Five years ago – Chang'en, State of Shenchi
"Ahhh, it's killing me..." She said, clenching her hand into fists. The targets and the weapons were scattered all over the Training Hall were quietly waiting for her, but she had no intention of putting everything back to place anytime soon. Instead, she kept walking back and forth, only gracing them with a glance from time to time. The official list of participants for the Union Tournaments was meant to be released that morning by the Sage's Council, and for obvious reasons, she couldn't stay still. Sooner or later, someone – most probably her new mentor – would storm in to scold her for her impertinence – and it wouldn't be the first time – but along with it would come also the one thing she had been waiting a lifetime for.
'Dear, I don't think it's a good idea...' The deep grave voice that resonated in her mind was interrupted by the speaker's yawn. The incessant ups and downs of her host were making sleep impossible, but that didn't bother him as much as where she was doing it. Yet, he didn't have time to continue what he was saying that the girl braked in her pacing and started groaning.
"Oh, come on Lu! How can you tell me to stay still while at this very moment they are deciding my fate!" she said, throwing her arms above her head to enhance her words.
'No dear, I'm not saying that. I just don't like it when you do it on the ceiling...,' the creature sighed softly as he resumed another yawn. Her agitation was tickling on his ephemeral skin and was waking his whole body up. He could feel her body sizzling in anxiety, and although he did agree that pacing around the walls was way more entertaining than walking in circle like an animal inside a cage, it was way too dangerous to keep the Qi under control when her mind fluttered elsewhere.
"Oh, sorry..." Hupo felt her cheeks heating up in embarrassment. She tried to adjust a flock of hair that was hanging upside down unsuccessfully as if the gesture could lessen her mistake, then said: "But, really, you don't need to worry about that Lu. I've done it a thousand times. I'm in full control of my...."
"HEAVEN! What are you doing there?!"
Before she could process what was happening, her feet were no longer sticking to the hard ceiling and the parquet of the training-hall getting closer to her face, catching from the corner of the eye a slander figure with long dark hair. She immediately shut her eyes in terror, but a sudden familiar flow wrapped her body and when she opened her eyes again, she was sitting on the floor.
"Sorry, you were right..." she whispered silently, trying to get a hold on her spinning head. The creature didn't answer, instead, she received an invisible flick on her forehead.
"Hupo! How many times do I have to tell you not to do these things without supervision." The raven-haired woman was only two paces away from her and although her expression was as impassible as ever, her eyes were transpiring fury and disappointment. Hupo instinctively lowered her head to hide her grimace.
"Put everything back to place then come with me. We need to talk. I'll be outside," said Dana as she distanced herself from the teenager.
Hupo waited for the door to release the clicking noise that told her she was finally alone to let her back rest on the ground in hopes of putting an end to the incessant shaking of her body.
"Now is the moment of truth, I guess..." she mumbled, wishing her heart stopped beating against her ribcage so violently. She couldn't tell whether it was because of her sudden fall or for what she was about to hear from her nasty mentor, but the second hold a far greater meaning for her. Being scolded wasn't a problem per sé – that happened all the time, and so it was for all the times she aked to go out of the county –, but she wasn't sure this time she could bear a refusal. The only places she had seen in fifteen years of life were the Palace and the forest surrounding the city; and their sight was getting unbearable. While she knew very well her status made it difficult for her to wander around unnoticed, Hupo thought that they could at least take advantage of her capabilities in fighting to climb up in ranks in the next Tournaments while allowing her to finally see people other than the Palace residents and workers, and occasional criminals wandering the woods. But from the looks of it, she had just spoiled the opportunity of a lifetime.
'Hey! Stop with this nonsense. You took your responsibilities like a grown up, Hupo. You proved your worth, and there is no reason why they shouldn't let you go. If I were in their shoes, I would have put you in the list without waiting thinking it twice. Remember what you heard last time? Shenchi did a poor score in the last two Tournaments... They're just terrible. They totally need us, I tell you,' said the Hounou with confidence.
Hupo chuckled quietly, then let out a sigh as other thoughts kept nagging her mind. 'I know... But I can't help but think they are right when they say I'm messy. See what just happened? Even if they accepted me, I bet Dana is going to gather the Council just to tell them I shouldn't.'
She could almost imagine Luxing roll his eyes as he grunted in annoyance. 'She can't. They already gathered twice this month, I'm sure they're tired of seeing each others' faces. And even if you can't go? So what? It just means that the right time hasn't come yet. Remember, never get desperate! Now, let's clean up this mess and face Grumpy Lady head up!'
"Yup, let's get to work", she said feeling a positive energy filling her up again. He was right, nothing had been decided yet. And if she wanted to make up for her earlier mistake, the first thing was to take care of the weapons and targets shattered on the floor that were waiting to be taken care of.
In a short time, the training hall looked almost like new, and after making sure one last time it looked decent enough to leave, Hupo turned to face the giant door where her mentor was still waiting for her somewhere beyond the wooden planks. Before pushing the door, she took in a deep breath and prayed one last time to the Lord in Heaven to ease things for her, then strode to the exit. As expected, Dana was waiting on the opposite wall, arms crossed and eagle eyes darting straight into hers. It was enough to shatter any confidence she had gathered, and soon a knot formed in the pit of her stomach.
"I'm not going to check after you. I am to understand that now you are mature enough to take responsibilities alone, right? Like overcoming your superiors' authority to summon the highest entity of our country regarding a "Matter of the Utmost Importance."
Hupo lowered her head and locked her eyes with the tip of her shoes. Sending a White Ribbon and gathering an emergency meeting of the Council may have not being the best idea she could come up with, but at least mentioning it was enough to summon the Council of Sages. And from the tone of her voice, she could hear that this time she had gone too far. Understandably.
"You should be thankful that you were already on the list and the Council had to gather these days anyway. Now follow me, we're going to retrieve your convocation to his Lord's Office."
"I'm so-, wait. What?!" Hupo looked at her mentor in stupor. She was getting ready to whatever punishment was going to leave the woman's lips, but her sentence sounded too out of context.
Dana, who had already taken two steps up the stairs, turned around looking even more annoyed.
"I said you are going to participate, so hurry up and stop asking questions."
"Yes ma'am!" she shouted with all her might, running to catch up the raven-haired woman, although her body was urging her to jump and run all around the place.
'Hey Lu! Did you hear her?! I can't believe it! WE'RE PARTICIPATING TO THE TOURNAMENT!', she shouted in her head, putting a hand over her face to hide her beaming grin.
'I told you, little one. Never lose hope. Let's get the papers done and then celebrate this victory in our own way this night!'
"Let's go!" she shouted, throwing up a punch. Up the stairs, Dana gave her a puzzled look, which made the young teenager blush visibly despite her tanned skin. The mentor decided against commenting her reaction and turned around to walk up the stairs, but Hupo could swear she saw a ghost of a smile forming in the corner of her lips.