Gutter Rats Nest,

Hungry Moon House of Delights.

Placing a bowl of steaming water down with a cleaned cloth inside, she could not help but scowl at the ragged hoodlum. Of all the little lost who sought sanctuary within Mama Yujins House, he was the worst. Directly responsible for the loss of so many, less than a year ago.

It had to be him. A head far too big for his shoulders, it was always his hair-brained ideas they were always running after.

Sighing she smiled at Davi, beautiful child, as he thanked her for the bowl. She also knew she should be kinder to the lost, but that ragged one made her skin crawl. He was trouble and everyone knew it. Everyone except the lost who adored him, but they were gullible little ones so she didn’t begrudge them their poor choices.

No matter, he was of age and would soon be leaving enough. The sooner the better, he had already dug his claws into this little blond one. A veritable prize for the Hungry Moon House of Delights and one Mama Yujin favoured. Under their guidance he could help to swell their coffers, inevitably leading to a higher status. Maybe even allow her to open her own Night Tea House, but first this ragged freak had to go.

Mama Yujin had tolerated him long enough and had been cautious enough not to offer him work, lest he get the wrong idea about being welcome. Door work at least. She shivered at the thought, one look at what was under those rags and all their customers would abandon them for the swamps.

Davi noted the Aunty’s dirty look, but thanked her anyway for the hot water. It irked him deeply, but he knew better than to make a scene of it. Even Culus would scold him.

If he could just get Culus to engage a bit more with the Aunties, then perhaps they wouldn’t be so wary of him. Not that he was ever rude or unkind, just that he was never warm to them. Typical Culus, he rarely was these days.

It was only after she was well out of earshot that he spoke.

“I don’t think she likes you very much, buddy.”

Culus blinked at the interruption to his thoughts, staring after the retreating form of the Aunty.

“Thank you Davi, I’m sure I’ll survive.”

Davi shook his head grinning, carefully washing away at Culus’s wounded hand. The boys had already rinsed off in cold water but these burns still needed proper tending to, lest they give way to infection.

“Perhaps if you spent more time with them and tried being friendlier, you would get on the Aunties good side for once.”

“I am being friendly Davi, by spending more time away from them.”

“Culus!” Davi chastised him. “Our Aunties aren’t that bad.”

“I’m not saying they are. I’m saying with your blond hair and blue eyes, you must think the world is a whole lot friendlier than it actually is. Don’t fool yourself. Being friendlier won’t make a lick of difference on a person who is intent on destroying their own soul.”

“Whoa! Okay. Where did that come from, poor Aunty Asa. All I was saying was try making her smile once in a while. Man Culus, how lucky are you to have me around to pull you from that mind of yours.”

Culus rolled his eyes at Davi’s antics. Still, he liked that he defended her, they were after all his Aunties too. One day, heavens willing, he would find a way to help them out and pay them back. Kindness of any form was a rarity in Qaelang, but it should always be rewarded. It was just that Davi was a higher priority for him.

“She’s a painted Lady Davi. The only thing that’ll put an actual smile on her face is Kwon. She has no Doa. It’s not her choice of profession that broke her soul, not that it helps mind you. But her complete belief that if she just had more coin, all her problems would go away. That’s what made her a whore. That’s what makes everyone a whore.”

“You’re right to say our Aunties aren’t that bad. They at least have the decency to paint their faces, whilst everyone else wears fake smiles believing they’re something they’re not. Yet chasing the exact same dream as our Aunties do.”

“What are you talking about Culus? We chase coin all day, every day.”

“Koku for rice and other basics is not the same as metaled Kwon. Ours is for survival, theirs is for greed like a hoarding Jiang Shi.”

“Culus the problem with deep thoughts, is the deeper you go the darker they get.”

“It’s not a deep thought Davi, it’s the plain truth. We live in an Aquacella under a whore house. I’m not blind to their hopes and wishes, I’m not deaf to their whispers. More coin passes through those walls in a single night than we’ll ever make as a clan. And still, it’s not enough for them.”

“Without Doa, nothing is enough.”

“Ah,” Davi exclaimed. “The Doa talk again. Impressing upon us lowly gutter rats to be all we can. I got to say Culus, it sounds good and all, but I honestly don’t think Doa is for people like us. Aren’t you supposed to have a second core for it? Like a separate one, not of your own. Ugh, you know what I mean.”

“Doa is for everyone, Davi. All the better if you are more desperate for it and pursue it with zeal, but yes there are… requirements, or rather preparations for it. Most of it happens on Naming Day.”

“I love Naming Day!” Davi smiled. “Food everywhere, the colourful clothes, bright new lanterns and everyone being so generous on their way to Temple. It’s a great day for easy pickings. Are you saying we can get some Doa on Naming Day too?”

Culus smiled at Davi’s notion of it, he wasn’t wrong about the day at least. It was a joyous occasion that even he looked forward to when it came around.

“Well, yes and no. Naming Day is when you swear your Truth publicly before the monks. State it out loud and seal it within a Core, making sure the Core never breaks. The monks then give you a new name based on your Doa, hence Naming Day. I think it has something to do with the last war of men. They might also say a prayer or give you a blessing.”

“So, Truth is Doa then?” Stated Davi. “Why’s it so important if everyone has their own Truth? Or for that matter why would a Core break?”

“No, Truth is not Doa. Look, I hate that I keep going back to Atticus, but he’s the one who taught me most of this stuff. He insisted no one has Truth. He said that confusing Truth with opinion was akin to calling a whore a lady or a coward a hero. Truth is absolute and never changes. That’s why mortals struggle to understand it and the heavens guard it.”

Davi winced at the examples given. “It’s just manners Culus.”

“Whatever it is, it’s wrong and I’m guessing that’s why Cores break too. Every time you are confronted by a real Truth, it either adds or takes away from your spoken Truth. Making sure the core doesn’t break, is like plotting a path. Understanding this path is the same as understanding your place in this world. This is Doa.”

“I’m guessing people go through a lot of Cores.” Davi chortled.

“Oh you’re an ass,” but even he laughed. “Apparently, it’s terribly shameful when it happens. I’d be far more concerned about the burns a disintegrating core leaves behind. Wouldn’t want to be mistaken for a Heretic. I’d suggest just buy an expensive core. They are guaranteed to last.”

Davi nodded along to Culus’s words as he finished binding his hand, a mischievous smile tugging at the edges of his mouth.

“So, the requirements for this vow, are an expensive core and probably some gifts too. Wouldn’t want to be named after a toad or something like that.”

“I know nothing of the ceremonial intricacies behind it, but it makes sense getting a high-level Core for the vow. Most folks bring weapons with Core’s already attached to them, asking for the entire thing to be blessed.”

“Oh, and now there’s a weapon involved too.” Stated Davi, his tone rising.

Culus looked over to his blond friend, his weariness growing.

“It’s symbolic Davi, but it makes sense. It’s death by hanging for any merchant caught falsifying Core levels on their weapons. Age, use, rank, anything falsely promoted about a Core that’s attached to a weapon, is an immediate death sentence. Which is understandable considering how expensive those weapons are.”

Davi chuckled ruefully.

“Thanks, Culus. I think I understand it better now. Attaining Doa within Qaelang sounds like a well-polished system. One might even say… frightfully expensive system.”

“Oh, you slimy Pyeanchi,” Culus growled now fully understanding where Davi was going as the boy burst out laughing.

“So, back to when I said Doa was not for us poor folks, who can’t even match the income a certain Night Tea House brings in a single evening.”

Culus could only shake his head.

“It truly is a marvel at how much of a stubborn ass you can be. All you’ve done is shown how greed is suffocating Qaelang. If you spent even half that amount of energy on not being such a rebel, we’d probably already have our own spears and shields already.”

“Are you sure it’s a spear you want? After seeing you dance with Juri I thought you might want to be a Master Wuxia blade wielder.”

Culus cringed. “You were watching.”

“I was.”

“I thought I told you to go straight to the nest.”

“I did. Don’t make this about me. What were you thinking, starting a fight with Juri? He’s dangerous. Did you think you could beat him one-handed?”

Culus grimaced getting seriously uncomfortable, “Come on Davi. It’s been a really shit day.”

“Imagine if there hadn’t been a string on that flare and you used your right hand. Then what, would you have still fought him?”

Culus hid his face in his hands and groaned. He hadn’t even thought of that, he’d just reacted impulsively. He felt a chill go through him as he imagined himself fumbling trying to pick up the knife in his now bandaged hand.

"I’m sorry Davi. I just got so angry.”

“How!? Seriously, Culus how? I’ve seen him spit on you and you didn’t even hit him. Today you pull a knife on him after you promised me you were okay.”

“I was okay! I am okay. It’s not about me, Davi! It’s about Meera. He hid things from me and now we have over sixty children missing. So yes, I got really angry. Worse, I can’t stop blaming myself for it all. If I had just done something different. They trusted us, Davi.”

“Would you have stabbed him?” Davi interjected

“No…Maybe. I would have chased him off for sure.”

“You can’t save them all Culus.”

“Doesn't mean we shouldn't try. I just can’t shake this feeling that my time here is almost up. I mean I know it is, Mama Yujin won’t let me stay any longer. But it’s more than that. It’s Meera, it’s the massive Beast Wave’s, more peaks of the City being sealed off and barred. That creature, and then on top of it all there’s all the blind greed you so eloquently stated.”

Davi snorted, but there was no humour to it. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say Culus was scared.

“We’ll face it together buddy. I’m not going anywhere, well unless you are. Then I’m coming with.”

Culus sighed heavily, feeling a hidden weight fall away. “Thank you Davi. For the bandage.”

Davi smiled and nodded, there was nothing more that needed being said.

The boys sat quietly under the stars, waiting for the Taker’s call before heading below. Each wrapped in thoughts of the day to come tomorrow, before noting the first of the Lanterns to take to the night skies. Both perked up watching as the number grew.

“Oh, gee. Look Culus. There’s so many.”

Together the boys watched in silent dread and equal measure amazement. Thousands of slow-rising Lanterns ascended high over the mountain city and out over the Ocean. Each one containing a prayer written by a loved one and blessed by a monk that it might reach the heavens safely.

It was a haunting beauty that plagued Davi. As much as he was enthralled by the lantern's glow. Their number was disquieting. He had never seen so many before in a single night. Looking to Culus, even his eyes were locked on them, worry plain to see on the Runner clan leader's face.

In reverence, he whispered. “After tonight, things are going to be different for a lot of people. Whether they like it or not. Times are changing.”

It was beautiful. It was tragic.