The Man in the Spire: Book 1, Chapter 4—A Sky for a Cup

Art by https://linktr.ee/ebonmournecomics

Credit to BulletBarrista for editorial assistance

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Book 1: Chapter 4
A Sky for a Cup

Troy Rechlin - 2nd Lieutenant of the Peacekeeper Union Corp

“Welcome to the Village of the Lost!” The elderly man in tan robes bellowed, making a grand entrance for an audience of one.

It was a minor miracle Troy didn’t plant his fist squarely into the old man’s jaw out of shock. Still on edge and with no clue of the dangers, he shifted in to a defensive posture, feet planted and shoulders squared. Every instinct screamed for his sidearm, the one that should have been “surrendered” along with every other weapon mere moments ago.

The old man reacted as if Troy had just performed the greatest piece of slapstick in history. His laughter burst forth in enormous, uncontrolled fits. Each breathy trill resembled a horse’s whine, bright and oddly musical, as if the universe had crafted a joke only the strange man could hear, with Troy being the unwitting punchline.

In full daylight, his features were obvious. White, velvety horse ears twitched atop a mane of silver hair that tumbled down his back. The color matched the thick, well-kept tail swaying enthusiastically from beneath his robes. Those robes, tan and tailored with quiet elegance, were worn with age and use and spoke of a man who had once known dignity, though now carried less as authority and more as a lingering pride of position long past.

His face told the story of a long life, its deep lines etched not with hardship but with joy. Wrinkles gathered at the corners of his eyes, drawn by decades of smiling. A neatly combed mustache that seamlessly blended into the long, well-trimmed beard, both snow-white, framed around his lips that glowed faintly in the afternoon light. 

He looked every bit the wise grandmaster from an old kung fu epic.

“Ah-ho-he!” he gasped, clutching his sides between fits of laughter. “Oh, I’ve needed that for some time!” His mirth spilled outward, rolling out in warm waves, though Troy only allowed himself the smallest smirk. The soldier eased his stance, tension still prickling like static.

“You warrior types,” the man said, eyes beaming, “always wound tighter than a pig’s tail! A fine trait for a fighter, yes, but keep it too tight, and you miss the simple joys right under your nose.”

Troy drew a slow, measured breath, more out of habit than necessity. For the first time in this long day, his guard eased.

“Good…” He glanced skyward. “Afternoon, sir. Troy. Troy Rechlin, Second Lieutenant of the Peacekeepers Corp Union. Happy to be of service.”

“Ah! A warrior and a gentleman. That is a sight most rare! Allow me to see you fully.”

Troy hardly had time to object before the old man’s long, bony fingers were on his cheeks, surprisingly warm and strong, turning his head left, then right, like a market vendor inspecting a melon for bruises. The man’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he studied.

“Ha! And human, no less!” The man exclaimed, grinning so wide it threatened to split his face. “By the heavens! There is a first for everything. No wonder you have come to this place!”

Troy took a cautious step back, trying to reclaim a sliver of personal space. “This place? I’m… sorry, I’m not sure I understand. Mister…?”

“Oh! How rude of me,” the old man said with sudden mock horror, patting his chest as if searching for manners he’d misplaced. “Li Ming. Chief, caretaker, and at times a miracle worker for this humble mountain village.”

The old man sauntered past Troy and gazed out over the vast mountain pass.

“Magnificent, is it not? Travelers come from far corners of the empire for but a mere glimpse, yet I am blessed to see it every day. Behold, traveler, the Hunan Province in all its glory. With both of the Twin Lake Gems in a single natural painting.”

His bony hand lifted, a single finger tracing the contours below.

“Before you, Grand Nanhu City.” He gestured to the southern sprawl, weathered with age. Hardly a gem in the strictest sense. His finger shifted northward, to the further yet more pristine and ‘gemlike’ city. “And there, Grand Beihu City.”

Finally, his arm stretched across the glimmering expanse between the two cities. “And, of course, Língmu Lake… tranquil, splendid, mystic.” Pride dripped from every word, as if he were praising the lake itself rather than merely describing it.

Data! Data! Data! Troy’s mind raced, snatching up every detail. From the jagged pass and the lake splitting the cities. He forced it all into memory, constructing the map piece by piece, yet unease gnawed at him. Information this freely offered rarely came without a reason.

“Now, come, come! A fresh pot of tea awaits us, and a salve that will do wonders for those cuts and bruises. You must tell me exactly how you achieved them!”

Before Troy could reply, Li Ming was already halfway across the plaza, his worn tan robes fluttering behind him in the mountain breeze. His steps were surprisingly quick for his age, light enough to scuff the cobblestones every step.

Hesitation pressed at Troy’s feet, but the man’s unshakable enthusiasm won out. He followed, passing under strings of faded paper lanterns swaying gently in the wind.

The shack was simple yet meticulously kept, like a second home. Cleaning tools stood lined like soldiers along one wall, brooms, mops, and a bucket or two, while the air carried the faint, harmonious blend of tea leaves, polished wood, and fresh straw. In the center sat a small, discolored table surrounded by three low stools creaking as they sat upon them.

Li Ming moved with the surety of one who had performed these motions a thousand times. He set two cups on the table, wisps of steam curling from their rims, then turned toward a cabinet and rifled through its contents with nimble hands. “Ah-ha!” he declared at last, spinning around with a small clay jar in hand.

“This!” he announced, pressing it into Troy’s palm with a flourish. Inside was a thick, black paste, glossy as fresh tar. “Apply this to your wounds and leave them untouched for a few days. It’ll sting like the incense burns for an hour, but you’ll heal twice as fast.”

Troy nodded politely and set the jar aside. He had better medical supplies tucked away, yet Li Ming’s peculiar mix of energy and warmth made refusal almost impossible—like walking away from a street vendor who had already shoved a sample into your hand and declared it divine.

With that, the old man sat and raised his cup of tea. “To the Empress’s light and her protection!”

After a moment, Troy lifted his own cup, trying to appear diplomatic while remaining entirely clueless as to who this “Empress” might be. Together, they sipped, the steam rising between them like a fragile veil over an unfamiliar ritual.

“It’s… good.” The whirlwind in his nerves began to unwind. The knots of past events began to untangle, more from the fact that he could finally take a breath than from the tea itself. And for that, he was grateful. A part of him feared a moment of meaningful reprieve would weigh in gold and remain that way for as long as he exists in this world.

“HAH!” The horseman neighed, slapping his leg. “You are the first to say that to me in over a century! Sourweed is an acquired taste for sure. Even the lords pucker at its flavor, but you didn’t flinch! I may have met my match at last!”

For a brief moment, Troy grimaced as he glanced down at his teacup as an unpleasant reminder.

“Now then!” Li clapped his hands together, the sound sharp in the stillness. He rubbed them briskly, leaning forward over the table, his eyes gleaming with that of a child’s innocent curiosity. “Tell me, young one, what is your story?”

Troy leaned back slightly, weighing his words. Explaining he came from another world, or another reality entirely, was out of the question. The trick would be to keep it simple, vague, and believable.

“I come from a faraway place called Kansas,” he said finally. “I lived there until I joined the PCU, a military organization focused on maintaining stability in troubled regions. I trained as an engineer and was preparing for deployment to a colony experiencing unrest… when, somehow, I ended up here.”

Li’s brows knit faintly, disappointment slipping through the cracks of his polite expression.

“I see,” he said. “I shall not press further. I understand if you have no wish to speak of your home, but—”

“I would—” Troy cut in quickly, “—if I could, I promise.”

Li gave a small shrug, as though what was settled bore little consequence. “So be it. It wouldn’t be the first time a spy passed through this village.”

“I am not a spy!” Troy blurted out more sharply than he intended. “Why does everyone keep saying that? I don’t even know where I am!”

Li took an annoyingly long, drawn-out sip of tea, offering no further comment. He stared through the window at the drifting mountain mist as though the drifting clouds held more interest than Troy’s outburst.

Troy dragged a hand down his face, groaning into his palm. “It’s been a long day. I’m not here to hurt anyone. I just want to get home. And my home…” His voice softened. “My home is very different from yours.”

Li set his cup down with a gentle clink. “Foreign travelers are no rarity in these parts. I have shared drinks with many. They may be unusual, but they are never beyond my understanding to deny them an ear.”

Perhaps it was the long day of traversing a new world, the meeting of violent fire-wielding aliens, or that insufferably drawn-out tea sucking by the horseman, who was clearly doing it to get on his nerves, but it all wore Troy down.

Alright, you old mule, if you want to be stubborn about it…

Troy unclipped the foldable tablet from the side of his hip. In the dim, cramped shed, the device’s cold blue light poured across his face, carving sharp lines over his jaw. He scrolled through the interface with practiced ease, the crisp clicks of his fingers echoing in the otherwise still room. 

Across the table, Li tilted his head, one brow arched, his expression shifting from mild curiosity to something with more keen interest.

With a short flick of his wrist, Troy softly set the strange device upon the table’s center. The tiny projector inside came alive, sending a thin, wavering column of light upward before it began to take form. The glow swelled and shaped itself, like mist condensing into a globe of glass, as a holographic projection of Earth blossomed in the air between them.

To his credit, Li did not panic, nor was he frightened, nor did he turn militant towards Troy. Instead, his lips parted into the faintest of smiles.

“In all my years…” he murmured, his voice low and steady, though heavy with awe, like a child encountering a holodisplay for the very first time. And for him, it might as well have been. 

The rotating planet was reflected in the old mans eyes; dust particles turned into tiny stars caught in the glow. Two massive transport center stations formed partial artificial rings around the earth with the clear wording “Icarus” and “Daedalus,“ and of course, Earth’s original satellite, Luna, with its rocky surface now threaded with infrastructure and lights all across its crust. 

“Such light… without flame or oil. Such a script, yet no parchment to hold it. Such form without weight. This… is not the craft of any kingdom I know. By the heavens… what manner of sorcery do you wield, traveler?”

“Feel for yourself.” Troy coaxed, admittedly having a shit-eating grin while doing so, drinking up the look of true wonder from the horseman. Hesitant, Li lifted both gentle hands and, with great care, tried to cup the little world as though it were a fragile lantern flame.

Troy grinned even more, as he knew exactly what the gesture would trigger. But he let it happen, he earned that much.

Sure enough, the ghostly sphere quivered at Li’s touch, then, with the tablet’s sensors interpreting the motion, Earth shrank to a speck, and in its place the wider heavens unfurled.

Mars, glimmering red with its massive artificial ring, Ares circling above, and hints of life emerging on the once dead world.

Jupiter, looming vast, its companion moons paired with mankind's satellites, paving the way to the secrets of the void and the harvesting of its gases.

Saturn’s pale rings shine like a circlet of ice, with mining facilities dotting its rings like islands on vast oceans, their existence bringing contributions to pioneers.

The old man gasped, his breath catching as the vision widened. Asteroids drifted in delicate clouds, like lanterns carried on an unseen tide. Between the planets, golden arcs traced their paths; shipping lanes that shimmered like threads of silk stretched across the void. Li’s gaze flicked from one wonder to the next, his neck craning as though afraid to miss even a single marvel.

The worlds shrank past the outer limits of the solar system and explored space into the realm of the unvisited universe, where the map turned from fact to theory. Stars bloomed by the thousands until they seemed as countless as grains of soil on the vastness of earth as they bled together into the soft, spiraling arms of a galaxy. The Milky Way turned slowly before them, grand and untouchable.

Li stared, utterly transfixed. His breath slowed as if he feared even a whisper might shatter the image. The faint reflection of starlight shimmered in his eyes. It was unclear how much the small village chief could understand, but the spectacle alone wowed him enough.

But Troy was no longer looking at the galaxy. Not anymore. His gaze had shifted to the notifications of the blinking markers located beyond the edges of the dense clusters of mapped systems. 

Location Unknown

The words seemed to weigh down the air. He hadn’t activated his SOS beacon yet; part of him still hoped it wouldn’t be necessary. But seeing that phrase blink in and out of space made the distance feel sharper and colder.

He reached forward without a word, tapped the control, and folded the device shut. The hologram winked out, swallowing the galaxy whole. The cold blue light died with it, and the shed sank back into shadow, the only sound the faint settling creak of its wooden walls.

“Well?”

The old man remained in the same position.

“Traveler… What was that?”

It was time for Troy to grin in satisfaction. He wasn’t just some peasant travelling on foot who trekked from whatever native border these lands had. His displacement could not be measured in miles either. No, he was lost on a galactic scale. “As I told you, I don’t even know how I can explain it. But I’m about as foreign as foreign gets.”

The old man snapped out of his stupor with a wild grin. “Indeed, traveler!” He reached over and poured another cup of tea for both. “Indeed.”

Troy's smug satisfaction disappeared when the enthusiasm returned to the man's voice.

Wait, was I played? ...touché, you old geezer, touché…

***

Loa Yang - Resident of the Village of the Lost

“What were you thinking?” Zhang hissed, his voice calm but serrated in tone, while tossing a log onto the storage pile with such force that the stack shuddered. The snake-kin rarely raised his voice, but Loa could feel the heat of his anger from the orange glow of iron just pulled from the forge.

Loa did not flinch and dropped his log into a separate heap that was a neat and deliberate set well apart from the rest. That wood was bound for the capital as monthly tribute, bringing the village’s tax quota up to its mark.

“I was thinking—” Loa replied, brushing off bits of bark on his tunic with a lazy sweep of his hand, “—with the broken wheel, I needed aid, which I received. And because I got help, the village has met its quota ahead of time. You’re welcome.”

Zhang’s gaze sharpened, pupils narrowing to slits as the faint rasp of scales whispered against fabric and metal while he shifted stance. “All at the cost of drawing eyes on us. Sometimes I wonder if the gods gave you thought at all—or just enough sense to move and speak.”

Loa smirked. “Maybe they just wanted to make sure I could win arguments.” He bent, freed the last log, and spun it lazily in his grip before letting it fall dead center onto the pile. The flourish was deliberate.

“Loa…” Zhang’s voice dropped, low and sharp. “Since you arrived, you’ve been more than useful. But sometimes I think your comfort matters more to you than the safety of this village.”

“I care,” Loa said with a shrug. “I just don’t see the point in breaking my back for appearances. Not everyone wants to die standing in battle like you, warrior of old.”

The comment slid between them like a knife, but Zhang didn’t take the bait. They stood in silence for a moment, surrounded by the distant sounds of an axe splitting wood and a cartwheel creaking under a load.

Zhang’s gaze never wavered. 

The rabbit feigned indifference, but he knew the force of that stare. 

Steady. Probing. Loa respected the warrior who was well past his prime, even if he’d never say it outright. The scars on Zhang’s hands, the squared posture of his shoulders, and the unspoken things about his past all pointed to a history shaped by blood and endurance. Only Li Mang, potentially, knew the whole story.

“Just… think of others, Loa?” Zhang said finally, his voice not softening so much as cooling. “The man you brought in… He’ll bring trouble. I can sense it.”

Loa stretched lazily, ears flicking. “Whatever you say, Cap. Need a hand with the wagon?”

Zhang’s eyes flicked to the stranger’s weapons at the wagon’s rear. His jaw tightened. “No. I’ll get it to the smith. You did well today, despite the stray. Once the old man’s finished with him, I’ll return these… poor excuses for weapons myself.”

“You think he’ll keep him?” Loa asked, turning halfway toward the road.

“We kept you.”

Loa grinned without looking back. “Big laughs all around. Save it at dinner.”

They parted ways. Zhang headed toward the smithy with purposeful marches, while Loa bounded off through the winding village paths with no clear aim. The human was unique for sure but he couldn’t possibly cause that much trouble. He was just a mortal, like them.

Now that he was free for the day, he wasn’t to su—

From the shadow, a pair of hands shot out, snagging Loa’s tunic and yanking him behind a building. Before he could bark a protest, warm lips met his, stealing his breath and freezing him in place, until instinct took over and he leaned in, returning the kiss.

“Damn, Yu!” he laughed when they broke apart, still holding her by the waist. “You’re getting bold. Your father’s right around the corner!”

The female snake-kin giggled, winding a strand of black hair around one finger. Her amber, slit-pupiled eyes glittered with mischief. “If he hasn’t caught us yet, he never will. Besides…” she tipped her head, smiling like she already knew the answer, “I heard we’ve got a new visitor in the village. And I just knew our resident troublemaker had something to do with it.”

“Can’t deny it,” Loa said, smirking. “Got an earful from your pops about trusting strangers.”

Yu twirled in place, her long tail curling in a slow spiral before she hopped up onto a nearby crate. “Soooo… What’s he like?”

By the Gods grace, she’s cute when she plays innocent. Loa mused, grinning like a fool. They both knew she wasn’t as demure as she played to be, especially when it came to gossip.

“Weeeell… he’s a human.”

“No!” she gasped, eyes widening in exaggerated shock. “Now I have to see him. Is he cute?”

“Not as cute as me,” Loa smirked, standing proud. “Beyond that, I only know he’s not from the empire. Li’s got him now.”

“Oh, then he’s doomed,” she laughed. “That old man will pull his life story out of him before sunset. As he's done with all of us. I swear he’s a lord, and that’s his special power. I mean, he’s old enough to be one.”

The rabbit laughed. “What, like he’s pretending to be living among mortals? Please. The lords have better things to do than to waste their days with the likes of us… It's probably for the best. But you are right. He’s old enough to be one.”

“Well,” she purred, eyes glinting, scaled tail coiling idly behind her, “I’m done foraging for the day, your labors are done, and our guest is occupied. Shall we find a place… with fewer eyes?”

A cautious chuckle escaped him. “I suppose we could track down a nice little clearing… Maybe lie down together.”

She slid from her perch, the soft thud of her boots on the packed earth punctuating the moment. Her slow, deliberate steps closed the space between them, her eyes fixed on him with the unwavering patience of a hunter. 

“Mmm,” she tilted her head, smile curving wider, “I like the lying part. But… maybe we could add a little…” Her petite fingers traced Loa’s jawline, from his cheek down to his chin, “action.”

Loa felt the warmth rise to his cheeks, the irony clear, prey rooted to the spot as the serpent approached, her face inching closer to his.

But before her teasing could become something more, Yu froze mid-step. The playful glint in her eyes shattered, replaced by a sudden, raw terror.

“Yu?” Loa’s ears twitched forward, his throat tight with confusion and concern.

Her lips moved soundlessly at first, then trembled out the words. “Loa… Loa… Get Dad.”

He barely had time to ask before her knees buckled. Loa lunged forward, catching her just before she struck the ground. Her body convulsed in his arms, tail thrashing violently against the ground. A thin ribbon of blood slid from her nose, stark against her pale skin.

“ZHANG! ZHAAAAANG!” Loa’s voice cracked, the shout echoing throughout the houses. He propped her up, trying to keep her head steady, panic twisting in his chest.

Metal clashed in the distance, then heavy footfalls approached at a sprint. Zhang appeared, broad-shouldered and wild-eyed, a steel blade in hand. “What happened?!”

“It’s Yu!” Loa blurted, struggling to keep herself steady. “She’s having another vision! It’s bad!”

Zhang’s face darkened. “I’ve never seen it this awful before.” Dropping to his knees, he took her from Loa with practiced care, settling her head in his lap. His calloused hand brushed sweat-soaked strands from her face.

“Stay with me, sweet one...”

Every breath felt like an aching eternity. The seconds dragged into a full, aching minute. Her body shuddered again and again before finally, mercifully, the convulsions slowed.

Yu’s breathing was ragged, her eyelids heavy.

“Sweetheart…”

“Yu…”

 “I’m ok… I think… the worst is over,” she whispered.

Loa and Zhang eased her upright, each keeping a steadying hand on her as she swayed. Her fingers pressed against her temple, searching for some sense of balance. Without a word, Zhang pulled a folded cloth from his belt, one he always kept close, and placed it gently into her hand. She pressed it to her nose, her other arm instinctively curling around her father for support.

“Father, you must warn the town.”

Zhang’s brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?”

Her voice was barely more than a breath. “Lords… they’re coming.”

Both Zhang and Loa froze, the weight of her words sinking in. Their breaths stilled; a part of them denied the reality, but Yu’s desperate eyes dispelled such delusions of hope.

Zhang’s tone shifted instantly, all hesitation gone. “Loa, I’ve got Yu. I’ll spread the word.” He hoisted his daughter into his arms with practiced care, though his grip was tight and urgent.

“Find the old man. Tell him to meet me at the gate.”

Loa gave a sharp nod and sprinted off without a word.

This was bad. Worse than bad. 

No cultivator has set foot in this village for over a decade, and from the terror still carved upon Yu’s pale face, these were not visitors come to offer their grace.

If they were unprepared…no, if the heavens simply looked the other way…the village would not live to see the next dawn.

---

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Author Notes:

The wiseass wiseman Li Ming makes an introduction! I do hate pushing Yu with her ability so shortly after her introduction but part of getting the the plot going!

Also here is a pic of Troy!

Troy C. Rechlin by https://linktr.ee/ebonmournecomics

Thank you all for reading!

This series will be will be release every Friday till probably around chapter 6. Then it will be release every 2 weeks. If you want to see up to 3 chapters in advance, arts, and other content, consider joining my patreon!

I do hope this grows in to another fun to read books online but for now, please give your thoughts! Thank you!

Credit to BulletBarrista for editorial assistance. Go check out his stuff if you enjoy this work
Special thanks to all the support and assistance getting this project going