I close my eyes as I py my flute, enjoying the feel of the wood beneath my fingers. My eyes are half closed as I focus only on the sensations of my music. Soft fanciful notes create illusions of dancing lights, twirling through the air.

  I’d decided to py outside today, and a surprising number of disciples have gathered around me, meditating, talking softly, or simply enjoying the music.

  The music continues as I explore the notes, not pying any actual song or musical piece. No one other than me sees the lights dancing, but I’m sure they all feel the qi that joins my music.

  I’d noticed the change to my music when I hit the Fifth Level of Qi Awakening, qi enters even my normal pieces without any input from me. It does give my music a… comforting feeling.

  The sun peeks out from behind a cloud, bringing warmth with it. I open my eyes as my music comes to an end.

  I get up from the rock I’d been resting on to walk back to my room. Many of the disciples nod or bow to me in thanks for the music and I do my best to hide my embarrassment.

  I don’t perform for groups often, preferring to py for myself or one or two people close to me.

  It’s a nice feeling, being appreciated.

  My room brings a familiar comfort to me as I close the door with a smile.

  Today is a good day, and I know it is the right time to return to the Requiems.

  I sit at my usual spot next to the window of my room and take a deep breath. The Twelve Requiems of Illusion moves from its spot on my bed, opening in front of me.

  Once I feel centered in myself, my qi flowing through me with ease, I begin the fifth requiem.

  The Fifth Requiem: Peaceful Death

  The notes are slow and soft.

  The same man lies in his bed, his st breath soon leaving him.

  Soon the song reaches its end, and the man dies.

  The spirit of the man appears before me as I set my flute aside.

  I bow to the man. “Greetings, Senior.” I say, waiting for his acknowledgement to stand upright.

  “It is good to see you have returned.” Zhu Teng says, his hands resting behind his back. His power is more muted now, not nearly as overbearing as when we first met. If I didn’t look closely at the undercurrents of qi within his body, I might think he is a mortal.

  “Of course, Senior.” I rise from my bow.

  The man is silent for a moment as he turns his attention to the twelve men and women surrounding his dead body. “It is a strange experience, watching oneself die.” he says to me. “I am happy to see my disciples did grieve me.” He motions to the twelve, who are all in various stages of grief.

  “Who are your disciples?” I walk closer to the grieving men and women.

  “You know many of them well.” He says, smiling at a joke only he understands.

  I move closer and realize he is right. The woman to the left of his bed is the same one I watched murder four innocent men, her eyes which were so emotionless, now stream with tears. The man opposite her is the one who died in the battlefield of blood, his hardened face showing pain as he keeps his eyes closed. At the foot of the bed is the woman who grieved for her husband in the requiem of remembrance, her head buried in the shoulder of the man who sacrificed himself for his lover.

  “I saw them die.” I say.

  “So you have.” Zhu Teng surprises me as I look over my shoulder to see him right behind me. “They each in their own way contributed to the Requiems, even in their own deaths. Please, don’t tell me which deaths you saw.”

  I look at the body on the deathbed, so simir to the man behind me. “So you really died here.”

  “I did.” The man’s voice carries a finality with it that washes over me.

  I let the words hold the space as they deserve to do. When the moment has passed, I ask the question weighing heaviest on me.

  “What are the Requiems?”

  “My insights into the most profound piece of existence.” The man ys his ghostly hand on the shoulder of one of his disciples farthest in their grief. “Death.” He moves his hand, patting them on the head before moving to the next disciple to do the same. “I find music is the best teacher, and it has ways of showing things mere words cannot.”

  “I see.” I watch as he ys his hands on each of his disciples. A pat here, a touch there.

  “No, you do not fully see.” He turns to me with a sad smile. “But that is alright. You are young, and still have much to learn.”

  I frown, wanting to tell him I do see. I’m not a child. But I keep my mouth shut.

  Zhu Teng chuckles at my expression “When you reach the Tenth Requiem, you will begin to see the truth of death. Whether you will understand such knowledge… that is up to you.”

  “I’ve seen death already. I understand what it is.” I say, staring into his eyes and daring him to deny my words.

  “Perhaps. But even I, after having seen more of death than you can imagine, do not fully understand it.” A dark look covers his face.

  I look away, not wanting to see the depth of the sorrow in his expression.

  “I’m sorry.” I whisper.

  The man pats my head, and I look back up to see him smiling. “It’s alright. Do not let my sorrow affect you.”

  Zhu Teng looks around us. “It seems our time is coming to an end. It’s best not to stay in these illusions for too long. It can become hard to tell the difference between illusion and reality”

  With a wave of his hand, the world shifts back to my room.

  I close my eyes, thinking on our conversation as I bring my flute back to my lips and continue to py simple songs.

  ***

  Six months pass as I spend the coldest part of the year training with Qiu Tai. I see less of my sister disciples as Lai Ming gets busier with Elder Wu and Xia Jing focuses on her tasks as an inner disciple.

  I move through the forms of The Whispers of The Silent Raven, careful not to slip in the st of the winter snow. Qiu Tai sips on a medicinal tea as she watches me, her gaze piercing.

  Her attention turns to the pathway leading to the main sect as I finish the forms and sheathe my sword. I follow her gaze to see a woman walking on top of the snow, her steps leaving no tracks behind her. I hold in my surprise when I realize the woman is completely blindfolded, the cloth blocking her eyes holding a qi of its own.

  Qiu Tai bows and I follow suit. “Elder Han, I am surprised to see you.” Qiu Tai says.

  Elder Han inclines her head, “The Matriarch has decided it is time. She is gathering the power of the Sect. You are expected, Qiu Tai.”

  With those words, Elder Han turns around, returning back down the path. Her steps leave no footprints in the snow.

  Qiu Tai watches the Elder walk away,her thoughts hidden.

  “What does the Elder mean?” I ask, breaking her out of her trance.

  “She could mean many things.” Qiu Tai responds. “But, the power of the Sect isn’t gathered together lightly, something big is happening.” Qiu Tai pauses, biting her lip as she puts her cup of tea into the strange storage of hers. “Follow me.”

  Qiu Tai sets off down the path, turning left on a path I’ve never been on. I follow a few steps behind.

  We reach a rge ke being fed by many rivers. All of the Masters I’ve seen in the sect and eleven Elders, their full number, are gathered in a clearing, separated into various factions. Qiu Tai is greeted with smiles by many, while a few look at her with caution.

  The sounds of chatter dies down as water gathers from the ke, taking the form of a woman I’ve only seen once. She steps onto nd, greeted by the complete silence of everyone gathered from the sect.

  The Matriarch looks over the crowd, her gaze settling on me for a moment before moving on. “It has been far too long since we have gathered here.” She says, her voice soft, but still carrying over the whole crowd of gathered cultivators. Calming qi travels with her voice, reminding me of a bubbling brook. “It is unfortunate every such gathering comes before a time of turmoil.” The matriarch pauses, her gaze moving in the direction of the portal Master Qiu Tai and I had just left. “Many of you have seen the portal in our nd and the damage it has caused. This portal is not the only of its kind, sect members from across the continent have reported simir portals, many leading to dangerous and unfamiliar realms. Something has disturbed the very space of our world and I don’t know what that means for our Sect.”

  The Matriarch’s gaze focuses on Qiu Tai. “In these troubling times, I have decided the position of the Twelfth Elder will be filled. Qiu Tai, please step forward.”

  Qiu Tai walks through the snow with her back straight and her eyes on the Matriarch. When she arrives in front of the Matriarch she gets down on both knees, her head lowered. “You have served well as Master of the Library, and I have noticed your efforts to improve our sect and its disciples.”

  “You are too kind.” Qiu Tai says.

  “Qiu Tai is the Twelfth Elder of the Flowing River Sect. She will serve us well.” The Matriarch’s words carry more qi than usual, the power within them flowing through the entire sect.

  All Eleven Elders bow their heads towards the kneeling Qiu Tai. The Masters all bow, their eyes to the floor

  I do the same.

  Qiu Tai rises from where she kneels, first bowing to the Matriarch, then to the gathered Masters and Elders. “The Sect is my home and my family. I will guide and protect the sect through all of its hardships.” Qiu Tai pauses, her voice catching. “Th-thank you for the honor.”

  Everyone rises from their bows and many go up to congratute Qiu Tai, crowding around her.

  I stand off to the side, not sure what I’m supposed to do in this situation.

  “You are Core Disciple Lin Jia, are you not?” A familiar voice says from behind me, the qi from her words dismantling my initial shock.

  I turn around, bowing to the Matriarch. “Inner Disciple, Matriarch.”

  “You were accepted by Qiu Tai as a direct disciple, were you not? Now that she has risen, so have you, Core Disciple Lin.” The Matriarch smiles. “I have been hearing many things about your music from the Elders,” My face warms at her words, “and the Masters,” She chuckles, her ughter reminding me of a bubbling brook. “and from my own disciples. Perhaps I might be able to hear you py someday soon.”

  I bow my head to hide my face, embarrassed to be asked such a thing by the Matriarch. “Of course! I’d love to py for you.”

  “I look forward to it then.” The Matriarch says. Her gaze is caught by something and she walks towards one of her Elders, a rge man shaped like a bear I don’t recognize.

  I raise my head, watching her leave with awe.

  “She does have quite the presence, doesn’t she?” Elder Zhu Chen says from beside me.

  “Uncle Zhu!” I say, turning to him and hugging him. The Elder coughs before pushing me away. “It seems you are as healthy as ever, Little Miss Lin.”

  “I didn’t know you got back.” I say, a wide smile on my face.

  “I just returned.” The Elder runs his hand through his beard. “The Matriarch has been keeping me busy.

  “How is my father?” I ask. I know he has been busy with the approaching death of the Emperor, and I can’t help but worry about him. “Is he healthy?”

  “He’s as healthy as ever. He is exhausted, but that is to be expected in his position.” Elder Zhu says.

  My eyes meet Qiu Tai’s and I smile at her. She returns the smile.

  “Did he ask about me?” I ask, turning back to Elder Zhu.

  “Of course.”