Ming Ran only had one memory of his grandfather. A big, burly, strong man who spoke with gusto and could be heard even whispering. He met this giant when he was three years of age. The man walked into his courtyard, followed by at least a dozen frantic maids and asked the three year old child why he wouldn't speak. This man crotched down and asked him question after question about why he wouldn't even babble. Ming Ran felt wave upon wave of shame, until finally the man sighed. He sat down cross legged in the grass next to him, suddenly looking very much his age.
"I suppose it was too much to hope that I'd be called Grandfather by you either." Ming Cheng had called him Grandmaster with the seriousness of a student when he was three years old. Ming Quan was intimidated and called him General Ming. He had been hoping that he'd be called grandfather by one child, at least. He picked Ming Ran up and carried him inside, he began to write out documents with his youngest grandson on his lap. So lonely did this man look, that Ming Ran used his finger to write the words "grand" and "papa" on his official documents.
"You... you..! A genius! An utter genius!!" He ran to his son and shoved the documents in his son's face and roared about Ming Ran's writing. The only reaction they got was how Ming Ran was weak, he shouldn't have ink all over his fingers, what if he ate it. Hours later, his grandfather sat him on his lap staring out at his courtyard.
"You wrote that so that I would be happy, didn't you?" he smiled down at him, "Thank you, however, just because you make someone happy, doesn't mean you should always give them what they want. Otherwise, you will be taken for granted. You play the part of gentle child, or kind child, of weak child because that is the role my idiot son has assigned you. You--" his grandfather had paused and looked up at the stars. They sat in silence for a bit longer, before his grandfather gave him one last piece of advice:
"When you leave this place, do not look back. Trust me when I say, you have already paid them back enough. Look forward to the vast horizon and go where you wish. Do not ever find yourself trapped in this place."
Those were the last words his grandfather had given him. He never came back again. Years later, Ming Ran was kidnapped and taken from the Ming Residence. He, too, never came back.
All that was left was Wen Quinn. He stood his ground, sleeves billowing, breathing heavy. He glared at Cang Mu with vehement fury. Ming Ran took a few steps behind Cang Mu, feeling the intensity of his hatred. He wracked his brains, but knew he had never-- not since he was born-- seen Wen Quinn look quite like this. A part of him-- the part he knew to be Elle in all her essence that was leftover in himself-- felt gratified by this wretchedness. For the first time, in either of their lives, they felt seen.
Elle had always been playing the role of sanctuary, and eagerly stepped forward to bare their burdens alongside them. She died by playing that role and she was well aware of how she had made it to that wretched state in the first place. A feeling that Ming Ran had carried with him since he was born in this life. A child born mute, he was the treasure of the Ming family. Coddled, constantly monitored, and treated like frail porcelain. He had never been seen as anything more as what others perceived him as. Now he stood tall, and fought for a different path.
"Why? Why would you choose him? Why?!" Wen Quinn spat. Ming Ran signed his reasons, but never really knew if they were heard. His brother charged forward. Cang Mu and him clashed blades, the cry of metal sprang through the air. Sparks flew as the two thrusted themselves into battle only to step back and circle each other. They sized each other up. Wen Quinn was a dragon's child. He was bold and fierce in his execution. Entitled with his birthright, he strode forward in the clouds. Cang Mu was a child born in the mud. He was a dog raised among wolves. A creature that was tasked to be loyal and trainable had broken free of the chains that restrained him long ago. He was deadly and bounded forward. Wild and free, burden-less and unrestrained. Their swordsmanship was an extension of their character. Wen Quinn's every move was calculated and refined. He had been trained since he was young to move with an elegance befitting his station. Cang Mu had fought countless battles. He was not limited to fighting clean. Born in mud, he was perfectly capable to getting dirty.
Ming Ran threw a few daggers to throw Wen Quinn off, and finally, after an hour, the dragon fell at the maws of the hound. All that was left was Ming Ran and Cang Mu. They looked at each other, and smiled. They had outlasted all the rest. Ming Ran and Cang Mu approached each other.
"Sorry. I dragged you through a lot to get here. I need the prize, so I won't hold back." Ming Ran nodded. They took a few minutes to catch their breaths, and began to fight in earnest. Ming Ran kept his daggers close, Cang Mu was quick and if his weapons left his hands, he would be left defenseless. Cang Mu's sword slashed through the air. Their attacks were nothing like they were before. Cang Mu would parry and thrust, teasing Ming Ran. They danced around each other, their blades caressing each other. Ming Ran smiled. They weren't going easy on each other-- in fact, they were fighting with everything they had, but they were having fun. Ming Ran jumped back, flipping through the air and giving himself some space. His daggers whistled through the air as Cang Mu charged forward. One of the blades cut Cang Mu's cheek, and at the same time, Cang Mu's blade had found his upper arm. The two were in perfect sync even fighting each other. As they continued to fight, the tower fell away and a star scape began to eat away at the ground beneath them. Finally, they stood inside what looked like a massive nebula. The dragon peered down at them from within. Two stars floated down. It waited.
Cang Mu looked toward Ming Ran.
"I think it's giving us a gift." he grinned. He took the stars and held them out to Ming Ran. "Which one would you like?" Ming Ran blushed and took the shy, blue one. He looked up at Cang Mu, his eyes questioning his choice.
"Up to you." Cang Mu held the red star close.
...and with that, the tournament was over. They found themselves standing on a dais, surrounded by everyone. Cheers echoed across the land, yet neither of them heard anything else above each other's heavy breaths. They had both won. Together.