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Autumn, Twelfth Year of the Xin Zhuo Emperor
It was twilight again at the river, right as the stars appeared and before the lanterns of the towers and buildings across the great city were lit, and Morha was freshly clean after another bathing session. Tired and wet himself, Eshak climbed atop the mušḫuššu’s furry back to rest. She let him do so, having found comfort in his companionship and music. The Head Gardener was the only individual to be allowed that honor from her.
Eshak and Morha both rested comfortably, enjoying each other’s company in silence. Eventually, the Sha broke the silence: “How is this life treating you, little one?”
The purple dragon sighed. “I still hate it. But I guess I'm getting used to it.”
“Well, small favors I guess. Are you still stressed?”
“I’m still a prisoner, can I not be?”
Eshak looked sad over the response. “Try not to let it get to you, little one. After all, you need to live long enough to enjoy your life after you get free.” The Sha turned around and crawled over to the dragon’s shoulders.
“Would you like a massage?”
“Yes, please.”
Eshak leaned back and gently kneaded the soreness from his companion's shoulders. He was always quite good at it. Morha closed her eyes and melted under those dexterous hands. For a while there was only the sounds of quiet stroking and squeezing, and a contented sigh from the mušḫuššu.
“Are you getting along with everyone?” The Sha finally continued.
“Mostly, except Hong. He’s an asshole.”
“Ha ha. He can be proud and annoying. Just ignore him.” A pause, and somehow Morha knew the next question. “How are things between you and Qing?”
The purple dragon looked up at Eshak.
“I don't know. It's a bit strange. We constantly argue, and whenever I try to leave she's after me like a hawk. Yet she never directly punishes me, and seems to respect me. I can't understand.”
“She does, in her own way. You know, you two are actually quite alike.”
“I’m like that stick in the mud asshole? I’m not an asshole.”
The Sha laughed. “No, no you aren’t. You have a strong sense of right and wrong, and you are quite openly defiant in defending your ground. Qing has that as well, and she must see it.”
“The Captain of the Guard, defiant? Ha, I’d like to see that.”
“She was, once. The Earthen Graves Incident. You may hear it whispered sometimes. Our beloved captain had a major role in it, and it changed her forever.”
“Oh?”
“Swear upon on that you hold sacred, little one. Never ask Qing about it. Never even refer to it in her presence. You will regret it. If someone will tell you that story, it will be from her, and in her own time.”
“Okay.”
Eshak wouldn't let it go. “Swear it.”
“I swear I swear, I don't remember what you just said.” The mušḫuššu shook her head.
The two companions fell silent for a while, before the Sha went to pick up a comb and some wax to continue sprucing up his companion. As Eshak brushed away, Morha decided to pick up the question on her mind.
“Qing acts as an overseer for an absent master. How could she help humans rule over dragons?”
“She has her reasons. The Celestial Empire is far more powerful than you think, little one. The whole system is arrayed this way. It works in people’s minds. You can’t just face it head on.”
“That sounds cowardly.”
“It may be the most intelligent way to fight the system. Know its mechanical parts, then destroy it from within.”
“Hm. Maybe. What else can you tell me about Jiangshan?”
“Haha. Are you planning on using this information for something, little one?”
“No, just curious.”
“You’ll have to hide things better than that, little one. Very well then. Jiangshan is the center of the world. You are in Anping, the Capital of the Celestial Empire, and the largest and greatest city in the world. It is a complicated place, with everyone playing games behind their backs, and everyone who ever thinks himself the ruler of the world will try to seize, which means violence is common. Still, there is life and culture and beauty here as well. It is unique, and even if I manage to go home, I will never regret at least experiencing this place.”
“Even as a slave?”
“I could do without that, but I can now at least enjoy it while I’m trapped here.”
“Hm.”
“Experience this land a bit, if just for your own sanity. Now, tell me about your own home, Morha. Tell me about Babil.”
The purple dragon shrugged. “It is a wild, harsh land, mostly rocky desert, sometimes great shifting sands but it fools you. There is life you can uncover if you know where to look: forests full of trees taller than I am snout to tail, lush oases full of fruit and fish dancing in sparkling waters, and even islands of reeds floating upon the rivers. It is also the land where humans first settled down and built their societies. At least, that's what my elders told me.”
“What is mušḫuššu culture like? Are you similar to the longs here?”
“A little, but also a little different. Longs seem rigid. They love rules and order. They drink a lot of tea. My people are a bit…more wild.” The purple dragon shook her head. I had sweet, loving parents, but conflicts occur all the time among both humans and dragons, and…one day I was left behind.” Morha shook her head. “I'll say no more about it. Another thing about the mušḫuššu, we like our secrets.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Nothing for you to be sorry about. It is a wild, harsh land, but it has its beauty, just like Jiangshan. And for me it's home.”
“I hope you can return to Babil soon.”
“I hope so.”
Eshak nodded then hopped down and began putting on his clothes. “Come! It is cold and I won't have you going home in ill health! Let me light a fire and I can play you some nice songs.”
Morha smiled and followed her friend back to the stables. “That would be appreciated.”
“Anything you would like to hear?”
“How about ‘Song of the Wild Rose’?”
“That's a fine tune.”
竹夕琵琶 - Song of Pipa 琵琶行
From
chickenzaur!
It was twilight again at the river, right as the stars appeared and before the lanterns of the towers and buildings across the great city were lit, and Morha was freshly clean after another bathing session. Tired and wet himself, Eshak climbed atop the mušḫuššu’s furry back to rest. She let him do so, having found comfort in his companionship and music. The Head Gardener was the only individual to be allowed that honor from her.
Eshak and Morha both rested comfortably, enjoying each other’s company in silence. Eventually, the Sha broke the silence: “How is this life treating you, little one?”
The purple dragon sighed. “I still hate it. But I guess I'm getting used to it.”
“Well, small favors I guess. Are you still stressed?”
“I’m still a prisoner, can I not be?”
Eshak looked sad over the response. “Try not to let it get to you, little one. After all, you need to live long enough to enjoy your life after you get free.” The Sha turned around and crawled over to the dragon’s shoulders.
“Would you like a massage?”
“Yes, please.”
Eshak leaned back and gently kneaded the soreness from his companion's shoulders. He was always quite good at it. Morha closed her eyes and melted under those dexterous hands. For a while there was only the sounds of quiet stroking and squeezing, and a contented sigh from the mušḫuššu.
“Are you getting along with everyone?” The Sha finally continued.
“Mostly, except Hong. He’s an asshole.”
“Ha ha. He can be proud and annoying. Just ignore him.” A pause, and somehow Morha knew the next question. “How are things between you and Qing?”
The purple dragon looked up at Eshak.
“I don't know. It's a bit strange. We constantly argue, and whenever I try to leave she's after me like a hawk. Yet she never directly punishes me, and seems to respect me. I can't understand.”
“She does, in her own way. You know, you two are actually quite alike.”
“I’m like that stick in the mud asshole? I’m not an asshole.”
The Sha laughed. “No, no you aren’t. You have a strong sense of right and wrong, and you are quite openly defiant in defending your ground. Qing has that as well, and she must see it.”
“The Captain of the Guard, defiant? Ha, I’d like to see that.”
“She was, once. The Earthen Graves Incident. You may hear it whispered sometimes. Our beloved captain had a major role in it, and it changed her forever.”
“Oh?”
“Swear upon on that you hold sacred, little one. Never ask Qing about it. Never even refer to it in her presence. You will regret it. If someone will tell you that story, it will be from her, and in her own time.”
“Okay.”
Eshak wouldn't let it go. “Swear it.”
“I swear I swear, I don't remember what you just said.” The mušḫuššu shook her head.
The two companions fell silent for a while, before the Sha went to pick up a comb and some wax to continue sprucing up his companion. As Eshak brushed away, Morha decided to pick up the question on her mind.
“Qing acts as an overseer for an absent master. How could she help humans rule over dragons?”
“She has her reasons. The Celestial Empire is far more powerful than you think, little one. The whole system is arrayed this way. It works in people’s minds. You can’t just face it head on.”
“That sounds cowardly.”
“It may be the most intelligent way to fight the system. Know its mechanical parts, then destroy it from within.”
“Hm. Maybe. What else can you tell me about Jiangshan?”
“Haha. Are you planning on using this information for something, little one?”
“No, just curious.”
“You’ll have to hide things better than that, little one. Very well then. Jiangshan is the center of the world. You are in Anping, the Capital of the Celestial Empire, and the largest and greatest city in the world. It is a complicated place, with everyone playing games behind their backs, and everyone who ever thinks himself the ruler of the world will try to seize, which means violence is common. Still, there is life and culture and beauty here as well. It is unique, and even if I manage to go home, I will never regret at least experiencing this place.”
“Even as a slave?”
“I could do without that, but I can now at least enjoy it while I’m trapped here.”
“Hm.”
“Experience this land a bit, if just for your own sanity. Now, tell me about your own home, Morha. Tell me about Babil.”
The purple dragon shrugged. “It is a wild, harsh land, mostly rocky desert, sometimes great shifting sands but it fools you. There is life you can uncover if you know where to look: forests full of trees taller than I am snout to tail, lush oases full of fruit and fish dancing in sparkling waters, and even islands of reeds floating upon the rivers. It is also the land where humans first settled down and built their societies. At least, that's what my elders told me.”
“What is mušḫuššu culture like? Are you similar to the longs here?”
“A little, but also a little different. Longs seem rigid. They love rules and order. They drink a lot of tea. My people are a bit…more wild.” The purple dragon shook her head. I had sweet, loving parents, but conflicts occur all the time among both humans and dragons, and…one day I was left behind.” Morha shook her head. “I'll say no more about it. Another thing about the mušḫuššu, we like our secrets.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Nothing for you to be sorry about. It is a wild, harsh land, but it has its beauty, just like Jiangshan. And for me it's home.”
“I hope you can return to Babil soon.”
“I hope so.”
Eshak nodded then hopped down and began putting on his clothes. “Come! It is cold and I won't have you going home in ill health! Let me light a fire and I can play you some nice songs.”
Morha smiled and followed her friend back to the stables. “That would be appreciated.”
“Anything you would like to hear?”
“How about ‘Song of the Wild Rose’?”
“That's a fine tune.”
竹夕琵琶 - Song of Pipa 琵琶行
From
chickenzaur!
Category Artwork (Traditional) / Fantasy
Species Dragon (Other)
Size 2289 x 2289px
File Size 2.5 MB
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