The Last Starlight of Jing Su

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over the ancient city of Jing. The streets were empty, save for the occasional flicker of lanterns in the distance. The air was thick with the scent of incense, carried by the gentle breeze that whispered through the alleys.

Jing Su stood at the edge of the city wall, her eyes reflecting the moonlight as she gazed upon the starry expanse above. She was a celestial being, a guardian of time, bound to The Celestial Mirror, a portal through which she maintained balance in the realms of existence.

But today, the mirror's surface was marred by cracks, the once shimmering silver now dull and lifeless. Jing Su's reflection, the embodiment of her essence, was fading, her form dissolving into the void. The mirror was failing, and with it, the fabric of time itself was beginning to unravel.

"I must do something," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper, the sound swallowed by the night. She turned to the city below, her heart heavy with the weight of her duty.

The city was alive with the echoes of its past, each building a testament to the countless lives that had passed through its walls. But now, it was in danger. The mirror's failure meant that the balance between the celestial and the mortal realms was at risk. If the balance was lost, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Jing Su knew the answer was clear, but it was one that would tear her apart. She had to choose between saving her world or preserving her own essence. The choice was as simple as it was impossible.

As she pondered her fate, a figure approached her from the shadows. It was an old friend, a fellow guardian named Yuan. His eyes held the same sorrow as hers.

"Jing Su," he said, his voice heavy with concern, "you must make a choice. The mirror's failure is not just a threat to Jing; it's a threat to all realms."

Jing Su nodded, the weight of her decision pressing down upon her like a thousand stones. "I know," she replied, her voice breaking. "But I cannot choose between them."

Yuan stepped closer, his eyes meeting hers. "There is a way," he said, his voice filled with hope. "You can become one with the mirror, merge your essence with it, and save us all."

Jing Su's heart raced. The idea was absurd, but it was the only solution that made sense. She would sacrifice herself, becoming a part of the mirror, a guardian forever bound to the fabric of time.

"I will do it," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. "But I need your help."

Yuan nodded, his eyes filled with respect. "I will be with you every step of the way."

The next morning, as the sun began to rise, Jing Su stood before the mirror. She closed her eyes, her breaths shallow, as she reached out to touch the surface. The mirror's surface was cold and unyielding, but it called to her, pulling her closer.

"Jing Su," Yuan's voice echoed through the room, "are you sure?"

"Yes," she replied, her voice filled with a newfound resolve. "I must do this."

With a deep breath, Jing Su placed her hand upon the mirror's surface. The world around her began to blur, the colors of the city fading into a monochrome hue. She felt the mirror's energy course through her, filling her with a sense of oneness.

The mirror's cracks began to close, the silver surface regaining its luster. Jing Su's reflection reappeared, solid and whole, now a part of the mirror itself.

The balance was restored, the fabric of time repaired. But at a cost. Jing Su was no longer a separate entity, her essence now woven into the very fabric of The Celestial Mirror.

As the sun reached its zenith, Jing Su opened her eyes. The world was unchanged, the city still standing, the people unaware of the great sacrifice that had been made. But Jing Su knew that her reality had changed forever.

She turned to Yuan, who stood by her side. "It's done," she said, her voice tinged with a bittersweet sorrow.

Yuan nodded, his eyes reflecting the same emotion. "It's done," he echoed.

Jing Su closed her eyes once more, feeling the pulse of the mirror within her. She was no longer separate from it, no longer a guardian of time. She was The Celestial Mirror, a beacon of balance, a starlight forever bound to the tapestry of time.

And in that moment, as the last starlight of Jing Su shone upon the world, she knew that her sacrifice would not be forgotten. She had given her essence to save her reality, and in doing so, she had become a part of something greater than herself.