Chapter 464: Turnabout
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Chapter 464: Turnabout
Fingers curled around her porcelain teacup, Sarnai savoured the fragrant aroma and settled in to watch her adorable grandchildren Demonstrate the Forms. How quickly the years passed by, for the twelfth month was now upon them and in a few short weeks, her darling babies would be ten years old and halfway to becoming full adults. As much as she wanted to sit back and enjoy their charming demonstration in the courtyard, they were at the perfect age to set the foundation for the warriors they would inevitably become, so Sarnai hid her smile and watched them both with a critical eye.
Hard at work, sweet Tate wore a focused grimace which made him look oh so adorable as he moved through the Forms with crisp, flowing motions, a textbook performance with minimal flaws, but also without advantage. An impressionable boy, creativity was not his strong suit, too fixated on doing things right to allow for improvisation or extrapolation. This mindset could stifle his future growth, because the Forms were merely guidelines, and to reach the peak of Martial Strength, one must forge their own path using tools developed using said guidelines. To this end, Sarnai made a note to bring Tate to watch the spars of more innovative martial warriors in the citadel and give him a wider perspective on how others might interpret the Forms to their advantage.
Beaming prettily with her braids trailing behind her, lovely little Tali was the exact opposite of her twin brother, dancing through the Forms in a relaxed and carefree manner. Despite her poor focus and lack of interest in the Martial Path, Sarnai rated Talis performance a notch above Tates, for she Demonstrated the Forms with a natural grace and finesse absent from her brothers movements. Insight came easily to her, but her utter lack of concentration meant she retained little of what she learned. To make matters worse, nervous trepidation would cause sweet Talis mindset to shift drastically when placed in a sparring match, rendering her all but helpless before her opponents. Strict discipline alongside confidence building exercises would be needed to help her grow, but while the latter was easily done, Sarnai would sooner die than speak a harsh word to either of her sweet, angelic grandchildren.
As their grandmother, her job was not to discipline, but to spoil the twins. After Alsantset and Charok returned from the front lines, Sarnai would have words with them about disciplining Tali and Tates, but in the meantime, perhaps Rain could be her mouthpiece while teaching.
As if terrified by her thoughts, Rain jolted awake from his fitful slumber with a pained gasp, haunted by whatever nightmare had plagued him the night before. Though swaddled in silken covers and behind closed doors, his discomfort was clear as day to Sarnais heightened senses and it broke her heart to hear her poor son suffer so. A mere eight weeks had passed since Rains shattered Core left him in a world of agony and misery, yet already he had grown accustomed to his plight and only rarely let the pain show, though he did take a spoonful of medicine each morning to blunt the worst of it.
In contrast, seven years had passed since Baatar brought Rain home from the mines, and still he had yet to overcome the trials he faced there, the scars of his ordeals laying deep within his tortured mind. Though she yearned to present him Zhu Chanzuis head on a platter, killing the bristleboar Ancestral Beast would do nothing to help Rains recovery in any meaningful way, or at least, thats what her dog-brained husband and slow-witted Mentor claimed. While Sarnai mostly agreed, she also thought it couldnt hurt to try, especially since Zhu Chanzui was confirmed to be working with the Enemy, but both husband and Mentor refused to bring the matter up for discussion because the Treaty must be upheld.
Pei. What Treaty? It had long since been broken when Zhu Chanzui killed Rains Dharma Protector, a man she owed a great deal to, but both sides were all too happy to turn a blind eye out of fear of escalation. Utter nonsense from old Imperial fogeys too afraid to risk their lives in combat. The Empire had abandoned the West and all its citizens over a year ago, which meant any people still left alive were liable to belong to the Enemy, so what harm was there in using the West as a battleground for Divinities?
A sharp hiss caught her attention and Sarnai deduced Rain had pulled a muscle while stretching in bed, but at least he was not longer howling with pain like when his nerves had yet to desensitize. His health had steadily improved in recent weeks, and though she yearned to race over and help or even send servants in to help in her place, more attention would only embarrass him and injure his pride. It didnt matter that his shattered Core left him exposed and vulnerable to the harsh elements of the world, or how every movement pained his aching, injured body, he still insisted on doing everything by himself, no matter how long it might take. Such was the way of her foolish, arrogant son, a man who valued his privacy and independence more than most and behaved as if asking for help would somehow make him less of a man. Though she often admired his stubborn persistence and unwavering determination, those same qualities almost brought about Rains downfall and near Defilement, because instead of going to his family, friends, or his betrotheds for help, he sought to solve all his problems on his own, and being the blind fools that they were, his loved ones failed to see how he suffered, herself included.
Well, no more. Sarnai would see to that. No matter how much he scowled or pouted, she would make certain her son knew he had people ready to help him, no matter the cost.
Though liable to die of embarrassment if he ever found out, she kept a close ear on his actions as he got dressed and readied to send her servants in to rescue him if he hurt himself too badly. Sliding out of bed with a tortured groan, he muttered a steady stream of curses beneath his breath which would make a seasoned sailor blush while changing out of his night-clothes and into the lovely blue and white outfit shed laid out for him. A necessary imposition, because despite his many talents, her son lacked an eye for fashion and good taste, throwing on whatever clothes were readily available if left to his own devices, sometimes even the same clothes hed worn the day before. Not so terrible a crime for a Martial Warrior, but without Chi to cleanse his physical form, a whole host of new issues had cropped up, including a somewhat unpleasant body odour.
Originally, Rain dealt with his shortcomings by having a wardrobe filled with identical black outfits, but the dreary colours made him look more pallid and sickly than he already was, and these days, wearing anything less than fine silk would chafe his skin until red and raw, yet another downside of his new condition. All of this should have been handled by his wives, but Mila and Yan had run off to the battlefield while little Lin had more than enough on her plate to deal with. A shame that Zheng Luo girl was such a disappointment. She seemed so promising at first glance, but lately shed thrown herself into her work and martial training instead of taking proper care of her Lord Husband. Sarnai had brought the matter up with Rain, but he was happy to leave things as they were, none too enamoured by the towering, busty, beauty with the wonderfully wide birthing hips. What a waste...
Sarnais tea had long since grown cold by the time Rain shuffled out of his room, keeping to the shadows in his thick overcoat and smelling of sweet herbs and sour sweat. The dark circles under his eyes no less prominent after a full nights rest, but his smile was bright and cheery as he made his way over with help from his walker, a four-legged cane he designed himself which included a plank to sit on and a basket to hold things like water gourds and Blackjack. The simple device proved his mind was as sharp as ever despite his slowed speech and poor reflexes, a small blessing which she gave thanks for every day. Lips chapped to the point of cracking, Rain gave her a light kiss on the cheek and said, Morning Mom.
Sarnai had failed Rain as his mother, an unforgivable offence.
Its okay mom, Rain said, reaching out to take her hand, and only then did Sarnai notice she was crying. Its not your fault.
Isnt it though? she asked, her voice breaking as she pulled him close for a hug, afraid to hold him too tightly for fear of hurting him. I should have kept you safe. I could have kept this from happening.
Youre saying you should have foreseen my hated nemesis would challenge me to a duel and let me stab him before turning into a quasi-Demon? While they all knew there was more to it, theyd agreed not to speak of it except through Sending, and Rain could no longer Send. Chuckling in contentment, Rain shook his head and said, Theres nothing you couldve done to stop this, and if I could go back in time and do it over again, the only thing I would do differently is go for the head. Snorting with laughter, he changed the subject and nodded at Baloo, who sat with eyes wide and teary since his greeting had been interrupted, the only pet here who had yet to receive a kiss. Someones jealous.
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Sarnai gestured for Baloo to clamber onto her lap and cuddled the sweet bear close, his happy grunts and chortles a delight to behold. The other animals sought to join in, and soon mother and son were both laughing at the animals childish antics, all pushing and shoving for their share of affection. Putting on a pair of bristled gloves, Rain hummed a happy little tune while brushing his pets and waiting for the twins to finish up. Truth be told, despite his debilitating weakness and frailty, he seemed happier now than he had in several years, finally able to relax and recuperate instead of pushing himself to become stronger each and every day. Even back in the village, she couldnt remember seeing him smile so much, his mood bright and spirits high despite his circumstances. While she wouldnt go as far as to call this a blessing in disguise, this was a much needed break for Rain to spend his blissful days with his family and pets, so Sarnai was content to share his joy and be there for him if he should need her.
Once the twins finished their Demonstration, it was time to go collect Lin and Li Song for a lunch outing. Refusing the offer of a palanquin, Rain opted to walk instead, and though it was only a short distance away, Sarnai feared it would be too much. Not just physically, but emotionally as well, for there were plenty of layabouts loitering about outside their courtyard manor, hoping to catch a glimpse of the crippled Falling Rain. Not three months ago, hed shocked the Empire by Developing a Domain and displaying Peak Expert levels of power, but already the nobility were camping outside his doors to mock and deride him, chatting loudly about how he was no longer the Mothers Chosen son or even worthy of admiration after falling so low. The Crippled Consort, they called him to avoid mentioning him directly, or Fallen Rain if they thought they were being clever, but were it not for her husbands rank and reputation, Sarnai would have wasted every one of those pompous buffoons and left these Imperial fools to fend for themselves.
Dont worry about what others say or think, Mom, he said, patting her hand as they readied to step out the double doors together with their matching walkers, though she lacked the cloud chaser hare perched atop her head. Walking will help build our strength, so dont let a bunch of nobodies keep us from getting better. Let them laugh and joke all they want, because with every day, we grow stronger and healthier. Amber eyes burning with ambition, Rain smiled as if he knew something she didnt and added, We will not be weak forever.
Pride welling in her chest, Sarnai squeezed his hand and smiled. Of course not. This is merely a minor setback in the Saga of Falling Rain.
Groaning in mock disgust, Rain pleaded for mercy. Please dont bring that up again. I still cant believe BoShui thought it was a good idea to distribute his flowery write up. I almost threw up reading it.
In truth, Sarnai loved BoShuis rendition of events and had several copies hidden about her room since Rain had taken to burning every copy he got his hands on. Regardless of his amateur writing, BoShui certainly got one thing right. Rain had survived, broken but undefeated, and he would soon rise again.
This she believed with all her heart, because if anyone could do it, it would be her son, Falling Rain.
Chapter Meme
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 464: Turnabout
Fingers curled around her porcelain teacup, Sarnai savoured the fragrant aroma and settled in to watch her adorable grandchildren Demonstrate the Forms. How quickly the years passed by, for the twelfth month was now upon them and in a few short weeks, her darling babies would be ten years old and halfway to becoming full adults. As much as she wanted to sit back and enjoy their charming demonstration in the courtyard, they were at the perfect age to set the foundation for the warriors they would inevitably become, so Sarnai hid her smile and watched them both with a critical eye.
Hard at work, sweet Tate wore a focused grimace which made him look oh so adorable as he moved through the Forms with crisp, flowing motions, a textbook performance with minimal flaws, but also without advantage. An impressionable boy, creativity was not his strong suit, too fixated on doing things right to allow for improvisation or extrapolation. This mindset could stifle his future growth, because the Forms were merely guidelines, and to reach the peak of Martial Strength, one must forge their own path using tools developed using said guidelines. To this end, Sarnai made a note to bring Tate to watch the spars of more innovative martial warriors in the citadel and give him a wider perspective on how others might interpret the Forms to their advantage.
Beaming prettily with her braids trailing behind her, lovely little Tali was the exact opposite of her twin brother, dancing through the Forms in a relaxed and carefree manner. Despite her poor focus and lack of interest in the Martial Path, Sarnai rated Talis performance a notch above Tates, for she Demonstrated the Forms with a natural grace and finesse absent from her brothers movements. Insight came easily to her, but her utter lack of concentration meant she retained little of what she learned. To make matters worse, nervous trepidation would cause sweet Talis mindset to shift drastically when placed in a sparring match, rendering her all but helpless before her opponents. Strict discipline alongside confidence building exercises would be needed to help her grow, but while the latter was easily done, Sarnai would sooner die than speak a harsh word to either of her sweet, angelic grandchildren.
As their grandmother, her job was not to discipline, but to spoil the twins. After Alsantset and Charok returned from the front lines, Sarnai would have words with them about disciplining Tali and Tates, but in the meantime, perhaps Rain could be her mouthpiece while teaching.
As if terrified by her thoughts, Rain jolted awake from his fitful slumber with a pained gasp, haunted by whatever nightmare had plagued him the night before. Though swaddled in silken covers and behind closed doors, his discomfort was clear as day to Sarnais heightened senses and it broke her heart to hear her poor son suffer so. A mere eight weeks had passed since Rains shattered Core left him in a world of agony and misery, yet already he had grown accustomed to his plight and only rarely let the pain show, though he did take a spoonful of medicine each morning to blunt the worst of it.
In contrast, seven years had passed since Baatar brought Rain home from the mines, and still he had yet to overcome the trials he faced there, the scars of his ordeals laying deep within his tortured mind. Though she yearned to present him Zhu Chanzuis head on a platter, killing the bristleboar Ancestral Beast would do nothing to help Rains recovery in any meaningful way, or at least, thats what her dog-brained husband and slow-witted Mentor claimed. While Sarnai mostly agreed, she also thought it couldnt hurt to try, especially since Zhu Chanzui was confirmed to be working with the Enemy, but both husband and Mentor refused to bring the matter up for discussion because the Treaty must be upheld.
Pei. What Treaty? It had long since been broken when Zhu Chanzui killed Rains Dharma Protector, a man she owed a great deal to, but both sides were all too happy to turn a blind eye out of fear of escalation. Utter nonsense from old Imperial fogeys too afraid to risk their lives in combat. The Empire had abandoned the West and all its citizens over a year ago, which meant any people still left alive were liable to belong to the Enemy, so what harm was there in using the West as a battleground for Divinities?
A sharp hiss caught her attention and Sarnai deduced Rain had pulled a muscle while stretching in bed, but at least he was not longer howling with pain like when his nerves had yet to desensitize. His health had steadily improved in recent weeks, and though she yearned to race over and help or even send servants in to help in her place, more attention would only embarrass him and injure his pride. It didnt matter that his shattered Core left him exposed and vulnerable to the harsh elements of the world, or how every movement pained his aching, injured body, he still insisted on doing everything by himself, no matter how long it might take. Such was the way of her foolish, arrogant son, a man who valued his privacy and independence more than most and behaved as if asking for help would somehow make him less of a man. Though she often admired his stubborn persistence and unwavering determination, those same qualities almost brought about Rains downfall and near Defilement, because instead of going to his family, friends, or his betrotheds for help, he sought to solve all his problems on his own, and being the blind fools that they were, his loved ones failed to see how he suffered, herself included.
Well, no more. Sarnai would see to that. No matter how much he scowled or pouted, she would make certain her son knew he had people ready to help him, no matter the cost.
Though liable to die of embarrassment if he ever found out, she kept a close ear on his actions as he got dressed and readied to send her servants in to rescue him if he hurt himself too badly. Sliding out of bed with a tortured groan, he muttered a steady stream of curses beneath his breath which would make a seasoned sailor blush while changing out of his night-clothes and into the lovely blue and white outfit shed laid out for him. A necessary imposition, because despite his many talents, her son lacked an eye for fashion and good taste, throwing on whatever clothes were readily available if left to his own devices, sometimes even the same clothes hed worn the day before. Not so terrible a crime for a Martial Warrior, but without Chi to cleanse his physical form, a whole host of new issues had cropped up, including a somewhat unpleasant body odour.
Originally, Rain dealt with his shortcomings by having a wardrobe filled with identical black outfits, but the dreary colours made him look more pallid and sickly than he already was, and these days, wearing anything less than fine silk would chafe his skin until red and raw, yet another downside of his new condition. All of this should have been handled by his wives, but Mila and Yan had run off to the battlefield while little Lin had more than enough on her plate to deal with. A shame that Zheng Luo girl was such a disappointment. She seemed so promising at first glance, but lately shed thrown herself into her work and martial training instead of taking proper care of her Lord Husband. Sarnai had brought the matter up with Rain, but he was happy to leave things as they were, none too enamoured by the towering, busty, beauty with the wonderfully wide birthing hips. What a waste...
Sarnais tea had long since grown cold by the time Rain shuffled out of his room, keeping to the shadows in his thick overcoat and smelling of sweet herbs and sour sweat. The dark circles under his eyes no less prominent after a full nights rest, but his smile was bright and cheery as he made his way over with help from his walker, a four-legged cane he designed himself which included a plank to sit on and a basket to hold things like water gourds and Blackjack. The simple device proved his mind was as sharp as ever despite his slowed speech and poor reflexes, a small blessing which she gave thanks for every day. Lips chapped to the point of cracking, Rain gave her a light kiss on the cheek and said, Morning Mom.
Sarnai had failed Rain as his mother, an unforgivable offence.
Its okay mom, Rain said, reaching out to take her hand, and only then did Sarnai notice she was crying. Its not your fault.
Isnt it though? she asked, her voice breaking as she pulled him close for a hug, afraid to hold him too tightly for fear of hurting him. I should have kept you safe. I could have kept this from happening.
Youre saying you should have foreseen my hated nemesis would challenge me to a duel and let me stab him before turning into a quasi-Demon? While they all knew there was more to it, theyd agreed not to speak of it except through Sending, and Rain could no longer Send. Chuckling in contentment, Rain shook his head and said, Theres nothing you couldve done to stop this, and if I could go back in time and do it over again, the only thing I would do differently is go for the head. Snorting with laughter, he changed the subject and nodded at Baloo, who sat with eyes wide and teary since his greeting had been interrupted, the only pet here who had yet to receive a kiss. Someones jealous.
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Sarnai gestured for Baloo to clamber onto her lap and cuddled the sweet bear close, his happy grunts and chortles a delight to behold. The other animals sought to join in, and soon mother and son were both laughing at the animals childish antics, all pushing and shoving for their share of affection. Putting on a pair of bristled gloves, Rain hummed a happy little tune while brushing his pets and waiting for the twins to finish up. Truth be told, despite his debilitating weakness and frailty, he seemed happier now than he had in several years, finally able to relax and recuperate instead of pushing himself to become stronger each and every day. Even back in the village, she couldnt remember seeing him smile so much, his mood bright and spirits high despite his circumstances. While she wouldnt go as far as to call this a blessing in disguise, this was a much needed break for Rain to spend his blissful days with his family and pets, so Sarnai was content to share his joy and be there for him if he should need her.
Once the twins finished their Demonstration, it was time to go collect Lin and Li Song for a lunch outing. Refusing the offer of a palanquin, Rain opted to walk instead, and though it was only a short distance away, Sarnai feared it would be too much. Not just physically, but emotionally as well, for there were plenty of layabouts loitering about outside their courtyard manor, hoping to catch a glimpse of the crippled Falling Rain. Not three months ago, hed shocked the Empire by Developing a Domain and displaying Peak Expert levels of power, but already the nobility were camping outside his doors to mock and deride him, chatting loudly about how he was no longer the Mothers Chosen son or even worthy of admiration after falling so low. The Crippled Consort, they called him to avoid mentioning him directly, or Fallen Rain if they thought they were being clever, but were it not for her husbands rank and reputation, Sarnai would have wasted every one of those pompous buffoons and left these Imperial fools to fend for themselves.
Dont worry about what others say or think, Mom, he said, patting her hand as they readied to step out the double doors together with their matching walkers, though she lacked the cloud chaser hare perched atop her head. Walking will help build our strength, so dont let a bunch of nobodies keep us from getting better. Let them laugh and joke all they want, because with every day, we grow stronger and healthier. Amber eyes burning with ambition, Rain smiled as if he knew something she didnt and added, We will not be weak forever.
Pride welling in her chest, Sarnai squeezed his hand and smiled. Of course not. This is merely a minor setback in the Saga of Falling Rain.
Groaning in mock disgust, Rain pleaded for mercy. Please dont bring that up again. I still cant believe BoShui thought it was a good idea to distribute his flowery write up. I almost threw up reading it.
In truth, Sarnai loved BoShuis rendition of events and had several copies hidden about her room since Rain had taken to burning every copy he got his hands on. Regardless of his amateur writing, BoShui certainly got one thing right. Rain had survived, broken but undefeated, and he would soon rise again.
This she believed with all her heart, because if anyone could do it, it would be her son, Falling Rain.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 464: TurnaboutFingers curled around her porcelain teacup, Sarnai savoured the fragrant aroma and settled in to watch her adorable grandchildren Demonstrate the Forms. How quickly the years passed by, for the twelfth month was now upon them and in a few short weeks, her darling babies would be ten years old and halfway to becoming full adults. As much as she wanted to sit back and enjoy their charming demonstration in the courtyard, they were at the perfect age to set the foundation for the warriors they would inevitably become, so Sarnai hid her smile and watched them both with a critical eye.Hard at work, sweet Tate wore a focused grimace which made him look oh so adorable as he moved through the Forms with crisp, flowing motions, a textbook performance with minimal flaws, but also without advantage. An impressionable boy, creativity was not his strong suit, too fixated on doing things right to allow for improvisation or extrapolation. This mindset could stifle his future growth, because the Forms were merely guidelines, and to reach the peak of Martial Strength, one must forge their own path using tools developed using said guidelines. To this end, Sarnai made a note to bring Tate to watch the spars of more innovative martial warriors in the citadel and give him a wider perspective on how others might interpret the Forms to their advantage.Beaming prettily with her braids trailing behind her, lovely little Tali was the exact opposite of her twin brother, dancing through the Forms in a relaxed and carefree manner. Despite her poor focus and lack of interest in the Martial Path, Sarnai rated Talis performance a notch above Tates, for she Demonstrated the Forms with a natural grace and finesse absent from her brothers movements. Insight came easily to her, but her utter lack of concentration meant she retained little of what she learned. To make matters worse, nervous trepidation would cause sweet Talis mindset to shift drastically when placed in a sparring match, rendering her all but helpless before her opponents. Strict discipline alongside confidence building exercises would be needed to help her grow, but while the latter was easily done, Sarnai would sooner die than speak a harsh word to either of her sweet, angelic grandchildren.As their grandmother, her job was not to discipline, but to spoil the twins. After Alsantset and Charok returned from the front lines, Sarnai would have words with them about disciplining Tali and Tates, but in the meantime, perhaps Rain could be her mouthpiece while teaching.As if terrified by her thoughts, Rain jolted awake from his fitful slumber with a pained gasp, haunted by whatever nightmare had plagued him the night before. Though swaddled in silken covers and behind closed doors, his discomfort was clear as day to Sarnais heightened senses and it broke her heart to hear her poor son suffer so. A mere eight weeks had passed since Rains shattered Core left him in a world of agony and misery, yet already he had grown accustomed to his plight and only rarely let the pain show, though he did take a spoonful of medicine each morning to blunt the worst of it.In contrast, seven years had passed since Baatar brought Rain home from the mines, and still he had yet to overcome the trials he faced there, the scars of his ordeals laying deep within his tortured mind. Though she yearned to present him Zhu Chanzuis head on a platter, killing the bristleboar Ancestral Beast would do nothing to help Rains recovery in any meaningful way, or at least, thats what her dog-brained husband and slow-witted Mentor claimed. While Sarnai mostly agreed, she also thought it couldnt hurt to try, especially since Zhu Chanzui was confirmed to be working with the Enemy, but both husband and Mentor refused to bring the matter up for discussion because the Treaty must be upheld.Pei. What Treaty? It had long since been broken when Zhu Chanzui killed Rains Dharma Protector, a man she owed a great deal to, but both sides were all too happy to turn a blind eye out of fear of escalation. Utter nonsense from old Imperial fogeys too afraid to risk their lives in combat. The Empire had abandoned the West and all its citizens over a year ago, which meant any people still left alive were liable to belong to the Enemy, so what harm was there in using the West as a battleground for Divinities?A sharp hiss caught her attention and Sarnai deduced Rain had pulled a muscle while stretching in bed, but at least he was not longer howling with pain like when his nerves had yet to desensitize. His health had steadily improved in recent weeks, and though she yearned to race over and help or even send servants in to help in her place, more attention would only embarrass him and injure his pride. It didnt matter that his shattered Core left him exposed and vulnerable to the harsh elements of the world, or how every movement pained his aching, injured body, he still insisted on doing everything by himself, no matter how long it might take. Such was the way of her foolish, arrogant son, a man who valued his privacy and independence more than most and behaved as if asking for help would somehow make him less of a man. Though she often admired his stubborn persistence and unwavering determination, those same qualities almost brought about Rains downfall and near Defilement, because instead of going to his family, friends, or his betrotheds for help, he sought to solve all his problems on his own, and being the blind fools that they were, his loved ones failed to see how he suffered, herself included.Well, no more. Sarnai would see to that. No matter how much he scowled or pouted, she would make certain her son knew he had people ready to help him, no matter the cost.Though liable to die of embarrassment if he ever found out, she kept a close ear on his actions as he got dressed and readied to send her servants in to rescue him if he hurt himself too badly. Sliding out of bed with a tortured groan, he muttered a steady stream of curses beneath his breath which would make a seasoned sailor blush while changing out of his night-clothes and into the lovely blue and white outfit shed laid out for him. A necessary imposition, because despite his many talents, her son lacked an eye for fashion and good taste, throwing on whatever clothes were readily available if left to his own devices, sometimes even the same clothes hed worn the day before. Not so terrible a crime for a Martial Warrior, but without Chi to cleanse his physical form, a whole host of new issues had cropped up, including a somewhat unpleasant body odour.Originally, Rain dealt with his shortcomings by having a wardrobe filled with identical black outfits, but the dreary colours made him look more pallid and sickly than he already was, and these days, wearing anything less than fine silk would chafe his skin until red and raw, yet another downside of his new condition. All of this should have been handled by his wives, but Mila and Yan had run off to the battlefield while little Lin had more than enough on her plate to deal with. A shame that Zheng Luo girl was such a disappointment. She seemed so promising at first glance, but lately shed thrown herself into her work and martial training instead of taking proper care of her Lord Husband. Sarnai had brought the matter up with Rain, but he was happy to leave things as they were, none too enamoured by the towering, busty, beauty with the wonderfully wide birthing hips. What a waste...Sarnais tea had long since grown cold by the time Rain shuffled out of his room, keeping to the shadows in his thick overcoat and smelling of sweet herbs and sour sweat. The dark circles under his eyes no less prominent after a full nights rest, but his smile was bright and cheery as he made his way over with help from his walker, a four-legged cane he designed himself which included a plank to sit on and a basket to hold things like water gourds and Blackjack. The simple device proved his mind was as sharp as ever despite his slowed speech and poor reflexes, a small blessing which she gave thanks for every day. Lips chapped to the point of cracking, Rain gave her a light kiss on the cheek and said, Morning Mom.Sarnai had failed Rain as his mother, an unforgivable offence.Its okay mom, Rain said, reaching out to take her hand, and only then did Sarnai notice she was crying. Its not your fault.Isnt it though? she asked, her voice breaking as she pulled him close for a hug, afraid to hold him too tightly for fear of hurting him. I should have kept you safe. I could have kept this from happening.Youre saying you should have foreseen my hated nemesis would challenge me to a duel and let me stab him before turning into a quasi-Demon? While they all knew there was more to it, theyd agreed not to speak of it except through Sending, and Rain could no longer Send. Chuckling in contentment, Rain shook his head and said, Theres nothing you couldve done to stop this, and if I could go back in time and do it over again, the only thing I would do differently is go for the head. Snorting with laughter, he changed the subject and nodded at Baloo, who sat with eyes wide and teary since his greeting had been interrupted, the only pet here who had yet to receive a kiss. Someones jealous.Wiping the tears from her eyes, Sarnai gestured for Baloo to clamber onto her lap and cuddled the sweet bear close, his happy grunts and chortles a delight to behold. The other animals sought to join in, and soon mother and son were both laughing at the animals childish antics, all pushing and shoving for their share of affection. Putting on a pair of bristled gloves, Rain hummed a happy little tune while brushing his pets and waiting for the twins to finish up. Truth be told, despite his debilitating weakness and frailty, he seemed happier now than he had in several years, finally able to relax and recuperate instead of pushing himself to become stronger each and every day. Even back in the village, she couldnt remember seeing him smile so much, his mood bright and spirits high despite his circumstances. While she wouldnt go as far as to call this a blessing in disguise, this was a much needed break for Rain to spend his blissful days with his family and pets, so Sarnai was content to share his joy and be there for him if he should need her.Once the twins finished their Demonstration, it was time to go collect Lin and Li Song for a lunch outing. Refusing the offer of a palanquin, Rain opted to walk instead, and though it was only a short distance away, Sarnai feared it would be too much. Not just physically, but emotionally as well, for there were plenty of layabouts loitering about outside their courtyard manor, hoping to catch a glimpse of the crippled Falling Rain. Not three months ago, hed shocked the Empire by Developing a Domain and displaying Peak Expert levels of power, but already the nobility were camping outside his doors to mock and deride him, chatting loudly about how he was no longer the Mothers Chosen son or even worthy of admiration after falling so low. The Crippled Consort, they called him to avoid mentioning him directly, or Fallen Rain if they thought they were being clever, but were it not for her husbands rank and reputation, Sarnai would have wasted every one of those pompous buffoons and left these Imperial fools to fend for themselves.Dont worry about what others say or think, Mom, he said, patting her hand as they readied to step out the double doors together with their matching walkers, though she lacked the cloud chaser hare perched atop her head. Walking will help build our strength, so dont let a bunch of nobodies keep us from getting better. Let them laugh and joke all they want, because with every day, we grow stronger and healthier. Amber eyes burning with ambition, Rain smiled as if he knew something she didnt and added, We will not be weak forever.Pride welling in her chest, Sarnai squeezed his hand and smiled. Of course not. This is merely a minor setback in the Saga of Falling Rain.Groaning in mock disgust, Rain pleaded for mercy. Please dont bring that up again. I still cant believe BoShui thought it was a good idea to distribute his flowery write up. I almost threw up reading it.In truth, Sarnai loved BoShuis rendition of events and had several copies hidden about her room since Rain had taken to burning every copy he got his hands on. Regardless of his amateur writing, BoShui certainly got one thing right. Rain had survived, broken but undefeated, and he would soon rise again.This she believed with all her heart, because if anyone could do it, it would be her son, Falling Rain.Chapter Meme
