Guran guided Lena, Micro, Kolt, and Kira quickly through the bustling neighbourhoods which surrounded the sect's expansive temple of stone. Even from within the small villages, the sect's headquarters were clear to see atop a small hill. Its stone walls were painted yellow, but large wooden structures of finer quality than Micro had yet seen on his new world stood alongside humbler stone structures.

Micro was pleasantly surprised not to draw much attention from the villagers he passed. Though he couldn't help but compare them to the average villagers of his homeworld, he noticed that they appeared cleanly dressed and well fed for non-cultivators.

“Gold really does make a difference.” Micro said to himself.

“Those beneath the sect's protection want for nothing, I assure you.” Guran replied proudly.

“The tributes which adorn this land speak to the true value of our sect to this kingdom.”

Micro nodded, but noticed a sudden change in the air around them. While villagers had seemed indifferent to the group before, the sound of Guran's voice seemed to cool the warm atmosphere of the settlement instantly. Men and women stopped walking and bowed their heads as Guran passed, offering no word of greeting as they walked by.

“Hmm...” Micro sighed as the familiar scene unfolded.

“Fear...”

“Fear? Hardly...” Guran stated with a sharp glance.

“They live happily in their place. And they know their place very well.”

“I see...” Micro replied quietly, turning to find Kolt and Kira wearing equally nervous expressions.

“We've arrived at our first stop.” Guran announced.

“You have journeyed far, and you must have accumulated as much fatigue as your clothes have gathered... filth...”

Guran cleared his throat and bowed his head, hiding an unpleasant expression as several women gathered around him. Behind Guran was a large building of wood and stone, decorated with colourful tapestries and flowers. Guran looked up at Micro, doing his best not to let his glare fall upon the children behind him while Lena looked around the town with disinterest.

“If it pleases you, allow us to aid you in restoring your outerwear to its fullest potential.” Guran spoke formally.

“To enter the sect in such a state would be...”

“Oh, it's a clothing store.” Micro said as he looked into the building through a window.

“That's convenient.”

The store was full of shelves displaying fabrics of many colours, though there was a clear preference for the yellow colour worn by Guran and many other cultivators walking about the villages. Several people remained inside, some sewing while others cleaned, though most of the female staff had exited the building to meet Guran with bowed heads.

“I don't need anything expensive, but the little ones could use warmer clothes.” Micro said to Guran.

“Expensive?” Guran blurted out.

“We would not charge you for the honour of making you presentable before our masters.”

“Cultivators do business in other ways.” Lena quietly remarked to Micro.

“Don't be discourteous. Coins and the like are the currency of the mundane for the most part.”

“How should I pay then?” Micro asked as he returned several gold coins to his storage, a sight which caught Guran's eye instantly.

“I'm sure your time here will be of great value to our sect.” Guran assured him with a conflicted look.

“The depth of your skills is difficult to discern.”

Micro shrugged and followed Guran into the store, where the group was greeted warmly. Upon the staff's insistence, the four were led to the back of the store where warm baths were prepared, and their clothes were taken to be washed.

After a short time spent relaxing in the soapy water, they were provided temporary robes while their clothes dried. Lena rejected their persistent offers of new robes, but Micro felt it would be best to have newer clothes to wear while his Fire Mountain Turtle Sect robes were in such a weathered state. Micro was worried about what might happen to Blue and Trill in a washing machine, though he soon found them waving to him from atop a shelf, out of sight of the employees of the shop.

“Forgive me if I am mistaken, but I believe your robes belong to an eastern sect of the jade level. Are you not the leader of an amber level sect, young master?” Guran asked while several people took measurements of Micro, Kira, and Kolt.

“That's true...” Micro replied, giving the matter some thought for the first time.

“Kel's sect was very kind to us, but the Truck Sect itself would be called amber level now, I guess...”

“Then might I ask what colours adorn the members of your sect?” An old man dressed in fine robes asked, appearing from behind a large pile of fabrics.

“I'm sure your sect has its fair share of artisans, but I would strive to provide you with such garments that you would hesitate to exchange for any others.”

The old man's eyes always seemed to be travelling from one corner of Micro's body to another, memorizing his form as naturally as he breathed.

“Well, green is nice. But I was always white and grey before.” Micro replied quietly, feeling strangely intimidated by the old man despite him possessing no core.

“White and grey...” The old man's eyes widened.

“What a splendid combination... Unique... Simple... Proud... Yes...”

“What about you?” Micro turned away from the old man, whose face oozed enthusiasm, and addressed the children behind him.

“Trucks come in lots of colours.”

“I'll wear the same!” Kira shouted happily.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“Umm...” Kolt mumbled, having been staring at a vibrant red roll of fabric with gold patterns glistening at its edges.

“The same, I guess...”

“Forgive my ignorance, young master, but might I ask what sect you lead?” The old man asked with a humbler tone, having calmed himself slightly.

“The Truck Sect.” Micro replied.

“The… what?”

“We're efficient and reliable, among other things...”

“Efficient and reliable... I see...” The old craftsman repeated, nodding deeply.

“I haven't heard of the honourable young master's sect, but I promise that the robes I prepare for you on this day will ensure that you are recognized wherever you go!”

“Thanks, umm...” Micro replied timidly.

“Haret is my name!” The old man said with a dance-like bow.

“I am a servant of the sect, but I am a slave to my art!”

“He's a passionate fellow.” Guran remarked, rolling his eyes slightly. He addressed the the old man with a subtle but sharp wave of aura behind his words.

“Please do see to the task at once. Their patience may wane.”

“Well, no hurry.” Micro shrugged, and smiled to the old man called Haret.

“It's always worth taking the time to do a job well.”

~

The shop became lively as the old craftsman called Haret led his staff in the creation of three new robes of white and grey. Kolt was increasingly intimidated by the energy he perceived in everyone around him, especially without Trill on his shoulder to supplement his energy stores. Micro and Kira enjoyed looking around the shop at all the colourful fabrics on display while staff proudly explained the patterns and their origins across the kingdom.

Though Micro had been suspicious of the relationship between Guran and the workers, he was relieved to see them working happily to fill his order. Haret moved with passion for his craft, and his assistants cooperated efficiently with smiles on their faces.

“What sort of clothes do trucks wear on your world?” Kira asked cheerfully while unfurling a large tapestry.

“Trucks are made of metal and plastic mostly, so there's no need for clothes.” Micro replied.

“A coat of wax helps protect the paint though.”

“That sounds really uncomfortable.” Kira laughed.

“Clothes do feel a bit nicer, to be honest.” Micro replied.

“And I like all the colours people wear. Changing clothes is a lot easier than washing and waxing a truck too.”

“That reminds me.” Kira said, leaning closer to Micro and looking into his eyes.

“How come some people have one eye that's a different colour from the other one?”

“Oh, that happened recently.” Micro sighed.

“That's what happens when you look at chaos energy too closely. Why do you ask? Have you seen eyes like this before?”

“I saw a few people like that back home.” Kira nodded.

“Sometimes rich people passed through town. Some of them had odd coloured eyes, but I never had a chance to ask about it. They were scary...”

“Magicians often deal with chaos energy, so that might explain it.” Micro shrugged.

“Magicians aren't all bad, but you should avoid getting involved with them. They don't get along well with most cultivators.”

“I see...” Kira replied quietly.

“Magicians and cultivators were enemies... huh...”

“I know, it's a little confusing.” Micro explained.

“Just focus on getting stronger though. The stronger you get, the less you have to worry about.”

“That's not entirely true...” Lena added softly from across the room with a conservative smile.

~

Lena's robes and armour were soon returned in nearly perfect condition. Micro noticed they even smelled of flowers. Micro noticed a metal dagger among the clothes, and was surprised to learn Lena possessed a weapon.

“I thought you relied more on energy than weapons.” Micro remarked.

“You can even make swords of energy, so why do you need that?”

“Most cultivators carry a blade, though its utility varies.” Lena replied as she tucked it beneath her armour.

“Your friend carried a sword, did he not? Jade level sects often dispatch monsters with a material blade to conserve energy. Most elders in my sect carry a blades inherited from ancestors. Our sect was not always so strong, and these heirlooms connect us to our roots.”

“That’s nice.” Micro replied with a smile.

“The old man kept a pair of pliers in the truck which his own father gave him as a child. The rubber on the handles wore off years ago, but he never let it rust.”

Lena nodded, content that they shared some appreciation for the sentiment despite an apparent language barrier. Shortly after Lena had returned to her usual appearance, Haret marched through a door followed by several assistants, a tearful smile on his face.

“Young master, your work of art is complete!” He announced as a tear fell down his cheek.

“Oh, thank you...” Micro replied somewhat awkwardly.

“What is a lot of work?”

“It was a monumental task to do your order justice, but it was such a pleasure that I regret having completed it in less than a day...!” Haret cried out with a sincerity which surprised Micro.

“So simple, so elegant, so dignified... A style which exudes confidence and nobility...”

Haret's assistants then unfolded the three sets of robes before Micro, Kolt, and Kira, and all three customers understood Haret's proclamations.

“Beautiful...” Kira whispered.

“So cool...” Kolt added, reaching out to tough the sleeve of the robe closest to him.

“They're perfect.” Micro stated.

The robes were made of a silky material which glistened in the light which came in through the window, but a dark grey fabric made up the edges of the robes. Even Lena raised her eyebrows at the sight of the robes.

“The soul sects I know of typically wear white, but for any other sect to wear such a thing...” Lena said mostly to herself.

“You will certainly provoke many.”

“Provoke them?” Micro asked.

“Cultivators wear colours to which they feel some attachment.” Lena explained, then pointed to the subtle patterns embroidered on her sleeves.

“We carry the traditions and stories of our sect with us, honouring our traditions and ancestors. I believe most would see your own robes as representing the philosophy of transcendence, a trait few would dare claim.”

“So, the simple a robe is, the prouder I look?” Micro asked.

“If any other sect leader wore those garments, I would assume they were terminally arrogant.” Lena said with a serious tone which caused the old man called Haret to take a defensive stance. However, she soon smiled again.

“But for one with such an approach to cultivation as yours, I dare say those colours are suited to you.”

“Transcendence...” Micro mumbled.

“Of what?”

“Few cultivators have ever declared their intention to master every Core Card.” Lena added.

“But none to my knowledge have mastered as many as you have.”

“Well...” Micro replied, beginning to feel uncomfortable after being praised in such a threatening way.

“Thanks, Lena.”

“A master of many Core Cards...?” Guran stated with an interested expression.

“A master so young in age... Interesting.”

“Shall we continue on?” Lena interjected before Micro could reply to Guran.

“Indeed, we have-” Guran began to answer politely, but he was interrupted by a rumbling sound.

“Sorry...” Kira whispered, her face turning red. She held her stomach and looked down in fear. However, Lena cracked a smile at the situation and nodded.

“I'm sure one may find only the finest of delicacies in such a sect.” Lena said to Guran, who only revealed his impatience for a brief moment before bowing deeply.

“Once the young masters are dressed, I shall show you the finest food known to the kingdom.” Guran stated boastfully.

Micro and Kira did nothing to hide their excitement at his suggestion, though Kolt feigned a more stoic expression, similar to the way Lena carried herself. Micro couldn't help but raise his voice in excitement.

“Do you have honey buns here?!” Micro asked.

“Honey is a specialty of ours.” Guran answered, nodding to one of the workers waiting nearby. The young woman bowed and disappeared around the corner.

“I’ll see that you enjoy only our finest.”