313 Grimoire Making 4 (1/2)

Chang E returned two hours later and informed Merlin that the Qilin was ready to meet them. Zero was excited when he got to know that there would be a chariot pulled by white rabbits escorting them to the grand palace.

The ride to the palace could only be described as cute. Zero didn't know that rabbits could grow to the size of half a man but they were still fluffy with long ears that Zero wanted to hug. Merlin didn't comment and sat in the carriage that Chang E prepared for them. The deity didn't sit in the same space as them but chose to guide the rabbit mounts and flew in front.

According to the books in his mindscape library, the Qilin looked like a giraffe but there were so many variations that Zero didn't know what the actual qilin looked like. Still, meeting a mythical creature thrilled the young doctor.

Merlin was worried. Although he was the saviour of all the residents in the moon dimension, they were still respectable mythical beasts with pride as tall as Mount Olympia. Chang E would not be able to convince them to help him out and even if the Qilin agreed, not all the zodiacs and guardians are as willing to aid someone whom they don't even know. The debt towards a benefactor only went so far after all.

They arrived at the main palace and Zero didn't have much time to take in the magnificent structure and all the details before he was pulled into the main hall where a strange young man with long white hair in yellow robes was seated on a golden throne.

\”Qilin,\” Merlin greeted and Zero gawked. Wasn't the Qilin a Chinese unicorn? Shouldn't it look something like a horse? The Qilin before Zero looked completely human. He was fair-skinned and had deep blue eyes with a strange red mark on his forehead. Other than that, Zero could have easily mistaken him for a man.

\”Benefactor, what brings you all the way here? The visit was too sudden for us to make any preparations,\” the Qilin smiled and Zero noted how gentle his voice sounded.

Merlin bowed in apology. \”Benevolent Qilin, I came here to ask for a favour on behalf of my student.\”

The mythical creature looked a Zero with curiosity and Zero hastily bowed to introduce himself.

\”I'm Zero, a student of Hua Tuo and Merlin's.\”

Hearing the physician's name, the Qilin brightened up. At once, Zero saw flowers starting to bloom around the vast hall. Chang E was no longer in sight but Zero thought she would have been surprised by how the hall's interiors were suddenly full of flowers.

\”The divine doctor has finally taken on a student? Goodness! This calls for a celebration. Zero, if you see the divine doctor again please pass him our gratitude,\” the Qilin said and bowed, getting off his throne.

Zero felt awkward being bowed to by such a splendid creature even if he looked like a man. Merlin decided to cut to the chase after Zero introduced himself.

The Qilin smiled. \”I understand. This is not a place to talk, why don't both of you follow me to the garden? My wife Feng Huang is waiting with some snacks.\”

Unable to refuse the kind hospitality, Merlin found himself agreeing and followed Qilin's lead.

Feng Huang was a beautiful lady dressed in red with the same strange mark on her forehead. She smiled prettily when she saw Merlin and her husband. Zero used appraisal on her and found out that Feng Huang only looked human. In truth, she was actually another mythical creature also known as the phoenix.

The four of them sat at a small stone table in a garden beside a clear pond. Feng Huang poured them tea and Merlin took a sip before starting the discussion.

\”We want to create a grimoire out of paper from the barks and leaves of the Tree of Knowledge and Tree of Life. However, the binding for these pages that we currently have cannot control these pages. It's too powerful and they refuse to cooperate with each other. The magic that Zero intends to create rivals the power of all creation.\”

Feng Huang took a look at Zero and caressed his cheek. \”No wonder I thought he looked familiar.\”

Zero didn't know the lady but he didn't sense any ill intentions coming from her so he let her do as she pleased, even going so far as to amuse her by leaning further into her touch. Qilin didn't say anything but he looked troubled.

\”Benefactor, by any chance is he...?\”

Merlin nodded. \”The one you've all been waiting for. He might not be the Jade Emperor but he is the one Buddha said would arrive one day. I'm sorry that I cannot find the whereabouts of the Jade Emperor after that incident. He may not be among the living anymore.\”

Qilin looked crestfallen but he understood. Hiding the pain away from his eyes, he turned to the teenager whom his wife had taken interest in.

\”Huang-er, will you send the message to the zodiacs and the guardians? I believe it is time.\”

The phoenix looked surprised but obeyed and took her leave, transforming into a huge flaming bird that took to the skies and disappeared from sight.

\”Benefactor, some of them have already passed on. I'm currently holding on to some of the remaining pieces of their souls they left behind. Please follow me.\”

Merlin didn't explain anything and nobody paid Zero any heed so the poor teen followed behind his teacher mutely like a shadow. Qilin led Merlin to what looked like a memorial hall. There were painted portraits hanging on the walls and some of them had small pots beneath the paintings. Merlin didn't have to look to know what those were. He'd seen enough urns in his life to know.

\”Who's left?\” he asked in a pained voice.

The Qilin looked tired as he answered. \”Rat is hiding in Hell with Baal. Snake is waiting for her time to come in her lair. Rooster is spending his time with the Vermillion Bird here in peace. Boar and Dog spend their time playing chess and idling away. Lamb comes here once a day to clean up the urns and pay respects to the fallen comrades. Black Tortoise is gravely ill, White Tiger has already fallen into a coma for the last decade.\”

Merlin grimaced. \”The dragons...?\”

Qilin laughed bitterly. \”Became pearls. They couldn't withstand the pain of feeling their brethren getting murdered. They're resting in their urns now.\”

Merlin didn't know what to think. Of twelve zodiacs, only six remained. Of the four guardians only one is healthy and one had already passed on. To think that if Zero came any later, the moon dimension would have been nothing but a resting place for the once-powerful mythical beasts of the old world.