Jax dashed towards the lake, the wind screaming like a banshee in his ears. Daggers of lightning split the sky in two, illuminating the park in a ghostly pale light.
As he neared the ancient banyan tree, his heart pounded in his chest. Feelings of exhilaration and fear gripped him as he wondered if he was ready, truly ready, to meet this creature that he had known, and yet not known, all his life.
He was so close to Peng now. He could feel him in every muscle and organ of his body, as if he was inside Peng’s skin and Peng was inside his.
It was like a sanctuary under the ancient banyan tree, quiet and still, reminding Jax of the feeling inside the monastery. But out on the lake, the wind whipped the water’s surface into a boiling frenzy. Jax took out the small cloth bag the Abbot had given him and loosened the top. He began to sprinkle the protective herbal powder on the ground in a circle around him.
Jax had almost completed the circle, but a sudden cry from behind made him turn around. No, don’t get distracted, Jax, he told himself, remembering the Abbot’s words of warning. He quickly went back to sprinkling the herbs. When he had finished, he looked out over the lake. Then he concentrated on calming his mind as he waited for Peng to come.
Soon the air filled with a sweet fragrance as Peng rose out of the water. Jax watched in awe while the great beast came towards him. As Peng lifted his head, beads of water like falling stars trickled from his beard. Jax touched the scales on Peng’s neck. Each one was edged in fine gold hairs and shimmered as if they had been bathed in rainbows. He ran his fingers over the velvet fur on Peng’s ears, then stroked the silver mane that glistened like rolling mercury. ‘Peng,’ he whispered.
As Jax looked deep into Peng’s emerald eyes, he saw mountains and valleys, rivers and plateaus. He saw planets and stars and the vastness of the universe and beyond. And at that very moment, hidden from the eyes of the world, the secret life between a boy of the earth and a creature of the stars was set into motion.
Mingzi.
Jax was surprised. Peng wasn’t actually speaking to him in words, but rather transferring his thoughts. Strangely, Jax felt them as if they were his own.
You are of the earth, Mingzi, I am of the stars. My power is nothing without yours. Inside and out, we are each other.
As Peng spoke, Jax felt the power of this great creature grow inside him, but he also felt his own strength growing and expanding.
Peng lifted his head in the direction of the sea.
There is a mass of dark energy out there. We must stop it before it reaches land.
Yes, the silver wind, Jax said in his mind. But how can we stop something so strong? We are both still young.
We can try, we must try. Come, Mingzi. We have to prepare ourselves.
Jax hesitated, wondering what to do next. Then he remembered the Abbot’s words, ‘On Peng’s forehead just below his horn, will be a diamond pattern of scales. Place your left palm there.’ Peng lowered his head and Jax touched the spot with the palm of his hand. At once, to Jax’s astonishment, his hand became transparent like clear jelly and he could feel himself melting into Peng’s body.
Jax drew his hand back quickly, afraid.
No, Mingzi. To become a Peng Master, you must continue.
Jax looked into Peng’s eyes again and as he did he saw himself reflected in them, swimming in them. He saw the turmoil under the sea, and the rains and the floods that were storming down on the earth. He saw the sky over the ocean and the dark energy gathering, and he felt the incredible destructive power it possessed. He saw what Peng had seen. Jax now knew what he had to do, what he was born to do.
Without hesitating this time, Jax placed his hand back on Peng’s forehead. He felt himself melting into Peng, their minds, their souls, coming together. And then he began to see through Peng’s eyes as if they were his own. They were separate entities, the creature from the stars, the boy from the earth, and yet they were as one.
Peng raised his silver mane. Like the waves on the sea, it rose and fell, gathering momentum. His great tail streamed out behind him and he took off majestically into the sky.
As Jax looked down, he saw his body, small and defenceless, lying by the roots of banyan tree as if in a deep sleep. His only protection was the magic circle. For a moment, he wondered if he would ever wake up in that body again. But Peng’s voice filled his head.
We must be as one mind if we are to engage in this battle, Mingzi.