Ten Years Later

"So, this is what a city looks like," Mused Fei, eyes wide as she glanced about in every direction. "I didn't think anyone could fit in so tightly like this."

Cifer and Fei looked like a couple of country bumpinks. The city market square was tightly packed with throngs of people. Exotic fruits, cut meat, and fresh fishes and vegetables of all kinds were sold at the market at every corner of every street that extended itself for half a kilometer long. The smell of it was easily carried for miles by the soft salty breeze from the seaside coast of the city.

Hope city, they also say, was the home to the premier academy of the entire nation of Jade.

Cifer grunted.

Fei sent him a searing glare. Then, a thought must have occurred to her. "Please tell me you haven't lost the bag of coins,"

"Watch it, young lady. I changed your diapers!"

His sister groaned out loud, perhaps in embarrassment, or exasperation. "You're impossible, brother! I was like, one! And that's irrelevant. You tend to be absentminded at the best of time. I ended up having to take care of you because your cooking sucks!

"My cooking does not suck," Cifer grumbled. He crossed his arms. "It's not like we had any seasoning to go with it at the time. It would have been better if we had salt or pepper."

Fei rolled her eyes, and replied, "Oh, please. All the seasoning in the world wouldn't have saved my tongue from ever recovering,"

Though they bickered, there was no heat in their arguments. It had been a long time since they've traveled back to civilization, and Cifer smiled bitterly at the reminder of what they've lost and, ultimately, gained along the way. Reintegrating into society was a painful, troublesome experience for the both of them. The urge stop lashing out at every sound in every dark corner had been a working progress. To say the least.

"Hey...," Fei was in one of her introspective moods again, thought Cifer. "You ever... think we'll ever see our ma and da again?"

Cifer could hear the quiver in her voice. There was fear, yes, but also hope. It was a bitter thought, that when you accomplished something you've sought for so long, that you realize that you're nowhere near your ultimate goal. Surviving was one thing. However, how does one find a tiny village without a name to place it?

Their parents were probably still waiting.

"We'll find them," Cifer said with confidence he didn't think he had. Changing the topic, he asked, "What do you think about joining the academy?"

Fei snorted. "The academy? For those rich snobs? Can we even get in? We could barely afford a room and a meal in this city. Everything's way too overpriced! Besides, we should try the other schools. They take in anyone, so long as they have the potential, we should be fine,"

Cifer shook his head. "They might take us in, but their connections aren't as wide-reaching as the academy. And they're directly controlled by the ministry of education, who has the least power among the six ministries that rule the government. And furthermore, the minister rarely ever visits the other, lesser, academies other than from intermediaries. As for the Acadamy here, the sons and daughters of the government and powerful merchants have been receiving their education here for the last six centuries, and not only in the arts of war and cultivation, but on how to rule," Cifer shook his head again. "No, our best bet is to make allegiances in the Acadamy of Everlasting,"

While it was true that the school accepted many of those with prestige bloodlines, the instructors were incredibly stringent on their students' own talents and hard work. Should the son, or daughter, fail in their studies and duties, they will be sent back home in disgrace. And furthermore, the school also pooled in gifted students from other, lesser, schools into their programs from around the country. And despite their lesser, and perhaps even those of common birth, many of those went on to become generals, war heroes, and perhaps even ministers that rule the government. Certainly, an accomplishment was there, along with all expenses paid with those of less... prestige on their backgrounds,"

Indeed, there was an opportunity here Cifer intended to take full advantage of. He glanced at his sister, and wondered whether she was up for the challenge. Then again...

"I doubt they would help us simply by asking. Even if by some miracle they let us join the school, brother," Fei looked up with a frown.

"Absolutely, you're right," Cifer smirked. "Don't worry. I've got a plan."

His sister's face paled. She swallowed, then uncorked her canteen and drank half of it before corking it and strapping it back by her waist. She darkly said, "Your plans are worse than your cooking. We always end up running for our lives..,"

Cifer ignored her.

It was another hour before they found themselves in the far richer district. The streets were cleaner, and the manses were four, sometimes ten stories high. The roofs with their sweeping curvatures that rises at every corner of the roof added a grace that the middle class, and the less wealthy, lacked. And despite their great heights and beautiful architecture, these homes were built with the emphasis on breadth and less on height, with acres of land for their gardens and parks, ponds, and even a few man-made lakes at one point.

An area solely built for the rich and the powerful, dignitaries and foreign nobility, the more likely to encounter the guards that have the practicum of cultivation.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

It was only luck that they were not stopped from reaching their destination. Cifer and Fei looked more like village hunters and trappers than the sons and daughters of great nobility or deed. Indeed, while they looked like poor wretches, there was a certain confidence that even the guards noticed. The few cultivators among the guards knew to let none bar their way. However, they did get followed at a discreet distance.

Cifer ignored them, too.

It was another hour before they reached the Acadamy of Everlasting. Built in the name of their exalted prince, the school was heavily subsidized by the government. In fact, many graduated alumni have donated heavily to the school over the years, in terms of both coin and favours.

The academy was built by the hands of a foreign architect, and the size of it was breathtaking. Even from outside the city walls, you could see the turrets and towers reaching a hundred feet into the air. A monstrous thing, taking up an entire quarter of the city upon the cliffs by the seaside. Despite its ugly, almost hellish construction, there was a certain kind of beauty and grace to it.

The sun was high in the sky, and the six-hundred-year-old castle casts a wide shadow over the inhabitants of the Hope. The castle was the only thing that seemed to clash with the local culture.

Cifer and Fei made their way across the winding paved road, and up the hill and toward the heavy, iron gates. A small army of soldiers, heavily armored and holding gleaming spears and halberds by the guard houses that overlooked the road. Sneaking in would have been near impossible. Every year, someone adds another layer of defenses to the castle. They may be spectral wards or detection crystals, centuries of improvement had made the academy near impenetrable.

So, they walked directly. The chances of being refused entry were high, but Cifer had noticed a weakness.

When they arrived closer to the gate, the more guards that seemed to pop up out of the excessively massive guard halls. He also noticed the crossbows following him, watching him from up in the guard halls.

The guards wore curious looks, some wary, and others lit with anticipation.

Cifer noticed their shining armour. They were made well with steel plated and leather. A hundred guards were stationed outside the castle walls, by his estimation. Possibly thousands more from within the castle.

All of them were cultivators, every single one of them. They were strong, no doubt. These hundred men could quell an uprising from a small town, no doubt. But still, they were employed as staff guards to hold against whatever foolish enough to attack their precious school.

He wondered, then, whether his ruse would actually work. He was strong, yes. As was his sister. But would he put her in danger in front of these hundred men, regardless of their martial might? No, Cifer didn't think he could. Only the glaring and prodding by Fei did he forced to move his legs every step forward.

When he stopped before one of the guards, Cifer bowed low in respect.

Cifer intoned softly, respectfully. "I must respectfully ask for an audience with the dean of this honourable institute. I hope that he may be willing to meet two lowly cultivators? We've come a long way, milord, to greet with this learned man,"

The armoured man raised brow may be an indication of cautious optimism and curiosity. He did seem to have been caught flat-footed by his well-spoken manners and politeness, however. They didn't get kicked out just yet.

"I'm no lord, boy," His voice was like gravel being crushed. "Never been one, and I think I would know if my father had told me. That being said, you'd have the look of orphans and street rats. The dean doesn't just meet with anyone. And you must know that, amirite?"

Cifer bowed once more. "Indeed, sir. Our importance and status are those of serfs, and to entice such a meeting with the dean is to bring a gift worthy of such," Cifer glanced at his sister with a look, though she must have known already. He took the leather bag she gave him, and brought out a carved wooden box from inside.

Though he did not present it to the guard, Cifer looked behind the senior guard, and to the dozens of his entourage that stood curiously behind him. The man must have noticed his worried expression, before shooing them away with barked orders. The rest left with curses and grumbles under their breaths to their posts, though their curiosity had piqued.

"Come, lad. We'll talk in my office," Cifer nodded gratefully, and followed after the man. Fei shot him a glare, but Cifer ignored her. He got very good at that, lately.

Eventually, the guard led them toward the largest guard hall within the area. It was spacious, with a large table and a few chairs and couches. A few documents and miscellaneous articles, weapons, and even a uniform littered about. But the office was orderly and clean. Clearly, he was a military man through and through.

Still, there was a warmth to the interior. A picture hung up on the wall of his family, painted with such exquisitely detailed it was almost indistinguishable from the real thing. It must have cost quite the sum, and Cifer knew it was worth every single one.

The wife was a beautiful, long-haired, and traditional Jadian beauty. Her eyes were brown, and her clothes were traditional of Jade culture. The daughter she held in her arms was a tiny thing, and tufts of light blond hair and large blue eyes.

The guard must have seen his surprised expression, for he said, "My ancestor was a foreign man. The man, Klein Hartmann, an aide to the architect himself that built this wonderful castle, fell in love with a local woman. It was a bit of a surprise at the time, but the man decided to stay with his new wife and kids when the rest of his people left," The man gestured to the chairs before the office table, and sat behind it, once Cifer and Fei politely inclined to his request to make themselves more comfortable. The guard steepled his hands, and leaned forward. "My name is Ju-long Hartmann. How may I be of service?"

"As I said, we wish to meet the dean," Cifer said. "We wish to offer him a gift, worthy enough that he might spend some of his time on our hopeful request,"

The guard's dark eyes narrowed. "And what request is that?"

Cifer glanced at his sister for a moment. "We wish to join the academy,"

"Such a request will not be filled so easily. Even if you two have been trained in the arts of martial warfare and cultivation, the chances are still slim," Ju-long shook his head in sympathy. "I'm sorry, but to even have a chance at meeting with the dean, you're asking for a miracle,"

Cifer glanced at the wooden box on his lap. He didn't have any fear that the man might steal their treasure. Corruption was rare due to the secret police, spies, informants, and whathaveyou, that had been entrenched in every level of the government and institution possible. And though they might not care to give them justice, should things take a turn for the worse, the guard and his accomplices would be quickly arrested and executed. The prince was apparently a good administrator. Very good.

He carefully opened the lid, and showed the guard the content of the box.

Lu-long's breath caught in his throat, hardly daring to breathe. "Is that...?"

"Yes, it is," Cifer smiled. "The heart of an undead sage: a magnum corpus."