Heavenly Shae

Shae pulled her robes tight around her. The chilly autumn wind was sharp today, and she made a note to start wearing the extra layer of under-robes that had been provided for winter.

Her meeting with Master Long was to be held in the First Research Building, which was also the only one that was publicly accessible. It was high enough up on the mountain that it was only technically in the lowest tier of the sect. Most buildings they would use in the coming year were more centrally located while this one was some distance away from any others.

Another sheer cliff sat just behind the large building, marking the transition up to the next tier of the sect. The recruits wouldn't be allowed over it until they approached core formation. Even then, only for special circumstances. Though, it was unclear exactly what was stopping them if they chose to climb the cliff.

Though Shae didn't know it yet, the path to the research building was busy today, in that she saw three others traveling along it. The third was an elder from the alchemy department.

"You, Junior apprentice." She pointed at Shae. "Come with me, I need another set of hands, even inexperienced ones." She didn't even stop for a response.

"Ugh-" she gulped and bowed. "Apologies Elder, I cann- I can't." Her words caught as the elder used qi pressure on her, though her hiccup was from the surprise of it, not the actual impact. Shae pushed on, "Another Elder is expecting me in the research building." She kept her head down, just to be safe.

"Tsk, and who dares steal away the time of my alchemy apprentices?" Shae heard her snap open a fan.

A fan? In this weather? "Uhm, about that, I'm not an alchemy apprentice, Elder."

"What? Head up girl."

Shae complied, matching the woman's hard gaze.

She snapped the fan closed again and pointed it right at Shae's face. "You stand in front of me looking like that and expect me to believe that you've not dabbled in alchemy? Hmph. Yet, I don't recognize you. You're new then? What's your next alchemy class going to be? I'll be teaching most of it this year. And your name."

Shae nodded. "This one is Junior Shae. I've just arrived mere days ago, and have not received my class schedule."

"Shae... Doesn't ring any bells. It'll be Intro to Alchemy at least, though you're clearly not a beginner. Who was your master- No, nevermind, I don't have time for this." She waved at the air with her closed fan. "Get your complexion cleaned up before classes start. For your own sake, not mine. Dismissed." She waved over her shoulder and stomped off.

Well, not really stomped, Shae thought while frowning at the elder's back, cultivators are all too graceful to be seen stomping. Heh, heh. Hope she doesn't treat all her students like personal servants. She sighed and carried on to the research building.

The building's lobby layout was similar to the admin building, though crushed into a tighter space along the building's front windows. They clearly wanted their guests to feel comfortable. Instead of seats facing one another like she had seen before, a row of comfortable plush armchairs sat in pairs, each with a low coffee table between them. They looked out the front of the building, through windows showing an excellent view down the mountain.

Shae caught herself staring at the sight, and shook her head. She turned to the double wide receptionist desk near the doors. A rather ambiguous individual in a lab coat smiled at her and waved her over.

"First time here? We get that a lot from the younger recruits." They said and brushed a lock of dark purple hair over their right ear. "Name and reason for visit?"

"Ah, yes. I'm a new recruit." Shae gave them a polite bow. "Um, this one is Wise Shae. Master Long asked me to meet him here."

"You can skip the formalities here, darling Shae. We're all too focused on our work for that. Though, maybe not with Long." They flipped a few pages in front of them. "Down that hall, third turn on your left. There's a little tea room you can wait in. Help yourself: Long's not checked in yet." They pointed to Shae's right, to the nearest hallway in that direction. Their quick movement caused the lock of purple hair to fall out of place.

"Uhm, thank you..." She glanced across the desk for a name plate. "Ah, may I ask your name, Senior?"

"You may... and I'll save you the trouble of it. I'm Researcher Colorful Koi." They smiled wide, revealing surprisingly sharp canines.

"Koi? Like the fish?" Shae mumbled out before she could catch herself.

"Haha! So you know it? Interesting! Yes, it's more of a nickname, but I kind of like it."

"Only kind of? I think it's lovely."

They shrugged. "It is, but I won't take it as my heavenly title. Of course, finding one of those that fits well and is original enough is tough work." They smiled at her with particularly piercing eyes. "You're quite lucky in that, oh Heavenly Wisdom's Shae."

She felt a blush appear as soon as they smiled. Her left hand snapped up behind her warming neck. "Oh, heh, yeah, thanks. Uh- thanks again, I think I could use some of that tea." She shuffled sideways and pointed down the hall.

"Try the orange and green box. Unless you're wanting to impress Long, he'd have something traditionally boring." They finished with a slight chuckle that Shae barely caught as she turned the corner.

She was four doorways down the hall before she realised she had gone too far. Stopping herself, she took a deep breath and rubbed her forehead. Stupid sexy everyone.

She found the tea room quickly, then the orange and green box of tea. The label called it lemongrass fields, though it smelled far more of citrus than that name would suggest back on Earth.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

As she made the tea she scolded herself for blushing at yet another pretty face. Fairy Yun and Apollo's warnings about beautiful cultivators had proven rather pointed. The occasional high-stage cultivator made her well aware that she was still among the lower tier of cultivators. The people she met now would only get more perfect as they advanced their cultivation.

After pouring the provided hot water into the teapot, she paused to think. Would they get more beautiful? Maybe they'll hit an uncanny valley point and start to look unreal? Like porcelain dolls.

The thought isn't without merit, she concluded. They do seem to prefer 'jade-white' skin, and perfectly painted makeup. She nodded, then thought of the receptionist again. Ah, right, it's not the perfect dolls that I have to worry about.

A bit of her blushing reflection caught her eye. A thin mirror stood in the corner of the room; only a hand wide but stretching floor to ceiling.

Her dark brown hair had grown these past months: it was now consistently brushing her shoulders. She made a note to do something about it, she had liked keeping it shorter. Hmm, I suppose that's not necessary anymore: I could actually wash it properly when it's longer. Her time struggling alone had forced her to make certain concessions, hair length was the first and easiest.

She leaned closer to the mirror and poked at the patches of bleached skin. Right, this is what that elder meant. Someone... Was it nurse Joi? Maybe the makeup pros? ... Someone did mention it looked like an alchemy accident.

Right now, the only fix she knew of was to cleanse the rest of her tan away, something she was loath to do as she very much liked her tan.

She hadn't kept up the elaborate make up from Gatewash. Not because it was particularly elaborate, just because it was tricky to get right. She stuck to just a little eyeshadow simply because she looked odd without it. Some of the skin bleaching effect had focused around her eyes, making them stand out too much without adding a bit of darkness back in. Like a reverse raccoon, she thought again and chuckled.

The triple dots that the old shop owner had given her had stuck around. It had only been a few days, but none showed signs of fading. That gave Shae hope she could tan again, if she could find enough free time to spend out in the sun.

She glanced at the clock in the room. It was more of a flat sundial. Only representing the shadow of a proper sundial rather than the whole thing. She didn't expect she would need to wait much longer.

The sweet citrus scent of this world's lemongrass wafted over to her from the teapot. She poured herself a heavy splash, just to get a taste. It grew well near her home village so she knew how she liked it in tea. Once again, she considered starting up a petition to have its name changed to orange-grass, and again, she shook away the silly idea. The flavor of the tea was quite nice, maybe a bit too light. She decided to wait and let it brew longer.

She poured a cup of hot water for Master Long. Even if he didn't like the tea, he would appreciate a pre-heated cup.

Aside: Colorful Koi

Acting as a receptionist wasn't Koi's favorite job at the research center, but they did get to do some casual people watching through the building's front windows. It helped that the lowest sect tier, the one set out for guests and new recruits, also happened to be the most interesting to observe. Just earlier they had seen an alchemy elder fail miserably to bully little Shae. The young woman barely felt the elder's spiritual pressure. A rather embarrassing thing, luckily she had faltered just a little. The elder should brush it off as a simple slip rather than something odd.

Koi was excited to meet the young woman when she arrived, and her preferred title gave some insight into her experience. Though, Koi was already well aware of her exploits. Koi was the one who first examined the shattered core that Agent Apollo had delivered to the sect a week ago. Why Long was also going to be here today was a slight mystery, and he had even tried to delay the interview. Until recently, only Shae was scheduled to explain her part of the intent used to disrupt the rot dog core. Long's killing intent was already reasonably well known across the sect.

The old sword master finally arrived a full quarter hour after Shae. Koi smirked as he approached, two martial students were tailing him and pestering him with questions. He shooed them away before entering the building.

"Name and reason for your visit?" Koi said, without looking up from the paperwork being used to make them look busy.

He sighed. "Researcher Koi, I believe you know both of those already."

"Hmm?" They looked up. "Oh, Elder Long was it? I believe you are expected in tea room three."

"It's Master Long, which I've explained to you before, Researcher Koi. Which is meeting room three? These aren't actually numbered are they?"

"Meeting room three is down the hall to my right."

Master Long turned and took a step.

"Ah, but tea room three is the other direction, I'm sure your masterful senses can find the rest of the way."

He halted his steps and sighed again. "How do you get away with such behavior, Researcher Koi?"

"Why whatever do you mean, Master Long?" They tilted their head and poked their cheek with one finger.

Long looked over with tired eyes. "No, I don't think it's because of that."

"Tsk. So cruel." Koi dropped the act and lifted a sheet of paper that looked to be a form, flicking it so it snapped loudly. "You requested a containment box? What tier and containment details?"

"Hmm, I suppose you would be the one to fill the request. Tier three, no qi leakage, no scanning, any materials, and reusable."

"Any materials." Koi leaned forwards and smirked.

"Something normal." Long glared.

"Tsk, no fun. How many keys?"

"Any- no, at least one. Usable by a low stage cultivator, or by qi signature. Ah, and including tracking would be ideal."

"Tracking?" Koi whined. "Those aren't common, you know. Is this for Shae? I didn't sense anything on her."

Long rubbed his chin. "Hmph. I suppose more details may open more options. It's a very unique qi sample contained in a talisman. I don't believe it will leak any time soon, yet I'm not confident she'll be able to use it soon either."

"Interesting. I have at least one in mind already, then. When do you need it?"

"Today would be most convenient. Since Junior Shae is already here." He turned and walked towards the correct hallway.

"I'll bring it by shortly. Enjoy your meeting with Wise Shae."

He waved behind himself without looking back.

Colorful Koi smiled to themselves while setting out the 'be back soon' sign. His patience has improved. I wonder why?

They stepped outside and checked for onlookers before leaping onto the roof and continuing up the cliff towards the spiritual tool archive.