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I was born under a full moon in the mountains. It was a secluded village nestled deep in the fog-veiled valleys of Southern Koguryo. The villagers whispered that my birth was foretold in an I-Ching reading as one who would bring harmony to the shifting elemental currents. Mother tells me that from the moment I could speak, I was drawn to collecting stones, sitting in the streams, climbing trees, gazing into the fire in our hearth, and practicing with a sword. She said it seemed like I always had more of a connection to them rather than just treating them as enjoyable times or playthings. I believe they were speaking to me. My parents were both herbalists. They taught me to see the patterns in nature. My mother showed me how water would pool in cracked clay just to bring the clay back together. She showed me how tree roots could split rocks as they hungered for the sun, earth, or water. My sister showed me how fires danced hand in hand with the wind. My father, who was one a scholar, gave me scrolls on the elements and geomancy. He taught me the ancient scrolls of Wu Xing. I memorized the cycle of generation and the cycle of overcoming as if they were mantras not to be broken. I was happy. Until an earthquake shattered the peacefulness of my village. The mountains groaned and a roaring wave of soil and stone crashed through the village. Our homes were swallowed in the wave. And so were my parents. Even though the chaos was still happening all around as I saw my deceased parents, I was able to keep calm and still. I crouched down and placed my hands on the ground and channeled the energies that I could feel deep within. The landslide seemed to have slowed. Just enough for the remaining villagers to get out of the way. One of the elders, who only survived because of the landslide slowing, came to me in the coming days and told me: "You were not born to sit here in a village. Your parents are gone but I know that they knew you were born to feel the pulses in the elements. You must leave us to become a geomancer." With nothing more than a spear and jade pendant, I left the village. My home was gone. My family was gone. And now I felt like I was being forced out of my village. That is why I seek you. I seek guidance and hope that you are able to help me understand my role. Lunao | |