Rising Kite - A story from the world of HWFWM

The journey back toward Gilded was pleasant, if uneventful. Kite did take pride in showing his companions the great bridge of vines where he and uncle Walker had found the awakening stone of erosion. Otherwise, they made straight for Gilded as they were eager to get back.

Kite noted that the journey was bound to be at least two days shorter this time around, if they kept their current pace.

"It is probably due to our physical bodies having greater speed and endurance now." Dragonfly mused as he had shared his observations. "And that we don't have our mentors who throw us towards monsters regularly."

"You've traveled here before?" Serene asked.

"Yes, when I first came to Gilded. When I first met Dragonfly, the first thing she did was storming up to me and demand a sparring match."

"Oh I can imagine." Serene giggled. "How did it go?"

"Kite cheated!" Dragonfly exclaimed at the memory.

"I merely used the powers at my disposal." Kite replied smugly.

"Well, your powers are cheating."

"So I should stop disrupting enemy defenses so you can't hit them as hard?"

"... See. Cheating."

“- and a meat skewer, no, five meat skewers. And sleep in my own bed. And maybe see master Force. Did I say meat skewers already?” Dragonfly pondered, busy counting all the things she wanted to do once they were back into the city with its offered comforts.

The trio stood in line to enter the city, as it was busy as usual. They were waiting among people and carts when a voice along with a forcefully projected iron-rank aura silenced the susurrus of the crowd, followed by a loud voice.

“Make way! Make way for a disciple of the Victorious Sunset sect!”

People behind them started to scramble out of the way of three young men in a row walking forward at a brisk pace. The one in the front was the one shouting for people to move aside, his aura rudely projected. While not stellar, it was decently controlled. Kite could feel the hint of two other iron-rank auras behind him, where the one who walked in the middle felt the most powerful.

“I think the middle one is the disciple.” Kite whispered to his companions as they too stood aside. “He’s the only one with a full set of powers if I’m not mistaken.” Serene nodded in confirmation.

All three of them had witnessed similar scenes like this before. Members of the two sects tended to demand a lot of respect, especially as they left the first stage of membership, called initiate, to become disciples. This provided them with more resources, often the final awakening stones they needed. And more often than not, quite a lot of pride. Kite and his companions tended to simply stay out of the way and let the sect members go about their business.

As the small procession passed them by, Kite realized that he recognized one of them. The disciple was unknown to him, a human man slightly shorter than Kite with a shaven head and a golden tattoo of a sun on his scalp. But the one bringing up the rear was familiar. Recognizing the young man with the black hair dyed red, he realized that it was Brilliant Bloom of Providence, the young master whom Kite had beaten in the clash of paths near the waterfall.

Kite couldn’t help but stare surprised at the young man, who seemed to notice and recognize him in turn. Kite’s confusion grew as the young man looked almost afraid as he met Kite’s gaze, shame playing over his aura.

Apparently someone else had noticed too.

“You there, trash!” the disciple called out as he stopped. “Drop your gaze and show some respect. You are in the presence of your betters. It is not for the likes of you to stare so rudely at initiate Providence.”

Kite stood, dumbfounded at the sudden and rather silly turn of events. The disciple apparently chose to interpret Kite’s disobedience as a personal affront.

“Initiate Providence, do you know this outcast trash?”

“Disciple, he is of no conse-”

“Speak up, initiate. Do you know him?”

“Only in passing, disciple. It was a long time since we last met.”

The disciple looked back at Kite with thinned eyes.

“Initiate Providence, you once told me that some outcast trash beat you in a clash of paths through trickery and cheating. Was it this man?”

“Disciple, it doesn’t-”

“Was it?!”

“Yes, disciple.” young master providence said, eyes downcast.

Kite felt some outrage at the apparent falsehood, but stowed it aside. It would not help him at this moment. He could feel Dragonfly starting to anger, but Serene’s aura gently but firmly clamped down on her to keep her in check. As the disciple started marching toward him, Kite got the sinking feeling that this would probably be trouble no matter what he said. Or didn’t say.

“Well then, initiate Providence. It seems like we have found the knave, and without his bronze-rank trash of a mentor to hide behind.

Maggot! I, Rise of Morning Glory, challenge you to a clash of paths. When I win, you will have to grovel before initiate Providence here and provide him with two awakening stones as compensation for your theft and trickery.”

Kite heard some stifled snickers from the crowd as the disciple announced his name, Serene needing to clamp down like a vice on Dragonfly, whose anger was rapidly transforming to barely contained snorts of laughter. Fortunately for them, the disciple seemed too occupied with Kite to notice. At the sound of the challenge, Kite felt surprisingly calm. He was afraid that this would turn into some kind of drawn-out scene of social maneuvering, an area where he did not excel. Fighting, that he did know.

Deciding to try and be the more mature of the two, Kite gave a formal bow, calm in both features and aura. “I, Kite flown in on Winds of Fortune, accept your challenge. If I defeat you, you will provide me with an item of my choice from within the trade hall’s second floor, as well as deliver a report from the officiator to your master.”

“A trivial request, and unnecessary. I have already won, trash.” the disciple said. “As for officiator-” he began, turning to the third man in their procession, when a woman’s voice broke into the conversation.

“I will deem myself worthy to take the post of the officiator of this clash. May any who feel themselves more suited speak up in challenge.”

Previously unnoticed by all, apparently even Serene as Kite felt her stiffen in surprise, the speaker stepped out from the crowd.

She had flowing silvery hair and lips painted a pale blue. Her beauty was otherworldly, her aura only hinting of a shadow of her silver rank. Kite recognized her as Frost among Morning Dew, the woman uncle Walker had pointed out to him many months ago. She was one of the few silver-ranked outcasts still remaining in the autumn lands as an active adventurer.

Everyone present seemed paralyzed by her appearance, stunned into silence. Kite found his words first, seeing a chance for an officiator which should at least be impartial.

“I would be honored for you to officiate this clash, Frost among Morning Dew.” he said, while bowing with cupped hands. Uncle Walker had praised her work on several occasions, after all, which made Kite hold her in high regard..

Rise of Morning Glory seemed to find his words as well.

“Mistress Dew, this is surely beneath your grand notice. I assure you that-” he began, but halted as he suddenly seemed to be struggling for air.

“I did not invite you to speak so informally to me, disciple. No matter your family, you should never forget to respect the actual power here. Rank.” she said, voice cold as she let go of the disciple with her aura suppression.

He stumbled slightly before answering, his voice almost trembling as if shivering from a deep cold.

“My deepest apologies, Frost among Morning Dew. I will, of course, also be honored for you to officiate.”

“I suspected as much.” she answered with a cold smile. “Follow me.”

She led the way out of the line and toward the short stretch of open grassy field around the city, the crowd parting like a school of fish around a shark. Dragonfly and Serene followed, as did the two initiates from the sect. Some of the crowd did as well, albeit at a safe and respectful distance.

Kite could hear young master Providence frantically whisper to the disciple.

“Disciple, do not underestimate him. He is-”

“Do you doubt my skills, initiate?” disciple Rise almost spat out the last, silencing the young master.

Frost among Morning Dew directed the two combatants to a starting position, ten meters apart for iron rank.

“Adversaries, name yourselves.” she commanded in a formal tone.

“I, Rise of Morning Glory, disciple of the Victorious Sunset sect, will stand by my path in the face of this adversary.”

“I, Kite flown in on Winds of Fortune, will stand by my path in the face of this adversary.

“You have both declared what you fight for. At my command, may your paths clash and you both come out stronger for it.”

One heartbeat passed. Then two. On the third, they sensed a powerful pulse of aura, marking the start of the clash.

“You truly are a fool, outcast trash! This will not require more than one move!” disciple Rise shouted, before he started chanting while an armor of golden flames formed around his body.

“Wrath of the sun, scour the lands with the arrows of the pure!”

Kite had begun moving at a measured pace toward his opponent, whose spell had finished. In the air around him, glowing circles of light produced ten huge, burning arrows which hung ominously in the air.

“Say farewell, you fool. Your family will have to pay your dues as your corpse will be ashes.” the disciple sneered.

Kite’s response was twofold. He chanted;

“Dissolve the patterns of power”

Then, he activated the charging power of his belt. The ripple flew out before him, Kite close on its heels as he leaned into his enchanted charge.

As Kite had begun chanting, disciple Rise gave some curt gestures which launched the solar projectiles toward his advancing foe. His grin turned quite sour as the glorious sun bolts winked out of existence as they came into contact with the dispelling wave, as did his armor which was the only magical effect currently active.

“No matter, I will get another chance.” he thought as he lashed out with his hand, palm out. A forceful gust of wind tore into Kite, attempting to knock him back and create a comfortable distance yet again. As this too failed, Kite remaining unmoved, Unyielding showing its presence as the grassy ground behind him was torn apart, the disciple only had time to widen his eyes as Kite’s fist collided with his gut, all of Kite’s strength and power of his charge behind it.

He doubled over as the air left his lungs with an audible *whoosh*, coughing as he was thrown backwards. The disciple did show his training as he remained on his feet and managed to summon his golden armor again even through the coughing.

As he had done with the bandit during his examination, Kite continued attacking relentlessly. Another punch carrying Disrupting strike sundered the golden armor, while a quick barrier deflected a bolt of solar light fired at point blank before he landed a knee to the already battered torso of his opponent. Between being battered with blows, the disciple tried another gust of wind to no effect as well as a punch of his own, fist smoldering with power. However, he was dizzy from the beating he had taken so far and Kite punished the sluggishness by slapping the punch to the side, all the energy invested into the attack and more being forcibly ripped from his system by Kite's counter.

Kite landed several more quick punches, and as his opponents had no more magical effects active at the moment, many of the blows sent a faint pulse of light shimmering in gold, silver and blue through the disciple’s body in addition to the blue cracks of Chakra implosion destroying the young man's mana reserves.

The multi-colored pulses were the effect of the final power Kite had awakened before leaving Gilded.

WWJS:

Kite Flown in on Winds of Fortune has absorbed [Awakening stone of Balance]

You has awakened Resolute essence ability [Undeniable]

[Ability] Undeniable

Special ability. Cost: None Cooldown: None Current rank: Iron 4

Effect - Iron: Each time your effects are resisted or do not take effect, deal a small amount of transcendent damage to the target.

Examples include an opponent being immune to one of your attacks or damage types, or one of your effects failing to dispel due to a lack of magical effects on the target

Undeniable was another ability that was constantly active, like almost all of his abilities awakened from the resolute essence, and had been a boon to Kite through the battles of attrition during the journey with his companions, where his dispelling attacks had little to no effect. The powerful transcendent damage would always take effect regardless of enemy defense, even if the amount was very small. It gave Kite yet more reasons to always use his dispelling attacks, making more of his arsenal relevant against more opponents.

This was not the kind of battle where it mattered the most though, as the transcendent light was almost an afterthought to the pain which disciple Rise was currently in. Kite had continued to hammer his torso whenever he could, and it was adding up as the disciple’s attempts at countering grew weaker and weaker.

As disciple Rise tried another glowing punch, his legs buckled and he stumbled. Kite snapped out a quick “Ward!” which blocked the projectile his opponent then fired from his almost kneeling position. It scattered off his barrier, but instead of dropping the ward Kite continued channeling mana into it as he used it to tackle the kneeling disciple to the ground. As the personal barrier moved with him, and was solid from both sides, he let the momentum carry him onward and down, pressing the now prone opponent down into the torn grass field and keeping him there as he lay on his back.

Disciple Rise clawed on the translucent ward, each moment of contact draining more mana from him, Spiritual futility making his struggles just that; futile.

“Do you yield?” Kite asked, tone clipped.

“No, never!” disciple Rise shouted, followed by wheezing, screeched accusations of cheating and calling for the officiator to act.

Kite simply stood silent, continuing the pressure. His opponent had started blinking woozily as the combined mana drain of Kite’s barrier and the small vortex of Spirit Singularity was adding up. About half a minute later, seconds feeling ever so slow, it was over as the disciple’s body went limp and unconsciousness took him.

“This clash is over. Kite flown in on Winds of Fortune has defended his path, and is the victor.” Frost among Morning Dew stated with a neutral tone.

Kite walked to stand by her side as the two initiates from the sect rushed out to their fallen companion, trying to prop up his limp body as he had fallen unconscious from the combination of physical trauma and mana exhaustion.

“You.” the silver ranker said cooly, pointing at initiate Providence. “Come here.”

Not meeting any of their eyes, the young man walked over. Frost among Morning Dew brought out a slip of paper Kite recognized, similar to the one uncle Walker had written on. She produced a pen and started writing, taking her time in front of the silent onlookers. After she was done, she rolled it up and affixed a seal to it before handing it over to the initiate.

“After he has woken up, give the disciple this letter to present to his master.” she stated, voice still frosty, before she took out another slip and started writing anew. The second one she gave to Kite, although he noted that she did not put a seal on it. “And this is for Walker.”

With a raised voice, she continued. “May you both learn from this encounter, and your paths grow stronger for it.” Frost among Morning Dew then turned and left, striding through the crowd towards the city gates.

Kite felt surprisingly calm as he looked at young master Providence who still remained standing where he had received the letter, looking at it as if it were a sentence upon him rather than meant for another.

“Falsehoods don't always bring misfortune upon the ones we intend them to.” he said to the initiate, before turning and striding off.

Dragonfly and Serene joined him as they went back toward their place in the line. This became rather awkward as everyone around gave them a wide berth as well, ushering them forward. Kite considered insisting on waiting for his turn, but decided to go along after sensing the anxiety and trepidation from the normal-rankers around them.

When they had passed through the gates without further incident, Dragonfly gave of an exalted *whoop*.

“Kite, that was amazing. You were all calm and collected while that idiot thought he caught you in a trap, and then you just beat what little sense he had straight out of him. Do you think it is that name that makes him act that way? Is he compensating? No matter! Kite, I want to fight you next!” she exclaimed in an unceasing series of excited chatter.

Kite sighed. “I’m not sure, Dragonfly. I’m not meek enough to just stand down from such a challenge, but it feels like this will mean trouble down the line. Such a brittle pride will hurt everything around it when it shatters.

I suggest we try to lay low in the city, and not leave unless we are together for the upcoming weeks. You know the stories.”

The mood turned a bit more somber. While not terribly common, it was not unheard of for disgruntled sect-members to ambush and severely injure people who they deemed to have wronged them in some way. Few of the incidents were ever confirmed though, but Kite had seen the pride of many young initiates around the society enough times to not discount them either. That said, not all members of the sects were like this particular disciple.

“Do you believe that such a man will even pay you what he promised?” Serene asked. “He did seem like the kind of man to have a very flexible definition of honoring an agreement.”

“If he doesn’t, I’m not worse off. But if the letter reaches his master, I think the sect will see it done. They wouldn’t tolerate such a stain on their honor, and the whole matter did become quite public.

Speaking of the trade hall, we really should head by the society campus and turn in all the contracts. We can expect quite the payday, I’d imagine. I need to see about commissioning a better mode of transport for Glint.” Kite finished, nodding to the bucket where the carp was currently residing, poking her head over the rim and looking at her surroundings with wide, blank eyes.

“The reception aside, it is good to be back. I long to sing along with my goddess on her holy grounds.” Serene said, wistful. “So let us get the formalities done, so we can indulge ourselves in some much earned rest.”

“I can think of other things I need more than rest.” Dragonfly grumbled, too low for anyone to hear over the crowd.

On the morning after returning to the city Kite waved farewell to a barely awake Dragonfly, who still lay tangled in her bed linens, before gently sliding closed the door to her little cabin.

After collecting their pay from a rather excitable Adelaide the day before, Serene had bid the others farewell to return back home to her temple. As she had left, Dragonfly had let Kite know, in no uncertain terms, that the months of travel without much privacy had left her quite lacking in her aura training.

Kite felt quite relaxed and pleased as he left her to indulge in some much deserved sleep, while he had some more errands he wanted to get to now that they were back in the city. As he started walking through the rather empty streets, enjoying the fresh breeze and how it rustled the golden leaves of all the trees. His relaxation quickly fled however, as he suddenly found himself having company.

“I am pleased that you didn’t take too long to rise. The days are short on the path towards the heavens, after all.” said the low voice of Frost among Morning Dew as she had appeared next to him, although Kite did not know if it was by aura or power she had masked her presence. While her aura was neatly gathered and controlled, it still gave off a dangerous chill.

Kite almost stopped, but her aura firmly nudged him along. “Frost among Morning Dew.” he greeted politely, quite wary of the sudden and unexpected attention of a silver ranker.

“You may call me mistress Dew. You’ve already shown me deference and an adequate judgment, so might as well spare the tedium and formalities.” she calmly responded.

“Very well then, mistress Dew. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Probably not as you are right now, but as I have walked my path I have learned that a favor owed by someone with potential might be worth quite a lot down the line.

Tell me, Kite flown in on Winds of Fortune, what were your reflections after yesterday's little debacle at the gates?”

“Just Kite is fine, mistress. And as to yesterday, it felt…” he trailed off, pausing to gather his thoughts. “To me, it was yet another proof that my own pride might become my greatest enemy, should I let it.”

“Explain.”

“I find it hard to believe that someone promoted to a disciple in the sect would be completely unskilled. And he did show signs of some good instincts and training. But it seemed like he was so enamored by his own powers that he did not adapt or adjust to what was actually going on. Instead he kept repeating the same response, as if convinced that the last failing was just a fluke. If I’m not mistaken, that man should have all twenty of his abilities awakened, yet I only saw a handful. It was as if his mind froze when things didn’t go the way he was assured it would. And I think his pride was the cause of that.”

As he talked, mistress Dew regarded him with a thoughtful expression.

“I see that you have given this some thought. Then how about your own performance?”

She could see Kite look a bit chagrined at her question.

“It feels a bit shameful to admit, mistress Dew, but this subject feels a lot more muddled. Part of me wants to reflect deeper on my own actions and what I should have done differently. Another part constantly muddies the waters. It says that I won, and rather handedly at that, even though I held back a lot. I think I am not as immune to my own pride as I would like.”

His companion’s answer was an amused smile. “Walker did say you were an introspective one, young Kite. He was not wrong.”

“You’ve met my uncle?”

“I have, both in the city and on the road. A pleasant man, who walks his path at his own pace. The many roads he has traveled have given him perspective, and with that comes wisdom. Some, apparently, he has imparted to you.

I have an offer for you, young Kite, if you would listen?”

Kite nodded for the woman to continue.

“My path is one of frost, the cold robbing my opponents of everything before they succumb. I steal the strength from their muscles, the vigor from their movements and wit from their thoughts. As such, I have found the need to become relentless and adaptable when I fight.

And after seeing you yesterday, I believe that our paths have some similarities. You too need to be relentless, to deny your opponents their means of victory, but instead of their bodies you cripple and deny them their magic. I am not too proud to admit feeling afraid of facing one such as you, provided the individual has the skills to back those abilities.

I have about three weeks until I plan to take on my next contract. If you would be willing to owe someone like me a favor, I am willing to give you a bit of my time each day for training. And should you die before I can collect said favor, I have at least satisfied my own curiosity and helped out an old acquaintance.”

Kite had not expected this turn of events on this particular morning. And one in his position would be a fool to turn down such an opportunity, karmic imbalances or not. While mistress Dew was slightly terrifying, she had yet shown any unnecessary cruelty. And uncle Walker had spoken well about her. In Kite’s opinion, that accounted for a lot.

“Mistress Dew, I’d be hono-” he began, but was interrupted as she snapped her head to gaze off into the distance. She looked impassive for a short while before smiling. Chills went up Kite’s spine, as he had never seen a smile so faint look so predatory.

“I felt your assent in your aura, young Kite. Good choice. Meet me up at the seventh peak after dawn tomorrow. I will find you.” she spoke quickly, before finishing. “As for now, I have something to take care of.”

Not sparing Kite another glance, she took a step forward as if going up an invisible stair. A chill mist started coalescing beneath her foot, forming a floating sword made of ice which was longer than Kite was tall and proportionately wide. It hovered flat side up as she stepped on to it, standing regal as the sword lifted into the air and started flying away to the southeast with ever increasing speed.

Kite was left with a slight layer of rime across his clothes, staring after the disappearing figure. Glint plopped her head up out of her bucket, joining Kite in following mistress Dew with her gaze.

He turned to her, smiling.

“Well, Glint. I think I have some dues to pay. I do not know how my life became like this, but gratitude is the least I can show for it.”

He started wandering toward the temple district. The temple of Fortune would receive an appropriate donation on this day.

Brilliant Bloom of Providence swallowed hard while reaching out a trepidatious hand toward Rise of Morning Glory. “D-d-disciple, you might want to reconsider…”

After staying in the city overnight to let him recover, they two initiates and the disciple had set off back toward the sect at dawn. He had felt the disciple’s aura becoming increasingly agitated as he had walked most of the way with his gaze locked on the scroll given to him by Frost among Morning Dew after the rather disastrous showdown at the city gates.

Moments before, something in the aura had seemed to burst as he had suddenly shrieked and started tearing the scroll apart, throwing its pieces all over. He then took his time stomping around the road, his aura wild with agitation.

“Stupid outcast trash. It was a hoax. A trap. It must have been. And the stupid bitch wouldn’t even step in to stop it. I bet she even planned it. When the elders hear of this, they won’t stand idle. If I’m lucky I might even get to give a lash or two myself after she’s publicly flogged.” he rambled, apparently not being able to control his fury and shame.

Initiate Providence tried some meek protests. He knew this was bad. But maybe he could salvage this for the disciple, at least a little bit. Not knowing what else to do, he tried remaining as hard to notice as possible while he carefully started picking up the pieces near him.

Having gathered about a dozen, he was bent over to pick up yet another when he noticed a patch of frost creeping over the ground.

Lark above the Clouds, grand elder of the Victorious Sunset sect, had quite a pleasant morning. Through the open terrace doors he could see the shape of his wife, still sleeping peacefully beneath the blankets. He was taking his morning tea up on his personal terrace, overlooking the sect which had been his home for the last five decades.

The sect complex was a sprawling estate about four hours' travel southwest of Gilded. Built on and around two cliffs which had suitable faces towards the west, all of the sects buildings could witness the sun depart each dusk, celebrating the glorious accomplishments during the past day.

His pleasant morning was interrupted as a call reached him from below his terrace.

“Grand elder! Grand elder! There is trouble at the northern gates.”

Grand elder Lark’s silver rank senses had heard the young woman, a junior elder and functionary of the sect, drawing near but he had hoped until the last moment that her distress would not involve him.

Sighing, he put down his cup and looked longingly back to the bedroom before going to the edge of the terrace.

“Thank you, junior. I shall see to it.” he said, his displeasure obvious.

He produced a small, silk mat which he laid out on the floor beneath him. As he stepped onto it, he started channeling mana into it which caused the intricate embroideries on it to glow. The mat levitated up into the air and carried the grand elder toward the north gates of the sect. He constantly needed to provide mana to the flying mat as the ambient mana were too thin in these lands to allow it to propel itself.

As he was nearing his destination, he began to pick out the auras of the initiates manning the gates. They felt upset and agitated, but also afraid. He could feel two more initiates, fear even more evident in their auras, as well as one that gave only the faint impression of someone barely conscious. That meant trouble had indeed reached his doorstep, and the silver ranker he could sense made his blood boil contrary to the chilling aura it gave off.

Activating an ability, he leapt off the flying mat and landed hard on the ground in front of the gates, green flames licking the ground beneath his feet.

“You better explain yourself with great haste, outcast. Because laying hands on one of our members, a disciple no less, leads to the harshest of retributions.” grand elder Lark almost growled at Frost among Morning Dew.

She stood with a regal posture, one hand lazily carrying the unconscious disciple Rise as he hung limp and coated with frost. Two other initiates stood behind her, radiating the fear he had sensed.

“Grand elder.” she acknowledged with a slight nod. “I hope that the standards of your sect have not yet sunk so low as to what I have witnessed today. Otherwise, I would fear for the future of your glorious institution.” Frost among Morning Dew finished before locking her cool gaze upon one of the initiates. “Show him.”

As the initiate came forward, a young man with reddish-black hair whom grand elder Lark did not know the name of, he saw something cupped in the younger man’s hands. It was paper scraps, some dirty or muddied, as well as the ripped remains of a seal in white wax. The grand elder’s inner rage grew somewhat as he recognized that the scraps were, his mind piecing the situation together. The conclusion was most unsatisfying.

“You were the officiator?” he asked brusquely, but slightly less hostile than before as he smelled trouble coming. Trouble he would find it hard to explain away.

“I was. Yesterday afternoon. The young disciple here-” she shook the limp man slightly, “- decided to take offense at the existence of another young adventurer. He challenged said young man, and lost. This morning I sensed the improper opening of the seal, and went to investigate. You can see the results, both of what I found and how I dealt with it.

To their credit, these two initiates were polite enough to help in the gathering of said sundered message. I am sure you can piece together its contents. And I trust that you will relay this to the master of this disciple in question. It would be a shame for people to hear of such an upstanding sect and its representatives acting with dishonor, would it not?” she finished, a smile on her blue lips.

Grand elder Lark seethed inwardly at such treatment by this outcast, and even more at the young idiots who had put him in this situation. Trying to keep what he could from his voice and aura, he responded.

“It would indeed be most unfortunate, and I assure you that the matter will be handled. Decisively.

Do you know if the offended parties would be amenable to compensation for their discretion in the matter? It would be a shame for a single stain to darken the reputation of the whole sect.” he said, managing to keep his voice neutral.

The smile on the blue lips widened slightly. “I do believe they would, grand elder. This one is relieved to see such honor and dignity in the actions of the leadership of the sect. Therefore, I will leave it up to your discretion as to what shape said compensation will take. With your great judgment, I am sure whatever you choose will be most satisfactory.”

“Then I, on behalf of the sect, am most grateful for your understanding.” grand elder Lark finished stiffly.

Frost among Morning Dew handed the unconscious disciple off to the other accompanying initiate, before summoning her flying sword of ice and stepping up on it.

“May the heavens bless your path, grand elder.” she said as she bade them farewell, still smiling.

Grand elder Lark stood watching her leave, still as a statue while he inwardly prayed for the heavens to strike her down. By leaving the compensation up to the sect, she had placed a knife to the throat of the sect’s honor. Had she demanded something specific, he could have bargained it down. Now they had to make doubly sure that the compensation was lavish, lest rumor would spread of the sect not owning up to their debts.

He merely looked at the initiates with scorn, before he turned his back on them and returned through the gates. The Victorious Sunset sect would not forget this slight.