Chapter Text
“It is only a simple resonance,” Lan Qiren said, gruffly. He flicked his sleeves outward with the sort of impatience that came with a man who needed something to do with his hands lest he somehow give away the fact that he was experiencing more than one emotion at a time. For a Lan, this was—something.
Beside him, still wholly amused, Cangse Sanren did not bother hiding her broad smile. “He’s only your favorite nephew. The precious second half of your life’s work?”
Lan Qiren puffed up in the way that said he was not about to argue with her over such trivial matters. He lifted his chin. “You need not make such a fuss over it.”
For most Dragels—elemental dragons—their true creature inheritance came in between the years of sixteen and twenty-five. While traumatic circumstances could force it to be outside of those boundaries, it rarely resulted in a living result, if any.
Some were simply early or late bloomers, often on account of family bloodlines and inherited secondary dragon or creature traits, depending on the Clan.
Dragels were creatures known for having large polyamorous mateships consisting of a triad—Alpha, Beta and Submissive—and additional ranks, Pareya (Protectors), Gheyos (Fighters) and so on. They grew and lived together in reciprocal harmony, strengthening and supporting each other, while also balancing out the tremendous amount of elemental magic that grew and brew in their veins.
It was quite a significant milestone in a young Dragel’s life for their coming-of-age ceremony, often only undertaken after their inheritance had come in.
Some individuals preferred to handle their own courtship on their own, seeking out Intended that would eventually become Bonded, while others chose to seek fortune-tellers, Oracles or legitimate Resonance spells to check whether a potential Bonded or Soulmate was close at hand.
Lan Qiren himself had not suffered such, in that he’d merely had to attend a certain Discussion Conference and his life had never quite been the same upon crossing paths with his now-Bonded triad.
Still, life went on and so did the natural order of things.
Five years ago, his beloved first nephew, Lan Xichen, had been Bonded to the devoted duo of Xiao Xingchen and Song Zichen, creating one of the most beautiful and harmonious triads the Lan Clan had ever witnessed and welcomed.
A far cry from the tumultuous and strange pairing of Lan Qiren, Liu Siyuan and Wen Ruohan.
No one spoke too loudly about what that meant for such an odd, chaotic triad, and the very obvious differences between them, least of all, Lan Qiren himself.
He had overseen the most recent traditional rituals among their Clan, after his brother and his beloved Bonded had entered a prolonged Resting Period that had taken a dangerous turn.
There were several Healer Clans overseeing that particular problem and in the interim, Lan Qiren was forced to step up as Acting Sect Leader in Qingheng-Jun’s place.
Which also included seeing to the Resonance spell in hopes of procuring Fated Soulmates for his prized nephews, including the youngest, Lan Wangji.
“I’m sure he will be blessed with a successful selection,” Wei Changze said, smoothly. “Xichen’s Resonance was quite memorable and he’s still very happy, from what I’ve heard.”
“Yes, but it took quite a few hours to come forth and settle.” Lan Qiren twisted his hands anxiously in the voluminous folds of his pristine white-and-blue robes. The many layers helped to hide the obvious threads of worry and concern he’d managed to pretend did not exist.
Beside him, an exasperated sigh came from Wen Ruohan. He was sitting on one of the cushioned seating areas on the outskirts of the summoning zone and now, reluctantly rose to his feet.
“Qiren,” he said, mildly. “Fretting about it won’t make it happen any faster. Or better. It will be whatever it will be.”
Lan Qiren did not deign to give him an answer.
“Wasn’t A-Ying coming?” Cangse Sanren asked, her voice a low murmur when she turned to her beloved. “He was complaining about not witnessing the last Lan Resonance summon. Didn’t he want to see this one?”
Wei Changze gave a slight shrug. “He was holed up in his workshop again. Something about a breakthrough. You know how he gets.”
“Really?” Cangse Sanren hummed, half to herself. “I thought he said he’d reached a good stopping point. He really wanted to see the spell in action. Should you try calling him to-”
“Mama!” Wei Ying—Wei Wuxian—came tripping across the final boundary line to the safety zone in a tumble of black and scarlet robes, his hair bouncing with each joyous step. He flung himself straight at his parentals with the knowledge of one who knew they would be caught, held and smothered in affection.
“A-Ying,” came the affectionate greeting. Cangse Sanren allowed him the hug and let him hang off of her shoulder, while leaning into his father’s side for the one-armed hug that kept him between them. “Did you even sleep last night?”
Her words were drowned out by the answering crackle and flare of magic activating all along the designated areas within the summoning space.
Wei Ying didn’t get the chance to answer or greet anyone. The Mages had finished their duty and the summoning was about to begin. He’d just barely made it in the nick of time.
The spell activated with a brilliant flash of white light streaming down from the sky and the subsequent shrieking whoosh of air that rattled through everything across the summoning platform, perfectly contained within the safety.
Dull grey stones lit up with pure blue-white light and as the pillar of light dissipated, a beautiful, ethereal being remained, kneeling elegantly in the center of the glowing concentric circles.
Between them, Wei Wuxian froze.
His grey eyes lit up, zeroing in on the kneeling figure in white.
Lan Wangji hadn’t been visible at all, when he’d first arrived. Partially obscured thanks to the preliminary activations of the spell and mostly, because of the usual Lan preferences that tended to run towards the private and sacred.
Witnessing a resonance was certainly a once in a lifetime event, unless one was quite literally a Lan. It was only the old connections as friends that had wrangled and invite for the Weis.
The brightness was just only beginning to settle, but now, the sole figure could be seen in all of his pristine brilliance.
A certain Alpha was now beautifully transfixed. His grey eyes had gone wide and round, awe highlighting each of his handsome features in turn, as he stared openly.
“Mama,” Wei Ying breathed. “He’s beautiful.”
Beside them, Lan Qiren made an alarmed sound in his throat. Wen Ruohan pressed his lips together and kept a tight hold on his Bonded’s sleeve. He knew exactly what it felt like to first lay eyes on his person.
Wei Wuxian seemed to have lost all awareness. He immediately untangled himself from his parentals’ side and scurried forward, hastily wiping his hands down the front of his spell-singed robes. It was clear he’d come straight from his workshop, covered in the fine debris of whatever experiment had exploded that morning.
He raked a hand through his sleek dark hair, the messy strands no longer looking as if they were sticking up haphazardly, but more like the telltale signs of a feathered dragon that had not recently taken the time to preen and order their feathers.
Gleaming bits of iridescent obsidian caught in the brilliant light of the residual glow. Wei Wuxian untangled two long, shimmering feathers from his hair, newly plucked. He approached the outermost glowing circle and then, carefully lowered himself into a kneel.
He stared at the glowing figure, still somehow brighter than anything else in the summoning space.
Quiet voices and murmurs picked up around them as other potential matches were ‘ported in, called by the Resonance that was meant to seek the most compatible partners available.
Some dragels gathered just outside of the marked safety line, eagerly awaiting permissions to approach or at least, a single sign from the dragel within. Furious whispers filled the air, dying down only when a few sharp glares came their way.
Wei Wuxian paid them no mind at all. He only had eyes for the pretty white-feathered dragon sitting so elegantly out of reach just in front of him. Such a beautiful dragon! Such brilliant feathers! Such poise and elegance that made him want to soar through the skies, screeching in delight.
Oh.
What a dragel!
They regarded each other silently.
A flicker of interest passing noticeably between them.
Wei Wuxian cautiously smoothed out the two feathers in his hands. He held them out on his palms and set them just inside the glowing circle, watching carefully to see if there was any reaction.
There wasn’t.
Until he flicked his fingers and the two feathers skittered across the stones and their glowing lines to deposit themselves in front of Lan Wangji’s kneeling form, just inches away from his pristine robes.
Slowly, he blinked, looking from the proffered two feathers to Wei Wuxian’s earnest face. The tiniest hint of a gentle smile touched his fine features, chasing away what would’ve been an icy, cold countenance.
“Oh,” Wei Changze breathed.
Lan Qiren made another wounded sound beside him.
Wei Wuxian tilted his head to the right.
Lan Wangji tilted his head to the left.
They continued to stare at each other, until Liu Siyuan came striding briskly across the safety zone and into the now-nearly dim space. She walked with purpose, head held high and approached Lan Wangji with care.
Wei Wuxian gave a sad chirp when his view was cut off. He had no chance to protest as his parentals bustled in, hustling him up and away with quick, efficient hands.
“Mama-!” He whined, a hint of a plea slipping through. “He’s so pretty. Can’t I court him? I would be good to him! Promise!”
“Hush,” she soothed, clicking and crooning at him. Liu Siyuan was quickly doing the same to Lan Wangji, hastily urging him up and keeping him mostly blocked from the eager eyes of the other potential suitors. “He’s just had quite a reaction to that spell and so have you. Come along.”
“But he-!”
“You gave him two feathers, that’s good. What if he accepts? What’s next?”
Wei Wuxian brightened. “Nest!” He said, his voice a raspy chirp. “Oh. Right. Yes.” He pulled free from their hands and went swooping off the edge of the summoning platform and into the cloudy skies below.
Cangse Sanren sighed.
“He gets that from you,” Wei Changze said, mildly. “Entirely from you.”
“Hush,” she said, slapping half-heartedly at his chest. “Qiren—are you alright with this—hey! Don’t you dare leave without-!” She scrambled to hurry after him even as Wen Ruohan cast a glance over his shoulder and vanished both of them in a flash-fire portal. “Oh, that infuriating man!”