The festivities went on, with fervor, as the talks were as heated as the room and the smell of Roasts and stew filled the smoky air.

Charcoal left for the kennels after he greeted some of the hunters.

Ohnir, the leader of the hunters, meanwhile left in a hurry way before Charcoal.

I ran after him when I noticed. I caught up to him in a side street close to his hut.

“I know you don't approve of her...”

The wolf headed cape and the hunter face-paint made him look even more like a beast. He vented his anger at me:

“Your family went behind my back and disgraced me in front of the WHOLE CLAN! The position of my family is bad already were not really from the Hansa bloodline...”

I don't know what came over me when I grabbed him, but I think; the moment I became a Cultivator was the moment a rift was inevitable between me and the rest of the Clan.

“Listen, Ohnir! The moment you insisted I call you by your first name was the moment, tradition was out the window like used bath water!” I said and my third eye was glowing with qi.

It is called Emphatic casting; emotions wield magic, magic wields me. But I found about that much later.

“You are from main line! The NEW main line! And my Family is from the Hunter side of the Clan we are YOUR people Ohnir, and my sister WILL be one of your Hunters!”

I let go of him strangely calm and distant. “Give my sister a chance you won’t regret it. Our family is stands firmly behind your family.”

I could see that he was still angry when he regained his composure. I could see it in the muscles of his jaw.

“If you ever do that again i'll kill you Ghali.”

He then went off to sulk in his hut.

I went back to the main hall. I heard the whispers; that day was ripe with gossip.

Back on the dais the Clan head, Sorokin, told me to come.

He was leaning sideways on the Pelt covered stone throne so that he rested his weight on his elbow. He shaved his graying hair very short, his face was like leather due to the passing of time.

His eyes however were as fierce as his sons. Like a wild animal that was way too smart.

He smiled a little smile and said to me:

“It seems like “Second Uncle” was not happy with your little show?”

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He didn't wait for me to answer.

“It's true that there are a few people in the clan that are not to happy that a foreigner is chieftain.”

He deliberately made me wince with the Brohar Clan term for Clan leader.

Now grinning he continued.

“However it is all political play for who sits here.” with that he knocked on the armrest of the throne.

“Ohnir is pouncing at shadows however. He thinks he has to compensate his lack of Hansa blood with fervor towards the traditions. He paused to take a bite

“I'll talk with him. That Son of mine will see sense.” he said in an assuring tone.

“Still... its best if you go to Saron for the moment. You gained a proper Spiritual weapon in that hunt of yours; you should learn how to use it.”

With that said he then dismissed me, he too wanted to enjoy the day.

The festival started to pick up the pace and wine flowed aplenty; the outside was full of dancing couples and many tried their luck with the other gender.

My sister seemed to have some new admirers, while my parents were part of the couples that danced they seemed elated and mother smile almost shone in the sun.

The children were playing games farther away; bored by our silly talks and the smooching.

I too started to relax and enjoy myself greatly since I celebrated my fifteenth winter this year I was allowed to drink with the grown ups. I even got brave and asked some of the girls to dance with me.

The kids were brought to bed later when the night came.

Then, later that night the now roasted cuts from Hatchet stag were brought in . I of course got the choice cuts.

I could feel my Vitality rising as did everyone else, but I also felt new motes of qi inside of me.

I started the next day with a pounding head and way later than usual.

While meditating drunk was no problem at all. Coming out of the trance into reality, however hit me like an enraged bear.

Mother came home shortly before midday it was our family's turn to prepare food for our section of the fields. Seeing my misfortune made her way too happy.

“Well aren't you late? First Uncle is teaching martial arts today!”

“Uh huh...” I managed to grunt while I was chewing on a birch-glue pellet.

“You need to drink a lot of water sweetie.”

“Uh huh...” I quaffed a whole wooden mug. I tried circulating my qi in the hopes that something was happening but to no avail.

I tried to channel my qi trough the meridians of liver and kidney and felt immediately clearer and less sick.

I swallowed the birch-glue pellet and channeled qi into my stomach and the headache was quickly dispersing.

“Well thank the spirits I am finally ready.” I said to my mother who was taken aback by my quick recovery.

I didn't think much of it at the time since it was my first encounter with alcohol but now I realized I must have been eerie seeing someone bounce back in less than a minute.

I used Soaring leaf again my familiarity with it started to grow as did the feeling of being part of the spiritual world when I fused with wind and magic.

The Village Center with the mighty Oak giving shade was one of the few places were there was enough space to practice fighting.

The benches from the day before were moved back into the storage wating for the next festival to occur.

In the middle of a circle of combatants stood my sister, towering over some recently defeated fighter. That one was even a somewhat skilled fighter. It seemed she recently won.

“Ah! Ghali! Perfect! Well... not really. You are late! A bit too much to drink?” first uncle bellowed with a smirk.

Before I could answer he continued excitedly:

“Rena is undefeated at the moment. If Ohnir insists on refusing your sister, i'll take her!”

“Master Saron you are supposed to call your brother second uncle.” I said somewhat annoyed.

Saron simply didn't bother with most traditions at all leading to him Ohnir clashing. 

He threw me a practice spear while grinning.

“Your sister said a lot of mean things to anybody weaker than her gnome of a brother her words not mine.” He said trying to provoke me. With success I admit.

“Hey Ogress is that true? Is it impossible to live your live without running your mouth?”

“What did I tell you about calling me that? I still can't believe you got to be a hunter your martial arts are pathetic.” She said less angry than expected. Her recent victories had her mollified.

“Well a hunter needs more than brute strength, Nee!” I said.

I stood before her in the second stance of “left spear right palm” my left was grippin the middle of the staff while the right palm touched the end.

We circled each other a few seconds before our spears clashed.

I knew that her palm was coming but this time I have a body lightening technique to block it. her right palm smacked the staff instead of my chest and I took a few steps instead of damage. She was surprised for a bit but was soon defending herself as if nothing happened.

We circled each other again I tried the third stance gripping the upper half of the spear. It was a close Combat stance and a Counter to Nee's favorite: Palm strikes.

However I tried to resist I still lost to her. She took the first stance and needled me from afar so that I had to close in! She then proceeds to matching my palm with her palm and used her spear to throw me on my back.

I stood up and shook off the dust.

“Hey! Twerp! You improved a lot in this week! That was your best fight yet.” Rena said while ruffling my hair.

“Thank you I had a real life or death fight recently and it put things in perspective.” I said while elbowing her.

“Good fight!” Saron said “You lot better continue training while I have a talk with Ghali.”

Saron led me under the shade of the Oak to talk. Looking at the tree made me feel unease and nausea. I could something burning and back then I couldn't even say why.