stood in front of her together with her mom. Her cut was large enough to leave a scar, but it was small enough to not need much attention as Zhìzhě, her teacher, shouted at her. “You threw a servant girl through a wall breaking her arm and leg and severely injuring her because of a scratch!?”

Ming replied with a calm yet assertive tone. “She hurt me and being a lesser person I decided to put her in her place. You said to us they are below us after all.” Ming could see her mom’s eyes widen for a moment before relaxing. Zhìzhě, compared to her, mom seemed angry, shaking her head, her eyes behind her veil looking frustrated she then said. “That is not what I meant, child. Your punishment is of your parent's choice, but to behave and justify your actions the same way our oppressors did makes me ashamed of you.” She soon walked away.

Ming felt a bit of pain in the accusation but felt she was still in the right. Many teachers came and said her kin and others similar had the right to rule and that the rest were lesser. She watched her mother as they left the room to discuss something outside.

She let out a large sigh, feeling frustrated. She looked out the windows at the late noon, and the lights of the city were beginning to light up. The door soon opened again as Guang Hien entered the room looking rather tired. Her eyes had bangs, and as she approached, she then said. “The balcony with me…” Ming gave a nod as both headed to the balcony of her office. The balcony faced the city centre, and the sun was gradually sinking below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow across the sky.

She found it somewhat pretty, the sun glowing in between the skyscrapers looking, below she saw the people going about in the sorcerer's quarters as she looked at them, her mother said. “What do you think of the people below?” “Insects?” She replied.

Her mother said. “Do you see those without the gift or not like you like that?” “Not all…” She responded. Some seemed interesting to her, but her mother shook her head at her answer replying. “Then why do you say they are inferior?” “Because that’s what most other sorcerers say, my teachers too, Dad at times.” She replied with Hien letting out a light sigh replying. “It may seem normal, but it isn’t for many of us. It seems we lose our ways. Once we were slaves, now we are rulers and now we seem to act like them. It is not our way Ming. Do you want this?” Ming looked at her and she looked sad and hurt.

“To be feared?” She heard her say. “Fear you so no person loves you but hates you? You see yourself being higher than everyone and will that one day include me?” “No, I…” Ming replied when hearing the accusation her voice hurt, but her mother still interrupted continuing. “I know… you will not be that, so please don’t be like those who oppressed our ancestors. I know you will be the greatest girl to walk this world. But the people you consider lesser will one day look up to you; they will dream of you when seeking to follow in your footsteps. They are not like us. They cannot lift things with sorcery, turn invisible or set things on fire. But it is our duty not to be tyrants but shepherds. They will look up to you to lead, they are weak and you are stronger than most and one day they will look at you for guidance and what you will do?”

Ming began to think about the idea. The idea seemed good and bad in her mind being loved but also the responsibility, but still she wanted that. She felt her mom tenderly pass her hand through her hair making her feel comfortable as both stood on the balcony.

A few hours later she played with a piece of the game her father played, a game called Weiqi. It was a game she played with him occasionally. Black pieces and white pieces on a flat board of lines, that requires one to surround them to capture them; the player with a higher amount of points is the winner.

As she looked at the board she thought of a place to put it. Her father was a patient man and seemed unfocused at the game as he checked several papers. Her mother had to leave due to an emergency, her brother was already sleeping now, and she meanwhile had trouble sleeping. She felt like she didn't need to slumber. Looking at his papers, she could tell it was math and several numbers as she sat at the other side of his desk, she asked. “What are you reading?”

“Papers on reports, expenses and profits of the families' estates that your mother asked for my help with.” Ming gave a nod to his answer replying. “Sounds…” “Boring?” he attempted to complete her words, but that wasn't the word she would use she then corrected. “Interesting, actually… but ye…” his eyes turned to her as she put a black stone on the board. He responded by placing a white stone on the board.

“Why do you find it interesting?” “I don’t know, I just feel it’s interesting.” She replied, reading one of the papers on the table. It was a series of numbers on expenses, her father soon said. “What does that say?” “What we pay our servants, the costs for food and amenities, the taxes, uh… interest is quite high.” She asked him, replying to her question. “We are roughly around 30 million Okane in debt. Meaning, someone outside this house walking the streets has more money than us.” “That is… a lot… how?”

She was quite surprised with what he said. He chuckled as she put another stone with his response. “This family is old. Your mother is a descendant of an old family that used to rule over a large region and became ruler of our country at times. There is a reason why the place you were born is called Guāng Xiang. Over time we lost a lot of prestige and power. Over time, things began to decline. You were born when things finally reached a low point to some extent.” She nodded to his explanation as she put another piece on the board. ‘Born into this family’ the word was strange; she felt separate at times, but the thought subsided, and she felt at home here, and yet she still wanted more than this; she would do more than survive; she felt she could make things better and make her family thrive.

“So…” she snapped from her thoughts, hearing those words as her head turned to her father. “...You broke a maid's arm, leg and several bones?” “It was an accident.” She said in a hurry trying to maintain a calm with her father replying in a calm yet straight tone as always. “You just lied.” “I…” she attempted to talk but he stopped her, stating to her. “You are sweating a bit, your voice is too rushed, and you sound nervous.” She remained in silence thinking of what to say as he simply continued. “...and I spoke with the maid early.”

He smiled in a manner that left Ming feeling more nervous. “She hurt me.” she only said. “It is a small scratch that will leave a mark, but you are better than this, I know that.” “It's not just that… It's just that I feel distant.” She replied, stopping playing as she put her piece on the table and turning to see the night sky through a window. He took a look at her, letting go of the papers, and took a light sigh replying. “It's normal to feel distant when far from home, especially since the change was quite abrupt to you.” She shook her head saying. “No, not that. It’s just that I sometimes feel different. Different from everyone…” Her father kept on looking; he seemed to be in deep thought he then simply replied. “What do you mean girl?”

She sat cross-legged as her father rose up from his seat and sat near her in another chair she then said. “I feel different, I know I was born different, but it sometimes feels like I am far from normal… At times, I feel like I am not your daughter. I feel like I was made to be something else. To be somewhere else.” There was a silence she felt uncomfortable until hearing her father say. “So what?”

She turned her head to him, confused at what he said, with him smiling at her. “I raised you, didn’t I? Even if you are from a different blood than mine, you still would be my little girl.” She smiled at the thought it felt warm for her. “I guess so.” She said to him he smiled at her, simply saying. “Well… continue?” He gestured to the game to which she replied. “Why do you like this game so much?” “A good game about tactics, politics and many other topics. It's a good game to partially exercise your skills in strategy.” He replied, putting a piece on the board.

She kept a look, planning her next move with care. She knew tactics and her mind was quickly developing a plan already. Her mind was flooded with tactics as she played. At first, it seemed like a quick victory, an easy one, until things turned bad fast. Her pieces were taken, and soon her father won with more points as she looked at the result, she then said. “How did you win?!” It made no sense to her how he managed to do it. Was it because she was tired? Her mind wondered, but it seemed to dispel as he replied. “You think too much…”

Looking at his face he seemed neutral until giving a light smile at her, she yawned telling. “You won’t win next time.” “You win sometimes against me. I would not be surprised.” He replied, picking the pieces and storing them as she replied. “You hold back when I mention it.” “Do you believe that?” He replied, looking at her. She felt strange that he was so hard to read. Was he holding back? Or was he giving everything he had? He always seemed to have a calm demeanor even in a hurry and worry, he seemed to maintain a tranquil mind.
She raised an eyebrow, soon saying. “Were you taking it seriously?” He seemed to think for a moment, retorting with a light chuckle. “We may never know.” She frowned, raising up from her chair and replying. “That’s not an answer.” “You will understand in time.” She looked angry for a second before shaking her head, ignoring the comment as her father rose from his chair saying. “A walk to your bedroom?” She gave a nod as both walked through the hallways she soon asked. “Mom said you were a powerful sorcerer once.” “I am just very rusty.” he replied with a shrug. “How powerful?” she asked him, to which he seemed to consider something. His mind seemed in deep thought for her.

After thinking, he then said to her. “Very powerful, Gōngjué listening to my opinions powerful…” “Really?” Her eyes sparked in awe at the statement that a Gōngjué would listen to her father. It is the title held by the most powerful and rich lords of the kingdom. Their voice also elected the future ruler of the realm, yet something ate at her in a moment. “But why are you here instead of there with them?” “Sometimes love calls for other paths in life.” He said with a smile when both arrived at the door to her room, she smiled at him saying. “Thanks, dad…” He smiled as she entered. She felt more at ease but still, she felt different from the family, but at least she felt more at home now.

---

A hour later.

“She scares me…” The Zhìzhě replied with its four blue eyes glowing behind the white transparent veil as she stared at Guang Shen. He gave a light nod saying. “Training did not go to plan. I will take it.” “Not just that!” It replied, floating away from his desk and looking at the midnight city saying. “I… never in my entire centuries of existence met a child like that. Even if a mutant it does not make sense what she has scares me. She has enough strength to shatter wood with ease and break bones by accident according to her previous teacher. She picks up on my teachings faster than her brother. Not only that, but she has reflexes faster than a child should have. Her divination eye definitely was an interesting mutation, but inside her lies way more trust me, my lord… Her brother at least seems to not question her skills, his training goes well and he is bright. But her… She is in another league…” She shakes her hand in thought, turning to Shen.

He gave a nod saying. “Understood… Your concern is noted.” It seemed hesitant for a moment before giving a nod and then she said. “Her fame is already spreading, I should note.” He maintained a calm stance to her statement only letting out a light sigh. He then said to her, “Yes, I know… You are dismissed.” It gave a nod and soon left, closing the door behind her.

After a moment, a guard opened the door and soon entered the servant who was attacked by Ming together with a friend. She used crutches to walk to the room, she then said. “My lord with all due respect… I still hope you will pay in full for this.” “You will be…” he replied, no emotion was in his voice, almost monotone, the men who accompanied her soon picked a cylinder he carried on his back and put it on his table saying. “I put the bloody cloth in there after I cleaned Ming’s face after the incident as you requested.” Shen gave a nod to his statement.

The two soon left, leaving him alone with the cylinder; it was a micro stasis chamber. It was already activated meaning the blood had been preserved since the incident. He leaned on his desk looking, deep in thought; he soon picked up his pen and a piece of paper and began to write. “Hello old friend, it's been a long time I know, but I need assistance with something sensitive…”

The letter was written and sealed, then he gave it to a servant who took it away in a hurry with the orders given. Afterwards, in his bedroom he stood watch of the city. At night it seemed like it was gonna rain. He stood still for an hour give or take. His mind was flooded with thoughts, and after a long time he soon picked up his pipe and lit it up, letting out a puff of smoke as he relaxed.

“Something wrong?” He turned his head to see Guang Hien she had woken up from her sleep he simply replied. “You should be asleep.” “That’s your worried voice. Something is wrong.” She replied, rising up from her bed while he continued to smoke, standing next to him, she asked. “Is it about the wartaxes?” He shook his head at her, who replied. “I was worried about this… Ming?” he gave a light nod as she acknowledged she then said. “I know things may be difficult, but I am sure she will be fine. She just needs guidance.” “I don’t know about that… sometimes I fear when she discovers the truth, her desires may overtake her. She is strong and she also is not the most social.” He replied, taking another puff of smoke, sounding worried.

She sighed at his response replying back. “You overthink at times dear. Things will be fine. She is a bright child, but she needs guidance. Plus, you also are the reason she doesn’t see many kids her age.” He mumbled for a moment seemingly agreeing but also sounding skeptical. She shook her head smiling at him she then said. “Remember before Xiǎo and Ming? We thought we should have five children?” There was a moment of silence as Shen let out another puff of smoke and both said at the same time. “Two is already too much.” Both began to chuckle at the thought. Shen soon let out a sigh. “From the mentors we at least know both have a good relationship… Maybe I am too paranoid.” “Well, you had your runs in with danger in your old job before you retired.” she replied with him correcting her. “Semi-retired…” He took another puff letting out the smoke he soon said. “It will be fine…”

---

In the morning Ming rolled her eyes before glancing back at the guard following her and Xiao as both walked the streets. She then whispered. “Why do we need him again? I can easily take down any person that comes our way.” “Orders from Dad. Plus if it is an experienced sorcerer you may not have as much luck.” Xiao replied, causing her to roll her eyes.

She continued on, reflecting on the truth of his words, but still feeling confident in her abilities “A shame mom and dad could not come.” Xiao said in a bit of a sad tone, Ming soon hit him on the arm in a light way saying to him. “Hey it's fine. Mom did say we came to this place because she had business here. Tomorrow, we are leaving as well, so we got lucky to be able to see the parade.” He still looked conflicted but still seemed happy in some way in her eyes as both continued on.

The streets were filled with commoners and servants of the nobility of the city; many were petty sorcerers from what she could tell as they reached a high point overseeing the military parade down below. She could see soldiers marching with standards of the sorcerer king. Tanks also rolled below as she looked in awe. Below she could see the war magistrates, officers of the army. While she looked she then asked her brother. “Do you think they will bring the Qíshì?” “House Zhao, Lei and Zhang did say they would be in the parade.” Another girl said nearby, causing both of them to turn. The child was cloaked. She took a look at her and she had red eyes and long white hair, from what Ming could tell as she looked at her. She seemed to avert gaze with Xiao raising an eyebrow but shrugging it off as he kept a look at the parade. Ming kept on looking at the other hand with one eye and the other focusing on the parade.

As she looked she soon saw it was a true Qíshì soon arrived. A giant of steel plate armor and a great sword being held by one of its arms and the other being a cannon with a shield holding the sigil of the Zhang dynasty. A red rose and a white rose inside of it, with its arrival petals from flowers that began to be spread from the knight as it was presented. As one flew near her, she then said. “Clever…” Xiao looked in awe and Ming also felt in awe of the great machines towering over most of the war giants. At the top of the Qíshì, there seemed to be a man saluting the crowd. As she looked on she turned again to the cloaked girl who seemed to follow the Qíshì as it was moved by a platform. Taking a look as her clothes became more visible she wore all white, not easy to clean but seemed expensive. It was then she noticed the sigil of a purple snowflake embraced by a white dragon. She was surprised by the symbol of the Shào family, one of the 10 richest families in the kingdom.

“The symbol of the dragon.” She uttered her brother turning to her before turning to the girl, surprised as he saw the symbol he was about to shout her family name before Ming held his mouth whispering. “The Shào clan?” she asked with excitement. On the other hand, the girl was shy, turning away saying. “I don’t want attention…” Ming let go of her brother’s mouth as he whispered in her same tone. “It's fine we won’t tell a soul” She seemed to smile a little while returning to watch over the parade “My name is Guang Xiao Dan and this is my sister Guang Ming Zhy and you?” Xiao asked, starting the conversation.

Ming was happy to just observe as she replied. “Shào Hua” She gave a light bow of her head with Ming returning she then said. “A pleasure to meet you.” “Equally.” she replied with a courteous tone that Ming found interesting. It was indeed a curiosity as to why she was here but soon became obvious to her when she noticed a guard looking around; One that had her turn to see him and she seemed to grow worried. Ming soon replied. “We can hide you from him if you want to keep watching the parade.” “No!” She protested raising her voice even if lightly she then continued. “I knew this would happen. My father won’t like me going far away. Thank you for this.” She gave a bow leaving in a small hurry as she disappeared into the crowd.

The guard seemed to notice something and began to leave with only a few vestiges of her being able to be seen. “You think we will meet her again?” Xiao said with Ming replying. “We shall see.”

From Ashes We Rise : The Imperium Is Born

Primarch Guāng Míng Zhū

Primarch of Legion VII
Guāng Míng Zhū

Homeworld

Tiānguó a former knight world, currently a civilized world, Tiānguó was colonised by humans the world was and still is a verdant paradise. A planet with great forests, large plains, grand deserts, and mountains of breathtaking size, dominated by a single pangea-like continent with few islands in its gigantic ocean. Alien life on Tiānguó gives the plants large shades of blue and purple making the world from orbit look like a blue and purple sight while orbited by a red and pale white moon.

Long ago in ancient days when men traveled the stars, the star system of Shènghuǒ was discovered and marked for having 4 major planets with life much is lost since the days of the age of strife but one thing is widely known. During the era of titans (golden age or dark age) two worlds were colonised one was Tiānguó and the other Huǒ shā, Tiānguó was said to have its colony ship crashland on it and with its STC the nobles that came from it formed the knights to rule over the land and protect it. Over time it was surpassed by its younger sister colony of Huǒ shā who developed great machines and prospered as a hive world growing in technology and power until the era of calamity (age of strife). Most legends registered in the great libraries tell of a war that shattered the moons of Huǒ shā and that the people fought until the bitter end while many fled to Tiānguó the war turned Huǒ shā into a dead world of ancient ruins and the men of iron came to Tiānguó with the unity of men in those days the war was said to be carried by the legendary first emperor of Tiānguó, Dì Shùn the first high king who won the war against the men of iron uniting the worlds of Shènghuǒ he casted the iron men to death and freed mankind from doomsday. But darkness continued when the storms closed all gates to Shènghuǒ and Dì Shùn was murdered by his closest friend for a love lost. From the chaos the knight lords splitted Tiānguó again and fought for their power and detriment of the world and balance.

But unlike the days of old before the era of calamity they spared a group that begged for their lives: The sorcerers, empowered by the immaterium those men and women were mostly entertainment or curiosities barely tolerated by the lords with some organising pogroms and witch hunts against then for many eons they lived in the lands of the protectors as serfs and slaves like the peasants of the fields as their lords were content to let wisdom fade. That was until Li Ming-Yue grand sorceress usurped the throne of warlord Wang Chāo and killed its great knight initiating the great sorcerer war, where the oppressed sorcerers and peasants led a great revolt against the lords a war that ended with herself being proclaimed Witch Queen of Tiānguó the second grand unifier of the world a linage that passed through her son Li Yìchén and grand daughter Li Míng Zhū and with her grand daughter’s death, the era of Shénmì or the era of sorcerers began as sorcerer kings and descendants of Li Ming-Yue united to wage war against each other like the warlords of old divided now between two dynasties to the north lied the Shang dynasty and the south the Zhou dynasty fighting for dominance of Tiānguó for centuries but like the will of the three worshiped gods, the time of change comes no matter how hard it is to resist, empires rise, kingdoms fall and as always a new age dawns.

Psyker Grade: Beta

Skills/Abilities

Eye of divination - Míng Zhū has a third eye on her forehead that grants her the ability to foresee the future, while open she is able to see steps or actions one may take in the moment ahead granting her an edge in combat or interaction. But while meditating and concentrating she is able to foresee further in the future, sometimes the mists of tomorrow are clearer allowing her to foresee the events to come with ease and other times the mists are dense and she is only able to see metaphors and symbolism instead.

Administration and military skills - Míng Zhū has in her mind a natural attraction and ability to learn how to manage economics, staff, bureaucracy and as well the natural order of strategies and tactics in warfare having an edge in the art of waging war.

Lack of strength - Unlike her siblings Guang Ming Zhu does not have a lot of strength compared to a primarch or resilience for that matter instead she seems more weak and shorter than her siblings. This results in her being less than a fighter and more of a tactical person. At least for a space marine and a primarch compared to regular humans she still is massive.

Appearance

Guāng Míng Zhū is one of the smallest of the primarchs but she is the weakest of the primarchs her hair is black and organised into a ponytail, her two eyes are violet colored, her third eye in her forehead meanwhile looks like a spiral of stars and plasma circling in a spiral inwards towards the black pupil of her eye, her skin is porcelain and she has a small scar in her cheek.

Concept
The Regent

From the primarchs Guāng Míng Zhū was made with the skills of an administrator, and commander of armies born with the natural skill to lead and organise states and legions, at the same time the Guāng Míng Zhū has the blessing of foresight and psyker powers granting her the ability to enforce the will of the emperor and the will mankind.

Legion VII

Legion VII “Swords of Conquest”

Associated Primarch
Guāng Míng Zhū

Appearance: Their Sigil is two crossed swords under a laurel wreath crown. Their armor is grey mixed with blood red.

Legion strength: Being a newborn legion raised from the genetic material of the seventh primarch. Their numbers are in the thousands recruited from the regions of Afrik, Hy Brasil and from the Sud Merican cantons brought from low ranking nobles to poor men and women to create it.

Concept

Blood of the Seventh

The swords of conquest, the seventh Legion pulls blood from their primarch having great discipline and knowledge of combat, treating warfare as a science meant to be understood, planned, experimented, executed and brought results of success. Professionalism, discipline and autonomy of command is how the legion operates. While psyker powers lay dormant within the legion and slowly awakening, and while it may only cover half of the legion it is with them the pride to be the blood of the seventh primarch and to be loyal swords to the master of mankind no matter what.