Dragon's Legacy: The Flame Reborn (Season 1)

Liang Xuan stepped outside the boundaries of the orphanage, a feeling of uncertainty rising in his chest. A tight knot formed in his belly. He wasn't just leaving the familiar confines of the only home he'd ever known; he was leaving his family. The caretakers, though not related by blood, were the closest thing to a family he had. The thought of never seeing them again stung sharply, but he pushed it aside. He needed to be strong, for himself, for them.

A rough map was clutched tightly in his hands. It was old, a relic from a thousand years ago that he had 'borrowed forever' from the orphanage's dusty archives. It was his only guide, his only source of direction in this vast, dangerous world. But the world had changed in the last millennium, and the map was grossly out of date.

His first destination was Guilvons, a village mentioned in his file, the last known location of his living grandmother. It was located to the west of the orphanage, beyond the deadly Inferno Woods. But what Liang Xuan had not taken into account were two crucial details.

Firstly, he didn't consider the geographical changes that had taken place over the last thousand years. The Inferno Woods had expanded and morphed, its boundaries shifting with the ebb and flow of nature and human interference. Secondly, he had no idea about the current state of the war. Where were the army encampments? What areas were safe to travel, and which ones were no-man's land? In his rush to leave the orphanage, he had overlooked the need to gather this vital information from the warriors he had previously aided.

Yet, in spite of the uncertainty and danger, there was a fire in Liang Xuan's eyes. He was on a mission. A mission to find his family and to prove his worth. A journey of survival and determination, a test of his will and courage.

With a deep breath, he took his first step, setting off towards Guilvons, completely oblivious to the reality of the challenging journey ahead. The route he thought was clear was actually filled with unknown obstacles, and Liang Xuan was walking into the unknown with nothing more than his courage and an outdated map.

The sun began to rise, casting an orange glow on the horizon. And with every step he took, the shadow of the orphanage grew longer and fainter until it was nothing more than a silhouette against the backdrop of the dawning day. The past was behind him, and ahead, the road was full of untold dangers and unexpected turns.

This was the beginning of his journey, the first chapter in the tale of Liang Xuan, the boy who would become the world's savior. The road was long and treacherous, but he was ready to face whatever it threw his way. There was no turning back now. He was alone, venturing into the wilderness with hope in his heart and a steely determination in his soul. It was a leap into the unknown, a journey into the heart of the world torn by war.

His heart pounded in his chest as he ventured deeper into the world beyond the orphanage. This was his reality now. This was his journey, his story. And this, this was only the beginning.

However, as Liang Xuan trudged onwards, he failed to realize one other glaring oversight in his hasty departure - the lack of knowledge about the flora and fauna of the Inferno Woods. He'd imagined the woods to be a simple forest trail, a mere natural obstacle on his path to Guilvons. In his mind, the magic beasts were creatures that lived deep within the forest, far from the trail he intended to follow. But in reality, the Inferno Woods were anything but 'simple'.

The Inferno Woods, named for its deadly inhabitants and perilous terrain, was a hub of magical creatures, some benign, but most dangerously hostile. Moreover, its flora was as diverse as its fauna, filled with medicinal herbs, poisonous plants, and carnivorous flora that were as deadly as the magic beasts themselves. And Liang Xuan, with his limited knowledge of survival in the wild, was heading straight into it.

His naïve assumptions about the Inferno Woods were born out of ignorance, and this ignorance could cost him dearly. But Liang Xuan, armed only with the outdated map, the clothes on his back, and the provisions that Twilight Velvet had prepared for him, had no way of knowing the impending dangers.

However, his courage did not falter, and he continued to move forward. The sun was high in the sky now, its rays filtering through the tree canopy above, casting a dappled light on the trail ahead. But the beauty of the scene was deceptive. The Inferno Woods were a paradise to the eyes, but a hell for the unprepared.

Every rustle of leaves, every caw of a crow, and every sudden movement in his peripheral vision made his heart pound in his chest. His senses were on high alert, his body tensed for danger. He didn't know what to expect, which made every step forward a risk, a leap of faith. But he continued, his determination undeterred.

Liang Xuan had embarked on a journey that was much more challenging than he'd anticipated. But despite the obstacles, he was ready to face them head-on. He had a destination to reach, a family to find, and he wasn't going to let anything stand in his way. His courage was his shield, his determination his sword, and with these, he ventured on, towards the Inferno Woods.

1 HOUR LATER

As Liang Xuan continued to weave his way through the trail leading to the Inferno Woods, he was met with an unexpected roadblock. The road forked ahead, but the signs indicating the direction were missing.

“What the?... this isn’t on the map!” he said

The lines and ink of the map had faded in this area, providing him with no guidance.

“God damn it, I just had to damage this part of the map!... oh, now what am I going to do?” he thought.

“Well, from what I remembered, towards the right of the path is headed towards the heart of the Dragonlands, and Guilvons is closer to the border… which means, I must go left… for some reason, this feels wrong… but the sun will be setting at some point, I don’t have time to lose,”

After a moment of consideration, he made the decision to turn left, straying off his intended path and unknowingly steering away from the Inferno Woods.

Two hours later, he noticed a town nestled in the distance. With his limited knowledge of geography, he thought he had arrived at Guilvons. He was puzzled and slightly irritated, thinking that Twilight Velvet must have miscalculated the distance or had given him incorrect information.

“WAIT A MINUTE!, didn’t Ms. Velvet tell me that it was a full day hike away from the orphanage, not to mention, I never went through any forest… oh well, anyone makes mistakes, no point in dwelling about it, I better head down there and find my grandmother,” Liang Xuan said with a smile

He was about to approach the town when his heart pounded against his chest as he witnessed energy bombs landing across the city.

“WHAT THE FUCK!” he screamed as he covered his eyes momentarily to protect them from the brightness

The shockwaves radiated through the air, shaking the very ground beneath him.

“OH NO! GRANDMA!” he screamed

Panic surged through his veins, thinking that his grandmother was somewhere in that town and that she was in immediate danger.

Acting on impulse, Liang Xuan raced full speed towards the town, blind to any other danger that might be lurking.

In his rush to reach the town, he didn't notice the rumbling of the mountainside. The continuous bombing had triggered a rockslide, and he was directly in its path. Rocks, loosened by the shockwaves, began tumbling down the mountainside. His focus, solely on the town ahead, didn't register the impending danger until it was almost too late.

“What is that sound?... OH BOY!” he screamed as he noticed the rock slide

With the rockslide in progress, Liang Xuan was once again reminded of the harsh reality of his journey - the real world was not as simple as he had imagined it to be. As he darted towards the town, his life hanging by a thread, the shadow of the rockslide loomed closer and closer.

The rocks tumbling down the mountain picked up momentum, roaring towards him with a deafening noise that filled the valley. The fear-filled adrenaline that was fueling Liang Xuan's sprint to the town turned into pure terror. With the impending rockslide behind him, and the bombing ahead, his mind was overwhelmed, caught between the two dangers. The sound of the earth shifting behind him was a grim reminder that he was dancing on the edge of disaster.

With no time to think, he veered off his path, throwing himself into a thicket of bushes as he attempted to dodge the avalanche of stones. The rocks cascaded past, a wave of dust and debris that obscured his vision and choked the air. He huddled into a ball, covering his head with his arms as he waited for the rockslide to pass.

Once the rumbling ceased, and the dust began to settle, he peered out from his makeshift shelter. The landscape had drastically changed; the trail was now a mess of rocks and debris, and the town was partially hidden behind a newly formed mound of rocks.

“Well, that was close… better pay attention next time, now, I better head down there and find grandmother,” he said as he got up

Liang Xuan knew he was lucky to have escaped unscathed. But luck wouldn't be enough to get him to Guilvons. He would need to rely on his instincts and adaptability if he was to survive this journey.

He dusted himself off and continued toward the town. The war was closer now; he could see flashes of energy clashes and hear the battle cries of the fighters, their voices barely carrying over the constant bombardment.

He approached the town cautiously, unsure of what he might find or who might find him. As he got closer, he believed he had reached Guilvons, but it was actually the town of Pumice, a village on the border of Dragonlands and Tall Tale territory, caught in the crossfire of the ongoing war.

He stared at the town, a mixture of relief and frustration washing over him. Relief that he was one step closer to finding his grandmother, but frustrated at what this war was doing with the villages that were unlucky enough to get caught in the crossfire.

With a heavy sigh, Liang Xuan marched forward, trying to find anything that might help him find his grandmother.

Once in Pumice, he noticed the destruction that the bombs had caused, but, when he went house to house looking for any clues, he was met with empty houses, nothing remained in them, not even corpses, it was as if everyone in town had disappeared.

Liang Xuan continued to walk around the town, until another magic bomb landed 2 blocks away from him, in a panic, Liang Xuan ran as fast as he could looking for cover.

He ran for about 20 seconds when a another bomb's shock wave sent him flying through the door of what remained of a house.

Liang Xuan was out for a few seconds, but when he came back, he could still hear the fighting in the distance. He quickly looked around the rubble and that was when he noticed something, a few feet away from him, underneath a pilar, was a practitioner, he was pinned down, but by the looks of it, he was still pretty much alive.

Liang Xuan quickly went over and tried to wake him up.

“HEY! HEY! Can you hear me?!” he said

After nudging him for a few seconds the practitioner came through, he was weak and disoriented, but alive.

Liang Xuan then started to try and get the pilar off of him, but it was too heavy; the practitioner noticed this and used the last part of his strength to help Liang Xuan lift the pilar off, allowing him to breathe better.

Liang Xuan immediately grabbed his bag and looked for some water and gave it to the practitioner who drank it slowly.

After a few more sips, Liang Xuan found a cloth, wetted it, and applied it over one of the practitioner's wounds.

It was here that he realized that this practitioner was not from the Dragonlands.

The man was tall and robust, he had green eyes and red hair and spoke with a southern accent. even in his battered state.

His uniform was of a style that Liang Xuan had only seen in pictures of foreign troops, his armor covered in symbols that represented Appleoosa.

The man groaned in pain as Liang Xuan tended to his wounds, barely conscious but still hanging onto life.

Confused, Liang Xuan asked him, "Why are you here? You're from Appleoosa, right? You're not with the Dragonlands or the Tall Tale, so why...?"

The man looked at Liang Xuan through half-lidded eyes, his breathing ragged but steady. "Peacekeepers," he grunted out, wincing as Liang Xuan applied the wet cloth to his injuries. "Appleoosa... we... we try to help, but... they declared war on us too… we allied ourselves… with the Dragonlands, that way… we can stop them… from invading our lands."

The bitterness in his voice was palpable. Liang Xuan could only imagine the man's frustration, coming to help only to find both sides unwilling to cease their relentless combat.

The man's fingers gripped Liang Xuan's wrist as he took another gulp of water. "Child... why are you here?" he asked in anguish, just realizing his savior was a child, around the same age as his own.

Liang Xuan hesitated, unsure of how to answer. His own situation felt so insignificant compared to the war-torn reality around him.

But he found himself answering anyway, recounting his story in simple, broken sentences.

The man listened, his eyes barely open, but his grip on Liang Xuan's wrist firm.

As Liang Xuan spoke, a sense of resolve filled him.

His story, his mission, was not insignificant.

He was surviving, despite the odds, and that was worth fighting for.

The man seemed to sense this determination, offering Liang Xuan a weak but genuine smile.

"Brave boy," he murmured, his grip on Liang Xuan's wrist loosening as he sank back into unconsciousness. "You... you remind me... of..."

His voice faded, but the smile remained on his face.

Liang Xuan watched him for a moment longer before turning his attention back to his wounds. He didn't know if the man would survive, but he was determined to do everything he could.

His journey to Guilvons would have to wait; right now, he had a life to save.

Sweat dotted Liang Xuan's brow as he carefully cleaned and bandaged the practitioner's wounds as best as he could, trying to remember what Twilight Velvet had taught him about basic first aid. She had said it was good for everyone to know, just in case. He had never imagined he would need to use this knowledge in such a dire situation. With each passing second, the weight of his decision pressed heavier on him. He had elected to stay and help, effectively halting his journey to Guilvons Village. But this man's life, this stranger who had tried to bring peace, was in his hands now.

He couldn't just leave him here.

The small house was demolished and without a doubt a target. He needed to move the unconscious man somewhere safer, but where? He looked around the demolished town, the silent homes and empty streets were haunting, but they held no answers. He looked at the Appleoosan man, his breathing was becoming more shallow and unstable. He needed to act fast.

It was then he remembered an underground well near the town’s center that he had seen on his old map. If the well had been left untouched by the ravages of war, it could be the perfect hideout. There would be water, and it would be a safe distance away from the bombing.

Gathering his resolve, Liang Xuan carefully hoisted the Appleoosan man on his shoulders. The man was heavy, his weight pressing down on Liang Xuan's small body, but he persisted. With each step he took, his determination hardened. He was doing the right thing.

The journey to the well was arduous. With the enemy close and the practitioner’s weight on his shoulders, Liang Xuan felt his energy slowly drain away. But each time he faltered, he thought of the man’s words: “Brave boy,” he had said. Those words were now his anchor, his strength.

After what seemed like an eternity, Liang Xuan saw the familiar shape of the well. The adrenaline and fear that had been keeping him moving started to wear off, replaced by a dull, throbbing exhaustion. He lowered the man as gently as he could onto the ground. His muscles screamed in protest but he ignored it. He had no time to waste.

Using the remnants of a broken ladder, Liang Xuan managed to transport the Appleoosan man into the well. It was a tight fit, but it was safe and shielded from the bombardment. He heaved a sigh of relief.

"Stay... Stay here. I'll... I'll get help… some how" Liang Xuan promised the unconscious man. There was no response but that didn’t deter him. As long as the man was breathing, there was hope.

He was about to leave the well when he lost his grip on the ladder and landed on the man’s lap, jolting him awake

“W-WHERE AM I?!” he asked as he looked around and saw Liang Xuan laying on his lap.

“Sorry, lost my grip… I was able to bring you to the well in the center of the town,” Liang Xuan said

“Wow, that is impressive… at your age, I could barely even light an encyclopedia… you really are a brave boy,” said the man.

“What happened here?” asked Liang Xuan

“The war,” said the man

“No, I mean, why are you HERE, in this town?” asked Liang Xuan

“Oh… my platoon and 2 others belonging to the Dragonlands came here to help people evacuate… we were just about done when we were ambushed and got pinned down in this town… last thing I remembered was hearing the horns symbolizing the arrival of reinforcements and BOOM… everything went dark… and then you appeared…” the man said

Just then, the man’s eyes widened open in shock as a realization hit him.

“THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE TRAPPED IN THE CITY!” he said as he grabbed Liang Xuan

The sudden movement startled Liang Xuan, but he quickly steadied himself, focusing his attention on the man's words. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he processed the information.

“Sorry,” he said

"Evacuate?" Liang Xuan questioned. "So there are no civilians left in Pumice?" he said as he helped the man

The man nodded weakly, a grimace twisting his features as he tried to move his injured body.

"That's right, son. Like I said The town was abandoned a while ago. My platoon, along with the Dragonland soldiers, we were covering the evacuation. That's when the Tall Tale warriors ambushed us...I...I can't remember exactly when that was."

Despite the grim news, Liang Xuan felt a wave of relief.

His grandmother wasn't in danger. But his heart still ached for the injured man before him and the others he mentioned might be trapped in the town.

His decision became clearer then, he was going to help this man, and anyone else who was still trapped.

The man's next words struck a chord with him. "I used to be a farmer, and a miner too," the man said, his voice raspy but firm. "I know the earth. If we could get more hands, we can dig our way out and rendezvous with the rest of the platoons at the top of the mountain near the town."

Liang Xuan's heart pounded in his chest.

He was just a child and a non-practitioner at that. But there was determination in the man's eyes and a plea for help. He nodded, taking a deep breath as he looked at the man.

"I'll help," he said firmly. "I'll find others and we'll get you out."

"Good boy," the man murmured, his eyes slipping closed once more.

But there was a hint of a smile on his face, and his grip on Liang Xuan's hand was firm.

It was a silent thank you, one that Liang Xuan would remember for the rest of his life.

Liang Xuan scrambled through the ruined town, his heart pounding in his ears. He searched house after house, finding nothing but destruction and the occasional signs of a hurried evacuation. No one else was in sight. Despair started to grip him, but he forced it back. He had made a promise. He was going to keep it.

Just when he was about to give up, he heard it - the unmistakable sounds of a fight. His heart leaped into his throat as he followed the noise. Rounding a corner, he peeked from behind a wall to see a woman - an Appleoosa practitioner - desperately fending off three Tall Tale practitioners.

Despite her commendable skills, she was clearly struggling against the onslaught. Her movements were growing sluggish, exhaustion etched on her face. He had to do something. He glanced around desperately, looking for anything he could use as a weapon. But before he could do anything, the woman was knocked to the ground.

“This little charade ends now,” one of them said

Fear constricted his heart as he saw the Tall Tale practitioners readying themselves to deliver the final blow. An idea flashed in his mind. It was suicidal, but it was the only thing he could think of.

Without thinking further, he jumped out from behind his hiding spot, catching the enemies' attention by hurling small debris towards them.

“HEY! OVER HERE!” he screamed
They barely flinched, but the sudden distraction was enough to catch their attention.

Their gazes focused on Liang Xuan, confusion evident on their faces.

“Kill him!” one of them said.

Two of them decided to chase after him, while the third remained with the woman.

As soon as the men disappeared behind the wall chasing after him, the woman seized her chance.

She grabbed her sword and with a swift motion, killed the practitioner pinning her down.

She got to her feet as fast as her battered body allowed, and ran in the direction Liang Xuan and the others had gone, determined to save the brave child who had risked his life for her.

Liang Xuan's heart pounded like a drum as he sprinted through the war-torn streets, two Tall Tale practitioners hot on his heels. The world blurred around him, his only focus on escaping. But he was tiring, and his pursuers were gaining on him. He darted around corners, jumped over debris, and willed his legs to keep moving.

Behind him, he could hear their laughter, their taunting words.

“Run, Run little piggy!” one of them said

“We’re gonna catch you!” said the other one

Fear and adrenaline surged within him, lending him speed. He rounded a corner and skidded to a halt, his heart dropping. A dead end. His back hit the wall as he turned around, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.

The Tall Tale practitioners rounded the corner, grins stretching across their faces.

Liang Xuan gulped, his small hands balling into fists. He knew he didn't stand a chance against them, but he wasn't going down without a fight.

Just as they started advancing, a cry rang through the air.

The woman from before, battered but not broken, appeared after running straight through a wall and rushed towards them, her sword glinting menacingly under the sun.

The Tall Tale practitioners spun around, their grins replaced by looks of surprise. She didn't give them a chance to recover, launching herself at them with a fearsome battle cry.

Liang Xuan could only watch in awe as she fought, her movements swift and precise, fueled by the desperation to survive. She was a one-woman storm, holding off the two practitioners with remarkable skill.

One of the Tall Tale practitioners lunged at her, but she spun away, and his sword met nothing but air.

Seizing her chance, she slashed at him, catching him off guard and sending him sprawling to the ground, stabbing him in the chest in the process.

The other practitioner turned to Liang Xuan, rage burning in his eyes.

He advanced, but before he could reach him, the woman tackled him, her sword piercing his chest. He let out a choked gasp and collapsed.

As the woman pulled herself off the fallen practitioner, she turned to Liang Xuan, who was still staring at her in awe.

Her face was pale, but her eyes shone with determination.

Liang Xuan noticed that she was fairly young, probably around 20 or 21, she had green eyes and brownish hair.

He could see she was hurt, her body was struggling to stay upright. But she had saved him. Against two trained warriors, she had saved him.

"You...you're amazing!" Liang Xuan exclaimed, admiration lighting up his face.

The woman merely chuckled, coughing out a bit of blood. "I just...couldn't let them...hurt you," she said between gasps, a small, proud smile playing on her lips.

And at that moment, Liang Xuan felt a newfound surge of energy.

He remembered he had a mission, he had a promise to keep. And he would not let anything or anyone stop him. Not even an entire army. He was not going to let anyone else suffer because of him. Not anymore.

"Are you ok?" he asked, meeting her gaze.

“Nothing a few minutes of cultivating won’t cure,” she said with a proud smile

“Glad to hear,” said Liang Xuan

“Ok, now for the important question… WHAT IN GOD’S NAME ARE YOU DOING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BATTLEFIELD?... and more importantly… NEVER, EVER, MAKE YOURSELF LIVE BAIT AGAIN!” she screamed as she hugged Liang Xuan

Liang Xuan explained everything to her.

“I see… oh dear… I never thought something that barbaric would happen… but that is war for you,” said the woman

“Yeah… so, once I am done here, I have to find my grandmother… where did you take the refugees?” asked Liang Xuan

“No idea kid… wait… Guilvons?... finish? What are you talking about?” asked the woman

“Well, I came to Guilvons to find my grandmother and…” Liang Xuan said

“This isn’t Guilvons, this is Pumice, Guilvons, is to the North-East of here, crossing the Inferno Woods,” said the woman

Her words rang through Liang Xuan’s head, as he slowly realized he had made a terrible mistake, once he did he just slapped his forehead in anger.

“And what did you even mean about “once I am finished here?” what else can you possibly do?” asked the woman

“Oh, you see, when I came here, I was caught in the crossfire and I was blown into a house, there I found another practitioner for Appleoosa, he was pinned underneath a pillar but we were able to get it off; after that, I decided it would be safer to head underground, so I carried him to the well, once he woke up he told me that there were more practitioners around here and if he got help, he could dig us a way out of here safely,” said Liang Xuan as his eyes widen with every word

“THE OTHER PRACTITIONER! I forgot about him, come on, we better go see if he is ok!” Liang Xuan said as he took off running.

The woman simply nodded, her eyes following him as she started to run after him.

After a few seconds, they arrived at the well and heard the sounds of someone groaning, trying to catch their breath.

They looked at each other before Liang Xuan jumped into the well.

He saw the man digging away at the walls, parts of the walls of the tunnel he had started were covered with blood stains, coming from his fingertips, as he continued to dig.

“You’re back kid! Any luck?” he asked

“Yes sir, I found someone else,” Liang Xuan said proudly

“Really, well, tell them to come down, we can’t give our position away,” the man said as the woman landed next to Liang Xuan

As soon as they saw each other their eyes widen

“Zhang Jing,” he said

“Chen Yu!” she said

“ZHANG JING!” he said as she tackled him into a bear hug

“Chen Yu! My dear husband, I thought… I thought you were dead,” she said

“Almost, but this kid saved me… by the way, what is your name, son?” asked Chen Yu

“Liang Xuan,” he answered

“Well, you have my eternal gratitude,” Chen Yu said

After this, Zhang Jing explained everything to her husband

“I see, so you managed to get the injured out safely, but returned for me, and then Liang Xuan saved you… well, thanks again, son,” said Chen Yu

“Yeah, by the way, once we get to the camp, we need to tell the commander to give Liang Xuan a few provisions for his trip,” Zhang Jing said

“That’ll be least he’d do… wait, what trip?” asked Chen Yu

Liang Xuan then explained his situation to him.

“Well… that is messed up, son… if it were up to us… we’d take you with us… if you wanted we could adopt you… I mean, Tong Bo and Ye Niang would love to have another brother…” he said making his wife blush “... or even escort you to Guilvons… but…” Chen Yu said losing color in his body by the breath

“You don’t look so well,” Liang Xuan said

“Yeah… I’m out of adrenaline… so, bloodloss is catching up with me,” Chen Yu said chuckling

Liang Xuan watched as Zhang Jing fed a pill to Chen Yu, her movements gentle yet swift.

As soon as the pill was swallowed, a noticeable change occurred. Chen Yu's face regained some color, and the heavy gasps for breath became less frequent.

Zhang Jing, although weakened, maintained a strong front. She tenderly helped her husband sit up, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Once Chen Yu was stable and Zhang Jing had cultivated enough to cure her injuries, they began their work.

Using their remaining energy and magic, they dug into the rock and soil, creating a tunnel leading out of the city.

Liang Xuan watched in awe as they worked, his heart pounding with anticipation and fear.

Minutes felt like hours as they dug, the only sounds in the otherwise silent cave being their grunts of effort and the scrape of rock against rock.

Eventually, a faint light broke through the end of the tunnel, followed by the cool, fresh air of the outside.

The trio emerged at the base of a mountain range, the looming peaks casting long shadows over them.

Behind them, the village of Pumice sat eerily quiet.

But as they began to ascend the mountain trail, the sound of explosions filled the air.

The bombardment had started, magic energy blasts lighting up the town like a gruesome fireworks display.

Chen Yu, steadied by Zhang Jing, led the way up the narrow mountain trail.

Liang Xuan followed closely behind, his heart heavy as he glanced back at Pumice one last time.

The town was being torn apart, but he knew it was empty.

He hoped the Tall Tale practitioners would realize that soon and stop their assault.

As they trudged on, Liang Xuan couldn't help but marvel at the resilience of the two practitioners. Despite their injuries and exhaustion, they pushed on, driven by their duty to their comrades and the civilians they had evacuated.

"Remember this, Liang Xuan," Chen Yu panted out as they paused to catch their breath. "We may be practitioners with power beyond most, but our greatest strength lies in our will. The will to protect, to preserve, and to persevere. Never forget that."

“That is the Appleoosa way!... although I hear you guys have something similar,” Zhang Jing said with a smile

Liang Xuan nodded, his young face solemn in the dim light. As they resumed their journey, he couldn't help but feel a spark of hope.

Despite everything, they had survived. And as long as they had the will to fight, they would keep on surviving.

They reached the camp amidst cheers and applause, the rough soldiers slapping Liang Xuan's back in celebration. Commander Su Bing, a tough and battle-hardened woman with fiery eyes, personally presented Liang Xuan with a small medallion, a symbol of bravery and valor. He could hardly believe it was all happening.

Chen Yu and Zhang Jing ensured that Liang Xuan was taken care of. They led him to the campfire where food was being cooked, handing him a bowl filled with stew. It was the most delicious meal Liang Xuan had ever had.

The festivities in the camp carried on well into the night, the men and women of Appleoosa raising their cups to Liang Xuan and sharing stories of their own bravery. Despite the hardships they had faced and the inevitable battle at dawn, the atmosphere was cheerful and jubilant. Liang Xuan was drawn into the camaraderie, losing himself in the tales of valor and brotherhood.

After he had eaten, Chen Yu and Zhang Jing took him aside, leading him to the periphery of the camp where Commander Su Bing was discussing battle strategies with her top lieutenants. They waited patiently for the meeting to conclude, taking the opportunity to explain to Liang Xuan about the importance of strategy and unity in war.

When the meeting finally ended, they introduced Liang Xuan to the Commander. Zhang Jing explained his journey so far and the events that led him to Pumice. She spoke of his courage and quick thinking that saved not only their lives but also potentially many others who could have been caught in the subsequent bombardment.

"I've heard stories of your courage, Liang Xuan," she said with a warm smile, "Your bravery is impressive. But I'm afraid I can't allow Chen Yu and Zhang Jing to escort you to Guilvons. We have an order to prepare for a counter-offensive at first light."

Liang Xuan understood. He was grateful for all the help he had received, but he couldn't ask them to risk their lives further. He nodded, accepting the decision.

As a token of their appreciation and goodwill, Commander Su Bing gave Liang Xuan a hunting knife and a map of the region. Chen Yu also added some provisions to his bag - dry fruits, smoked meat, and bread. They instructed him about the routes to avoid, places where he could find shelter, and landmarks that would guide him to Guilvons.

As dawn approached, the Appleoosa forces prepared for battle. Chen Yu and Zhang Jing said their final goodbyes, offering him words of wisdom and encouragement. They left him with a sense of hope and a promise of a future that was waiting for him in Guilvons.

"Remember, Liang Xuan, the world isn't just war and destruction," Chen Yu said, his voice thick with emotion. "There's kindness, love, and peace too. Never lose hope."

“Once this war is over, and we survive, if you are ever in Canterlot, come and look for us, remember, Sweet Apple Acres, that is our home,” Zhang Jing said as she hugged Liang Xuan

Liang Xuan hugged her back, and then he hugged Chen Yu.

With their words of encouragement echoing in his ears, Liang Xuan set off on his journey once again, carrying the hopes and prayers of the Appleoosa forces with him.

Zhang Jing and Chen Yu waived at him as he walked away.

“So, dear husband… why don’t we have another child… once we get back of course,” Zhang said making Chen Yu blush.

“First, survive this battle, love birds, GET TO IT!” Su Bing said as they joined the charge

Liang Xuan chuckled, his young face solemn in the dim light. As he resumed his journey, he couldn't help but feel a spark of hope.

Despite everything, they had survived. And as long as they had the will to fight, they would keep on surviving.