MEETING PATRIARCHS

Chu turned around on hearing the conversation. An old man dressed in a decorated gown stroked his trimmed goatee while talking with the redhead. He had no idea how they knew each other but the old man didn't seem like the type to stroll around chatting with little girls. Not to mention a Patriarch of a Clan.

"Tomorrow we celebrate our birthday. My sisters will also be celebrating their coming of age day. We came here to make a reservation for lunch."

"Ah! Will your sister Young Lady Sakura be joining you? Does the Patriarch know of this?"

Chu looked on as Dyna shook her head in the negative. The old man seemed to become excited as if finding gold. Given the length of stay in Limerock, he had no idea how Dayna and Sakura met this man.

"Don't just stand there man. Hurry and send a message to the Patriarch that I'm bringing up Young Lady Dyna to the fourth floor."

Manager Han rattled out some orders which caused the staff to scamper. Obviously, the man held some position in the building. Making a polite greeting and introduction, he then led them to the stairs.

Each floor had a small parlor manned by a greeter standing at a small table. On verifying the names, an usher would lead them behind the carved doors. Manager Han trodded up the stairs, passing the lower floors without a glance. As soon as they stepped into a much large lobby area, a group of old men hasted to meet them.

"Young Lady Dyna, welcome to my establishment. This old man is Patriarch Yu. I met you and Young Lady Sakura when you handled the deer problem at my country estate."

"Greetings Young Miss. This one is Master Brook of the Brook Clan, you also did the same for me."

"Greetings Pillmaster Dyna, this one is Priest Silas, part of the contingent visiting and residing at the Alchemist Guild. I had no idea that Patriarch Yu knew such a person of importance. I have not missed a lecture at the academy since the pill modification day. Is Pillmaster Sue with you?"

Chu looked on as these old men introduced themselves and fawned over the redhead like fans surrounding an idol. The Priest occupied the spot of the number one fan since he constantly bobbed and strained his neck. When he didn't find the young lecturer, he began laying on the flattery.

Seeing more and more curious men pop out the door and swell the crowd, Chu tapped Dyna on the shoulders. If they remained here for too long, they would fill the lobby. Patriarch Yu picked up the act immediately. He knew Dyna and her sister Sakura were guests of the Tower but Priest Silas shocked him with his statement.

Pillmaster... and even the stingy, mean, old fanatic Grandmaster Bing of the Alchemist Guild supported the title. He placed his hand to cover his mouth while making a slight cough.

"Ahem, this place is too crowded, please, Pillmaster, if you will."

Patriarch Yu led them personally into the fourth floor of the building.

For the first time in his life, Chu ventured into extravagance. A high dome ceiling towered above him, holding a breathtaking painting of a war between demon beast, warriors, and mages alike. Thick pillars supported the hall, draped with golden threads of embroidery on rich, wide cloths. A wide movable, carved and stained, wooden screen opened the hall on all four walls to a marble balcony which overlooked the city.

In the distance, the towers of the academy loomed towards the sky. Polished marble floors held wooden tables covered with fine linen and topped with printed silverware. They circled around a small flowing fountain bubbling in the center of the hall, with a pool filled with exotic fishes.

A marble stage occupied the south, providing the occupants a view of the entire hall and its guests while granting them access to the scenic view of the academy buildings and towers. Well dressed, beautiful young ladies waited on the guests while blending into the decorations.

Five-star hotels? No, this could only compare to those palatial splendors only found in history. Chu understood this place only served the wealthy, the influential, and the powerful. Perfectly suited for a city catering to the Tower Academy.

"Watch your steps here, this old man has tripped on these three wide steps on numerous occasions, haha."

Patriarch Yu led them up to the stage in the south and arranged for them the best seating. The hall was empty with the exception of about twenty or so fairly old men occupying the single stage. Chu estimated they could probably fit about five hundred comfortably in this hall. If they included the connected open balconies, then over a thousand might be possible.

"Forgive us for not having much of a feast but the banquet will begin later this evening. At the end of summer, we old heads in the city like to gather around and discuss important issues. If the Young Masters don't mind, they can remain and have some light refreshments until later."

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"Elder has been gracious but we came to simply make a reservation for a birthday and coming of age ceremony. Us little ones will not disturb your gathering for much longer, you have already shown us much kindness."

"Very well then, young Han will see you out. Before you leave, please allow this old man to introduce the Young Miss to my friends. It would be an honor."

Patriarch Yu literally pleaded to Chu with those wrinkled eyes. The old man had been the first to introduce Dyna to the other leaders in quelling their pest infestation. At that time she held a position of awe in their minds with her wolves and status as a guest of the Tower. Now she also held a much greater title of Pillmaster.

To these old leaders, nobody needed to speak of the benefits of knowing a Pillmaster. Especially one recognized by the Churches Union, Alchemist Guild and the Academy. What luck!

"This is the head of the Donna House, Master Frig..."

"This is..."

"And last but certainly not least, this old man here is Patriarch Long. The Yu, Long, Evans, and Kirie households hold the honor of being the four influential clans in Limerock."

Patriarch Long rose from his chair, clasped his hands and then made a slight bow before reseating with a sigh. Chu and the others rose and returned the greeting. Apart from the others, this old man seemed aged under a mountain of worries. Chu didn't have to wait long to find out the reason. Patriarch Long spoke.

"Please Pillmaster, do not take offense if this old man comes across as rude. when one faces the near extinction of his entire clan, especially one whose Ancestors labored ad toiled for centuries, manners become the least of their worries. Priest Silas and my old friends have gathered early to discuss this issue..."

Chu nodded as he returned a greeting with clasped hands. Since this included personal business, not to mention the hint of hoping to gain some help from Priest Silas, he rose and bade them goodbye. He still had some errands to run in the city. By now these astute men had realized that their Pillmaster and the other teens followed the command of the younger boy.

Patriarch Yu requested that they at least dine in one of the private booths on the third floor but Chu declined the offer for another time. He was still coming to terms with the influence Dyna and Sue had created. A lion famous in the animal kingdom had less to worry than a mouse with equal fame. His headaches continued to grow.

Manager Han had just led them down the steps of the stage when four burly servants walked in the hall while lifting a small bed between them. As they passed them to ascend the stage, Chu locked eyes with a young man lying on it. The man had roughly the same size as Ming but seemed to be invalid.

Although dressed in what looked to be expensive clothes, the splints on both arms and legs remained eye-catching.

"Ah! Its Jong, Clong or whatever his name is. What is he doing here?"

Chu watched the eyes of the man leave him and fall on the black-haired girl beside him. The eyes turned round like saucers while the mouth trembled. A stifled scream escaped the man's mouth but sounded more like a whistle. It was then he realized the man was missing quite a number of front teeth.

"Ahhhhh! Soooorrrryyy! Pleash nont kilsh mee!"

Tears welled in his eyes as he begged on the bed.

The antics between him and Miki aroused the interest of Chu, and the leaders alike on the stage. Patriarch Long leaped from his chair and hurried down the stage to the side of the bed. Priest Silas and the other leaders also stood up and walked over. Seeing everyone as surprised as him, Chu asked the question on everyone's mind.

"Miki, you know this Young Master?"

Chu asked carefully. Obviously, this young man held some status in the Long Clan, judging by how Patriarch Long responded.

"Not really, I remember he came one day into the academy and tried to force big sis Amanda to leave with him. He left after with a pair of broken legs."

Miki held a finger to her chin as she tried to recall the day. Chu gazed at her in amazement as to how casually this girl spoke about breaking a pair of legs. If this poor guy really tried to lay a hand on Amanda then he harbored no doubts as to who broke his legs.

The words from the girl caused the leaders standing near Patriarch Long to slowly step away. Priest Silas narrowed his eyes while glancing between Patriarch Long and the tearful man on the bed. This big sis Amanda seemed to have a relationship with the young Pillmaster who stood nearby with her hands clasped behind her back while admiring the decorations.

Crossing swords with someone with ties to the Churches Union, Alchemist Guild and Tower did not bode well.

"Ah! Chu I remember now. This guy tried to grab Amanda in the book workshop. Later on, he had to kneel for nearly half the night in front of that courtyard, what was it again..."

"Oh, I think he had to kneel in front of Sahara's courtyard. That sister is even more bad-tempered than me."

The silence following the conversation proved even more suffocating. When Miki spoke the first time, the leaders had given Patriarch Long a little distance. After these last statements, they all retreated in a circle while leaving Patriarch Long and the bed in the center with Chu and the other on the opposite end. Chu swore he saw a flash of fear cross these old men's faces.

"Pleash forgave mee. I ever do sush ting again..."

Chu looked at the pleading face and then glanced up at Patriarch Long.

"I take it, Patriarch Long, that your worries stem from this problem?"

The old man looked at Chu and nodded. Those leaders standing nearby knew that kneeling for half a night might not mean the end of the issue. Some of these leaders and Clans were tightly woven through trade and relations with the Long Clan.

Chu clapped his hands once to gather everyone's attention.

Beaming a smile he rubbed his hands.

"The actions of the past can be forgiven so long as both sides learn from mistakes. Elders, let's have a seat. This humble one will address your concerns..."

If these old men had problems Chu could certainly solve it for them. He had a good reputation with Chief Slovac in the Tower, a hand in the Alchemist Guild with Dyna and Sue, and also someone who had a close association with this entity called Sahara. He was confident that the problem could be resolved through Lucy and Miki.

Chu gazed around at the lavish decorations of the hall.

Why hold a small birthday celebration?

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