If there was one thing Kaixue had wanted right now, it was a pair of sandals, his feet got cold form the morning dew and the wet grass of the Inner Garden. Thus, he chose a shortcut, a small portion of the garden next to the servant’s lodging that grew not decorative flowers, but a small selection of spices and medicinal or alchemical herbs, his mother was quite good at demonstrating why someone trying to use them for his or her personal cultivation was a short-minded idea.

„Young master Kaixue? What are you doing here, and so early?“ Kaixue had, of course, recognised this voice, it belonged to Hanchen, the disciple, though mostly assistant of the court physician, Master Saong. From his steps and where his voice came from, he was a little shorter than Ganzhi, and rather well-built.

„Checking off the herbs again, Hanchen?“ Kaixue had stopped for a short while.

„Master Saong wants me to be even more thorough, with your sister’s birthday happening today, he was very strict on me last week.“ The scribbling of a metal pen against paper did not stop while he talked to Kaixue, who wondered whether someone had ordered some alchemical creation from Master Saong, or whether he was making a gift of his own.

„I just finished packing my gift for her.“ He shifted the crate a little to make it more apparent, despite it easily having a volume for him to curl into.

„That looks very heavy, do you need some sort of help, young master?“ Hanchen expressed concern.

Even if the crate was full of rocks, Hanchen would easily be able to help, his cultivation was not highly advanced, but Kaixue knew what sort of strength the young student of alchemy had. It was usually him who held Kaixue down so Saong could administer his medicines, and observe their effects on someone who, without cultivation of the spirit, couldn’t process them orthodoxly.

„It’s quite alright, the carpenter was just overeager.“ Kaixue joked.

The inside of the house was busy to say the least, were he taller, some of the cooks would bash a tray into his head, then again, were he taller, he’d be more noticeable, maybe people would be careful around the Main family young master.

He found a pair of sandals in his room. He even changed as per Gangzhi’s advice. Then, he headed to the hall. Despite being early in the morning, it was livelier than anytime Kaixue was there before. People were moving furniture, his mother was discussing last-minute changes.

He turned to the person who appeared least busy: “Excuse me, where is the gift table?”

This broke the man away from his pondering of… something on the wall, possibly a portrait or tapestry, perhaps a fresco, Kaixue wasn’t well versed in the visual arts. He was versed in recognising voices, and this person was no exception. Yiban Main, one of the most skilled warriors in the kingdom, who had climbed to the stage of core integration, but more importantly than that, his father’s younger brother, his uncle. Until Gangzhi came of age, it was him leading the family, as per his brother’s wish. Most people had a very good impression of this man, as a diligent and reliable warrior, with a sense of responsibility and duty, it was very impressive to have that sort of reputation before one turned over fifty. Kaixue knew him as a man kinder through his actions than through his words, when their father died, Yiban took over, among other things, Gangzhi’s training, and though it seemed to the brothers that he did little over belittling and overwhelming a less experienced opponent, Gangzhi’s current strength was in great part Yiban’s work. It was also Yiban who had given Nayu to Kaixue’s older brother three or four years ago. He also sometimes carried Kaixue on his shoulder, but never before remarking that someone so crippled in the spirit should learn how to use their body, and keep pace.

“Did you stuff a new brother Cherei wouldn’t have to be ashamed of into that box, nephew?” An ordinary person would look at this as a personal attack, Kaixue knew it was his way of jabbing at the extraordinary packaging size.

“I cannot possibly reveal my gift to you, uncle. A gift must always be a surprise to the celebrant” Kaixue pretended not to get either of the possible meanings.

“It’s that way.” His uncle’s cloak moved across the floor as he made some sort of gesture.

“Which way?”

Yiban lifted Kaixue, who was still holding the crate. Turning him around and placing him on his feet, all with one hand, he used the other to scratch his neck: “Straight ahead.”

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“My sincerest gratitude, uncle.” Kaixue bowed shortly.

He walked straight ahead, and finally rid himself of the spacy container. Kaixue had a sigh of relief he didn’t slip or trip anywhere. He also made sure that the side detailing whom the gift came from was not the one side of a cube that could not be viewed on a surface.

Realistically, the celebration wouldn’t happen for another three hours, maybe he could get some more sleep in, or write down the song he spontaneously had made for Lady Ponava yesterday, but mostly he just didn’t want to be in such a crowded room, thinking how many people were there, sucking up the air made him have problems with breathing.

He went to Depai’s room, but his teacher wasn’t there, and Kaixue could not write notes on his own. Thus, he went towards his room, and met a servant girl exiting the room.

“I prepared your clothes inside your room, young master.”

“I am already wearing clothes?” Kaixue was confused.

“Your mother seems to insist that you wear more formal attire.” She bowed her head.

“Of course, what colour are they?” He asked more out of curiosity than any genuine concern.

“If it is alright with you, young master, the colours chosen were blue and gold, as per the main family standards.” she seemed nervous.

“I’ll let you know if there’s a problem with them.” He said, closing the door. Normally, he took as long as possible to dress up, it gave him time to think, time to be alone, it wasn’t that he detested his family, Depai, Master Saong, it was for a different reason, one he couldn’t name himself.

He dressed up in under a minute, checked if he hadn’t put anything upside down. The clothes felt much more restrictive than the light robes he usually wore, which were partially inspired by martial arts robes, and partially made so that they were easy to put on even if one didn’t know which way to go into them. He had at least three layers of clothes, but he didn’t feel hot or itchy, so there was a little bit of silver lining. He didn’t want to delay the girl from her further duties, so he just came out.

“Please tell me I’m wearing it right.”

“Yes, yes I am sure the young master can represent his family like this, or are there any problems?”

Kaixue already started feeling an itch on his lower back, a place one could already struggle to reach even without thick sleeves: “It’s not going to get better, go.”

She bowed, and left. Kaixue still considered killing some time either sleeping, or in the garden, but that would require him to take off, and, the real dreaded part, put on the jacket, breeches, overcoat, all over again. Thus he headed to the hall, there was a wish that he were a little older, so he could get drunk, and be allowed to leave early, but he let that wish go, he still had hope for something else, and drunkards didn’t make for good cultivators.

He sat down, it was easy to guess the seating order, it was always going to be the same, in the centre, Cherei, the birthday girl, on her right, their mother, on her left, Gangzhi, next to their mother, uncle Yiban, next to Gangzhi, Kaixue. These five were on one side of the table, on the other sides would be placed other nobles as well as all sorts of other influential people.

Kaixue put one elbow on the table, and tried to listen to the wind outside the walls, rather than the chatter inside them.

“Well, you’re here early.” Said a girl’s, Cherei’s voice.

“I make a point of always arriving within five minutes.” He said, without raising his head.

“Yeah, within five minutes of after people gave up waiting for you.” this made Kaixue exhale mildly through his nose

“How did the stay at Uncle’s go?”

“Horrible, the only enjoyable part was a hunt we had.” Kaixue knew that a shot from a bow fired by Cherei could dig a short trench when it finally hit the land after about a fifth of a league of flight. He knew all her feats of strength and cultivation, he felt closer to her than to Gangzhi. It was due to the fact that he was ahead in education that Depai would let him go to be with her when she trained, at least after he made the promise to not ‘interrupt’ any other parts of her education. Which was an easy promise, why would he break in to learn arithmetic for the second time?

“Mother told me several older men will try to see if I’m a good potential spouse or not.” A good lesson those with a sister learn earlier than others, women will often talk about their problems, not seeking a solution.

“For them?” There was a bit of worry from her brother that she would be even more of a centre of attention than she already was on her 11th birthday party, in a, frankly, oversized orange dress. Orange was customarily worn by noblewomen on their birthdays in the Caeyal Kingdom.

“Mostly their nephews, sons, grandsons, I was told.”

“By whom, your own hopes?” The younger of her brothers often acted as though he rarely thought before speaking.

She took a sip of a special cold tea the younger children were often served during these sorts of celebrations.

“You are the daughter of our Father, niece of our Uncle, and sister of our Brother, of course people are interested in you.”

“What does that even mean, aren’t you also all of those things?” They were only five months apart, yet sometimes the musings of Depai or Master Saong were much easier to digest than things her brother seemingly spat out at random.

This time, Kaixue was taking a drink instead of responding.

“Can you follow me around, I know you are better with words than you make yourself to be, in case I say something…” She switched to an uncannily similar voice to their Mother: “To dishonour yourself or your family, girl.”

“Spruce wood really is best for chairs, and cushions stuffed with sunsheep wool, so comfortable.” Kaixue stretched his hands as he leaned into the chair.

“… I’ll tell you where they hid the sword Father got you.”

Meeting with guests for a few hours sounded really appealing now, with a simple excuse of why she had such a smartmouth near her always, she was guiding her poor little blind brother around.