Quan ceased flying once he arrived at the gates of Cinder Mansion. The door, engraved with the old kings of ancient era-Phoenix and The Dragon- lied down the all majesty primal ages had. His sandals started to burn under the heat of swollen dark land as, in seconds, they were nowhere to be seen. He came over, bare-footed, and knocked on the doors lightly for two times. With a grinding sound, the inner section of mansion came into his view with a pair of servers. Quan noticed the change in the outfit design, old ones were fancy robes covered in dark crimson with white lines over the shoulder, while the new design was a white and black one piece dress.

Servers bowed deeply as he passed through the vicinity and climbed the stairs that led up. To reach the Leopold Tree, he had to pass through the Hall Of Ancestors and climb the small cliff of lava hill. Bright coloured walls were adorned, not simply extravagantly but also skillfully by people whom were praised highly by elders’ circle. They all fawned upon this man whom used his profound skills of art on every design of this sect. Even the portraits, which he would see in a moment, were works of his and his apprentices.

After walking down the wide corridor, he reached into a grey hall, a great contrast to the luxurious passages behind. Calm and settled, Quan continued. Men with rough faces, broken noses, furious eyes, angered smiles, fearsome expressions and women with sword like eyebrows, piercing gazes, burning cheeks, and striking faces were all looking down at him from the walls. They all had the one same feature: Deep red crimson hair. Like the cracked volcano of the Walui Isles.

He gave a deep bow to each of them and returned back to his little journey. Rather than another set of stairs, a single narrow ladder led to upwards, a rotten trap door stood at its top. Instead of flying, Quan scrambled up, hurried-perhaps tired- and opened the trap door.

Getting out of the hall, he stood up to see the almighty roots of the Leopold Tree. Sapphire blue leaves covered the thigh sized branches, wrinkled and cracked roots invading the ground, which was drowned in lava. Beads of sweat fell down like a rainfall from his forehead as he came in front of the tree. He put up his hand on the huge body, and patted. Slow. A small branch, seemingly with ecstacy, moved down to touch Quan’s shoulders. It fluttered and shook.

‘’Welcome...my son.’’ An aged voice came above. Quan took a step back and sat on his knees on the burning ground, raising his head. Although his robe started to kindle like a torch, it didn’t take any apparent damage. Only bright flames danced on its surface.

‘’Elder Cinder.’’ He greeted. ‘’It hasn’t been long, has it?’’

‘’...’’ Cinder stared at Quan for a while, saddened and disappointed. ‘’Yes, Quan.’’ He didn’t try to hide those emotions, however, as if he wanted Quan to know what he really felt.

‘’Thirty years is not a long time, certainly, for me. But for this poor child,’’ Cinder raised his hand and patted the trunk of Leopold tree, ‘’It is quite a while.’’ With a symphony like clinking, branches of the tree lowered and sneaked under Cinder’s crimson hair.

‘’She should get used to it.’’ Quan responded. ‘’She has a long life ahead of her.’’

They both fell silent. There was no awkwardness or shyness. It was simply hard to carry a conversation after all those years, after all those arguments and conflicts.

Then Cinder sighed. ‘’I don’t...no. You don’t have to blame yourself, Son. My dear had chosen the right guy, I knew it.’’ He took a step closer to the Quan. ‘’But what heavens say, we can’t resist. If it was-it-it...was meant for her to die,’’ His voice quivered, ‘’Then we had no say in the matter.’’

‘’Weren’t it you who said heavens were not absolute?’’ Quan retorted.

‘’It was me. But you also learned it, didn’t you son?’’ Cinder turned back to face the cliff. ‘’We all get it wrong in the end.’’ Quan quietly nodded. Then he stood up and bowed down to Cinder. ‘’I shall visit that place again. I want to see whether they remain or not.’’

‘’Quan...do as you wish.’’ Ciner said after a moment. ‘’Do you have a company at your side? It will be hard on your mentality.’’

‘’Ah,’’ Quan involuntarily yelped. It was quite funny for Leopold tree, as she moved her branches back and forth in a cute manner. ‘’I have a good seedling with me. He is young and quite stranger to war. However, he has some deep quality.’’

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

‘’That is fine, then.’’ Cinder smiled. ‘’All your disciples were qualified people anyway. I shall trust your judgment, then young one’s talent.’’

‘’You better,’’ He seemed quite content for a moment. ‘’He has a good pair of ears and eyes for his age. Never got distracted in my lessons or disrupted. I do really wish all those children were like him.’’

‘’Isn’t that a high praise, son?’’ Cinder stopped for a moment after Quan’s face stiffened. Am I really this inconsiderate? Stopping him from leaving,‘’Let’s not part away for now. Sit down,’’ Said Cinder as he beckoned a thick branch of Leopold to reach out to Quan, wide enough for him to sit comfortably. ‘’I want to listen about your disciples, Master Kryostria.’’

Frozen for a moment, Quan looked at the Cinder. Then he replied ‘’Of course!’’ with an unexpected, brilliant smile. He leaped on the root and sat down comfortably. After settling his thoughts, he started to talk about some of his favorites relentlessly. Cinder felt his heart warm up at this long erased expression of his son-in-law quite dotingly and focused his attention.

For now, both of them just wanted to have a one last good time.

*********

‘’Ubel, could you wait for a moment?’’

Quan’s call surprised both Ubel and his disciples who were prepared to leave the grassy hill, the place they conducted lessons and arguments on lessons’ topics. Although some had a small intent of staying behind and listening to the upcoming conversation, Combat Master Quan’s glinting silver eyes was an enough threat to scramble them off the top. Ubel, with the same feelings, except a surge of anxiousness and expectation, walked in front of Master Quan. He gave a junior’s bow and replied.

‘’Yes, senior master. May I know your desire?’’

‘’Well well,’’ Quan coughed, ‘’How come I never heard you speak like this before? Where did this unique etiquette come from?’’

Ubel’s face reddened a little. He was a bit impulsive whenever he felt excited. Or afraid. Or other things. Whenever he felt a great deal of emotion, his ability to think and speak seemed to be impaired. I’m literally an idiot.

Though he didn't force the act. ‘’Just a tongue slip,’’ He smiled wryly. ‘’May I know why do you seek for me, senior master?’’

‘’It seems like you intend to take a mission, or so I’ve heard.’’ Quan scratched his newly shaven stubbles. ‘’Is it set where you shall be employed?’’

‘’Oh yes!’’ Ubel exclaimed. ‘’The place is called Yardatafos. It is quite close to the Continent Line. Lots of magic beasts live there they say. But why does this matter interests you, senior master?’’

‘’A great deal,’’ Quan said, ‘’You see, I expended my whole credits these last thirty years-’’

‘’Credits? The service currency?’’ Quan didn’t mind the boy cutting his sentence. ‘’Yes, the ones we spend to get holidays.’’ Quan then continued. ‘’I’ve run out of credits so I need to get back to work to get some back. I thought it would be a good idea to have some company, especially from younger ones.’’

‘’I’m really, really happy to work with you, senior!’’ Ubel’s pure joy was not a lie, Quan could see it with his eyes. His happiness seemed genuine, not like those liars and frauds. He felt relieved for a moment. ‘’So you do agree? You might not have any interest in social services, perhaps?’’

‘’No senior, I’m quite content with any kind of work. Just learning some words from you is worth it.’’

‘’I don’t like being flattered,’’ Quan chuckled, ‘’But alright, I’ll bear with it for the moment. I will also talk with some others, especially with Gaobun, so there is no need for you to tire yourself. I’ll talk to Disciple Hall on you younglings behalf.’’

‘’That is completely fine by me,’’ Ubel smiled, ‘’Then when I should get prepared senior?’’

‘’What is this haste?’’ Quan’s expression turned a bit strange. ‘’Don’t you have people to bid farewell and eat something over talk? You realize that it will take at least a decade before you get back here, don’t you?’’

‘’I...do have.’’ His expression made it clear, he didn’t really think through this whole affair. Quan wanted to give an advice, to tell him to stay in sect as long as he could, maybe enjoy the comfort for a longer while. But he then realized, wouldn’t it be more cruel? It would be the equivalent of limiting or restricting his freedom. This little guy in front of him was maybe nineteen, at most twenty this year. He should have had his own thoughts by now.

‘’Go, talk with your senior brothers and sisters, or elders and friends, which one you desire. There is still a week or two left to the end of the month. We can talk about this at that time, alright?’’

Ubel shook himself out of the daze and looked up at Quan. ‘’Thank you, senior master. I shall talk with them properly. ‘’ He whispered the first part, and gave a deep bow. ‘’I will take my leave for now. Have a good day, senior master.’’

‘’You too, Ubel.’’ As he watched the small back of the promising seed go from straight to low over and over, Quan let out a sigh. He had been his disciple for a good two years now, so he naturally felt more close to him just like his other disciples. The conversation did not brighten up his mood as he expected.

‘’Nothing goes my way these days,’’ Quan lamented and took his leave from the green top of the hill, flying towards the first borough at the top level of mountain.

I hope Gaobun and Fang will fare better than him though...