Dragon Rising

Year 1295 - Rising Dragon City, Martial Mainland

It was a cold winter night. The first frost's snow fell gently, melting as they touched the ground. Slowly, the snow picked up, covering the ground in a thin white blanket.

On an empty street, a lone figure was trampling on the light snow-covered roads, running at an unfathomable speed. The figure's breathing was unstable. She was constantly exhaling vapor out of her mouth as she gasped for air. Her body was covered in a dull brown colored robe. She carried something under her robe as she ran. The sounds of nearby families enjoying their meals were like cruel whispers driving her to continue.

She stopped in front of an ordinary looking house made of a dark colored wood. Light shone from the window and jolly sounds could be vaguely heard from inside. Along the street were many similar looking houses.

She looked left and right and bit down on her lip. She took out what she was carrying under her robe. In her arms was a quiet baby with eyes wide and shining covered in a cloth saying two words, 'Long Yang'.

"Ahh!" The baby stretched its tiny arms towards the lady. Tears started to flow as the lady hugged the clueless and joyful baby. In a quiet voice almost inaudible, "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry." The lady took the baby away from her embrace, "Yang'er… you have to be good without me okay?" The baby tilted its head, "Ah?" The lady slightly smiled before she took out a jade necklace and placed it around the baby's neck. She then gently set the baby down onto the doorsteps of the house in front of her. She took one final glance at the baby before running in the direction opposite where she came from, tears falling from her cheeks.

After a short while, a figure dressed in all black crossed by the baby with a clear intent of chasing someone down. His figure passed by the baby for a mere millisecond before vanishing, his speed a level higher than that of the lady's.

The baby was laying there, silently staring up at the bright starry night. He reached his tiny arm up to the sky. A snowflake slowly descended and fell atop his palm. He brought his hand back and looked at the snowflake. It was pure white, the baby closed his eyes and cried out with glee. But he reopened them only to see that the snowflake was no longer there.

The baby tried its best to look around for the snowflake but to no avail. The snowflake was gone. The baby teared up, "waaaaaahhhhhh!" He started flailing his small arms in the air.

The door to the house opened and an old lady stepped out. She looked towards the source of the sound. "Hmm? A baby?" She picked up the baby into her arms and rocked him back and forth. "There, there, no need to cry. Where are your parents?"

The noise slowly got smaller and smaller before the only audible sound was the falling of the snow. The baby was fast asleep. The old lady looked at the baby in deep contemplation as if reminiscing about something. After twenty seconds, the old lady walked inside with the baby in her arms.

-

In a small voice, the old lady called out, "Hey, geezer! Come here!"

"Whaaat? Speak louder, I can't hear you!" a grumpy voice sounded out. The old lady felt the baby squirm a little, its face had a slight frown.

"This stupid old man, I swear…" mumbling under her breath, the old lady started gentling rocking the baby back and forth, easing his frown. She then walked towards the dining room.

Inside the room, an old man was seated at a table drinking some tea. "I couldn't hear you, what did you need-" He looked towards the old lady before his eyes widened. He raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice, "Old woman, is that what I think it is?" The old lady nodded, "he was just left there at our doorstep. I've decided that we're going to raise him."

"Raise him? That's insane! You've gone senile with age, old woman! Y-you…" The old man stopped talking. "You're still hung up over him aren't you…" He closed his eyes before taking a deep breath. He got up and walked closer to get a better look at the baby. The old man stretched his hand out towards the baby before stopping halfway, his hand shaking.

He retrieved his hand, "so what'll be his name?"

The old lady looked for something on the baby that could signify his name. She found the two words on the cloth. "There are two words here, 'Long Yang'. This must be his name."

"So his name is Long Yang… Yang…" the old man looked down for a second before shaking his head. "Long Yang is a good name."

The old lady looked at the baby and grinned, "this is your home now, Long Yang." The baby's mouth curved, a smile somewhat visible on his face.