"The path to power is a long and narrow road. Seldom is the path taken of one's own accord, but circumstance forces action. At the beginning of this path are the greatest tragedies and trials, driving each of us forward like a god twisting fate."
- Excerpt by the Ninth Chronicler from The Path
"Quickly Runt! If we don't rush back we will be late for supper." said Brian as he picked up his speed into a sprint. "You won't have to wait for me!" Runt yelled as he quickly overtook Brian dodging and weaving through the deep red trees that surrounded them. The two young men looked like mice as they ducked between branches scurrying quickly and passing by trees towering over a hundred feet tall. There is only one type of tree in this Domingue forest, known as the doming tree, or lord's tree. Each tree's branches are numerous, twisting and coiling upwards as if reaching out fists to challenge heaven. The dark red bark looks faintly like dried blood upon the scales of a snake clinging to the sturdy trunk, directly in contrast to the bright purple leaves which only appear at the ends of the branches displaying a hint of majesty. The two continued racing through the forest over a dusty and cracked ground. Seeing the end of the treeline and greenery in the distance, they sped up.
"Ha!" exclaimed Runt "I win again." as he exited the end of the tree line bending over and panting. "Who asked you to grow to the size of a bear with the speed of a leopard?" Brain shouted between pants. Both quickly recovered and began heading to a large stone complex surrounded by a short fence that stood on the last of the pale dusty ground of the forest. Beyond the complex was an endless sea of green grass that shimmered with a light breeze. From a distance the complex looked filled with life as children could be seen running rampant and playing with sticks as wooden swords while being chided by young and old women from afar in laughter. Both youths had their smiles growing as they approached, remembering their own follies and games when younger, being scolded by the same elder sisters. Both young men had grown up here and had many joyful memories.
Above an archway leading into the complex was a simple sign etched by hand from the scaly bark of the doming tree that read 'Mr. Li's Home'. Runt and Brian were quickly surrounded by a gaggle of children as they crossed under the gate. "Big brothers! Did you meet any great beasts? Quickly tell us about your adventure into the forest!" shouted the children in excitement consecutively. "Our journey was filled with great peril and excitement! I even met a great bear with terrifying speed that I could not catch up with!" chronicled Brain with a solemn face. Resulting in a quick slap to the back of the head from Runt grumbling, "I am no great bear". A piercing laugh from a elderly woman known as Aunty Gwin quickly silenced the crowd. "I assume we no longer have to worry about water for the month then, good job" said the lady who still had a youthful glint in her eyes despite her age. Runt and Brian quickly carried over the large sacks of water from their backs emptying them in a large basin for the compound. "Now that everyone is back it's time to serve supper" yelled the elderly woman informing the entire compound.
A long table centered in the yard quickly had its benches filled as everyone's salvia started to fill their mouths and a large pot of stew was doled out generously. Some of the children began their feast immediately but quickly stopped at a fierce glare from Auty Gwin as she stated, "Everyone will wait for Mr. Li to be polite, little ones". The door of the smallest house in the complex slowly creaked open and an old man with a beard down to his knees leisurely sauntered out. His height could only reach the waist of an average man, but he was known to make up for it with his fiery temper and fierce love. "No need to wait on account of this old man, children, a hearty appetite shouldn't be stifled!" Mr. Li barked out with a grin that was missing a few teeth. "Everyone thank Mr. Li!" ordered Aunty Gwin with an almost imperceptible smile.
Very few individuals in this compound were actually related, they all were gathered by Mr. Li due to various circumstances. He took in orphans, widows, those that ran away from home, those that escaped from abusive husbands, and anyone that had a need to leave the clans that wandered the great green sea of grass. His home had operated for almost a hundred years and over the time he did this bandits, jilted husbands, enraged fathers, and all types of unsavory characters were all chased away by Mr. Li to give those that stayed with him a peaceful environment. One should not belittle his small stature and aged appearance, as he was one of the few Magicae of the world, a person who had grasp of supernatural power to strengthen the body and spirit. Even in his old age he was still lively and could beat off any normal person who harbored ill desires. He might have an unkempt appearance and rough exterior beaten by the sun until wrinkled, but in between his sharp words he always added doting lines of care to those he protected.
Brian and Runt quickly finished their food first and started to elbow each other in jest. While everyone else was digging in to the food Mr. Li suddenly took on a fierce glare and a frown. "Boys, stop horsing around!" he suddenly shouted as everyone looked towards him in amusement. They knew whenever Mr. Li looked the most displeased, he was at his happiest. "Brian and Runt, you are now young men and no longer children. This old man has finally finished his gift for you before you journey out into the world. I know I can't keep you here forever and coddle you" Mr. Li proclaimed and reached into his robes. His wrinkled hands pulled out two knives one short and curved with the other long and straight. Both handles were made of the deep red wood from the forest, and while the blades were made of a large tooth each, they shone with a slight metallic glint. "Brian this curved knife is for you as you always bend my words. This curved knife is already bent so you can't bend it anymore" laughed Mr. Li, as Brian was always known as a jokester. Brian blushed and quickly swiped the knife away marveling at it. Mr. Li flashed his toothy grin and chuckled saying, "Runt, this larger knife is for you. I know I did you a disservice with your name, but when I chanced upon you could barely fit in the palm of my hand. Your elder sisters were supposed to rename you, but who knew they were so lazy! I make it up to you now with this knife I named Goliath." Runt quickly ran to Mr. Li who he towered over. He had grown to be head and shoulders above normal men's size, triple that of Mr. Li. Grabbing the knife daintily Runt smiled and picked up Mr. Li in a bear hug. "Put me down you brat! I always knew not beating any of you children would make you insolent" Mr. Li hollered as everyone at the table laughed. Mr. Li had a famous saying in the compound "It is my job to grimace and yours to laugh and live." Before arriving, many of those who stayed here had hard days with only their will to fill their stomachs, but at Mr. Li's only joy was allowed.
After the table was cleaned and the children put to bed, the widows and young women of the compound began playing board games with Brian harping over their shoulders. Mr. Li called over Runt and lit his pipe that was comically half his size. "Runt tomorrow come to the forest with me to hunt, I can't have you leaving here with peace of mind when you are still as green as the grass sea. I would call Brain too but he is still too childish and immature, not to mention he doesn't have your great size and bravery." stated Mr. Li.
As the sun bashfully peaked over the horizon, Runt woke up and quickly washed his face getting ready for the day. He strapped his knife to his side with a sheath one of the sisters gifted him and headed towards the arched gate. At the gate Runt marveled at the green sea of grass shimmering with drops of dew glinting the sunshine. "Brat!" yelled Mr. Li scaring Runt from only a few inches behind him, flashing his toothy grin and flipping him a large and heavy spear made of the doming tree's wood. With no more words said Runt and Mr. Li trekked deep into the towering and spiraling Domingue forest.
Runt and Mr. Li stopped after a few hours for rest at the base of a tree. Mr. Li sat upon the dusty ground leaning against the trunk and Runt quickly clamored up the tree like a monkey stopping only a quarter of the way up. Every twenty five years of growth the doming tree forms an abscess that fills with water pulled from deep under the ground. Runt quickly filled his water sack and hurried down to Mr. Li as they had not prepped any water for the hunting trip knowing that they would fill it along the way. "Brat, we are about to leave the safe part of the forest and that is why we have stopped here. Rest up well and know that I will not be helping you with this hunt and only observing. The beasts we will encounter will be dangerous and I will only step in if you are going to die." Mr. Li casually stated as he pulled out his large pipe for a puff. After the short rest both young and old quickly began moving again through the trees that seemed to have no end.
Deep in the forest Runt had finally found his prey, a red bear that was slowly lumbering about and scratching its back leisurely against the towering trees not knowing it was being watched. Crouching low to the ground Runt advanced slowly and cautiously tightly gripping his wooden spear. His figure gripping the shadows of the trees as he drew closer and closer. Suddenly, the red bear's nose and ears twitched and Runt froze. The bear's head swiveled as its lips lifted into a sneer, its eyes locked firmly with Runt's the distance only ten feet apart. It slowly rose to its hind legs and raised its arms in a bid to intimidate. Found out, all Runt could do was persevere, he screamed and rushed forward surprising the bear. Thunk! The spear pierced into the bear's side landing in its lungs. Runt's grip was firm as he twisted the spear and prepared to pull it out, but the bear was too fast! A wild paw slapped out hitting Runt in the ribs and knocking him away rolling. Roar! The enraged bear shook and the spear dropped to the ground with the bear angrily stomping on it. The spear was not even scratched as the doming trees wood was almost as tough as steel! Unfortunately, Runt was not like the trees, he was still panting, clutching his ribs as the bear barreled forth towards him. Steeling himself, Runt quickly drew his new knife and met the bear's charge with his own. Just before the clash, Runt quickly brought his knife upwards towards the bear's jaw. A squishing sound rang out as the knife passed through the jaw straight up into the bear's brain as if the beast was made of nothing but air. Surprised Runt couldn't react when the bear directly fell on top of him dead. "Good stuff brat! I should have named you Bear with the slaps you can take!" Mr. Li laughed out as he casually lifted the bear four times his size off Runt. Picking up the large spear and impaling the bear on it he slung it over his shoulder and stated, "We can head back now, this will feed us well."
The journey back was leisurely like a sightseeing trip at a casual stroll as the young and old man chatted about the weather and the views. They stopped again when they were almost back to gather more water and a short rest basking in the sunshine. Mr. Li also took this time to instruct Runt now that the adrenaline had faded away. He adjusted his grip on the spear and lectured on hunting. After instruction was finished Mr. Li grimaced and said "Runt, I'm sure the plains clan's girls will all fawn over you with your strength and looks, now that you have hunted and officially become a man. You need to be careful those girls might fight each other to the death!" Runt blushed and hurriedly took the lead on the way back as Mr. Li started laughing, glad he was still able to embarrass the youth.
Finally, Runt saw a hint of green behind the monotone red of the forest and exhaled with pleasure knowing they were almost home. However, as the trees grew more sparse smoke could be seen drifting in the air. Mr. Li scowled and proclaimed. "Something is wrong, there is no need to burn wood this time of year. Quickly speed up." The old and young man broke into a run with the bear's body flapping behind. The compound came into sight, but there was no sign of cheerfulness and life as smoke rose from the buildings not made from stone. Not a person could be seen even when they finally passed under the arch.
As Mr. Li was about to open his mouth when the door to the largest house that housed nearly everyone in the compound suddenly opened and fifteen men stepped out in a line. They dressed in tight leather armor with a mark of a black heart over their right breasts opposite where the heart normally lies. A middle aged man with three swords pictured piercing through the heart on the armor sauntered forward with a grin and laughingly said, "Old Li, I have finally found you for my master! To think you have been hiding in a place so poor the people can only be called beasts for almost one hundred and fifty years. Me and my men found your haram quite delightful. We tried everything from the young boys, girls, women, and even that old hag."
Runt had his horror written on his face as tears threatened to fall as he listened, but Mr. Li had a wide smile. Runt knew Mr. Li only smiled like this when he was angered beyond words. The last time he had seen it was when Brian had stolen all of Mr. Li's clothes, leaving him hopping around the complex naked with his wide smile furious. At the time Brian was punished to do laundry alone for a month, although he only served a week sentence with Mr. Li's forgiveness. To these men, Mr. Li would not be so forgiving. Without saying a word Mr. Li vanished from Runts sight and appeared with his hand puncturing straight through the leather armor of the closest thug. Chaos quickly ensued as the rest of men quickly rushed towards Mr. Li with blades drawn. Unfortunately for them, the leather was like paper to Mr. Li and they all quickly were disemboweled, leaving only the smirking leader. The leader sighed and reminisced, "Even a great and powerful man like you old Li is now this weak. My master said there was once a time you were honored and feared throughout the entire eastern boundary." Mr. Li's smile widened in fury as he hollered, "I am no longer that foolish youth, but these old bones are still tough enough for you to choke on."
No more words needed to be spoken, Mr. Li took his pipe off his back and held it like a staff. The man with a heart pierced by three swords drew two blades from his back as well. Their clashing was too fast for Runt to see and he could only pray Mr. Li would be victorious. Blood began spilling like water from both men, in a battle to the death, only swords had the right to speak. The ringing from the deep red pipe clashing into the two swords was the only sound that pervaded the air, Runt could only be kept in tortuous suspense. Suddenly, the man dressed in leather dropped to the ground and Mr. Li quickly hopped on top raining blow after blow to his skull turning it into soup. Five minutes passed quickly before Mr. Li's smile faded and his blows stopped leaving a headless corpse mutilated beyond recognition. Blood dripped soaked Mr. Li's beard, cuts could be seen on almost every part of his body and his ribs could be seen with a great deal of flesh missing.
Runt quickly ran to support Mr. Li, his tears now freely flowing. "You shouldn't go inside, we will burn everything here. There are some things in life you do not need to see" said Mr. Li slowly through struggling breaths. "Our family is in there! What about the survivors?" cried Runt. "There will be no survivors. Go to my house and inside the bed frame is a secret compartment with two books. Grab them. I will take care of everything else. No arguing! I know my injuries." ordered Mr. Li. Runt didn't dare to refuse and sprinted to the smallest house in the compound quickly finding the books and rushing back. His return was quick, but everything was already set ablaze. Mr. Li turned away from the fire and he looked towards Runt with a soft gaze, "Brat, we can only remember and love them in our hearts now. Quickly take out the books, they are the key to becoming a Magicae. I will try to teach you what I can, but I will die in two days."