Marks of weakness, marks of woe by Song_of_Storms
Marks of weakness, marks of woe
Summary: Lan Wangji hates him immediately, with a sharp stab in his gut that feels so real and fierce heâs surprised he doesnât start bleeding onto his shoes.
[A new student arrives on campus, bringing with him bad omens, sudden rivalries, and unwanted feelings.]
Kay's comments: This story is super interesting and I love the world-building in this and this particular flavour of dark academia. And also living for something was tagged with the words: Lan Zhan's canonical inability to distinguish between immediate hatred and immediate attraction. It's so good. A modern with cultivation story where students have to chose a cultivation specialty and to everyone's surprise, Lan Zhan decides to go for the dark arts. There's also a death on campus and very delicious angst. Wei Ying is a new student at the school and he immediately catches Lan Zhan's attention.
Excerpt: Lan Wangji grits his teeth. His technique is usually unmatched, a perfect balance of defensive and offensive. He has been complimented on it at tournaments. But this first year is matching him every step, as if he knows how he will move before he knows it himself. âYour swordplay would be better if you could afford your own equipment,â he spits out.
Wei Yingâs stance falters. Lan Wangji takes the opening, slashing at him with a perfectly legal but morally questionable cut. He will feel shame for it later, after he wins. Right now, all he feels is the slice of metal through air and the anticipation of contact.
Wei Ying staggers backwardâand then engages Lan Wangjiâs blade on the downward thrust. They disengage with twin grunts. Lan Wangjiâs anger is a living thing clawing at his temples. He wants to destroy Wei Ying, to put him in his place. The tenseness of Wei Yingâs shoulders signals the same desire. They are not playingâthere are no points, no score being kept. This is a skirmish for blood.
âIâd rather be poor than let money and status make me cruel,â Wei Ying says, all hint of the previous smile in his voice gone.
The rage simmering in Lan Wangji boils over. Gathering momentum, he launches himself into a flunge. When Wei Ying doesnât move, heâs sure he has him. But just as he brings his saber down in a perfect cut, the shape of Wei Ying changes, morphing into a liquid cloud of black smoke that Bichen slices clean through, and he stumbles to the floor. He rolls onto his backâand freezes at the sharp pressure of a blade against his chest and the gentle electric volt that follows.
Wei Ying pulls up his mask and stares coldly down at him. âAcknowledge.â
pov lan wangji, modern setting, modern with magic, dark academia, enemies to lovers, dark lan wangji, minor character death, murder mystery, familiars, heavy angst, implied/referenced suicide, intrusive thoughts, blood, mental health issues, getting together, getting to know each other
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