1. The Little Prince

The dull orange sky gives no clue to the day, or the hour. He is not used to telling time on his own yet, still waiting for tutors to clamor for him (them) to move on to the next lesson, the next court appearance. Time had always been different in Dixing anyway, but the Above is even darker than the old palace because of the crisis. He wonders often if Haixing scholars had seen their destruction headed for them, if they had thought to warn their people, if they had cared to warn Dixing. If his father had known about the meteor. If that was why--

Wei stumbles at the thought, forcing himself to focus on the present moment instead. He’s walking forward, blindly hoping to find something, someone, to help him. He drags his glaive, disliking the abuse of it but he feels so tiny next to the powerful, heavy weapon. He had been trained with smaller, more elegant versions befitting his status and age. This, however, is a battle hardened tool meant for grown men.

It did not help save his brother, and it is not helping him now.

Would he know if Ye Zun is dead? Can he sense their bond that clearly? They were always meant to balance each other, the perfect set of magnets tuned to a precise tension and harmony once their powers flowered. They were the hope for all of Dixing, the answer to generations of prayers. Bringer of light, master of darkness, the mountain and the sea.

Until then they were expected to be no more than children.

He still is.