Lu Huan pov

I stared at my benefactor, I couldn’t believe what just happened: first her body had started to change, I could this in the dim morning light beaming from cracks between the blinds. Her once bronzed skin turned a sickly gray, even more corpse-like than my own, then red sores and welts bubbled across her flesh only to open into life like eyes soon after. Yet that wasn’t all, the more of that ‘magic’ she did, the worse her condition got: the once-human eyes turned red, each of the many pupils looking at me changed, some became vertical slits like a cat’s, others turned into horizontal waves or dotted lines. Yet all of them kept that baleful red hue, glowing in the poorly lit bedroom. Her once curly brown hair started to grow longer and longer, almost like a mane, her ears melting on the side of her head only for two triangular flops to grow from above.

Now I understand what she meant by price, her body had changed, noticeably so. And despite the low energy ‘magic’ she did, it had already changed this much. These were the lowest intensity spells I saw her cast, and yet. I can’t help but think what would have happened if she had failed that night, while healing me. Would I have changed too? No. That is the painter’s price, or so she said.

I want to trust her, yet that wasn’t the most shocking thing.

“What do you mean by my ‘other mother saving you’?” I had to ask, I barely remember mom, and somehow this woman, my benefactor says she knows something?

“My magic teacher and mentor, Madam Mirza Minadora, or Mina for short. Gave me this amulet when she told me to leave her behind. As it turns out, this amulet was something your grandfather, Sir Gui made for your mother when she was young, so she wouldn’t get lost playing outside. Something about it that would help her return home. And this amulet, your mother gave to my mentor before my mentor was forced out of this world, her proxy incarnation failing to endure the strain. I do not know more than that about their relationship, but. As you are Minadora’s, my mentor and teacher’s daughter, that means I have a duty toward you. This is the least I could do to honor her, to repay all she did for me for the last 7 years of my life.” I could see the tension in her eyes as she spoke, the warmth and adoration she held for the person that was supposed to be my parent. Yet I felt nothing, no sadness, contempt or anger, perhaps I should? But I don't, the only thing i feel at the moment is the need to hug this hurt and sad woman in my arms, seeing her put herself through whatever ‘the price’ was, hearing the pain and forlorn desire to make things right. I didn’t think more of it as I did so.

Iulia’s freeze as I moved closer, pulling her in as my arms wrapped around her small trembling torso.She is warm, so warm. I pull her tighter against me, my right hand to her head as I remember grandfather doing the day before, patting her between her new ears. “There there.” I don’t know what to say, as I hear her start sobbing against me. I started reflecting and putting each piece of intel I gathered from her together. The more I thought about her, her circumstances, the more I found things to say to her, yet I know this is not the right time, so I waited for her to ease down first.

“Your mentor would be happy that you made it out alive, wouldn’t she?” I heard a sniff as she looked up at me with her teary red eyes. She nods weakly as I pat her and rub her back. “ Would she be happy that you somehow found and healed her daughter? Even If it was by accident that you did so?” She nods again, this time with more energy. I kept rubbing her back, her tears had slowed as her breathing calmed.

“And, like you said the morning after the night we met: maybe one day be friends. You are a rare kind of person, benefit- no. Iulia, And i wish to know more of you, and be your friend. And what would friends be if they won’t help each other in times of pain and suffering? You helped me, healed me despite the strain and created a shelter big enough for the two of us. Do not try to argue that it was a simple feat. You’ve pushed yourself far enough to suffer whatever ailment this price of yours did, and if such measly spells could fissure your resolve, then I am sure that healing me and creating such a grand hut added pushed you to the brink of your abilities. I do not know what training consists of for you, painters. But I know fatigue when I see it. You need rest, not just for your body but for your mind. Now come, you reek of sweat and grime, I will bring you to the washroom.” She started to squirm and struggle, but she was already so weak and tired she could express more force than a toddler at the moment.

Scooping her up in my arms, I started walking out of her room as she tried speaking, her face red despite the gray color. “Please, wait, I will wash myself. Just let me do it alone please.” Her shyness is endearing, fine then.

“Alright, but I will remain by the door in case you have need of you, or if you need something.” I concede as I open the door to grandfather’s washroom. The place was weirdly advanced when compared to the cult’s, especially when compared to Wu Chang’s private quarters. I still don't get why or how grandfather, while a great blacksmith despite still being mundane, has such a luxurious washroom.

“Alright so let me explain how all of this works, that nob over-”

“It's ok. I am… Familiar with how everything here works. Surprisingly.” Iulia says as i sit her down on a wooden stool.

“You do?” I look at her, somehow not surprised.

“Let me guess, this mentor of yours has the same?” She nods, looking around. I saw her touch something on the nearby faucet before it started to glow as steaming water came pouring out of it.

“Huh? Guess you know better than my grandfather too then, despite him having lived here for decades he never mentioned hot water before.”

She turns to me, a bit sheepish. “Well, if you don't know how to read the inscription, or know that it can be changed, I guess? Maybe he just forgot?” She laughs, her voice weak yet already better than before. I nod, and turn around.

“Hmmm. Hey, Huan.” I turn back, her face blushing again as she looks away.

“Yes?”

“Thank you. I mean it.”

“Thank you too, Iulia. I literally wouldn't be here if not for you. Go wash up, I will have something ready for you to eat when you get out.”

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Iulia's pov

Standing under the shower, I let the warmth heat my tired body. I did it again, old habits do die hard. Last time I let myself rot like that was five years ago when I returned to THEIR home, all because they had sent a Collector to teacher's house for me.

I shake my head and sigh. Looking down, i can see the traces of my mistake: ' With great power come with great responsibility' spiel, yeah, that's another variant of it: the stronger you are, the harder you can punch yourself in the face. For fuck's sake, look at me! I look more like a Werefolk touched by the Ancients than a human! At least my brain adapted to handle the increase in visual feed from having so many eyes at once, seriously: why does healing rebound results in so many eyes?! At least I am glad I didn't sprout wings back then, but why eyes, apart from being able to cry about it some more? Well at least I lucked it out on the biomancy roll. It would be worse than wolf ears and tail, I could have become a giant spider with chitin and pedipalps growing out of my jaw. Or a snake. At least the biomantic rebounds make sense, adapting the body into things that spread fear and terror. But why eyes?

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I start hitting my forehead on the side of the shower cubicle as I fall back on that loop of thought. "Am I hearing you hitting yourself in there?" Huan, who somehow got way more blunt and friendly, asked from outside the door.

"No?" I swallow hard, still remembering how she took me in her arms after hugging and comforting me; I never had my heart race like that before. This has been getting worse since i've met her too, acting more and more flustered whenever she does something blunt yet affectionate.

Rinsing myself, I take the towel she had taken out for me earlier, and start drying myself, noting the location of each and every eyeballs. A few of them have to be removed on the spot, no I don't need to see my crotch twenty-four seven, nor do I need to see the ground from under the sole of my foot.

"No spells either by the way, wait for a good night's sleep first!" Damn it, for someone with a closed inkwell, she sure is sensitive.

"Fine, but you help me walk around then. I don't want to step on my foot’s eyeball." She accepts as I resume taking stock what the full extent of the changes. My humans ears are gone and replaced, sure. Skin immune to sunlight, How? Why? Whatever. Hair follicles are now much more numerous, with an increased amount of specialized keratin who's able to turn rigid too? Might be useful to keep around. Enhanced hearing and balance, not by much; apart from the fashion aspect it might be better to get rid of them.

Now the worst offender is that red glow. I don't need to be a literal lighthouse, at least not one that screams 'EEEEVIIILLL', not where people are as battle happy and self-righteous as Huan told me. It does help seeing in the dark, but I've got inner spells for that, as for the pupils color? I could keep most of them like that for the fear and intimidation factor, but I liked my original blue eyes. So I am changing those.

"Iulia, do you need help exiting the shower?" Damn it.

"Yes, but not now, just wait a moment please." I finish dabbing me dry, and take the robes she had set aside, yeah no. It's beautiful and looks comfortable, don't get me wrong, but let's say that the last remnant of my male body would chaff, to say the least.

"Could you bring me my bag? The brown backpack please." She agrees as I hear the door to my room open. I quickly wrap the towel around me as she waltzes into the wash-room without a care in the world. "Here. Are the clothes I got you not your size." She looks at me with that worried gaze of hers, before her eyes go down to my waist, before looking back up at me.

"The towel is a bit short, sorry about that." I apologize as my face lights up, I can feel my heart beating in my ears as I want to crawl back in my room and hide under the blanket.

But she just shrugs and smiles. "It's fine, I just didn't expect it, but I don't mind." WHAT?!

I begin to stutter as I try to make sense while my brain is short circuiting, and she just stares at me with that smile. "I don't mind because you're my cute benefactor." She then gets closer and: pats my head?

"I am glad to see you so expressive, I was afraid you were the sort to use good deeds and kindness to scheme around. I am glad you're not, I prefer you like this and not the mask you had when we met." My heart hurts. Please, stop? Why do I have a crush on the tall and bad-ass warrior who happens to be my mentor's daughter?

I am going to cry.

"You... you're enjoying this, aren't you? tormenting me like this?" I grab the arm she uses to pat my head by her wrist as I stare back into her eyes. She is usually so detached and stoic yet she does things like this? Smiling out of nowhere like that is illegal! Two can play this game, Huan.

"Yes, I enjoy your reaction, it's like seeing a small puppy getting angry." A small puppy?

"Am I hearing this right? You see me as a small puppy, Huan?" Her eyes open up some more from their prior half lidded smug, looking at me with a bit more seriousness.

"Hmm. Yes." She smiles with such warmth and certainty, breaking free from her constant stoicism.

Is it me or? Taking the opportunity to test my theory, I pull myself closer to her, and grab her head, pushing myself up to kiss her cheek. Yup, that’s me, all me.

I stop tiptoeing as I can see her finally blushing, her whole face crimson as her eyes go wide with the realization of what I just did.

"From the puppy to the kitten, two can play this game. You better prepare yourself, because you've started something you won't be able to handle with detachment of yours." I grin, victorious as I admire the result of my action. Her shock turns to embarrassment as she turns around and storms off.

Closing the door being her, I started humming as I made myself decent. Once again dressed, I called her to help me walk around, damn foot-eye mutation got some unexpected uses as Huan returned, her stone face back up again. She looks at my smug grin for a mere moment before she scoops me in her arms with her grin of her own.

"Hello ladies, glad to see you out of your room, benefactor Iulia." Old man Gui welcomes us as he stands behind the stoves.

"Thank you for allowing me to rest for so long. I didn't expect to, erm, break down like that. But thanks, for the hospitality you've shown me." He turns his head to look at me. A small grin on his face. "Like I said, you've saved my Huan, and you're Minadora's pupil. You're practically family. So, when can I expect to see that woman pointing the tip of her nose around?" Huan puts me down in one of the kitchen's chair as takes the seat next to me. I thanked her and looked back at the man. Conflicted.

"About that." I start explaining: what happened for me to suddenly be here, that we had to flee, to leave our very world behind but got caught on the way out. How Mina occupied our pursuers to buy me time to evacuate, giving me the amulet he had made long ago to be used for coordinates.

"I don't think she could be able to join us, even if she made it alive: This was the key she spent years working on to attune to the gateway stones. I might be wrong about it, at least I hope that I am." The room grew cold as I explained, I could see a twinkle in Gui's eyes. To the side, Huan had her hand on my shoulder, comforting me.

"Right, you know what? I take back what I said, you're not 'practically' family, you are family. If that woman gave her life to save yours, who am I to say otherwise." He stands up, walks to the cabinet and opens the cupboard and pulls an earthen bottle with cups. Setting the cup on the table, he fills each of our cups with the transparent and pungent liquor.

"It might be a little early for alcohol, but still. To Minadora, the kindhearted witch who came into my and my daughter's life like a lightning strike. Gave us my dear Huan and left a hole when she disappeared." He raises his drink, looking at me expectantly.

"To Minadora, the best teacher and mentor one could have. Who took me in when my parents couldn't be bothered to care for me. Who taught and raised me as her own despite her own pain and suffering. To the grand archpainter who fought off gods and their armies because she could, because she wanted me to live on." I started breaking down as I spoke, my heart clenching hard in my chest as tears rolled down my eyes.

"To Minadora, the mother I never had the chance to meet, to know. I hope that you survive and fight on, that you are victorious. So that, maybe one day, I could meet you." Huan says, her voice uncertain but truthful.

"To Minadora, we drink." Gui slams his cup to his lips and drinks it in one shot, Huan does the same before I follow soon after.

We spent the rest of the morning talking, exchanging tales and things about my mentor. Huan takes the opportunity to ask many questions: how was when I was with her, what food she liked or what type of drinks. What she looked like.

"Ah, about that I can help. I still have that 'picture' image she took when she was still here." Gui says all giddy as he pulls something from his breast pocket. An old yellowing piece of paper, it was a bit roughed up and wrinkly due to how old it was. On it were four people, Minadora along with a woman i expect to be Huan's mother, and to their side is Gui with another man.

"That's her? I remember seeing this, faintly though, but still. I think mom had it in her lobby behind her store front." Huan says as she takes a closer look at the picture. Minadora looked really happy back then, the usual frown I knew her by absent as she smiled brightly, her arms crossed with the other woman as she rested her head on her shoulder. I could clearly see where Huan got her raven dark hair and strong physique, her mother could have easily lifted Mina and ran with her under her arm.

"Grandpa, who's the man beside you? You two seem close." Huan asks, and I can't help but agree as I find the two of them holding hands discreetly.

"Hah... That is your other grandfather. Fan's clan patriarch Fan Yongzheng. He and I couldn't be together because of politics. He wasn't patriarch back then, and not even heir. But after the war he got a lot of pressure shoved onto him because of his merits, forcing him to take the seat of patriarch and marry someone of the Namgoong clan. Because of the nature of my relationship with him and how your mother was conceived from two men, he had to hide us away from his enemies' eyes. Yet your mother, bull-headed that she was, found a way to be 'adopted' into the main Fan family because of her cultivation skills and talent with the spear. But since that day 9 years ago, we barely see each other anymore. I just hope he is well."