It all started in darkness— no, not darkness. Something always exists in darkness; maybe something frightening waiting to harm one, or a room that had been waiting for one to come home and turn on the lights. Once the light has washed away the darkness— erupting from the seemingly endless void— one finds something. No. This was nothing, it was a void where everything begins, where everything began, and eventually, where everything would end only to repeat the cycle and start again. Everything finds itself up here at the end of their path, and as we rejoin the void, we are once again a part of the universal knowledge, wisdom, and truth. Pure truth. Only in this place, devoid of individuality, devoid of self, and devoid of the something that only mortality can obtain was one granted limitless knowledge and truth. One could see everything as they are apart of everything and of nothing. It is not eternal, at some point, a piece of the void is ripped away, falling, falling deeper and deeper, loosing the knowledge, loosing the wisdom, and having the absolute truth shattered into tiny fragments. The slate is wiped clean, except for the trace of wisdom, knowledge, and truth that is ripped away from the void along with that tiny piece. As light shines from below, enveloping the new something, giving it physical form, and as we are brought into the world of light we cry out, lamenting the loss of endless knowledge and the completion of what we once were before we forge a new "self" in this life.
"It's a boy!"
"Aw, he's so cute!"
"Congratulations, General Ming! On the birth of your son."
"A-Luo… something is wrong…"
The room was filled with noise when he was first born, filled with excitement, laughter, and cheer, however, the most important thing they should have heard was not. Ming Qing held shaking hands out to see her son— an infant that did not let out one sound as he was pulled from her womb. A few maids turned to each other, nervously.
"No way… a stillborn?"
"Poor Mistress…"
"Silence, you lowly things!" a strict voice yelled out. The two maids cowered, bowing low on the floor, begging for forgiveness. A 4-year-old boy peered at the infant laying calmly in his mother's arms. This boy had long hair tied high up in a ponytail, a crown of silver fastening it in place, he poked at the infant only to be smacked upon the head by his elder brother. 6-years-old and so strict it almost defied reason, he shot his little brother a withering look.
"Ow! Elder Brother! What was that for?!"
"Can you not read the room?" Ming Cheng growled, and opened his mouth to further berate his brother, only to find that the infant was tightly clutching the finger that reached out to poke him. Toothless and with big, red eyes, the baby smiled at his brothers in this life. General Gong let out a baying laugh, loud and unrestrained until his wife hit him. Gong June, Gong Lu, and Gong Jo all looked at him with mixed feelings.
"You're being so loud!" Gong Mei berated him. Gong Cho scratched the back of his head and grinned without shame.
"I'm sorry, love, but it isn't often that Ming Cheng is halted before one of his famous lectures really begins." Gong Cho chuckled, "This little bean will be a formidable ally for all of us in the future." Ming Cheng blushed a little, coughing into his hand.
"Finally! Help me out in the future, little bunny!" Ming Quan beamed at his new baby brother. Ming Cheng glared at him,
"I think we should get started on your swordsmanship training today, eh, A-Quan?"
"That sounds great! Count me in!" Gong June grinned, stepping forward. Ming Quan paled, and covered his head.
"Please, have mercy on me, Jie!" A short, young lady dressed in scholar's attire smiled lightly, Fa Lin's facial expression could only be described as sinister.
"It is said that an adept understanding of the blade is imperative to have adept understanding of the brush. By honing one's physical body, one can also develop their spiritual and mental states. Surely, you would not be against helping me gain such insight, Ming Quan?" Ming Quan sniffled,
"But-but-! I wanna stay with my little brother!" he whined. Chuckling at the children's antics, Ming Luo turned to a man with long, silver hair and eyes like dawn washing over the frozen tundra. Cang Yuan was an immortal, and the master to his sole student, Wei Ning, who stood silently by his side, watching the babe smile with keen interest. Ming Luo bowed deeply to the immortal,
"Many thanks to Dazhong for his help. My son would not have survived without your help." He turned to his wife, who was relieved by her child's movement. The baby still had not made a sound, but smiled, gently at his brothers. Cang Yuan looked on silently for a moment,
"That child has a unique Dao, as if something is connected to it. This might explain why he has yet to make a sound." He shook his head, realizing he had muttered this aloud, "Never mind. It is nothing." He looked down at his student, Wei Ning was still watching the infant intently.
"If you would like to hold him, I think Madam Ming would be willing." He smiled lightly. He was so sure this child would refuse— even with his friends he was quite distant. Yet, none of them seemed to mind, in fact, from the moment they met, it was as though they expected it.
"Mn." Wei Ning silently approached Ming Qing and nervously stammered, "May I hold him?"
"What?! No! I'm the big brother! I wanna be first!" Ming Quan yelled. Ming Cheng gave him another whap! over the head. Ming Qing smiled warmly, welcoming this strange interest blooming in Wei Ning. She motioned him over and taught him how to properly hold a baby, while his master stood in shock.
"Very good! A natural!" Ming Qing praised. Wei Ning smiled softly, startling the whole room.
"Did I seriously just see you smile?" A young man stood in the doorway, mouth agape. The whole room bowed respectfully, as an older man joined him.
"Greetings to the Son of Heaven, respects to the Emperor, respects to the Crown Prince. Long live the Emperor!" they chanted. Wen Po smiled gently and waved them off.
"Not today. I came today as a friend, not the emperor." The room relaxed. Fa Zhan approached him and bowed lightly,
"Your majesty, I hope you have finished the paperwork before coming to the festivities?" he asked, seriously.
"Ah, A-Zhan! Must you be so stuffy even on such a day? Your friend has just gained a new son!"
"I only speak with the best interest of the empire in mind."
"Quinn-er expressed interest in congratulating his friend on gaining a new younger sibling."
Wen Quinn still stared, slack jawed at Wei Ning. Wei Ning cradled the infant close to his breast and felt the need to shield him from view. The infant reached up and softly took his hair in his hand, pulling softly— without hurting him— and snuggled closer to him, closing his eyes and finding sleep. Wei Ning looked a little unsure of what to do next, fidgeting a little before becoming comfortable in this lull.
"Another 10,000 years of cultivation could not have prepared me to see you smile." his teacher said. Feeling a little threatened by the clear interest in his new sibling, Ming Quan stepped in between the master and student pair.
"You can't have my little brother." he said. Wen Quinn chuckled and shook his head before turning to Ming Cheng. Ming Cheng bowed,
"Greetings, your highness, the crown prince." he stated, properly.
"At ease. Congrats on a new sibling."
"Many thanks to his highness."
"You're not gonna congratulate me?!" Ming Quan griped.
"A-Quan!" Ming Luo warned his son. He deflated under his father's gaze and pouted. Wen Quinn chuckled and tussled his hair.
"Congrats on the new sibling, Ming Quan." he relented, making the boy brighten.
"So then, please tell me we haven't missed the naming ceremony." Wen Po asked. General Ming laughed, merrily.
"No, your majesty. You have not. It will be held in a few days."
"Great! It will give me plenty of time to catch up with—"
"Your majesty." Fa Zhan adjusted his glasses, "I hope you mean that you can catch up on your work during this time." He watched his sovereign wilt under his pointed stare. The four of them had known each other a long time, and it was only in front of this group that the emperor could feel at ease. This was not the first time the three houses had watched their ruler pout, nor would it be the final. Gong Cho laughed again, before being smacked by his wife, reminding him of the sleeping newborn in the room, who stirred slightly before, tunneling further into the Daoist robes of Wei Ning.
"I can have a guest residence set up for his majesty, you can catch up on work here." Fa Zhan fixed his gaze on Ming Luo who hastily added, "Of course one for each of you, seeing how you all came to greet my son on his first day in this world."
"Excuse me." the head maid waited to be invited into the room, "There is a young lady here to see Eldest Young Master."
"Oh?" Ming Luo looked at his son. The rascal had never shown interest in the fairer sex before, "Let her in." Ming Cheng sighed, knowing full well what his father was misunderstanding. A young woman smiled as she came into the room. She bore hair similar to a fiery sunset and bright green eyes. The adults all froze.
"Jiejie!" Ming Quan was the first to break the awkward silence. He ran into her arms.
"Ah, now who do we have here? Is it our A-Quan! My! How you've grown! A whole smidge!" she tussled his hair. The head maid shot her a disapproving look.
"Took you long enough!" Gong June came and wrapped her arms around the newcomer, "You're late!"
"Indeed! Quite so." Fa Lin came over, "Did you bring what I've asked of you?"
"Khan Qing!" Ming Cheng called, startling her. The group all looked up at him, as he crossed his arms, "Welcome back." Wen Quinn grinned and Wei Ning nodded to her. Khan Qing nodded and felt herself tear up.
"Mn! I'm back!" she said. Fa Ling held out her hand and said with a straight face,
"Gimme."
"Fufufu~! Did you think I'd come without bearing gifts?" She pulled a document out of her bosom— startling all the adults in the room— and held it between two fingers, "All my family's scandal's within the last year, as promised! It'll take a little longer to breach the third hold, but I'm awesome. Give me a while." Fa Lin took the documents and grinned, pushing up her glasses. The entire room shuddered, the girl had become too much like her father recently.
"Aaah… who is your daughter going to bring the axe down on?" Gong Cho shuddered, looking at Fa Zhan. He grinned, showcasing the original frightening look.
"…a tiger mixed with a rapid coyote… armed with a mace…" Ming Quan shuddered.
...
"I'll admit I was a little worried when I hadn't heard from you in a while." Fa Lin sighed, sitting under the shade of the old willow tree in the back. A circle of seven stumps had been planted and cut down to support the weight of seven friends. She crossed her legs and began to peruse the documents in earnest. Khan Qing sat down and leaned back,
"Have to at least play 'pathetic, sniveling daughter' on enemy territory. My elder sister has been looking for ways to bully me again." she said, enjoying the sunlight that dappled through the lush foliage of the nurturing willow. Wen Quinn grinned,
"Yeah, I'll bet! Recently she came into the inner gardens and interrupted my stroll. You should have heard her squeak when I 'accidentally' stepped upon her handkerchief." Khan Qing laughed, almost falling off of her perch,
"That would totally explain it! Phew, Father had been saying he wanted to get her into the next generation's harem!" she chuckled. Wen Quinn rolled his eyes and sat down,
"Only if she's okay with the cold palace." he muttered. Gong June laughed, leaning back against the tree,
"I highly doubt she'd survive!"
"She might get a stroke just from passing through the front gates." Fa Lin agreed, not looking up from the documents.
Ming Cheng sighed, looking up the sky. A slight breeze blew through the leaves and sent a few falling down to the earth. His eyes glazed over, wondering suddenly how long it had been.
"How many years has it been?" he finally allowed himself to ask this question aloud. A horrible, shuddering silence pressed down on the group. There were many ways one could interpret this question, and for anyone listening from the outside, they might wonder if they meant how long had it been since they were all together in the same place. However, they weren't all together, not without her.
"6 years." Fa Lin could no longer hold the paper upright. She stared into the void as though she could pull the spirit out that she had exhausted all her resources on. All six of them had been born on the exact hour, down to the exact minute of the same day after being hit by a bus on their way home from the bar. The six of them had found each other on their fourth birthdays when Khan Qing had snuck over to their small gathering from her father's group to ask them if they were hit by the "midnight trolly".
"I went over to the Eastern borders with my father the other day with hope, but it wasn't her." Gong June said, quietly. All of them had been searching for her, but none more desperately than Khan Qing. Wen Quinn looked over at her.
"It wasn't your fault, you know." he finally said. Khan Qing shook her head, letting out a small sob. He continued, "I was drunk and stupid, clinging to any reason why something… like that had happened. Really, there is no reason why. There never is. I'm sorry for putting that burden on you." The group fell silent again.
"Where on earth is she?" Ming Qing sighed. Ever since they had met at the university, he had been taken with all of them. His younger siblings by bond instead of blood. How many times had he taken them on family trips? How many times had his parents Robert and Michelle Twalle referred to this odd bunch as his siblings? His time as Theo had defined this life, except for his feelings of responsibility only deepened with the loss of Elle. Wei Ning finally found his way to the group.
"Took you long enough." Wen Quinn sighed, he grinned, "Planning on kidnapping the little bunny?"
"Don't even think about it." Ming Cheng growled, feeling his heckles raise. The group broke out into a laugh just as Ming Quan came over.
"What're you all laughing about?" he asked, hoping to get in on the conversation.
"Your brother is already feeling threatened by possible kidnappers of your new little brother." Gong June laughed, her laugh had become very much like her father's— much to her mother's chagrin. Ming Quan puffed up, raising his underdeveloped heckles,
"Over my dead body!" he shouted, glaring at Wei Ning. He only received a small ruffle of his hair in response.
At four years of age, these six children had all become promising beyond their years. Ming Cheng had mastered all the basics of swordplay at four and was already learning techniques 13-year-olds would have trouble mastering. Gong June had similar talent in the spear, her mother worried for her daughter in this aspect and could only rely on a wisp of hope that she could fix her daughter before she grew to marriageable age. Fa Lin had already shown interest in court politics and military tactics. She had been studying in the palace alongside Wen Quinn— who had already mastered two of the arts: painting and writing. He had already shown understanding in court relations and politics. He had far surpassed either of his brothers. Khan Qing— though she was only well known thanks to her status as a bastard child with the blood of a lowly whore from the flower houses who had become a concubine— already had found a master to teach her the art of espionage. She had been biding her time in the Khan manor all this time under the guise of useless, spineless daughter. Wei Ning had been studying under Cang Yuan and developing a golden core. All of them had— at some point or another learned how to develop one so that they may enter the cultivation world. It was their final hope of sorts in case they couldn't find her in the mundane world.
...
Next to his mother's breast, the infant struggled for all he was worth. Although he was, indeed, quite hungry, it was hard to get over the realization that this was a woman's breast! A few worried tears escaped out of the corner of his eyes, as he was forced to drink. It's fine… just fine… I mean, I had one of these too in my last life. I'm okay! The poor thing had been having a tough time adjusting to the life of a newborn baby the last few days. First of all, there were way too many people! In his last life, he had not liked having the attention on him. Even if he could get over the fact that he had to drink milk, he could not get used to all the doctors visiting. He hadn't liked needles in his last life, and to make matters worse, he could shed as many tears as he liked, he could struggle, or look for help among the many people in the room, but it was all useless! He couldn't do the one thing that would make all this stop: he could not produce even a small yelp! The doctors could not detect anything wrong, but the man with silver hair looked thoughtful with every diagnosis that came in: he did not have damaged vocal cords! Finally, the day came when the naming ceremony would be held. He had sworn he would be awake for the entire thing, but only woke up at the worst possible time: when the incense was being burned. He coughed hard and sneezed, eliciting some chuckles and coos from those in attendance.
"Have you prepared the boy's name?" The cold man with the glasses… Fa Zhan had asked. His mother smiled warmly at her child and nodded shyly. His father announced,
"From this day forth, our child will be named Ran."