The ethereal notes of a haunting melody drifted through the night, woven by the fragile voice of a young elven maiden named Yue. With tearful eyes, she cradled a cloth-wrapped bundle that held her infant son, the moonlight casting a gentle glow on his still form.
The sorrow etched across her face was mirrored in the gazes of her parents and fellow clan members who stood alongside her by the riverbank. Stars adorned the heavens above, yet their brilliance dimmed against the backdrop of the lady's mournful cries.
Minutes ebbed away before the Elven Clan's Patriarch, known as Lao Xiong, extended a compassionate hand to touch the maiden's shoulder.
"Yue," his voice softened, "we share in your loss. However, tradition forbids us from interning him within our ancestral lands. I hope you can understand."
Yue's tear-streaked face nodded in assent, the waves of grief overwhelming her. Although clan norms were understood, the pain of parting with her child, who had departed shortly after his birth, was a weight she struggled to bear.
Her father approached, carrying a basket cushioned with fabric to provide comfort for an infant's rest. Yet, Yue's child would never feel that softness, having drawn his final breath a mere day pass.
She tenderly kissed her son's forehead before placing him in the basket. A wooden slate emerged from her storage ring, and with magic-infused grace, she etched his name upon it.
"Though I could not offer you love and joy in life, your name shall not be forgotten," Yue's voice trembled as she completed her son's name on the slate.
A name resonated—Li Xun, bestowed by his mother's heart.
She nestled the slate beside him, and her mother's embrace enveloped her.
"Allow me to accompany you, my dear grandson," Yue's father's somber tone conveyed his shared sorrow. "May the spirits guide you to the eternal haven we too shall join. Forgive us for this incomplete farewell."
Lao Xiong's gaze lingered upon the basket, a silent lament weighing upon his heart.
'Though I wish to defy convention, the council's stance leaves me no recourse,' he mused. 'Half-bloods remain unwelcome within the bounds of Yan Ling. Forgive us, innocent soul, for this circumstance beyond our control.'
A young elven girl's voice pierced the heavy air with a poignant song of farewell, and one by one, the clan members joined, their voices intertwined in a harmonious lament as they bade farewell to the youngest member of their clan.
As the chorus enveloped the night, Yue's father lowered the basket into the river's gentle embrace. His last gaze settled upon his grandson before he released the vessel, allowing it to be carried by the river's current.
Yue's cries rang out, her mother's arms wrapped around her in a desperate embrace. Fearing her daughter's impulsive actions, Lao Xiong cast a slumber spell upon her, a final act to spare Yue from recklessness.
The river bore its somber burden, and the elven song lingered, drifting across the water as it carried Li Xun away from the land that had rejected him, even in death.
Hours flowed by, the basket traveling an unseen path, untouched by mortal hands.
Beneath the starlit expanse, a cerulean comet blazed a trail, descending from the heavens to intercept the basket's course.
Guided by an unseen force, the comet shifted, diminishing in size until only a small orb of azure light remained. It descended upon the infant's chest, merging with his form.
Within moments, the lifeless infant gasped, his lips quivering as if tasting the breath of life once more.
His pallor gradually gave way to color, a weak semblance of vitality returning to his tiny frame. Yet, his movements waned, his form still fragile, suspended between life and death.
Above, the comet's light dimmed, a mere spark left in the celestial expanse—a spark of hope ignited amidst the realms' enigmatic tapestry.
—--
The sun's radiant tendrils stretched across the horizon, painting the sky in a symphony of gold. An elderly woman rode upon the back of a majestic White Hippopotamus, known as Yunlong, their destination drawing near.
"Come, Yunlong. A bit more speed, and we shall share morning repast with others at Longmen," the woman encouraged, her touch gentle as she patted her steed's flank.
In response, Yunlong let forth a deep, resonant sound that echoed agreement, their journey poised on the brink of completion.
Amidst the tranquil river's embrace, the woman's keen gaze danced across the water's surface. Beneath the gentle ripples swam the mighty Shuilong Serpents, their iridescent scales a spectacle to behold.
As they navigated the river's current, the clash of two grand serpents vying for dominance caught their attention, while a gathering of their brethren observed from the periphery.
This was the season of trials along the Longjing River—a display of prowess and the preservation of lineage.
The woman's eyes lingered upon the towering bastion of Longmen, a sanctuary that represented not just her abode but the heart of her existence. As they approached, the realization of the chapter's closing and the next page turning stirred anticipation within her.
As they continued downstream, the image of two writhing serpents in combat waned behind them, disappearing into the shimmering tapestry of the river's flow.
However, an unfamiliar cry soon pierced the air—a faint, fragile sound amidst the river's chorus.
Guiding Yunlong's path with practiced ease, the woman's attention honed in on the source—a floating vessel, drawn inexorably toward the congregation of Shuilong Serpents.
A furrow creased her brow as her urgency surged, directing Yunlong away from the gathering toward the enigmatic craft.
Her maneuver did not escape notice—the serpents, drawn by the scent of life, began to converge on their potential meal.
One serpent, scales glistening like emerald, surged closer to the vessel, jaws poised to claim its quarry.
Before the serpent's colossal maw could descend, a hand landed on its snout, arresting its strike.
The woman, determination etched in her every movement, retrieved the vessel with deftness, her swift steps evading the curious reptiles. With a leap, she alighted upon Yunlong's back, and together they surged forward.
The enraged serpents roared, charging after their intended prey's would-be savior.
As they burst forth from the river, the combatants joined the pursuit, an imposing blockade barring their path.
"We can navigate this impasse with grace," the woman murmured, conviction threading her words.
Her gaze locked onto the adversaries, fingers weaving patterns in the air, summoning forth two ethereal guardians.
These spectral sentinels lunged at the serpents, the clash resonating with a reverberating impact. The serpents recoiled, sent flying into the river's depths, causing the water to churn.
The remaining serpents halted, regarding the woman with newfound respect—the balance of power had shifted.
With a rueful smile, the woman's patience wore thin. "Our timetable may falter, Yunlong, but it is a trifling matter."
Her gaze shifted to the vessel and the infant within. Nestled against her, she placed her finger within the vessel, offering the newborn a tether of comfort.
The infant's cries receded, a gentle touch invoking tranquility. In a silent pact, the infant's fingers curled around her own, an unspoken connection forged amidst tumultuous waters.
With tenderness, the woman settled the vessel upon her lap, cradling it with the gentleness of a guardian spirit.
"Let us proceed, Yunlong," she whispered, words of encouragement meant for both steed and soul. "We journey toward our home."
—--