“Here,” I eventually said after dejectedly letting Safi go. I picked up the newly named Spirit of Giving technique that Chit had named. She held her hands out to receive it, Safi looked on with a sly smile. Chit, until this point, probably thought she would humour my offer but not actually practice the technique I was providing. I could not wait to watch in real time as she changed her mind.
She flicked open the book and looked at the first page. Her pupils dilated and she snapped the book closed instantly. “What is this?”
I laughed. “It’s yours.”
“Where did you get this?” she asked sternly.
“Let me have some secrets…”
“What is it? Is it really good or something?” inquired a nosy Eleb. Chit nodded and handed the book over to the awaiting girl.
“What in the everlasting…? What is this?”
“It’s Chit’s new technique. Don’t worry though, yours can be just as good. Safi’s is already that good. Unfortunately we don’t have time for questions.”
“We have plenty of time for questions!” Eleb protested with a resolute Chit at her side looking like she agreed. However, right at that second a sharp and firm knock startled the girls. They looked toward the door, then back to me.
“Don’t think we’ll forget,” threatened Eleb.
“I know you won’t,” I said as I approached the door. I opened it to find a disciple, dressed in a different colour martial robe. He had everything tucked and knotted correctly, he wore an undershirt and gloves.
“How do you do?” he began. “My name is Theo.”
“Greetings, Theo. I’m Sen’o.”
“Pleasure, I was hoping you’d accompany me.”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to decline, I’m rather busy.” I focused on his eyes during the short exchange. They were hollow, grey and unwavering. His polite stature of hands clasped behind his back was rigid and firm. He did not look like he had any plans of leaving without me, even after my refusal.
“I really must insist.”
“Last time someone insisted I do something, they ended up with a hole in their stomach,” I growled.
Theo stood unnerved. “For the safety of everyone here, I advise you don’t attempt to replicate your previous actions.”
The guy was beginning to infuriate me. Unemotionally threatening not just me but the girls too. “I won’t, this time I’ll finish the job.”
“Hello Sen’o, Theo.” Came the voice of my Master. “I’m not going to allow any accompanying or replicating of any kind. Sen’o, if you and the girls would like to come with me.”
“Yes Master.” I could tell she was rescuing me from an unfavourable situation and as much as I wanted to punch Theo in the teeth, I thought it best to do as she told me, for the time being.
Theo was left watching silently as we walked away. I followed my Master quietly. The girls tottered behind, much less quietly.
“Who was that?” asked Eleb.
“I was going to ask you,” moaned Safi. Chit only shrugged.
“He was wearing high disciple robes,” Eleb noted.
“High disciples?” inquired Safi.
“Those that have passed the provisional.”
“I forgot that we’re technically provisional disciples…” I muttered.
Elder Laaka turned to look at us. “You’re not provisional to me.”
“Master, who was that?” asked Safi.
“That was Theo, someone that I’d much rather you didn’t involve yourself with.”
“Why?” Safi continued probing.
“Look, I’ve done a lot of research since all this has begun. So you leave the intimate politics of the Sect to me. You have more important things to be worried about.”
“Like what?” asked Safi.
“Like the giant target painted on your back. You think a whole faction is going to let it slide after you crippled their resident Elder?”
“But it has been settled! Sen’o has served his punishment.”
“Sen’o,” began Master Laaka. “Has served to piss off the largest faction in the Sect. There is only one thing for him to do now.”
“Stay very quiet?” I asked.
“Disappear entirely, I’m afraid,” said my Master who for her part did seem regretful about the fact.
“What!?” Exclaimed a startled Safi.
“Sorry Safi, I know we just got here…”
“I think you’re misunderstanding something… Safi isn’t going anywhere, she’s not in danger. You are, so you will go.”
“Just me?”
“I’ve found the perfect long-term mission so that you remain a disciple of the sect and are not counted amongst the deserters. But otherwise, you are not to return until the tournament.”
I was caught quite off guard by her suggestions.“The far-side tournament? Hold on, I can’t take Safi?”
“What kind of environment is going to be best for Safi’s growth, a nourishing Sect and a knowledgeable, enthusiastic Master or on the run with her rebel boyfriend?” She was smiling as she spoke but it was the kind of smile that instructed me that I had no impact on the decision.
“Safi?” I asked, desperately.
“I think… I don’t think I can handle being on the run, not with my current strength. Neither can Chit. So I suppose your only choice is Eleb.”
Eleb looked disgruntledly at Safi. “Why are you making it sound like a bad thing?”
“I’m not trying to! It just ended up sounding like that.”
“That’s not any better,” grumbled Eleb. Chit shook her head in consolidation with Eleb.
Master Laaka finally interrupted our bickering. “As much as it is delightful to see you all flirting with each other and I’m sure Sen’o’s soul root is very thankful that you’re all getting along. He needs to go. Eleb, you need to decide if you’re going with him.”
“Of course I will!”
“I think that’s wise, there are many ways in which I can make you stronger, and not much I can do for Chit and Safi.” I reasoned.
“Maybe not cultivation wise but…” said Safi, a little red in the face.
“Alright! Enough of this. Leave you two, I’ll keep the girls safe. Eleb, I don’t know you very well but I hope to the Celestials that you are more sensible than he is. Your mission details are on this,” she handed her a tied scroll. “You will leave for the maximum length of time allowed to complete the mission which means you’ll return right as the tournament starts.”
“Yes, Master.” I bowed.
“No time, go.” She pushed me away, hurrying me along and not giving me any opportunities so say bye. Luckily, I was an illusionist.
A perfect replica of me appeared before Chit and Safi and gave them a touchless kiss on the cheek each before promptly disappearing.
Eleb, who was herded alongside me, took me the fastest route for leaving the tower. We crossed the giant bridge between the canyon and upon getting thoroughly lost in Gutura and the fear of being followed had finally worn off, we opened the scroll containing the mission details.
“Elucidate the beams running from Lio Marie to Gutura,” Eleb read aloud.
“Beams of what?” I asked. She only shrugged and looked at the paper again. Her eyebrows creased more and more. Eventually she rolled the scroll and handed it to me.
She smiled. “I don’t get it.”
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“Here,” I eventually said after dejectedly letting Safi go. I picked up the newly named Spirit of Giving technique that Chit had named. She held her hands out to receive it, Safi looked on with a sly smile. Chit, until this point, probably thought she would humour my offer but not actually practice the technique I was providing. I could not wait to watch in real time as she changed her mind.
She flicked open the book and looked at the first page. Her pupils dilated and she snapped the book closed instantly. “What is this?”
I laughed. “It’s yours.”
“Where did you get this?” she asked sternly.
“Let me have some secrets…”
“What is it? Is it really good or something?” inquired a nosy Eleb. Chit nodded and handed the book over to the awaiting girl.
“What in the everlasting…? What is this?”
“It’s Chit’s new technique. Don’t worry though, yours can be just as good. Safi’s is already that good. Unfortunately we don’t have time for questions.”
“We have plenty of time for questions!” Eleb protested with a resolute Chit at her side looking like she agreed. However, right at that second a sharp and firm knock startled the girls. They looked toward the door, then back to me.
“Don’t think we’ll forget,” threatened Eleb.
“I know you won’t,” I said as I approached the door. I opened it to find a disciple, dressed in a different colour martial robe. He had everything tucked and knotted correctly, he wore an undershirt and gloves.
“How do you do?” he began. “My name is Theo.”
“Greetings, Theo. I’m Sen’o.”
“Pleasure, I was hoping you’d accompany me.”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to decline, I’m rather busy.” I focused on his eyes during the short exchange. They were hollow, grey and unwavering. His polite stature of hands clasped behind his back was rigid and firm. He did not look like he had any plans of leaving without me, even after my refusal.
“I really must insist.”
“Last time someone insisted I do something, they ended up with a hole in their stomach,” I growled.
Theo stood unnerved. “For the safety of everyone here, I advise you don’t attempt to replicate your previous actions.”
The guy was beginning to infuriate me. Unemotionally threatening not just me but the girls too. “I won’t, this time I’ll finish the job.”
“Hello Sen’o, Theo.” Came the voice of my Master. “I’m not going to allow any accompanying or replicating of any kind. Sen’o, if you and the girls would like to come with me.”
“Yes Master.” I could tell she was rescuing me from an unfavourable situation and as much as I wanted to punch Theo in the teeth, I thought it best to do as she told me, for the time being.
Theo was left watching silently as we walked away. I followed my Master quietly. The girls tottered behind, much less quietly.
“Who was that?” asked Eleb.
“I was going to ask you,” moaned Safi. Chit only shrugged.
“He was wearing high disciple robes,” Eleb noted.
“High disciples?” inquired Safi.
“Those that have passed the provisional.”
“I forgot that we’re technically provisional disciples…” I muttered.
Elder Laaka turned to look at us. “You’re not provisional to me.”
“Master, who was that?” asked Safi.
“That was Theo, someone that I’d much rather you didn’t involve yourself with.”
“Why?” Safi continued probing.
“Look, I’ve done a lot of research since all this has begun. So you leave the intimate politics of the Sect to me. You have more important things to be worried about.”
“Like what?” asked Safi.
“Like the giant target painted on your back. You think a whole faction is going to let it slide after you crippled their resident Elder?”
“But it has been settled! Sen’o has served his punishment.”
“Sen’o,” began Master Laaka. “Has served to piss off the largest faction in the Sect. There is only one thing for him to do now.”
“Stay very quiet?” I asked.
“Disappear entirely, I’m afraid,” said my Master who for her part did seem regretful about the fact.
“What!?” Exclaimed a startled Safi.
“Sorry Safi, I know we just got here…”
“I think you’re misunderstanding something… Safi isn’t going anywhere, she’s not in danger. You are, so you will go.”
“Just me?”
“I’ve found the perfect long-term mission so that you remain a disciple of the sect and are not counted amongst the deserters. But otherwise, you are not to return until the tournament.”
I was caught quite off guard by her suggestions.“The far-side tournament? Hold on, I can’t take Safi?”
“What kind of environment is going to be best for Safi’s growth, a nourishing Sect and a knowledgeable, enthusiastic Master or on the run with her rebel boyfriend?” She was smiling as she spoke but it was the kind of smile that instructed me that I had no impact on the decision.
“Safi?” I asked, desperately.
“I think… I don’t think I can handle being on the run, not with my current strength. Neither can Chit. So I suppose your only choice is Eleb.”
Eleb looked disgruntledly at Safi. “Why are you making it sound like a bad thing?”
“I’m not trying to! It just ended up sounding like that.”
“That’s not any better,” grumbled Eleb. Chit shook her head in consolidation with Eleb.
Master Laaka finally interrupted our bickering. “As much as it is delightful to see you all flirting with each other and I’m sure Sen’o’s soul root is very thankful that you’re all getting along. He needs to go. Eleb, you need to decide if you’re going with him.”
“Of course I will!”
“I think that’s wise, there are many ways in which I can make you stronger, and not much I can do for Chit and Safi.” I reasoned.
“Maybe not cultivation wise but…” said Safi, a little red in the face.
“Alright! Enough of this. Leave you two, I’ll keep the girls safe. Eleb, I don’t know you very well but I hope to the Celestials that you are more sensible than he is. Your mission details are on this,” she handed her a tied scroll. “You will leave for the maximum length of time allowed to complete the mission which means you’ll return right as the tournament starts.”
“Yes, Master.” I bowed.
“No time, go.” She pushed me away, hurrying me along and not giving me any opportunities so say bye. Luckily, I was an illusionist.
A perfect replica of me appeared before Chit and Safi and gave them a touchless kiss on the cheek each before promptly disappearing.
Eleb, who was herded alongside me, took me the fastest route for leaving the tower. We crossed the giant bridge between the canyon and upon getting thoroughly lost in Gutura and the fear of being followed had finally worn off, we opened the scroll containing the mission details.
“Elucidate the beams running from Lio Marie to Gutura,” Eleb read aloud.
“Beams of what?” I asked. She only shrugged and looked at the paper again. Her eyebrows creased more and more. Eventually she rolled the scroll and handed it to me.
She smiled. “I don’t get it.”
Casualperv I left and now I'm back, that's how it is.
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