xingzh

Hey, Xingzhu, did Dad ever tell you about this place?

No, how could he? We only spoke a handful of times. Why do you ask?

That's strange...

No, that's a miracle. You wait here.

Why?

Blaze does not answer her, excitedly running up to the counter to talk with the shopkeeper. It seems she has some sort of relationship with the place.

However, the end of her chat leaves her disappointed as she turns back to Xingzhu.

*sigh* The old boss of this place already passed away. Dad, he... used to work for him as a stock clerk.

You mean... in this store?

Mhm. So when you walked straight over here like you were possessed, I thought you knew.

I just wanted to... browse a little.

I told you, you've got nothing to worry about. You're father and daughter. If he were still alive, you'd be chatting for weeks.

And Mum's even nicer. You two will definitely hit it off.

Xingzhu gives her a smile, but feels no comfort in these words. She turns towards the shelves so Blaze will not notice. As she walks, her eyes are drawn by a row of books.

...They have Yanese books here?

Sure do! Why do you think Dad quit his job at the cloth-dying factory to come be a clerk here? Mum really wasn't happy with him for that, I can tell you that much.

All just to read?

Yep. He was a massive bookworm, and when he found out this store stocked books from Yan, he'd go pick me up from school every day. When I saw he had changed out of his work clothes, that's when I knew he was taking me to the bookstore.

Not that I minded. He'd stand here reading for half an hour, which was time nobody would tell me off for reading comics.

The old bookseller must have been a saint if he didn't get angry.

Nothing he could do about it. Other customers were free to browse, so it wouldn't do to focus on Dad.

One day, Dad didn't read the book. Instead, he took it to the counter, stammering the whole time like he had suddenly forgotten how to speak Victorian.

Took a lot of listening to figure out he was pulling out all the polite words he knew to ask the boss for a discount. Reason being, the book was worn out.

But it's not like anyone else has been looking at the Yanese books. All that wear and tear was from him flipping through it every day!

Pfft...

Maybe foreign books weren't very good business, could be why the boss finally agreed to it. After we left, Dad gave me a lecture, saying I should never do what he did earlier.

Oh dear. Was he being serious?

I said 'Do what?' which just made his ears go red. He jabbered on about noble bearing this, righteous that, too long ago, don't remember anymore. Basically, he felt super guilty, which is why he took the clerk job.

But wouldn't he be able to read all he liked with that job? Not to mention he had to hide his spending on books from Mum. Hardly noble if you asked me, haha!

Xingzhu is mesmerized by the stories of the past, looking at the shelves with unfocused eyes.

She sees her father by her side, tenderly flipping through the few Yanese books in the store. She stands by him, reading the characters on the pages one after the other.

For a moment, it is like she is back at her desk at home, the writing in the book transformed into her father's neat calligraphy.

But in the end, when her fantasy fades, she sees an unfamiliar title on the book she is holding, neatly printed by a mechanical hand.

Blaze! I... I think I want to buy a book for Mother... Let's see, this poem of Moonpraise should do.

Uh, sure... But why do you want to buy a book all of a sudden? I thought you already had a gift for her?

I just have this feeling that if Mother is like me, then she would like to have... a Yanese book from this shop.

Xingzhu searches herself desperately as she speaks, eventually taking a jade bracelet off her wrist without the slightest hesitation. Bracelet in hand, she walks towards the counter.

Heywaitwaitwaitwait, that bracelet can buy all the books in this store, you know?! Why not trade my, err... folding knife?

It's fine.

...You don't need to hold that book so tight, you'll ruin its dust cover.

I said, it's <i>fine</i>, Blaze. This bracelet... I got it from some minister or the other as a birthday present. Now that Grandfather has fallen out of favor, they would most likely be relieved it's disappeared out of sight.

Come and translate for me, will you?

<p=1>Victoria, Outskirts of Daywell</><p=2>March 23rd, 1103, 12:16 A.M., clear</>

Looks like this is the best place to sleep outdoors here. This bit of grass is dryer, so here, use my jacket as a mattress.

What about you?

I'll just sleep on the grass. Don't worry, it beats some places I've slept while on missions.

That won't do, you're not on a mission right now. Here, my jacket. You should have a mattress too.

Fine, fine. We'll be walking all day tomorrow, so let's get some shut-eye.

...Did you just throw something?

Sorry, did I disturb you? I'll be quieter. I didn't throw anything, I was just making sure my gift for Mother is alright, and wrapping the book I just bought.

There'll be time for all that tomorrow... Fine, don't tire yourself out.

I won't.

...Did you get something dirty?

Oh, still not asleep?

I... I'm worried there might be a strange smell on me, and my hair's covered in dust. I'm just washing my face. Though the water is rather chilly...

(Blows at her freezing hands)

Seriously...? We have hot water at home, you know.

I'll be done soon, go to sleep first.

...You... If you don't go to sleep now, you won't be able to walk tomorrow.

Yes, yes, yes, nearly done.

Just lie down and get some rest. Don't worry about me.

What were you looking at just now?

Nothing...

Don't glare at me... Alright, fine, it's the paper you told me to find for Mother, her literature thesis from her time at the Academy.

You're really treating it like an exam, huh?

No... I'm just finding it hard to sleep, and reading someone's work is like meeting them, so I'm hoping it can calm me down...

I... really...

Ow!

Xingzhu covers her ribs, Blaze having given her a poke as swift as lightning. Ever since she was young, she never had the chance to play with a sister of the same age, so she simply stares, unsure of what Blaze will do next.

All she sees is Blaze snoring loudly with her eyes closed, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. How dastardly of her. Xingzhu is overtaken by her temper, and sends a jab of her own flying towards Blaze's ribs.

But she is too slow. Her jab is denied as the not-so-asleep Blaze turns her body to dodge her attack, while delivering a back-handed counterattack of her own, tickling Xingzhu as she tries to escape.

Xingzhu angrily pounces on Blaze, aiming for her exposed sides, but Blaze suddenly jumps up to press the attack, sending her tumbling to the ground. The two of them laugh as they shout at each other.

Oof! Stop!

Haha, hahaha!

I SAID STOP!

...Something up with your head? Did you hit a stone? Let me see... Ooh, yeah, scraped you on the forehead.

Tsk... I told you to stop!

You... really are... a clumsy, thoughtless, unreasonable, oafish woman!

My bad, my bad, no need to get so mad...

How am I supposed to meet Mother tomorrow like this?!

Don't worry, it's just a scratch, won't leave a scar...

I'm sorry.

So... I'll be going to bed, then?

*sigh*

Head still hurt?

...No.

*sigh* I know you were just trying to cheer me up. Sorry...

Why are you the one saying sorry? I was the one who couldn't control myself.

Looking at you just now, I couldn't stop myself from thinking, if I had a little sister like you when I was a kid, I'd definitely bully you like crazy.

It sounds like I dodged an arrow.

To be honest, these last two days, my mind has been a complete mess.

That was pretty obvious.

You were always thinking of making me lighten up, to be a little happier. The person you're going to meet is the closest of family to you, but who is she to me?

The only blood tie I have in this land.

The one I thought of day and night when I was little, but could never see.

And a stranger who I have no connection with.

Mum, she...

It was really hard for me to bring myself to say this, so shush and listen.

Sure.

Don't assume that I'm deluding myself here. I never thought her giving birth to me meant she had to wait for me. But, from the bottom of my heart, I hope that from today onwards, I can have someone as dear to me as she is to you.