Snow looked at the young woman calmly walking in front of him. Her blond, braided hair was tied in some complicated fashion at the back of her head but, like always, she didn’t wear any of the shiny and obviously expensive accessories other noble women wore. She was also dressed in plain clothes, probably borrowed from one of the villagers, since they’d been clearly worn before. And yet, even though she no longer wore her traveling clothes, she’d still opted for a pair of pants and a tunic, instead of a more feminine attire.

They’d spent the entire morning discussing what Snow had told them, and the repercussions that said information might have on the other Provinces, mainly on Nox¹Literally nox (night). Where Nox is the name of the Clan, also the name of a Province., Wei²Literally wei (crystal / precious stone). Wei is the name of the Clan (family name), also the name of a Province., and Zai³Literally zai (blade). Where Zai is the name of the Clan, also the name of a Province., the last one apparently governed by ZenTar⁴Literally zen (silent) + tar (wind)’s birth Clan. And so VinWei⁵Literally vin (hard) + wei (crystal) had made a point to kidnap him right after their midday meal, even though ZaiWin⁶Literally zai (blade) + win (chaos). had tried his best to contest the need of them spending some time alone.

Silently guiding him all the way to the more open area at the entrance of the village, VinWei finally stopped and took a sit on a large, dark rock. Leaning back on her hands, she stretched her back and took a deep breath, looking up at the cloudy sky above their heads.

She was really beautiful, Snow thought, following the graceful line of her neck, her soft-looking, slightly rosy cheeks, her lips so well defined that they could have been drawn by some artist. But, above all, her large purple-blue eyes were what attracted him the most.

Noticing she was being observed, VinWei smiled and tapped the rock beside her.

“Don’t just stand there, staring like that. You’re going to make me embarrassed.”

Snow immediately averted his gaze and followed her silent invitation, awkwardly sitting at her side.

Beautiful as she might be, and even though they’d traveled together before, he still didn’t feel completely at ease, being alone with her. In fact, the only reason why he’d agreed to follow her was because, even though ZaiWin had protested against their brief private talk, he still obviously trusted that she wouldn’t try to harm him in any way.

Not that he couldn’t defend himself, Snow thought, staring down at his open hands. The days where he'd been completely helpless were in the past. Now he was even confident that he could easily kill another person, if need be. But he’d rather not have to harm anyone, if he could avoid it.

VinWei straightened her back and took a deep breath, her expression going unusually solemn.

“So … before we start, and instead of just filling your head with information, I rather know if you have any questions. I know you didn’t know much about the Tien’Elhar⁷Literally tien (Heaven) + el (supreme) + har (girl child). The Heavenly Beings also known as Celestials in the common language. before you met ZaiWin. But you were with them, when they visited me at the Temple. So you’ve also heard what I’ve told them. You can ask whatever you want. I’ll try my best to answer your questions.”

Snow held his hands together, trying to review what he’d learned about those special beings, but couldn’t come up with any pertinent questions. Sure, there were still things he didn’t know. But he doubted they’d be that important.

VinWei took another deep breath and, faced with the boy’s silence, decided to take matters into her own hands.

“So, you already know that Tien’Elhar are believed to be holy beings, sent by the Heavens to help us care for the land, right?”

Snow nodded. Because in the beginning, unlike the other two Empires, Wen⁸Literally wen (sun). Name of one of the three Empires, Wen, Ran and Sen. (Sun, Moon and Star). Also used as surname by the members of the Imperial Family with ascending rights to the throne’s lands were barren and fruitless, he remembered that. The Tien'Elhar had been Heavens’ way to compensate the people that would have to live there.

“Tien’Elhar are born like any other person, and they are normally raised by the Temple,” VinWei went one. “Their birth is always foreseen by the Varsen⁹Literally var (sky) + sen (star). Meaning that who reads the stars in the sky. Name given to the Temple’s Seers. They can live in the Temple or as honorable guests of a Clan. a few days after conception. In case you don’t know, Varsen are a special kind of Jundai¹⁰Literally jun (work / worker) + dai (light). Or Workers of Light, or in service of the Light. Name given to the priests and priestesses of the Temple., blessed with the ability to see the future,” she thought it better to explain.

“When a Clan is told that they will soon bring a Tien’Elhar into the world, the mothers-to-be are normally taken to live in the Temple until the child is born. This way everyone is certain that they are well cared for and that nothing bad happens to the precious child they’re carrying.

"In some cases, however, especially in smaller Clans, some families decide to hide the fact that they’re expecting a Tien’Elhar until after the child is born. They then try to sell her to a group of men specialized in retrieving lost Tien’Elhar and delivering them to the Temple. And then we have the even rarer cases, when the Tien’Elhar remain lost for longer periods of time, ending up living like any other person for a few years.”

Which was his case, Snow knew.

“You shouldn’t feel bad by the fact that your family probably tried to sell you. You have to understand that, from the moment that the Varsen announces that the unborn child is a Tine’Elhar, everyone immediately knows that they won’t be able to keep it. So they detach themselves from the child, some even hide the expecting mothers and the pregnancy is kept a secret. Most Clans simply prefer to pretend that such thing never happened. Some husbands even doubt that the child his theirs. That’s why the Temple began to take the expecting mothers away from their families. Apparently it’s easier this way. As if the women just went on a small trip, and then they’re healthily returned.”

Snow nodded, understanding what she meant, even though that entire subject left an uncomfortable weight on his chest.

“You obviously also know that, that we know of, Tien’Elhar have always been girls with golden hair and golden eyes.”

Well, not necessary, Snow knew. Besides himself, he’d already met two other Tien’Elhar who were actually male.

“Also, unlike our daitai¹¹Literally dai (light) + tai (mark), or Holy Markings, considered Heavenly Blessings. They’re the source of power., that tend to change colors according to their intrinsic nature, Tien’Elhar’s daitai are always golden as well. And although they differ from Tien’Elhar to Tien’Elhar, their daitai always form a specific shape, reminding a pair of wings. They are also the only ones that possess daitai with the ability to heal, cleanse and re-balance, be it the land or other people.”

Snow looked up at her at that.

“No one else can do that?” he whispered and she smiled, glad that she’d finally been able to pull him into a more interactive conversation.

“No. There are those who can help the healing process, or alleviate a symptom. But no normal person can simply heal someone else the way you do.”

Snow averted his gaze, considering her words. So every time he’d used his healing daitai he’d been announcing he was actually very different from the rest of them. No wonder ZaiWin didn’t like it when he did that. Snow had been actually very lucky, that he hadn’t gotten them all into a lot of trouble.

“Then, besides that, there are other, even rarer Tien’Elhar. Like you.”

Snow’s eyes widened at that and VinWei gave him a gentle smile.

“It’s not only your daitai that holds the ability to heal, right?”

Snow went immediately tense at that.

“Your saliva does too, right? And I imagine your blood?”

Snow pressed his lips into a thin line and didn’t say a word.

Well, of course she’d know, he tried to rationalize it. But, even so, he couldn’t relax knowing that she knew.

“We call that blood-gifts. And although they're rare, you’re not the first Tien’Elhar to be born with one. Blood-gifts can be many different things. In fact, presently, there’s another Tien’Elhar that bears a blood-gift.”

Snow’s attention was doubly raised at that statement.

“The El’Dur¹²Literally el (supreme) + dur (ruler). Name given to the Emperor’s Tien’Elhar, Wen ElWan¹³Literally el (supreme) + wan (fire).. Because they are very rare and special, even though the fact that there's a Tien'Elhar who holds a blood-gift is publicly announced after they’ve been tested, the nature of the gift itself is kept a secrete. So no one really knows which gift ElWan possesses. Some say she can erase all pain. Others say she can nullify any poison.”

Snow lowered his gaze, feeling slightly relieved. So there were others like him even in that.

“Then there is another class of special Tien’Elhar,” VinWei went on. “We call them Songstresses. These are Tien’Elhar who are especially attuned to music. It’s said that every living being emits a certain and specific melody that only they can hear. These Tien'Ehar are able to control their daitai according to these melodies. But you probably understand this better than I do, right?”

Snow didn’t move a single muscle and VinWei sighed.

“Songstresses are also able to increase the effects of their daitai when they sing, and their voices are always beautiful to hear. And so they are very well-liked by the nobles.”

Not his voice, though, Snow thought, still pressing his mouth shut. His voice could only kill and destroy.

“At the present moment, there are two Songstress living in the Palace.”

Snow looked up at her, unable to hide his interest, and VinWei smiled at the urgency gleaming in those pale eyes.

“One of them is bound to one of the El’Gin¹⁴Literally el (supreme) + gin (gold). Name given to the male children of the Emperor. Could be translated into prince in the common language.. The other is still unbound, no more than a little girl.”

A little girl!, Snow repeated in his mind. Was she talking about the little girl he’d seen playing in the Temple?

“The little girl. When will she be bound?” he couldn’t stop himself from asking.

“Hmm. No one really knows. But she’ll have her first Haehir¹⁵Literally hae (blessed / sacred) + hir (ceremony / ritual). Blessing Ceremony held so that Tien’Elhar may find their Chosen One. this year. A Haehir is a very important ceremony, when people from all over the Empire come to see the Tien’Elhar in hopes she might choose them. I too, went to a couple of Haehir when I was younger,” VinWei confessed and Snow couldn’t help stare at her in disbelief.

“You wanted to be a Chosen One?”

“Of course! Who doesn’t?”

Snow averted his gaze. ZaiWin didn’t …

“It’s not only a great honor, it also means we’ll be bringing new blessings to our Province. It has been a few dozen years since Wei was blessed by a Tien’Elhar. This not only brings a certain amount of instability, it also makes the people lose faith in their Governor.

"When a Province is blessed by a Tien’Elhar the people become more tolerant, more resilient, more capable of facing any adversity that may come their way. Because they believe that their Tien’Elhar will do whatever she can, to make things better for them.

"When a Province doesn’t have a Tien’Elhar, like Wei, the people are more prone to openly show their discontentment, which can easily lead to inner conflicts. Of course Wei is lucky enough to have a very firm and stable government. And my cousin is one of the El’Dur’s Janwan¹⁶Literally jan (flower) + wan (fire). Could be translated as Concubine., which means that there’s a high probability that her daughter, El’Lin¹⁷Literally el (supreme) + lin (silver). Name given to the female children of the Emperor. Could be translated into princess in the common language. Wen NimWan¹⁸Literally nim (gentle) + wan (fire)., might become a Chosen One. Some even say that the Tien’Elhar presently residing at the Temple will be the future Tien’Elhar of Wei. And so things are presently kept more or less under control.”

“Have you … ever been to the Palace?” Snow hesitantly asked and VinWei nodded.

“I have. All the children from noble Clans between the ages of eight and twelve are expected to attend what they call the Study Halls. Basically we are required to stay at the Palace for a month every year, so that we can learn all sorts of things, from economics to management, combat and leadership skills, and, of course, about our duties and obligations as possible future heads of our Clans. And then there’s also the Seventh Year Gathering, where we spend an entire week somewhere away from the Palace, in a competition of survival skills. This is in order to make sure that the future leaders of the Empire acquire the necessary aptitudes and skills to govern their lands without straying from the righteous path.”

“So … you know the other Tien’Elhar?”

VinWei smiled at the sound of that small, uncertain question. It was logical that he would feel curious about those who were like him.

“I know about them, since I’ve dedicated my life to studying the Tien’Elhar. And I’ve seen them from afar. But since the El’Gin and El’Lin don’t attend the Study Halls, I’ve never actually been allowed to talk to them.”