Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
It was a quiet dusk, the setting sun lulled the people to sleep.
At the Avalon Pier, a boat rested at the port, but rarely did passengers come down. At the front of this empty pier there was a monstrous and burly man. He sat on a bench, studiously reading a wrinkled pamphlet.
Bang!
A giant suitcase, almost half the size of him, fell in front of him. It landed with a heavy thud, causing dust to fly into the air. The newcomer, looking around curiously, did not match his giant suitcase at all.
The youth was clad in a pure white robe, but his skin was even paler. He was feminine, yet handsome and tender. His golden hair hung to his waist and was tied behind his back. The silver hair accessories, and his flowing golden locks shone under the sun, radiating beauty and grace. On his arm was a tattoo of sorts. The intertwined twin snakes were strange yet elegant.
“This old place is still the same.” This youthful-looking man sat down on his suitcase and poked the burly man with his cane. “Hey, Setton. You’re so cold. Won’t you greet me?”
Setton raised his head and gazed coolly. After a long time, he finally forced out, “Hey, why aren’t you dead yet?”
“Friend, you make me so sad,” the blonde shook his head, sighing. “I even bought a collar for you so you can be more obedient. How can you treat me like this?”
Crack!
The bench groaned as Setton glared at the blond kid, his joints cracking and popping.
“Ah, never mind. You still get angry so easily. Let’s change the topic…” The youth sighed and then looked side to side impatiently. “Where are my two cute new workers? Have they eaten well? Rested well? Became nice and plump? Come on, let me see the boy full of secrets, and the equally mysterious girl…” He opened his arms excitedly. “I don’t care who goes, but someone go tell them! Tell them that their amazing, caring, kind, handsome, and beautiful boss, the respected Sir Hermes, has returned!”
—
They were finally done delivering goods at dusk.
Ye Qingxuan sat in a corner of the Fountain Square, sunbathing lazily. His cane was in Bai Xi’s curious hands. Under the waning sun, Ye Qingxuan took out the aether ball. Out of habit, he sang some notes, but there was no response as usual.
“You’re still trying?” Bai Xi understood after seeing the Aether ball in his hands. “It’s impossible for you. The most common notes are all in the upper or lower range. Your range can’t reach those, and you can’t even sense the aether, right?” Bai Xi sighed, “But you couldn’t get lucky even once during all those tries. How unlucky are you?”
“I can’t help it. Maybe I’m just unfortunate.” Ye Qingxuan shrugged, but his mind went back to the terrifying afternoon—the thousands of steel cranes shining in the sky and the immense power from Princess Yunlou’s small movement. “Taiyi.” He suddenly remembered this word, and looked up at Bai Xi. “You said ‘Taiyi’ at noon. What does it mean?”
“Huh?” Bai Xi’s face was full of confusion. “What Taiyi?”
“I heard it.” Ye Qingxuan’s lip curled. “Stop acting dumb. You said it when Princess Yunlou almost got assassinated. ‘Taiyi.’”
“Oh, that,” Bai Xi finally nodded after thinking for a long time. “I meant to say ‘talent.’ Natural-born talent.”
“Talent is just a wide vocal range, or agile moves at most. If this is talent, then you’re saying the Princess was this powerful at birth?”
“That’s why it’s talent—true talent,” Bai Xi said. “Talent isn’t a voice, looks, or a sixth finger on your right hand. It’s something predetermined. You get it when you’re in the womb, or even earlier. It’s already determined when your ancestors made the vow.”
“I don’t get it. Are you sure you’re saying something humans can understand?”
Bai Xi glanced at him helplessly and sighed, “Are you sure you have Eastern lineage?”
Ye Qingxuan pointed at his hair. “I thought this was obvious.”
“Let me just ask you one thing: did you know that in the East, many people have black hair?” Bai Xi prodded Ye Qingxuan.
“Huh?” Ye Qingxuan’s entire world view was flipped and thrown out the window. “Isn’t it white?!”
“White hair is rare in the East. There’s maybe one per thousand people. You saw during the afternoon, right? Yunlou’s procession had many black-haired female officials. In the East, it’s a celebratory event to have a white-haired baby. It’s a sign of Avatism—you’re born with characteristics of your ancestors. And you have the potential to become a Musician. This type of person is known as ‘Deva.’ Every white-haired child is accepted by the Imperial Academy to study as a musician. But the success rate is probably around thirty percent.”
Ye Qingxuan had a headache. He thought he had heard Bai Xi wrong. “Wait, you said that out of three white-haired people, only one can become a musician?!”
“That’s right. What’s the ratio in Anglo? One thousand to one?”
After thinking for a moment, Ye Qingxuan shook his head, “Not even.”
“Yeah, that’s why it’s rare.” Bai Xi toyed with her own hair, her face full of pride. “In Eastern legends, people come from the sky. The legends say, before the dark ages, everyone had the robes, beauty, white hair, and good wine of the Deva. Life was perfect and unbelievable. But later, the Deva became tainted and fell to Earth. Some began to forget their past and their hair gradually turned black in the mundane world. Only the elite still have their white hair. To protect their lineage, they can’t marry others.”
“It’s that strict?” Ye Qingxuan stuttered, “Does it work?”
“Don’t know. It’s been a few hundred years and many families have disappeared because of war and natural disasters. Other than the rare occasion of Atavism, there are only nine pureblood families. They’re known as the Dragon Bloodline Nine.” Bai Xi continued, “More than two-thirds of all Eastern musicians are from these nine families. They have a lot of secrets and techniques. Apparently, they’re all protected by artifacts that bless their families. Every descendant must be tested by the artifact in the Ancestral Hall when they come of age. If they pass, they’ll be enlightened. Maybe mysterious knowledge or sheet music appears in their minds. Or maybe it’s the even more treasured…talent. It’s a gift to the lineage and their eternal shackles.”
“So is ‘Taiyi’ the Princess Yunlou’s talent?” Ye Qingxuan asked.
Bai Xi chanted quietly, “An auspicious day, the pleased soldier and Emperor; stroke the long sword and jade earring, tinkling gems and glittering jewels…Of all the talents, ‘Taiyi’ is the most powerful one. It means dominance. This type of talent is known as the ‘Scepter’ in the West. Only high ranking musicians can have this power.”
“You know a lot.” Ye looked at Bai Xi strangely. “Hey, cousin, are you a Dragon Bloodline girl who ran away from home?”
“Cousin, you have such a creative imagination.” Bai Xi gazed at him with disdain. “But there’s only one elite family with the surname ‘Bai’ in the East, okay? It’s the regent who stole the country’s power thirty years ago—Bai Heng. But the rest of the family died when he caused all that trouble.” Saying this, she gestured with her pinkie finger like a hooligan, “If I’m his daughter, all I have to do is point with my finger, and everyone would rush over to beat up that Princess Yunlou.”
“I suddenly feel that it’s a blessing to the citizens that you aren’t a princess.” A sharp pain suddenly came from the back of Ye Qingxuan’s head. Bai Xi had pulled out a strand of his hair. She also pulled out one of her own and put them together, comparing the two.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Nothing, just making sure.” Bai Xi waved him away, focusing on the two strands of white hair, making noises of surprise.
If one looked closely, it was clear that their hair was different. While Bai Xi’s hair was a pure silver white, Ye Qingxuan’s hair had a light shade of golden yellow flowing through it. It was easy to miss if one did not pay attention.
“A mixed blood’s white hair…it’s incredible, no matter what.”
“Is it really weird?” Ye Qingxuan asked.
“I already told you. Only purebloods can have white hair. I’ve never heard of a mix with white hair. The first time I saw you, I thought you dyed your hair. Even if they’re both Easterners, if a Deva and commoner married, their children would lose the white hair gene. How powerful must your father’s lineage be?” She paused, her expression twisting into shock, “You…are you the bastard child of some big elite family?”
“Your imagination is too wild.” Ye Qingxuan knocked the side of her head, interrupting her. “My father was an average musician. My mother wasn’t anyone special either. Let’s end this topic here.”
“What a pity,” Bai Xi murmured. “If you’re a pureblood, then you can become a musician, even if you’re mute.”
Ye Qingxuan stayed silent for a long time before suddenly chuckling. “What’s pitiable about things like this?” He paused then said, “Okay, let’s go. We should head back.” Ye Qingxuan shook his head. Pushing aside the memories of the past, he stood up.
“Oh,” Bai Xi replied quietly. She was not very willing. It was rare to be out, and she had not had enough fun yet.
Seeing her unwillingness, Ye Qingxuan laughed. Maybe he could bring her outside more often if they had more delivery or procuring chores.
Just as they turned to leave, an ancient voice sounded behind them.
