Chapter 28: A Unity Party

Sakura

“So these are the friends you told us about.” Ren said as he returned the polite bows of the triplites. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I hear you helped my daughter after she first ascended to silver.”

“Just on her first attempt at the tower really.” Tedgy said as she gave my father a nervous smile. “ But we’ve kept in touch. She actually wrote me about her choice of bow a few days ago, since, well.” She lifted her own longbow that mirrored mine for style.

“I see, well thank you for lending her your wisdom.”

“I've been in touch with all of them actually. Modgi helped me understand some of my prep classes for western spell work over the last few weeks.” I motioned towards the purple robed teen who was still a gangly stick of a man. He bowed deeply towards my father and mother, and they returned the gesture more modestly.

The sun was past noon now, and clouds drifted lazily around us acting almost like fog. “And Regi was the one who encouraged the others to accept my invitation.”

Regi bowed this time, and both my mother and father paused before they returned it. “Your core. Its unstable.” Yu said, her voice concerned. “And your mana pool has recently forcibly been realigned to a different type of magic then what it was before.”

Yu walked around him, examining him with a critical eye as she did. Her aura gently ran over him, examining every aspect of his as lightly as she could. “You’re going to be held back at silver for some time unfortunately. And these lines . . .” Her gaze went through the air as if following some unseen connection between the triplites. “And it will affect your siblings as well unfortunately. What has caused this ailment child? And have you received treatment?”

Regi’s expression stayed the same stony polite smile as I had seemingly always held. But I looked for the flicker I had seen before. Watching, waiting for it. I must have just been seeing things, I thought to myself as Regi explained his injury.

“The product of a failed ascension, and my surgeon's efforts to repair the damage I'm afraid.”

“I see, Yu. Let's leave the poor boy alone, you are making him uncomfortable.” Ren's voice was reassuring and polite, but Yu hesitated.

“There’s something . . .”

“Yu, you’re looking at him like an alchemist does an experiment. I’m sure the boy's family has hired perfectly suitable surgeons.”

Yu peered at him for just a moment longer, before breaking away and returning to my fathers side with a bright and winning smile. She withdrew her aura immediately as she did. “I apologize. I am a magician by trade. But I have worked with many surgeons and physicians during my long life, and I find myself fascinated by their trade. I apologize if I have given offense.”

Regi looked stunned, but his brother covered for him, stepping forward with a winning smile. “No offense was taken! I assure you my lady, my lord.” He bowed politely again. “In truth, our own mother has the same . . . proclivity. She fusses over all of us in the same way. Your care and attention is appreciated, though my lord is right. Master Yo’gin Kar, senior master of the Surgeons Guild has attended all three of us himself. I’m afraid the only remedies are time for our cores and pools to stabilize, and strengthening exercises for our spirits. As with most physical injuries, were his recommendations for us.”

“Wise.” Ren said, as he gave Yu a mildly exasperated look. As if saying ‘really? Leave the poor children alone’.

My mother took his arm and smiled, but I could tell by the way her eyes flicked to Reji every few seconds there was something left there for her to uncover. And it was not mere curiosity. Something she had seen had bothered her.

I'll ask her about it later, I thought. His injury is probably more severe then Master Yo’gin Kar knows.

“Rayce’s friends should be here soon.” Ren said, “Why don’t we all have you join me in the outer courtyard?” He gestured for the group to move into the outer courtyard of the familial palace.

The palace had been moved from its protected sanctum in the center of Gamera’s shell, high up on one of the mountains, to the edge. For ease of travel and access as dignitaries from all across our new homeland came to visit and meet both my father and mother.

Dukes, Earls, Arch Dukes, and more came by the dozens it seemed most days. Or so the servants said when I overheard them gossiping in the hallways where they thought none of us could hear them.

Before I could join the group, Yu put a hand on my shoulder. “Sakura, I should speak to you for a moment please.” Regi looked back. “Family business, it won't take long.” Regi gave a curt nod of agreement and followed Ren.

Something weird is going on with him. I wonder if he’s dying.

Could be. But most things crawl off alone to die. Sky said in my head.

I tuned him out and refocused on my mother. “Yes mother, is something wrong?”

“Yes. . .” I followed her eyes, and she was still staring at Regi’s back as it disappeared into the outer courtyard of our home. “But that is perhaps for another time. For now, I must speak to you about something . . .” her face screwed up into a mildly disgusted expression before it returned to her polite mask. “Political.”

Oh no.

“I am sorry daughter, but we have had an abundance of requests from local lords asking if their children can be a part of your student group.”

“Oh.”

“Yes. Now, your father and I have been adamant that we would not force someone on you for political reasons. However . . .”

“But you’re going too.”

“Yes.” She did look at least mildly disheartened by the idea. “But we will not choose who. Your father and I discussed it. And we do think it would be more than appropriate for you to make a friend, or two, from the local nobility. It would help cement your ties to this new land, and help you better grow accustomed to their ways here. But, we will not dictate who it is to be. ONly that you must have at least one, maybe two locals of your choice, to be a part of your student group.”

“I think they call it an adventuring party, mother.”

“Oh. Fine then, your adventuring party. Do you have any objections?”

I thought about it for a moment. There was wisdom in what she was saying. I really didn’t know many of the locals yet. Rayce and I had stuck together for the most part, and the one class I had separate from his schedule had ended up being a one on one ‘study on your own’ style course with the weapons master.

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“I have no objections mother. I think it is a good idea, only . . .” Yu looked worried for a moment. “I don’t, really know any one. Not yet anyway. Its only been a week or so. I could ask Landar . . .”

Yu’s eyes went wider than I'd seen them in a while. “That poor feral boy?”

I nodded. “I know him. But . . . I don’t think our spirit animals would get along very well. And . . . I don’t think he trusts me.” And the feeling is mutual, I suppose. Everything I've seen about his character is showing me mixed signals.

“Good reason to avoid that selection then. Even so, I would think reaching out to him at some point might be advantageous. To both of you.”

“I will take that under advisement, mother.”

“Good. Your father and I suspected it might be difficult for you to have formed friendships so soon, so we had Vaush do some snooping.”

My eyebrow twitched, and I felt my smile slip slightly. I caught the twinkle of mischief in her eyes. I can make my own friends, thank you. I’m not an invalid, is what I wanted to say. Instead, I bowed slightly, and said “Thank you mother. That was very . . . proactive of you.”

Yu beamed excitedly. “I”m glad daughter, I must say I was worried you would be insulted.”

You were right. But this is useful, and a nice thought. So i’ll bite my tongue. “Why would I be insulted mother? As you said, time has been short for me to have formed friendships.” Even though Rayce seems to have formed quite a few of them.

A group of four students, all familiar to me, started making their way off a balloon ship that had just docked. The first two were the familiar faces of Mathew and John, Rayce’s friends from the sect school who were actually from a noble trading house in the southern part of our new kingdom. Their dopy, familiar celestial hounds, each just slightly shorter than Rex was, walked happily by their sides.

The two boys had been nothing but kind to me during my time at the sect school. They had even gone so far as to get some petty revenge against Taitha for me, and Rayce, on several occasions. I didn’t know them too well, but they were fond of my brother and were of good character enough to attract celestial hounds themselves.

The other two people were familiar.

“Hey, its the princess!” Lai, the brash cultivator from the time I had first visited the Alternate Pool, beamed at me. The tall, broad shouldered woman who carried a shield and short sword next to her, also was familiar. Though I never caught her name.

“Ah, yeah. How’re you doing Sakura?” The large girl asked. She had been the one to deescalate the situation when I had accidentally insulted Lai.

I gave a weak smile and bowed modestly. “I am well, thank you for asking. How are you, uh, I apologize but I never had the opportunity to learn your name.”

“Oh. That's right.” The large girl gave me a quizzical look. “I guess I never did really introduce myself. Names Seriph. I’m a body cultivator primarily, but I can do a few good spells when I need to. And this is Lai, she’s excellent with a bow, and wicked smart when it comes to tarps and puzzles.”

Lai scowled. “I’m also a high silver cultivator and graduate of the Silver Star academy.”

“Riiiight, can’t forget about that.” Seriph rolled her eyes when Lai looked back towards us and I couldn’t help but smile genuinely this time.

“How is your companion? Jett I believe his name was?” I asked Lai as she stopped glaring at her friend.

“Oh, Jet’s doing alright. All rested up. He got himself bit by a sky snake just before we ran into each other that first time. But goats are extraordinarily resilient things.”

“A goat?”

Lai smirked. “Yeah, he’s a steel horned mountain ram. The largest male I could find back home. He’s pretty ill tempered, too. He doesn't like it when people are disrespectful.” She smirked at me again.

“Right. I apologize again for the way I approached you originally. I was . . . new. To making friends and acquaintances at the school.”

“Bah, all water under the gamera’s shell now, right?” I agreed, and the two ladies went to join my brother and his two friends. They had formed a party, and I saw what my mother had been talking about. They would work well together. And they would serve double duty and as a symbol, a nearly even team of westerners and easterners.

“A second team like that, would cement in the westerners' eyes that we see them as our new countrymen.” Yu explained under her breath as the others continued into the outer courtyard.

“I understand mother. And I agree.”

***

The door shut, and I let out a sigh. “Trouble, young mis?” Vaush asked from behind me.

“It's this list,” I said as I walked away from the fourth rejection. “Most of them are either not interested in the class at all, or are in a higher years group.”

“They allow students of lower years to take the class with the higher year students?”

I shrugged. “I guess. But only as supporters.”

“There is one more name on that list, in your year young mis. Let us at least try them, before we start looking for hirelings.”

“That adventurers guild doesn’t sound so bad.”

“I went there yesterday to investigate.”

“You mean snoop.”

Vaush quirked a smile. “Yes, snoop. For your parents. The crowed there is rather rough. Though there are a few I would trust with your safety, I would have it avoided. From what the front desk woman said,” We got to the end of the hallway and found ourselves walking up the stairs to the sixth and final floor. Where the last name lived. “Having to hire people is often considered a hallmark of a low status noble house. Or that the house in question dislikes the person looking to hire. And you, my lady, are neither poor, desperate, or out of favor with your house. It is not the lowliest practice, that of hiring something called a ‘drudge’ that I gathered was akin to a contracted slave. But It is still seen as beneath your station.”

I sighed again. “It’d send the wrong signal.”

“Precisely.”

“Fine.” We eventually came to the door I was looking for. “Victor,” I read the name outloud to myself, took a deep breath, then knocked.

It took only a few moments for someone to come to the door. The woman was visibly old, and looked as displeased to see me as she was dismissive of Vaush. I can respect that, I thought. Particularly since she’s certainly a mortal.

Brave.

I, Sky, think she’s being rude. Bite her.

No, she’s a mortal. Someone I should protect.

Then she is like an egg. Eggs should not glare, the snake thought annoyed before going back to whatever cycling practice he had been hard at work doing.

“Hello?” The elderly woman asked, looking down her long nose at me. I was shorter by nearly two full hands. “How may I help you?”

“This is Lady Sakura Gamra, of the Gamra family.” Vaush’s voice boomed down the hallway and several passersby turned to look and see what was going on. “Scion of her house, and—”

I interrupted Vaush with a smile and a wave. There was no need to frighten everyone in the building with a formal announcement. We already talked about this Vaush, I thought annoyed at the protective and loud man.

“Thank you Vaush.” I gave the woman a pleasant smile and bowed my head slightly in respect. “As my bodyguard has said, my name is Sakura. I was hoping to speak to Master Strongarm, if he is available?”

She sniffed, and glared at Vaush for a moment. Completely unfazed by the aura of power and conviction the man radiated no matter how strongly he tried to rangle his aura.

“I shall see if the master is in. One moment please.” She didn’t slam the door, but it was shut much too firmly to have been an accident.

“I think you offended her,” I teased my bodyguard.

“She has the eyes of a world weary warrior.” He said under his breath, and I could hear respect in his tone.

“She’s probably only half your age. And you’re still unmarried, right?” Vaush’s cheeks changed a slight shade of very light pink, and I found I couldn’t help but smile.

Before I could continue teasing the stoic man, the door creaked open. “Hello?” A young man, nearly of a height with Landar, but whose build was far more stocky, with a few pounds of comfort on him answered the door. His eyes were an odd shade of brown that, in the light from the hallway lamp, almost looked ruddy red.

“Hello, my name is Sakura. It's a pleasure to meet you.” I extended my hand and he took it with a gentle handshake I had grown accustomed to from the western lords.

“Likewise. Uh, my head maid Nasha, said you wanted to speak to me but not what about.”

“I am taking a course called Practical Field Exercises, and I would like you to join my party.” The young man blinked at me confused for a moment, before smiling.

“Oh, is that all?” I nodded. “Fair enough, I had been expecting a friend of mine to ask me to join his group. But . . . he hasn’t gotten around to it yet. And that class starts tomorrow, right?”

“At sunrise, yes.”

“Alright, let's chat. You and your bodyguard are welcome. I’ll have Nasha put on some tea.” He opened the door, and invited us inside for what would prove to be a very useful, fortuitous conversation.