The morning after the ritual, the village was alive with whispers. Liang Chen tried to slip through the streets unnoticed, but eyes followed him. Mothers clutched their children, and merchants exchanged sharp looks. Every gaze felt like a needle. He kept his head low, avoiding the central square, where villagers gathered in murmuring groups.
Mei Lin caught up with him near the river, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "They're talking about you again," she said, her voice low but firm. "Don't let them see you scared."
"I can't help it," Liang Chen admitted. "Eighteen… and nothing. No spirit animal. Everyone, everyone will remember me as the boy without a spirit. The disgrace of Lianzhou."
Mei Lin's eyes softened. "You're not a disgrace. You're… different. Stronger than any of them. I know it."
Liang Chen wanted to believe her, but doubts gnawed at him. The lion had appeared for a fraction of a second during the ritual, but no one had seen it. Was it truly his? Or had he imagined it?
That afternoon, Zhou Wei met him at the old training ground, a secluded grove where they had spent countless hours practicing swordplay and agility. "You need to prepare," Zhou Wei said, tossing him a wooden training sword. "If anyone tests you again, you have to be ready."
Liang Chen nodded, gripping the sword tightly. He swung, imagining the lion's power coursing through him. Even in the solitude, the roar echoed faintly in his ears, a promise, a warning, a destiny.
As the sun set, casting long shadows over Lianzhou, Liang Chen knew one truth: hiding was no longer enough. His spirit animal, his fate, and the kingdom's attention were all converging on him.
**
The wind swept through the village, carrying the scent of blooming plum trees and distant incense. Liang Chen sat by the riverbank, staring into the rippling water, lost in thought. Memories came unbidden, early mornings chasing Mei Lin through the fields, Zhou Wei lifting him onto his shoulders to reach the highest branches, laughter that once made the world feel infinite.
He had always loved spirit animals as a child. He would imagine a fox sneaking through the bamboo, a crane gliding gracefully over ponds, or a tiger prowling through the mountains. All the other children had found their companions, their guardians, and their freedom. But he had not.
"Stop staring at the water like it will answer your questions," Mei Lin scolded gently, appearing behind him. She crouched, resting her chin on her hands. "Come on. You need to eat before your training."
Liang Chen forced a smile, though it faltered. "Sometimes I wonder… maybe I was born without a spirit animal. Maybe I'm meant to fail."
Mei Lin's eyes flared with a mix of anger and sorrow. "Don't you dare say that. You have strength inside you that no one else can see. I've seen it. And so has the lion."
At the mention of the lion, a shiver ran down his spine. That golden roar during the ritual… was it truly his destiny speaking? Could he bear it? He turned away, hiding the fear in his eyes.
Zhou Wei appeared, carrying two wooden practice swords. "Ready or not, I'm still faster than you," he teased, though concern lined his features. Together, the three of them trained under the shadow of the plum trees, laughing and sparring as if the world outside, the judgment, the whispers, the shame, did not exist.
But Liang Chen knew it was only temporary. One day, the world would notice the lion's power. One day, he would have to face it.
**
The following morning, a commotion erupted in the village square. Liang Chen's heart sank as the elders convened under the pavilion, their faces grave and lined with worry. The village council had summoned him.
As he stepped forward, whispers erupted among the gathered villagers. "The boy without a spirit…" "He's eighteen…" "Will the king intervene?"
Liang Chen's mother stepped forward, hands trembling, eyes brimming with tears. "Please," she implored. "My son is not a disgrace. He is… special."
The council members exchanged uneasy glances. "This is unprecedented," one murmured. "A boy without a spirit animal, yet chosen by something… forbidden. The lion. That is a sign from the heavens."
The words hit Liang Chen like ice. The forbidden lion… he had only seen a glimpse of it, and yet it had chosen him. Fear gripped his heart. The council could punish him—or worse.
"Liang Chen," the eldest spoke, voice echoing across the square, "you are to be observed closely. Any misstep could bring shame to the village and the kingdom. You will be sent to the palace's middle grounds for assessment."
His mother's gasp was audible, her hands clutching his sleeve. "No! Please, do not send him there!"
Liang Chen held her gaze. "It's alright, Mother. I can handle it. I have to."
The council's decision was final. The middle grounds awaited, a testing ground for the weak and outcast. Yet in the pit of his stomach, Liang Chen felt a spark of resolve. He was no ordinary boy. And the lion… would not let him fail.
That evening, Liang Chen returned home, the weight of the council's judgment pressing down on him. His mother had prepared a modest meal, but she could barely eat. Her hands trembled as she placed a bowl of rice in front of him.
"Liang Chen," she whispered, voice breaking. "I am proud of you. No matter what anyone says, you are my son… and stronger than anyone can imagine."
He knelt before her, shame and love warring in his chest. "I… I don't want to disappoint you, Mother."
Tears streamed down her face. "You could never disappoint me. Even if the kingdom turns its back, even if the world laughs at you, you are mine."
Outside, the night settled over Lianzhou, quiet and watchful. Liang Chen stepped into the courtyard, feeling the cool air brush his skin. Somewhere in the distance, he thought he heard it, a low, golden rumble, like the lion stirring from slumber.
He clenched his fists. The middle grounds awaited, but he would not go quietly. Whatever trials lay ahead, he would face them, and one day, the lion would roar for all to hear.