Casualperv Before we begin, I'd like to clarify something. Itzcoatl will NOT in any way impede, delay or otherwise mess with Sen'o's harem. He is a team member, not Mr. Steal Your Girl.
We spent the rest of the day collecting bark, with the camp set-up there was plenty of room in our backpacks to fill them with it. As I scratched at the cold hard surface of the tree, looking for any bumps or cracks to start a tear, I found myself even more thankful for the gloves.
We didn’t talk, we just peeled until our bags were full. Then we continued peeling when I reminded them that I had a dimensional treasure wrapped around my finger.
It was long into the night when we finally stopped. None of us felt particularly tired until we sat down; Safi and Itzcoatl were fast asleep within minutes. I looked out of the tent we’d pitched on a giant branch. The height provided relative safety, and the cold nights compelled most creatures to stay somewhere warm. Besides, if anything did decide to eat us, I’d find out well before they could.
The occasional creature calls and cold wind rustling leaves formed a jungle lullaby irresistible to my heavy eyelids. I dozed off, sleeping instead of cultivating. Meditation was still not sufficient to replace sleep, it would be a long while before it was.
Sure enough, I woke up. It was still dark outside. I had picked up on something, there was no doubt of that. I toyed with the idea of waking the other two, who were still sound asleep in their bags. I decided against it. It was moving too quickly for that, the best I could do was intercept it.
I dashed out of the tent, using every technique available to me to conceal myself. For the average practitioner it would have been nigh impossible to spot me. Coming out of the darkness came a human, traversing the trees in a fluid and calculated manner.
I left a little surprise on the branch next to me, something to distract him from the tent. Keeping Safi and Itzcoatl safe was my first priority. They took the bait, slamming brutally into the illusioned clone. Now that they were stopped I could see that they were in fact a he, and he was extremely angry.
He had a knife pressed to the throat of my illusion. With the increase in volume of my qi, I was finally able to give it some structure allowing it to pass off as a genuine human until close inspection. This man was clearly too angry for a close inspection.
“Are you Sen’o?”
“I am, I am…” I made the clone sound desperate and scared.
“This is for my sister,” said the stranger before stabbing my clone in the forehead.
I fired an arrow into his back and it pierced his shoulder. He tried to turn but it was slow, he took a clumsy step forward and then froze. His muscles spasmed as he fought against my forcibly induced paralysis.
“So, who’s your sister?” I asked as I hopped onto the branch he was frozen on. He couldn’t speak at all, being paralysed; so I had to fill in some gaps. “Probably the girl I sparred with,” I said while tapping my chin dramatically. “But, I reckon she has nothing to do with this. Does she even know her brother’s a murderer?”
I could tell by the way he sliced my clone, the unreserved violence and lack of hesitation betrayed his experience. It was not something you could gain from killing only creatures.
He gargled at me, as that was all he was capable of. I could feel another presence approaching, it turned out to be a groggy Itzcoatl. He sharpened up relatively quickly once he saw the situation.
“What happened? he asked as he came and stood next to me, looking at the frozen man the whole time.
“He attacked me,” I said.
“Why?” he followed up instantly.
“I think I beat up his sister.”
“You think?”
“I didn’t get a chance to confirm. I was busy trying not to die.”
“Right…” said Itzcoatl as he looked at the man. “That’s Aleki, he’s a scout for Gutura’s strongest party.”
“So this could end up being quite a high-profile problem?” I asked.
“Not could, it will.”
“I see…” I sighed. “Well, I’m telling the truth so I shouldn’t have anything to be worried about.”
“He’s got a reputation for being a bit of a creep as well, I’m sure it will be fine. How long does this paralysis last?” asked Itzcoatl as he flicked the arrow causing Aleki to groan in pain.
“Another hour or so. I can put him to sleep if need be.”
“It’s fine, let’s bring him back to the sect, we’re finished with silo anyway.”
“I’ll go and wake up Safi,” I said as I jumped off the branch.
We walked back to the sect, a grumpy Safi wrapped in multiple layers led the way. It provided good training for her ability to navigate in the dark, the assignment from Elder Laaka necessitated it. I had our equipment, the bark and the trink pelt all inside my dimensional treasure and the petrified Aleki over my shoulder. Itzcoatl was scouting ahead, making certain there were no hidden threats lurking in the darkness.
Returning to the sect took a while. Long enough that I had to force Aleki to sleep. By the time we started our ascent up the craggy path the morning light was beginning it’s splendorous display of seeping through the jungle trees and splashing against the cold, snow-covered surface of the mountain.
The guards at the entrance looked at us with open mouths as we strolled past with one of Gutura’s leading disciples slung carelessly over our shoulder.
In order to handle this matter delicately and appropriately as a relatively new disciple of the sect, I walked directly to Elder Laaka’s room. Itzcoatl smartly scarpered, fully aware of what was about to happen and wanting absolutely nothing to do with it.
“Elder Laaka, we’ve come bearing gifts,” I announced. Safi elbowed me in the ribs, perhaps I was being a little too lighthearted about the matter.
“Welcome back, my darlings. Although I do believe it to be an early reunion.”
“Unfortunately not a happy one either…” said Safi.
“Oh dear, what’s the matter?” she asked, genuine worry in her voice.
“This man,” I said as I let him slump to the ground in a very audible way. “Tried to kill me. I hope you’ll help me.”
“Are you alright?” she asked immediately.
“I am,” I replied.
“Let me touch you, I would like to make sure.” She stepped forward and began to run her hands around my body, even sending her qi into me which I allowed passage. “Safi, you are safe too?” she asked.
“I wasn’t even involved,” she admitted. “I was sleeping.” To that Elder Laaka nodded in relief.
“What about him?” she asked as she pointed to the unconscious man.
“He has a small wound on his shoulder that I have tended to, and he is currently sleeping.”
“Who is he?” her questions continued.
“Apparently he’s called Aleki.”
“I don’t know him, though, I don’t know many people here.” Elder Laaka was quiet for a minute, now that I could see in the dark I spied the contemplating frown. “You are telling me the truth? He attacked you, and you fought back in self-defence, I assume.”
“That’s correct,” I nodded.
“We have truth-tellers,” she challenged.
“I was banking on it,” I said.
“Then, let’s bring him to a Grand Elder, we will report this together.”
“Thank you, Master.” I bowed as I spoke.
“Your very first mission and already trouble has crossed your paths,” she sighed as she walked out of her room.
“As long as it’s the right path, I don’t mind the trouble.” I said with a smile.
Casualperv Before we begin, I'd like to clarify something. Itzcoatl will NOT in any way impede, delay or otherwise mess with Sen'o's harem. He is a team member, not Mr. Steal Your Girl.
We spent the rest of the day collecting bark, with the camp set-up there was plenty of room in our backpacks to fill them with it. As I scratched at the cold hard surface of the tree, looking for any bumps or cracks to start a tear, I found myself even more thankful for the gloves.
We didn’t talk, we just peeled until our bags were full. Then we continued peeling when I reminded them that I had a dimensional treasure wrapped around my finger.
It was long into the night when we finally stopped. None of us felt particularly tired until we sat down; Safi and Itzcoatl were fast asleep within minutes. I looked out of the tent we’d pitched on a giant branch. The height provided relative safety, and the cold nights compelled most creatures to stay somewhere warm. Besides, if anything did decide to eat us, I’d find out well before they could.
The occasional creature calls and cold wind rustling leaves formed a jungle lullaby irresistible to my heavy eyelids. I dozed off, sleeping instead of cultivating. Meditation was still not sufficient to replace sleep, it would be a long while before it was.
Sure enough, I woke up. It was still dark outside. I had picked up on something, there was no doubt of that. I toyed with the idea of waking the other two, who were still sound asleep in their bags. I decided against it. It was moving too quickly for that, the best I could do was intercept it.
I dashed out of the tent, using every technique available to me to conceal myself. For the average practitioner it would have been nigh impossible to spot me. Coming out of the darkness came a human, traversing the trees in a fluid and calculated manner.
I left a little surprise on the branch next to me, something to distract him from the tent. Keeping Safi and Itzcoatl safe was my first priority. They took the bait, slamming brutally into the illusioned clone. Now that they were stopped I could see that they were in fact a he, and he was extremely angry.
He had a knife pressed to the throat of my illusion. With the increase in volume of my qi, I was finally able to give it some structure allowing it to pass off as a genuine human until close inspection. This man was clearly too angry for a close inspection.
“Are you Sen’o?”
“I am, I am…” I made the clone sound desperate and scared.
“This is for my sister,” said the stranger before stabbing my clone in the forehead.
I fired an arrow into his back and it pierced his shoulder. He tried to turn but it was slow, he took a clumsy step forward and then froze. His muscles spasmed as he fought against my forcibly induced paralysis.
“So, who’s your sister?” I asked as I hopped onto the branch he was frozen on. He couldn’t speak at all, being paralysed; so I had to fill in some gaps. “Probably the girl I sparred with,” I said while tapping my chin dramatically. “But, I reckon she has nothing to do with this. Does she even know her brother’s a murderer?”
I could tell by the way he sliced my clone, the unreserved violence and lack of hesitation betrayed his experience. It was not something you could gain from killing only creatures.
He gargled at me, as that was all he was capable of. I could feel another presence approaching, it turned out to be a groggy Itzcoatl. He sharpened up relatively quickly once he saw the situation.
“What happened? he asked as he came and stood next to me, looking at the frozen man the whole time.
“He attacked me,” I said.
“Why?” he followed up instantly.
“I think I beat up his sister.”
“You think?”
“I didn’t get a chance to confirm. I was busy trying not to die.”
“Right…” said Itzcoatl as he looked at the man. “That’s Aleki, he’s a scout for Gutura’s strongest party.”
“So this could end up being quite a high-profile problem?” I asked.
“Not could, it will.”
“I see…” I sighed. “Well, I’m telling the truth so I shouldn’t have anything to be worried about.”
“He’s got a reputation for being a bit of a creep as well, I’m sure it will be fine. How long does this paralysis last?” asked Itzcoatl as he flicked the arrow causing Aleki to groan in pain.
“Another hour or so. I can put him to sleep if need be.”
“It’s fine, let’s bring him back to the sect, we’re finished with silo anyway.”
“I’ll go and wake up Safi,” I said as I jumped off the branch.
We walked back to the sect, a grumpy Safi wrapped in multiple layers led the way. It provided good training for her ability to navigate in the dark, the assignment from Elder Laaka necessitated it. I had our equipment, the bark and the trink pelt all inside my dimensional treasure and the petrified Aleki over my shoulder. Itzcoatl was scouting ahead, making certain there were no hidden threats lurking in the darkness.
Returning to the sect took a while. Long enough that I had to force Aleki to sleep. By the time we started our ascent up the craggy path the morning light was beginning it’s splendorous display of seeping through the jungle trees and splashing against the cold, snow-covered surface of the mountain.
The guards at the entrance looked at us with open mouths as we strolled past with one of Gutura’s leading disciples slung carelessly over our shoulder.
In order to handle this matter delicately and appropriately as a relatively new disciple of the sect, I walked directly to Elder Laaka’s room. Itzcoatl smartly scarpered, fully aware of what was about to happen and wanting absolutely nothing to do with it.
“Elder Laaka, we’ve come bearing gifts,” I announced. Safi elbowed me in the ribs, perhaps I was being a little too lighthearted about the matter.
“Welcome back, my darlings. Although I do believe it to be an early reunion.”
“Unfortunately not a happy one either…” said Safi.
“Oh dear, what’s the matter?” she asked, genuine worry in her voice.
“This man,” I said as I let him slump to the ground in a very audible way. “Tried to kill me. I hope you’ll help me.”
“Are you alright?” she asked immediately.
“I am,” I replied.
“Let me touch you, I would like to make sure.” She stepped forward and began to run her hands around my body, even sending her qi into me which I allowed passage. “Safi, you are safe too?” she asked.
“I wasn’t even involved,” she admitted. “I was sleeping.” To that Elder Laaka nodded in relief.
“What about him?” she asked as she pointed to the unconscious man.
“He has a small wound on his shoulder that I have tended to, and he is currently sleeping.”
“Who is he?” her questions continued.
“Apparently he’s called Aleki.”
“I don’t know him, though, I don’t know many people here.” Elder Laaka was quiet for a minute, now that I could see in the dark I spied the contemplating frown. “You are telling me the truth? He attacked you, and you fought back in self-defence, I assume.”
“That’s correct,” I nodded.
“We have truth-tellers,” she challenged.
“I was banking on it,” I said.
“Then, let’s bring him to a Grand Elder, we will report this together.”
“Thank you, Master.” I bowed as I spoke.
“Your very first mission and already trouble has crossed your paths,” she sighed as she walked out of her room.
“As long as it’s the right path, I don’t mind the trouble.” I said with a smile.
