The Ice Fire Rock
When Ying Kong Shi, cloaked as one of the guards and still blinking from the explosion of light, finally located Yan Da in some distance, he saw her figure bathed in divine light. Though she was still surrounded by soldiers, nobody moved, and silence fell over the court. The Fire Princess' hair floated silently from her shoulders in long dark strands. It was no longer black, but interspersed with golden and white colors. When she opened her eyes, the shock hit Ying Kong Shi to the core. One of her eyes was yellow and the other blue. She stared directly at him, as if she somehow had sensed his presence. When he silently admired her, he couldn't help but feel like he was witnessing the birth of a goddess. A smile slowly spread across her face for him. Abruptly, Yan Da turned around and stretched out her arms towards her cloud front. An eerie spectacle of the forces of nature began as the mighty and dark clouds quickly approached. The spell, which she introduced with a complicated arm movement, bathed the four renegade generals in a bright light. Their feet slowly lost contact with the ground as the men were lifted up by Yan Da's power. Their bodies floated higher and higher until they finally disappeared into the swirling clouds. Shortly afterwards lightning and thunder rolled over the sky, and it started to rain. Yan Da raised her hands again and sent the elemental force over their heads towards the parched plains. As they had all seen before when she had used the weather spell for the first time, icy particles were now again spreading out of her body in circling waves, cooling down the lava streams and taking the steaming smokes and ashes with them high into the sky. When the spell melted with the clouds, the ashes finally fell down again on the Fire Kingdom as a soft dirty rain, nourishing the ground that had been barren for a long long time.
Ying Kong Shi saw Yan Da frowning at her spells. When she finally turned to give him another smile, fear crept up in his heart, he already knew she was up to someting. He started moving when she reached within her and took something out. It was no longer the Six Leaf Ice Crystal, nor was it the Holy Fire Source. It was a smooth, fist-sized, translucent stone. Yan Da bounced off from the ground and was gone in an instant into the clouds. Lightning and thunder were the answer as an invisible battle broke out up there. Ying Kong Shi didn't hesitate to follow. In the swirling clouds he saw the Fire Princess fighting with the generals at a distance. The Ice Prince jumped and joined the fight, just in time. When one of the men tried to attack the Fire Princess from behind, Ying Kong Shi caught his sword and forced him to back off. Yan Da used the chance and cast another spell. Astonishment spread across the generals' faces as their bodies quickly dissolved into thousands of raindrops.
"Thank you", Yan Da said to him with a smile on her face. He quickly overcame the distance between them and grabbed her shoulders. "Thank the gods you are fine! Why did you just leave without telling me? I was so worried." He closed his arms around her in a relieved hug. When she returned the hug, she whispered in his ear, "Don't be angry, please. I was worried you would want to keep me from coming back here before the peace negotiations." Ying Kong Shi took a step back and put his hand on her cheek. "I would never interfere in your government affairs. But let's discuss that later. Yan Da, what are you up to?" She felt his fear, and she looked down on the stone in her hands. Ying Kong Shi followed her gaze with his eyes. "The Ice Fire Rock", it finally dawned on him. Surprised, she looked up. "You seem to know more about it than I do. I don't have a name for it. Did you know this would happen when you planted the Six Leaf Ice Crystal in me?" When Ying Kong Shi shook his head with honest eyes, she sighed. "I just feel that it must mean something that it has grown in me. At the right time, the two sources of strength have united in me, coming to my aid. To be honest, I had to release it, because I wasn't able to contain it any more. It feels, like something desperately wants to be born." She looked around. "Ying Kong Shi," she whispered. "I released the power, now it needs to be shaped. Will you once and for all stop being my tribe's enemy and help me to use the Ice Fire Rock to recreate my burned kingdom?"
Ying Kong Shi caught her eyes with his troubled look. "Yan Da, It' not that I don't want to help. Please think about it. The Six Leaf Ice Crystal has healed the damage you sustained in your core only four days ago. What if the wound reappears, once the Ice Fire Rock has left your body permanently?" Yan Da frowned, weighing his words. "My ancestors and my whole family destabilized the world with their war. My people suffer, there is shortage everywhere. Right now, the Fire population cannot support itself on the basis of a parched land. Furthermore, the Fire Tribe will not be able to pay any war compensation to the other tribes if I do nothing. This will make the peace negotiations very difficult. And you know as well as I do, that my hungry countrymen will soon start again to invade the Mortal Kingdom and the Endless Sea in order to feed their starving children with their stolen goods. That will fuel the war again. Even if my life would be the price to pay, I would do it. But, please, Ying Kong Shi, don't assume the worst outcome. I feel that Ice Fire Crystals has given me my health back, and, even more, I feel like it has recreated me, too. Why would the magic of the Ice Fire Rock put effort in restoring me, but not keeping me in good shape once it is put to use?"
As if history were twisting itself again, she brushed her knuckles briefly against his cheek - a reassuring gesture he'd given her in the other dimension when they'd talked about the potentially deadly effect the blood red lotus had on his body. Ying Kong Shi weighed his options, his conflict was clear to see. If I'm quick enough, I can put a sleep spell on her to get her out of here. But then he remembered Xian Xue's words. "Only through finding inner balance and connecting to our own spirits we can really change the past, not turning again to extreme actions as easy solutions, not letting fear, loss and obsession reign over our minds, but wisdom, hope and love."
He blinked with his eyes, as he often did when trying to force his emotions under control. "If you are sure, then I trust your judgment, and I will do my best to contribute to your wish." But I will not let you die again, he thought to himself. "How can I be of help?" was all he asked. Yan Da nodded in relief. "As I have always seen it, my country is not lacking in magic, but in balance. The counterbalance to fire is water, that I brought with me in plenty." With these words she gestured to the masses of clouds around her. "But the fire down there is too strong. It has to be tamed, otherwise the water will evaporate and the coolness will turn into heat. Only the magic of Ice Fire Rock can create the balance. I have already released the magic, and I can wield it to change the landscape. But will the change be permanent? Won't the heat of the fire regain the upper hand and wither everything again? Ying Kong Shi, I think the problem literally goes deeper. I believe that the real imbalance lies in the earth of the Fire Kingdom, where the hottest Fire is raging. I think the solution is to dissolve the Ice Fire Rock to give the power of balance and creation to the land itself. I have reshaped the former generals into cloud spirits, so the clouds have an own source of magic. From this day on forward, I don't have to fear the clouds draining my magic. But, as I am their creator, the clouds will always follow my will. I will command them to release the raindrops on the areas that have been particularly disfigured by the drought and heat. Once the Ice Fire Rock is dissolved, I will add it to the rain, so every single drop will share the Ice Fire Rock with the nature spirits that are sleeping in our barren Fire Kingdom. I hope that with the Ice-Fire-Rock as a source of strength they can help me to tame the fire. There is only one problem: I don't know how I can dissolve or melt it. Even if the stone contains the power of creation, it seems to be immutable itself. Your knowledge of the Ice Fire Rock may come in handy. Can you tell me how to melt it?" Ying Kong Shi knew there would be no going back for him once he answered her question. He felt the familiar numbness creeping into his heart. Would he now contribute to Yan Da losing her life again? Or would it change her fate, if he stood up for her this time instead of rejecting her? He straightened up and decided to take the more difficult path this time. Xian Xue, I hope you won't make me regret this. "The Ice Fire Rock is immune to destruction and decay. Ice and Fire cannot harm it, weapons cannot scratch it. The only thing that can melt the Submerged Casting Rock is the blood from the sacrifice of a most loyal subject."
Her eyes grew wide. "You mean, I will really have to –," he caught her arms by the wrist. "No! Others have tried it this way. They gave their live to the Ice Fire Rock in the belief, that their sacrifice would rectify their craving to obtain this huge power and to fulfil their personal wishes with it. But this is no real balance, is it? Why should a small life, even if it's one of royal blood, be a proper sacrifice to that huge power? All that have eagerly crushed themselves on that rock, ended up leaving even more destruction behind their chosen path. And it didn't do them any good either, because they were drawn to an unimaginable distance, where they had to live millions of years on their own. Not as a punishment, as I was told, but to become wiser. But it didn't help them to see the truth. To obtain the power of creation, you need to worship the life in you, too. The power of creation doesn't want us to disregard our own worth. On the path of blind loyalty, you will never find true balance."
The Ice Prince had started to tremble as he spoke. He didn't seem to notice how a glittering stream of tears ran down his cheeks. He had gripped Yan Da's wrists so tightly that they began to hurt. When he finally blinked and came to himself, he let go of her immediately. "Sorry, did I hurt you?" She shook her head. Slowly she raised her hands and wiped the tears from his face with her thumbs. "I've never seen you like this before. It almost seems like you're no longer the selfish, arrogant boy who would sacrifice anything and everything for his brother. Ever since you saved me in the clearing, I've wondered if you're still Ying Kong Shi. How can you know all this? How can you just stand in front of me and show your emotions? I always believed I was caught between men who misused me for their selfish goals. And I let them use me, out of love. Until recently you were no different from my father and my brothers. Did my love for you soften your heart after all? Can I hope so much that you have now recognized that your own imbalance has destroyed everything what you wanted to achieve? Ying Kong Shi, if this is just a ploy to get hold of the Ice Fire Rock, then I swear you should have let me die in the clearing. I can no longer lead a life in which I have to fear you. I can no longer lead a life in which I cannot trust you. I can no longer lead a life in which my love for you threatens to be my downfall. Because this time, I am the mother of my people under our feet. Will my love for you finally be the ruin of all of us?"
With shaking hands, Ying Kong Shi kneeled down in front of Yan Da. "I already swore that I will make it up to you this time. I cannot proof that I have changed. I cannot prove that I haven't given the Ice Crystal to you because I'd hope the Ice Fire Rock would somehow be the outcome. But if you still want me in your life, although I don't deserve it, I beg you to give me your trust once more. Yan Da… I could have chosen to let you die in the woods, along with your father. I could have gone rid of all my enemies in one move. It's only that I never could see you as my enemy. You were always there for me. Please, let me be now there for you, too. After all, you were the one that taught me the difference between love and obsession. Even when you despised your father, you tried to save him and me. You have always played on both sides. What a fool I was, to think I couldn't trust you because of that. It was your will to rescue Ice and Fire alike, so we could truly be friends one day, that made you step up for all of us. My true guilt is that I misjudged you for an eternity. Yan Da, I love you! From this day on, all that is important to you will be equally important to me. I swear that I will never waver from your side again. I swear that in time of conflict, I will always work together with you to find the best solutions. And if you choose to go into peril, let me walk by your side, for that's the place I wish to be."
When she heard his words, her two-coloured eyes started to shed tears, too. Yan Da was pale, when she fell to her knees, too. "You love me? You do?" "Yan Da, I love you, with all my heart." She fell in his arms, like she was drained from all strength, and slung her arms around his neck. He took her in, embracing her finally with all the truth of his feelings. Ying Kong Shi closed his eyes and enjoyed her presence that seemed to fill all his senses. When she finally wanted to break away from him, he pulled her closer again. "Not yet ..." he whispered gently in her ear. He kissed her forehead lovingly. He took her beautiful face in his hands and kissed her gently with a smile. "Yan Da, will you accept my oath? You know from this day on you will not get rid of me," he said with a smile. The corners of her mouth lifted as she nodded to him. Then a mischievous look crossed her face." I am excited to find out what your vow exactly means to both of us. For now I accept it. But don't think that I won't let you suffer for the cold shoulder you showed me in the past. I will test your oath and see if you can bear as much closeness as I expect you to. "A big smile crossed Ying Kong Shi's face. "Well, I will do my best to complete all tasks you'll set to me within the framework of my oath." Yan Da nodded again, and set her back straight.
"Then let's start with the problem in front of us. How can we dissolve the stone?" Ying Kong Shi cocked his head and thought through Xian Xue's words again. "I believe that the power of the stone is only completely released when the sacrifice is balanced. What you give has to be, in the judgement of creation, an equivalent to the power of the stone. Since we both have the opposites of Fire and Ice within us, it seems to me as if we were both together be more fitted to be a sacrifice than only one of us alone. But I don't want us to die to give rise to life down there. I want us both to see our life not as a sacrifice, but rather our love as a gift that should be reflected in everything we create with the power of the stone. What is more worth than our promise that we will not use the power of the stone against the world or against ourselves? Furthermore, we should include the promise that we will appreciate the power of creation: We shall not try to bring back what we have lost through our own fault, but rather create something new as proof that we are learning from our mistakes." His words resonated in her heart. That was exactly what she had always wanted. She had the feeling that everything her family had accused her of being weak, now turned out to be her greatest strength. "I understand..." She reached for one of her throwing knives that stuck in her armguard. The cut she caused in the palm of her hand immediately began to bleed profusely. From her clenched fist, she let her blood drip down onto the stone, which responded with a golden glow. "For the sake of all living, for the balance of Ice and Fire, let love be the power that creates us all anew..." muttered Yan Da. Then she gave him the knife, and he repeated her words. When the stone began to dissolve, they joined spells and sent the fine drops with raised arms into the clouds. As the power of creation rained down on the Fire kingdom, Ying Kong Shi saw the rivers fill, the earth quivering and trembling to close the infinitely deep cracks that criss-crossed the land, and steam rising from the gradually cooling lava flows. The humidity rose steadily, and with it the ever-present smell of fire seemed to slowly dissolve.