The Birth of the War Goddess

I begin my day with a full body wash... Nothing too elaborate like for big events but still enough to keep my skin as soft as a flower

In my daily routine I try not to have maids assisting me but in some occasion it is impossible to send them away.

Fortunately today I can just relax in the water alone, giving time to a fresh cut on my shoulder to heal without anyone noticing.

If someone was to see this, it would be a big problem, same for the others I had in the past... Luckily I heal very fast, even too fast according to the Doctor.

I'm so full of scars that wasn't it for the family doctor being on my side, I would have already been sold as a slave.

I normally don't get hurt in my trainings being always cautious, but sometimes it's inevitable...

Scars for a woman are considered one the worst things to happen.

I saw a girl completely loose her mind for a little scrape on the wrist while picking up a broken cup... Sometimes one's husbands or fiances even abandon them because of scars.

Like the wife of a famous merchant of scented oils

The say that she tried to cook for her husband one day and, being that her first time in the kitchen, a knife fell from her grip leaving a really big scar on the back of her hand.

According to him, holding such hands was unbearable and thinking that those hands could touch "his" son was simply disgusting so he threw her outside and remarried.

I caress my shoulder

-I can't imagine what face my mother would do if she saw this... Or all those old white scars on my legs

She could even hire a doctor to sand my skin down...-

The thought alone give me goosebumps.

I heard such a practice exist and I can't imagine the pain...

Having someone almost peel off your own skin just to please the eye of your husband while in bed... This is what it's really disgusting, not the scar itself.

Once out of the bath I dedicate some time to comb my hair until dry and head to have breakfast...

Some almond tofu and a bit of freshly made Jasmine tea, a merchant gifted it to us trying to please our family in chosing his son out of all the other candidates...

It tastes really good, even better mixed with some honey.

One thing is sure, I will get to eat many new delicious things if I got married into that family.

-Xing'Er, have you seen my mother today?- -No my lady... I heard she asked for breakfast to be delivered in her chamber-

-I understand, thanks a lot-

-At your service Miss- she bows going away.

She isn't a bad girl, she doesn't fully understand me but at least doesn't go against me... She only dreams of being noticed by a rich man and become a Lady, I suspect she finds me quite ungrateful in her heart...

After breakfast I decide to go meet my mother.

I find her still seated in bed with a bowl of soup in her hand...

I knock, entering anyway

-Good morning mother, I heard you were eating here... Is something the matter?- I ask seating beside her bed

-Oh! My Lai'Er...- she puts the bowl down on the bedside table -Nothing to worry about...

I just received a news which schoked me a bit, but it's not important now-

-What is that about?-

-You are curious as always, my child- she smiles poking my nose like a caring mother with a young kid

-A good woman of manners mustn't ask questions, you know that.

There are only two times for a woman to be curious, when she's a baby and need to learn and once she's a mother so to organize better her children's life-

-I understand- I look away to catch up my breath

-But still... It must be something that really burdens you for staying here alone-

-If it was a few years ago I would still be out there filling myself of delicacies with you... I'm just old and my emotions gets the best of me, don't you worry Lai'Er...

Just think about finding more contestants now, go go!- she almost push me off the chair so I take the hint and leave the room.

I spend the rest of the day in the library,

I take a pile of books, some paper and ink...

I open up a book which I haven't read yet called "War of Gods"

-Weird... I don't recall ever seeing it- I caress the first page and open it

I start reading while working on the ink...

It's not really a story but more like a record of Ancient Heavenly battles.

Most of them were born out of pride, some where to conquer the right of ruling over ancient regions of China and some others just to prove who was stronger... The Military Gods always won such wars according to the book.

t's quite fair honestly.

Heaven must have been a continuous fight according to this book.

Not even deities can maintain peace... But weren't the three Sanhuang keeping order in the heavenly society? Nuwa is remembered principally for that...

Not to mention the Cosmic Gods above, Pangu died for us to exist.

-What are you doing my daughter?-

-Oh father... I was getting ready to practice my calligraphy-

-Oh really good... Mkh- his voice is a bit dry and he hold back a bit of a cough -Ohoh! am I already in that age where you feel such little rain on the body? Ahh your father is getting old my daughter-

-I was told that mother too was feeling unwell today-

-Arh! Don't bother with her, she's just seeking attentions- he laughs so I join him

-Well... I'll be going away a few days soon, my dear daughter, be sure to look after your mother for me-

-Did something happened?-

-No, I just want to go meet a friend of mine to talk about some business and then I'll go meet your brother if I have some time left... Will you be good?- he places an hand on my shoulder

-Of course father, I'll make sure everything will be the same at your return-

-Good! This is my daughter! Let me take you out for some good tea before I depart-

-I would love that-

...

After lunch I take my basket and head for the forest instead of the mountain, I wouldn't mind my typical training but what if i ruin the healing process of my shoulder?

I cannot afford that, you never know when a special guest will arrive or when an important dinner take place, even less predictable is my mother's obsession with new dresses and my shoulder must close up as soon as possible before such a day comes... I won't be able to hide it it's it's this big and reddish.

So no arrow shooting for today.

I take the annoying situation as a training

...

Once there I tie my arm behind my body, using my teeth to secure the knot, and decide to train the other one only...

Don't warriors often find themselves injured on the battlefield? Or even lose one arm or leg... If not fully prepared they won't be able to overcome such a situation.

If they can, I can do even better!

...

At dinner my mother makes an appearance with her gloomy face, my father throws a stare at her as if to scold her and we eat in almost complete silence...