foresightis2020 | Inevitable Descent ~ Promise Fulfilled

There is a picturesque image of a family, seen watching a young baby boy with golden eyes and fluffy white hair. Which, for certain, can only be Jing Yuan, given the running theme in viewing memories. A couple of older family members set down some objects:

A scroll, a boardgame of some sort, a toy sword, and other miscellaneous things.

It becomes what reason they have to do this in the first place. Which is, based upon snippets that can be heard amongst some of the elder folks, that this is the way of their "Foxian ancestors", though neither single one of them happen to be sporting any overly fox-like features.

Something like this moment will decide this young child's future.

They seem hopeful, until the young one crawls to the toy sword and grabs a hold of it with relish. Dismay and apprehension colors their features.

After all...how could this be?! They have served the Realm-Keeping Commission for generations! Becoming a soldier is beneath them.

But, try as they might, only one fact became certain:

No one could fight fate.

Indeed, this proved to be the case as the memory shifted to the child, a bit older now. A woman asks words as she draws her blade, "Heed this Oath: As Clouds that cover the Heavens, will the Knights protect the Xianzhou. Draw!"

Just like that, Jing Yuan repeats the words with vigor and excitement, "Yes, Master! As Clouds that cover the Heavens, will the knights protect the Xianzhou!"

After young Jing Yuan draws his blade, the scene shifts to one where he is swinging a sword with his Master standing over him. She commands, "Hold firm! A Cloud Knight must never never slip their weapon, nor let slacken their form!"

"Yes, master!"

With a swing of the blade, the memory is cut through, to reveal another one almost as if in easy sequence.

But, nothing in this scene is static or peaceful. Fire licks up all around, foundations falling underneath the roaring conflagration, with a shadowed soldier that seems to twitch, and writhe unnatturally. Older, but still younger, does Jing Yuan stand, with his Master behind him. Uncertainty for once written across his face, hesitance in his form as he says, "Master...he doesn't recognize us."

The creature they face appears to be that soldier in armor, but where one's eyes would normally be glimpsed through the helmet, only then can be witnessed one certain fact:

Those crimson eyes are no sign of a friendly ally.

"So it is with the mara-stuck," The woman behind him states as she unsheathes her blade.

But, Jing Yuan just stands there, paralyzed. It's apparent he can't bear to strike down a once-known ally; a comrade. Unfortunately, the Mara-stuck soldier writhes and then lashes out, and the young man shouts in surprise and dismay, movements out of sorts, leaving him wide open. A moment later, his Master has cut it down in a flash, doing what he could not muster up the wherewithal to manage.

"To become stricken with mara is to be a long-life species. If I too become stiken in times hereafter, you must not hold back."

Hesitantly, Jing Yuan replies, "Yes...master..."

Finally, there is one portion of this section of memories to play out.

Words are spoken to Jing Yuan as he sees a certain woman on her knees, sounds of pain and distress emerging from her. "No sense of time, humanity waning, a serious case. You should leave, Jing Yuan.

Jingliu is already—"

Then, he witnesses ice suddenly spill outwards, and outwards—and soon, it is clear what is next upon the two. Master and student, standing on separate sides of the battlefield.

Jing Yuan fights her fiercely, as he has to, since Jingliu quick. Inhumanly so. Despite her speed and madness, he matches her blow for blow, until his movements start to drag with hesitance.

Until she nearly cuts through him. Until she slashes and forces him to tumble backwards. Until he looks at her and wills himself to stand taller.

Until his eyes glow golden and an extraordinarily large being stands over him as he shouts, "Your gift of instruction...I repay in this strike!"

Jing Yuan is wreathed in gold, and then with the bringing down of his glaive, so too does this large phantasm do the same with its blade, sending all into white. And Jingliu seems to simply fade away with the final strike, smile on her face.