Rising Kite - A story from the world of HWFWM

“Then that will be the end of today’s training, as well as our time together.” instructor Concente finished. “Given our short time together, I’d say you didn’t turn out too bad. For Hua-Xi locals.” she finished with a wry smile.

The group was gathered in the same seating area out in what Kite had learned was Will’s personal garden. The young scion apparently resided not in one room, but rather one building on the palace grounds.

Will was the first one to stand and bow respectfully to their instructor. “Then allow me to be the first one to thank you, on behalf of both myself and my family. You have given us ample opportunity for growth.”

The others quickly followed suit, bowing with cupped hands toward the instructor.

“Will you be joining the expedition?” Dragonfly asked hopefully, face falling quickly as the instructor shook her head.

“Had I been between contracts at the moment, I would have considered it. But I will not leave the area just yet. Jarvan has me working on some internal matters.

But from now on, I should just be Mirabel to you all. You should all work hard to reach bronze soon. There are a lot of troubles in these parts that will need people like you.” she finished, standing up. “But now I have to be off. An adventurer seldom rests, and us functionaries even less so. May your paths grow strong in unity.”

The group waved her off, before settling down again.

“So, the muster has been called. Three days until the time of our rise to glory begins in truth!” Will exclaimed, his aura almost smoldering with enthusiasm.

“Yeah, finally! It is time to shove those creeps to the annals of history!” Dragonfly exclaimed, echoing his sentiment.

Over the last months, the two had found a camaraderie in their shared enthusiasm, Kite, as usual, found their moods infectious, but his gaze remained on Serene. As she met his eyes, he heard a windy whisper near his ear.

“Later.”

It wasn’t long afterwards, following some food and strategizing, that the group split apart. Dragonfly hurried off to see her master, who was apparently going ahead sooner to some undisclosed location.

Kite took the opportunity to keep Serene company as they rode the elevating platform down from the first peak and made their way homeward. While Grim had often graciously used his portals to ferry them to and from the palace, he was currently busy with other matters. And word had already gotten out in regards to them teaming up with the lordling. So far nothing had come of it, but Will often muttered that it should only be a matter of time.

As Glint was big enough for two riders in her enlarged form, they both sat up as the carp started to glide above the city streets, seated sideways and watching the houses and golden foliage roll by.

“Want to talk about it?” Kite asked gently, referring to the feeling he’d gotten before as well as during the night of the raid.

“While part of my heart does not, it is the part that still fears them. The fallen sect. And that is the part I strive to not let rule me.” Serene answered, her wispy voice small. “It is merely anxiety, for what is to come. The thought of facing those who follow the dark paths… Of facing that pain again.

Part of me want to roar like a dragon in defiance, while there is still that fear, as if branded into my soul. That part just want to whimper and hide. Or flee these lands.”

“Then what do you want to do? Is it only roaring or fleeing that is on the table?” Kite asked, picking up the metaphor.

“No. Kite, I… I want to face them. To retake a bit of the control they stripped from me during that short but horrible time. And give up control in other regards, where it isn’t really needed.”

“Oh?” he asked, curious as to her last statement.

Serene sighed. “Remember when we first met? Or when Dragonfly had finally worked up the nerve to ask you to join her in the dyadic aura training? Or all those other times when I’ve… When I’ve…”

“Picked out our emotions from our auras?”

“Yes. And in truth, I shouldn’t have. Most consider it terribly rude. But since I awoke my fourfold aura, I had trouble not to. Not to control the actual aura sense, but trouble to not want to constantly do it.

I’ve had several sessions with a priestess of the Healer over the years. To help deal with those memories. She thinks it to be an act of seizing control over every situation I can, in opposition to the memories of the time where all control was stripped away from me.

And I agree with her. It took some time. Years. But I’ve tried doing it less and less. To not always intrude and peek behind the metaphorical curtain when I could.”

“And how has it been?” Kite asked, keeping true to one of auntie Crow’s proverbs. When someone spoke of matters of the heart, more questions would guide you true. Now that he thought about it, it was quite a long time since she had last brought his emotions up for scrutiny.

“A bit frightening, at first. But I believe that this is the way I want to live. To use it when necessary, not just when it suits me and those fragile emotions of mine.”

While some moments of his inner feelings being laid bare had been embarrassing, Kite had to admit that he hadn’t thought much about them, just attributing it to a quirk of his friend. But he did grow up around two aura-wielders, so it might just be that he was more used to it than most.

“Then if it is a roar or flight your mind wants, why not consider a third option?” he asked, getting a curious look in return as she brushed back her jade hair.

“A song would be most in character, after all.” he finished with a smile while reaching out and squeezing her hand in assurance.

She stared blankly at him for a while before giggling, the sound being like a myriad ringing bells.

“Earnest to a fault, Kite.” She laughed. “ Thank you. For asking. And for being my friend.”

“Good. It seems like you have started adapting what I’ve taught you to your own abilities.” mistress Dew stated firmly, as Kite sat breathing hard on the ground in the practice yard.

He had been most surprised when she had paid him a visit this morning, before dragging him off to a training area up on the seventh peak. While her lessons had always been thorough to the point of exhaustion, Kite did notice a distinct improvement of his stamina, courtesy of his rising attributes.

“If I… may ask, mistress,” he said between panting breaths, “how come you came calling this morning? I would have thought that you had already held up your end of our arrangement?”

She looked at him, an amused expression playing on her otherwise frosty demeanor. “Due to our upcoming little adventure, I will not have the time to leave the city. And as two days still remain, I found myself restless. What better way to spend the time than to educate the next generation? Or would you rather I hadn’t?”

“Oh, not at all.” Kite assured quickly, seeing just the hint of danger in her amusement. “I remain most grateful, I assure you.”

“I thought as much.” she said, pleased. “And I must say that you have taken well to my teachings. That little staff you received after the trial is most potent.

But I must say that there is still something missing. It is to be expected though. One can seldom just copy another’s path, only be inspired by it. I believe that my Way of Relentless Winter will not alone suffice for you. From what I have seen, your paths also need something more… reactive and cunning, defensive yet denying initiative for your opponents.”

“Mistress is most wise.” he said as he mulled over her words. While her relentless style fit him well to overwhelm an opponent on the back foot, he had often found himself in a more defensive stance when fighting the bronze-ranked monsters as of late. While he made do with the training he had received over the years from uncle Walker, it was a shallow level of skill in the end. “While I am not sure it will take me all the way, I have recently been granted a boon from the son of the city lord, and have asked for help in finding someone to train me in the art of the staff.”

Mistress Dew nodded. “Money is something you may earn yourself through contracts, but training is a prize more elusive and the knowledge it brings may be with you until the end of your path. You made a wise choice.

As for the source of the boon, I did hear rumors about some ‘outcast upstart who had wormed his way in with his betters’. From your recent tribulations, I must admit to not being entirely surprised.”

“Ah, yes. Will is… not what I expected from one of his station.” Kite admitted.

“No? How much do you know of city lord Indomitable and his rise to power?”

“Not… very much. History was never any main focus in my education.” Kite admitted. “I heard that he has ruled the city for over eighty years though.”

“Indeed. He is actually a former adventurer, albeit a long time ago. While I do not know all of the details, this being before I was born, there was apparently some kind of upheaval or disaster in these parts around a century ago, which eventually destabilized the government. After the tumult had settled, the royal family issued a competition for the seat of city lord.

Apparently, the young lord Indomitable defeated and outwitted each and every one using his chief virtue; patience. While they are included in his power set, it’s not the only reason why he has received the name Indomitable March of Glaciers. Had this land been blessed with denser mana, I believe that he would have reached gold rank long ago. He might still, should he decide to turn to cores.

But he seems to be a man playing a long game. And he has apparently seen fit to include you as a potential piece.” she finished.

Kite felt a note of concern on hearing this, although he had to admit to himself that the freedom he valued would probably ever be a muddled concept. He already had ever-strengthening ties to the adventure society beyond the normal membership agreement, after all. But being a piece in someone’s game did not sit well with him.

“Then I suppose I will have to have patience as well, and see if the game is one I am willing to play.” he finally said, after mulling it over with a frown.

“Unless you reach the very heavens, there will always be games who force you into their rules. But if you continue to show the budding wisdom you have overall shown so far, I believe that you will not be in over your head. You have started cultivating allies of your own as well, be it friend or contact.” mistress Dew finished, before turning towards the society campus once more. “I shall attend other matters now, but meet me here again tomorrow morning.” she commanded, waving over her shoulder before taking her leave, trailing a chilly wind.

Kite was left deep in thoughts, which stayed with him even after he too left the training yard.

Jarmiel did not know how long it had been, but it had to be weeks. A month? Those alchemical vapors he had been forced to inhale tended to leave his mind muddied even after the main effect of loosening his lips had worn off.

He once more swore to get about to shake the habit of breathing as soon as he would be able to. And, if he managed to get out of this mess, he would vow to annihilate all the rats in all the lands.

Just a rat? Just a rat?! He still had nightmares about that cursed night. One moment, there had just been a simple brown rat sitting there on its hind legs. Then there had been more, pouring in from his small window. He had still been stunned as they suddenly emitted a bronze-rank aura, swarming over him. Biting, clawing, dragging him to the ground. He-

His shuddering thoughts were interrupted as the lock of his cell clicked. Jarmiel tensed. It was not daytime, and unless his captors were changing up their routine, this was something out of the ordinary. Collared as he was, there was little he could do but prepare to spring into action.

The door opened slightly and an unknown man came in, wearing the uniform of an adventure society functionary. Jarmiel could not feel any aura as his senses were suppressed, but from the man’s look, he was probably a bronze-ranker.

“Who- what are you-” Jarmiel started asking before the man closed the distance with supernatural swiftness, hand striking out toward Jarmiel’s throat. Even if he wasn’t suppressed, Jarmiel was more of an infiltrator than a combatant, and only had the time to turn slightly in an attempt to divert the damage to less sensitive areas.

His mind racing, he took in the cell. The door was still open. If he could only-

A sharp click interrupted his thoughts as the collar fell off his throat, Jarmiel’s aura being freed and magic once more flowing into his body. He looked at the man in shock, but the plain-looking elf just smiled a crooked grin and winked at Jarmiel.

Then he knew. The path of lies. The infiltrators. He had heard rumors… Suspected… But… His heart soared as he started toward the door.

Two others in similar garb, a celestine man and a human woman, slunk in just after they left. A body was dumped onto the floor, not looking the slightest like Jarmiel, and they swiftly collared it before the woman started chanting under her breath. He could not hear the words, but he recognized the faint sense of power which would only be detectable to the select few, those who already knew. The power of Deceit.

Suddenly, the corpse looked like Jarmiel as an illusion was placed over it. While it wouldn’t hold up to too much scrutiny, it should be enough to buy them time.

A fourth and final man, also an elf, waited outside and handed Jarmiel a similar set of robes as those his rescuers wore. As what had once been his cell door closed, Jarmiel was already moving while dressing, covering his simple prisoner’s outfit with the disguise.

Before leaving the cell block, another in the group applied an aura-mask to Jarmiel as well, altering his bronze rank aura to another of the same rank. Used to such tools, Jarmiel held his own aura tightly controlled as to not risk fracturing the spiritual disguise.

The holding cells of the Gilded adventure society branch was beneath the campus itself, dug down through the spire which formed the seventh peak. There were no windows in the cell block or in the other winding corridors. Only nondescript metal doors could be seen, where the group occasionally passed through some of them as Jarmiel’s guides unlocked both the physical locks and the magical formations which allowed them to pass.

The first hurdle in their plan arose at the checkpoint all visitors had to pass through before entering or exiting the complex. A heavily enchanted glass wall split the stone room in half along with a guardstation with a clear line of vision in both directions.

In the guard station sat a tired-looking functionary who waved them forward.

“Names and identification. Present your badges to the formation.”

Jarmiel had been provided a badge which should work, but he still had to fight with keeping his calm as they passed through the checkpoint, one after another. As his turn came, the guard took a longer look at him.

“Is something the matter?” he asked the iron-ranked functionary, trying to channel a feeling of tiredness.

“Oh, I was just curious if you felt more talkative now. Your colleagues told me that you were facing some troubles so-” the functionary began, but Jarmiel cut him off.

“Yes. That. Thanks for bringing it up again. It had just slipped my mind, but why would I ever want unpleasantness to not be in the forefront of my thoughts?” he asked, filling his voice with scorn.

In Jarmiel’s experience, most would rather escape an uncomfortable situation rather than press further, which was why he had done his best to make the situation just that. Awkward and a bit shameful.

Fortunately, it worked on the lower-ranked functionary as Jarmiel was waved through. He’d never try this on any more professional guards. When it came to deception, using the right tool for the right situation was vital.

After leaving the checkpoint, the surroundings changed from stone to decorated wood as they came up into the society proper. There was more foot traffic here, but in this case it was actually beneficial as each group would be under less scrutiny. The adventure society campus was big enough for there to be a lot of unfamiliar faces, as few, if any, could recognize everyone. But to Jarmiel’s dismay, an iron-ranked elven woman with green hair waved to one of the elven men in their group as she came over.

“Ingram! There you are. There has been a shift change, so we’ll need to bring you in for an evaluation this evening.” she said as she approached.

“Ah, Adelaide. That is… awkward. You see-” Jarmiel’s accomplice began. Jarmiel didn’t listen much as he was instead looking for options should he fail to dissuade her.

They were close enough to the exit to try and make a break for it. But with the branch director or deputy director on site, that proposition was beyond risky. Still, he needed to be ready. Easing into a fake conversation with another of his group, Jarmiel slowly shifted himself around the back of the elven woman, aura kept steady like a knife in its sheath. Inside his sleeve, one of his hands started crackling slightly with purple sparks as he made ready to plunge it through the back of her head, should the need arise.

His tension only rose as the woman apparently named Adelaide started berating Ingram for his unavailability, seeming not to care about his higher rank. Jarmiel was just considering making a move as another functionary suddenly came over.

“Adelaide! There has been an adventurer here asking for you. Apparently its urgent!"

The woman sighed before giving ‘Ingram’ a look which told him, in no uncertain terms, that they would have words about this at a later date.

As Adelaide and the functionary disappeared behind the corner, the group continued onwards, making idle smalltalk about made up subjects. Neither had their auras projected outward, as to not draw suspicion or, in Jarmiel’s case, risk damaging his aura-mask. This means that they had no chance of noticing that one of the iron-ranked auras that had passed the corner suddenly disappeared.

Exiting through the doors of the building, Jarmiel had to suppress the urge to just drink in the late summer evening and its fresh air. Weeks of imprisonment did that to a person, he supposed. But they continued moving swiftly through the campus, toward one of the elevating platforms . As there was little traffic during the evenings, it just stood there, empty and waiting for them. Jarmiel almost expected a last minute call or guards forcing them into a final chase towards freedom. But nothing like that occurred. He stepped onto the platform along with the group, and the runes lit up as the faint force field around it sprung to life, a security measure mostly unnecessary.

The knot in his stomach unclenched somewhat as he felt the slight lurch when they started descending at a sedate pace. He had sighed again, relief flooding him. While they were not completely out of the woods yet, the actual enemy stronghold was surely the most risky part of the plan. He started making plans in his head, which caches of resources he would go to and what kind of extraction plan they might have to get out of the city.

It was almost pure happenstance that he idly turned around to look up towards the edge of the plateau, now about ten meters above him. And there, peeking out over the corner and down at them and clearly discernible due to his bronze-rank perception, was a brown rat.

Jarmiel stared at the rat.

The rat stared back.

Jarmiel continued staring at the rat.

The rat waved a little paw at him.

“We’re compromised. Everybody sca-” was what had the time to leave his mouth as the platform stopped abruptly. One of the group immediately attempted to leap off the side, but was rebuffed by the force field ostensibly there for their safety, now turned to a cage. Jarmiel could see the telltale shimmer of an illusion of some kind going up around the platform while another of the group, apparently possessing some kind of enhanced leaping power, shot upward and back toward the edge of the plateau.

However, he swiftly returned, not even having reached his goal, held limp in the hand of a figure which had descended down toward them. It was a human man with golden blonde hair combed back and a beard tracing the line of his jaw, turning his appearance almost leonine as he grinned at the group. He was clad in a conjured suit of full plate armor in a faint blue hue, while two huge gauntlets of similar make, forming fists at least a meter wide, started appearing in the air above him.

Jarmiel’s stomach had already turned into the deepest recess of the void as the man spoke, his silver rank aura like a shining beacon. “You’ll have to excuse the discretion.” he said, gesturing to the illusion around the platform. “It was one of the conditions I had to agree to in order to be allowed to come out and play. My deputy director can be such a stickler sometimes.” said Jarvan LanCaire, branch director of the adventure society’s Gilded branch, punching an armored fist into an open palm. The huge gauntlets above mimicked the motion perfectly.

“Champion’s chafing chaps, that was fun! Having to take them alive added just a little bit of zest to that dance!” branch director Jarvan exclaimed as he entered his office half an hour later. Both Adelaide and the deputy director were present.

“Our lure apparently did its job to our satisfaction, although it was a bit tedious for our people to remain on alert for so long. Your quick response to our call was commendable, functionary Adelaide.” spoke deputy director Rupert with a nod and a raised cup of tea in the elf’s direction.

“I’m just surprised that there were so many infiltrators. I’ve known some of them during my whole time stationed here.” she responded, still baffled. “I was even invited to a party at Clara’s house next week.”

“While we don’t know if they were planted from the start or replaced over the years, we always counted on it. The reports state that one of the foul branches of the fallen sect called itself the path of lies, mostly worshippers of deceit, disguise and others up to no good. With those credentials, there was bound to be at least some. The games of those kinds of people are quite long-term.” Jarvan said with a smile as he poured himself a glass of bright blue spirits.

“Then… Why now? And why ask me to walk up to them?” Adelaide asked, who had been unknowing of the scheme unfolding as she had confronted Ingram. If that was really his name.

“As we draw so close to the expedition and threw you into this, I believe you are owed some answers.” director Jarvan said, almost somberly.

“He just wants to talk to someone about his plan and have them tell him that he possesses both wisdom and foresight.” Rupert sighed, earning a glare from his friend.

“Anyway-” Jarvan began anew, “We struck now to rob them of immediate eyes and ears as the expedition launches, hopefully forcing what we didn’t catch into hiding as we set out. There was no chance in high heavens that the expedition’s existence wouldn’t leak eventually if we wanted to bring the sects, as they wouldn’t just come at short notice on our beck and call. But now we can at least hope to muddle and confuse what intelligence they can gather from us as we actually move out.

And as to your participation, we needed to interrupt them in their exfiltration to try and flush out any backups they had on standby to assist but who weren’t part of the group itself. And thanks to you, we got one.” he finished with a smile. You will of course be compensated with internal merit points for your trouble.

Adelaide nodded in thanks in modest silence at the praise, while she was inwardly squealing with glee. The internal merit points would give her ample resources for when she finally set out on her own adventuring journey.

“But you’ll have to excuse us, Adelaide, as we have final preparations for the muster to finish. Tomorrow is the big day, after all.” branch director Jarvan finished, his smile both expectant and grim. He knew full well that this endeavor would cost lives, and could only hope that their allies in the sects had taken their warnings seriously.

Kite and his companions stood gathered in the marshaling yard up at the seventh peak. He had been there several times, but never in a gathering as big as this one. While he wasn’t sure, he’d expect there to be at least three hundred people gathered there, adventurers one and all. He vaguely recognized many from having seen them in passing once in a while over the past year. Will was currently looking over the crowd, pointing out the few more highborn scions among those gathered.

“As expected, most send their young to one of the sects.” he finished after his meager counting of just a handful of the many faces he recognized, talking unabashedly as the team was surrounded by Serene's aura and sound-manipulating powers. Kite was impressed with her growth in that regard, having apparently gotten some pointers from deputy director Rupert who shared the power with her. They had a private bubble of their own in all the noise.

Kite would normally have taken the time to look for his uncle, but knew that he had already embarked towards what would be their base camp, his role as a scout having him deploy well ahead of the rest.

Finally, the branch director made his appearance along with the deputy director, mistress Dew and another silver-ranker Kite did not recognize, a celestine man with shaved head and shining brass-colored eyes.

“Greetings adventurers!” the branch director’s voice boomed, Kite suspecting that it was being amplified by Rupert to carry clear throughout the whole yard. “Today, we finally embark on the venture many of you have been preparing for. It warms my heart to see you all, who have chosen the way of the common good, answering our rallying call like this.

The days ahead of us will be challenging, as our foe is both insidious and hidden, as well as wielding powers that would make many of us recoil in disgust. As you will no doubt face your share of deviants, I want you to remember; their dark path is not one of greater power, just one of convenience. They were too weak to grow on their own, instead turning to powers that would only consume the lands and people around them to allow them to even come close to your level. But also remember, that such individuals will stop at nothing to survive. Expect no mercy, and give none. The rewards for prisoner are meant for the happy accidents and the serendipitous, not something you should risk your life over.

Initially you will be divided into five platoon, each one with forty iron-rankers and twenty bronze-rankers. And each of those platoons will be divided into teams of varying sizes, mostly four iron-rankers led by two bronze-rankers. As we travel to the base camp, you will each receive your initial war-contracts, and subsequently return after completing each one unless the situation in the field dictates otherwise, as decided by your bronze-ranked commanders.

We will have three silver-rankers deploy with you, initially acting as a rapid response team as we scout out where the opposition deploy their most impactful forces. As such, they will not belong to any particular squadron.

Our overall objective is simple; to once and for all root out the remnants of the fallen sect which have been left festering out in the wilds of these lands. I know you will strive to protect them along with our sect allies, who deploy even greater numbers than us during this conflict. While I acknowledge that cooperation has, in some cases, been rife with dissent and strife between us, I urge you to keep your hearts steady even should you come under provocation. The sects are not our enemy here, and should be supported like they should support us in turn.

Fight like the pillars of civilization I know you are. Fight like adventurers!” he finished, a cheer rising from the gathered essence-users. Kite could see director Jarvan looking pretty smug while the deputy director just shook his leonine head.

Already knowing their group, they still waited for their turn to look at the rosters. Having uncle Walker and master Force assigned as their bronze-ranked members was a relief, but Kite turned to Will as he saw a third name on the list of bronze-rankers. “Grim is joining as well?”

“Indeed he is! He will probably be mostly in charge of logistics, and it would take more than his bronze-ranked portal to make a strategic difference on the wider scale, but he will be participating.” Will nodded, as if this should have been a foregone conclusion.

“But… Isn’t he… a servant? I would assume that there would be a lot of fighting.” Dragonfly asked hesitantly.

“Well, yes. But he has been in charge of my personal security my whole life as well, not just waiting on my needs.” Will answered, baffled that this hadn’t been their obvious conclusion.

The group was silent for a while as Kite, Dragonfly and Serene all re-evaluated the stern elven man in their mind’s eye. However, they quickly moved on to other business, and after the last check-up on gear and supplies, they joined the mass of adventurers traveling to the rendezvous point outside the city gates for further transport.

The expedition against the remnants of the fallen sect was finally underway.