Book 1: Life

Chapter 5:

ZHONG'S FIRST TRIP

Zhong was walking as fast as possible. The overwhelming feeling that he was being watched bore down on him as his eyes darted around. "Keep calm, Zhong. Just keep calm. You can take anything that comes at you." Zhong told himself as he took some deep breaths and moved on. He jumped when he noticed a cart rolling down the road.

He stopped and jumped into the bushes, placing some leaves in front of himself in order to hide. The farmer passed on and Zhong once again took up panicking and walking onwards. "See, now you're just jumping at every little thing. Just cool it down." Zhong took some breaths and run full on into a tree. He fell to the ground, dazed and laughing. "Yeah, you're screwed."

Aitoku stood at the door as he had for every day that week. The other soldiers began to worry about him. Gagh, having seen his friend there for almost and hour got up from his place at the pai sho board and approached him. "Man, what are you doing? I don't think the Master really needs a guard at his door."

The rest of the barracks had returned a few months ago from their campaign and the first thing anyone had seen was Aitoku in front of the Master's house with a long spear in his hands, calling himself the sentry.

"Sorry, but the Master needs me here." Aitoku stated in a very out of character tone. "I'm sorry that he doesn't see much need for you."

Gagh stepped back a few paces. "Hey, look here buddy; I'm out there enforcing his will. If he doesn't want me, he just has to say the words and I'm gone." Gagh took a step up to Aitoku's face, getting uncomfortably close as Aitoku barely blinked.

Not a word came out of his mouth. "That's what I thought." Gagh stormed away, hurt by Aitoku's claim of unimportance. Aitoku meanwhile still stood at attention, the Master pulling his strings from within.

Zhong was situated in a small corner of the inn, a little table keeping him closed off from the people around him. The master came over to him. "So, you want a bit of meal now or would you like to wait longer while we prepare your room?"

"A meal would be nice, thanks." Zhong answered hurriedly. The master walked off to where his wife was in the kitchen as Zhong took up biting his nails. His eyes were darting every which way. Sure, it had been a month, but someone would bring it up sooner of later. The mast walked back out with a plate of food and placed it before Zhong. "Thanks." Zhong added with a nod as he ate the first true meal he'd had in a month.

There was a creak as some men walked into the inn. The master was behind his desk, writing in his book how much to charge his patron. He gave a quizzical look up at them and then put on his customary smile. "Ah. Some weary travelers. How many room and for how long. No limit at this inn."

"We were just coming in for some nice food before we report back to the barracks." One of the four men said as he fidgeted with a money pouch.

"Ah! Military folk." Te master said as he chuckled and flipped a page over in his book. "What is the army doing out here anyway?"

"Just some normal detail work. Patrolling the southern quarters now." Another of the men said as he twisted the bit of straw in his mouth.

"I didn't know there was anything wrong here. Theft is a myth here." The master said as he looked them over. "Table or booth?"

"Table." The one paying said as the master scribbled something in his book. "Yeah, it's the same old same old. Most action I've ever seen was when that man tuned up dead."

"Oh yeah. Tons of paperwork after that one. Testimonies and background checks and all. Half the army is still under investigation." One of the other men said as he adjusted his armor.

"I heard about that." The master said as he took his nose out of his book. "But that was over five provinces. Nothing near here."

"Well, the Master still believes that the man that did the deed is at large." One of the men said as he leaned in close. "That' why there's so much questioning going on. Man that done it was a soldier himself. Looking for anyone with a connection to him."

"You don't say. What was the man's name?"

"Zhong. He was a good soldier too. He was traveling with someone else too; but they don't know where he is." The master raised a finger to stop the soldier.

"Zhong? That was his name?" The soldier nodded and the master flipped his book over a page. "Well, he just checked into a room!"

"HE'S HERE?!" the soldier shouted as their natural army instincts kicked in.

"He's sitting right over…" the master moved a finger towards the booth where Zhong had been sitting, which now held a half empty dish and a small tip on the table.

The Master was pacing in his office, the woman sitting still on the high backed chair behind his desk with the golden phoenix engraved at the top. "I take it you're getting worried then." The woman added as she rustled her red robes around her.

"You have no idea, sister." The Master said as he continued to pace. "I can feel it. The time Destiny has foretold is almost here. I know it, but I don't know what I can do to stop it."

"I thought you had that Zhong guy all ready." The Red Witch added as she started twirling her red hair.

"Not yet…but I will." The Master said as he turned to his sister, stopping for the first time since she had arrived. "I just need Aitoku to hold on for a bit longer…just enough for Zhong to release it."

"You always were the best with your powers." The Witch added. "Unlike me. You give me a cheap little town to control and if so much as one person gets away, I lose all control. I'm like a spider-fly. Always weaving my web but when one thing goes wrong, the whole thing falls apart."

"That is your fault, not mine." The Master shouted at her. "Do you understand what I bear being the founder of this world? I have advanced these mortals. I have given them information far beyond their years in order that they may thrive and that is all challenged by free will and these…five people who will do only Fate knows what to my world order…I need a champion like Zhong…and I will do anything to get it."

There was a loud bang as the door opened and someone entered the house. There was a heavy dragging sound as the intruder barged into the office.

"He had heard too much, my Master." Aitoku said as he heaved the body of the solider in front of himself. "I had no other choice." The Red Witch looked alarmed as her brother gave a wicked smile, turning to her.

"This is only a substitute for the man I will create."

Zhong had been running for far too long when he finally fell over in the field and began to heave. He propped himself up on his elbows as he looked around. "Where am I to go from here? I cannot go back into public and…I have done such a terrible deed." Zhong gasped as he shifted himself around so that he was sitting with his hands clasped over his mouth. His pack was thrown aside as he began to think about his options.

There was a rustle of grass and the flowers swayed and a low, booming voice echoed out in the night. "Do not fear, Zhong."

Zhong turned around quickly and drew his sword as a being seemed to be made entirely of stars stood before him. "Put the sword away. I wish you neither harm nor ill will. I do believe you have had enough of it." The being stepped down from what appeared to be stairs out of nowhere and settled into a chair (which didn't seem to be from anywhere either). Zhong got shakily to his feet.

"Who are you?" Zhong asked the being.

"I am Sutamo, the Spirit of the Stars and Heavens." Sutamo responded.

"And what have I done to warrant your…" Zhong stepped back frightened. "I'm dead, aren't I? This was all a dream. I have done so much harm that the Spirits want to kill me…they…"

"I am not here to claim your soul. That will be Dreamchaser when the time for you has come. Nor are the Spirits angry with you. There are others that will be deserving of far worse fates than you."

"Oh…" Zhong gave a stunned look and tried to compose himself for a moment. He took the cup of tea that was offered him (again, Sutamo seemed to give it out of thin air). "Thank you." Zhong took a seat on the ground, sipping his tea contentedly. Sutamo took the ground beside him.

"I am here to offer guidance where it is needed." Sutamo answered to him.

"Oh yeah…then why are you wasting time with a lowly soldier like me?" Zhong asked as he took another sip of his tea. "Aren't there more important people to guide…like some prophet or politician?"

"I only go where Fate sends me. And tonight, Destiny has decided that you and I should converse. Even the stars know that you are lost."

Zhong took a moment to think about it before he answered. "I'm not sure where I'm going. I have no family…or friends…or any sense of what I am supposed to be doing."

"Zhong, look to the stars. Do you think Fate had any idea what would happen on this earth when they created it?"

"Of course they did. They're called Fate." Zhong retorted. Sutamo gave out a large laugh.

"True, they have plans for everyone…but those plans don't always come true. Fate can see but one world at a time, ever changing and growing as the people on this earth change and grow. They can only see but one life for a human, though thousands of different paths can be chosen to change this destiny. You are not alone in the world Zhong, and the world will never know a time without you. That is what Fate has decided."

Zhong sat in silence for the rest of the night, thinking about his fate. He thought of his parent's fate as being the victims of a brutal crime. He thought of the world's fate farther down the line. He thought of Aitoku's fate, and how it must be different since he had left him to take the blame. But for now, he drank his tea quietly and looked up at the bright stars above.