Master Asuras greeted us.

My frown went so deep when I glimpsed that black and white skirrat eating fried tofu from a plate, on a side table near my hip.

“That creature...” I began to speak. Kalia slammed a hand over my mouth.

I gulped when I remembered about the no speaking rule.

“It’s fine, girls. I need to have a talk with you anyway, which is why I’m meeting you here in my office.”

Kalia sighed with relief and removed her hand.

“...eats fried tofu?!” I blurted the rest of my words and pointed to the critter.

A thought tugged at my mind, wondering where I had eaten tofu before to know what it was? Of course, no memory came forth. This stupid head of mine.

“Aah, yes. This is my messenger, Wolf. He’s told me of your time here,” the master said as he stepped up to the critter to give it a tender pat on its white, fluffy tuft.

The creature’s attention wasn’t budging from its messy scoffing of the food. Crumbles were flying everywhere on the plate.

My mind went into a panic as I recalled that time we were in the library. If that skirrat belonged to the master, then it wouldn’t take a genius to realize why we had been summoned. But I didn’t want to show an expression and give him reason to be suspicious of us. So, I offhandedly dropped a joke about the creature.

“Oh, I get it. He’s named Wolf because he likes to ’wolf down’ his food.”

We flinched when the master bellowed with hearty laughter. Although, Kalia was doing her best not to cringe. Her eyes were soon sparkling when she got a better look at the critter. I groaned when I saw she had taken a liking to it.

“Honestly, Neven. How do you know Wolf is a he?”

I screwed up my face with a wry expression at seeing her fawning for it.

“Look at that adorable face and slender snout. Wolf could very well be a she.” Her hands twitched with a desire to pat the pest.

“May I?” She politely asked the master with imploring eyes.

“Of course, I’m sure Wolf won’t mind. And besides, I would like to have a chat with Neven first. So please take your time.”

He gestured to a hardwood chair further inward. It was before a simple, small round table where the surface was overwhelmed with glass dishes holding various different colored lichen samples. I nodded and sat down to peer at a yellow kind, which carpeted a chunk of raw moonstone ore.

“Eek.” I yelped when I saw the plant move. At least, it looked like it had squirmed.

“Aah, yes. The Flavo Musco Monstrum.” Master Asuras said proudly with a tinkle in his eye.

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“Right.” I peered at the squirming moss.

“One of the many adaptable host plants to a rare form of Kretchin Dermaleech species.”

His voice assumed scholarly tones when he added, “They have such an amicable and mutual bond that their combined chi allows the plant to move on its on. Where this plant moves across, the surface is cleaned. Simply marvelous!”

“And also creepy.” I thought in my head with a shiver.

I shook off the thought and waited for the master’s next words.

“So, there are two reasons I summoned you both here.” Master Asuras eased into the chair opposite me and got down to business.

He explained of his first reason and request. It seemed that Troy, Khes and Zak had been inducted into the Anwar Henchmen Order and were being trained at the Rose Reach barracks. The reach was a circular encampment on the top of the neighboring cliff, which faced the opposite side of the temple. At the center of the barracks was an obsidian and gray rock tower with a spire reaching toward the sky.

They were adapting well to the combat and guard duties. And had easily fitted into the culture there; being proficient all-rounders for everything but...

“They struggle to communicate with their peers with their hands, as the concept of sign language isn’t one easy for them to grasp.”

I scratched my head, looking baffled. The master nodded, obviously predicting this reaction from me.

“I was given a report that you had responded to one of the henchmen with sign language. Is that true?”

I nodded and glanced at Kalia who was lavishing the skirrat with pats. It had finished its tofu devouring and was inching its head closer to her touch. I blinked, nonplus, when I heard its purring.

“Master, sir, what would any of that have to do with us?” I returned my attention to the conversation.

“Glad you asked.” He leaned back.

“I would like to invite you and Kalia to be their instructors. I think learning from peers they know well might speed up their proficiency in this area.”

I frowned and glanced at Kalia again, whose expression was more solemn.

“According to my reports, Kalia, I’m of an impression you were taken from the Aueralius Imperial Enforcers Court.”

Kalia stopped her pats. Wolf looked up at her with disappointment. Sensing something was wrong, he gave her hand a reassuring head rub.

“I presume you would’ve learned sign language at the court academy?”

She looked into the master’s eyes. He waited for her answer, which took some time.

“Yes. It was a mandatory lesson, as many house guards have their voices removed to reduce noise in the houses.” Her voice was expressionless but cordial.

I noticed her formal posture as she stood with her back to the cloth door, which swayed with a breeze.

“Unfortunate. The removal of a voice is the marking of a slave guard.” Master Asuras’s voice held remorseful tones.

“But, it doesn’t mean we can’t give them a voice by other means. Hence, sign language. A communication method that has become more powerful than a sonic voice these days.” The scholarly tones returned.

I nodded. The outputs for spellwords would be more effective when delivered through the hands. As the chi flowed faster through more direct and clearer energy channels within the body. The Bidea martial arts leveraged magic this way.

I tensed and frowned. Another piece of knowledge that had instantly surfaced to my mind. Like that time of knowing where to hit parts of the bodies with stones to temporarily restrict Jen and Dyc’s movements. All this fact, why did I know it?

“Did we say something wrong?”

I shook my head. The master resumed detailing his request.

“You would have to one full moon turn to teach them everything they can learn. So, one month. They will be taught here at the temple, in a neutral area of the library.”

Kalia stared at me and gave a nod.

“Okay. For our friends.” I agreed for both of us.

“Excellent.” Master Asuras clapped his hands to signify the deal done. “Now for the other request.”