WARRIORS OF THE DAWN

Quick Author's Note:

I am a 4th gen Chinese immigrant, something I have only recently learnt to say with pride. I have been working through my internalised sinophobia and racism, reclaiming my appreciation for my culture and heritage.

Therefore, the continent of Tian Ya and its kingdoms are inspired by ancient China and wuxia C-Dramas, from the sceneries to the people and cultures. (Fun fact: 天涯 tiān yá in Mandarin roughly translates to ‘the other end of the world’)

English will be used as the main language simply as I am most competent in it, as well as using Anglicised / more familiar names to support my global readers in following the story more smoothly. After all, there are more ways to incorporate the Chinese culture than just via names, and this is a fictional fantasy world, not a historical fiction.

The magic system is inspired by Chinese cultivation stories, which are loosely based on practices of Daoism. However, this is a fantasy story and should not serve as a reference.

This is also my first time writing in the romantasy genre, so plot holes are inevitable, but I hope I will be able to fix them later on.

Thank you for giving this story a chance :)

***

From the dawn until dusk,

for the dusk until dawn.

- The Oath of the Kingdom of Xi

***

“We’re losing him.”

Celeste gritted her teeth as she channelled another burst of energy into the elderly man lying on the medical bed before them. He was brought in at the crack of daylight after being found unconscious in the town. Celeste, who was just getting ready to rest after a night shift, was put in charge to keep his breath going while the Sect Leader, Lady Alena of the Afterglow, worked on his head.

“I can take over,” Jason, the fellow Healer Apprentice who was also on the night shift, offered.

She was too tired to argue, so she stepped aside to make way for him. Healers rarely worked together in groups more than four, as the clashing of Lifeforce they Wielded -- may become too much for the patient to bear. But for a moment, she wished that they had a few more hands on deck to provide longer individual breaks. She watched on as Jason placed his hands over the man’s chest, as she stayed alert, monitoring the pulse.

But then Lady Alena stopped abruptly and signed,“Let him go.”

Celeste and Jason exchanged an alarmed look before looking back at Lady Alena.

She blinked slowly.“He was sent to us too late. He will not wake.”

“How do we sleep now?” Jason muttered.

Celeste spared an exhausted glance at Lady Alena, who had turned to face the windows. Despite the long night and jarring lost, she still looked as calm as ever, clad in her usual pastel robe, radiating elegance. It was said that she got the nickname ‘of the Afterglow’ from resembling the scene of the sky after sunset, as well as her uncanny skill in soothing patients, as if they were watching the scene unfold before them.

But there was nothing gentle in her gaze as she turned to Celeste. “We help where we can, but cannot afford to dwell on what’s beyond our control. Do not take such a long walk today.”

Celeste stared blankly back. "You know I need to walk around to clear my mind after a loss."

Lady Alena’s round, dark eyes pierced right through her. "There’s something off in the Lifeforce today. Can’t you feel it?"

Celeste paused and shut her eyes, trying hard to pick apart any difference in the morning breeze. Lady Alena was one of the most gifted Healers in history -- she was strongly connected to the hum of life around them -- and could swiftly manipulate it as well. Celeste’s Wielding was definitely nowhere near that yet, but she had worked hard thus far, earning her place to stay at the Healer’s Valley Sect. "Sorry. Not really, no."

Lady Alena pursed her lips. "You better be back in two hours. Or else I’ll assume something’s happened to you, then personally set out to find you -- and the Heavens know that anxious wrecks of your brothers would invite himself along."

Despite herself, Celeste grinned. Her brothers Zenith and Orion, only born before her by a couple of minutes, was rather overprotective. Zenith was also blessed with the gift of Healing, a power passed down from their late mother, but he was aiming to join the Scholars’ Circle instead. Orion was an Earth-Wielder like their late father, and was training in the Warrior Academy. She seldom saw either of them, as they were all the way in the Imperial City -- but she was sure that word of her not returning back to the Healer’s Valley by nightfall would send them tracking her down.

"I won’t go far -- I’ll walk around the camp."

Lady Alena nodded and busied herself with tidying up the space. Celeste regarded Jason. “Are you tagging along or...?”

He shook his head tiredly. “I’ll help Lady Alena with the report for a bit, then I might boil some hot tea for sleep after, so feel free to have some when you get back.”

She grinned. “Glad to know this is where your alchemy skills are being put to use.”

He rolled his eyes jokingly and waved her off. Celeste shrugged on her brown Healer Apprentice’s cloak before stepping outside.

The sky was finally brightening outside, the deep, velvet tapestry shades of indigo and magenta fading into a lighter shades of lavender and baby pink. Celeste inhaled deeply, savouring the fresh, misty air provided by the preserved nature around them.

The Kingdom of Xi was not as geographically blessed as the neighbouring nations -- a landlocked kingdom without access to the sea, as only mountains greeted their borders to the west and north, thus they relied on the truce with the Kingdom of Tao to the east, and the Kingdom of Ying to the south. Tao had become the major place for trade with the island nations, whilst the Ying still prospered from their rich mining resources. It was only due to these civil relations that allowed tourists from the smaller nations across the ocean to venture into Xi, eager to take in the sights of relatively untouched natural sceneries.

But because of this disadvantage, the Kingdom of Xi had a long history of focusing on honing Wielding, and was home to some of the most powerful cultivation sects. Every Xi child would undergo a test to discover their inherited affinity for specific elements of the Lifeforce, and would learn basic Wielding and self-defence in school. Of course, they still had a choice on whether to continue to cultivate, with the main goal of entering the ranks within the Imperial City, such as the legendary Warriors of the Dawn, or to live comfortably amongst the common people. A kingdom built upon martial arts might have seen a rise in physical confrontation amongst its people, but the monarchs, including the current King Weiming and Queen Jiaxin, had pacified the kingdom by setting an example in being just and honourable, earning the peoples’ respect.

Celeste rounded a corner of the camp, where other Healers were setting up for the day, and caught sight of Lilah, one of her closest friends, checking on the sick and injured animals.

“Morning,” Celeste greeted, walking up to her.

Lilah turned around. “Oh, you’re up early.”

“I haven’t slept,” Celeste sighed. “Hopefully you had a better night than I did.”

She stretched her back. “I’m still aching from our last Defence class.”

Although the Warrior patrols -- known as Wardens -- were stationed at the Healer’s Valley, the Healers were learning to Wield their Lifeforce offensively, similar to how Warriors trained. This was due the rise of The Astrays -- those who exploited the Lifeforce, causing a toxic surge in their Wielding -- in the neighbouring nations.

Not to mention five years ago, their Crown Princess losing her life to those very beings when she was travelling to the Kingdom of Ying, and the Astray attack on Xi that occurred at the very same time. Celeste’s father was among the farmers who tried to defend their towns, and gave their life in protecting; Celeste’s mother burnt herself out from attempting to save too many. That loss was what drove Celeste and her brothers to push themselves on being the best Wielders they could be.

The horse that was lying on the ground whinnied, and Lilah placed a soothing palm on its neck. “Poor girlie, I know.”

“What happened to it?”

“Hurt her hoof,” Lilah sighed. “I’ll have to gather more ingredients -- her painkillers are running out.”

“Want me to accompany you?” Celeste asked.

Lilah nodded. “Sure.”

Celeste waited for her to gather her basket before falling into step, towards the medicinal gardens. “How has Adeline been?”

Lilah’s lips curved upwards at the mention of her lover. “She’s been well. In fact, she was recently invited to join the Healers in the Imperial City.”

“That’s amazing! Did she accept the offer?”

“I was encouraging her to, but she wants to return to her town and Heal there. Fair enough, as many rural areas always need more Healers.”

“And what about you? Will you go with her?”

Lilah nudged Celeste playfully. “Can’t bear to part with me, can you?”

Celeste chuckled. “I bet Jason can’t.”

Jason, Lilah and Celeste were accepted into the Healer’s Valley sect around the same time, which meant not only did they train together most of the time, but experiencing life and death forged a familial bond amongst the three of them.

Lilah smirked and crouched before the herbs. “I won’t bet against that.”

Melancholic silence settled between them as Celeste crouched beside her and wordlessly picked the herbs that worked as painkillers. Contrary to certain Sects that had a grading system determining a Wielder’s specific level, the Healer Apprentices’ readiness was judged by Senior Healers. The length of time for apprenticing varied greatly amongst individuals, but it was always more important to ensure Apprentices were prepared to hold their own without their Seniors before they were allowed to venture beyond the Sect by themselves. Celeste, Lilah and Jason had steered from discussing their inevitable parting some day, simply treasuring the time they still had together.

“Okay, I think this should be enough,” Lilah declared, patting her cloak down as she stood. However, at that very moment, a flight of doves arose in a distance.

Doves. Lady Alena’s signal.

Celeste’s heart started pounding rapidly in her chest, and she scrambled to her feet, rushing back towards the Healers’ Camp with Lilah hot on her heels. As she neared, she suddenly felt more sluggish, but forced herself to follow the muffled cries through the smoke.

This wasn’t a simple fire -- her senses felt like they were being tampered by a powerful force. Her training kicked in, and she backed into the shadows of the plants and bushes nearby, circling the camp. Once she found a spot she could crouch at, she exhaled and tried seek out any forms of energy, reaching past the wisps of smoke, through the walls --

The ground crunched from behind her, and she whipped around, lashing her power towards the figure that was sneaking up on her.