The Beginning of the End

[foresightis2020]

It's a bright afternoon in the Xianzhou Alliance. Summerset colors extend across the sky, painting something profound and nostalgic. Laughter abounds across three individuals amongst five.

But, the mood is light, and cheer is abundant. Why else would they all raise their cups high above their own heads. Why else would they look at each other with fondness in their eyes?

Perhaps it isn't so surprising that they all shout, "Cheers!"

A Foxian woman's voice then echoes in the distant land of memories long past, Jing Yuan her witness but only one of them as she asks, "Hey, why the frown Yingxing? You too, Imbibitor Lunae. Let's see a smile!"

Yingxing says nothing, with a look of evident contrite, and so does a man with long black hair, standing with arms folded. Cold, yet distant in his own way.

Jing Yuan laughs himself at his companion's words; always the brightest star amongst them. But he never finds anything wrong with words having been spoken as they are. Not now, not ever. Still, always ready to be gentle and easy with companions, he says, "Let them off the hook, Baiheng."

Or does he? His lips curl upwards into a mischievous smile of his own as his eyes land on his Master. Or rather, his previous one, for that matter; though this memory be viewed from the view in which all expressions of those can be seen, the feelings and passing thoughts felt by Jing Yuan in particular are clear. Even as he says looking in the direction of a certain woman with bright red eyes, "...They're still sore from losing to Jingliu."

Jingliu, the woman he had glanced at, seems to have held something like a stoic expression for the most part, before she actually gives a short huff of a laugh, but asks, "Want a rematch? I'm always available."

Their laughs echo as the sun sets, much to two men's slight annoyance. But all is well.

All is well.

...Still, it is not something meant to last.

The memory seems to shift towards different surroundings; a battlefield where many lay prone, some wretched monsters that seem far too twisted beyond one's imagination, and some startingly human or a variety of other species. Vidyadhara, Foxian, Humans, Abominations, and the like.

High above ships soar in the sky, though there are others which have crashed onto the ground, or elsewhere. Jing Yuan stands nearby the wreckage of one.

So do a couple of familiar faces. A soldier shouts into the air, announcing the defeat of Shuhu, who attempted to orchestrate The Shuhu Upheaval to tear the Alliance into pieces, only to be halted by the self-sacrificial actions of Baiheng.

No more would the High Cloud Quintet would be. Indeed, as the memory fades, it becomes clear that the chapter of this story has ended; with victory, but ultimately, a bittersweet ending.